In Love and War (19 page)

‘I told you, we're in this together.' Marianne rose to her feet and picked up their suitcases. ‘Let's see what they've got in store for us.'

Elsie opened the door and found herself looking up into Raoul's whiskery face. ‘Not now,' she said abruptly. ‘We're going out.' She made an attempt to close the door but he put his foot over the threshold.

‘Come with me and don't make a noise. We don't want to alert the whole building.'

Marianne hurried to Elsie's side. ‘What do you mean?'

He grinned. ‘Major Kirke sent me.'

‘But you work for the railways,' Elsie said slowly. ‘You're a signalman.'

‘Don't waste time, girls. We have a train to catch.'

‘How do you know Major Kirke?' Marianne dropped the cases on the floor and stood glaring at Raoul, arms akimbo. ‘Are you a German spy?'

He threw back his head and laughed. ‘Do you think I'd admit it if I were a spy?' He was suddenly serious. ‘There's no time to lose. We have a connection to make and we can't afford to miss it.'

‘How do we know you're telling the truth?' Marianne demanded.

‘All right,' he said slowly. ‘I'm trusting you with this information because I've come to know you quite well since you came to Paris. I'm Belgian and I'm an agent for the British government.'

‘So that's why you kept popping up every time we were in trouble,' Elsie said incredulously. ‘That's why you took us to the Café Goulet.'

‘We must leave now,' he said, glancing over his shoulder at the sound of footsteps. He stepped into the room and waited a moment before looking out. ‘It's all right, they've gone. Come along, we're wasting time.'

‘Where are you taking us?' Elsie asked nervously.

He snatched up their cases. ‘I'm just following orders, and I only know that I'm taking you to the Gare du Nord. Come.'

Elsie and Marianne exchanged puzzled glances but Raoul had their cases and was disappearing in the direction of the stairs. ‘We haven't much choice,' Elsie said in a whisper. ‘We can't stay here, and if Raoul knows Major Kirke then he must be on our side.'

‘Agreed. Let's go.'

Elsie took one last look round the shabby room that had been their home for the last six months. They had almost frozen to death in the winter and now, in summer, it was hot and stifling. It was not a memory that she would cherish. She closed the door.

They were not challenged as they walked out of the building. Madame Chausse, who usually sat in her small office like a spider in the middle of its web, was nowhere to be seen as they followed Raoul into the silky dusk of a summer evening. If it had not been for the rumble of guns in the distance, and the muffled sound of a bomb exploding too close for comfort, it might have been the sort of evening when in peacetime people would be promenading after dining out, or making their way to the Paris Opéra. Elsie looked up into the darkening sky and wondered what terror would rain down on the city that night.

‘We're not travelling in that, are we?' Marianne pointed at a farm cart with a swayback nag in the shafts. It turned its head at the sound of her voice and gave her a baleful look.

Raoul tossed their bags onto a pile of rotting straw and manure in the back of the cart. ‘Get on,' he said tersely. ‘The sooner we get away from here the better.' With surprising agility for such a big man he vaulted onto the driver's seat, barely waiting for them to climb up beside him before flicking the reins and urging the old horse into an ambling walk.

‘Have you any idea what they plan for us?' Elsie tried again.

‘You'll be met at the station. The agent will give you your papers and your instructions. I don't know where they're sending you, but I don't think you're going home.'

They travelled in silence through the quiet streets, stopping eventually outside the Gare du Nord. ‘Jump down, ladies,' Raoul said gruffly. ‘This is where we say goodbye.'

Elsie seized his hand and shook it. ‘Thank you for being our friend, Raoul.'

‘Go into the station,' he said gruffly. ‘You should hurry.' He climbed down and retrieved their cases from the back of the cart. ‘Goodbye and good luck.'

They stood for a moment, staring after him as he drove off. ‘I suppose we'd better go into the station and see what happens,' Marianne said, glancing round nervously. ‘Do you get the feeling we're being watched?'

‘I do.' Elsie picked up her case. ‘Let's go and find out what they're going to do with us.'

Marianne retrieved her bag, wrinkling her nose. ‘This smells disgusting, and I've got a funny feeling that whatever they have planned for us isn't going to be good.'

