by CW Browning
“I hope he can decipher that,” Anna whispered, “because it looks like Greek to me.”
Evelyn grinned. “It’s coming through in Morse code, but he’s obviously got his own shorthand that he uses as well,” she said.
“So then, if the Germans intercept the message, they can read it?”
“Hopefully not. It’s encoded, but I’m afraid it’s a very basic code. Let’s hope the Germans have other things on their mind at the moment and aren’t monitoring wireless messages.”
Anna looked at her in disbelief. “That’s it? We’re just going to hope they’re not listening?”
Evelyn nodded grimly. “I don’t have the code that...others use in these situations,” she said in a very low voice. “I was never supposed to be in this position yet, you see. I’m sure that will be corrected when I get back.”
“That doesn’t help us now,” Anna muttered.
“That’s all of it,” Peder said, removing his headset and bending over the paper. He went through the message and translated it into the basic code that Evelyn would be able to transcribe. After a few minutes, he turned around and handed the paper to her. “I’ll send your reply. They’re standing by.”
She nodded and took the paper. Anna held the light over it and she scanned it quickly.
PROCEED TO NAMSOS IMMEDIATELY. CRUISER WILL ARRIVE ON 14TH. ASK FOR LT. CMDR WHEELER ON ARRIVAL. THIS IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE TO EVACUATE. GOOD LUCK AND GOD SPEED. ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT.
Evelyn looked at Anna. “I have to go to Namsos,” she said. “How far is that from here?”
Anna frowned. “Quite a way,” she said, turning to go back to the corner where their bags were stacked. “I’ll get the map.”
Evelyn turned back to Peder.
“Can I have the paper and pencil?” she asked. “I’ll write out the reply.”
He nodded and handed her the pad. She took it and crouched down to write a message and encode it.
INSTRUCTIONS ACKNOWLEDGED. PROCEEDING TO DESTINATION - JIAN.
She was just finishing encoding the short message when Anna returned with the road map from the car. Evelyn handed Peder the pad and turned to watch as Anna spread the map out on the ground.
“We’re here,” she said, pointing. “Namsos is...here. It’s north of Trondheim. If we were driving, it wouldn’t be far. Perhaps four hours.”
“But we’re not driving,” Evelyn said with a frown. “How long will it take to walk there?”
A shadow fell over the map and they looked up to find Erik standing behind them.
“Namsos?” he asked. “That’s where you’re trying to go?”
Evelyn nodded. “Yes.”
Erik crouched down beside them. “The most direct route is here, through Trondheim and then follow the fjord up to Framverran, crossing over the water here. But if the Germans still have Trondheim, that route may be blocked. And there is also the question of getting across the water, both at Trondheim and Framverran. The Nazis will have ships in the fjord.”
“What do you suggest, then?” Anna asked, looking at him. “We have to get her to Namsos by Sunday.”
He looked at them for a moment, his face unreadable, then turned his gaze back to the map, studying it for a long moment in silence.
“If you stay in the mountains, you can make it to just outside Trondheim without going down into the valley,” he said finally. “By the time you reach Melhus, you will know if that route is accessible or not. If it isn’t, you will have to go around to the east and follow the fjord up on this side. It will add much more time to the journey.”
“Why do you say if?” Evelyn asked. “Do you think the Germans will leave Trondheim?”
“Not without being forced out,” he replied bluntly. “But if the British...”
His voice trailed off and she suddenly understood. If the Royal Navy attacked Trondheim from the water, the Norwegian troops could mount an attack from the land. If that happened, Trondheim might be open to them.
“If we have to go around, how much longer will that add?” Anna asked, looking at the map.
“Perhaps another day,” Erik said, shaking his head. “It’s hard to tell. It depends on how quickly you can cover the ground, and whether or not the Germans have it blocked along the way.”
“Do you think we can make it there by Sunday?” Evelyn asked after a moment.
Erik looked at her. “Yes, but you will have to cover much ground during the day. It will not be easy, and the further north you go, the more snow you will have to go through. That will slow you down.”
She nodded, trying to ignore the anxiety threatening to overwhelm her. They would make it. They had to. This was her only chance to make it out of Norway.
“We will make it,” Anna said, glancing at her. “Don’t worry. We will find a way.”
Erik looked from one to the other.
“What’s in Namsos?”
“There will be a ship that can take me back to England,” Evelyn said reluctantly.
“And it will be there on Sunday?”
She nodded. He pressed his lips together and his dark eyes probed hers, his face once more unreadable. Evelyn held his gaze, resisting the urge to look away. He knew, she thought suddenly. He knew she wasn’t simply an embassy clerk panicking and trying to leave Norway in the midst of the invasion. She could see it in his eyes. Yet he made no comment, and instead, looked back at Anna.
