Comes a Horseman

by Anne Barwell

  “It’s better to keep the civilians out of the line of fire for as long as we can,” Matt said. If this contact didn’t show in another five minutes, they were leaving. “And if we’re captured and we don’t know where they are, we can’t give them away, can we?”

  “This will not be a repeat of what happened last time,” Michel said firmly. He leaned back in his chair, seemingly relaxed, but Matt wasn’t fooled. Michel was keeping a close eye on both doors, the same way Matt was. “I trust Ken to look after Kit and Liang. I wouldn’t have left him—them otherwise.”

  “I’d trust him with my life,” Matt agreed, although he suspected it wasn’t so much Ken’s argument that had persuaded Michel to go along with it. That had been whatever Kristopher had said to him after he’d taken Michel to one side.

  “Although I doubt he’d ever do anything to put you at risk, it’s not your life I’m trusting him with, and it’s safer for….” Michel frowned. “Did you hear that?”

  Matt drew his gun and headed for the door. “Come out,” he called into the corridor outside. “We know you’re there.”

  “The snow melts, but the flood does not come,” a woman said. She raised her hands above her head.

  “I have yet to see a dove.” Matt answered with the second part of the code phrase and lowered his gun. He ushered her into the room.

  Michel gave her a curt nod. “You’re late.”

  “I got stopped by a Feldgendarm and had to take a different route so I wasn’t followed.” She was of slight build, with light brown hair and green eyes. “I’m Sigi. I have instructions for you from Frej.”

  “Matthäus.” Matt gave the name on his identification papers. “This is—”

  “Gabriel,” Michel said before Matt could continue. He’d obviously decided to keep using his Resistance codename rather than what was on his papers. “Are there any problems we should know about?”

  “He will take you across tonight. I will meet with you again in Ottersdorf and lead you to him.”

  Matt nodded. Ottersdorf was closer to the Rhine, and it made sense not to meet in the same place twice.

  “Once you reach Haguenau, someone will make contact.” Sigi gave Michel a tight smile. “I was told you might be here, Gabriel. Your contact in Haguenau sends her regards. Apparently it is someone you know.”

  Michel didn’t seem surprised by the information, but then he had said he’d gotten word to his old Resistance cell. “I suspected it would be,” he said.

  “JUST HOW safe is this boat?” Liang asked. He jammed his hat farther forward on his head, the brim hiding his face as they left St. Giles Church.

  “Nothing about this is safe,” Ken said. He and Matt had exchanged a few words in private after they’d reached Ottersdorf, and neither of them had said much since. Ken had offered to go with Michel to meet up with Sigi, but in the end, they’d decided it was better he stay behind. She’d already met Matt, and there was no point in putting the rest of them at risk until it was necessary.

  Kristopher wished he could say something to reassure Ken that Matt would be all right crossing the Rhine, but Ken wasn’t one to appreciate false sentiment. Although they hadn’t spoken again about Matt’s reaction in the tunnel when they’d escaped from the cottage in Freiburg months ago, they’d all seen enough to know his issues with the dark could be a problem. Matt still had nightmares, although not as often. Kristopher had heard them as he’d lain awake trying to avoid his own demons.

  “I haven’t felt safe in months,” Kristopher said. Being in Michel’s arms at night had helped him to forget the danger they were in, but he still felt as though they were living on borrowed time.

  If he and Michel managed to go through with their plans to disappear, was this the life they had to look forward to? Looking over their shoulders, hoping no one would find them?

  It wasn’t much of a life, but it was still better than the alternative.

  “I’m never going to complain about my office at Cambridge again,” Liang muttered.

  “I’ve never heard you complain about it,” Ken said.

  “It was a lifetime ago,” Liang said, “or it felt like it. The only thing I dislike more than boats is jumping out of aeroplanes.” He shuddered. “I still have nightmares about my parachute not opening, and I swear that experience is the cause of all my gray hairs.”