Arm in arm, they walked into the station.

‘WHAT NOW?' ELSIE
murmured as they came to a halt in the main concourse.

‘We just loiter and hope that our contact will find us.'

Elsie glanced at the station clock. ‘It's half past ten. Let's hope they come soon, because I don't fancy sleeping in the waiting room.'

‘I don't think there's going to be any need for that.' Marianne nudged her, nodding in the direction of a young woman who was walking purposefully towards them. ‘I think I know that person. I've seen her in the rue Saint-Roch.'

Their contact smiled at them as if greeting old friends. ‘I am Chantal,' she said in a low voice. ‘Your train leaves in ten minutes so we haven't much time.'

‘Where are we going?' Marianne demanded. ‘We haven't been told anything.'

‘Your papers and tickets are in this bag,' Chantal said, slipping it off her shoulder. ‘You will take the train to Calais and you will be met on the station. You will receive further instructions there. Good luck.' She handed the bag to Marianne and walked off without giving them a chance to question her.

‘I wonder if we're really going home.' Elsie stared after her with a puzzled frown. ‘Why couldn't she tell us?'

Marianne opened the bag and pulled out a couple of passports, two rail tickets and two permits to travel. ‘We're going to Calais, so maybe they are sending us home.'

‘I hope so,' Elsie said with a sigh. ‘Being a secret agent isn't as exciting as I thought it would be.'

Marianne grabbed her by the hand. ‘According to the notice board our train is due to leave in a few minutes. We'd better get a move on.' She began to run in the direction of the platform, where the engine was already building up a head of steam.

They raced along the platform looking for an empty compartment, but all the carriages were packed with troops, and they had to leap on board as the train started to pull out of the station. Elsie tumbled headlong onto the lap of a sleeping soldier who awakened with a start. She apologised profusely and moved away quickly as he slid his arm around her waist with a sleepy grin. ‘I thought I was dreaming,' he murmured. ‘You can sit on my lap if you want.'

‘Get up and make room for the lady.' A soldier sitting opposite had roused himself and staggered to his feet. ‘Take my seat. We aren't all animals.'

‘You need your rest, soldier,' Marianne said, smiling. ‘Perhaps we could squeeze in the corner. We don't take up much room.'

‘It's all right.' He tossed their cases onto the luggage rack. ‘I'll sit on the floor, and so will my friend over there.' He tapped a sleeping soldier with the toe of his boot. ‘Be a gentleman and let the ladies have your seat.'

The young soldier awakened with a start and slid to the floor with a vague attempt at a salute. ‘Yes, sergeant.'

‘Thank you.' Elsie sank down in the corner of the carriage. ‘You're very kind.'

‘Yes, indeed.' Marianne took the seat vacated by the sergeant. ‘We're very grateful,' she added, settling herself in between two other soldiers who had slept through it all.

The men made themselves as comfortable as possible on the floor, curling themselves around the feet of those lucky enough to be seated. Marianne flashed them a grateful smile and closed her eyes, but Elsie was wide awake. She gazed out of the window, straining her eyes in order to see, but it was dark now and there were very few lights to show that they were still within the city boundaries. The steady breathing of the others in the compartment was punctuated by snores, and the rhythmic clickety-clack of the iron wheels going over the points drummed in her ears, but gradually the gentle swaying motion of the carriage made her feel drowsy and she closed her eyes. Her last waking thought was of home. Would they be in England by morning? She drifted off into the comforting arms of oblivion.

She was awakened by someone shaking her vigorously and she opened her eyes. At first she thought she was back in her bed at Madame Chausse's lodging house, but she realised dimly that there was movement all around her. It was still dark but a glimmer of light filtered in from the platform and she could hear someone shouting. ‘Calais.'

‘We get off here,' Marianne said impatiently. ‘Wake up, Elsie.'

‘I fell asleep.'

‘Of course you did.' Marianne stood aside as the last soldier left the compartment. ‘Thanks again,' she called after him.

‘I wanted to thank them too,' Elsie said, yawning.

