On the upper floor of the chfteau, a tall seventeenth-century window was smashed open, and a machine gun began to fire. Because of its high position, it caused horrible carnage among the Resistance in the parking lot. Flick was sickened as, one after another, the men there fell and lay bleeding beside the dry fountain, until there were only two or three still shooting.

It was all over, Flick realized in despair. They were outnumbered and they had failed. The sour taste of defeat rose in her throat.

Michel had been shooting at the machine-gun position. "We can't take out that machine gunner from the ground!" he said. He looked around the square, his gaze flying to the tops of the buildings, the bell tower of the church, and the upper floor of the town hall. "If I could get into the mayor's office, I'd have a clear shot."

"Wait." Flick's mouth was dry. She could not stop him risking his life, much as she wanted to. But she could improve the odds. She yelled at the top of her voice, "Genevieve!"

Genevieve turned to look at her.

"Cover Michel!"

Genevieve nodded vigorously, then dashed out from behind the sports car, spraying bullets at the chfteau windows.

"Thanks," Michel said to Flick. Then he broke cover and sprinted across the square, heading for the town hall.

Genevieve ran on, heading for the church porch. Her fire distracted the men in the chfteau, giving Michel a chance of crossing the square unscathed. But then there was a flash on Flick's left. She glanced that way and saw the Gestapo major, flattened against the wall of the town hail, aiming his pistol at Michel.