Jack Higgins – Night of the Fox

Sarah and Gallagher were talking in low voices when Guido went into the kitchen. “Ah, there you are,” he said. “They’re into politics now. Can I take you for a walk on the terrace?”

“Is he to be trusted?” she asked Gallagher.

“No more than most men I know, especially around a darling like you.”

“I’ll have to take a chance then. If Colonel Vogel comes looking for me, tell him 111 be back soon,” she added formally.

There was a half-moon, the sky bright with stars, a luminosity to everything, palm trees etched against the sky. Everywhere there was the smell of flowers, drenched from the rain earlier.

“Azaleas.” She breathed deeply. “One of my favorites.”

“You are a remarkable girl,” he said in English. “You don’t mind if we use English, do you? There’s no one about and it helps me keep my hand in.”

“All right,” she said reluctantly, “but not for long.”

“You’ve never been to Jersey before?”

“No. I was raised by my grandmother in Paimpol after my mother died.”

“I see. And it was your mother who was English?”

“That’s right.”

She was wary at this questioning and sat on a low granite wall, the moon behind her. He gave her a cigarette. “You smoke Gitanes, don’t you?”

She was used to cigarettes by now and nodded. “On the other hand, one has to be content with whatever is available these days.”

He gave her a light. “Yes, it’s really quite remarkable. You speak French with a very Breton accent.”

“What’s strange about that? My grandmother was Breton.”

“I know. It’s your English that’s so interesting. Very upper class. I went to Winchester, remember, so I can tell.”

“Really? I’m a lucky girl, then.” She stood up. “I’d better get back now, Guido. Max can get rather restless if I’m out of his sight too long with another man.”

“Of course.” She took his arm and they strolled back through the azaleas. “I like you, Anne-Marie Latour. I like you a lot. I want you to remember that.”

“Only like?” she said. “I thought you said you loved me.” A dangerous game she was playing here. She knew that and yet could not resist taking it as far as it would go.

“All right,” he said. “I love you,” and he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. “Now do you understand?”

“Yes, Guido,” she said softly. “I think I do.”

Martineau appeared on the terrace in the moonlight. “Anne-Marie, are you there?” he shouted in French.

“Coming!” she called back and reached to touch the Italian’s face. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Guido,” and she ran up the steps to the terrace.

They were all in the private sitting room at the back of the house overlooking the terrace, Gallagher. Martineau, Helen and Sarah. Gallagher poured Burgundy into four glasses while Helen opened the French window a little. It was very close. She breathed in the perfumed air for a few moments, then drew the heavy curtains across.

“So, what happens now?” Sean Gallagher asked.

“He certainly can’t walk at the moment,” Helen de Ville eaid. “George Hamilton saw him this afternoon. A real chance he could lose the leg if he disturbs things.”

“At least he’s safe for the time being upstairs,” Sarah said.

“He can’t sit out the war there,” Martineau pointed out. “We need to get him to Granville. Once there, Cresson can radio London and have a Lysander over any night we want.”

“But how to get him there, that’s the thing,” Gallagher said. “They’ve really got the small boat traffic closed up tight here. Observation posts all along the coast as you saw for yourself today. You wouldn’t get far without being spotted. Any fishing boat that leaves harbor, even the lifeboat, has to have German guards on board when they put to sea.”

“So what is the solution?” Sarah demanded. “We must do something.”

There was a movement at the window-, the curtains parted. Martineau turned, drawing his Walther, and Guido Orsini stepped into the room. “Perhaps I can help,” he said in English.

T the le following morning Martineau was on the upper level of the Albert Pier as Colonel Heine, the civil administration commander, and the bailiff and his party left for Guernsey on the E-boat with Dietrich. He watched them go as he leaned on the seawall, waiting for Orsini, who had gone to Kriegsmarine Headquarters at the Pomme d’Or Hotel.

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