I do feel sorry for the Norwegians. I saw some photos in the newspaper of the bombings the Luftwaffe have been hitting them with. It must be like living in a nightmare to have enemy troops pouring into your towns and not being able to do anything about it. I can’t even begin to imagine how they’re coping with it all.
Oh! I almost forgot. While we were whiling away the time in France waiting for our flight over the Fatherland, Rob and I and some of the others went round to their local café for some coffee. While we were there, Rob fell to talking with one of the locals. They didn’t seem to very concerned at all about the possibility of an invasion. It seems that most of the French think that the Maginot will protect them. I was rather surprised that no one over there seems very worried. It made me think of the fun side of your family, in Paris. Are they of the same mind? Or will they leave France? Rob seems to think they’ll stay, even though your mother would be thrilled to have them come here. Do you think they will? I’d love to meet them.
I hope you return soon. I miss you. I’ll drive down to Northolt to see you. Just let me know when.
Always yours,
FO Miles Lacey
RAF Duxford
Outside Namsos
Evelyn looked through the binoculars at the wide river below separating her from the port town of Namsos. The bridge spanning it looked clear, and there was no sign of a German truck or soldier in sight. She breathed a silent sigh of relief. Turning her head slightly, she looked to the left where she could just make out large shapes in the distant harbors.
“They’re there,” she said, lowering the binoculars and passing them back to Erik. “I can just make them out in the harbor.”
“Yes.” He took them and passed her a folded road map. “Here. Take this in case you need it. This was from Peder’s car. It’s not as good as the one we’ve been using, but it will help you in a pinch.”
“I hardly think I’ll need it,” she said with a smile, taking it nonetheless. “It’s a straight shot across the bridge and through the town to the docks. I’ll be fine, but thank you.”
She began to remove the rifle slung across her body, but he laid a hand on her arm to stop her, shaking his head.
“No. You keep it. You may have need of it yet.”
“It does look odd, though,” Anna said with a grin. “A woman walking through town dressed in farming clothes, carrying a suitcase, and wearing a gun. I would look twice.”
Evelyn looked down at herself and, for first time since this five-day ordeal had begun, seemed to realize just how ridiculous she looked. She grimaced comically, wondering what on earth her London crowd would say if they saw her now. The grimace turned into a faint look of horror and she was suddenly very grateful that she was hundreds of miles away.
“I look a sight,” she agreed, shaking her head. “You don’t think I’ll be stopped, do you?”
“Not likely,” he assured her with a smile. “There are too many people fleeing the Germans with nothing but what was on their backs. You may look odd, but so do many others.”
Anna grinned. “We’re a long way from the Hotel Bistro, ja?”
Evelyn met her eyes and couldn’t stop the laugh that sprang to her lips. “A very long way,” she agreed. “Oh God, it’s probably filled with Germans troops now. What a ghastly thought!”
She handed Anna Peder’s radio, taking her suitcase in return. Smiling sadly, she glanced down at the radio case.
“Promise me you’ll get that to Kristian and get it fixed and working again,” she said. “It seems like the least we can do for him.”
Erik smiled faintly. “We will. It will honor his memory when we continue to use it,” he promised. “Don’t worry.”
“How will I contact you once it’s working again?” Anna asked.
Evelyn swallowed the sudden lump that came to her throat. This was it. She was really saying goodbye to the companions that had been through so much with her in such a short amount of time. It was like saying goodbye to family, only worse because she knew she would never see them again.
“I could give you the frequency, but I have a feeling that will change when I get back,” she said. “But our people in London will know the call sign of this radio. We’ll reach out to you.”
Anna nodded then smiled, her eyes meeting hers. “Be sure that you do,” she said. “I fully intend on continuing what we started together.”
Evelyn nodded. “I know you will. Thank you.” She hesitated for a moment, then, “And thank you for everything you’ve done since I arrived. I’m so sorry it all turned out this way, and I’m so very sorry about Peder. I never meant for...”
Anna shushed her, shaking her head and putting a hand on her shoulder.
“None of us did. This was never supposed to happen. But it did, and we must all do the best we can with what time we have now. Peder made his choice when he came to tell me about the ships outside Oslofjorden. He was not your responsibility. You must stop feeling that he was. The Germans would have come, whether you were here or not. I’m just happy I was in a position to be able to get you this far.”
She gave her a fierce hug then pulled away.
“You take care of yourself, Marlene, and I’ll see you the next time you come to visit.”
Evelyn nodded and smiled, not trusting herself to speak. Instead, she turned to Erik.
“I think I owe the most to you,” she said, holding out her hand. “Thank you.”
He gripped her hand and nodded brusquely.
“You’re welcome.” His fingers tightened on hers suddenly
