Ian Serraillier by The Silver Sword

Author:The Silver Sword [Sword, The Silver]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-02-21T13:16:06+00:00

Chapter 17

The Signal

It was the middle of June. In spite of the long spell of unbroken weather, Edek was no better. At night, as they lay under the bright stars, his cough would keep Ruth awake and she could not throw off her anxiety. Each day his walking became slower and more painful. This was partly because his feet were sore, for his shoes had worn out and the substitute pair he had plaited from reeds had not lasted long. Ruth decided he must lie up for a week.

They found a pleasant site in a meadow by a millstream. They planned to camp here till she and Jan had earned enough money to buy Edek a new pair of shoes. Ruth took a cleaning job at the local school, while Jan went hay-making. And Edek rested under the trees, with Bronia to look after him. All day he lay in the shade, for the sun was scorching hot. At night a chill wind blew; but he was warm, for they had lit a fire for him, and he lay beside it, looking up at the stars that peeped between the willow branches, till he was lulled to sleep by the gentle music of the stream.

So he rested well — and ate well too, for there was no shortage of food. Several times Jan came home from work with a bag full of such food as they had never tasted before — chicken, lobster, salted pork and luncheon meat. When Ruth asked where it came from, he said, “From the farmer. He’s a generous man.” But her suspicions were not quietened, for it was all in tins and labelled in a strange language.

“I know he’s stealing it,” she told Edek. “It’s American food, and I think he must get it from the depot. Yet I don’t know — the depot is closely guarded, and I’ve never seen him anywhere near. If he’s thieving, he’ll get caught. The Americans don’t miss much. There’s a hall next to the school, and a military court trying cases all day long.”

“He brought nothing back yesterday, or the day before,” said Edek. “Perhaps the source has dried up.”

“He says the farmer has promised him more tomorrow,” said Ruth.

Edek was determined to clear up the mystery. Without saying a word to Ruth, the next afternoon he went alone to the farm where Jan worked and hid behind a hedge. He saw Jan leave the hay-making before the day’s work was over. Instead of returning to camp, he hurried off in the opposite direction, straight through the town.

Edek followed him to a level-crossing outside the town. Suddenly a ragged youth sprang out of a bush by the roadside and beckoned to Jan. The meeting seemed to have been arranged, for Jan showed no surprise and slipped down from the road to join the youth.

Edek crept as close as he could without making his presence known and waited. He waited so long that he began to wonder if they had given him the slip.

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