Spook's Gold by Andrew Wood

Author:Andrew Wood
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty Seven

They too departed by the back alley, stepping around rancid bins of rubbish fermenting in the summer heat. Lemele stated that she needed to go to an art supplies shop and so led him into the streets north of Opéra, in the direction of Montmartre.

Both became aware again of the looks that they were drawing, the SS officer and the French woman. Marner was also sure that the Parisians were becoming more blatant and challenging in their stares. In his early days in Paris most of the domestic population avoided any unnecessary contact, especially eye-contact with him. Gradually, as German officers had become a routine aspect of their everyday world, he had felt less conspicuous, although his uniform always brought deference and, if not respect, then obedience. But now, with the English and American armies encroaching into France, the populace must be feeling the looming possibility of liberation from German rule, for which Marner could not blame them. Until he had met Lemele and heard her outspoken views, someone who had dared to openly state such things to his face, he had not consciously considered that he was an invader. Unwelcome and even hated.

After a few blocks he pulled Lemele to a stop. “How much further until we find what you’re looking for?”

“I am not sure. We need a shop that sells soft charcoal sticks, the type used for drawing and artwork. The Montmartre artists’ quarter is where we are most likely to find the right shop.”

“Okay. I suggest that we split up again. I am conspicuous and if I’m spotted I can move and evade easier without you. Also, I am putting you at risk. So go and find what you need and meet me at the Clarisse Hotel on Rue Saint-Lazare in an hour. We also need a fall-back rendezvous so that if one or other of us cannot make a meeting or it does not feel safe, we have a backup location to re-establish contact.” He named a cemetery close to the Jardin du Luxembourg. “If I don’t turn up for an agreed meeting, or the meeting place is not safe and you have to break off, go to the cemetery at two thirty in the afternoon for the next two days. After those two days you have to consider that I have been caught and you should not go back there. It will then be up to you to decide what you do next; whether it is safe for you to go back to your old life, or if you need to move on.” He paused, not sure how to phrase what he wanted to say next and could only finish lamely, “I’m sorry for getting you into this mess.” He tried for a smile but only achieved a grimace. Lemele nodded, opened her mouth to say something but then just nodded again and walked away.

----

At the Clarisse, Marner entered and circulated around the salon, scrutinising the people hanging around the bar. This hotel

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