Читать книгу The Crooked Olive Branch - Frederick Munn - Страница 27

Chapter 19

It was turned 8:00 p.m. when the train arrived in Paris, much to relief of everyone. Only the smaller children who were able to sleep soundly on the train showed any sign of animation.

The journey had sapped the last dregs of courage from the rest.

Mim slept for the last hours but with that strange instinct of a child, woke when the train slowed into the station. She jumped up and went to the compartment door looking back at Hal.

“Look at Mim, she knows more about what is going on than I realised,” said Peter.

Hal stretched and replaced the shoes he had taken off to lie down to sleep.

“I don’t why I bothered. I barely slept at all.”

Peter didn’t answer but smiled to himself as he turned to reach down their cases.

Hal’s snoring had told another story. While they were sleeping Peter had been able to refine his plans. First, to get Mim through customs and immigration, then to get everyone else on board especially Pen, his father and Sir George and Lady Amelia.

His thinking was to bring their wedding forward; a civil wedding to be followed by the church wedding on the original date. This he calculated could clear the way for them to apply to adopt Mim. He was more than confident that Pamela would agree to act as Nanny also that Sir George and Lady Amelia would agree. The problems would probably arrive via Pen and his father.

He had been careful not to leave out the human element from the equation. Pen he thought, would accept be it only via parental pressure. His father was the big worry. He would not take kindly to any change of plan.

The travellers made their way out into the city streets as a weary straggle. They were stiff, tired, fearful and hungry. The overwhelming emotion was the fear of the unknown.

The dim lighting of the station seemed to blanket them in foreboding. Peggy Firth did her best to rally their spirits. “Come on everyone just one stop on the Metro and we are there.”

The line of children stopped almost as one, placing their luggage such as it was, on the pavement.

It was as if she had been met with a chorus of ‘No, please Miss not another train journey.’

Peggy worried that her version of German was not understood, and was about to repeat it was only one stop. She saw the children looking towards the Metro entrance. Situated in the shadow of buildings and in the yellow streetlights it presented a sinister picture. The entrance? A black hole into the unknown. She watched as the children turned to look towards the bright lights of the main boulevard. Dorothy whispered to Peggy, “How far is it to walk to the hostel?”

“A little over a kilometre towards the east.”

“Along the main street?”

“Yes,” Peggy nodded, then raising her voice she addressed the group who were still looking towards the bright lights only two hundred metres away. After the dim lighting of the carriages and the station, this was ‘fairyland’.

They could hear the lilting tune of an accordion and the sounds of Paris on a Saturday night.

Despite all their fears, it was a relief to be off the train, out into the open air.

The smaller children, those who had slept well on the journey were excited and inquisitive.

“Anyone prefer to walk to the hostel?”

There was a chorus of approval.

Dorothy said, “What about the luggage? We are all so tired and it is quite a long way.”

Peggy did not answer but went immediately to the taxi rank alongside. Walking along the rank she opened one door and looked in. All were amazed when the driver got out and embraced her kissing her on both cheeks. Peggy then held a brief conversation before returning.

“Stack your luggage against the wall everyone please.” Turning to Peter and Hal, she asked,“Are you joining us or making your own arrangements?”

It was Hal who answered on behalf of both. “We’ll stick with you if you don’t mind.”

Peg replied. “Good, now place your cases with the others, that is unless you wish to carry them.”

“Quite the school Ma’am,” muttered Hal as they moved away.

Out on the main boulevard, Paris, dressed in her weekend best welcomed all. It was a warm, pleasant October evening. Trees graced the avenue into the distance. The many lights twinkled. Cafes, restaurants and hotel forecourts, thronged with happy diners.

Tables and chairs spilled out on to the pavement, buskers, violinists, accordionists, mime artists and puppeteers were everywhere. It became more and more difficult to get the younger children to move on especially away from the puppeteers.

The older children soon lost any interest, walking on ahead in a straggle of resignation, like children who after looking briefly in a sweet shop window,but havingno money, they moved on. Their hearts elsewhere, recent experiences having taught them acceptance without question.

Hal, Peter, Dorothy and Peggy remained behind with the younger children.

