Page 69 of Neighbors at War

The footsteps neared. ‘What is up there?’

‘It’s just a messy attic,’ she heard Peggy insist.

‘Open it.’

Helen heard the all too familiar jackboots stamping on each of the wooden steps and wondered if he wanted her to hear him coming, wanted to increase her fear as much as possible. The atmosphere in the attic changed. He was in there with them. Helen raised her hand ready to cover Bobby’s mouth in case he made a sound.

The footsteps made their way, ominously slowly, around the room. Helen listened as chairs were dragged out of the way, then a couple of old trunks. He was near. Too near. She was relieved they had always rolled up the mattress and put it away in one of the trunks each morning, just in case this very thing happened. It was tiresome having to hide all traces of herself and Bobby each day, but clearly Peggy had been right to insist they do it.

‘You have vegetables growing?’

‘The sun comes in up here and we thought it a good place to grow them,’ Peggy explained. She had told Helen once that the most important thing was to have a believable answer for any question that might be asked. Helen wondered if her friend had always been this wise or had learnt things from working for the advocate these past few years.

A kick against one of the panels behind her made her jump. She covered Bobby’s mouth and bit her lower lip to stop crying out. Her eyes had become accustomed to the darkness now and she could make out her son’s tightly closed eyes. She kissed him lightly on his cheek, barely daring to breathe.

‘Vot is in here?’ He kicked the panel further back from her.

‘It’s the eaves. There’s nothing in there.’

‘No cupboards?’

Peggy must have shaken her head. ‘Not enough room for them,’ she replied. ‘My father must have boarded them up years ago. I don’t think I’ve ever seen behind there.’

No one spoke for a few seconds and Helen worried she might pass out from fear.

She heard another familiar voice. ‘Hauptmann, we must leave now.’

The Hauptmann shouted his reply, clearly angry to have been disturbed by Leutnant Müller. She held her breath, willing him to leave, and almost collapsed with relief when she heard his footsteps stamping down the stairs and someone, possibly Peggy, slamming the attic door. Helen sensed Peggy was indicating that she and Bobby were alone and could relax.

‘Are the Nasties gone?’ Bobby whispered so quietly it was barely a breath.

‘I think so, but we won’t go out until Babs or Peggy lets us know for sure.’

He hugged her tightly. ‘Love you, Mummy.’

‘I love you, too, sweetheart. You were very brave and Mummy is very proud of you.’

Helen’s knees were aching from sitting still for so long and she hoped one of the girls would come and give them the all-clear soon. It was a struggle not to fidget but she didn’t want to give Bobby any reason to move so she fought her instincts and remained still.

A few minutes later, the attic door opened and lighter footsteps walked across the floorboards towards their hiding place. Trunks were moved again, and the small door pressed to let the catch open. Light shone in, making Bobby press his face against Helen’s cardigan. Helen shaded her eyes from the sudden brightness.

‘They’ve gone?’ she asked, realising instantly that it was a silly question and noticing for the first time how cold she was.

‘They have. I’ve never been so pleased to see an officer before as I was when Leutnant Müller appeared. The Hauptmann was very close to finding you both at one point.’

‘I heard him and thought he was going to break the boarding and discover us sitting here.’

Peggy reached out and lifted Bobby from Helen’s arms, then put him down and held out her hand to help Helen to her feet.

She stood up slowly, groaning at the ache in her numb bottom and knees.

‘Uncomfortable?’ Peggy winced sympathetically.

‘Very, and cold. I’m going to spend the next few days arranging cushions and putting a blanket in there and maybe a small torch, if you have one spare.’

‘Good idea. Maybe keep a flask of water in there, too, and a couple of biscuits in case you’re hiding for longer next time.’

Helen agreed, hoping there wouldn’t be another time, but realised that this was probably the first of many. She didn’t relish the prospect of repeating her recent experience but it was part of her life now and there was little she could do about it, if she was determined to keep them free. Or as free as they could be, hiding in an attic.