Operation Kingfisher by Hilary Green Page B

hull, and was cut off fore and aft by wooden partitions. He realized that it had been specially constructed to conceal fugitives being passed down the escape line in case of emergency, and it gave him some comfort to reflect that none of them had been discovered. If they had been, Bernard and Marie would be in a German prison, or worse. He switched the torch off and made himself breathe slowly and deeply. With any luck he would not be down here for long.
    Up on deck Bernard turned to Christine.
    ‘Right. Your mother is a distant cousin of Marie’s. You are travelling with us because you’ve been ill and you are convalescing.No, perhaps not. You don’t look as if you have ever had a day’s illness in your life. Perhaps your mother is ill?’
    ‘Then why aren’t I looking after her?’
    ‘Perhaps,’ Marie suggested, ‘you and she are not seeing eye to eye about something. Maybe there is a boy she doesn’t approve of? She thought a change of scene would be good for you. Will that do?’
    ‘Excellent!’ Bernard said. ‘As long as we all stick to that, we shouldn’t have any trouble.’
    The barge rounded a bend in the canal and the next lock came into sight. The gates were open on the side from which they were approaching, and a barge similar to the
Bourdon
was tied up inside. Two German soldiers were in the hold, throwing the cargo, which seemed to consist of sacks of cement, out onto the lockside; while a third stood guard over a man and a woman, presumably the boat’s owners.
    ‘It’s Jean and Louise,’ Marie said. ‘Poor things! What a mess!’
    ‘Well, whatever the
Boche
are looking for, they won’t find anything on that boat,’ Bernard remarked. ‘I’ve never known Jean take the smallest risk. He’s too intent on saving his own skin.’
    Christine felt her bowels turning to water. ‘If they search us like that…. We should have let Luke go overland like he wanted to.’
    ‘He’ll be fine,’ Marie said firmly. ‘All we have to do is behave naturally. Now, grab that stern line and tie us up. We’ll have to wait out here until they’ve finished.’
    The barge bumped gently against the side of the canal, and Christine did as she had been told. A fourth soldier, with a sergeant’s stripes on his sleeve, came out of the cabin on the other boat and said something in German to the two in the hold. They left the remainder of the cargo and climbed out and, when the sergeant gestured towards the
Bourdon
, they headed in their direction.
    ‘Oi!’ The man identified as Jean yelled after them. ‘What about this lot? It’ll take me all day to reload.’
    ‘Better get started then,’ the sergeant shouted over his shoulder as he followed his men.
    Bernard had joined Marie and Christine on the small after-deck and the German balanced on the gunwale and looked down at them.
    ‘Papers?’
    Bernard handed over his identity card and Marie’s. The German glanced at them, looked from face to face to check that they matched the photographs, and handed them back. He looked at Christine.
    ‘You?’
    Heart pounding, she offered her card. He looked it over and then returned his gaze to her. ‘St Amant? Where’s that?’ He spoke French with a heavy German accent.
    ‘Auvergne.’ Her voice came out as a croak and she had to swallow hard to clear her throat.
    ‘What are you doing on this barge?’
    Words deserted her and she could only stare at him mutely.
    Marie filled the silence. ‘Her mother is a distant cousin of mine. She felt it would be good for Christine to have a break – you know, a change of scene.’
    The German looked Christine over and gave a half smile. ‘She doesn’t have much to say for herself.’
    Marie shrugged and smiled in return.
    ‘Oh well, you know – teenagers! You must have been one yourself not so long ago.’
    He grunted. ‘I had better manners. No wonder her mother needed a break.’ He looked around. ‘Anyone else on board?’
    ‘No, just the three of us,’ Bernard