Chapter 45
Lizzie and Hannah walked at a brisk pace as they approached the checkpoint, both conscious that every second mattered.
Appearing in too much of a rush would be suspicious and could attract attention, even though Lizzie felt an overwhelming desire to run.
That would be an error, and she forced herself to take measured steps as though she were a typical traveller arriving in Basel.
The station was quiet at this hour, and she hoped they wouldn’t have to wait long.
In a last-minute briefing, Val had reinforced that once they were through the German checkpoint, they would be untouchable by the Nazis. Switzerland was renowned for guarding its neutrality and enforcing its sovereignty.
They followed the line of weary travellers into a narrow tunnel and joined the queue at the border control checkpoint, manned by German police.
Lizzie scanned the area and was relieved not to see Gestapo lurking in the wings.
They had both prepared their forged Swiss entry papers, ready to present for inspection before leaving the train, so there would be no unnecessary delay.
A bored-looking official checked Hannah’s papers, crafted by Lev’s meticulous handiwork in Toulouse, and Lizzie’s, by the finest in the SOE forgery department. The man looked at Hannah and then at Lizzie and back again as he stifled a yawn and raised one hand to his mouth.
Come on, come on, Lizzie urged silently. Hopefully, even if the Gestapo were already searching for them, they would detain passengers bound for Alsace, not Basel, but she couldn’t escape the tension that gripped her chest like a vice.
Lizzie admired what a smooth operator Hannah was as she bore the official’s scrutiny. Nothing shook her, and Lizzie did her best to emulate her quiet confidence. ‘What brings you both to Switzerland?’ he asked.
‘A sad occasion—a family funeral,’ Hannah replied in perfect German, her expression grave.
Finally, the man stamped both sets of papers with a loud thud and motioned for them to pass without saying another word.
Next was a Swiss official who asked them some cursory questions about the purpose of their visit, and then quickly stamped their papers. ‘Condolences and welcome to Switzerland,’ he said, his tone clipped.
Lizzie felt like singing as they cleared the final barrier, but it was important to maintain their pretence, so she thanked the official and walked soberly through the checkpoint as the tension left her chest and her heart did a joyous jig.
Her feet touched Swiss ground a second after Hannah’s, and they both turned to see what the commotion was when the sound of shouts and pounding boots echoed through the tunnel.
A furious, red-faced Gestapo officer, gasping for breath, who wore a trilby hat and long black raincoat, stabbed his fingers in the air and gestured towards Lizzie and Hannah. ‘Arrest those women. They are foreign spies! That’s an order!’
The Swiss official looked startled but recovered his composure and said in an authoritative voice, ‘This is Switzerland. You have no jurisdiction here.’
Hannah winked at Lizzie, who was tempted to make a rude gesture at the Gestapo bully, but she held back and indulged in a sassy wave instead.
Later she would reflect that it may have been one of her finest moments.
It was the ultimate revenge, and Hannah burst out laughing before grabbing her hand and pulling her through the concourse and towards the main exit.
‘Let’s not hang about, just in case,’ she said. ‘Those monsters don’t like to be made fools of.’
Lizzie flew through the door, racing after Hannah, adrenaline rushing through her veins.
The taste of freedom was palpable, and she thanked God and all his angels for watching over them and giving them wings.
When their feet hit the street outside the station, Hannah turned to hug her.
‘Sister-in-law, we made it! You are the very best.’
Lizzie hugged her and agreed they made a formidable team.
They were safely in Switzerland. After enjoying a wonderful breakfast in Basel and savouring the taste of real coffee, fresh bread rolls, rich butter and cheese, they boarded a train to Bern, giddy with relief.
They relaxed in their clean, comfortable seats unmarked by the hardships of wartime, and as the peaceful Swiss countryside rolled past the window; they luxuriated in the knowledge they had outfoxed the Boche.
Lizzie marvelled at the sharp contrast of being in a country that wasn’t at war. She’d almost forgotten what it was like not to see soldiers dotted about everywhere she went and watching her back at every turn. Only one more stop and their mission would be complete.
The British Legation in Bern was in a Swiss residential villa in the diplomatic quarter. It was set back from the street with a neat garden, and nothing about it screamed espionage, but MI6 and the SOE had agents there who operated quietly under the legitimate diplomatic function.
A legation official welcomed them into a private room and offered them refreshments while they waited until the SOE agent appeared, and they officially handed over the secret weapons intelligence from Berlin.
They were both debriefed and then offered more delicious refreshments and a room for the night whilst arrangements were made for the last leg of their journey.
They rose bright and early the following day, and the SOE agent met them at breakfast. He informed them he had organised for Lizzie to travel to London and Hannah to Toulouse.
After he left them to eat their breakfast, their eyes met over the produce-laden table.
‘It’s been a blast,’ Hannah said. ‘It always is with you.’
Lizzie’s eyes welled with emotion. ‘I’m going to miss you, darling Hannah. I wish I could say, let’s do it again soon! But honestly, I hope never to return to Berlin again. It was bloody terrifying.’
‘I hope I won’t be returning either, so we’re agreed on that,’ Hannah said, reaching for Lizzie’s hand, tears in her blue eyes.
‘Thank you for having my back all the way,’ Lizzie said.
‘And you, mine,’ replied Hannah.
Tears rolled down their faces until they giggled self-consciously. The SOE agent returned with further instructions, and they dried their tears with the fancy white napkins.
After one last fierce hug, Lizzie whispered, ‘Take care of yourself, Angel, and don’t be a stranger.’
Hannah whispered, ‘I won’t. You can’t get rid of me that easily, you know. Take care of yourself, Seagrove, and give my love and condolences to Raven. Tell him Henry always said he was the best brother a man could have.’
A memory of Henry lingered between them, and the moment was bittersweet as their eyes welled with tears again.
‘Love you,’ Lizzie said, feeling as though her heart might break for Hannah.
‘Love you!’ Hannah replied.
They parted and went their separate ways, their hearts tender but overflowing with gratitude that they had got to spend so much time together and had made it out of Germany alive.
The Legation would get her across the border into occupied France where she would be picked up in the dead of night by aircraft, and Hannah would travel by train to Toulouse where she would resume her Resistance activities with Lev.
Hannah’s cherished dream of a future as Henry’s wife when the war was over had been cruelly snatched from her, and somehow she would need to come to terms with another great loss.
Life wasn’t fair, but that much she had known for some time.