“I will take you as far Trondheim,” he decided. “Once there, you will have to continue alone. I have to try to rejoin whatever is left of the army. But we can at least get you that far.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded and stood up.
“Come and eat something, and then I suggest you all get some rest. We leave at first light.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
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Evelyn shifted and tried to get comfortable on what she was convinced was the most uncomfortable bed she’d ever laid on. She had spread a few woolen skirts over the soft spruce branches and folded her raincoat into a pillow, but no matter how she laid, the needles managed to poke into her at some point on her person.
With a sigh, she looked at the small fire burning in the rock enclosure she and Anna had constructed. The flames were low but threw out enough heat to warm her. At least she wasn’t freezing.
“This is not even a little comfortable,” Anna muttered. “I’m being stabbed by something, but I can’t seem to arrange myself around it.”
Evelyn choked back a laugh and lifted her head to look at her friend. They were laying at opposite angles, their heads only a few inches from each other, affording them both maximum exposure to the fire. Anna caught her look and grimaced comically.
“I suppose it’s better than the floor, but I’ll admit that I’m jealous of Erik’s kit.”
Evelyn nodded. The Norwegians had kit bags that contained a rolled-up flat mattress that they could sleep on, and a warm woolen blanket.
“I’ll second that.”
Anna shifted again on her bed. “Are you warm enough?”
“Yes. The fire is throwing out a lovely amount of heat.” Evelyn returned her gaze to the flames. “Once we get comfortable, we’ll be able to sleep.”
“We have a long road ahead of us,” Anna said after a long minute. “Are you scared?”
“Of the Germans?”
“Of not making it to Namsos in time.”
Evelyn thought for a moment, then sighed.
“If I allow myself to consider it, then I am,” she said. “I’m trying to focus on what I can control, and right now that is simply to cover as much ground each day as humanly possible. If I don’t make it, there will be time enough to be afraid then.”
“Peder told me while we were eating that he is worried. He’s afraid that you will be stranded here. He thinks we should have tried for the border after all.”
“True.” Anna fell silent for a few minutes, then she shifted again. “I keep thinking that perhaps it’s my fault that we’re in this position.”
Evelyn lifted her head to peer at her in the firelight.
“How can it be your fault?” she demanded. “Did you tell Hitler to invade? Don’t be ridiculous. None of this is your fault.”
“If I hadn’t talked you out of the border, you could be in Sweden now.”
“Or I could have been turned away and we would be trapped between the border and Oslo. That would be much more dodgy than this. At least here we have Erik, who is willing to take us as far as Trondheim. This is the best place we could be, all things considered.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Anna didn’t sound convinced. “At least you’re getting to see some of Norway,” she said after a moment with a short laugh.
Evelyn grinned. “Yes, I am.”
They fell silent again and then Evelyn propped herself up on her arm.
“Anna?”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you come with me?”
Anna looked at her, surprised. “Go with you? You mean to England?”
“Yes.”
“But...I can’t! The ship is for you, not me.”
“They won’t turn you away, not if I tell them you’re a valuable asset,” Evelyn said in a low voice. “Think about it for a moment. You’ll be safe in England. You’ve done so much for me that the least we can do is offer you refuge.”
“Marlene, I can’t leave Norway,” she said after a moment, shaking her head. “If we can’t repel the Nazis, we will need people willing to resist them. I can be of use here, in my own country.”
“But if they succeed and occupy Norway, you will be trapped here,” Evelyn pointed out. “You’ll be forced to live under Nazi rule, and the Gestapo will take over your police. They’ll remember you from last fall. You will have nowhere to hide.”
“I doubt the same men will come here, but that’s a chance I’ll have to take. There will be people willing to fight and resist, but they will need guidance and leaders. You’ve already begun a network. I can finish it, and ensure that we can get valuable information out to your agency.”
Evelyn considered her thoughtfully. She was right, she admitted to herself. Anna was in a perfect position to continue what she had started over the past few days. If the Germans weren’t forced back and out of Norway, they would need people on the ground who could pass intelligence out. They would also need people who would continue the fight from within. Anna was both. She had already proven that she was willing to work with the English in the war effort, and her help would continue to be invaluable if Norway was lost to them. She was someone they could trust, and who would do what needed to be done.
“Are you sure?” she asked softly. “It won’t be easy, and you will be shot if you’re caught.”
Anna met her gaze and nodded. “I’m sure,” she replied just as softly. “This is where I belong.”
Evelyn nodded slowly and laid back down. She had offered, and Anna had refused. There was nothing more to be said. And the other woman was right about one thing: Norway would need people willing to resist the Nazis, and Anna was certainly one of them. She had proven her willingness to do whatever was necessary to oppose the Germans last fall, and again over the past few days. Evelyn knew that they would be very lucky to have her on their side.
