Page 27 of Neighbors at War

‘How’s your day been?’ Peggy asked.

Tony nodded.

‘We’ve just been talking about these poor enforced workers being made to build all the fortifications springing up around the island.’

Helen pictured the rows of badly treated men and women she had seen being marched through town on various occasions when she had walked to Westmount to visit her aunt at Overdale. ‘I have some news about that,’ she said, excited to share what she had heard.

’It infuriates me to see how badly treated they are,’ Tony said scowling, a fierce look in his dark brown eyes.

‘Strangely enough, that’s what I wanted to speak to you about.’

She saw her friends sit up a little straighter and hoped she wasn’t about to disappoint them with what she had to share. Seeing their eager faces, Helen hurriedly explained what had happened. ‘I’m not sure if I’ve remembered that word correctly,’ she said, ‘but it sounded something like Hohlgangsanlage acht. I don’t know if it means anything to you, but I tried to remember it in case it did.’

Tony’s mouth opened for a second and she could see he was clearly intrigued. ‘Was there anything else, do you recall?’

Helen felt her excitement rise, hoping she did have something that the pair of them could use to help someone. ‘Yes. They also said untermenschen.’

‘Are you sure?’ Peggy asked, taking hold of Tony’s hand as she stared at Helen.

‘Yes, definitely. The were referring to an enforced worker, weren’t they? I could tell they were angry about it.’

Tony turned to Peggy, rubbing his chin. ‘One of the workers has escaped, I imagine. I’ve heard about these tunnels being worked on. They’re down past Meadowbank, along Les Charrières de Malorey.’ His voice petered out and he sat back thoughtfully.

‘This is very useful information, Helen,’ Peggy said reaching forward and taking Helen’s hand.

‘Really?’

‘Yes.’ Tony clasped his hands together. ‘Either the worker escaped from there, or that’s where they’re focusing their search for him. With this information we can make a plan to try and track him down before the Jerries do.’ He smiled at her. ‘This is a great help, Helen. Well done.’

Helen realised hours had been wasted since she came across this news. ‘I overheard them earlier this morning, so they might have already found the poor guy.’

Tony stood. ‘That’s true. But if they haven’t, then we still have a chance to help him.’ He bent to kiss Peggy. ‘I’m going to have to go and see what I can do.’

Peggy took his hand in hers. ‘Please be careful, Tony.’

‘I will.’ He looked at Helen, his eyes gleaming with excitement. ‘You’ve done well.’

As soon as he’d left, Peggy wrapped her arms around her chest. ‘I worry about him when he dashes off like that but I know he needs to feel useful.’ She sighed. ‘Tony’s right, though, you have done very well.’

It was what she needed to hear. ‘I’m pleased. Now, I’d better get this little one home. I shouldn’t leave Aunt Sylvia alone for any longer.’

Helen left satisfied to have finally done something useful. It was a wonderful feeling.

Chapter Sixteen

HELEN

‘Good morning,’ Helen said, happier than usual, mostly because her aunt’s health seemed to have improved slightly. She was hopeful that the prognosis, about the virus damaging her aunt’s heart, had been wrong. Sylvia even seemed fit enough now to look after Bobby for the day. Helen was beginning to believe that somehow things were going to be all right.

Mrs Jeune seemed happier than usual, too.

She realised she hadn’t heard any news from Peggy about whether her information had proved to be useful. Why would she? she reasoned finally. Everyone had to be careful to keep quiet about information they came across. Her role had just been to pass on to her friends anything she had heard. She wished she had discovered something more since then, but either the officers were being more careful in front of the household staff, or she had simply missed hearing anything.

‘You’re on time,’ Dulcie teased as she entered the kitchen from the scullery, a smile on her thin face. ‘You’re chirpier than usual, too.’

‘I am, I––’ Helen began, but Dulcie interrupted her.

‘Did you receive one, too, then?’