The Life That I Have

Chapter 16

Dominique arrived at the cave with the brown paper parcel in one hand, an old, battered leather suitcase in the other.

  When she met the cave, she was greeted by Leon.

  "Do you know where Anya is?" she asked him.

  "In there, looking after the British pilot."

  "What British pilot?!" she started.

  "A plane crashed about half-a-mile away. One of the pilots is a bit bashed up."

  "Oh. Maybe it isn't the best time to give her this." Dominique indicated to the suitcase.

  "No, give it to her now. She probably needs cheering up. She's been a bit depressed recently. She's in that little alcove on the right."

  Dominique had no idea what 'the little alcove on the right' was, but she quickly found it. It was the most brightly lit part of the whole cave. She entered quietly, in case Derek was asleep. He was.

  "Anya." Anya looked up. "I went into the town today. I went to the place where you used to live. The Germans had let it untouched. I got this."

  Dominique handed Anya the suitcase.

  "My things! Thank you so much, Dominique!"

  "How's your pilot?"

  Anya's face fell.

  "I don't know. He was coughing for a bit, but he's stopped now."

  "Well, once London have parachuted in a new radio operator, we'll be able to ask for medical supplies.

  But when? Anya thought.

It was Alex who first spotted the little girl. He had been taking Tippy for a walk for Anya, who was busy looking after Derek. He quickly went and fetched Jean-Marc and Dominique.

  "There," he said, pointing to the girl who was standing, looking around. She was about nine or ten, with curly brown hair.

  "What shall we do?" Alex asked.

  At that moment, the little girl saw them, and to their surprise waved and trotted over.

  "Are you Dominique?" she asked.

  "Yes..." Dominique replied slowly. The girl reached down and pulled a small scrap of paper from her sock.

  "It's a message," she explained. Dominique passed the note to Jean-Marc.

  "It's in code."

  "Can I go now?" the girl asked impatiently.

  "Yes, you can go. Thank you," Jean-Marc said kindly. The little girl trotted off.

  "Can you read it?" Alex asked Dominique.

  "Give me a minute. 'Expect Paul at 12am stop light flares in convenient place stop."

  "We'd better get looking for a nice field then, eh?" Jean-Marc said, pleased.

  "It's Jane!" Derek cried out gleefully, looking down at the Daily Mirror cuttings Anya had handed him. "I read Jane every day," he told Anya.

  "So did I, before my Uncle sent me to France. I'm glad your feeling better, Derek."

  "I feel like hell," he corrected her.

  "Sorry, of course you do. At least you broke your left arm rather than your right one," she added, hopefully.

  "No such luck. You see, I'm left handed."