Page 87 of Neighbors at War

‘Thank you, but only do it if you possibly can. Don’t take any risks on my account.’

Helen knew they were all taking risks using Peggy’s identity card, and that she needed it in case she was stopped.

Peggy opened the door. Tony gave Helen a solemn nod and stepped forward. ‘Let’s get this over with.’

Chapter Fifty-Six

HELEN

Helen let Tony go first, then stepped outside and immediately noticed movement behind the curtains at number 2. Her step faltered. If it was Captain Engel she assumed he had watched Peggy enough to know how she walked. Would he realise it wasn’t her with Tony now?

‘Keep going,’ Tony hissed through gritted teeth. She forced her feet to move and keep up with him and Bobby.

Tony took her hand, which calmed her slightly. She needed to pull herself together. Acting suspiciously in any way would draw attention to them. She felt short of breath but realised it was through fear rather than anything else.

‘Keep your head down,’ he said. ‘No one will find that odd now it’s snowing again. At least the weather’s working in our favour tonight.’

Helen took a long, slow, steadying breath. She needed to dig deep and find the courage to get her son to safety. She focused on the garden she had yet to see and the thought of spending time in it each day with her little boy.

They passed quite a few people as they made their way towards First Tower. Helen was beginning to think it wasn’t going to be such a difficult journey after all.

‘We cross over here,’ Tony said when they reached First Tower. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, indicating the start to Mont Cochon, the hill on the opposite side of the road.

Helen walked next to him, wishing she could talk to Bobby, but kept quiet, suspecting that if she did he might become restless and want her to carry him. She knew she could do that for a while, but no longer. She simply wouldn’t have the strength. Already her muscles felt tired, after less than ten minutes’ walking.

The incline was gentle to start with but soon became steeper. Helen slipped several times, each time grabbing Tony’s arm to regain her balance. When she did it for the third time and made him almost lose his footing, she realised she needed to be more careful if she wasn’t to make him fall over on top of Bobby. ‘I’m sorry. I’m not used to walking on such a slippery surface.’

‘It’s fine. We’ll go more slowly. It’s my fault for wanting to hurry and reach the house.’

She heard the fear in his voice and realised he was as frightened as her. ‘You’re incredibly brave doing this for us,’ she said, taking care to keep her voice low, even though there was no one around that she could see.

‘I’m only doing what’s right.’ He took her hand again and helped her along.

‘I hadn’t realised it would be this icy,’ she said by way of apology. ‘Or that I’d be this clumsy.’

They continued walking, slower now, their progress hampered by her breathlessness.

‘Would you like to stop for a while?’

Helen would have loved to but daren’t waste any time. ‘No, let’s keep going. I’m just unfit, that’s all.’

They walked on in silence and the next time Helen slipped she grabbed hold of a tree root on the bank next to her. She was glad Tony had thought to bring a torch.

‘I hadn’t realised this was where we were going,’ she admitted. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been up this way.’ She tried to imagine where they were.’

‘We’re on Ruelle Vaucluse.’

She was none the wiser. ‘It’s certainly rural here.’

‘Which will be much better than living next door to those soldiers.’

He was right. Once she and Bobby were at Mrs Edwards’, all this would be behind her. ‘I’m not sure how Ida will make it up this way,’ she said. She hadn’t meant to voice her thoughts.

‘It’s much easier in better weather and in daylight.’

‘I suppose so.’ She tapped his arm lightly. ‘Everything all right in there?’

‘Sleeping, I suspect,’ Tony said when Bobby didn’t answer.