‘I thanked them for you.' Marianne pulled her to her feet. ‘We've got to find our next contact.'

Elsie's limbs were cramped and she had slept at an awkward angle, resulting in a stiff neck. She pulled her case down from the rack, but as she stepped out onto the platform to join Marianne they were caught up in a great wave of soldiers who were heading for the ticket barrier. Swept along on a mixed tide of British khaki uniforms and the blue-grey recently adopted by the French army, they reached the main concourse, where they looked for a quiet spot where they could wait unnoticed.

This time it was a much older woman who approached them. She embraced each of them in turn. ‘Try not to look so surprised,' she whispered. ‘Act as if you are pleased to see me. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves.'

‘It's all very well but we want to know where we're going,' Marianne said with a fixed smile.

‘You will be given information as and when you need it.'

‘So what are we going to do now?' Elsie demanded. ‘We need to know.'

‘Follow me,' the woman said calmly. ‘Look casual and just walk out of the station. I have a fiacre waiting.' She quickened her pace, heading towards the exit. The horse-drawn vehicle was waiting for them as she had promised and she climbed inside.

‘This is a step up from Raoul's cart,' Elsie whispered as she followed Marianne into the carriage. ‘At least it doesn't smell of dung and rotting straw.'

Marianne threw herself down on the seat. ‘We're in private now, madame. What are our instructions?'

‘Yes, please tell us what you know.' Elsie closed the door and took a seat beside Marianne.

The woman tapped the roof of the fiacre with the ferule of her umbrella and the vehicle lurched into motion. ‘There is a vessel waiting for you at the docks. You must do exactly as the captain tells you.'

‘Are we going home?' Elsie could not keep a tremor of excitement from creeping into her voice.

‘You will be taken to Antwerp.'

‘Antwerp?' Marianne sighed. ‘And I suppose we will get further information there. Is there no one who can tell us what will be expected of us?'

‘That would be unsafe.'

‘But we are being sent to Belgium. We're British citizens and we have a right to know.'

‘La Dame Blanche. That's all I can safely tell you. The rest will become clear when you receive your orders in Antwerp.' The woman settled back against the squabs. ‘We will be at the docks shortly. Be prepared to alight quickly and . . .'

‘Someone will be waiting for us,' Marianne said, finishing the sentence for her. ‘We're getting used to that, madame.'

The vessel that was waiting for them at the docks proved to be a rusting motor boat that even in a poor light looked as though it should have been sent to the scrap yard. They had been met by a crewman who introduced himself as Adams, and he took them to meet the captain. Elsie was accustomed to speaking French but it was wonderful to hear her native tongue again. She could have hugged each one of the crew in turn as she boarded the vessel, but she managed to restrain herself.

The master welcomed them brusquely. ‘This isn't a luxury yacht, ladies. But every seaworthy vessel has been commandeered for some sort of duty and my orders are to transport you safely to Antwerp.'

‘How long will it take?' Marianne asked anxiously.

‘We go as close to the coast as we dare, and it depends on the wind and weather but I'd say ten or twelve hours, maybe less. We have to be particularly careful outside Zeebrugge and Ostend where the Germans have laid minefields.'

‘Minefields?' Marianne said faintly.

He grinned. ‘Don't worry. We've done it before and we can do it again. You're in good hands.'

‘I'm sure we are,' Elsie said stoutly. ‘But I don't suppose you know anything about our mission, do you, captain?'

He shook his head. ‘I'm just here to do my part, miss.' He beckoned to Adams, who was busy stowing the mooring rope. ‘Take the young ladies to the cabin and make them comfortable.'

‘Aye, aye, sir. Come with me, ladies.'

He led the way to the cabin, which was surprisingly neat and tidy, but the accommodation was spartan to say the least. He glanced at them with a worried frown. ‘We don't normally carry passengers but you might be able to stretch out on the benches and get some shut-eye. We should have a reasonable trip.'

‘I'm sure we'll be fine,' Elsie said hastily.

‘Yes, absolutely.' Marianne put her case under the table and sat down.

‘I could make you some cocoa,' he said, moving to the back of the cabin which seemed to serve as a small galley.