Night Falls on Norway

by CW Browning

  “To not incite Hitler’s wrath.”

  “Exactly. And at what cost? I heard that there was a bombing raid over Poland and the pilots had to fly back over Germany. Can you imagine? Not one bomb on the plane and they were flying over the Fatherland as bold as you please.” He sipped his drink. “Do you know what happened? One of them thought they had crossed back into France and landed. Turns out he wasn’t in France at all. He was still in Germany!”

  “No!” she gasped. “What happened?”

  “The poor sod had to take off again, didn’t he?” Miles shook his head and a reluctant smile came to his lips. “Can’t imagine what the farmers thought. Supposedly there were a lot of astonished peasants watching.”

  “Thank God he was able to take off again before anyone got there!”

  “Yes, bloody lucky. I wonder if he had a good luck charm on him? He ended up landing safely in France, at any rate.”

  “I see your point, though,” she said after a moment of thought. “All that could have ended much differently and all his mission had accomplished was to drop tons of propaganda over Poland.”

  “Precisely.”

  “But we did have at least one bombing run with bombs. Freddie told me about it. He said we bombed Hörnum.”

  “Yes, and do you know what we did?”

  “I believe his phrase was that we ‘showed them what for,’ ” she murmured humorously.

  “Oh, we showed them all right. We showed them that some of our navigators are idiots. One of the planes bombed the wrong island! In fact, they went to the wrong bloody country!”

  Evelyn’s mouth dropped open. “What?”

  “Somehow the navigator managed to guide his pilot to Bornholm.”

  “Isn’t that a Danish island?” she asked, her brows knitted together.

  He raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Very good. Yes. Most people don’t know that. You remember your geography.”

  She grinned. “I’m good at some things,” she replied. “But...Bornholm isn’t even in the North Sea! It’s in the Baltic!”

  “I know! That’s what makes it even worse! They went to the wrong island, in the wrong country, and in the wrong sea!”

  “Denmark must have been furious!”

  “I don’t think any damage was done, not really. They probably hit an empty field somewhere. It’s bloody embarrassing, though.”

  Evelyn was silent for a moment, then her lips trembled. He saw it and gave her a mock stern look.

  “Are you laughing, ASO Ainsworth?” he demanded.

  “You must admit, it is rather funny,” she said, the trembling turning into a chuckle. “They’re finally allowed to drop something other than paper and someone goes and mucks it all up.”

  “I suppose we should be grateful it wasn’t the Soviet Union they hit,” he said thoughtfully, his own lips curving. “I don’t imagine that would have ended well at all.”

  “Oh Lord, no!”

  “I suppose these things are bound to happen, but it really does make me feel like we’re trying to win the game from behind.” He sighed. “At least we’re starting to do something, though. We’ve spent the entire winter doing nothing.”

  “So have they,” she pointed out. “It was a particularly bad winter. I’m glad it’s over, personally. Now we can get down to business.”

  He smiled across the table. “And are you getting down to business?”

  “More than ever,” she said, inwardly wincing at the irony in her tone. Before he could notice, she continued, “I’m off to Wales tomorrow to give an extended training class.”

  “Wales!” he exclaimed. “How long will you be there?”

  “I’m really not sure, to be honest. It’s a week long course, but there’s always something that comes up to delay things.”

  “Now what could possibly delay a training course?” he wondered, his eyes dancing. “No! Don’t say it. I know. Taboo subject. My apologies.”

  Evelyn laughed. “I think I’m finally getting you trained, Miles Lacey,” she decided.

  He looked horrified.

  “Good Lord, is that what’s happening? We can’t have that.” He pushed his chair back and stood up, holding his hand out to her. “Let’s dance and forget all about the war for a bit.”

  She placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her out of her seat. Meeting his green eyes, Evelyn felt a rush of contentment as his fingers closed warmly around hers. Yes. They would forget about the war for a few hours and enjoy each other, as they would if none of this was happening. Tomorrow would come soon enough, and it would see her on her way to Oslo and him back to Duxford.

  But tonight they had music and each other.

  Oslo, Norway

  April 2, 1940

  The door to the tall boarding house opened as Evelyn climbed out of the taxi that had carried her to a quiet street, just a block from the busy Bygdøy Allé in Olso’s West End. The boarding house was just as she remembered it from the previous November, and she smiled at the sight of Josef Kolstad filling the doorway.

  “God ettermiddag!” she called cheerfully.

  The man’s eyebrows rose in surprise and something resembling a smile curved his lips.

  “God ettermiddag,” he said, coming across the pavement to take her cases from the driver. “You learned Norwegian?”

  “I did,” she said, turning to pay the driver. “But you will have to correct me if I get something wrong. I’ve not had anyone to practice with.”

  “Did you have a good trip?” he asked, turning to carry her bags into the house.

  “Yes, thank you. I flew in so it was very quick and very uneventful.” She followed him into the house. “How are you and Else?”

  “We’re well. She’s at the market doing the shopping. She asked me to show you to your room.” He started up the narrow stairs. “She’s put you in the same room you were in the last time. I hope that’s acceptable?”

