Chapter 63

Helen had just finished washing Bobby's face before putting him to bed when she heard a sound. She stilled, holding her breath and listening to hear it again. Deciding she must have imagined it, she helped him into bed, handed him his teddy and pulled up the sheet to cover his shoulders. It was a warm night, and he didn't need anything more than that on the bed.

She bent to kiss him. ‘Sleep well, poppet. Mummy will be back soon.'

She left the room, stopping when she heard whispered voices. One of them sounded like Tony's. Surprised, but happy at his visiting, she went through to the kitchen to join them. She opened the door and went to greet him, but stopped when she saw Tony wasn't alone. Sitting at the table, a glass of water in one hand and a slice of bread in the other, was a dishevelled man. It was obvious by his filthy state that he was one of the enforced workers who had been brought to the island to work on the many bunkers and gun emplacements that had been built around the island over the past three years. She had heard about these poor people but this was the first time she had met one. He looked as if he'd been treated far worse than she had imagined. Not wanting to frighten him, Helen kept quiet.

He sensed her presence. His deep-set dark eyes stared at her momentarily before he leapt up, knocking his chair backwards so it crashed on the tiled kitchen floor.

‘What the—?' Tony turned at the same time as Daphne, both registering Helen standing there, while the man ran to the back door desperate to escape. Tony took off after him.

‘I'm so sorry,' she whispered, hating to have frightened the stranger. ‘I didn't mean to.'

‘It's fine, dear,' Daphne soothed. ‘I doubt he'll get far. He's barely eaten for months, poor soul. Tony will bring him back. At least I hope he does before anyone spots them both.'

They waited patiently and were relieved when they returned. The man seemed less frightened and Helen gave what she hoped was a friendly smile.

‘I'm sorry I surprised you.' She made sure to keep her tone gentle in case he didn't understand her.

He stared at her silently.

‘Please,' Daphne said, indicating the food he had left when he ran. ‘Eat.'

He tore his eyes from Helen and looked at Tony, who nodded.

Once he was seated, Tony sat opposite him. She and Daphne did the same.

‘We didn't mean to shock you, Helen,' Tony explained, his tone gentle. ‘This is Tomás.' Hearing his name, the man looked up and gave her a brief nod before going on eating.

‘It doesn't sound like a Russian name.'

‘Not all the forced workers are from there,' Daphne explained. ‘Some, like Tomás, are political prisoners from the Spanish Civil War.'

‘That's right,' Tony said. ‘Some are Dutch, or Belgian, and from various other places.'

Helen looked at his ragged clothes. ‘We need to find something else for him to wear.'

‘I was saying as much when you joined us,' Daphne said. ‘I still have some of my husband's clothes in a trunk in the loft. I was wondering if you might seek them out for me before you go, Tony?'

‘I'd be happy to.'

Helen saw the relief in his face and realised he must have been concerned about Tomás's clothes.

It dawned on her what her aunt had said. ‘You're taking him tonight?'

Tony shook his head. ‘No, I?—'

‘Mummy?'

Concerned that Bobby had walked in and seen their visitor, Helen went to him. ‘What are you doing up? You're supposed to be asleep,' she said, trying to lead him away, but he tugged at her hand determined to stay. ‘I'm Bobby.'

The man put down what he was eating, and his mouth drew back into a gentle smile, showing rotting teeth interspersed with gaps. His face lit up, making him appear very different. He pointed at his chest. ‘Tomás.'

Bobby smiled at him. ‘Goodnight, Tomás.'

Helen led him away, her mind racing. What if Bobby mentioned seeing him in the kitchen? Then it occurred to her that he never saw anyone other than them and occasionally Peggy and Babs. Helen knew how secretive people needed to be. Maybe that was why Tony hadn't confided in either of them about this.

She returned to the kitchen and listened as Tony explained why he had needed to bring the escapee to Daphne's home. ‘I was supposed to take him to another safe house.'

‘Another?' She turned to Daphne. ‘You mean, you've done this before?'

Daphne smiled. ‘Quite a few times, yes. And I hope you know that this isn't something you should share with anyone, not even Ida and Babs Hamel, lovely as they are.'

‘Of course.' Anxious about what would happen to Daphne, her and Bobby should they be caught with the man in the house, Helen struggled to push her fear to one side. These men had nowhere else to go and of course they must look after him. Helen gave Tony an apologetic look. ‘Please carry on.'