Shepherding the little ones was difficult. Dorothy looked up to see the older children now way up the avenue.

“I think bringing a mixed age group this time has been a problem. It was that which gave us away at the Austrian border but how could we leave any behind?”

Peter was about to say that it was more likely that they were looking to catch Helga and Miriam or smoke out the cell then thought better of it.

A sycamore seed detached from a tree and spiralled down to the pavement. Mim and two other children ran to catch it. Hal, anxious as a mother hen, ran to get between them and the traffic. Dorothy looked at Peg and smiled.

Shortly after they turned into a side road. In doing so this turned off the magic. The children’s mood changed. Mim immediately ran to Hal raising her arms to be picked up. Thumb in mouth, she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Peg had two others clinging to her skirts.

One hundred metres later they arrived.

The hostel was much better than they had imagined. They were met by motherly French women who took charge of the children. Daphne followed with Peter and Hal’s luggage, delivered by taxi.

“There’s supper in the dining room, please go through.” She indicated an archway.

Peter, tired and hungry, was also aware that his friend was eager to stay at the hostel with Mim.

He decided to abandon thoughts of finding a hotel. He went through the archway into a large room set with long tables. Daphne who had followed them through, looked at the friends.

“I suppose you are staying, if so, do we take all your luggage up to the room?”

Hal looked at Peter. Peter answered for both. “Yes, please do.”

Daphne indicated Mim’s attaché case.

“I’ll keep this if you don’t mind. There are papers I might need.”

“Find a seat, gentlemen, you’ll be served shortly.”

Almost at once they were served with bread rolls and spoons wrapped in cotton napkins by a lady who ghosted in and out of the room returning with bowls of vegetable soup. Meantime Hal had left the table looking for a menu. He had eaten little since early morning. He was feeling faint with hunger. He came back to the table to find the soup waiting.

“I didn’t order this.” His hopes of steak and eggs disappearing.

Peggy laughed. “Just eat your soup.”

Peter, knowing his friend’s moods, quickly added, “It’s a set meal, Hal. No choice.”

Dorothy joined them and sat opposite. “It will be an early start tomorrow I’m afraid. The only ferry we can book is the 11.00 a.m. There’s a train at 7.45. Sorry, it’s the best I can do. Later ones are full.

It’s going to be hard on the children. I hoped for some respite for us all. No choice I’m afraid, Tuss, we are out of funds.” Dorothy shrugged. Tired and emotionally stressed, the four sat in silence until Peter offered, “I am thinking if I can arrange some extra francs tomorrow. I doubt that I could contact my father, but my fiancé’s father has a telephone at home.”

This was as far as he got before Dorothy interrupted.

“Thank you, Peter. Forget it. We are speaking of the unknown. What we do have, is a ferry for the morning. Let’s make one final push, get these children to England and settled. I doubt they can take much more of this.”

Once more silence overtook them as they retreated each within their own thoughts.

The soup was excellent, the homemade bread delicious. This was followed by a simple plate of green beans dressed with olive oil and herbs. Peter and Hal cleaned their plates before Peter resumed the conversation.

“What do we owe for the ferry? At least we can pay for that.”

“You don’t have any French money, you gave all to me, remember?”

“We still have a few francs of our own and other currency. Maybe we can get that exchanged.”

“On a Sunday?” Dorothy questioned. “In any case I guess it is mainly Mim’s money.”

Hal interrupted jumping up and looking round.

“Where’s Mim?”

“In bed.” Peggy answered. “I bet you can’t remember her being taken from you. She was fast asleep.”

“I do, sure I do,” said Hal trying to remember and wondering if he was losing his mind.

Truth was that once Mim fell asleep, he could not remember anything except needing a bed himself. Peter then returned to the question of paying for their ferry crossing and the hostel protesting that they probably had enough other currency to cover that and themselves.

“Peter forget it, this was all pre-arranged. Mim’s francs cover most of it. There are more important things to discuss.”

“Such as?”

“Getting Mim through immigration for a start. She is travelling on false papers. Her official ones do not exist. She would normally be travelling on her parents. Unless you come with us you will need to plan, if not.” Dorothy paused looking at Peter and Hal. She realised then that Hal was not engaging in the discussion.

