The Fragile Hour (21 page)

It
was dark when Anna and Magnus waited for the train with other passengers. Karl was just behind them, but no look or word was exchanged and they appeared not to know each other. As the great locomotive hissed to a standstill, they had to hurry to the only two carriages for civilians at the rear of the train, the rest occupied by troops. As soon as Anna was on board, she saw there were no seats left, people already standing. It was going to be a long and uncomfortable journey of several hours before Oslo was reached.

She
and Magnus sat on her suitcase in the aisle. Karl, who had a rucksack, used it as a back-rest as he sat on the floor beside her. Magnus had withdrawn into deep fear again as soon as he had seen that the platform was full of soldiers, and had clung limpet-like to her hand as their travelling passes were checked. He did not dare look up as the train left the station, although the blinds were down and nobody on the platform could have seen him. Tiny blue lights gave the only illumination.

Anna
found the journey interminable. The train stopped at many stations, mostly for the disembarking of troops and for more to get on. Magnus slept with his head on her lap and she dozed now and again. Karl closed his eyes for a while, but awoke with everyone else as a German voice boomed down the length of the carriage.

“
Inspection of papers! Put those blinds up!”

People
stirred, some yawning, and a baby began crying as the blinds went up in turn, letting the early sunshine in. Two soldiers, one on either side, jostled those in the aisle as they thrust their way along. Karl’s papers were checked and handed back to him.

Then
it was Anna’s turn. Fortunately Magnus was in a deep sleep and she had taken the precaution of drawing him on to her lap with his face resting against her neck. To her increasing concern, the soldier took his time reading every word of her and Magnus’s papers, twice flicking back to the doctor’s certificate. Finally he looked at her with a doubtful frown.

“
It says that this child has to have special treatment in Oslo.”

“
That’s right. As you have read, I volunteered to bring him with me.”

“
Is he dumb or something?”

“
It’s hoped that he will be cured.”

“
Sounds odd to me. Let me have a look at him.” “Please don’t disturb him,” she appealed. “He’s tired out from the journey.”

“
Do as I say! Stand him on his feet!”

Anna
gave Magnus a little shake to wake him and whispered in his ear. “A soldier just wants to speak to you, but don’t say anything, even if he asks you a question.” She was reiterating the warning that had been instilled in him, but did not know how he would react when sleepy. But there was no need for that warning. The boy’s whole body had stiffened with terror and stopped his voice in his throat.

She
guided him to his feet and he stood with his head bowed, his chin on his chest, staring with horror at the soldier’s jackboots. He winced as his ski-cap was pulled from his head, his silky brown hair flopping forward over his forehead.

“
What’s your name, boy? Answer up, or it’ll be the worse for you! Do you want a beating? Because that’s what you’ll get for defiance!”

Anna
’s fear for Magnus was akin to his own. “He can’t answer you!” she cried out. “The doctor’s certificate told you that!”

“
It didn’t say he was deaf too. Look up at me, boy!”

One
of the men standing in the aisle, almost on top of Anna in the crush, had watched the whole incident sympathetically, as had others within view. “The child is ill. Anyone can see that.”

Instantly
the German swung up his arm and struck the man across the face, cutting his lip and making him reel back. “I want no interference here!”

At
that moment there came a commotion just beyond the injured man and the other passengers pressed close to him.

“
What’s happening?” the German shouted, unable to see what was taking place. People in seats were standing up and there was a lot of talk and activity going on. “Let me through!”

Impatiently
he thrust the papers he had been holding back at Anna, before slinging off his rifle and using the butt of it to make a way for himself. Karl pushed Magnus back into Anna’s arms and she was almost choked by the boy’s arms clasping her tightly round her neck. The other soldier, who had caught up with his comrade in the inspection, followed in his wake as with shouts of pain and indignation people gave way to his rifle butt too.

“
Whatever can it be, Karl?” Anna whispered after she had loosened Magnus’s arms and told him to try to sleep again. Nobody was paying attention to them any more.

“
A woman has fainted.”

“
How do you know that? You couldn’t see?”

A
smile touched the corners of his mouth as he turned his head to meet her eyes, his own amused. “No, but I knew ahead that might happen.”

She
released a long, slow breath, smiling to herself. So, nothing had been left to chance by the Resistance. One of their women had been primed to cause a diversion at any dangerous moment. A signal must have been passed. It had not been Karl and therefore, one of the men standing close by must have done it. Perhaps it was the man who had been struck across the face. It was unlikely she would ever know.

Although
the Germans continued their inspection after the woman had allowed herself to recover consciousness, neither returned to question Magnus again.

As
the train steamed into Oslo station, Karl stood behind her as they waited with the other passengers to get off. He took her hand and caressed it lovingly. Just for a matter of seconds, she leaned back against him in fond acknowledgement.

