My Name is Eva An absolutely gripping and emotional historical novel - Suzanne Goldring Page 0,25

a bit more salubrious than this. What’s it like to work here?’

‘It’s pretty strict, but not bad. At least we’re getting decent rations now and the town was never a target, so we’re fairly comfortable. How’s your billet?’

‘Spotless, but it reeks of caraway and cabbage. At least I won’t have to eat there!’ She laughed. ‘Still, it’s slightly better than the ones back home – they all smelt of carbolic and onions.’ She looked around at the grounds, the park and the forests beyond. ‘Is there anything around here to help pass the time when we’re off-duty?’

‘Afraid not. It’s a pretty dead town and I suspect it always was. After all, you can’t expect much of a lively nightlife in a place that’s supposed to make you fit and healthy, can you?’

‘I suppose not. Then I’ll just have to make do with walks in the fresh air when I get some free time.’

At that moment they both turned at the sound of an army truck pulling up nearby. Two guards positioned themselves either side of the tailgate and yanked the handcuffed occupants out. Some were still in uniform, others were just in shirt and trousers; more than one stumbled as they jumped to the ground. And one young man caught Eva’s eye and smiled at her. He was about the same age as Charles, her brother. Despite his capture he had clean, neatly combed blond hair, and as he was marched past her and into the centre, he smiled again.

‘Looks like we’d better get started,’ Jimmy said, once the procession had disappeared inside.

‘I’ll follow you then. I haven’t been briefed yet. Any tips you want to give me now, or do I just jump in at the deep end?’

He turned and looked at her with a grave expression. ‘Just follow orders, particularly those from Robinson. Wouldn’t do to get on the wrong side of him.’ Then he opened the door for her. ‘Abandon hope all ye who enter here,’ he said, as he waved her through.

Robinson. She felt a tingle on the back of her neck at the mention of his name and she remembered Tim McNeil’s words: ‘He’s a little terrier of a man. Sinks his teeth in and won’t let go.’ We’ll see who won’t let go, she told herself. I’ve come this far and now we’ll meet at last.

20

Eva, 16 August 1945

Smile for the Camera

‘Can you tell me why we have to have our picture taken today?’ Eva grumbled as she tucked a few stray hairs under her cap. She had reapplied her lipstick but was determined not to smile in the photograph.

‘The Chief likes to keep a record of everyone. Maybe he hasn’t got a good memory for faces. Don’t worry, you’ll get your own copy for old times’ sake.’ Jimmy had come to collect her from the little office where she was going to be typing up her interview notes. ‘Come on, don’t want to keep the gang waiting.’

Eva followed him along the corridor. It was her second day and she’d done nothing so far, apart from equip her typewriter with a new ribbon, file some reports and sharpen her pencils. But maybe this would be the day she finally met the man she had come here hoping to confront.

Another new female clerk joined them as they neared the entrance and they all stepped outside into the hot sunshine. Squinting in the brightness, Eva said, ‘How long is this going to take? I haven’t even started on any real work yet.’

‘Don’t worry about it. I should make the most of the peace and quiet while you can. You’ll soon be hard at it.’ Jimmy felt inside his jacket, then offered both girls a cigarette. When they declined, he said, ‘Well, if you’re not going to smoke your ration, best save it and sell it on later. Keep it quiet, mind, but the locals are desperate for fags so you’ll get a good rate for them.’

‘The people here are luckier than most,’ murmured Eva. ‘So many cities have been devastated. I saw such terrible destruction on my way here – people begging, digging through rubble, desperate for anything we could spare. And I know we’re not supposed to give the Germans anything, but we’re getting more than enough to eat, so surely it wouldn’t hurt to share some of the rations coming in now?’

‘Nasty business, war,’ muttered Jimmy, wafting his smoke away from them and taking off his cap to wipe his brow with a crumpled