Chapter Three
Emile had been sitting at the table outside the café in Sainte Martin for more than an hour. George was late but he knew only too well that transport was unreliable these days and he had waited longer for a contact in the past. He had been to this café before but not for a while and couldn't help thinking that the two cups of coffee he had drunk were even worse than the last time he was here. He tried not to make of habit of using the same places too often but it had been convenient to meet here today. He had information for George that he needed her to relay to Louis. It was urgent information and he hoped the wireless operator had found somewhere safe from which to transmit.
During the past few days Emile had been too busy to think much about George and he was glad. He had kept his mind on the job in hand and that was by far the safest way to be. Even waiting here in the square on such a lovely day he still couldn't allow himself the luxury of day dreaming. He was ever alert to potential danger as he had soon learned that you could trust none but your closest associates. Whilst the vast majority of citizens tried to simply go about their own business without impacting on anyone else there were others willing to betray strangers, colleagues, friends and even members of their own family for a whole variety of reasons amongst which money and personal grudges often mattered more than the rights and wrongs of this war.
It was almost with a jolt of sudden recognition that Emile noticed George when she finally appeared in the square. It was stupid to be surprised at the sight of her even though he had been expecting it but he knew he was still struggling with the idea that she was here and although he couldn't change it he wished that she wasn't. However, he was relieved that she had made the rendezvous without mishap and glad to see that she was approaching with caution but affecting a reasonably casual air. She had clearly learned well at the 'Finishing School'. He had work for her to do and he couldn't waste any longer sitting here. He was about to raise his hand and affect the scenario of a man greeting his lover which he had decided would be appropriate in the circumstances when he saw a German soldier round the corner at pace and start hurrying across the square. He realised within seconds that the man was in pursuit of George but she hadn't noticed him yet.
Emile felt his nerves become taut as he anticipated the moment the German soldier would draw level with George and already he was sizing up the situation, visibly checking the exits from the square and wondering if the soldier would pull out a gun. He hadn't done so yet and Emile, unarmed as it was too risky when in town, evaluated the build of the man and reckoned that if he moved quickly he could probably knock the soldier down with the element of surprise on his side. It might be enough of a distraction for himself and George to get out of here before reinforcements arrived.
He waited, anticipating what might follow and then the soldier shouted at George to wait. She stopped in evident surprise and turned her head towards the man and in that same moment Emile also froze. Then the soldier reached out his hand to her and seemed to be offering her something. Emile caught a few words that sounded like, "Your papers," and saw George affect what appeared to be a grateful smile. She took the papers from him, said something else and the soldier replied looking stern. Then to Emile's relief he saw the man turn and walk back in the direction from which he had come. George put the papers in her handbag and continued towards the café. He could see the relief in her eyes and knew that it matched his own.
As George arrived at the café, Emile stood up, placed some money on the table and made to walk past her in the narrow space between the chairs, brushing against her slightly as she drew level with him.
"Pardon me, Mademoiselle." He then lowered his voice as he side-stepped past her adding, "Fifteen minutes, the church, last pew on the right."
If George was surprised at this sudden change of plan nothing showed in her face. She barely looked in Emile's direction before seating herself at an empty table, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs in a casual manner that showed her to be entirely unconcerned. Despite the disquieting scene that had just taken place, Emile was impressed at her sang-froid but he wasted no time and strolled away intending to take a slow meandering route to the church looking out for any stooges en-route. He was impressed by the way she had handled herself just now but he had other less favourable thoughts on what had passed and had every intention of telling her later.
X-X-X-X
"Why did you tell me to come here?"
George was sitting in the pew at the back of the church having entered a few minutes ago. When she had entered from the bright light outside into the quiet, cool, darkness within she had struggled for a moment to take in her surroundings as her eyes adjusted to the gloom. She had waited a little longer than the fifteen minutes Emile had suggested, after ordering a coffee and feeling she should look as if she was not in a hurry. Never having been to Sainte Martin before she needed time to get her bearings but hearing the bell from the church toll a few minutes later, she was able to gauge the direction in which to walk when she left the café. She was careful and made sure to check she was not being followed before entering the church. It appeared to be empty and not knowing what else to do she simply bowed her head to the altar and slipped into the final pew, opened a prayer book and gave every appearance of being in silent contemplation
A minute later, Emile, who had evidently been waiting out of sight, slipped into the pew and sat a few feet away.
