She petted the mess of his fur and kissed him twice again. “You are the best dog ever,” she whispered, burying her face in his, opening her mouth wide so that she would taste him, taste his fur and his little black nose, his eyes, that would never stop loving her.
Part V
DECEMBER 1940
Unfortunately, the way along the Cerbère cemetery wall had become too dangerous . . . Now it was being closely watched by the gardes mobiles. This was apparently on orders from the German Kundt Commission, which was the Gestapo agency in that part of still unoccupied France . . . That meant that we had to cross the Pyrenees farther west, where the mountain crests were higher and thus the climb more strenuous.
—Lisa Fittko, Escape through the Pyrenees
Sunday, December 8, 1940
MARSEILLE
Edouard followed Nanée, who was holding tightly to Luki’s hand and carrying her elegant little case, up the wide white steps and into the Gare de Marseille-Saint-Charles. They bypassed the ticket counter and the ticket taker, and entered for the station café, which Nanée said had an exit directly onto the train platforms; they could avoid document checks here simply by stopping for a bad cup of fake coffee. He was in her hands now. He and Luki were in her hands.
He took a seat at one table, Luki and Nanée at another, maintaining the facade of traveling separately. They separately ordered coffees, and separately sat listening, waiting for their train to be called. Edouard opened Gussie’s book, which he’d carried in his left hand per the boy’s instruction; Nanée had given it to him once they were out of Gussie’s sight, saying she couldn’t possibly carry it herself and still carry her suitcase and hold Luki’s hand, and anyway, he needed luck even more than she did.
Was that policeman watching him, or was he admiring Nanée? She wore a plain gray coat to avoid attention, but a woman like her would draw looks even wrapped in butcher paper.
Yes, Nanée too saw the man. The policeman was headed right for them, as if he knew exactly who Edouard was. Was he one of the policemen from that long day at the évêché, before they were imprisoned on that boat just to ensure that nobody would embarrass Pétain?
He slid his Leica toward his hip, away from the approaching officer. This was not a time to invite scrutiny. His suitcase with his work was tucked under the table; he would just leave it there if this man wanted to take him in for questioning. Nanée would retrieve it, so his photographs wouldn’t be lost.
The officer hesitated just as he reached Edouard, then passed him and approached Nanée.
Nanée took Luki’s hand and squeezed it. Luki held Pemmy more tightly as she looked up at Nanée, some understanding passing between them.
Nanée met the policeman’s gaze with startling ease and a quizzical expression—not unkind, and yet Edouard saw she meant to brush back any idea the man might have of paying her notice.
“I’m sorry,” the policeman said. “I mistook you for someone else.”
Nanée smiled, and returned to her coffee.
The policeman took in Luki. He said to Nanée, “But you are American, yes?”
“Pffft. Is it so obvious? I’ve lived in France for a decade.”
“Ah, but the look in your eyes. You American girls have a different confidence than that of a Frenchwoman. More direct. A Frenchwoman, she is always trying to charm.”
Nanée laughed easily. “So you’re saying I lack charm.”
“No, no, not at all.” Trying to regain his composure, he asked Luki, “What’s your kangaroo’s name?”
Edouard tried not to show his alarm. Luki remained mercifully silent. Moppelchen, he thought. My little fatso, now so thin.
“Where are you going?” the man asked. Still, Luki said nothing. She only looked to Nanée as if she were the parent rather than him. Nanée smiled ever so slightly.
“Perhaps you would like a bit of chocolate?” the man offered Luki, fishing in his pocket and holding out a small bar of Chocolat Menier.
Still, Luki only met his gaze.
“I believe that’s our train they’re calling,” Nanée said, although Edouard hadn’t heard any train being called. “She’s shy, but I’ll take it for her, thank you.” She rose and collected her travel case. “Have a good day, Officer,” she said. Then to Luki, “This way, darling,” nodding as if to show Luki the way out to the platform, so that Edouard would see and walk out ahead of them to the train, which was, indeed, just arriving.