  “That’s perfect,” Evelyn assured him as they reached the top of the stairs and turned left. “Are there many guests here?”

  “Not many. It is a slow time right now.”

  She nodded and watched as he opened the door to her room and went inside with the bags. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to worry about any SD agents like Herr Renner this time around. Her lips tightened at the thought of the German agent. That was an experience she had no desire to repeat any time soon.

  “I started the fire for you earlier,” Josef said, setting her cases down near the door, “so it should be warm in here now.”

  “Thank you very much,” she said, looking around the familiar room with a smile. “It was a bit of a shock to come back to winter. Spring has already begun in England.”

  “We’re still some way off from spring. There will be snow again yet.” He turned to leave. “I’ll leave you to get yourself settled. Welcome back.”

  “Thank you.”

  He paused at the door and turned to look at her.

  “Daniel Carew reserved the room under the name Marlene Elfman. Is that what you wish to be called at present?”

  “Yes please.” Evelyn turned to smile at him ruefully. “I was told you would understand.”

  A wry smile cracked his face and he nodded brusquely. “I understand perfectly, Miss Elfman.”

  He left, closing the door behind him, and she turned to gaze around the room. It was just as she remembered. A large hearth dominated one wall and a four-poster bed was set opposite it. A desk stood next to the bay window overlooking the street, and a single chair was placed near the fire. An upright armoire was in the corner near the door. Everything was neat and clean. Although sparsely furnished, the room was warm and cozy, and Evelyn felt comfortable here.

  She picked up her suitcase and carried it over to set it on the bed. Unfastening the leather straps, she unlatched the case, flipping it open to reveal her clothes neatly folded ins
ide. She would unpack and hang the clothes in the wardrobe, then she would make arrangements to see Daniel Carew.

  He would be her contact while she was in Oslo. She had dealt with him the last time she was here and had found him to be very helpful and efficient. Evelyn was grateful that he was still the attaché in Oslo. It would be easier to approach this mission surrounded by people she was already familiar with, especially in a strange country.

  Her lips curved faintly as she began to unpack. Not that this was a strange country anymore. Driving through the streets on her way here, Evelyn now felt as if the city was becoming familiar to her. Knowing the language this time around certainly helped make her feel comfortable as well, she admitted to herself. Everything wasn’t quite so strange as it was in November. She hadn’t expected to return to Oslo, yet here she was, on a mission to recruit potential spies for England.

  Shaking her head, she took a deep breath. The training course she’d gone through last week had been intensive and surprisingly thorough. While she still didn’t feel entirely comfortable, at least she now had more confidence in her ability to recognize potential allies and recruit them accordingly. It was something she hadn’t expected to be doing, but Evelyn was quickly coming to the realization that this war would be filled with tasks that she never thought she would have to do.

  When she first began this journey with Bill and MI6, she’d had only a vague idea of what she would actually be doing. She had imagined a life of picking up packages and delivering them, nothing more. Her lips twisted now as she emptied her suitcase. Oh, how naive she had been! She was much more than a simple courier now, and she was expected to do whatever was necessary in support of King and Country.

  And she had every intention of doing just that.

  Chapter Nine

  ––––––––

  Hotel Bristol, Oslo

  The restaurant was slow but Evelyn assumed that that was to be expected for a Tuesday evening. She had been shown to a table in the corner, partially concealed by an immense potted fern, and that suited her perfectly. She would be lying to herself if she pretended that she hadn’t been looking over her shoulder ever since getting off the plane that afternoon.

  They still hadn’t found the spy in London who had been responsible for leaking her whereabouts in November. Bill had taken every precaution in the intervening months to protect her. That had included restricting access to the section of MI6 where she worked, and adding another layer of security to her already classified personnel file. Even so, she was well aware that nothing was foolproof until they located and apprehended the mole. Until then, she had to have eyes in the back of her head and take every possible precaution.

  Coming to the Hotel Bristol for dinner on her first night back in Oslo didn’t seem to her to be very cautious, but she’d had little choice. This was where Daniel Carew had suggested they meet. The embassy was out; too many eyes and ears. From now on, she was to avoid embassies unless there was an emergency. It was better for everyone involved that way.

  Evelyn looked up as a shadow fell across the table. She smiled and stood, holding out her hand.

  “Mr. Carew! How lovely to see you again!”

  A man with dark hair graying at the temples smiled and grasped her hand.

  “How are you? I’m glad you made it to Oslo safely,” he said, seating himself across from her. “We’re very happy to see you back.”

  “I’m very happy to be back. Although I must confess, I did not miss this cold.”

  He laughed. “I’m used to it now. But I understand you had quite a bit of cold yourself this winter in England.”

  “Yes indeed. The Thames froze, if you can believe it. I’ve never known that to happen in my life.”

  A waiter approached and Daniel ordered a whiskey and soda. Once he had gone, he turned his attention back to her.

  “And how was it when you left?”

  “Much warmer.”

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve invited Anna Salvesen to join us,” he said.

