Page 21 of The French Wife

Amélie approached the bars. ‘Tomasz? Marcel?’ she called tentatively, her voice echoing on the bare walls.

The two men got up from the bench and came towards her, their shoulders hunched, dragging their feet. As they got closer, she was shocked to see that both had dirty, bloodied faces. Tomasz had a black eye that was purple and yellow around the edges, and Marcel’s cheekbone was swollen and bruised. Despite this, they were smiling, happy to see her, their eyes full of hope.

‘What did they do to you?’ she asked, aghast, trying to suppress tears of shock.

‘It doesn’t matter, madame,’ Tomasz said, glancing nervously towards the guards.

Only now Amélie noticed that the other prisoners on the bench each bore cuts and bruises on their faces as well.

‘It’s not right,’ she said. ‘It shouldn’t have happened.’

‘Please, madame, hush,’ Marcel said this time, nodding overtly towards the guards.

This time she took the hint.

‘Where is Lili?’ Amélie hoped she wasn’t battered and bruised like the men.

‘The women are in the next cell along,’ Tomasz told her, his eyes full of anguish. ‘I haven’t spoken to her since we arrived.’

‘I’ll go and see her in a moment. But, first, I’ve brought you something.’ She handed them the bag with two of the pies inside. ‘I’m sorry, I only had enough coupons for three. Perhaps you could share these with your cellmates?’

‘Of course.’ Marcel took the bag from her. ‘Thank you. Thank you, madame. It’s very kind.’

‘I’m so sorry this has happened to you,’ she said. ‘But I want you to know I’m doing everything I can to get you out of here.’

‘That is good of you, madame,’ Marcel said.

‘How long do you think we’ll be here?’ Tomasz asked. ‘They haven’t told us anything.’

‘I don’t know, I’m afraid. But you have my word I will do my very best and… well, I will come and see you every day until they let you go.’

One of the guards stepped forward then. ‘Time’s up!’ he said, looming over her with his rifle. ‘Your visit is over, madame.’

‘I need to see the other prisoner,’ she said. ‘The woman.’

The guard nodded briefly and ushered her along the corridor to another cell, similar to the one where the men were being held. There were three women inside, huddled on a bench. The other two were younger than Lili and had clearly been crying. Lili was pale, but seemed to be keeping herself together.

‘Madame!’ Her eyes lit up when Amélie approached. ‘Have you seen Tomasz and Marcel?’ she asked immediately. ‘How are they?’

‘They’re alright, Lili. How are you?’ Amélie did her best to keep her voice steady, but it was a shock to see dear Lili like this.

‘I’m bearing up. I’ve been trying to comfort these two.’

That was so typical of the older woman, thinking of others before herself.

‘I’ve brought you some food,’ Amélie said, slipping the last pie through the bars.

‘You’re so kind, madame,’ Lili said. ‘I will share it around.’

‘I’ll come again, don’t worry,’ Amélie assured her. ‘I’m doing everything I can to get you out of here.’

Lili took her hand through the bars and squeezed it. This time there were tears in her careworn eyes. ‘Thank you, madame.’

‘You must leave now,’ the guard behind Amélie said, taking her arm.

‘Goodbye, Lili,’ she said, injecting her voice with a hope she didn’t feel. ‘I will see you soon.’

As the door to the basement clanged shut behind her, she took a breath of the fresher air on the ground floor. Then she hurried on upstairs without stopping, fuelled by outrage and concern. Without giving herself time to reflect, she marched straight up to Hauptmann Bauer’s door and knocked on it again, her eyes still smarting with angry tears.