Anna
and Magnus left the station together, but by the time they reached the nearest tram stop Karl caught them up. On the tram he took at quick look round, but although there were some Germans on board he could see nobody from the train. This time, when they took seats, he sat with Magnus in the window seat beside him, and Anna took a place next to one of the Germans. Other passengers on the tram were following the usual routine of preferring to stand instead of sitting beside the enemy.

At
the next stop Anna got out and walked away. There had been no goodbyes said, no final hug for Magnus, but that was how it had been arranged. She could not even look back as the tram rattled on its way.

Chapter
Nineteen

At the next stop Anna caught a tram going in the opposite direction to that which Karl and Magnus had taken. It was a relief to put down her suitcase, which had been getting heavier with every step, and she took a window seat. As the tram-driver clanged his bell, she settled back to gaze out at the passing streets that she had known since childhood and to look away when she passed Rosa’s home on the faint chance of being seen and recognised.

It
seemed to her that the blight of Nazism was particularly noticeable in this once bright and lively city. Scarlet banners with the swastika hung down on either side of the entrance to the
Storting
, where previously the now-exiled Government had conducted Norway’s peaceful affairs. The enemy was patronising the open-air cafés and, passing the Grand Hotel, Anna caught a glimpse of the black uniforms of the dreaded SS, seated at the window corner table where Ibsen had once sipped his daily apertif.

At
the head of the wide street the Royal Palace, now occupied by Quisling himself, stood on a rise at the heart of the city. In its simple, neo-classical style it was also a palace without encompassing walls to isolate it from everyday life in the city, for the King had always been a man of the people. His broadcasts from London continued to encourage and showed that he was still in close touch.

Anna
alighted near the palace and set off down a tree-lined street, looking out for the hotel that was her destination. Then she slowed her pace as she saw some military activity ahead. After another few steps she halted abruptly, seeing with dismay that people were being dragged out of the address that she had been seeking and were being pushed into a waiting army truck. Behind her there came a sudden rush of hurrying footsteps, and she looked round quickly to see a slim, attractive woman of about forty hurrying to catch her up.

“
Don’t go any farther, Anna!” the woman gasped urgently. “Come away now! Walk back with me.”

“
Who are you?” Anna asked cautiously. “How do you know my name?”

“
I was the one who fainted on the train. For God’s sake, do as I say! The hotelier is being arrested now!”

Anna
looked back over her shoulder as she hurried away with the woman. A large man with his hands up was being shoved by rifles towards the truck. Then she did not dare watch any more, being powerless to to do anything to help.

“
My name is Christina Jensen,” the woman continued as they kept pace together. “I’ve followed you from the railway station.”

“
Thank you for what you did on the train,” Anna said. “I hadn’t known an emergency plan had been arranged.”

“
The boy’s life was at stake. Yours, too, if the truth had come out. I’d intended meeting you at the hotel to avoid any risk.”

Anna
studied the woman out of the corner of her eye. Christina was tallish and in appearance she had the looks and air of a successful Oslo businesswoman in her neat, dark suit, green hat with a feather and her pre-war handbag, gloves and shoes of good leather. Her hair was chestnut and drawn smoothly back into a coil at the nape of her neck, her features very fine and, under arched brows, her eyes were greenish-grey. Although quite slim, she seemed strong and full of energy as if, when young, she had been a top athlete. It was difficult to imagine that she had ever fainted in her life. Yet her performance on the train must have been convincing.

“
Where are we going?” Anna asked. “Apart from getting away from here?”

“
I’m taking you to my gown shop on Storgaten.”

“
How long have you been in business?”

“
Since my divorce some years ago. I started in a small way, but with good clothes. I built up a clientele until I was able to move into my present, more prestigious premises. After that I did my buying in Paris. Such lovely gowns! I employed a French
vendeuse
, who’d had experience in
haute
couture
. She liked Oslo and lived in the apartment above the shop until she went back to France just before Germany invaded Poland. It wasn’t that she thought the Germans would come here any more than the rest of us in Norway, but if there was to be a war she wanted to be home, and I would have felt the same. Now I employ only one seamstress and a part-time milliner, who will help out with the sewing.” She broke off as they came to a tram-stop. “We’ll wait here.”

“
What stock do you have? I thought it was virtually impossible to get fabrics or clothes of any kind.”

“
So it is. I never have anything new to sell these days. The work at the moment consists of repairing and remodelling women’s own clothes, making a garment out of anything else they manage to get hold of. Sometimes it’s cutting up something to make a coat for a child. Quite often in straitened circumstances my former customers — all so prosperous before the Occupation — bring their pre-war garments to sell back to me. That helps to keep trade ticking over, because otherwise I’d have nothing in the shop for sale.”

Anna
listened with interest. Aunt Rosa had often shopped at Christina’s and would be remembered there. It was frustrating not to be able to ask for any news of her. Perhaps at some time she could get Christina talking about her customers and gather a grain or two of information.

