Chapter 34
1943
Persey stood on the rock and looked down at Stefan. ‘What?’ she cried in horror; unable to believe Stefan, unable to understand what he’d said although his words had been clear.
His voice housed despair. ‘I think I am standing on a mine.’
‘No.’ She shook her head, refusing to believe it. ‘No. How can you be?’
‘I heard it click. I am sure I heard it click when I helped Lise up from the sand.’
Persey stared at him and then looked down at his feet in the dark. ‘How can you be sure?’
‘I cannot be sure.’
‘Wh … What can we do? What can I do?’
‘Nothing,’ he said.
‘Of course something can be done. What can be done?’
‘Persey, please. Nothing can be done.’
‘No,’ she cried. ‘No. We must do something. Can I put something on top of it and you … get off it?’
‘I do not think so. I am not an expert in mines but I think it should have exploded by now.’
‘How?’ she asked. ‘Why hasn’t it?’
‘I do not know. But they are meant to explode a few seconds after they are stepped on. This one hasn’t …’
‘Is it broken?’ she cried, digging her fingernails into her palms, so helplessly.
‘I do not know.’
‘What if you aren’t standing on one?’
‘What if I am?’
Jack shouted from the boat. ‘Persey, what the hell is going on. We need to leave.’
‘You must go with them,’ Stefan told her.
‘Don’t move,’ she said. ‘Let me think. Just … don’t move.’
‘Please,’ he said. ‘It is the last thing I will ever ask from you. I must know you are safe.’
‘Stefan,’ she said weakly.
‘Go.’
Persey looked at Stefan, turned and climbed across the rocks towards the boat.
Lise had already reached the edge of the rock, waiting for Persey.
‘What is happening?’ Lise asked.
‘Nothing,’ Persey lied. She could not tell them Stefan had stepped on a mine; couldn’t have Jack suddenly risk displaying heroics and stalling their escape by offering to help. There was nothing they could do for Stefan that she could not do herself. She just had to work out what that was. ‘Come on, let’s get you both gone.’
