“How...how do you know?”
“Peder got a message today from Kristian. He came to my apartment shortly after I arrived home tonight,” Anna explained. “Kristian was able to piece together enough from numerous radio messages to determine that a German invasion force is on its way. When Peder found out, he began monitoring radio traffic as well. He heard from a friend in Horten that large ships passed there not three hours ago.”
“Marlene, dear, you must hurry,” Else told her, walking over to her and grabbing her hand. “If the Germans are coming, you must leave! You can still make it to the border with Sweden, but only if you leave now.”
Evelyn stared at the older woman, trying desperately to think clearly. Her mind was clamoring to make sense of what she was hearing. Even though she had suspected it was coming, hearing the confirmation now was almost surreal.
“Yes,” she said, forcing herself to focus. “Yes, of course.”
“Suitcase?” Anna prompted.
“It’s under the bed.” Evelyn took a deep, ragged breath and turned towards the bed.
“I will help you pack,” Anna said, turning towards the wardrobe.
“I’ll go downstairs and tell the young man you will be down shortly,” Else said, turning to the door. “Hurry!”
She went out the door, closing it softly behind her, and Evelyn blinked. With the closing of the door, the fog in her brain seemed to evaporate and she gasped softly as the severity of the situation suddenly became clear to her.
“How do we know that this isn’t a false alarm?” she asked, pulling the suitcase out and lifting it onto the bed.
“We don’t,” Anna admitted, coming away from the wardrobe with an armful of skirts and blouses. “Although, I don’t see what else German ships would be doing coming up Oslofjord, do you?”
Evelyn took one of the warmer skirts from Anna and tossed it onto the foot of the bed before turning to go to the wardrobe to pull out a blouse and sweater to wear with it.
“I suppose not,” she admitted. “I don’t know why I’m so taken aback. We knew it was coming.”
Anna glanced at her. “I don’t think either of us expected it to happen tonight,” she replied, quickly folding the clothes she’d taken from the wardrobe and setting them in the suitcase. “I know I didn’t.”
Evelyn dressed quickly, her mind spinning, while Anna pulled the rest of the clothes from the wardrobe. Not only could she not be here when the Germans came into the city, but she had to get out of Norway before they closed the borders. The Gestapo and SS were already aware of her and what she looked like. She had to get out before they knew she was here. But could she reach the border in time?
“Can I make it to the Swedish border?” she asked, bending to slip on her shoes.
“Peder has his car, so it’s possible,” Anna said. “Let’s make sure the threat is real, although I’m sure it is, and then we’ll decide which is the best way to go.”
“How will we do that?”
“I know a place on the edge of the city that overlooks Oslofjorden. If there are ships, we’ll be able to see them from there.”
Evelyn nodded and stood up, crossing to the desk next to the window. She opened her square toiletries case and began packing her toiletries away quickly. Strangely, her hands were steady and she realized with a start that her heart was beating normally. The shock had worn off already, and in its place was a quiet sense of purpose. It was time to move. She had known this could happen, and now that it had, she seemed almost prepared.
“And Peder?”
“He said he will help get you out of Norway.” Anna looked up from the suitcase with a faint smile. “And that he is now willing to trade information to the British.”
Evelyn nodded curtly and finished packing her belongings into the toiletries case. She closed and locked it, then turned to look at Anna. The other woman was just closing the suitcase.
“Thank you.”
Anna nodded. “Don’t mention it. Now, is that everything? There’s nothing left?”
Evelyn looked around and shook her head, reaching for her coat.
“No, that’s everything. I travel light.”
“Thank God for that. The less we have to get out of the country, the easier it will be.” Anna lifted the case off the bed and turned towards the door. “I brought one case with me and crammed it with everything I could fit. I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back for the rest.”
Evelyn looked at her sympathetically. “What will you do?”
Anna shrugged. “Go to my parents. They are near Trollheimen. Beyond that, I don’t know. I’ll worry about that later. Right now, let’s get you out of Oslo.”
Evelyn nodded and they turned towards the door.
“We need to move quietly,” she said. “If none of the other guests have woken already, I don’t want to wake them now.”
“If the Germans are in Oslofjorden, they’ll be woken soon enough,” Anna said, reaching for the door. “But I agree. Let’s get you out of here and leave the others to their own fate.”
2 am
Evelyn stared through the binoculars and felt her blood run cold. She pressed her lips together, her heart thudding in her chest. She counted three...no, four large, silent ships in the water beyond the opening to inner Oslofjord. The dark shapes were unmistakable in the moonlight, and their very silence was more ominous than if they had their guns blazing.
“Not a false alarm, then,” she murmured, studying the ships. “What are they waiting for?”
“Dawn,” Anna said. “At least, that’s my guess. The German ambassador will have to issue a statement to our government. They won’t do anything until then.”
Evelyn lowered the binoculars and glanced at Peder, leaning over his radio a few