“
I remember your shop from when I lived in Oslo for a while.”

“
Do you? So you know Oslo well?”

“
Like the back of my hand.”

“
That’s good. Have you any idea what you should do now that you can no longer work at that hotel?”

Anna
shook her head. “Everything has changed so quickly. In any other hotel, I’d be hampered by hours of duty in carrying out any sortie for the Resistance. Yet I must get employment soon. I can’t risk the Germans pushing me into a factory for making uniforms or some such work. I must also find somewhere to live.”

“
I can help you with that now. You can have the
vendeuse’s
apartment for as long as you like. Here comes the tram!”

The
shop in Storgaten was exactly as Anna remembered it, for she had never gone past without looking in. The elegant frontage consisted of one window and an inset entrance with a gilded cypher on the glass door. Having started out as being expensive and exclusive, there was still only one garment displayed for the view of passersby, artistically draped even though it had been re-trimmed and was secondhand. Beside it was a stylish hat, which Christina told her had been steamed and re-blocked from one of her own.

Inside
the shop the decor was pink and gold. There were a dozen newly furbished hats on stands and some men’s ties arranged in a fan on a table.

“
These ties are made from scraps of any suitable left-over material. We try to have a good stock for Christmas, because then they’re snapped up. I’ve even had Germans in buying them to send home.”

As
they were early at the shop, neither the seamstress nor the milliner had arrived. Anna saw the room where they worked, large windows giving plenty of light. Upstairs was the salon, the mirrors gilt-framed, its colours in harmony with the shop below. On the floor above was the apartment and Christina led the way up the stairs.

Anna
could see that although the rooms were small there was everything she would need and it was pleasantly furnished. “Why haven’t you a tenant here?” she asked. “The door in the hall could be locked against access to the shop and its other door has a flight down to a rear entrance.”

“
I’ll show you why.” Christina went to a cupboard in the narrow hallway. Opening it, she stooped down and raised the floor of it up on concealed hinges to reveal a ladder going down into the darkness.

“
Wait until I’ve switched on the light and then follow me,” Christina said as she sat down and swung her shapely legs into the aperture.

As
the light went on, Anna descended the ladder to find herself in what had been one of the changing rooms for customers on the floor below. The walls were still lined with mirrors. A divan and a comfortable chair had been added, together with a shelf of books.

“
What a perfect hiding place!” she exclaimed.

“
It was easy to seal it off and it’s quite impossible to detect from the salon itself. To date, ten people have remained hidden here when all the buildings in the street were being searched. Once there were three of them here together.”

“
It’s an ideal apartment for me and I’m grateful to you for it.”

“
There’s no need to be. The arrangement will suit me as well. Whenever the enemy has made a house-search of these Storgaten buildings I’ve always been afraid the apartment would be commandeered by an officer to install his mistress in it. By the way, how are you at sewing?”

“
Not good enough to join your seamstress,” Anna replied regretfully.

“
How about helping in the shop? It would give both of us a chance to get away on Home Front matters, leaving the other in charge. At the present time I have to rely on my milliner, who thinks I go off to play bridge or whatever else I tell her.”

Anna
hesitated. Aunt Rosa had so many clothes that it was unlikely she ever came into the shop these days. Any acquaintance from the past would be easy to dodge, for the shop bell would always alert her. “I’ll work for you, Christina. Just for as long as the Resistance wants me to be in Oslo and that could be anything from a month to a year.”

“
Yes, of course. I’m so pleased you’re going to be here. At the present time the local cell won’t know where you are. I’ll make sure that somebody is told today. Go and unpack now and make yourself at home. Tomorrow is Sunday, so come and spend the day with me.”

As
Anna had expected Christina had an elegant home. In the middle of the afternoon when they sat talking the door-bell rang. Christina went to answer it and returned with a healthy-looking young man with ruddy cheeks. Cheerfully, Christina introduced him to Anna.

“
Meet your contact, Andreas Nordheim,” she said before leaving them on their own together.

“
Welcome to Oslo,” Andreas said, shaking Anna’s hand and then sitting down. “I hear that you had quite an adventurous time getting here. It was a relief to all of us that you escaped arrest with the hotelier and the others. He was one of our best men.”

“
Where were they taken?”

He
looked grave and shook his head. “To the Gestapo headquarters in Mollegaten.”

She
shivered. “Have you lost many people?”

“
I’m afraid so. Tell me, were you given any special instructions before you came?”

“
No, it was expected that I’d receive them from the hotelier.”

“
Right. Then you’ll be ready whenever we call on you. It might not be for a few weeks. We have a lot of tasks in hand, but people have already been allotted to them.”

“
Isn’t there anything I can do in the meantime?”

“
Only that which has become second nature to all of us in the Resistance. Keep your eyes and ears open for anything that’s unusual or might be of interest to our cause.”

It
was not very satisfactory, but Anna had to accept it.