“Hal, you all right?” she asked.

Hal did not respond.

Peg, who had been aware for some time that he was having problems, stood up.

“Best we discuss tomorrow, I’ll see Henry to his room.”

“Tuss we may not get chance tomorrow. It needs sorting now.”

“Then sort it with Peter for God’s sake. You seem to be doing quite well up to now.”

She stubbed her cigarette out in the ash tray with excessive force. She looked from one to the other before switching from anger to concern. She took Henry by the arm and began to walk him out of the room.

“Come old pal, let’s get you to your bed.”

“Take no notice of Tuss. She has issues,” said Dorothy. The pair of them watched them leave before she continued. “I must say he did look grey. I hope he will be all right.”

“He’s exhausted, not been sleeping too well, too much has happened in too short a time. He’ll be O.K. He just needs time to adjust.”

“That is our fault, so sorry.”

Peter reached across the table. It was his turn to take Dorothy’s hand and hold on. For a moment or two he didn’t speak. Then gathering his emotions, he whispered.

“No, no, no, we both know who’s responsible for this, this …” He paused and swallowed, unable to find the words. For someone with a double first in languages, this was also a first. He kept hold of her hand until he found his way back.

“What the Nazis have done, are doing, is unspeakable.

What you have done, are doing is remarkable. No! This is certainly not your fault.”

He took a deep breath and continued. “It is one thing reading about this. Living it drives the cruelty home with a force that is difficult to deal with. With Hal and me we were all right at the crisis points now we are through the worst. I think Hal has hit an emotional wall.”

Both looked down at the table as if for inspiration until Peter finally let go of Dorothy’s hand.

“You were saying?”

“Where was I?” Dorothy had trouble in retrieving her thoughts.

“Plan to get through immigration,” Peter offered, “if not; you were going to say?”

“Miriam will need to through with us on our papers. This will result in her being handed over to the Home Office officials. Then, from there to the Jewish Council. which means weeks, maybe months, in limbo.”

Peter nodded. “I do have an alternative plan but need to refine this and verify that it is possible.”

He thought for a few seconds before asking.

“Do you think I can access a telephone line from here?”

“Not from this hostel, maybe from the big hotels. Ask Tuss, she’s the one in the know.”

She opened an envelope and took out some papers and began to study and sort them.

“This plan, has it got any chance?” she asked, without looking up.

Dorothy started making out immigration forms for the next day before continuing.

“Because, if not, Mim must be included on this form. Even if she is, I can’t guarantee keeping in touch. It’s the best chance of getting through. If she is separated from us, that could prove impossible.”

“I will have executive powers as guardian, surely that will count for something.”

Dorothy dismissed this. “Maybe, in the long term, but that is open to challenge. I mean a signed but unwitnessed letter from Helga won’t carry any weight against a serious challenge. Face it, Peter, there’s plenty of incentive to challenge. Once we lose track of her, which is very possible, anything can happen.”

“You are forgetting the London solicitors.”

“It will take months to resolve anything even if you are successful.”

Dorothy was reluctant to encourage this line of thought.

She had little knowledge of what would happen to the children once they entered the U.K. Thinking of her previous rescues, once they had been safely delivered to the authorities, she lost track of most of them.

“Months in limbo,” Peter murmured, “that would destroy Mim, Hal, and everything everyone have achieved.”

“Then we’d best not fail,” said Dorothy. “Now let’s assume the best. First let me have a permanent address for Henry and yourself.”

Not knowing exactly where either Hal or he could be at any time, Peter gave Greensleeves as a contact address for them both.

“This is the best contact address for the time being. If it changes, we’ll let you know.”

Dorothy handed over two cards. “You will be able to contact me at either of these two addresses,” she replied as she noted Peter’s address. She looked up surprised.

“Care of Sir George and Lady Bridge-Thompson.” Dorothy raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

“Really,” Peter answered.

“Well, Peter.” Dorothy stood up and held out her hand. “I am convinced it will be safe to leave tomorrow in your hands. I think now we had best get to our beds.”