Page 58 of Winter’s End

Mila and Evi exchanged glances.

Mila sat on the rug in front of them. “Did you know, Zoe, that Evi, too, has been working for the Resistance?”

“I did,” said Zoe. “She came to me not long ago asking for shooting lessons and a weapon. I have not yet had the opportunity to ask, but I promised to take the request to Daan or Pieter.”

Mila’s eyebrows rose. “A weapon and shooting lessons! Why, Evi?”

Evi’s chin rose. “I owe my life to the American airman who happened to pass by that night when I was fighting off that Nazi rapist at the tavern. If I am to do this sort of thing again, Mila, or anything like it, I want to be able to protect myself.”

Mila was aghast. “This is the first I have heard of your being rescued that night by anyone – much less an American soldier. Where were the Resistance shooters?”

“In the woods, waiting, I suppose. But my attacker moved – more quickly than we expected, and the bodyguards were a few hairs too late.”

It was something Mila had not foreseen. “I will talk to Pieter,” she said finally. “But, Evi, you are young for firearms…”

Evi raised her chin. “If I am old enough to lure Nazi officers to their death,” she muttered, “I am old enough to learn to handle a pistol.”

Zoe heaved a sigh. “And I as well, I suppose, although the very idea of it makes me shudder. But I have found myself more than once facing into a German firearm.” She paused. “I am willing to do anything to help end the suffering…and Evi is right. We need to have the means and be well prepared to defend ourselves.”

Mila considered. “How old are you, Zoe?”

“I was twenty-four last August.”

“Then I will take you to a shooting range myself – and Evi, I will take this up with Pieter.”

Evi said nothing.

Mila took it as approval. “It is getting late,” she said, looking out of thekliniekwindow at the gathering dusk. She scrambled to her feet. “And it seems there are more check points now than ever. We had best be on our way if we are all to be home before curfew.”

The front door was splintered where the Germans had pounded on it. Zoe checked the lock to be sure it held. Then she led the way to the back door.

“Evi, may I take your mam’s bicycle home,” Mila asked, “I will return it tomorrow.”

“Of course.”

Mila looked for a moment at their strained faces. “Hope,” she whispered.

“Hope,” they echoed.

Another three-way hug, long and heartfelt.

They hopped up on their bicycles and pedaled into the settling twilight.

EVI

“I have business to attend to this morning,” Evi told her mother. “I will not be long.”

Lotte looked at her strangely. “Business?”

Mam had been edgy since her last trip downriver. She had been able to pass Rachel, the young research scientist, to her next handler without incident, but she had felt, she told Evi, an eerie sense that it had not been entirely without notice.

Evi had pressed for more, but Mam had shrugged it off, saying only that she had no wish to stop aiding Resistance efforts, any more than did her daughter.

“Well, then,” she said now, “this is something I have to do, Mam. “I will be home soon.”

...

It had sleeted the night before, and it was rudely cold. Snowflakes melted on her tongue as she mounted her bicycle. Watching for Nazi checkpoints, Evi pedaled to the Beekhof farm. She looked once, then again, in all directions before pedaling up the narrow driveway.