He nodded.
“And this must be the stone building we saw on Google Maps the other night. I suspected it was a vineyard, and I was right!” She was beaming now. “Look at the name!”
Didrik did.
Château de Chênes
32
1944
Sven got out of the water as fast as he could and pulled on his clothes. It was difficult to do when his body was soaking wet.
Mathieu stayed where he was. “Wait!” he shouted.
“Someone saw us. We have to get away from here. You need to go back to the vineyard,” Sven said quietly.
Mathieu shook his head. “No. I won’t do it. I’m out of there for the first time in years.” Slowly he waded to the edge and climbed the bank, like a naked, somewhat sinewy Greek god. He stopped next to Sven.
“Are you crazy? Get dressed and go home. We don’t know who saw us. The Gestapo or the police could show up and arrest us at any moment.”
“You don’t know what it’s like, having to hide away. For the first time in years I felthappy.” Mathieu spread his arms wide, emphasizing his words.
“Mathieu, you can’t search for happiness now. There’s a war going on. France is occupied by the Nazis, who are looking for people like ... like ...” He just couldn’t say it.
“Go on—people like us.” Mathieu’s expression was challenging. “Are you ashamed of us?”
“Ashamed? It’s not about that. I’m terrified that we’ll be caught. Your parents have kept you hidden for a reason. Doing what we didhere, letting ourselves be seen, was just stupid. Totally idiotic. I shouldn’t have stayed at the vineyard. I’ve exposed your family to ...”
Mathieu snorted. “Fine. Just go. You think I don’t know that you’re planning to return to the Legion?”
Sven shook his head slowly. “Not planning exactly. But they’re expecting me back, and soon they might start searching for me.”
“So you want to go back?” The look on Mathieu’s face was wary.
“I have to, eventually. I signed a contract.”
In fact, Sven wanted nothing more than to stay here with Mathieu. Of course he did, but the Legion would never allow it. As a deserter, he risked being sent to jail. If you joined the Foreign Legion, you had to remain loyal.
“A contract.” Another snort of derision. “As if soldiers haven’t already done enough?”
“We can’t talk about this now—someone has seen us.” Sven began to walk away, but Mathieu didn’t follow him. “Are you mad?”
Mathieu simply stood there, watching him go.
Sven hurried back to the vineyard and continued working on the vines from where he had left off, as if nothing had happened. He waited for Mathieu. Why, why had he gone with him? Why had he taken such a huge risk? What danger had he exposed Mathieu to?
He gazed over toward the edge of the forest on the other side of the vines. The minutes passed. Mathieu didn’t come.
What if something had happened to him? What if he’d already been arrested?
Eventually Mathieu emerged from the trees. Sven let out a long breath. He felt like throwing up with relief. His stomach turned over and he let out a sob. Hugo was working nearby and looked up, but Sven simply held up his hand.
Mathieu wandered along a row of vines. Hugo stared at him in surprise. It was almost nine o’clock; at this time Mathieu was usually indoors, working. Mathieu didn’t even glance in Sven’s direction, but continued into the house.
Sven sighed. Right now Mathieu was safe. He had no idea who had seen them, but right now Mathieu was safe.Mathieu is safe,he repeated over and over again in his mind, like a mantra.
The day passed, and Sven jumped at every sound from the road, but they were spared a visit from German soldiers, the Gestapo, or the French police.