  Evelyn raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Anna? No, I don’t mind at all, but why?”

  He smiled. “A lot has happened since you were last here. Anna no longer works for the law firm. She works for me now.”

  Evelyn couldn’t stop the smile that came to her lips.

  “That does not surprise me one bit,” she said. “When did that happen?”

  “Just after Christmas when she returned to Oslo. When she left you in Stockholm, I arranged for her to leave the train as soon as it crossed into Norway. From there, a car took her north, where she stayed until your German friends had left the city.” Daniel shifted in his seat and crossed his legs. “Even after they left, I insisted she stay away until I could confirm that no one had come to replace them. She spent Christmas with her family. When she returned, I convinced her to come work with me. I needed a good translator in my office, and she was getting bored working for the solicitors.”

  “I’m glad. Without her help, I would have been hard pressed to get out of Stockholm as quickly as I did. I’m eternally grateful to her for all her help.”

  Daniel smiled. “She told me that she had the time of her life. She found it all very exciting.”

  Evelyn made a sound suspiciously like a snort. “It was that, if nothing else.”

  The waiter returned with Daniel’s whiskey and soda, and they fell silent as he set it on the table.

  “Are you ready to order?” he asked, looking from one to another.

  “We’re just waiting on one other person,” Daniel told him easily. He glanced at Evelyn’s glass of wine. “Would you like another glass of wine?”

  “I’m all right for now, thank you.”

  The waiter nodded and smiled and moved away again.

  “I understand you escaped Stockholm by taking a merchant ship to Copenhagen,” Daniel continued once he was gone. “How did you find Denmark?”

  “I didn’t have much of an opportunity to form an opinion, to be honest. I traveled across the country by train and car to reach Esbjerg. I had a very friendly guide who went out of his way to point out various landmarks and tell me about the country as we went, but one can only see so much through a window.” She smiled wistfully. “For all the traveling, I don’t seem to have the time to enjoy the new countries I’m visiting.”

  Daniel sipped his drink. “Certainly not that trip,” he agreed. “Do you remember when you first arrived and I told you that you had nothing to worry about in Oslo?”

  Evelyn nodded, her eyes dancing. “Yes. You told me that I would never run into a Gestapo or SS agent the way I had in Strasbourg.”

  “Yes. It seems I owe you an apology,” he said with a sheepish grin. “We never had any problems before then, and we haven’t had any since.”

  “Of course you haven’t,” she said with a laugh. “I’m beginning to think it’s just me.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t go that far quite yet. Now, if something goes awry this time, perhaps I’ll reconsider.” He winked. “Now, before Anna arrives, I should tell you that she knows that you’re a British agent.”

  “I’m fairly certain she figured that out before we ever went to Sweden together,” Evelyn said. “What have you told her?”

  “Me? Absolutely nothing. She figured most of it out herself. When I told her you were coming back to Oslo, she asked if she could see you again. I didn’t think you would have any objections.”

  “No, of course not! In fact, she could be very helpful, if you’re willing to share her for a few days.”

  Daniel raised an eyebrow and looked amused.

  “My dear girl, why do you think I invited her along this evening?” he asked. “I don’t know why you’re here, but I do understand how helpful a local can be. She’s all yours for as long as you need her. Just don’t go getting her embroiled with the SD again, will you?”

  “I’ll do my best not to.
”

  “I’ve told her that you’re going by the name Marlene Elfman, so you don’t have to worry about any slips there. I haven’t told her what your cover is because, to be honest, I don’t know.” He tilted his head and looked at her. “What is the official reason for your visit?”

  “I’m a Belgian national here to visit my old friend.”

  “Ah. Very generic,” he said approvingly.

  “Marlene!” A voice cried and Evelyn turned to watch as a tall brunette crossed the restaurant towards their table. “How wonderful to see you again!”

  Evelyn stood up as the woman approached. “Anna!” she exclaimed, a smile stretching across her face. “I’m so happy you could join us!”

  “Oh I’ll never turn down dinner!” Anna Salvesen said with a laugh, greeting Evelyn with a warm hug. “You couldn’t have kept me away. Hello Daniel!”

  “Anna,” Daniel said with a nod and a smile. He sat as the two women took their seats. “I’ve been telling Marlene how you work with me at the embassy now.”

  Anna nodded and her brown eyes danced as she glanced at Evelyn.

  “You’re not surprised, I’m sure,” she said, setting her purse on the chair beside her. “When I came back to the city after Christmas, the law firm seemed very dull.”

  “No, I wasn’t surprised.” Evelyn said, sipping her wine. “How have you been?”

  “I’m well! I was very relieved to hear that you got away safely in November,” she added, lowering her voice. “I was worried. Although, when they all showed up at the train station, I knew it had worked just as you said it would.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without you. I owe you for that.”

  Anna waved her hand dismissively. “Nonsense. I had a fantastic time! I’m just glad I could help. Is this trip going to be as fun?”

  Evelyn laughed. “Goodness, I hope not! I want a nice, easy visit this time. Nothing unexpected and no enemies lurking in the shadows!”