‘That is why I’m going to be staying here with Gaston.’
‘Do your parents know?’
‘Not yet. But they will be glad because it is not safe to stay at the farm,’ said Rachelle. ‘The German soldiers are becoming restless and there have been several incidents involving local girls.’
‘Oh no, not that.’ I immediately thought of Odile and what she had been through already. ‘I can’t leave Odile here.’
‘No, you can’t. In fact, you must take her with you,’ said Rachelle. ‘I will speak to Gaston and we’ll get her here in time.’
‘I wish you would come,’ I said. ‘I feel guilty about leaving.’
‘You mustn’t feel guilty. If you stay, you are putting yourself in danger and everyone else. They will be looking for you to make an example of you. And no matter how we would like to think your presence would be kept a secret, no offence, but you’re not local and the loyalty towards you will not be so strong. People are desperate. Someone will give you up.’
I knew this was true, much as it hurt. Marcel had said as much on the journey when I had tentatively suggested I stay in the forest camp.
The door to the shelter opened and Marcel stepped into the room, followed by Gaston.
‘It seems you’ve been causing quite a stir in Paris,’ said Gaston with a wry smile.
‘It didn’t quite go to plan,’ I confessed. ‘Not sure what I would have done without Marcel.’
‘So, we need to get you out of here and this man home for some medical treatment.’ Gaston gave Marcel a slap on the back, causing Marcel to wince.
‘What is the plan?’ asked Rachelle. ‘I’ve explained to Nathalie that I’m not going.’
‘And you’re certain about that?’ asked Gaston.
‘You know I am.’
‘I just wanted to check.Alors, we need to wait for the next moon, which is three nights’ time. There’s a plane coming in with supplies. We will swap you two and Odile. Tomorrow evening, we’ll bring Odile here.’
‘Will she be agreeable, do you think?’ asked Marcel.
‘She might not like it at first, but she will be happier knowing Nathalie is with her,’ said Rachelle. ‘I’m sure she would have liked you as a sister instead of me,’ she added with a laugh.
‘Ah, but we all love our crazy Parisian cousin,’ said Gaston good-humouredly.
‘We certainly do,’ said Marcel, exchanging a grin with me.
Gaston gave a small raise of his eyebrows but then smiled broadly. My heart skipped a beat at this unspoken seal of approval on our relationship.
As predicted, Odile had been hesitant about the plan, but after reassurances from her siblings and blessings from her parents, she had agreed.
I had noticed a decline in Marcel over the last three days and although he didn’t say anything and assured me he was all right, I could tell his shoulder was causing him a great deal of pain. He was having to hold it all the time. In the end, I had fashioned a sling from a sheet and insisted he wear it to support his arm.
‘Damn thing,’ he muttered, but accepted my help.
I could see the collarbone under the skin was at several different angles and realised it must have been shattered by the bullet. ‘You’re going to need surgery on that.’
‘Might be too late, but I expect the military docs will give it a good try,’ he replied.
Odile had been brought to the camp the night before and now, twenty-four hours later, we were huddled around the campfire, going over the plan to meet the aircraft.
‘The drop and pick have been brought forward an hour,’ said Gaston. ‘There is cloud coming in tonight and the British don’t want to attempt a landing with poor visibility.’
‘What time do we have to leave?’ I asked.
‘In one hour,’ replied Gaston. ‘Now, we have things to arrange before then. Make sure you’re ready.’
