Page 128 of The Last Library of Paris

Chapter 34

For the next few hours, our journey was uneventful. We got through the border checks at Hendaye with no problems. I fluttered my eyelashes at the soldiers and told them how brave they were and how Germany would be proud of their service, and it seemed to do the trick.

We all slept for a while. I sat opposite Archie, and let my head rest against the window, the noise of the train clattering over the tracks lulling me to sleep.

It was ten hours from the border to Paris. When we all eventually stirred, it was light outside and I could smell coffee.

‘Not far now,’ said Archie. ‘We’ll be in Paris for lunch.’

‘Très bien,’ I said, more than a little grumpy. ‘Perhaps we can enjoy some traditional French food outside a café on the Champs-Élysée.’

‘She’s not really a morning person,’ said Lara, cheerfully. ‘Shall I find us some coffee?’

‘I’ll come with you,’ I said.

We headed back towards the bar, me in front, Lara behind.

‘Your wig is a little skewwhiff,’ she said, in a very quiet undertone. ‘Adjust it.’

I reached up to straighten my hair and as I did so, the Nazi officer – the one whose eye I had caught earlier in the journey – came out of his cabin. He was only wearing his trousers and a vest, as though he’d just woken up. He looked at me again, and his eyes flickered over my wonky wig.

Quick thinking as ever, Lara let out a shriek. The Nazi started and turned his attention to her, and fast as I could, I straightened my hair.

‘There’s a mouse!’ Lara said, pointing down the corridor. She put her hand to her forehead. ‘I can’t bear the little critters.’

The Nazi looked amused.

‘Sie hat angst vor Mäusen,’ I told him. She’s frightened of mice.

He glanced at me, his eyes briefly taking in my hair, and he grinned.

‘Ich auch,’ he said, laughing. Me too. He gave an over-exaggerated shiver, and Lara and I both laughed heartily.

‘Bist du Deutscher?’

I was a little flattered that he thought I was German and hugely relieved. ‘Unser vater ist Deutscher.’

He smiled. ‘Schwestern?’

‘Hälfte,’ said Lara firmly.

I tugged her arm, wanting to get out of there before we ran out of backstory. ‘Coffee?’ I said.

‘Let’s go.’

‘Have a nice day,’ Lara drawled at the German, and he grinned at her as we headed off to find a drink.

Back in our compartment with the others, I let out a breath that I felt like I’d been holding since Lara’s fake-mouse distraction.

‘Not much longer,’ said Archie, reading my mind.

‘I just want to get there now.’ I wrapped my fingers round my coffee cup. ‘My nerves are jangling.’

Archie got up and went to the door of our compartment so he could watch the corridor. He was obviously on edge, too.

‘I spent a lot of time in Paris before the war,’ I said, truthfully. ‘I wonder what it’ll be like now.’

‘Me too,’ said Archie, coming back into the compartment properly and making sure the door was closed. ‘I love Paris.’