in a public place, Major. If you feel aggrieved, I’d suggest putting your accusation in writing to General Schultz.’
The major was turning bright red. He eyeballed Henderson for several seconds, before looking at the two guards blocking the exit. ‘Get them out of my headquarters.’
Luc took a deep breath and looked at Ghunsonn. ‘The valet has the keys to my car – can you arrange—’
Ghunsonn sensed a chance for revenge and waggled the release papers under Luc’s nose. ‘I see papers for three boys. I have papers for a car, in fact I believe that the only car that I saw has been requisitioned for essential use by the occupying forces. Now get out of my headquarters before I have the whole lot of you locked up for loitering.’no
Marc was delighted to breathe outdoor air as they moved down the front steps of the hotel.
Luc turned towards Henderson as he struggled down the steps with Dumont. ‘You clearly have some influence. Can you do anything about my car?’
Henderson smiled dryly. ‘I got your son out. I’m not pushing my luck by calling back and asking to save a car.’
Vivien had bloody claw marks down her face and gave Henderson an evil look as Marc looked up and down the deserted street. The streetlights were off and the windows blacked out to prevent air raids.
‘So how do we get home?’ Marc asked. ‘PT and Dumont can hardly walk, it’s thirteen kilometres and we’ve got no papers to be out after curfew.’
‘I’ll think of something,’ Henderson said wearily, as PT’s weight dragged on his back. ‘I always do, don’t I?’
* * *
11Unteroffizier – a mid-ranked German soldier, equivalent to a British or American corporal.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Henderson stepped into Oberst Ohlsen’s office holding one of the best bottles from Luc Boyle’s cellar.
‘Compliments of me and the rest of the Boyle family,’ Henderson said. ‘And I’d personally like to show my gratitude by offering to buy you lunch.’
‘You look bloody awful,’ Ohlsen noted, as he tipped back his chair and studied the label on the bottle.
‘I had to come here and practically beg the night staff to set me up with a set of curfew papers,’ Henderson explained. ‘My nephew Dumont took a real hammering, so my brother Luc and his wife stayed in Calais with friends. It was nearly two by the time I’d walked thirteen kilometres home with my boys.’
Henderson obviously didn’t add that he’d had to stay up another hour to listen out for the return message from McAfferty. After walking back from the barn, he’d ended up getting into bed less than two hours before he had to get up for work.
‘The wine is appreciated,’ Ohlsen said. ‘But I’ll have to decline lunch in case people talk. Major Ghunsonn came to my quarters in a furious temper, accusing me of taking bribes. He only calmed down when I reminded him of his rank and threatened to court martial him for insubordination. Ghunsonn is well connected and the type who bears a grudge, so you your boys had better steer clear of military police from now on.’and
Henderson nodded. ‘Marc and PT have been told that if they put one toe off my farm they’ll be getting a thrashing like they’ve never had before.’
‘Do you know, my wife complains if I thrash my boys too severely,’ Ohlsen said, as he aimed a hand at the picture of two fit-looking lads. ‘But boys need discipline. It worries me what they get up to when I’m all the way over here.’
‘Never did me any harm,’ Henderson agreed. ‘My father kept a cane in an umbrella stand by the front door. He only had to look towards the hallway for all thoughts of mischief to go up in smoke.’
The Oberst laughed. ‘One thing came up when I was speaking with Ghunsonn. He said that the youngest of your boys spoke in German and even had the cheek to try bribing him.’
‘That’ll be Marc,’ Henderson said, nodding. ‘I tried with all three of my kids, but he’s the only one who showed an aptitude for languages.’
‘And he can hold a decent conversation?’
‘Reasonably well,’ Henderson said, wary because he didn’t know where this was leading. ‘He isn’t fluent, but he gets by well enough.’
‘You can’t imagine the earache I’ve been getting since that landing demonstration went wrong yesterday. Goering’s told everyone in Berlin that our invasion plans are a shambles and the general’s made it clear that my career prospects will take a sharp slide if things don’t