“They've gone.”
“The Russians?”
“Yes.”
Abel had propped a chair behind Big Belt, who sank into it eagerly.
“The Austrians have broken through?” Poltneck said.
“I'm not quite sure about that,” Boylan answered. “The column I saw from the main road a minute ago—coming up from the valley—looked like helmets to me.”
“Berthe, what did you mean by 'strong—too strong'?”
Peter had stepped back to her for a moment.
“Did I say that?” she whispered smiling.
“Yes.”