Liquidate Paris (38 page)

On 25th August we tuned in to an enemy station and heard the following news :

The 28th Armoured Division under General Leclerc had entered Paris that morning. The bells were ringing out all over the city and the population was generally going mad with excitement. Any Germans foolish enough to show themselves in the street went at their own peril and in danger of their lives. The guards at Fresnes had been slaughtered by the prisoners. Any women suspected of having had relations with occupying troops were having their hair shaved off, their clothes stripped from them and their bodies daubed with swastikas. General von Choltitz had been arrested by the Americans. The whole town was to be illuminated throughout the night. Vive la France!

We turned it off and sat looking at each other a while.

'You know what?' said Porta, at last. 'They wouldn't give old Choltitz enough fireworks to blow the place up so what's the betting he's now busy claiming that he actually saved it from destruction?'

'They'd never believe him,' said Barcelona.

'Besides,' objected Little John, 'it'd all be there, written down in orders and such like.'

Porta shrugged.

'Them at the top always manage to wriggle out of everything.'

'Not this time,' said Barcelona.

'You want to take a bet?' said Porta.

THE END