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

He grasped her elbow and began forging his way through the press of people to the front door. Evelyn tightened her hand on her suitcase and tried to keep from knocking people in the shins as they made their way slowly to the door. The panic around them was palpable and she forced herself to remain calm as she followed Jens. She would find a way back to France. She had to. She had no intention of ending up surrounded by the SS again as she had been in Norway. The easiest way would be to get hold of a car, but how on earth was she going to do that in a strange city?

They finally pushed through the door and into the street a few minutes later, and Evelyn took a deep breath of the crisp and cool morning air. The smell of smoke and brick dust assaulted her senses, and she coughed, turning to look up the street. She couldn’t see anything past the barricades set up by the emergency personnel halfway up the street.

“A building was hit at the top of the road,” Jens said, glancing that way. “They’ve got it blocked off while they...well, while they assess the damage.”

“Have a lot of buildings been hit?”

“I only know of that one, but there must be more. They said that the Germans were trying to bomb the bridges out of the city, but none of them had been hit yet. I don’t think they have very good aim.”

He turned to walk in the opposite direction and Evelyn fell into step beside him.

“How are you going to get back to Paris?” he asked, looking down at her. “If they’re trying to bomb the bridges, they’ll be bombing the trains as well. They’re trying to sever all the major routes of transportation.”

“I know.” Evelyn shrugged. “I have to find another way. If I can get hold of a car, I can drive.”

“A car?” Jens brightened. “I have a car.”

She stopped and looked up at him, a surge of hope going through her. “You do?”

“Yes. I keep it in a garage just outside the city. It’s too expensive to keep it where I live, but I keep it to visit my family.” He nodded. “Why didn’t I think of that sooner? We can go get my car and I’ll drive you to France!”

“Oh, but you can’t!” she exclaimed. “What about your work?”

“Look around, Marie. Everything is in chaos, the Germans are invading, and soon they will be here in Brussels. I don’t think my work will be in business much longer.”

“Oh Jens, I’m so sorry! This must be horrible for you. I’m just trying to get back to France, but this is your home!”

He looked down at her and his lips were set in a grim line. “This was my home,” he replied. “Once the Germans get here, it will no longer be the Brussels I know. I’ll get you home to France, and then I’ll decide from there what to do. Come.” He took her free hand. “It will be safer this way. I’ll take the minor roads out of the city and we’ll go through the countryside.”

Evelyn looked up at him as they hurried down the street, following hordes of other people fleeing with whatever they could carry in bags and baskets.

“Are you absolutely sure?” she asked. “It might not be safe.”

He snorted inelegantly. “I don’t think it will be safe here for much longer. I’m sure.” He suddenly grinned, flashing white teeth. “I’ve always wanted to see France. Now’s my chance.”

She smiled weakly and fell silent, dropping her eyes to the pavement. What a mess this was! Here she was, facing yet another invasion, and with yet another radio operator. It was almost as if Fate was handing her a second chance to make up for Peder. Except that she didn’t believe in Fate, and there were no second chances for Peder. Instead, she had Jens determined to get her out of Brussels and back to France without knowing just how dangerous it could be. She couldn’t tell him, of course. She had to let him continue believing that she was exactly what she said she was: a secretary from Paris. If he suspected anything different, he would refuse to help her, and she had to get back to London to deliver the oilskin-wrapped package concealed in the lining of her coat.

She just hoped they would make it to the border with France before the Germans did.

Chapter Fifteen

Hans Voss pulled his car to the side of the curb and shut off the engine, glancing at his watch. As he had driven through the city, streams of traffic clogged the road heading in the opposite direction. Mass panic had taken hold, and people were fleeing in droves.

He opened the door and got out of the car, setting his hat on his head firmly. He’d known the Führer was going to invade the Lowlands soon. Everyone knew it. They just hadn’t known when. The Führer had been inordinately quiet about his plans for the Western advance, and Hans doubted whether even the senior generals and Hitler’s own advisors had known when it would begin. Certainly, he had no idea when the might of the German army would move towards France.

Turning, Hans strode down the street towards the hotel located a few yards away. The invasion did cause some serious complications for him. Not only was the city going to be absolute chaos, but with people fleeing in such numbers, it would be almost impossible to find one mystery woman. Even if he did manage to track down the hotel where she was staying, the odds of her still being there were nonexistent. She would flee with all the others if she had any sense. She would know the SS was coming with the army, and she would try to get the package to France, if she hadn’t already. The thought made