Page 12 of Summer of Fire
‘Here you are, miss,’ said the friendly conductor. It was easy to get lost, and she had a lot to learn about London. The sound of the traffic buzzed in her ears and the tempting smell of chips wafted up her nose. London was a complete sensory experience.
As she walked down the road with a bounce in her step, turning the corner into the small residential street, she felt a rush she hadn’t experienced since arriving in England. It was like when she swam too far out from the shore. The Jersey tides could be dangerous, but she was a strong swimmer and loved going that bit further than was strictly safe.
Lizzie made a sharp right turn down a path, entered the building, and rang the doorbell of the flat, just as Drake had done. It took a few minutes before Jack opened the door. Her throat was suddenly dry as she looked at him. His black hair was messy, and she noticed an ink smear on his cheek.
‘Perfect timing,’ he said, standing aside for her to enter. ‘Come on in.’
What a remarkably different reception she received from the previous day. He even looked pleased to see her. She accepted his offer of a cup of tea but declined a cigarette. Everyone in London smoked, but she’d never taken to it. The few times she tried a puff to fit in with the others in Jersey, she’d coughed and spluttered and decided it wasn’t for her. She had to admit, though, smoking added to Jack’s mysterious allure. She was transfixed as she watched the movement of his shapely lips and the smoke curling lazily over his head whilst he explained what she would do if she agreed.
‘Am I to understand you are willing to undertake the assignment? I certainly did my best to put you off yesterday, didn’t I?’ he said wryly, snapping her out of her daydream.
‘You did, indeed. I couldn’t understand why you were so against my taking part.’
He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘It wasn’t personal. It’s just that you’re so young and inexperienced. I suppose I was trying to protect you from the horrors of occupied France.’
‘Right,’ Lizzie said, and her heart fluttered. She suspected he was using his charm to bend her to his will. For some reason, she felt completely safe with him alone in this shabby flat, even though yesterday they’d insulted each other. Today, he was like a different man, and she sensed he had let his guard down. He seemed vulnerable even, somehow, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
‘So, what is it to be?’ he asked.
‘Count me in. I want to help.’
‘That’s what I was hoping you would say, but here’s the truth of it. We don’t have much time. It is going to be extremely dangerous for you. And I cannot guarantee your safety. Once you are on German-occupied French soil, it’s out of my hands.
You will need to follow my instructions as closely as you can, and other than that, you will have to live purely by your wits. You must improvise and your ability to do so may be the difference between life and death. Before I go any further, please tell me if this might be too much for you. There is still time to opt out. I shan’t hold it against you, and nor will Drake, um, Mr Drake. We understand it is not for everyone and would be purely a voluntary assignment—not an official part of your post at the War Office.’
Lizzie looked at him, and adrenaline pumped through her veins. Everything felt surreal, like she was watching this scene from outside herself. ‘Will I be going in alone?’
‘Yes,’ Jack said, ‘God help you, but you would be on your own.’
‘May I ask another question?’
He studied her as the smoke still curled and looped over his head. ‘Please do.’
‘You were so particular about what you wanted. I was wondering why you don’t travel to France yourself?’ Lizzie summoned her courage to ask what had been on her mind since the previous day.
He sighed, ‘Honestly, I wish I could, but it would be counterproductive. I operated in France before the war, but men my age are far too conspicuous these days. Women can move around much more freely, and of course we’ll give you the right papers, so no one suspects you. All you need to do is think, sleep, eat and breathe in French, and you should be fine. It’s my duty to warn you of the dangers, but I’ve scaledback the assignment considerably since yesterday, so it won’t be too much for you as a beginner.’
‘I see,’ Lizzie said, disappointment running through her. So that was why he was alright with her doing it now—it wasn’t the original assignment her boss nominated her for. This bothered her more than she cared to admit, but she held her tongue. There was no point questioning his motives when he obviously had his reasons.
At that moment, she decided to trust him fully.
‘So, is that still ayes?’ Jack asked.
Lizzie nodded solemnly. ‘I want to do whatever I can, no matter how dangerous. My brother is risking his life for our freedom. I don’t see why I shouldn’t too.’
She thought she caught a flash of admiration in Jack’s eyes, but she couldn’t be sure. ‘That’s the spirit,’ was all he said, and then he walked her through what they would need to do to get her ready for her assignment.
‘When do you want me to go?’ Lizzie asked.
‘Today isn’t soon enough, but we need to at least give you some rudimentary agent training and get you properly kitted out, so you don’t stand out like a sore thumb.’
Lizzie raised one eyebrow at him and there was a razor edge to her voice. ‘I’ll have you know I’ve spent a lot of time in France. It’s like a second home to me, or at least it was before the Nazis invaded.’
‘Put your pistols away for now, fiery girl. I don’t mean to underestimate you again, but that’s exactly the point. You are used to behaving like a Jersey tourist in France in peacetime. That would get you imprisoned or even killed. Within just a few days, our job is to turn you into a normal French girl in France, in wartime, so no one bats an eye when they meet you.’
Lizzie stammered, flushing lightly. ‘Ri-ight, I see what you mean.’
‘What I’m about to tell you is top secret information, never to be repeated. In fact, before we go any further, I need to ask you to sign an official secrets document. Read it carefully—here’s a pen. As soon as you’ve done that, we will organise your training.’
