‘Poor Lise,’ Dido mused. ‘Just for being born Jewish.’
Persey held her sister, looked at her. ‘Is there any way I can convince you to get on the boat with them?’
Dido shook her head. ‘No. I’ll stay here. Everything will be fine. In the end. I have to believe that. We have to hope. Or what else is there?’
Stefan and Persey bicycled in silence, neither willing to show fear or false bravado to the other. They looked around constantly for a German staff car or a sudden checkpoint. If they encountered one, they knew they had to jump from their bicycles in the darkness and throw both themselves and their transport over the hedge, to look as if they were lovers in a tryst. An idea that once would have shocked Persey into a blush but now, what she wouldn’t give for Stefan to have kissed her again. Just once more, after all this time. There might still be time … once all of this was over. Once the war was over.
When the hedgerows gave way to the cliff path they were wide open to attack. Lise was already waiting at the lower part of the cliff steps, crouching low where the large jagged rocks led down towards the sea. Her eyes widened in fear as she took in Stefan in his uniform.
‘It’s all right,’ Persey cried as Lise, clutching her small suitcase, backed away. ‘He’s a friend.’
Stefan raised his hand in an uncertain greeting. ‘I am here to help.’
Lise nodded warily as Persey rushed to embrace her. ‘I’ve been waiting a few minutes because I worried I would be late and then I worried I would be too early and—’
‘You’re perfectly on time,’ Persey said, hugging her friend.
Stefan took Persey’s bike and wheeled both cycles towards the rocks to hide them. The sound of the waves crashing filled Persey’s ears. It was choppy down there but she daren’t say it to Lise for fear of worrying her about the boat’s stability. They had to get all the way to the English mainland. In the dark.
‘Are you ready?’ she asked Lise.
Her friend nodded. ‘Scared. But ready. Where’s your friend Jack?’
‘He should be out there – let’s move.’
‘Gently,’ Stefan said, taking Lise’s suitcase from her.
They moved towards the small beach. Stefan went first, leading them down the dangerous cliffs, followed by Lise with Persey coming last, turning to look at every opportunity to see if they’d been seen. In front of them, out to sea, all was quiet.
The rocks rounded down and they moved gently along the coastal path. Ahead of them, Jack had already cut the barbed wire. When they were past it, near the bottom, Persey heard a slight scuffle in front of her and watched with horror as Lise stumbled. Persey was too late to help. She reached out to grab her but the woman was a few feet in front of her and Persey’s hands grabbed at Lise’s coat but caught nothing but air. She fell a few feet, cried out and tumbled into Stefan who slid down the path, dropping to his knees.
‘Lise!’ Persey called as her friend went over the edge and onto the sand below.
‘I’m all right,’ Lise was quick to call. The drop had been only twenty or so feet but Lise’s cry that she was fine was swiftly followed by a groan of pain.
Persey began scrambling down the rock face towards her friend.
‘Stop!’ Stefan called to both Lise and Persey. ‘Stop moving. There may be mines on the beach.’
Lise lay on the ground. ‘I need to stand up,’ she cried desperately. ‘I need to get to the boat.’
‘I know,’ Stefan called in a softer voice. ‘I will come and help you.’
He climbed down carefully and Persey carried on moving over the jagged rocks, picking up Lise’s case, until she reached the end. She could see Jack some way in the distance, waiting patiently. She raised her hand to him and he raised his in return.
Persey turned back to see Stefan reach Lise’s side. He was still on the rocks; she on the beach. He bent, ordering her to lift her hands, which he took in his to pull her up.
Lise cried out. ‘I think I’ve sprained my ankle. I’m so sorry.’
‘It’s all right,’ Stefan said. ‘I will come down all the way.’
Persey watched, her teeth clenched together in cold and fear as Stefan carefully made his way onto the beach, placing his feet slowly in the darkness. She glanced up at the rocks above them, prepared to see a patrol but without the slightest idea what to do if she did. If that happened it was over for all four of them.
Persey moved gingerly down the rock path and Jack joined her where the rocks met the sea. ‘What’s keeping them?’ he asked. ‘I need to move. Is she coming or not?’
‘Yes. She’s hurt. Stefan’s gone to get her. She fell.’
‘Can she climb into the boat? If not …’
