“Oui. Yes. I know, but we must also find Jacque Billaud. He is the one who will help us.”
Adam gazed at Abbeville, a field of rooftops and chimneys. How would they find one man among so many? “I know we've got to find him, but first we need to get dry and warm. What good is this Jacque if we're dead?” He met Elisa's dark eyes. “Shelter first.”
“Oui.” Elisa caressed her son's forehead, kissed his cold skin, then looked back toward the city. “There. We will stay there.” She pointed at a small, stone church just inside the city, a kilometer or so west of where they stood.
“All right,” Adam said and started walking. Elisa stayed beside Adam. He laid an arm protectively over her shoulders. “How do you plan on finding this Jacques Billaud?”
“I will search. Someone will know of him.”
“You're Jewish.”
“Oui,” she stated flatly.
“Won't people know that?”
“Maybe, yes, but this is for me to do.” She eyed Adam. “Your French is not so good.” She smiled.
“You have a point.” Adam stared at the city. It could take weeks, maybe more to find this Jacques. And what if they didn't find him? How could they get out of the country? German patrols persistently sought any who would escape their tyranny. If they were discovered...Adam's hopes dipped. Father, help us. This is impossible without you. You know where this Jacque Billaud is. Lead us to him. His empty stomach grumbled. And, Lord, please help us find something to eat.
“I have been thinking of a plan,” Elisa said. “You must wait with Adin. I will go into the town, the saloons. Is that the right word? Saloon?”
“If you mean a bar, yeah, saloon will do.”
Confusion touched Elisa's face. “I will go in those places, and maybe someone will know this man. Is it not so?”
“Yes, it is so.” Adam gave Elisa a squeeze. He admired her courage and tenacity. He let her loose. “You might find him in a bar, but if he doesn't frequent those kinds of places, you'll come up empty…”
“I will find him.”
“And what about the Germans?”
“You say God will protect. I shall much appreciate your prayers.”
Adin whimpered and said something to his mother.
“He is hungry,” Elisa said, heading toward a bridge. She stopped at the shore and stepped beneath the overpass. Adam followed with Adin. Elisa swung her pack off and dug into it.
“At least it's not raining under here.” A sharp breeze swept over them, and Adam shivered. “It's not warm either.”
Spitting out a string of French, Elisa swung her pack away from her. “Nothing. I have nothing for him!” Tears filled her eyes, and she wiped at them furiously. “What am I to do?” She sat and pulled her knees against her chest, wrapped her arms around her legs, and stared at the river.
Cradling Adin, Adam sat beside her. The boy climbed into his mother's arms, and she caressed his wet hair and kissed his head. She returned to staring at the river, her eyes wide and bleak.
Adam removed his coat and draped it over her and the boy. “We'll find something. Don't worry.”
“It is much easier for you. This is not your child.”
“I understand and care...a lot.”
Elisa looked at him but said nothing.
Adam wished he could stop her pain, but he couldn't do anything to help her. His mind wandered to Abbeville. “Maybe we can find something in town. A restaurant would have food.”
“Ah, yes. The waiters will smile and ask if we would like a cognac to go with our white fish in cream sauce. Of course, we will say oui,” she continued sarcastically. “Then while we wait for our meal, they will bring us tender asparagus drizzled with melted cheese…”
He laughed. “Stop. My stomach is cramping at the thought.”
Elisa smiled. “I wish it could be true, but…” She pulled her sweater pocket inside out. “We have no money.”
“Restaurants throw away food all the time.”
Elisa's eyes widened. “Ah, yes. The garbage?”
“Yes.”
“Why is it that I did not think of this sooner?”
“The stuff on top should be fresh.” The idea of reaching into a trash bin to eat turned Adam's stomach, but he was hungry enough to try it. “Come on. Let's go find lunch.”
Elisa stood. “Maybe we can look for Jacques also?”
“Sure.”
They stepped out from beneath their temporary shelter, and the rain stopped. Sunshine splintered between clouds. Moisture trickled from blades of grass, and mists rose from puddles. Adam balanced Adin on his shoulders, and Elisa walked beside him as they entered the city. Narrow cobblestone streets ambled between brick buildings. The last of the rain dribbled off steeply pitched roofs. Adam thought he caught the aroma of cooking onions, and his mouth watered.
The city seemed alive. An occasional car negotiated the winding streets. People were busy. Some swept away debris from their porches, while others cleared rain gutters or hurried toward some unknown destination. Adam and Elisa were careful not to make eye contact.
Elisa sniffed the air. “Ah, yes, something smells very good.”
