really say anything more.’ He was a big man, with a wrestler’s build, but his manner was friendlier than his comrade’s.
‘Who are you all?’ David asked. ‘The man in front’s got a captain’s tabs.’
‘Used to be a regular soldier until Churchill left Parliament,’ the Yorkshireman answered. ‘Decided to help him “set Britain ablaze”. Remember that speech?’
‘And you two?’
‘We’re soldiers of the Resistance,’ the Cockney answered, ‘not forces of the Fascist state. We steal army uniforms as well as trucks. Two of the men who brought you here were real firemen, though. That’s their jobs finished, because of this,’ he added reproachfully. ‘They’re on the run now.’
‘So am I, pal,’ Ben said, an edge to his voice. ‘I had a safe job nursing in a loony bin for years till last week. That’s the price of servin’ the cause, eh?’
‘We’re all in it together,’ the Yorkshireman said gently.
The truck halted. They had only travelled a few streets. The thin Cockney shone his torch under the seats; David saw a number of canvas bags there. ‘Right,’ the Cockney said briskly, ‘everybody take a bag, get out and get changed.’
‘I want tae know where we’re going,’ Ben said stubbornly.
The Cockney shone the torch full in his face. ‘Listen, Jock. We lost good people tonight in London, thanks to you lot. So do as you’re fucking told. Now out, all of you.’
They were in a narrow street beside what looked like a small factory. A man was waiting there, a thin man in a bowler hat and a long coat; he looked like a rent collector. He went over to the captain, who had stepped out of the cab, and exchanged a few whispered words. Then he came over to Natalia. ‘You’re to come with me please, miss.’
Natalia glanced at David. She said to the man, ‘Can you give us a few moments?’
He nodded reluctantly. ‘All right. But just a minute.’ David and Natalia stepped away from the others. He said, ‘We – I’m sorry that—’
She smiled. ‘I’m not. How could I be? We’ll meet again soon.’ David looked at the group of soldiers, a dim huddle in the fog. Frank and Ben were changing into army uniform. ‘Will we?’
‘Yes. I’ll see you soon.’ She hesitated. ‘Though from what Eileen said your wife will be joining us.’
David took her hand. ‘Do you know, that was the first time I’ve ever been unfaithful to her?’
Natalia took a deep breath. ‘Then perhaps you were right, and it is over between you?’ She looked uncertain.
He didn’t answer. He couldn’t. The captain came over. ‘You have to leave now, miss,’ he said sternly. ‘And you –’ he gave David a look of disapproval – ‘you have to change into uniform. Now.’
Natalia leaned up and kissed David quickly. ‘Till later,’ she said with a sad smile. She touched his hand briefly, then went over to the man who had come for her. Without another word the two walked away, their shapes instantly swallowed up in the fog.
‘Come on,’ Ben called impatiently. David wondered what the Scotsman thought of him and Natalia; he hadn’t given any sign. Geoff might have disapproved, but Geoff was dead.
They changed quickly into thick, itchy army uniforms. They were all privates now. The uniform felt familiar to David, took him back to 1940. He adjusted his cap and felt in his pocket for the cyanide capsule he had transferred there. They climbed into the back of the truck again and it set off once more, rumbling slowly through the empty streets. Through the window into the cab David looked past the heads of the driver and the captain, outlined against the weak beams of the headlights. The road ahead was full of swirling fog.
‘How are you doing, old friend?’ he asked Frank quietly. He was sitting next to him; he seemed in a daze.
‘All right, I suppose. It’s strange wearing this uniform.’ He took a deep breath. ‘I’m sorry I ran, David, I broke my promise. But I thought we were going to be captured and I was the only one who didn’t have – you know, a pill.’
‘Where did you go?’
‘A church. The police were coming. This vicar found me. He helped me, got me to the Resistance people, gave me his jacket.’ He was silent again, then he said, ‘I keep thinking about Geoff.’
‘I know. He was a brave friend.’ He glanced at Ben, sitting on his other side. He was frowning.
‘You all right?’ David asked quietly.
‘I just wonder what they’re goin’ tae dae with us,’ Ben whispered. He looked at the Yorkshireman, then asked, ‘Where are we goin’ now?’
‘Out of town, that’s all I know.’
They passed through a busy area, the truck slowing to a crawl, inching along in the fog. Then they speeded up again for a while. Outside the fog seemed to be lifting a little. Then David heard the captain say from the cab, in a tense tone, ‘Here we go.’ Looking into the cab David saw a roadblock ahead, a wooden barrier across the road. The Cockney got up and pushed David aside to watch through the glass panel as the truck pulled to a halt. The Yorkshireman leaned across and tapped Frank on the knee.
‘We’re being stopped. But the captain will get us through okay.’ He spoke as though to a backward child. ‘You just keep quiet. All right?’
David whispered to Ben, ‘I suppose Frank’s pills are back at the O’Sheas’?’
‘The Largactil? Yes.’ A policeman appeared then, shining a torch into the cab. The captain wound the window down. ‘Evening, officer,’ he said confidently. The policeman saluted.
‘Where are you going, sir?’ he asked. His tone was respectfully polite but there was something worried, David thought, about his look.
‘Taking some men to the Jew camp at Dover. Guard duty. I’m going to be assisting the Commander.’ He handed a document to the policeman, who studied it by the light of his torch. ‘Having trouble with the Yids?’ he asked apprehensively.
‘No. Why should we be? But the camps need guards. Why the roadblock?’
‘Escaped terrorists. Three men and a woman, all in their thirties. They got away from a raid at New Cross. The Branch is pulling all the stops out on this one for some reason.’
‘Locking the stable door after the horse has bolted, eh?’
‘That’s about the size of it, sir,’ the policeman answered heavily.
‘We haven’t seen anybody. Though it’s hard to see your own hand in this fog.’
‘I know. Never seen anything like it. Strange night for – what’s happened in Germany.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Hitler’s dead. It’s official.’
The men in the back of the cab looked at each other, their faces suddenly bright. Frank said, ‘Did he say—’ The Yorkshireman leaned forward and put a hand over his mouth. ‘Shhhh.’
‘Are you sure?’ David heard the captain ask.
‘They’re saying at the police station that it’s true.’
‘Good God,’ the captain said. ‘What’ll happen now?’
‘Who knows?’ the policeman answered. ‘I hope the Jews don’t hear, that’s why I wondered if there might be trouble at the detention camps. Anyway, we’ve got to check all vehicles going out of London. Mind if I just have a look in the back?’
‘Be my guest.’ The captain leaned back and called out, ‘Open up!’
The Cockney private opened the canvas flaps. The policeman leaned in and shone his torch over the men, and under the benches. Ben said in a joking voice, ‘Wisnae anything to do with me, Constable, that missing crate of Spam in Aldershot!’ The others laughed. The policeman grunted and closed the flap. He waved them on, saluting the captain again as they passed. Everybody let out their breath and relaxed, except Frank, who sat staring rigidly ahead.
The captain slid open the glass partition. His face was animated now, excited. ‘You chaps hear that? They’re saying Hitler’s dead!’
‘That bastard, gone at last,’ the Yorkshireman said feelingly.
They weren’t stopped again, and they drove slowly but steadily on. David thought they were heading east rather than south but he wasn’t sure. He wondered where Natalia was, whether he would see her again. And Sarah.