She just hoped and prayed that Anna would be able to evade capture. If the Gestapo got hold of Anna Salvesen, not only would the fledgling network be doomed, but Evelyn’s identity would be at risk once again. Anna may not know her real name, but she had learned a lot over the past few months that the Germans would be thrilled to pry out of her.
And then no one would be safe.
April 10
Evelyn stepped outside and looked around. Dawn had broken, casting the clearing into deep shadow, and bringing with it a cool, crisp breeze. Anna and Peder were still sleeping inside, but Evelyn couldn’t stay on the uncomfortable bed one moment longer. When she got up, Erik and the rest of the soldiers had already rolled up their beds and left the barn. Now, stepping outside, she saw that Erik and two others were talking several yards away, near the trees. When she walked outside, they turned to look at her and Erik lifted a hand in greeting. She waved back and started across the clearing towards them.
“Good morning,” she called. “Where is everyone?”
“They’ve gone to patrol ahead to make sure the path is clear,” Erik replied. “Once they confirm that no Germans are advancing into the mountains, we can be on our way.”
“And if they are?”
“Then we find a different way.”
Erik turned his head to say something in a low voice to the other two. They nodded and turned to head into the trees.
“Where are they going?” she asked, watching them leave.
“To check behind us,” he said shortly, turning to walk back towards the barn with her. “Are the others awake yet?”
“Not yet.” Evelyn glanced at him. “I can go wake them, if you like.”
Erik shook his head. “Let them sleep a little longer. We can’t leave until the others get back, and we have a long day ahead of us. There is no reason to wake them yet.”
Erik was silent for a long moment, and then he stopped and turned to look at her.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
She raised her eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Why are you in Norway? I know Anna said that you work at the embassy, but why didn’t you stay in Oslo? The embassy staff are protected under international law. You could have remained in the embassy and the Germans would have guaranteed your safety until your government made arrangements for an evacuation. Instead you fled the city with Anna and Peder. Why?”
“It seemed like the best thing to do at the time,” Evelyn said with a shrug. “If I had stayed in Oslo, it may have been months before I could leave. My work at the embassy was temporary, and I need to be back in London as soon as possible. I don’t have months to wait.”
“Temporary? How temporary?”
“I was due to leave by the end of the week,” she said smoothly.
Erik was silent for a moment, then he shook his head. “Bad luck. If they had held off another week you wouldn’t be in the middle of this.”
Evelyn was silent and he looked at her.
“You’re involved with the war effort?”
“Yes.”
“What made you get involved in this war?” he asked, glancing at her.
“What made any of us get involved in this war?” Evelyn countered. “Why did you?”
He smiled dryly. “I wasn’t involved in it until Hitler picked this fight,” he pointed out.
She made a face. “Good point,” she said sheepishly. “Well, I couldn’t just sit by and do nothing while others went off to fight. And so I decided to do something instead.”
“And you ended up in the middle of a German invasion,” he said. “Not exactly what you were expecting when you arrived in Oslo, was it?”
“Not exactly, no.”
“And how do you feel about being in the war now?”
“When I first began, I wanted to do something for my country. I wanted to do something that would matter,” she said slowly. “Everyone I knew was joining the RAF or the Navy. I wanted to contribute as well.”
“And now?” Erik prompted when she paused.
“Now I’ve seen what the Germans are willing to do, and how far Hitler will go to expand his territory. I want to do what I can to stop them. Your country should not be going through this, just as Poland shouldn’t have gone through this. This is no longer about making
a contribution for my country, it’s about fighting to protect all of Europe.”
“Protect all of Europe? You mean as your country protected Finland?” Erik shook his head. “There is no protection from the Nazis. They’re running rampant all over Eastern Europe and Scandinavia and no one has lifted a finger to stop them, most especially your government. You have very ideological views, and they are to be commended, but they won’t get you very far in this war. You cannot protect Europe, just as you cannot protect Norway. If you and others like you continue to think that you can, this war will end very quickly with France and England’s defeat. You are on the defensive, and that is how you must think. You must be prepared to fight, not to protect, but to survive.”
He walked over to the door of the barn and reached inside, grabbing something. He turned to walk back to her, a rifle in his hand.
“Do you know how to use this?” he asked, handing her the gun.
Evelyn took the rifle. “Yes.”
He raised his eyebrows skeptically. “Show me.”
She looked at him for a moment, then turned her attention to the rifle in her hands. It was a standard carbine and, although it was one she had never handled before, Evelyn was well acquainted with bolt-action rifles. The magazine was different from the top-loading setup that she was used to, and it took her a moment to figure out that the cartridges were loaded from the side directly into the receiver. She opened the hinged compartment and saw that it was fully loaded. Closing it again, she lifted the rifle to her shoulder and peered down the sight.
“What kind of rifle is this?” she asked. “It’s different from anything I’ve used.”