  “You don’t have any gray hairs.” Ken rolled his eyes, but had enough sense not to be looking at Liang when he did it. “And no, I don’t want to look for them. Thanks for the offer anyway.”

  “I wasn’t going to offer.” Liang snorted.

  Kristopher hid his grin. He often wondered if Liang began these conversations to try to put them all at ease, or if he truly did enjoy complaining about everything. As they reached the outskirts of the village, a familiar figure approached them. “Michel’s here,” he said.

  “Matt must still be with our contact.” Ken peered past Michel, not quite disguising his concerned expression, although there was no sign of it in his voice.

  “He is,” Michel said. As it was past curfew, they were all careful to keep to the shadows and keep their voices down. “The boat isn’t far from here.” He glanced around. “You weren’t followed?”

  “No,” Ken told him. “No sign of anyone else who shouldn’t be out tonight.”

  “Good.” Michel’s gaze lingered on Kristopher for a moment, but he didn’t say anything else. Instead he turned to go, expecting them to follow rather than waiting for them.

  With the blackout, it wasn’t as easy to see the farther away they got from the village, but they didn’t dare use a flashlight. It might draw attention they couldn’t risk. The moon gave enough illumination to walk without tripping yet made it difficult to see too far away. Although they hadn’t seen any soldiers or Feldgendarme, it didn’t mean they weren’t there. Crossing the Rhine near one of the main bridges would be too dangerous. They’d originally planned to make landfall in France at Seltz, but Sigi had suggested a few kilometers farther south in Roquette. Frej knew of a place that should be safe. It was small, and most boats kept to the more frequently used beaches.

  They’d stay in Beinheim until morning before heading on to Haguenau.

  After traveling in silence for what seemed forever, Kristopher picked up his pace so he was walking next to Michel. “If we don’t—” he started to say, making sure to keep his voice low.

  “We will,” Michel said softly. He brushed one hand against Kristopher’s very briefly.

  Kristopher smiled, although he wished they could hold hands. Would there ever be a day when they could even hint how they felt about each other in public? He hadn’t felt happy about Michel going ahead with Matt, but Ken was right. It was the sensible thing to do.

  He wanted to ask Michel about the contact they’d be meeting in Haguenau too. Was she a member of his old Resistance cell, and if so, how much did she know about Michel and this mission?

  As much as he wanted to ask, he’d have to wait and hope there was an opportunity for them to speak privately. They’d known when they’d left Hügelsheim that it might be the last night they’d spend together. But after months of being able to touch each other and not have to pretend, at least when they were alone, weeks of having to act as though they were just friends was going to be very difficult.

  “Let’s survive this crossing first,” Michel whispered. “You need to stop thinking so much.”

  “I wasn’t,” Kristopher began to protest, then stopped. What was the point? Michel knew him a little too well. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t ever apologize for being yourself,” Michel said, “but this will be easier if you don’t think it through too much.” He stopped suddenly and yanked Kristopher down into a crouch behind some nearby shrubbery.

  Behind them Ken and Liang followed Michel’s lead.

  Kristopher saw a glint of metal. Ken and Michel had drawn their weapons. He glanced around but couldn’t see anyone else apart from their group close by.
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  “Gabriel?” A woman’s voice sounded a short distance ahead. “The dove is not far.” She spoke the code phrase to let them know it was safe to proceed.

  “It’s Sigi,” Michel said. “Follow me.” He led them a few meters to their left, toward the sound of her voice.

  A woman stood waiting for them. She wore a headscarf and a long coat. “We don’t have much time,” she said. “I’ve just received word that an SS officer and his men arrived in Wintersdorf this evening. He is hunting something or someone.”

  “I’m sure he is,” Liang said.

  Although it might not be Holm in Wintersdorf, it wasn’t a good idea to find out. Kristopher had no intention of meeting any of Holm’s men either. Reiniger held grudges. He wouldn’t have forgotten their last encounter in Berlin, and there was no guarantee he’d been killed in the explosion at Freiburg either.

