‘Or tortured to death quicker,’ Dido said. ‘Who else knows?’
‘No one. I’m going to tell Jack. And Stefan … I’ve not told him yet.’
‘Why now? Why are you telling us all now?’
‘Because I’m going to ask Jack to get her off the island. And Stefan because …’
‘Because you love him?’
Persey looked away. She could not tell her she loved Stefan. She could not tell her what he had done for her. She could not tell Dido she had killed someone. She just couldn’t. She didn’t want to say any of it out loud ever again.
When Stefan had told her the Nazi authorities had decreed the sentry’s death a tragic accident, his footing obviously misplaced on the bicycle pedal or that he was too close to the cliff edge,Persey had cried. Fresh tears of relief and shame had fallen from her face. The less Dido knew, about everything, about all of that, the better for everyone, especially now that the landlady was writing a letter to inform on both Persey and Dido. They would be called in for questioning. The less Dido knew, the safer she would be.
But there were some things Dido did need to know. ‘I’m telling you for a different reason. Lise’s old landlady saw you in town with your man. She says she’s going to name you in a letter to the Gestapo, alongside myself, in being culpable in Lise having dodged deportation.’
‘How does she know about Lise? How does she know you have her?’
‘She doesn’t. She’s guessing.’
‘She’s guessed correctly,’ Dido said. ‘What will happen if we’re named in a letter?’
‘They’ll come for us. They’ll search the house for her. They’ll watch our movements. They’ll pull us in for questioning. I don’t know what form that will take, but …’ She thought back to Stefan’s revelation that if Jack were to be questioned about his half-thought-out story as to how he’d got back on the island that he would be begging for his mother by the end of it. Would they do that to Dido? They couldn’t do it to her if she wasn’t here.
‘What about the Durands?’ Dido asked. ‘They’ll be safe if no one knows she’s there. I take it you aren’t going there again now?’
‘No I’m not. It’s not worth the risk. She’s leaving with Jack. I’m to telephone to give her an hour’s notice. I’m not to speak. And then I’m to replace the receiver. But, Dido,’ Persey continued, ‘you’re going to be named in the letter, so I need you to leave with Jack and Lise. I need to protect you. I’ve looked at the tide timetable and at the weather and given Mrs Renouf is writing her letter and could even have hand-delivered it by now … I think you should all leave tonight.’
Dido looked horror-struck. ‘I’m not leaving.’
‘What? Why not? You have the chance to leave. Why not take it?’
‘Because I’m happy, for the first time in such a long time, I’m actually happy.’
‘Dido,’ Persey pleaded. ‘You’re going to be named in a letter. To the Gestapo! If we don’t all move as soon as possible, it’s going to be too late!’
‘I don’t want to go,’ Dido said. ‘I’ll do what I can to help Jack and your friend leave but I’m not leaving Guernsey. I’m not leaving Deux Tourelles. It’s my home. Are you leaving?’
‘No,’ Persey said. ‘Of course not.’
‘So why are you trying to make me leave?’
‘To keep you safe. To keep you away from all of this for what remains of the war. To stop you being questioned. I can’t bear the thought of anyone hurting you, Dido. Once they suspect you of one thing they’ll never leave you alone. They’ll watch you forever!’
‘But they’ll do the same to you.’
‘Yes,’ Persey said.
‘It’s all right for you to be brave but not for me?’ Dido asked.
‘Oh, Dido …’ Persey put her head in her hands.
‘What if they don’t get away safely?’ Dido asked eventually, changing the subject.
‘I’m going to help them get away. I have to know they’ve gone.’
‘You can’t stop them getting caught,’ Dido reasoned.
‘I might be able to. I have to take Lise to Jack. I have to know she’s made it and then after that, it’s up to Jack.’
