La Baume-Cornillane
November 20, 1942
Mrs. Sayn’s house was a haven of peace. But Justus could not just sit idly by and let the war continue. As soon as he had the chance, he made contact with a few friends he had known from his days working for Varian Fry, and he tried to get involved with the Resistance. At first he thought that someone as young and inexperienced as he was could never do much; he did not know how to use guns, explosives, or even the clandestine radios. But he was accepted into the Gallia network. The Resistance did not have many weapons, but it tried to sabotage certain infrastructures and take out soldiers and officials foolish enough to be found alone in the country’s cities.
Late one afternoon, after he’d completed a simple mission of mixing up road signs to confuse the Germans, Mrs. Sayn was waiting for him with dinner.
“Why are you so late today?” she asked.
“I apologize. I was with some friends and we got carried away.”
Mrs. Sayn saw right through him. “I want you to know that if the gendarmes or the Nazis capture you, we’ll both pay the consequences.”
Justus sat and stirred his soup. “I don’t want to put you in danger, but I can’t sit around doing nothing. Tomorrow morning I’ll start looking for somewhere else to stay.”
“You don’t have to do that, Justus; all I’m asking is that you be very careful.”
The young man nodded. Mrs. Sayn sat beside him, and they began to eat in silence.
Taking a sip of wine, Mrs. Sayn asked, “What would you like to do and be once all of this is over?”
“Well, it may be hard to believe, but I love French literature. I’d like to continue studying and then teach at the university level.”
“Do you know that my room is stuffed to bursting with books? I’ll bring some out tomorrow.”
Justus smiled at his protector. She was not necessarily like a mother, but she was the closest thing to a mother he had had in several years.
“Thank you so much for helping me.”
“I’m not courageous enough to pick up a weapon, but I want to serve France with the few gifts that the good Lord has given me. I lost my son in the war before this one, as well as my husband. So all that’s left for me is to help others in need.”
Easy silence reigned as they finished the hearty soup and simple wine. Words were superfluous. They had learned to be company for each other, keeping loneliness at bay and joined in solidarity for at least one stretch of their journeys.