Page 57 of The Last Library of Paris

‘I told you.’

I made a face, suddenly remembering he’d said he was off for a drink.

‘So why didn’t you come and speak to me?’ Parrish went on. ‘Too shy?’

‘I was there to speak to my friend.’

‘The barmaid.’

‘I’ve known her a long time,’ I said, wondering why I was explaining.

‘I think it’s sweet.’ Parrish was a bit closer to me now, his arm brushing mine as he walked. I moved to the side, not wanting to touch him. ‘It’s sweet that you’re too shy to speak to me.’

The tram stop was up ahead. Once I was there, I would be in the safety of the queue, and hopefully he’d stop bothering me.

Suddenly a tram rattled past. ‘That’s mine,’ I said in relief. ‘I have to go.’

But as I went to run after it, crossing a side street, the traffic lights changed and I was stuck, not wanting to take my chance darting in between cars.

As soon as they cleared, I raced off, but the tram had gone and Parrish caught me up once more.

‘Bad luck,’ he said.

There was no one at the stop now. I sighed, wishing I’d walked home instead.

The Lisbon pavements were narrow, and I had my back to the tiled wall of the house behind us.

‘I think I’m just going to walk,’ I said to Parrish. ‘The next tram won’t be for a while.’

But he put his arm out, touching the wall and barring my exit.

‘Stay a little while,’ he said. ‘The trams are frequent.’

I was not scared of taking on a man taller than me, or bigger than me, or stronger than me. But I knew not to do so in public for fear it would expose me.

So though I knew I could put Parrish on the floor where he stood, I also knew that the repercussions of doing that would be great. Especially when I was just about to return to Section D.

Instead, I looked at him. ‘I’m walking,’ I said again firmly.

He leaned forward, putting his other hand on the wall so I was in between his arms. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek, and my heart began to pound. I looked over his shoulders, working out an escape route. If he went one way, I thought, I could go the other …

‘Come on,’ he said. ‘We both know why you’re here.’

He pushed his lips against mine, pressing my back into the wall. I could feel his tongue trying to force my mouth open and I squirmed under the pressure, struggling for air.

As I moved, Parrish put his hand on my thigh and pushed my skirt up, his fingers probing my underwear. I forced my face away from his, banging my head, hard, on the brickwork behind.

‘No,’ I said. I tried to push his hand away, but I was trapped between his body and the wall.

‘Tease.’

Suddenly I was furious about this whole thing. Full of rage, I picked up my foot and brought it down hard on his, feeling his bones grind beneath my heel.

With a yelp, Parrish pulled away from me.

‘You bloody bitch,’ he growled, stumbling backwards.

But I was off, hurtling down the road away from him and never once looking back.