As they hurried back towards the apartment, they observed Nazi sharpshooters taking up positions on top of buildings. At a meeting of the partisans later that afternoon, Cosimo reported on what they had seen.
‘It makes sense,’ said Marco, an ex-soldier who had been appointed the partisan leader. ‘We’re hearing rumours that they intend to blow the bridges.’
‘Oh, that can’t be right, surely?’ Livia said, looking at her fellow partisans in alarm. ‘Not our beautiful old bridges?’
‘Think about it,’ Marco went on. ‘The only thing stopping the Allies breaking through now is the river. The harder the Germans make it for the Allies to cross, the more time they have to allow their troops to retreat to the hills north of the city. Presumably they intend to make battle from there. Either way, the bridges are the last line of defence.’
‘We have to stop them,’ urged Livia.
Others in the group shouted out their agreement.
Marco held up his hands, asking for quiet. ‘I understand your anger. It’s unimaginable that Florence might lose such a vital part of its history. The trouble is, how do we stop them? All we can do is keep watch day and night and report back to the Allies. We need to know everything the Germans are doing – if and when they wire the bridges, where the dynamite is – any information we can radio to General Alexander and his troops. But it’s going to mean a team of us working round the clock. Let me know who’s interested in helping.’
A forest of hands flew up.
‘Good,’ said Marco. ‘Sort yourselves out into a rota – two hours each round the clock. Livia, I’ve managed to get hold of another transmitter for you. I’m putting you in charge of communications. Relay any information daily, twice if you can. All right, everyone, that’s all for now. Let’s stay in touch and meet back here in two days.’
As Livia and Cosimo hurried back to the apartment, they were horrified to see new Nazi posters had been put up all over the city.
ATTENTION!
FOR THE SAVING OF LIFE, ALL RESIDENTS LIVING WITHIN THREE HUNDRED METRES OF THE ARNO BRIDGES ARE TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES AND APARTMENTS IMMEDIATELY.
BY ORDER OF COLONEL FUCHS, COMMANDING OFFICER,
GERMAN HIGH COMMAND
‘They’re really going to do it,’ said Livia as they hurried upstairs to the apartment. ‘Where are these people supposed to go?’ she asked.
At their meeting two days later, they heard from their counterparts on the southern side of the river that the Boboli Gardens had become a temporary refuge.
‘There are thousands of families camping there,’ Adreana said, ‘sleeping in the open air, cooking on barbecues. Last night, some Nazi snipers were taking potshots at them.’
‘But that’s awful. Is there something we can do to protect them?’ asked Livia.
‘It’s terrible, I know,’ said Marco. ‘But we have to stay focussed. The attack on the bridges could come anytime. Keep up your patrols and report back.’
But days later, the Nazis issued a new order that no one was to leave their home for any reason.
‘Even windows and doors are to be kept closed,’ Livia complained to Cosimo and her father. ‘They’re saying that anyone appearing at a window will be shot. I have no idea how we are going to manage. How can we continue with our patrols? Short of killing every German soldier between here and the bridges, we’re effectively trapped.’
‘Doctors and priests are allowed out,’ said Cosimo, ‘my father told me.’
‘So what are you suggesting?’ asked Livia. ‘That we dress up as doctors and priests?’
‘Why not?’ replied Cosimo. ‘I can borrow a doctor’s bag from my father. And perhaps we can persuade our friends in the clergy to lend us some cassocks and habits?’
‘It’s a good idea,’ agreed Giacomo. ‘They can’t check every priest who goes about his business out there.’
‘All right,’ Livia agreed. ‘Let’s do it.’
The following day she appeared in the kitchen, dressed as a nun.
‘What do you think?’ she asked Cosimo, who was eating a thin piece of bread smeared with the remains of Luisa’s fig jam.
‘It’s fantastic!’ He cut his bread in half and pushed it towards Livia. ‘Where did you get it?’
‘Marco has a cousin who is a nun. She donated a couple of habits. They were delivered to the roof this morning.’
‘You look very convincing,’ said Cosimo. ‘But it’s too dangerous. I should go instead.’
‘With your leg?’ Livia replied. ‘No, you’ll only draw attention to yourself. I can do this, don’t worry.’