The Book of Lost Names(93)

“Come, my dear,” he said, pulling away from her and glancing around. “It’s not safe here. They haven’t arrested me yet, but I fear it’s only because they are hoping you’ll return and I’ll lead them to you.”

Eva wiped her tears away. “They destroyed the church…”

“It’s not destroyed, Eva. A church always stands as long as God remains. Don’t forget that. Now quickly, go out the back and to the schoolhouse where you first met with Faucon. Do you remember?”

“Yes.”

“I will be along soon. Beware—they might have someone following you.”

But as Eva crept out the back door, the morning was quiet, and there were no footsteps crunching in the snow behind her. She took a roundabout route, just in case, but by the time she turned the final corner to the schoolhouse, she was certain she was alone.

The building was cold and dark, long emptied of its children and their teachers. At some point since Eva had seen it last, the place had been ransacked, desks tipped over, books pulled from their shelves, pages ripped out and sent flying into piles that now lurked in the dim corners, purposeless. There was something eerie, otherworldly about the place. The shades were drawn, but sunlight snuck through jagged rips and tears, casting moving shadows each time the wind howled outside. One of the windows was broken, and gusts of biting air swept through.

Eva crouched in the corner closest to the chalkboard, her back to the wall, feeling like a sitting duck. As the minutes ticked by, her concern mounted. Had Père Clément been followed? Arrested? Were the Germans coming for her now? Had she been a fool to come to him, when doing so could only have increased the danger for both of them?

Then the schoolroom door cracked open, and in a burst of snow and sunlight, Père Clément appeared, quickly pulling the door closed behind him. “Eva,” he whispered. “I’m here.”

She stood and emerged from the shadows. “Père Clément. I was so worried.”

As they stood together in the shivering light, he took her hand. “We don’t have much time, Eva. You must leave Aurignon before they realize you’re back.”

“I cannot. Not without my mother.”

“Eva, I’m so sorry, but chances are they’ve already killed her.”

Eva shook her head. “No. No, I don’t believe it.”

“Eva—”

“What happened, Père Clément?” she interrupted. “How did things go so wrong?”

“Someone within our inner circle betrayed us, Eva. It’s the only possibility. The Germans knew nearly everyone in town who was involved.”

“Could it have been Erich?”

“I wondered that at first, too, but I was his only point of contact, and I was very careful with what I shared.” He took a deep breath. “Eva, Claude Gaudibert was arrested and tortured by the Germans. I’m certain Erich didn’t know about him, had never met him, so he couldn’t have been the one to give him up.”

If the Germans had gotten to the Resistance leader, they must have had inside information, for only a handful of people would have known his identity or where to find him. “Is Gaudibert dead?”

The priest nodded sadly. “They strung his body up just outside town, a warning to the rest of us.”

Eva swallowed hard. “Where is Erich now?”

“Almost certainly dead, too.” Père Clément looked miserable. “If the Germans knew where to find Gaudibert, it isn’t a stretch to believe they also knew about Erich passing us information.”

“And Faucon? Have they captured Faucon?”

“As far as I know, he’s still out there.”

“Then I’ll go find him. He’ll know what to do about my mother.”

“No.” Père Clément’s reply was instant, firm. “Even if he could be located, you could lead the Germans right to him. It would destroy what’s left of the circuit, Eva. Please, you cannot.”

“I know. I just feel so helpless.” She hung her head. “How will I ever forgive myself if the decisions I’ve made cost my mother her life?”

“Eva, the decisions you made saved your mother’s life. You cannot look back, only forward. And right now, they are searching for you, Eva. If you stay, you will die.”

“But if I leave, I will never be able to live with myself.” She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, looking him in the eye. “I can’t abandon my mother. I must do what I can to save her.”

He stared at her for a long time before sighing. “I know. I was hoping that you would change your mind, but I know. And I think I have a plan. You go into hiding, somewhere safe. And I negotiate with the Germans on your behalf. I will tell them that if they let your mother go, you will turn yourself in.”

“Won’t they just arrest and torture you to find out where I am?”

“It’s a chance I’m willing to take.”

“Even if they let my mother go for now, won’t they just rearrest her once they have me, too?”

“There are a few people I trust in Lyon who haven’t been picked up yet. Madame Trintignant made it safely to the border, didn’t she? Your mother will, too. And just to increase the odds in our favor, I will try to get a message to the maquisards that we need a distraction to guarantee her safe passage.”