Part 12 (1/2)

'Tell me more about these lights.'

'There is very little to tell. The fence was set up seven months ago on what used to be farmland. The owner, a coward, fled during the invasion. I have heard that Todt workers were used to build something within the perimeter.

The Germans used a group that had been building coastal defences, and made sure that none of the workers they selected spoke French. Those workers have not been seen since - that, my friend, is not unusual. Shortly afterwards, we began to see the lights.'

'And you've seen them yourself?'

'Yes. So has Monique. Never during the day, but they have appeared in, the early evening, it doesn't have to be dark. The first time, I thought it was just a plane, but suddenly it vanished. Another time it was just travelling too fast to be a plane. I don't mean just speed, but the manoeuvres it was making.'

'When you say vanished - '

'I mean vanished. One moment it was in the sky, the next it just faded away,' Monsieur Gerard said impatiently. Cwej seemed quite at ease standing next to this fence, but just its faint buzzing made the farmer feel restless. They could discuss all this back at the farm.

'Is there any engine noise?'

'None whatsoever. And no vapour trails.'

'What?'

'Vapour trails. Sorry, do I have the wrong word? I mean the exhaust fumes from the engines.' Gerard looked around.

There wasn't any sign of a patrol. To be honest, the Germans had built up a reputation for this place. No sane person would come anywhere near it. Why waste time and effort patrolling such a place?

'What do you think the object was?' Chris insisted.

'I just have no idea.'

'Me neither. Hey, perhaps we'll see one of those flying objects. I need to get inside that base.'

'People have tried. Look, Christophe, I can't come with you.'

'I wasn't asking you to. You've been very brave already.'

'My friend. There comes a point where bravery becomes stupidity. Have you not been listening? You can't just storm in there like Humphrey Bogart.' He could tell that he had finally got through to Cwej.

'Maybe you're right. I'll need to sleep on it.'

'Come back with me, monsieur.' Gerard touched him on the shoulder. Cwej nodded his head, but continued to peer through the fence for a moment longer, before setting off.

'Captain Forrester, Lieutenant Reed, can I have a word?'

They were just about to leave. Kendrick had caught them in reception. He had a doc.u.ment wallet underneath his arm.

Although they were the only people within earshot, his voice was a whisper. Forrester chose to find it comical. Kendrick handed Reed the wallet.

'I'm taking you off raid a.n.a.lysis. I've got a new job for you. An absolute priority. You are the only two I can completely trust.'

'Sir, everyone in this building has been vetted,' Reed objected.

'I know that, Lieutenant, but the SID was thrown together quickly. If the Germans knew about us back at that early stage, which it looks like they did, then it would have been very easy to get one of their own men in. I fought alongside your father, George, there's no way that he'd have brought up a Fascist, and I know for a fact that you're not a n.a.z.i, Captain Forrester.' He had looked her straight in the eye as he said that. At least it was a compliment of sorts.

Reed had been looking through the doc.u.ments in the wallet. He pa.s.sed them over to Roz. She shuffled through a number of transcripts and maps and came to a single photograph. Kendrick drew their attention to it.

'I must ask you to look out for this man, and to prepare a report on him. Five have photographed him in or around this building a number of times. They suspect that he might be the notorious spymaster von Wer. He, and any of his a.s.sociates, are to be considered dangerous.' Roz turned the black and white photograph over.

It was the Doctor.

7 I Spy

Cwej grabbed the hand that brushed against his forehead.

Monique squealed. He was awake in an instant.

'Monique, I'm sorry. I didn't hurt you?'

The girl was standing in front of his bedroom window, rubbing her wrist. 'No, Christophe.' She was wearing a cotton night-s.h.i.+rt. She clearly didn't realize how easily the sunlight streamed through the thin material.

'It's my training. We have to be alert, even while we sleep.'

'How heroic,' she exclaimed, her pain forgotten. 'I have washed your s.h.i.+rt for you.' She held it up for Chris to examine. It was actually still a little damp, but he was grateful anyway, and he told her so. She asked him what he was going to do that morning.

'I'm going back up to the base. I need to keep watch, find out what's going on in there.'

'I shall cook you breakfast.' Monique sat on the edge of the bed, and stroked his arm.

'That would be great. Thanks. I'll eat it when I come back from my jog.' Chris jumped out of bed.

'Please don't.'

Wolff watched the prisoner recoil as the hair clippers hovered over her head. Kitzel was holding them, and was rea.s.suring Summerfield that this was for the sake of her own hygiene. Although it was a shame to lose that pretty brunette hair, in a public facility such as this, there was a risk of lice and other parasites. Summerfield had been almost hysterical when they had arrived, but had quietened down. Her extreme response was quite unusual, but not unheard of, in circ.u.mstances like this; they had been forced to secure her hands to her chair. She was desperately clinging on to some vestige of her individuality. Deprived of sleep, keeping possession of her hair must now seem to her like the most important thing in the world. It might be possible to use this belief to gain some leverage. Wolff held his hand up.

'Nurse Kitzel, there might be no need to do this.' The prisoner looked at him hopefully. Kitzel hesitated.

'Tell me what you did,' Wolff said softly.