Chapter 16: hide and run

By the time morning had come, my mobile was full of missed calls and texts. I wrote a single message to Marcel saying “I am fine, do not worry about me” then put my phone in silent. There was a high possibility that once in France I would be hard pushed to find something to charge my phone and I needed the last bit of battery in order to keep in contact with Carlo. I had also remembered his number off by heart in case I had to call with another phone.

I’m sure once Carlo was in the army training, there would be restrictions with phones so I just hoped that by the time I was in France, he still had something on him that I could contact him with.

The day in the ferry went by very slowly and I ended up only sketching little images but instead wrote more, more about how I was feeling, what was happening and what might come.

The feeling of solitude over came me once more, being alone, travelling to another unknown country and land, meeting possible new people and the uncertainty of safety or a place to call home.

Evening came and the ferry was almost at its destination. It felt strange to be the only one aboard, I was slightly embarrassed about making the ferrymen go all this way for only me and once at the port I thanked them very sincerely for going out of their way for a single passenger.

The ferry port at Marseille was huge but deserted, as soon as I’d stepped foot into land, groups of people swarmed towards the ferry to escape, making me feel a bit better that really the ferry was for the people leaving not me coming.

The town also quiet, just like London, buildings had been demolished and torn down to the ground, the area was for now not at threat but there was no certainty if more bombs would fall within the weeks passing.

Now I had to figure out how to get from here to Entrevennes, or close by so that I could see Carlo.

I had no idea what I was going to do when I saw Carlo or where I would stay.

I overhead a couple speaking English as I entered the town. They were with 2 small children and had started packing stuff into a car.

“Excuse me, is there any trains, busses or way I could get close to Entrevennes?” I asked the couple, “most public transportation has closed down now. The only vehicles heading that way are army trucks. I’m sorry we can’t help you, we’re headed the opposite direction so there’s no point in us giving you a lift there.” The woman says while busying herself with the two crying children. “Thank you and no worries” I reply as I carry on walking. That’s when the idea hit me, if I can’t drive there or get a lift and I definitely can’t walk all that way as it would take me

Roughly a 3-4 day hike which I was not prepared for, so instead I could find a way to sneak into one of the army trucks and get a lift over that way.

It didn’t take me long until I came across soldiers loading weaponry into trucks. I hid behind a building wall, watching the trucks leave one by one. It was such a big risk and almost impossible to pull off without anyone seeing me.

There were only 2 trucks left, the soldiers went into the building to collect the remaining weapons, this was my chance. The truck had tarpaulin tied down onto the back, covering various supplies, thankfully they hadn’t tied it down fully yet so I snuck past and hopped into the back. There was barely any space for me to hide but I managed to squeeze myself between two large metal crates, grabbed some material that was folded in one corner and draped it over my body.

My heart was racing like crazy as I heard footsteps approaching, I held my breath for so long that I felt I’d almost pass out. The men were muttering something in French. I heard a clanking sounds as they loaded more into the truck then pulled the tarpaulin over and tied it down. The engine began to rev and we were off.

The truck drove for what felt like hours, I checked my location on my phone that pointed to an area called volx. We were close but how was I supposed to get closer. The truck came to a stop and I heard the soldiers exit the vehicle, walking away gradually. Once I heard little noise and commotion, I wriggled my way to a gap in the tarpaulins edge, poked my face out slightly to check the coast was clear then untied the plastic covering from the truck and slipped out, crouching beside the truck I moved slowly to the front and looked around. I could see some soldiers grouped by a nearby truck but they seemed too busy in conversation to notice my presence. I ran to the side of another truck then out of site through the doors of a big storage unit where all the trucks were kept.

There were security placed around certain gate entrances and exits. I hadn’t even thought about that…

Realising I was suddenly in a base camp, I was lost on way to get out. The only thing I could think of was to get in the truck again and wait for them to relocate. As I’m standing there pondering in what to do next I hear a man’s voice from behind me “Hé ! Qui êtes-vous ? Que croyez-vous faire ici ?” I freeze up as fear takes hold of me, I’d been caught!

I turn around with my arms up in the air “please, please, I’m sorry I don’t speak French” the man stops for a moment with a confused expression on his face “I speak English, who are you and what are you doing in here, this is a restricted area, I don’t know how you got in but you will have to come with me for questioning” the man replies in a stern and serious voice. He comes up from behind me and grabs my wrists placing them behind my back then pushes me forward to walk in the direction he leads. We enter a building mostly made of metal, inside another man in uniform sits behind a wooden desk, his eyes momentarily look up from his paper work “sir, this woman was found wandering the base, she speaks English” the man behind me states, “hello miss, would you like to inform me why you’re here?” The man behind the desk asks, a bit less intimidating than the other, “I’m sorry, I was trying to get to Entrevennes, all public transport was closed and I do not drive. I hid in one of the trucks as I was told they were moving supplies near to Entrevennes.” I spluttered out, innocently, “ah I see. I don’t see any harm done here major. Escort her out to the front gates. Just so you know miss, outside is not such a pretty site, Entrevennes has been evacuated, if your looking for someone who lived there then I’m afraid to say they’re either dead or have run away”