Operation Kingfisher Read Online Free PDF

The ticket clerk sold them tickets without expressing any curiosity about the purpose of their journey and told them the next train was due in just over an hour.
    By the time it arrived, they were both shivering and there was little comfort to be had in the unheated carriages. At Clermont-Ferrand, they were able to change trains without encountering any checks. The train was packed with businessmen in suits and farmers in blue overalls, with an occasional smartly dressed woman, and they were lucky to find seats. As they settled down Christine felt that at last the worst was over. They still had to change trains again at Lyons, but with any luck by tomorrow morning they would be in Montbéliard.
    It was warmer here, largely due to the press of bodies; outside it was growing dark and, soothed by the regular rhythm of the wheels, she began to doze. They had been going for about an hour when Luke nudged her.
    ‘Going for a pee!’
    He left the compartment and she settled back in her corner. A few minutes later, the door slid open and Luke stood in the doorway. He made no attempt to enter and from the expression on his face, Christine knew at once that they were in trouble. He jerked his head, indicating that she should join him in the corridor, and she stumbled out over the feet of the other passengers.
    ‘What’s wrong?’
    ‘There are
milice
on the train. They are going into every compartment demanding to see people’s papers. They’re in there now, three compartments up from ours.’
    Christine’s brain was racing.
    ‘I’ll be OK. Can’t you hide in the toilet until they’ve gone past?’
    ‘No, it won’t work. A man went in just as I came out and Iheard one of them banging on the door and demanding his papers. He was obviously going to wait until the chap came out.’
    At that moment the train slowed and tilted as it negotiated a bend.
    ‘Where are we? What’s the next stop?’ Christine asked.
    ‘I’m not sure. Roanne, I suppose.’
    ‘Let’s move down the train. If we keep going back, we might get to the station before the
milice
reach us.’
    ‘It’s an idea, but I’ve got a feeling we’re quite near the back already. Still, let’s try it.’
    They made their way along the swaying corridor, squeezing past passengers who had been unable to find seats, until they came to the end of the carriage. Luke tried the door that should have given access to the next one, but it was locked.
    ‘Damn! This must be the last carriage. We can’t go back any further.’
    As he spoke, a door further up the train was slid open and the two
milicien
came out. They went straight to the next compartment and Christine heard them roughly demanding to see everyone’s identity documents. She felt the train slowing down more.
    ‘Perhaps we’re coming into the station now,’ she said. ‘Can you see?’
    Luke went to the door leading to the outside and lowered the window so that he could lean out.
    ‘We’re on some kind of embankment. I can’t see any sign of a station, but there’s a bridge up ahead. We’re definitely slowing up.’
    The two
miliciens
came out of the compartment and one began checking the papers of passengers standing in the corridor. The second one went into the compartment nearest to where Luke and Christine were standing.
    Luke said, ‘There’s only one thing for it: I’ll have to jump. It’s now or never. Once we’re on the bridge it will be impossible. You get off at the next stop and wait for me. It can’t be far ahead.’
    ‘Not on your life!’ Christine responded. ‘I’m not risking us being separated. I’ll jump with you.’
    ‘No!’ her brother exclaimed. ‘It’s too dangerous!’
    The man checking the standing passengers finished with one and moved to the next. For the moment, they were hidden from him in the recess beside the door but Christine saw that if he came any closer he must see them.
    She grabbed the door handle and forced it open. The wind whipped into her face and,