Summary

In Chapter 21, Hélène decides to bike to Châteauroux to visit Denis’ lover, Alex—another radio operator. She bathes and packs her bag before leaving. Hélène spends the entire day biking before falling asleep in an abandoned house. She wakes to the sound of air raid sirens. Hélène bikes to Saint-Armaud and visits a café for information. She learns that Obersturmführer Wolff is on his way to Montluçon. Hélène bikes to Issoudon, where is stopped by a Gestapo officer at the checkpoint. He takes her wine but lets her pass.

Hélène reaches the house Denis described at Châteauroux. She learns from a man called Bernard that Alex is dead. Germans shot him the day before. He offers to help her with the radio, nonetheless. Hélène...