The blood drained from the young soldier's face, and he started to tremble.

"Uh-"

"Well, get me a coffee, and then you can tell me these stories you've heard. I'll become acquainted with your young friend here in the meantime."

To Marie's horror, Landa pulled up a chair and sat down beside her. Sigmund, whose face was now almost white, got up from his seat nervously and approached the counter.

"Play along, now, Marie."

Marie looked at him, trembling, her countenance a mixture of loathing and fear. He gestured with a small nod of his head to his hand, which was pointing a pistol at her under the table.

"Did Clotilde tell you?" He asked, smirking.

Marie didn't answer, but turned her head away from him, and snorted derisively.

"I'll take that as a yes." He said quietly, and chucked.

Sigmund returned to the table carrying a cup of coffee. Struggling to control his shaking hand, he placed it in front of Landa.

Landa took one sip before remarking acerbically, "Disgusting." He turned to Sigmund with a smile, and began speaking to him in German. Marie, who was hereafter unable to follow the conversation, looked around the café, observing the residents of O- go about their daily business. She could hear a note of vulnerability in Private Wader's voice; his own fear and uncertainty. Landa however spoke with a kind of aloof authority; it had never crossed his mind to doubt his actions or their consequences.

Switching suddenly back to French, Landa addressed Marie with a smile, "So, are you going to tell me your name?"

Marie was confused, but remembering the pistol under the table answered, "Marie. Marie Rousseau."

"Aha. And do you live here in O-?"

"No, B-."

"Oh, I see. Did you have a reason for coming here today?"

Marie's mouth opened slightly as she struggled to think of a reason, and for several torturous moments she remained silent.

"I was visiting someone."

"Oh? Do you have family here?"

Marie's voice was wavering as she continued, "Yes, an aunt and uncle."

She did, in fact, have a maternal aunt and uncle who lived in O-. However, her mother had severed all contact with them years ago.

"I see," Landa replied, taking another sip of his coffee.

"Excusez-moi," Wader interjected, "I must use the bathroom."

Marie watched him leave anxiously, her eyes pleading with him to stay.

"So," Landa began, "Why did you really come here?"

Marie was taken aback by the frankness of the question, and answered tonelessly, "I came to visit family."

Landa, who had been reclining in his chair, leaned forward dangerously, and said harshly, "Now, don't lie to me. Why are you here?"

Marie kept her face expressionless, and answered once more, "I've already told you, Monsieur."

Marie could see a glint of anger in his eye, and began to feel fear rising in her throat. Fortunately, before he could act, Sigmund sat down between them, smiling nervously.

Landa sighed, and said scornfully, "I suppose I shall leave you. Take care."

It was only when he had left the café that Marie allowed herself to sigh a sigh of relief. She noticed that her companion had done the same.

"I should go home." Marie said awkwardly, with her gaze on the floor.

Sigmund stood up immediately, "I will walk with you."

Marie grimaced, but on seeing his disappointed face she assented.

Marie felt uncomfortable walking with him. She was worried that someone might see them: what would people think? The road back to B- was one she had walked many times, but on this occasion she felt apprehensive.

Sigmund tried several times to strike up a conversation, but Marie's answers were monosyllabic: better not to encourage him, she thought.

However, she soon found her mind wandering. He was attractive. Blond hair, blue eyes, a fair complexion – there was something to be said for that, wasn't there. On realizing what she had been thinking Marie suddenly felt embarrassed. She could have counted the men she knew on one hand, and none of them presented any realistic prospect of a relationship to her. She had never experienced attraction before, and the experience frightened her.

She became aware of Sigmund's hand brushing against hers, and she blushed deeply. Reluctantly she allowed his fingers to curl around hers – as he did she could feel the hair on her arms stand on end.

Marie and Sigmund continued along the road in silence, the tension between them almost tangible.

Eventually Sigmund could bear it no longer, he turned on her and dived in order to press his lips against hers. Marie's immediate reaction was to recoil, and pushed him away frantically. She wiped his saliva from her mouth, and screamed, "What are you doing?"

"I was kissing you!" the soldier shouted angrily. Marie shrank on the spot at the ferocity of his reaction. Her replied weakly, "I have to go home.", but before she had even taken a step he lunged forward and grabbed her arm roughly, muttering "tease!" under his breath.

Marie immediately began to struggle against him, but this only infuriated the soldier further. In frustration he swung out his arm and hit her in the face, causing her to stagger and fall to the ground.

Marie touched her fingers against her nose, and seeing droplets of blood began to sob. She felt Sigmund grab a fistful of her hair and force her to her feet.

Marie felt disoriented; her head was spinning. In a blur she could see Sigmund as he turned her to face him.

"Don't hurt me. Please, don't hurt me," she begged weakly.

"I should hurt you," he spat in reply.

Her surroundings were still in a haze, but the voices of a number of men threw them back into sharp relief.

"What are you doin' to that girl, ya kraut bastard?"