Page 94 of The Last Library of Paris

‘We’ve got a good base in Marseille – it’s in the British Seamen’s Mission, run by a very bold reverend,’ Archie went on. I smiled at that, thinking of my dad. ‘And there’s another base in Toulouse. But from there things slow down a bit.’

‘Because of the Pyrenees?’ I moved closer to the map, examining the mountains. ‘Are there many Germans there?’

Henry shook his head. ‘It’s not the Germans that are the issue – it’s the mountains themselves. They’re a big obstacle in the escape lines. They’re tricky to navigate and the men are reluctant to try.’

‘I understand that,’ I said. ‘What about local people? Could they act as guides?’

‘We’ve been trying to recruit but not having much luck,’ Henry said. ‘It’s dangerous and to be honest, the local people use the main roads in normal times. Our men can’t risk that.’

‘But there are paths over the mountains?’ I was frowning, thinking hard.

‘There are. It’s not easy-going by all accounts but it’s walkable.’

‘Who uses those paths normally? Shepherds?’

‘I guess so,’ said Henry. ‘Goatherds, too, perhaps?’

‘I suppose if we get really desperate, we could ask them to smuggle a few airmen across on the back of a goat,’ said Archie with a wry laugh.

‘That’s an idea,’ I said. ‘That’s it.’

‘We can’t put airmen on goats, Cassie,’ said Henry, his eyebrows knotted together.

‘No, we can’t,’ I said. ‘But aren’t there some well-established smuggling routes across the Pyrenees?’

Archie nodded slowly. ‘There are.’

‘Could you use the smugglers as guides?’

‘It’s risky,’ said Henry. ‘And they’re mostly Spanish so they don’t have as much of a motive to help as the French.’

‘Then give them a motive,’ I said. ‘Pay them? Turn a blind eye to any other smuggling they can do at the same time? I know it’s not completely moral, but we must do what we have to do in wartime.’

‘That’s not a bad idea,’ said Archie in approval. ‘What do you think, Henry?’

‘I think it’s a good idea.’

I was pleased with myself. ‘Do you think you could find smugglers to recruit?’

‘Well, no, not me personally,’ said Henry with a shrug. ‘But I can find someone who can find them.’

‘Excellent.’

‘My goodness, I almost forgot,’ said Henry. ‘I’ve got some things to show you.’

Whatever it was, he sounded very excited about it. He dug into his bag and pulled out two small pouches. From the first one he pulled out a handkerchief, just like a magician.

‘Abracadabra,’ said Archie.

Henry waved it about. ‘It’s a map,’ he said. ‘Printed on a handkerchief.’

Archie reached out and grabbed the hanky, gazing at it in wonder. ‘Good lord,’ he said. ‘This is extraordinary.’

‘The chaps in Section Q are working on printing some very small maps that can be rolled up and tucked inside a pencil,’ said Henry.

‘Wonderful.’

‘What’s in the other pouch?’ I asked. ‘The little one.’