If she had expected to dream of anything she thought it would have been about her mother or of Jack being arrested by the Germans. But instead it was half a dream, half a memory that filtered in and out of Persey’s foggy mind. There had been four of them on the cliffs, much younger than they were now, perhaps she had been fifteen or sixteen years old. Jack had challenged them all to a race on the precarious path as they walked the cliffs towards Fermain Bay, drawing a start line in the gravel with the heel of his shoe.
‘We’ll go in teams,’ Jack had announced, looking at his watch as the four stood on the cliff path.
Persey peered over the edge while Jack spoke. Below them the waves crashed loudly against the cliffs, white horses galloping towards the rocks. Not a soul to be seen.
‘I’ll time us. Dido and I shall go first,’ Jack continued. ‘Too narrow for us all to go at once. Two minutes later, Stefan and Persey will follow on. We’ll see which team gets to the bay in the fastest time. Every second counts. Stefan, let’s check our wristwatches.’
Persey glanced at Stefan, blond, tall … taller than he had been last summer certainly. He moved toward Jack to ensure their watches were in synch. The atmosphere between the boys was jovial but there had always been that barely noticeable undercurrent of tension. Jack, the dominant surrogate older brother to the girls, was quick to laugh at Stefan if he mispronounced something. It was one of Jack’s less fine qualities, although if Stefan noticed, he failed to react.
She wasn’t quite sure she wanted to be alone with Stefan for two whole minutes while they waited their turn. What would they talk about? And then to have to run with him along the narrow path. At least she wouldn’t be expected to speak then. She gave Jack a look that suggested she was less than happy about this. But he didn’t see.
‘You ready, Di?’ Jack said as Stefan moved to stand beside Persephone. Stefan’s shirtsleeves were rolled up and his bareforearm – warm, tanned – touched hers and she moved away. He didn’t need to be that close, surely.
‘Ready,’ Dido announced, adjusting the laces of her shoes. At least they were flat, Persey thought, looking down mournfully at her own with their small block heel. Not at all suitable for running along a cliff path.
Jack spent an agonising time staring at his watch as Persey peered over the cliffs again.
‘Be careful, Dido,’ Persey said. ‘For God’s sake don’t fall.’
‘I won’t,’ Dido said in an annoyed tone. ‘Besides, Stefan will rescue me, won’t you, Stefan?’
‘No,’ he said without a hint of emotion. ‘I will be two minutes behind you. You will be dead.’
Persey covered her mouth with her hand as a laugh attempted to escape. Had he meant to be dry? Or was he simply being German? She glanced at Dido, who was frowning, looking put out; and then Persey stole a look at Stefan. The corners of his mouth were twitching. She looked away again, now even more unsure about him.
Persey woke up. She blinked as Dido switched on the bedside lamp.
Dido looked concerned and rubbed sleep from her eyes. ‘What did you say?’
Persey shook her head. ‘Nothing. I think I was dreaming.’
‘You were. But you said something and then you shot up and dragged all the blankets from me.’
Persey looked down. She was clutching the bedding and had pulled it all from Dido and had it in a heap on top of her. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled as Dido took her half back.
Persey sat still and looked into her lap. Could her suspicions be correct?
‘What were you dreaming about?’ Dido asked as she lay back down and put her head against the pillow.
Persey paused a moment before speaking. ‘Do you remember those summers when Mother’s friend Agnes had her nephew to stay?’
‘No,’ Dido said sleepily. ‘Is that what you were dreaming about?’
Persey nodded and then switched off the lamp and lay back down. ‘Yes.’ She rubbed her forefinger along her lower lip as she thought.
‘Don’t you remember him?’
‘The nephew?’ Dido said sleepily in the darkness. ‘Not really. Maybe.’
‘Of course you do,’ Persey said. ‘Think.’
‘Persey, it was years ago.’
‘Over ten years ago, yes. He used to spend the summers in Guernsey with Agnes and her husband and then he’d return to Germany to his studies at the end. You must remember him.’
Dido rolled over. Silence. And then, ‘Johann? Was that his name?’
Persey smiled. ‘Stefan.’
