Roz had had another thought, which chilled her to the bone. ‘What if they send him back?’ she said, her voice just above a whisper. ‘What if they send us all back?’

Mabel looked horrified. ‘They wouldn’t do that! You’re refugees. They wouldn’t,’ she repeated, her voice fading doubtfully.

‘People do strange things when they’re scared,’ said Roz. ‘I know what the Nazis are like, and believe me, people have good reason to fear them.’

As they hurried towards Felix’s house, Roz was pleased to see that he was outside chatting to Alan, who waved a hand as he saw the girls approaching. ‘Have you heard?’ Alan asked, taking the cigarette he had been rolling and placing it between his lips.

Both girls nodded.

‘What’s going to happen, Alan?’ said Roz.

He took a deep drag of the cigarette before blowing the smoke out in a series of rings. When he had finished, he glanced at the three of them. ‘I reckon it’s not good news for any Germans living in Britain,’ he said pragmatically, ‘but at least you kids came over official like. You’ve got all your documents, and a good reason for being here, and of course your age goes for you.’

Roz let out a sigh of relief. ‘So we’ll be alright? They’re not going to ask us to leave?’

He shook his head, although Roz noticed he did so hesitantly. ‘It’s still early days, but I can’t see them doing that, not with you kids, though they might with some of the older ones. I suppose it’ll depend on the individual. I will say this, though, you’re damned lucky you came over when you did, because there won’t be any more refugees let out of Germany now we’re at war with them.’ Although he couldn’t possibly have known it at the time, Alan had hit the nail on the head, for the children aboard the last train to leave Germany on the 3rd of September were sent to Prague.

Roz couldn’t help wondering whether her parents would have been sent back had they made it to Britain. She’d like to hope not, but who knew? She turned to Felix. ‘What about you, how do you feel?’

He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. ‘Nervous, I think we’d be fools not to. We know how people can change their feelings towards you, and whilst I know Alan and Bill would never do that, some of the lads down the docks might.’

‘What will happen if they do?’ said Roz, anxiously eyeing Alan.