Cast No Shadow, Peter Sharp [books to get back into reading txt] 📗

with two other small cells. The big push is coming, and we are to disrupt defensive preparation as much as possible.”

It did now seem likely that an invasion of the French mainland was imminent. The war was going badly for the Germans on the Eastern Front. It was logical that the Allies would pick this time to launch their offensive.

The bad news from the eastern front, along with the threat of an invasion, had produced a marked effect in the Alsace region. The Germans were now having problems recruiting for the Milice, or indeed keeping those members who were currently enlisted. Fewer citizens were automatically using German as their first language and were reverting to speaking French. It was a moment of renaissance for the resistance as more and more people strove to distance themselves from the Reich.

Andre continued, “We are to meet with one of the other groups at a church in the village of Wisques. We will be given new papers and assistance to get into St Omer. I believe it is quite difficult.”

As the group quietly discussed the latest information, Andre screwed up the paper, took out a match, lit it and burned the note. Marie was the first to speak openly. “I’m not going!” She looked dejected and exhausted. “I’m sorry Andre, I can’t do any more. I’m tired, I’m unhappy and yes, I admit, I’m frightened. We have been lucky so far, but we can’t go on being lucky forever.” She paused as tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry everyone.”

Everyone murmured in sympathy, but it was Andre who moved to her and placed an arm around her shoulders. “It’s fine Marie, you’ve done enough.” There was a bond, an affinity between the two, certainly not lovers, but close even so, almost a father and daughter relationship.

Andre turned his gaze on the others. “Claude?”

Claude, the youngest member of the group nodded. “Of course,” he said.

Élise shot a glance at Kelly who imperceptibly nodded. “I will go,” she said.

“I’m with you,” confirmed Kelly.

Two days later they took their leave of Marie; she was inconsolable and wanted to change her mind, but Andre wouldn’t hear of it. He recognised the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown and couldn’t risk the safety of the rest of the group. Instead, he assured her that she needed a well-earned rest and begged her to remain and look after things until they all returned.

Everyone shed a tear except Claude who, as always, remained aloof. Andre in particular was upset. He must have been sorely tempted to give in and allow Marie to come, but he remained strong for the sake of the group.

Andre and Claude teamed up together. They would pass as father and son, whilst Kelly and Élise would take a different route as man and wife.

Kelly and Élise’s route took them across the Vosges mountains back to Drulingen where they were picked up in an ageing Citroen and driven to St Avold, dangerously close to the German border, then on via a myriad of back roads to Metz.

Each day new identity papers placing them in a village on their route, each day a new mode of transport, cars, old trucks, trailers pulled by tractors. The logistics of the move seemed astonishing to Kelly, and the fact that the Maquis were organising this all over France under the noses of the Germans, was incredible.

From Metz they travelled northwest via Charleville-Mezieres and St Quentin to Arras. From Arras the route journeyed along byways and lanes into the town of Isberques and from there, the last ten miles were made on foot at night into Wisques.

They arrived at the Church in the early hours of the morning. As they approached, Kelly stopped and, grasping Élise, he pulled her to him, holding her tight. He was full of admiration for this brave young girl who had endured so much in their long journey and who had never once complained. She was a special person who epitomised the courage and determination of France in these dark days.

Kelly realised that he had fallen in love with Élise, but every time he felt the need to open up to her, a vision of Sybilla would swim through his mind, gradually fading to be replaced by the image of a brave young French soldier, training with the commandos to enable him to play his part in the liberation of his beloved France, and allow him to return to his beautiful young wife.

Kelly cursed the fates that had made him love two women but would never allow him to give his heart fully to either.

Coloured light streamed through the stained-glass windows and crept through the partly open door of the vestry. Andre and Claude were already up, but Élise was still sleeping soundly. Kelly shook her gently and she awoke with a start, blinking at the others, her lips formed into a pout.

“Come on,” said Kelly, slipping his jacket on. “The meeting is due in about ten minutes.” Élise’s response was to lie down again and turn on her side. “Come on sleepy!” said Kelly, prodding her gently with his toe.

“Bully!” Élise reluctantly dragged herself out of her bedding.

There was clatter as the church door was opened and the four froze, footsteps across the stone flags, the gap in the door becoming wider as it was pushed open, a head …

“Good morning gentlemen, I hope you slept well?” It was the local priest. Then to Élise, “And you, my child. I’m sorry I couldn’t offer you separate accommodation.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Élise looked quizzically towards Kelly and shrugged, an impish grin on her face.

He and Élise had met the priest the previous evening as he had shepherded them into the Church, then into the vestry and into the presence of Claude and Andre who had arrived the previous day. A less likely looking French priest would be hard to imagine.

Of mixed French-German parentage, Wolfgang Rahn had been born in Germany, joined the French Foreign