"I couldn't risk staying at the café after that incident," he whispered, "They might have been watching. What happened just now?"
George was loathe to tell him the mistake she had made in her haste to get away from the bus but Emile had witnessed the aftermath and there was no hiding her lack of thought. "I forgot to take my papers at the checkpoint. The solider brought them back and told me to be more careful."
Emile was scornful. "He's right you must be more careful. You can't afford to do things like that. You won't be so lucky next time."
"I know," George replied through clenched teeth. "I'm sorry."
He heard the anger in her voice and risked a glance at her. She was angry with herself he could see it in the set of her jaw as she stared, unseeing, at the prayer book in her hands. She was right to be angry but it hadn't been all bad and he took pity.
"You handled it well." He paused. "You handled him well."
"Don't patronise me."
"I'm not."
He hadn't meant it to sound that way but George had formed her opinion and he knew it was pointless to continue. He turned to the matters in hand.
"I have a message for Louis. It's imperative that he sends it on his next sched."
He slowly passed a small piece of wafer-thin paper along the pew. "You know what to do with this?"
She turned her head a fraction and he caught the annoyed look in her eye that told him it wasn't necessary to ask her. She reached out to take the paper and he grasped her by the wrist, his fingers tightening as she sought to pull her hand back.
"This isn't a game. It has to work, Madeleine."
She stared at his hand around her wrist and felt conflicting emotions. She had spent a long time trying to erase his memory from her mind and sometimes she thought she had succeeded but just the contact from the pressure of his hand around her wrist was unsettling her. For every time she had told herself she detested him there had still been a whisper that told her she was wrong but this situation was very different. He was the Circuit Commander and no matter what she thought of him she had to do what was asked of her without question and without causing any conflict. Real lives depended upon her.
She looked him in the eyes. "It will work."
He let go of her wrist and she quickly folded the note and put it away in her handbag, placing it in a hidden compartment at the bottom. She made as if to stand up and leave but Emile stopped her.
"There's something else."
She waited without looking at him.
"I need you to go to Granville tomorrow, collect a package and bring it back."
He could see that George was thinking about this. Granville was a large, industrial town about forty kilometres from here and she knew she would need to use the train to travel there.
"Go to the Pharmacy in Rue des Cloches, near the Hotel de Ville and ask to see the Pharmacist, Monsieur Robert. Tell him you have come to collect the Medicine for Madame Joubert. He'll give you the package and you need to bring it to the Clement farm at La Chapelle. You'll find it just beyond the crossroads to the west of the village."
"What's in the package?"
Emile gave a half-smile and inclined his head in a way that told George she shouldn't ask. It was a look she knew well and in that same moment it reminded her so acutely of other times when he had been teasing her and trying to be evasive about something but then it would have ended with them both laughing, with him pulling her into his arms and kissing her. Her heart seemed to beat a little more quickly and more painfully at the memory but the serious look had returned to Emile's face.
"Just bring it back as soon as you can and…" he hesitated as if he wasn't sure whether to say anymore, "be careful."
George glanced at him wondering if he simply couldn't help being concerned for her in spite of everything that had gone before. He was watching her but when he saw her eyes turned on him he added, "For everyone's sake. It's important."
She nodded feeling annoyed with herself for even thinking something as stupid as that at a moment like this. None of this was about her and Emile was letting her know as much.
George rose and walked away as quietly as she could, her feet lightly tapping on the flagstone floor. Emile remained in the pew, head bowed, listening to the sound of her footsteps. He heard the heavy church door open and close with a small echo and he remembered another day, a world away from here, when she had left him. He hadn't known then that when the door closed behind her it would be the last time he would see her. For a few moments he wished he could talk to her and tell her the truth of what had happened but he was afraid to raise the subject here and now. The next few weeks would be crucial for the circuit's plans. If Henri was successful in getting the backing he hoped from London, they would be working flat-out. He had been in France for more than four months and he had put all his energies and concentration into his work. It was challenging and the dangers were unremitting and there was no room for anything personal. It would be wrong to say anything now as much for her sake as his own. He raised his head from his mock devotions and staring ahead, seeing light flooding through the large stained glass windows in the distance illuminating the altar, he offered up a real and silent prayer. Let all be well in the world.