  “Thank you,” Kristopher said, “for helping us. I’m—”

  “It’s better I don’t know,” Sigi said before he could give her his codename.

  He wasn’t stupid enough to tell her who he really was, and doubted he’d ever use his real name in public again. “Good idea,” Kristopher said instead. He wondered if Sigi was a codename. If it was, it was an interesting choice, considering it meant victory.

  “We’re almost there,” she said. “Stay close.”

  “Are you crossing the river with us?” Liang asked.

  “No. Frej will take you across and return when it is safe. I will wait for him.” Sigi eyed them up and down. “He is taking a risk with so many passengers, but better to just do one crossing if the SS have been informed you are in the area.”

  “Do you think it’s a coincidence, or someone told them?” Ken asked.

  “Difficult to tell,” she said. “I trust those I work with, but it is often those we trust the most who betray us. Be careful, and only tell your contacts what they need to know.”

  “How do we know we can trust you?” Kristopher asked.

  “You don’t.” Sigi gave him an approving look. “But then, you don’t have much choice, do you?”

  Chapter Four

  MATT LOOKED up as they approached. He was waiting a short distance from the river, and there was no sign of a boat or Frej. “Frej is waiting,” he explained. “I figured I’d come meet you, rather than staying with the boat. It’s a couple of minutes from here, but better to wait a moment before we go any farther.”

  “In case we were followed?” Michel asked, although it wasn’t really a question as he already knew the answer. “Don’t worry. We weren’t.”

  “The Feldgendarme will be investigating a report of an intruder a few kilometers from here,” Sigi said. “It is a false alarm of course, but it will delay them long enough so you will be gone by the time they resume their regular patrol.”

  “Thank you,” Kristopher said.

  She inclined her head toward them. “Good crossing. I leave you here and will wait for Frej’s return.” Sigi turned and walked back the way they’d come.

  “She is a brave woman,” Liang said.

  “Come on,” Matt said. “We can’t keep Frej waiting, or we’ll waste the time the Resistance has bought us.” He seemed nervous, which wasn’t like him.

  Ken moved to the front of their group, walking alongside Matt. He leaned in and said something in a low voice to Matt that Michel couldn’t hear. Matt nodded but didn’t reply.

  As they approached the river, a man’s voice called out, “Wind is the loving wooer of water.”

  Kristopher smiled and nodded. He obviously knew the quote, although Michel hadn’t heard it before. He’d have to ask Kristopher about it later.

  Matt answered with the counterphrase. “The water understands civilization well.”

  “You’re on time,” Frej said. He took a step toward them. “Good.”

  “I will help you row,” Matt said, although he hadn’t been asked.

  “Thank you.” Frej nodded toward his boat, which was anchored about a meter out from the rocky shoreline. The boat was a little bigger than Michel expected but still not that large. Although there was room enough for all of them, it would be cramped. A couple of wooden bench seats ran almost half the length of it on either side, with one across the width at midpoint for the oarsman.

  “It’s very exposed,” Liang said.

  “If we’re caught, a cabin would not save us,” Michel pointed out. “Anything suspicious and the boat will be searched. I’d prefer to be in the open where I at least have the chance to dive overboard.”

  “That is a last resort,” Frej said. “You’d have more chance of survival if you surrender. The current is strong, the water is very cold, and in some places the water is not that deep.” He waded out into the shallow water to the boat. He favored one leg, yet it didn’t slow him down, although it was most likely the reason he hadn’t been conscripted to serve his country. Michel guessed Frej to be at least in his sixties, but as the war progressed, both the young and old were no longer exempt.

  Liang hesitated at the edge of the water. “I can’t swim.”

  “You don’t need to.” Kristopher strode out into the water ahead of Liang. “It’s not very deep, and the strong current is much farther out. The boat is only moored here because of the rocky beach. We’ll probably need to do the same thing on the other side.”

  “If you say so.” Liang followed him, but his shoulders were hunched, and he seemed hesitant.

  “My father promised to bring us here once, so I read everything I could about the Rhine and this area,” Kristopher said. From what he’d said about his father, Paul Lehrer had probably not kept that promise.

