Page 80 of Summer of Fire
Lizzie inhaled deeply and released a long breath, her heart gradually resuming a steady beat as she walked along another dark alley ready to flee the city on the off-road way to the farm.
‘Mademoiselle.’
The general’s voice was low and ominous.
She thought her heart would stop. Then she turned to see where he stood.
He stepped out in front of her and grabbed her arm. His grip was so tight it made her cry out.
‘I fear you have made a fool of me. You lied.’
Lizzie said, ‘No.’ Her voice came out like a squeak.
‘In these times of duplicity and betrayal, I must ask myself why you would lie to me, mademoiselle, after we shared a perfectly lovely evening. Why would that be?’
Lizzie gulped for breath. She hadn’t prepared or rehearsed for something like this.
‘Herr General, forgive me. I was suddenly worried about one of my friends and hurried to visit her before curfew sets in. That is all. I meant nothing disrespectful by it.’
Her breath was laboured as she tried to sound calm, but she was terrified.
The general bent down and peered at her. Blackout had not yet begun, and she could see part of his face in the light from the square. ‘I’m afraid I do not believe you, mademoiselle. A beautiful and pleasant woman like yourself—I want to believe you, of course. But in war, one develops a sixth sense, a certain intuition around what is true and what is false.’
‘I speak the truth, Herr General. I apologise for not telling you I was going to my friend’s.’
The general coughed, still gripping her wrist. Her pale skin was bruising, and her heart banged as she waited to hear what his verdict would be.
‘I cannot let you delay me any further now. I must get to the airfield, but I find myself not wanting to let you out of my sight. You will come with me.’
Lizzie stammered, ‘But it will be curfew soon. I must not be out later.’
‘Believe me. That is the least of your worries,’ he said, releasing her wrist. ‘Leave your bicycle here and come with me.’
The blood rushed to her head. Her cover was blown or would be as soon as he questioned her further. She had no choice.
‘Quick now,’ he snapped.
Lizzie raised her arm and touched his face as if she were overcome with desire and longed to kiss him.
His expression softened in the dim light, and his breathing quickened as she touched him. Lizzie found her lipstick in her pocket with her free hand, and clicked to open the case, just as his lips moved closer to hers.
Then she seized her chance and scratched his neck with the poison pin as deeply as she could. He made a surprised sound and touched his neck.
‘What is that?’ he asked, as if a bee had stung him.
‘What, Herr General?’
By this time, she heard him making gargling noises, and he tottered to one side as if he was losing balance.
‘What is wrong?’ she asked.
Now he was groaning and clutching his chest.
Lizzie nudged him, and he fell over, his head hitting the thick stone wall.
He lay there gurgling, and then there was silence.
In the distance, she heard more sirens. Lizzie looked down at her hand that still clutched the lipstick case with the pin. She had been careful not to let the pin touch her, and now she pushed the tiny button, and it clicked back into place in the case.