X-X-X-X
The express train to Granville was crowded and George had been unable to find a seat. She stood in the corridor with other passengers, acutely conscious of a small contingent of German soldiers at the end of the carriage near the door. She was still finding it difficult to see enemy soldiers on what seemed like every street corner even though the vast majority showed no more interest in her than they would in any pretty girl they happened to see passing. She wished right now that she could move away because she had seen one or two looks thrown in her direction and heard a few comments accompanied by some raucous laughter that made her feel uncomfortable. She recalled one of the instructors at the 'Finishing School' remarking that her looks could work both ways and at the time she hadn't been sure what he meant but now she realised that he was referring to the fact that she might attract notice. Her best hope, however, was to use her appearance to her advantage and to deflect suspicion as much as she could. She tried to avoid eye contact with the soldiers and in any case she was aware that the majority of her fellow passengers would be bearing their disgust at the presence of their conquerors with silent stoicism and it wouldn't be wise to behave any differently.
The return journey, yesterday, from Sainte Martin had, thankfully, been uneventful and George had left the message for Louis at an agreed drop. She knew he would check all the drop locations later and collect and transmit the message. Any reply would be returned for her to collect and relay on to Emile.
The train was slowing on its approach to Granville and George focused her mind on what she needed to do. She could obtain directions for the Hotel de Ville at the station and find Rue des Cloches from there. She would, however, need to take her time and check out the area before committing to entering the Pharmacy. As Granville station came into view George could see it was a busy place with passengers crowding the platform waiting to board as the express train continued on its way south to Lyons. It appeared that the soldiers at the end of the carriage were not disembarking here as they showed no signs of preparing to leave. As it came to a final stop George realised that she had no option but to make her way to the exit from the carriage, pushing past the small group as she did so. There was laughter and some jostling at her appearance and despite the fact that she wanted to run as fast as she could in the opposite direction she forced herself to smile politely and utter, "Excuse me." To her embarrassment one of the soldiers, in a show of bravado and mock gallantry, decided to jump down onto the platform and offer his hand to her as she stepped down. She was loathe to play along but forced herself to take the proffered hand and utter a shy, "Thank you," before walking away without looking back.
Ahead she could see a queue forming and realised there would be yet another check on the papers of passengers. It was inevitable in the larger towns and she thought about the reason she was here and the fact that, all being well, she would be returning in possession of a very important package. The last thing she wanted was to be stopped and questioned on departure or arrival anywhere else. There was another much quieter station a few kilometres further up the line at Vercourt and she decided there and then not to risk coming back through here. She could pick up a slower local train from a quieter station.
The queue moved slowly but on this occasion the officer checking the papers gave no more than a cursory glance at them before handing them back to George. She walked out through the station buildings and seeing a newspaper stand outside the main entrance asked directions for the Hotel de Ville. She was relieved to hear that it wasn't far but set out at a leisurely pace, ensuring that she stopped every so often to browse in shop windows and check in the reflection that no one was following her. She crossed the street a couple of times and on one occasion she paused, bending over to remove an invisible stone from her shoe whilst taking a surreptitious look around her. She spotted no signs of anyone in pursuit and on reaching the Hotel de Ville she continued walking until she found the turning on the right which lead to Rue des Cloches. Halfway down the street she could see the pharmacy.
George strolled along the road passed the pharmacy and glanced in through the window as she did so. She could see a young woman behind the counter but no sign of a man. She continued along the road stopping to look at the dull and dilapidated displays in a few other shop windows whilst weighing up what to do next. She hadn't been told any time to arrive and assumed that Monsieur Robert would be sure to be present all day knowing that someone would be arriving to collect the package. She carried out a few more security checks until satisfied that all seemed in order she decided to return to the pharmacy and risk entering.
The shop was empty of any other customers when she opened the door and she was glad of it. The young, fair-haired woman behind the counter looked up and smiled a welcome and George asked tentatively, "Could I speak to Monsieur Robert, please?"
The woman looked concerned, "I' m sorry, he's not well today."
George was slightly thrown by this and her mind started turning over the possibilities. This could be code for the fact that he wasn't here because he had been arrested although surely the woman could have said something more obvious if that was the case. Alternatively, she might be working for the Germans knowing that someone would be calling to see Monsieur Robert and they could be waiting to arrest George if she asked for the medicine for Madame Joubert. Her inclination was to make an excuse and walk away but she wondered if leaving without saying anything else might be more suspicious. She thought she could safely venture one further question before leaving and then she could decide what to do next.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Do you think he'll be better tomorrow?"
