Lucette pushed his armpit with her leg while pulling his hand toward her stomach.
Pain pierced his wrist. His muscles spasmed.
“Keep your arm relaxed,” Ruth said, holding his forearm.
Jimmie closed his eyes and fought to keep his muscles from contracting.
Lucette tugged harder.
Ruth, using her thumbs, pressed on the bulge.
Pain surged through his arm. His stomach felt nauseous, producing the urge to vomit.
Ruth grimaced as she applied more pressure. “A little more.”
Lucette stretched her leg and leaned back.
A muffled crack, like a stick being snapped inside a towel, pierced the air.
“Got it,” Ruth said.
Lucette eased off and lowered her foot from his armpit. “Don’t move.”
Jimmie nodded and sucked in air. He glanced at his arm, filled with ache. His wrist and forearm were swollen but the lump was no longer visible.
Ruth and Lucette constructed a splint with bandages and broken pieces of wood from an old crate. They tied the splint securely to his arm and made a sling from a long strip of bandage with the ends tied together.
“How does it feel?” Ruth asked, adjusting the sling around his neck.
“Much better.” He looked at them. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Ruth said. “Rest a little. Lucette and I are going to have a look around.”
He slowly got to his feet. “I’ll join you.”
“All right,” Ruth said. “But be careful not to jostle your arm.”
The trio explored the mill. The upper floor was empty and had a solitary window with a view that was blocked by an overgrown willow tree. A cellar, accessed by a ladder that was missing two rungs, had a damp earthen floor and no windows. They reached a consensus that the main level was the safest option, given that it provided escape routes through the door and windows. But they remained in the cellar to read a map with the aid of an electric torch, so the light could not be spotted by the Germans.
“Can you show me where we are?” Jimmie asked.
Lucette placed her finger on the map. “Here—north of Signy-l’Abbaye.”
Ruth looked at Jimmie. “Tell us what you saw before you were shot down.”
Jimmie eyed the map and ran a finger from Sedan to Signy-l’Abbaye. “There are at least three Panzer divisions that broke through the line at Sedan. They are south of us and traveling toward the Channel.”
Lucette clasped her arms.
He ran his finger from Nouzonville to Liart. “Several kilometers to the north, there are two more Panzer divisions traveling in the same direction. And further north, more German tanks broke through at Houx.”
“My God,” Ruth said. “How could this have happened so fast?”
Jimmie stared at the map. “The German Army invaded in the most unlikely place—the Ardennes Forest—which was viewed to be impassible for Panzers, so it was the least defended area of the line. The Wehrmacht was supported by an armada of Luftwaffe aircraft, and their aerial bombardments overwhelmed French infantry.” Anger surged through him. “The French and British lost many planes and airmen.”
Ruth drew a deep breath and clasped her hands.
“Tell me what you know about the French tanks,” Lucette said, her voice fragile.
“Some of their divisions were destroyed,” he said, “and the Panzers are moving past them at lightning speed.”
Tears formed in Lucette’s eyes.
Ruth placed an arm around her shoulder. “We must have faith that Paul’s unit isn’t one of them. He’s going to be all right.”
Jimmie’s heart sank. He looked at Lucette, her face filled with angst. “Is Paul your husband?”
“Fiancé.”
“There are many French tanks that remain intact,” Jimmie said, trying to restore her hope. “They’re fighting to get back into position to halt the invasion.”
Lucette nodded and wiped away tears.
Ruth rubbed a hand over her friend’s back, as if to comfort her, and then looked at Jimmie. “Assuming we can get out of here, which direction do you think we should go?”
“If the French Army can slow the progress of the Panzers, we might be able to head west. If not, the only route to safety will be to the south.” He pointed to the map. “My airfield is in Reims, about sixty kilometers south of our location. If we can get there, we’ll have protection from Allied forces.”
“But we have orders to go to the Channel,” Ruth said. “Our new post is in Dunkirk. There are soldiers counting on us.”
