The Iron Storm by CW Browning (classic literature books TXT) 📕

Evelyn gulped and stuffed the letter back into the envelope, reaching down to pick up her suitcase again. It was as she feared. She had to find a car. It was the only way.

Pushing her way towards the front desk, she was suddenly aware that the wave of hopelessness and despair had left her. In its place was the calm determination of knowing what she had to do. With his note, Vladimir had given her the splash of cold water that she needed to focus. Gone was the burgeoning panic. Instead, her hands were steady, and her heart was beating normally when she finally reached the desk. Setting her purse on the counter, she put down her suitcase and prepared to wait for one of the frazzled employees to get to her.

“Mademoiselle Fournier!” The manager waved to her. “I’ll be with you in a moment.”

She smiled and nodded, watching as he finished with the brusque ex-Army Colonel from her floor. The man’s wife turned to look and gave her a nod of greeting, her face lined with worry. When Evelyn nodded back politely, she pushed her way towards to her.

“It really was a bomb, my dear,” she announced as she reached her. “Can you imagine? The nerve of that squalid, little painter!”

“It was?”

“Yes. It hit a building up the street. That’s why there are no taxis. They can’t get through.” The woman straightened her hat and tried in vain to tuck her graying hair back under it. “I didn’t have time to even put my hat on straight. Does it look very bad?”

“Not at all,” Evelyn said with a chuckle. “Do you know if the taxis are running at all?”

“The manager said that we may be able to get one near the Rue Royale, which is about a five minute walk from here. And you? You’re not alone, are you?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Oh but my dear, you can’t possibly navigate out of the city alone!” The woman exclaimed, her eyes widening. “The Germans are invading!”

“So I’ve heard,” Evelyn said dryly. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll find a way.”

“But that’s absurd. Come with us. Horace won’t mind, will you, Horace?” She turned to look at the large Colonel as he made his way up behind her.

“Mind what?” he boomed.

“This poor young woman is all alone! I told her she should come with us to look for a taxi.”

“Of course, of course. Where are you headed?”

“Well, back to France, I suppose,” Evelyn said with a shrug, smiling as the manager approached her. “But I really couldn’t impose. I’m not sure how I’m going to go yet, you see. I have a ticket on the train, but I don’t know if they’re even running.”

“The train to Paris is being delayed, Mademoiselle Fournier,” the manager said with an apologetic cough.

“We’re going to wait it out at the station,” the Colonel informed her. “The trains will start running again soon. Stands to reason they have to. Too many people trying to get home. Come along with us. This is no time for a young woman like you to be alone.”

“Oh, but I—” Evelyn was cut off when she heard someone calling Marie. Turning, she scanned the throngs of faces in confusion. Her brow cleared when Jens’ anxious face appeared through the crowds. “Jens!”

“Oh thank God!” he gasped, pushing through to stand before her, panting. “I thought perhaps I’d have missed you.”

“No, I’m still trying to get out of here,” she said with a laugh. She looked at the Colonel and his wife and smiled in some embarrassment. “I’m so sorry. I don’t even know your name!”

“Colonel Redmond, at your service,” the Colonel said with a brisk nod of his head. “And this is Lady Pruit Redmond, my wife.”

“I’m so pleased to meet you. I’m Marie Fournier, and this is my friend Jens Bernard.”

“A pleasure,” Jens nodded distractedly. “Marie, what are you going to do? How will you get home? I came to help in any way I can.”

“Well before I do anything, I really much check out of the hotel,” she said humorously, turning towards the manager.

The manager cleared his throat and pushed a card towards her. “If you could just sign here, Mademoiselle.”

“Yes, of course.” Evelyn signed the card and paid for her room, murmuring her thanks. Once she was finished, she turned back to her unexpected companions. “Jens, the Redmonds are going to try to find a taxi. Do you know where is the best place for them to find one?”

“Everyone seems to be heading to the Rue Royale,” Lady Pruit Redmond said, tucking her hand through her husband’s arm.

“You should be able to find one along there,” Jens said with a nod. “But you’d better hurry. I think everyone has the same idea. As I was coming in, there were a lot of people heading in that direction.”

“And you, my dear?” The Colonel asked, looking down at Evelyn. “What will you do? Will you come with us and wait it out at the station?”

Evelyn hesitated and glanced at Jens. “I...well, I’m not sure what I’m doing yet,” she said. “But you want to be on your way if you’re going to find a taxi. You go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

“Alone?” Lady Pruit Redmond shook her head. “You can’t be serious.”

“But she’s not alone anymore,” the Colonel pointed out. “She has this young man to help her. Come along, Edna, and stop fussing.”

“Oh, are you sure?” Lady Pruit Redmond peered anxiously at Evelyn. “You’ll be all right?”

“Yes, I’ll be all right,” she assured her with a smile. “I’ll most likely see you at the station. Don’t worry.”

The Colonel and his wife said their goodbyes and, after assuring her that they would be praying for her safety, disappeared into the crowds towards the door. Evelyn looked at Jens with a laugh.

“I hope you have an idea or I’ll feel like a fool turning down their very kind offer,” she announced.

“I don’t, really,” he admitted. “Come on. Let’s get out of this hotel and