"Was it something urgent?" The woman asked.
George hesitated. The woman hadn't answered her question. George looked at the neutral expression on the other woman's face. She couldn't tell if she was hiding anything. Was it possible that she was pressing George to utter the incriminating words? She tried another tack.
"It's a personal matter." She leaned over the counter in what she hoped was a gesture that conveyed embarrassment and lowered her voice, "a small personal problem…I'm sure you know the sort of thing I mean."
The woman nodded as if understanding her awkwardness. "I see. Wait here a moment."
She walked away from George to the rear of the shop and disappeared through the curtains leading to the back. George had no idea what she had gone to do and instinctively she glanced to her left out of the shop windows to check if there was anyone outside. The pavement was clear. She could see no one walking towards the shop or standing across the road watching and there were no cars parked nearby but that didn't preclude the possibility that Abwehr officers were waiting in the back of the shop. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she wondered once again whether to run and then she heard the woman call.
"Papa, there's a customer in the shop who needs to speak to you."
George glanced again towards the street. A man in an overcoat and black hat was crossing the road heading towards the shop but there was still time to walk out of here if she was quick. She was paralysed by uncertainty. She could be about to ruin everything or she could be about to save herself.
The curtain at the back of the shop parted and a tall, grey-haired man in his fifties with a slight stoop stepped through. From the moment George saw him it was obvious to her that he wasn't well and when he spoke she could hear that he was clearly suffering from a very heavy cold. She hid her relief and immediately apologised for making the poor man get up to see her.
"I'm so sorry to see that you are not well, Monsieur Robert."
The man shook his head. "It's no matter. My daughter, Louise, is very protective of me." He smiled at her and she saw kindness in his eyes. "How can I can I help you, Mademoiselle?"
"I'm here to collect the medicine for Madame Joubert."
A realisation of why she had been so insistent upon seeing him dawned at once. He nodded at her. "One moment. I'll fetch it for you."
He disappeared behind the curtain and once again George glanced to her left and saw to her dismay that the man in the overcoat was at the door of the shop about to come in. He seemed to be alone and she couldn't see anyone else nearby not that this was any guarantee of his innocence. He entered the shop and nodding at George said, "Good morning, Mademoiselle."
George thought that she could hear the hint of an accent in his voice. He didn't sound French but she couldn't be sure. However, she replied automatically, "Good morning."
The man turned away and appeared to be browsing and George tried to look calm as she waited for Monsieur Robert to return. The curtains parted and the Pharmacist stepped through into the shop bearing a parcel that was much larger than George had anticipated. As he walked into the shop he took in the sight of the man who had just entered and casually called, "I will be with you in a moment, Monsieur."
He made his way around to George in an unhurried manner smiling as he reached her.
"Here we are." He placed the package wrapped in brown paper and tied with string onto the counter in front of George. "Be sure to remind Madame that she should take three spoonfuls of the syrup each morning and dilute one teaspoon of the other in water and take that before bed. "
George nodded. "Thank you, I will."
"There should be plenty there for a few weeks."
George opened her bag and began searching for her purse realising that to keep up the pretence she should appear to be paying for the medicines but Monsieur Robert stopped her. "I will put these on Madame's account."
George inclined her head. "Of course, thank you."
She closed her bag and lifted the package from the counter. It was heavier than she had expected and certainly heavier than a few bottles of medicine would be. However, she pretended that it was of little consequence and balanced it under one arm.
"Goodbye, Monsieur!"
"Goodbye!"
George turned away and could see the man in the overcoat waiting behind her watching the transaction. She took a few steps towards the door and heard Monsieur Robert address the man asking if he could help him with anything. As she opened the door she clearly heard the man ask for something to help with lumbago and shutting the door behind her breathed a sigh of relief.
However, any relief was short-lived. She still needed to negotiate the journey to the Clement Farm at La Chapelle and now she was carrying an awkward, heavy and conspicuous parcel. She glanced to her left and right checking once again that she could see nothing suspicious in the street before heading back towards the Hotel de Ville to find a bus that could take her to the village of Vercourt. If her first instinct on arriving at Granville had been not to risk travelling back from the station because of the security checks, the fact that she was now carrying an unwieldy package containing goodness knows what incriminating evidence, convinced her that she should take a different route and she set out determined to give herself the best possible chance of completing the task she had been given safely and successfully.