I shrank back farther into the shadows by the companionway, praying that he would tell her all he knew.
'Well — yus, miss.' His voice sounded puzzled and uncertain. 'That is ter say- Look miss — we picks a man up this morning. All roight. But I dunno who 'e is or what 'e is. If.yer wants to know more aba't 'im — well, you go an' talk ter Peer. 'E's the one ter tell yer. If Olsen's yer boy friend — well, you go an' talk ter me partner.'
'Yes, but where will we find your partner?'
'A-ah.' He rubbed his dark chin. 'Oi dunno as Oi roightly oughter tell yer that. 'Cos if I told yer that it'd be tellin' where — this man is, wouldn't it now?'
'But you must,' Jill whispered.
'Who must?' Sunde banged his head on the table. 'Nah look 'ere, miss. Oi ain't never told nobody nuffink, see. I bin in the 'ands of the Gestapo once an' Oi never said nuffink. An' Oi ain't goin' ter talk now, not when a comrade's life may be at stake.'
'Comrade? How do you mean?' Jill asked.
'Well, 'e's a comrade, ain't 'e? We was in it tergether.'
'The man you picked up this morning?' Jill seized hold of Sunde's arm and shook it. 'I've already told you — he's an Austrian Jew who became a naturalised Norwegian and then worked for the Germans.'
Sunde passed his hand wearily over his face again. 'You're gettin' me all mixed up,' he said. 'Oi don't know rightly wot Oi'm sayin'. Fair droppin' wiv tiredness, Oi am. Why don't you let up, miss? Proper third degree. Let me get some sleep. Then Oi'll be able ter fink clearer.'