‘I'm aware how dangerous this is,' Tony said. ‘And if I had anywhere else to take him I would.' He lowered his voice. ‘Between you and me it was you tipping Peggy off in '41 after you overheard those Jerries discussing an enforced worker that enabled me to put in place the first safe house to take Pawel to.'

‘Pawel?'

‘The first man I helped hide.'

‘What happened to him?'

‘That's not something I can tell you.'

Helen wasn't sure if it was because he didn't know or because it wasn't her business. She assumed it was the latter. She was stunned. Had she really been the one to instigate Pawel's rescue? ‘You really mean that I helped that man?'

He nodded. ‘I promise you it's true.'

‘I'm sure you have no idea how much of a difference the information we received from you and from Peggy has made to quite a few people. And because of my involvement this gentleman also has a chance of a future.'

She was staggered and happy to be able to put a human face to what she had done. ‘I've done so little. It's people like you and your friends in the underground groups who've put their lives at risk.'

Tony gave her a pointed stare. ‘Helen, information is key, and you've made the difference between life and death for Pawel. Hopefully, he'll continue to be safe until this nightmare is finally over and can have a chance of locating his family.' He hesitated for a moment. ‘Or, probably, what's left of them.'

She wiped away tears she had only just realised were running down her face. ‘This means so much to me.'

‘To all of us.' He rested a hand on the back of one of the chairs.

She looked at the abused man sitting at the table. ‘What about Tomás?'

‘I'm planning to move him on somewhere else, but he'll need to stay here for a little while until that's possible. They have search parties out looking for him and, as you can see, we need to do all we can to change his appearance so that he'll have more chance to blend in. I'll be back tomorrow with whatever food I can find.'

‘Come with me,' Daphne was saying to Tomás, mimicking washing her arms. ‘I'll run the bath while you fetch those clothes, Tony.'

‘I really hate putting the three of you in danger,' Tony said.

Daphne shook her head. ‘We all need to help each other,' she said. ‘Now, shall I show you where to find the loft for those clothes?'

* * *

Helen guessed she might have slept for an hour or two but no more than that. She wasn't sure what had been worse, hearing imaginary footsteps and fearing that German soldiers were storming into the bungalow, or her nightmares that they had come. It was a relief to see daybreak. And now she was sitting in the living room, the curtains half drawn, with Tomás sitting to the side of the room in case unexpected visitors arrived to see Daphne. Thankfully, it was the weekend, and Daphne was at home with them – not that Helen didn't trust Tomás, but he was a stranger, and she couldn't be too careful where Bobby was concerned, despite the two of them getting on so well.

She watched as he played with Bobby's toys, making him laugh. She was amused that although neither of them understood the other they seemed to communicate well.

She was relieved when the sun set and they could sit in the relative darkness and it was less likely that anyone might call at Sans Souci, or even drive past and look in the window. Tony didn't come all day and she assumed he must have been detained elsewhere.

Hearing footsteps outside, the three adults tensed and stared at each other, but an agreed pattern of knocks at the back door told Helen that Tony had arrived.

He was out of breath and seemed more stressed than usual. ‘I'm sorry,' he said, glancing at each one of them in turn. ‘I was hoping to be able to move Tomás this evening, but the place I was taking him to was raided this morning.'

Helen saw Tomás had picked up on Tony's words despite not understanding English. She gave their guest a reassuring smile. ‘You will be safe here,' she said hoping to help him feel a bit better.

After Tony left, Helen wished there was more she could do to help but being in hiding herself made going out too risky.

It was three days before Tony was able to arrange another safe house for Tomás and he moved on. Helen reflected that she would never forget the man who had spent five days with them. She hoped she might one day hear that he had been reunited with his family.

Half an hour after Tomás had left a sobbing Bobby, who had to be persuaded to let go of his hand, Helen and Daphne had cleared away any sign of him and sat in the living room, lost in their own thoughts.

‘I almost feel as if we imagined Tomás being here,' Helen admitted eventually, wondering what would happen to him now.

‘Me, too.' Daphne sighed. ‘Poor man, I hope he eventually manages to get home.'

So do I, Helen thought, glad to have been able to help him in some small way.