“It’s hard to believe that not even three weeks have gone by since you were here,” Claude said after they had walked a ways into the fields. Then he sighed. “You didn’t come to rescue Ferrand?”
“Officially, I’m not here for Ferrand. Where is your brother? Bring me up to date.”
“He stays in an apartment he found in the ruins of Dunkirk,” Claude said. “His sister-in-law, Anna, knows where it is. She’s like a courier to him, but it’s very dangerous for her. She works at the battalion headquarters where this Nazi SS vermin, Bergmann, has his office.” He leaned back and furrowed his brow. “I worry about Anna. She’s old and should not be working so hard, but she gets valuable information. If we manage to rescue Ferrand, I think she’ll be in even greater danger, so we need to think of pulling her out.”
He provided further detail, and Jeremy absorbed it. When Claude had finished, Jeremy explained that the MI-9’s concern was to preserve the network that Ferrand had established, assist in training for more effective resistance, and pass intelligence back to headquarters; but mainly, to be ready to help the large number of British and allied airmen and soldiers expected to pass through when the war was brought back to the Germans.
“We will be bombing targets in Germany and France,” he said. “Planes will be shot down. Crews will be on the ground evading capture. Others will get caught and then escape. Soldiers will be separated from their units. We need the network in place to help them, and that’s what Ferrand did so fast and so well. We need to ensure that those people stay active as much as possible.”
Claude listened with anxious eyes. “And what about my brother?”
Jeremy smiled kindly. “I told you the official reason why I’m here. Your brother saved my life. So did his daughters, and you and Nicolas, and all those others who helped get me back to England. I could never forget you, and I could never leave any of you in the lurch, especially Ferrand.”
Claude wiped tears from his eyes. “You’re a gift from God,” he said in a broken voice.
“No,” Jeremy replied, “your family is a gift to me.”
“Why can’t you stay? If your bosses are going to keep someone here anyway, why not you?”
“Two reasons, the first being that I haven’t been trained.”
“Neither have any of us.” Claude chuckled. “We’re getting on-the-job training.”
“And that’s exactly the point. I was good for bringing in the team and settling in, but there’s a lot I don’t know to be most effective. My replacement will be someone who is fluent in French, knows the area, and is fully trained for the mission. I know only enough to be dangerous.”
Claude dropped his head and nodded reluctantly. Then he cast Jeremy a sidelong glance. “And what of Amélie? She’s in love with you.”
Jeremy swallowed hard as his throat constricted. “Nicolas tells me she’s safe.” He coughed. “I can’t think of her right now.”
“Ah, my boy,” Claude said, watching Jeremy’s face and placing a hand gently on his shoulders. “We fight for better days ahead.” He took in Jeremy’s gaunt appearance. “You look like you haven’t eaten or slept in days.”
Jeremy grunted. “I haven’t had much time or opportunity for luxuries.”
Claude chuckled. “Whoever could believe that in France, eating would be a luxury. Still, we have food at the house. We’ll fatten you up.”
“If there’s time,” Jeremy replied sardonically. Then he brightened. “We brought rifles and ammunition with us.”
“They were good to see,” Claude replied. “Our fighters thank you.” His face scrunched with a question. “You mentioned two reasons you could not stay. What’s the second one?”
Jeremy told Claude about Timmy and how the little boy had fallen under Jeremy’s care. “He’s so small, and as far as we know, he was left alone in this world.” He bit back emotion. “I love him like a son. I have to make sure he’s cared for until he’s united with his own family. He’s already lost so much.”
The two men continued walking across the fields. When they reached the end, they turned and walked back, still talking.
“You said that this Bergmann threatened retaliation?” Jeremy asked.
“He hasn’t said he’d execute anyone, but I think that’s what he means by ‘other measures.’ If you add up the numbers, he’s talking about killing thirty-one people if Ferrand is not arrested. We can only pray that he will not take women and children too, but that man has no soul.”
“I’d like to see him face-to-face,” Jeremy said, gritting his teeth. “The challenge is to get Ferrand away from here without inciting retaliation.”
“How do we do that?”
Jeremy outlined a plan formulating in his mind. When he had finished, he said, “I only have one question. Is my French accent good enough?”
Claude grunted. “You sound like you come from the south of France. The Germans won’t know the difference.”
52
Dunkirk, France
Bergmann worked at his desk sorting through papers, reading documents, signing others. Several days had gone by since he issued his ultimatum concerning Ferrand Boulier, and he had filled the time by delving into his other areas of responsibility. Certain that prior to the first execution someone would reveal their whereabouts, he felt no frustration as each day passed with no information. As a result, he had delegated responsibility for making arrests to the SS sergeant, and otherwise he had maintained a hands-off stance. That seemed to have eased tension between him and Meier.
Today marked the sixth day since the pronouncements