  “So I can look forward to getting wet again before I’ve dried out. Wonderful.” Liang followed Kristopher out to the boat, Michel, Matt, and Ken bringing up the rear.

  As he reached the boat, Kristopher turned to look back at the shoreline. Michel guessed what he was thinking. He caught up with Kristopher and brushed his hand against Kristopher’s shoulder very briefly.

  “It could be au revoir rather than adieu,” Michel whispered.

  “No,” Kristopher said. “I won’t be seeing my home again. That life is gone.” He climbed into the boat and sat on the far side.

  Michel quickly took a seat next to Kristopher. He didn’t try to reply. It wasn’t a conversation for now, and although he’d tried to reassure Kristopher, Michel knew Kristopher was probably right.

  “I can take the other oar,” Ken said to Frej. “I’ve rowed before, and it will save your strength for making the return journey, as you will be doing it alone.”

  “Thank you. Many of the people who make this crossing are so focused on escaping they forget all else.” Frej moved to let Ken take his place next to Matt. “I have crossed this river at least twice a day for the past forty-five years. I miss the days before the war. I was a bargeman then, and life was a lot simpler. I’ll keep lookout while you row. Keep in mind that it is important to let the current guide you rather than make a straight crossing. No talking from now on, unless it is important, and keep your voice low, or it will carry on the water.”

  Matt nodded, his lips moving although he did not speak. He was counting, Michel realized, as they pulled away from shore, and using the rhythm of his movement to distract himself from the darkness.

  The moon’s light highlighted the waves lapping around the boat—the water seemed to reach toward them before diving back again. Ken and Matt quickly settled into a unified motion, both focused on what they were doing, although Ken glanced at Matt a couple of times.

  Frej signaled for Matt and Ken to change direction slightly and rest the oars. They did that for a few moments, letting the boat drift with the current. If Michel squinted, he could see the outline of the bridge in the distance and several shapes moving at either end of it. The guards on duty would hopefully stay focused on the bridge itself and not notice a small rowboat sneaking over the border. The area was well guarded, but as it had been secured for quite s
ome time, they would not be expecting trouble.

  On the other side of the boat, Liang quickly turned and leaned over the side. As soon as he started to make a gagging noise he shoved his hand over his mouth to silence it. If his seasickness got any worse, it would be difficult to mask the noise of him vomiting over the side of the boat. He was doing his best to silence his dry heaving, but his hunched posture suggested he felt miserable and unwell.

  Frej leaned toward Ken and gestured. Ken nodded, rested the oars again, and then he and Matt changed direction. Matt was still counting under his breath, and he gripped the oar tightly.

  “Who’s there?” The shouted question shattered the silence.

  Kristopher glanced around, an expression of panic on his face.

  Michel put a hand on his arm to calm him but didn’t dare whisper the reassurance he wanted to. He turned around and strained his eyes, trying to find the source of the disruption. Matt and Ken stopped rowing, the boat drifting back the way they’d come, caught by the current.

  He heard boots against wood in the distance—the unmistakable sound of men running, probably over the bridge crossing the Rhine south of their position. “No farther or I’ll shoot,” one of them yelled.

  Frej got down on the floor of the boat. Michel and Kristopher followed, then Liang. Matt kept hold of his oar, trying to keep it as still as he could. He leaned down into a crouch, as did Ken.

  Gunfire sounded from the bridge. A couple of shots in succession before stopping. Michel heard an engine, a vehicle approaching. A door slammed, and then everything went quiet again. Logically he knew the bridge was a good few kilometers away, but Frej was right about noise carrying on the water. If felt too close for comfort.

  Frej waited a few minutes. “Row,” he whispered urgently. “While they are distracted.”

  Whoever had attempted to cross the bridge at Seltz hadn’t made it. Michel didn’t know what had happened. Perhaps their identity papers had not passed scrutiny, or they’d forgotten to add the order that would allow them to be out after curfew.