The Pathfinder by Margaret Mayhew

sister came back. He could tell by her face that she was equally surprised to see him. She, too, was shown the photographs ahd the chocolate by her brother.
    â€˜It is very kind of you, Squadron Leader. Thank you.’
    â€˜Not at all.’
    â€˜We did not expect to see you ever again. Is it the watch that you have come about?’
    He said awkwardly, ‘Actually, I did think I might take another look at it – if your brother still has it.’
    â€˜I am not sure, but I think so – yes. He was very certain that you would want it in the end. But he is not here and I do not know when he will return. He does not tell me.’
    She took off her jacket and the flowered cotton scarf she was wearing, tied up turban-wise round her head in the way that factory girls in England did. He thought how attractive her hairstyle was – soft and simple and with none of the tortured curling and crimping that usually went on with women. Her skirt and blouse, he noticed, were smeared with dust and dirt; the thought of her having to do such hard manual labour dismayed him.
    He said, ‘It doesn’t matter. It wasn’t that important.’
    â€˜If he has it, I will ask him to keep it for you, if you wish. You can come back again?’
    â€˜Yes, I’ll do that. It might not be for a while, though.’
    â€˜He will keep it.’
    He picked up his cap from the table. ‘Well, I’ll be getting along, then.’
    She accompanied him politely to the outer door. ‘Thank you again for the chocolate, Squadron Leader Harrison. And for the pictures for Rudi.’
    â€˜I’ll bring some more next time.’
    â€˜Please do not trouble. There is no need.’
    She shut the door quickly and firmly behind him. The boy had been pleased to see him, but the sister had not. Blow the watch, he thought, striding away down the street. I’ll find another one.
    Dirk did not come home until past midnight. Grandfather and Rudi had gone to bed but Lili stayed up, always unable to sleep until she knew that he was safely back. When, at last, she heard him come in, her growing fear turned instantly to anger.
    â€˜Why are you so late? Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you.’
    He protested in his maddeningly airy way. ‘Don’t make such a silly fuss, Lili. It’s not so very late.’
    â€˜It’s nearly half past twelve. What have you been doing?’
    â€˜Meeting somebody. Doing some very good business.’ From the inside pocket of his raincoat he drew out a small box and opened it. ‘Just look at this.’ She stared at the ring embedded in its soft cushion of black velvet. ‘It’s a ruby, set in pure gold. Isn’t it beautiful?’
    â€˜It must be worth a fortune.’
    He smiled at her. ‘No, not a fortune. A hundred American cigarettes and a tin of British dried milk. It once belonged to a Jewess, I was told. I can imagine what happened to her.’
    â€˜You’re crazy to do this, Dirk. The Russians will catch you in the end. And if they don’t someone else will. Don’t you ever read the newspapers? Every day people are murdered and robbed in Berlin. Or they just disappear. And what use is a ring? You can’t eat it.’
    â€˜But one day I can sell it for a nice lot of money. I shall keep it. Hide it in a safe place for a rainy day. Or I may barter it instead since every day is rainy. For some meat, perhaps. It’s a long time since we had any meat to eat and it will do Rudi good. So you’ve no reason to make such a song and dance.’ He returned the ring to the box and his eye fell on the half bar of chocolate on the table. ‘Hallo, what’s this?’
    â€˜It’s your share.’
    He picked it up, reading the wrapper. ‘This is English chocolate. Fry’s Sandwich. How did you get this?’
    â€˜The British squadron leader was here again earlier. He brought two bars of