Page 141 of The Last Library of Paris

‘Give it a wiggle,’ Frances said from behind me. ‘It’s a bit temperamental.’

Archie did as she’d said but the door still didn’t open.

‘I think it’s locked?’ he said.

‘Surely not?’ Frances said. She edged up the stairs past us all and tried the door herself. ‘You’re right. They must have locked it from the outside when they left the wine down here.’ She looked down at us, lined up on the steps, and we all looked up at her.

‘Shit,’ said Lara.

‘Henry, can you do your thing?’ Archie asked.

We all shuffled about to let Henry get to the top of the stairs. Just as he’d done when we came into the library, he took out his little toolkit and fiddled about with the lock. We all watched in silence until he straightened up.

‘I think it must be padlocked on the other side,’ he said. ‘I’ve unlocked it, but the door still won’t open.’

Aghast, we all looked at one another.

‘Shit,’ said Lara again.

‘Shh.’ Frances hushed her.

‘The library isn’t open now,’ said Sylvie.

‘No,’ Frances said. She went past Henry and put her ear to the door. ‘But I can hear voices again.’

She listened for a moment and then Archie went up and did the same. Both of them looked worried.

Archie looked at us all, his brow furrowed. ‘I think we’re trapped.’

Chapter 37

Silently, we all filed back down the stairs and into the small room.

‘Lord, they’re starting work already,’ I said, kicking myself for not realising that was why they had the plans when we saw them outside. ‘The Nazis move quickly when they want to.’

‘Is there another way out?’ Archie asked.

Frances shook her head. ‘Not as far as I know, but I guess there’s no harm in checking.’

We all put our bags down and went out into the main part of the basement, spreading out and checking everywhere for another way out.

It was quite eerie down there. The brick walls were cold and thick. In some places they were damp with green algae growing on the moist surfaces. In the corners it was dark and hard to see where the room ended.

‘I can’t imagine staying down here for days and days,’ said Lara as we went together – because neither of us was brave enough to go alone – down a little dogleg at one end of the room.

‘Well, chances are they’ll find us in no time, if they’re using the basement to store their booze,’ I said bluntly. Then something caught my eye. ‘Hold on, is that daylight?’

My heart lifted and Lara and I hurried towards the glow of light we could see. Up above us was a small iron grille – for ventilation, I assumed. It was about a foot high and maybe three feet wide. But it was high up; too high for me to reach even on tiptoes. In fact, I thought it would be too high even for Henry – who was the tallest among us – to reach.

‘Archie?’ I called. ‘Come and see this.’

He followed the sound of my voice and appeared round the bend.

‘Daylight?’ he said, in satisfaction. ‘Well done.’

He topped his head right back, staring up at the grille. ‘It’s a long way up, though. Henry!’

Henry appeared too.