Something to Remember You By by Gene Wilder

Author:Gene Wilder
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

TWENTY-SIX

Tom and his “guards” followed Commandant Kramer into the prison.

“Just here, on your left, is the single cell.” He opened the cell door and then hurried away shouting, “I return immediately, Herr Oberst, with the Rosenkilde woman.”

Tom went inside the minuscule cell and lowered his hat over his right eye. “Jamie,” Tom said, “stand near the entrance to the prison but turn away, toward the camp yard. Anna might recognize you as she passes by you. Gilles and Claude, stand outside this cell, against the wall, and look out for any Gestapo who come this way, especially if they’re running. But don’t shoot unless they raise their weapons.”

Tom could hear the heavy footsteps of Commandant Kramer rushing back along the dark prison corridor. Behind his shadow Tom could make out Anna’s smaller one.

“Here, Standartenführer Lange. Here she is,” the commandant yelled with sweat streaming down his fat face as he shoved Anna into the cell with Tom.

“Good! Now leave and do not come back till I call,” Tom said in a husky German whisper.

“Yes, Herr Oberst. I understand,” the commandant said, trying to match Tom’s whisper as he hurried away.

Tom began to tremble when he looked at Anna. Her soft, white skin was bruised and dirty, and her raspberry cheeks were red with bloodstains. He wanted to come closer to her, to hold her, but he was afraid that she might scream. Anna didn’t look at him. Her small bow was still in her hair, but it was hardly pink anymore.

What a brave woman, he thought. How could I have suspected that she might have been a double agent?

“Are you hungry?” Tom asked.

“Not in the least,” Anna answered quickly, without turning her head toward him.

“Even if I could offer you some sautéed octopus from the Shepherdess Café?” he asked.

Her eyes popped open wide. When she turned to look at him she was about scream with happiness, but Tom put his hand over her mouth. “You must be very quiet now, Anna,” Tom said softly as he took off his hat and then kissed her. When she looked at his face she could hardly catch her breath.

“Tom—” she tried to say without choking, but then she suddenly pulled away when she saw Claude and Gilles standing against the wall in their German uniforms. Tom said, “Those are our friends, Anna, from the French Resistance. And Jamie Clark is guarding the door. He helped you once with your wireless radio, remember?” When Gilles touched two fingers to his lips and threw a kiss to Anna, she buried her face in Tom’s chest.

“Anna, lead me to the cell with the three other women, but you must look cold, the way you did when the commandant brought you to me,” Tom said. “Your tears are all right, it will just look as if I said frightening things to you. Whatever happens in the next few minutes, you mustn’t smile. Understand?”

Anna nodded, “yes.”

“Now step out of this cell with me and walk slowly by my side.

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