Chapter 24 Cassie #2
‘I don’t have anything to do with recruitment,’ I said vaguely. ‘I’m a translator. Perhaps you could have a chat with Julia in personnel if you’re unhappy.’
‘This wasn’t Julia,’ he growled. ‘It’s because I found out what you were doing and you pulled strings to have me moved on.’
Aware there were people about, and not wanting to cause a scene, I lowered my voice. ‘You were handing information to the PVDE and risking lives into the bargain,’ I said in a fierce undertone. ‘You’re lucky you’re not in prison.’
Parrish’s face was reddening.
‘This is all your fault,’ he said again. Which was unfair, quite frankly, considering it was Archie who’d caught him red-handed about to hand over the visa applications, and Archie who’d escorted him down to the basement.
‘I’m very sorry if you don’t like your new job, but I can’t help you with anything else,’ I said. I slid past him. ‘Good luck with it all.’
My heart was thumping a little and I was annoyed at myself for letting Parrish get to me. Trying to calm my breathing, I went up to our office, where I found Archie and Henry.
‘You’re here early,’ I said. ‘Very unlike you, Archie.’
‘Oh, I’m a changed man,’ he said, smiling at me. ‘You must be a good influence.’ I smiled back, marvelling – not for the first time – at how much my opinion of him had changed.
‘Where have you been?’ he asked. ‘I saw Edith and she said she’d seen you.’
‘I just had an altercation with Steven Parrish,’ I said, realising now that my arm was aching where he’d grabbed me. I pulled up my sleeve and examined it, seeing red fingerprints blooming on my skin.
Archie took my hand and looked carefully at my arm. ‘He did this to you?’
‘He only grabbed me for a second.’
‘You let him?’
‘For a second,’ I said again. ‘I yanked my arm away.’
‘He has no idea who you really are,’ Henry said, sounding amused. ‘Maybe you should make an appointment for a hand-to-hand combat refresher.’
‘I don’t need a refresher,’ I said, quite sharply.
Archie was still holding my hand, and now he squeezed my fingers gently. ‘Just stay safe,’ he said. When he let go, my hand felt cold.
‘Want me to speak to Parrish?’ he asked.
I grimaced. ‘I don’t want to rile him even more. He said he blames me for being shoved in the basement.’
‘He’s a piece of work, all right,’ said Archie. ‘The sooner we get him to London, the better.’
‘I’ll be glad when he’s gone.’ I was feeling a little light-headed and I sat down at my desk, straightening my papers.
Just as before, a sudden gust of wind threw rain against the window, and the office door creaked open.
‘Lord, I’m jumpy,’ I said. My desk was nearest to the door, so I got up and pulled it shut again. As I did, I glanced out into the hall. But there were only two girls from personnel talking urgently to each other at the end of the corridor. Neither of them noticed me as I poked my head out.
‘We do have some good news,’ Henry said as I sat down again.
‘Tell me.’
‘I’ve been crunching some numbers, and I think now we’re using the library in Paris to distribute books too, it could easily double the numbers of books we’re getting out. Which ultimately could double the amount of our men we rescue via the escape lines.’
‘Really?’ I was amazed. ‘That’s wonderful. I hope this Frances Reed knows what a difference she’s making.’
‘She’s not even British,’ Henry pointed out. ‘She’s American.’
‘We’ll have to make her an honorary Brit,’ I joked. ‘Call her Dame Frances Reed and teach her to drink tea instead of coffee.’
Archie chuckled. ‘And whisky instead of bourbon,’ he said. ‘Henry, come and see this.’
I began writing a list of everything I needed to do that day, while Henry and Archie huddled together, staring at the maps of France that were pinned to the wall and talking quietly.
I was trying to concentrate but I kept finding my attention drifting to Henry and Archie as they gestured at the map, their voices increasingly urgent.
Eventually, I gave up altogether. I got up and went over to the wall where they stood.
‘Do you need some help?’
Henry glanced at Archie, who nodded.
‘We’re doing well with getting our men through France via the escape lines,’ Henry said.
‘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.’
Henry tipped the contents into his palm and held out a large uniform button.
‘A button?’ I said.
‘It’s a compass.’ Henry looked delighted. ‘It was Val’s idea. I wasn’t sure it could work, but it has.’
‘That’s wonderful,’ Archie said. ‘Everything we can do to encourage escape-mindedness and help the lads achieve it is a step in the right direction.’
Another sound outside the room made me look up from the compass, and I thought I saw a shadow in the corridor.
‘Is there someone there?’ I said, my stomach lurching. We’d been excited and not keeping our voices as low as we should have been.
‘I don’t think so …’ Henry began, but convinced I’d heard footsteps, I darted to the door and looked out. Henry was right, the corridor was deserted.
‘Perhaps I’m just a little jumpy after what happened with Parrish,’ I said.
‘Understandable,’ said Archie. He sounded casual but I thought he looked a little worried. ‘Listen, why don’t you take a proper break? Go and have something to eat. Then come back when you’re feeling more settled. You’ll be fine. You just need some time away from all this.’
Touched by his concern, I nodded. ‘I’ll pop to the bookshop,’ I said. ‘I’ll be back later.’
‘Don’t get washed away in the rain,’ said Archie. ‘We need you.’
Absurdly pleased, I headed out of the office.