Page 26 of Shadows In Paris
Hannah’s eyes widened.
‘What happened?’
‘Two German soldiers had it in for me. Luckily, there was a friendly officer in my compartment who took pity on me and warned them to leave me alone.’
‘Thatwaslucky. Beware of friendly Nazis, though.’
‘I was careful. I learnt that the hard way last year.’
‘Did the soldiers suspect you or was it routine?’
‘Routine, I think, but they found the novel I brought to use as my codebook!’
‘No—’ Hannah’s eyes widened further. ‘What did you say?’
Lizzie laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. ‘I said it is my sister’s favourite novel, and they appeared to believe me.’
‘Thank the lord,’ Hannah said, letting out a low whistle.
‘Yes, indeed. I was terrified when they got my case, which reminds me, I’d better give you the stuff I brought for you.’
Lizzie opened her case and searched beneath the layers of clothing until her fingers touched a small seam in the lining. She pulled at the thread, and it unravelled effortlessly. Hannah looked over her shoulder. ‘That’s clever.’
‘They are so clever. It’s amazing what the tailors do with the clothes and accessories. All I need to do is sew the seam back up with black thread and the hidey-hole will be invisible.’
Lizzie passed Hannah the certificate they had made for her. ‘This is one document you asked for.’
Hannah unfolded it. ‘Ah, what a treat,’ she said dryly. ‘A certificate to deny my Jewish identity.’
‘I’m sorry we need that.’
Hannah smiled sadly. ‘Even now, sometimes I can’t quite believe how rotten it’s become in France. Back in the thirties in Berlin, I remember when the Hitler Youth became fashionable, and our parents warned me and my friends to stay out of their way for fear of being bullied. It was frightening, but I would never have guessed it would come to this. We’re not allowed to be Jewish. The world has gone mad.’
‘Yes, it has. A few years ago, I never would have believedthe Channel Islands would be under Nazi occupation or that London would be bombed every day.’
‘Those bastards are still blitzing you, then?’
Lizzie nodded. ‘Yes,only last week we had to run to the shelter in the middle of the night. So many houses have been destroyed in London. Not just London…’
Hannah offered her hand to help Lizzie to her feet. ‘Come, let me show you to your room. At least we can put this sad beautiful house to good use, and you’ll be comfortable. Let’s take your case up.’
‘I’ve got loads of money to give you too,’ Lizzie said.
‘Loads of money is always good! Resistance is not a cheap business, and Jack does all he can to get supplies to us,’ Hannah said as she grabbed a lamp and walked up the wooden staircase. ‘Give me the money upstairs and I’ll stash it away and show you where we keep it, in case you need it when I’m out.’
‘I wanted to bring a new wireless too, so we’d have a backup, but thank goodness I didn’t, or I’d be in the hands of the Gestapo by now.’
‘Don’t worry. The wireless we have is good. I’ll show you it later in the attic.’
Lizzie told Hannah she’d been to Bletchley Park for training, and Jack had also helped her get better at operating the wireless and sending and decoding messages.
‘Bletchley Park must be an exciting place,’ Hannah said.
Lizzie agreed. ‘It’s full of brainboxes. I felt rather dim when I was there, though. Didn’t understand half of what they said.’
Hannah laughed out loud. ‘If all the dim ones like you are working with the Resistance, we’re sure to win the war!’
Lizzie unfurled the notes from inside her brassiere and from the thick lining of her dress and passed them toHannah. She still had some hidden in her case for emergencies.
