Stearley punched the German soldier so hard he collapsed on the ground, out cold. Worse was to come. The lieutenant turned on his heels and ran back towards the two of them. Natalie told Harry to walk away as fast as he could without being conspicuous. Stearley caught up soon enough. They walked the next few streets in angry silence. She led them back to the apartment, and when she had bolted the door she gave Stearley a look of cold hatred. ‘You idiot,’ she spat at him as quietly as her rage would allow. ‘Why did you punch him?’ He seemed rather pleased with himself. ‘Kraut walking into me threw me. I said, “Watch out, pal.” Then I realised I’d spoken to him in English. He raised his rifle so I knocked him out. Hope I broke his jaw.’ ‘Well,’ said Natalie icily, ‘I’m going to leave you and I’m not coming back. You can fend for yourself. I suspect you won’t have to for long though, because the Germans will be here searching every house in the next hour. And you can spend the rest of the war in a prison camp.
