The Tuscan Child(80)

She stared at him, her eyes bleak and hopeless.

“Then I must get away now,” Hugo said. “And you must come with me, Sofia.” He took her hand.

She turned away. “I can’t leave my son, or my husband’s grandmother.”

“Bring Renzo with you. You want to save your son, don’t you? The neighbours will take care of the old lady, and it won’t be for long. We’ll go south. We’ll find a way.”

“But how can you walk? Your leg still is not strong enough.”

This was all too true.

“Where is the nearest transportation? Are there no buses, trains?”

“There is a train line down in the Serchio Valley, about ten miles from here. The train goes to Lucca. I do not know if that is still in territory controlled by the Germans. And I do not even know if trains are still running. And to travel you must show documents. They would find you.”

“Then we must try to steal a German car or truck.”

“And how is that less dangerous than staying where I am and praying that nobody has seen me?” Her voice was shrill now.

“And if they decide to shoot the whole village?” His voice had risen, too, echoing back from the walls. “I want to save you, Sofia. I want to protect you. I’ll give myself up to them. I’ll say I was hiding out in the countryside and nobody aided me.”

“No.” She grasped at his arm. “No, I can’t let you do that. I won’t let you do it.”

“But I would be a prisoner of war. And I’m an officer. Officially they have to treat me properly and take me to an officer’s prison camp.”

She shook her head violently so that her shawl fell to her shoulders. “They would kill you right away. I know it. They are retreating and scared. They will not want to take prisoners along. I don’t want to lose you, Ugo.”

“I don’t want to lose you, either.” He wrapped his arms around her. She buried her head in his jacket as she had done when the bomb had fallen. They stood there together in silence. He stroked her hair gently as if she was a child.

“There must be a way,” he said angrily. She looked up at him. “Is there no one around here who has a car or truck?” he asked.

She shrugged. “All taken from us. Besides, there is no petrol. Some farmers still have a horse or donkey. I know of a farmer who has a cart to take his produce to the market in Ponte a Moriano. I have heard that he has taken black market items before now. But he charges much money and I have none, and nothing to sell.”

Hugo frowned, thinking desperately. Then he pulled his signet ring off his little finger. “Take this. It’s gold.” He put it into her hand and closed her fingers around it. “I don’t know if it will be enough, but tell him we just want to borrow the cart. We will leave it where it can be found and he can collect it.”

She nodded solemnly. “I don’t exactly know where he lives, but someone in the village will. It is too bad that Cosimo has to hide out, because he would know. He knows of black market dealings, I am sure.”

“We don’t want Cosimo to know anything,” Hugo said sharply. “We don’t want anyone to know. We can’t risk them going to the Germans.”

“Perhaps you are right,” she agreed. “Very well, I will try. I will do my best. But it will not be easy. I do not think the Germans will leave us alone now. And if they identify one of those men as coming from our village then it will all be over. We will be slaughtered like animals.”

“Surely they wouldn’t go through with that?” he said. “Not women and children?”

“Oh yes. They have done this in other towns. All the population slaughtered because these people have aided the enemy. I am sure they would do it.”

“Then for God’s sake go and find this man today. I will make myself ready to leave. And I will keep watch. I can see the road from here. If German vehicles are coming I’ll go down into the forest to wait for you.”

She nodded, clearly trying to come to terms with the burden of so much worry at once.

Hugo grabbed her arm. “And, Sofia, if it is not safe don’t come again. Save yourself. Save Renzo. That’s all that matters. I love you. I know I shouldn’t because you are a married woman and I am a married man, but I do. I’d do anything in the world to protect you.”

“I love you, too, Ugo,” she said in a small voice.

He took her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly on the lips. He felt desire stirring in him but broke away hastily. “Go now, while there is still time.”

Tears were running down her cheeks. “God protect you, Ugo,” she said.

“And you,” he called after her as she ran out into the night.





CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR





HUGO


December 1944

After she had gone he remained rooted in place, trying to think clearly. He was a British officer, combat trained. He should be able to come up with a good plan. He had six bullets in the chambers of his revolver. At least he could kill the first six Germans if he took them by surprise. But then they would take reprisals against the village. Sofia had to find the man with the cart and make him lend it to her. The ring was a good one. Heavy twenty-two carat gold. Worth a lot. A simple farmer would be tempted, surely.