“It’s hard to think that after so many centuries of development, the human race still doesn’t know how to resolve difficulties in any way except violence.”

~ Marie Curie

CHAPTER SIX

A SECRET MISSION

On June 28, 1914, Marie and I were at her new lab at the Institute unpacking equipment when André brought in the day’s newspaper.

“Rebels in Sarajevo shot the Archduke, Francis Ferdinand and his wife, Sophia!”

“Oh no!” said Marie. “This will mean war between Austria, Hungary and Bosnia!”

“It will certainly be more than that,” André declared. “It will mean war all over Europe!”

But André was wrong too. It meant that the whole world would be at war.

Germany wasted no time to get into the fighting. The German army marched into Belgium.

Lost in the crowd.

André once again brought the news. Marie said, “It’s a good thing the children are in Brittany. The Germans won’t be interested in a sleepy little seacoast village. Let’s hope the fighting will be over soon and we can return to our important work.”

Again the news was grim. Germany declared war on France, August 3, 1914.

“The German army is at the French border!”

Marie heard the shout through the window. “The radium!” she whispered, as she banged a beaker hard onto the lab table.

I leapt up onto the table, “Meow?”

Marie reached out and, patting my head, she said, “Lexi, I just remembered Pierre’s words, ‘If radioactive substances fall into the wrong hands, they could lead to massive destruction’. I must hurry. The enemy will come to Paris, so I must take the radium away to safety.”

She began to prepare a heavy lead-lined suitcase. She locked up the cabinets and the door and we went home early. On the way home Marie stopped at a trusted friend’s house and knocked on the door. Her friend answered.

Marie said, “This is of national importance.” He let us in.

“Things of value to the security of France have been moved out of the city,” she continued. “I must move the radium out of harm’s way and I need your help.”

“Certainly!” he said. “I will do whatever I can, Madame Curie. Your radium is a national treasure and we must be assured it is out of the reach of the German invaders. Our government has moved and is now in Bordeaux. Can you take it there?”

“Yes,” said Marie. “Tomorrow.”

“Then I shall see to it that a government officer will meet you in Bordeaux.”

“Thank you,” said Marie. And we left.

Long before dawn, I heard a sound. I found Marie just leaving the house and of course I followed her.

She spotted me this time and said, “Lexi, this is a long trip. You’d better go back home!”

“Meow!” I said as firmly as I could and I rubbed against her black alpaca coat and pawed the air begging to go.

She said, “Well I suppose it would only waste time to take you back. You may be helpful.”

To the lab we went and Marie quickly finished packing up the radium. She said, “Lexi, President Poincaré relocated our government to Bordeaux, so we shall go there.” We took a taxi to the Paimpol Station.

“Yeow!” What a crowd there was, even at that early hour! People were carrying bundles, bags, suitcases and trunks. Marie, her suitcase, and I blended into the crowd. She bought a train ticket and we found our way to the south-bound train to Bordeaux. Marie could hardly carry the suitcase with all the protective lead in it, but no one offered help and the porters were all busy. She struggled and puffed with her burden and reached the car of the train. There the conductor lifted it onto the train when he saw her strain.

“What do you have in here, Madame?” he asked. “Lead?”

“No, no, just books,” she whispered.

We found a seat. She placed the suitcase on the floor by the window. She patted her lap and I leapt up and made myself comfortable. Passengers settled into their seats and smiled at the domestic picture of a lady with her cat. One lady sat next to us and gave me a pat.

“Nice kitty,” she said. “It’s a good idea to take your pet to safety.”

“Yes,” whispered Marie, but closed her eyes to prevent further conversation.

It was a long trip with multiple stops along the way as a great many people were heading to the south of France.

“Oh, Lexi!” whispered Marie. “I hope they don’t think I’m deserting Paris!” I purred as she petted me. That seemed to soothe her.

A government official met us at the station. “Madame,” he said, with a slight bow, and handed her his identification. Marie checked it carefully and allowed him to carry the heavy suitcase.

He said, “You understand the hour is late, the vaults are closed. I have arranged a private place for you to rest because the hotels are full of refugees and you wish no one to know your mission.”

“Yes, that is satisfactory,” said Marie.

He took us to a small house and showed us a small room. “I will return at 8:45 am,” he promised, placing Marie’s suitcase at the foot of the bed. “The vault is opened at 9:00 am precisely. Then I will take you to the train station.”

“Thank you,” Marie said and he left, closing the door. Marie locked the door and then she lay down on the bed. I sat up all night and listened to the strange sounds of the creaky house and the rumblings of my empty stomach. At least no one came to steal Marie’s radium.

A soldier shares his lunch.

The next day, Marie and the bank president signed for the vault deposit and safely put away the suitcase. Even the bank president didn’t know the contents of the suitcase, but he did know Madame Curie.

The official saw us to our seats on the train which was helpful because the train station was jammed with men heading to Paris to join the army. I could feel the anxious excitement of the men. Marie was the only woman on the train.

By midday the young men brought out packed lunches. Marie’s eyes fell on the food!

Next to us, a young, sandy-haired man with hazel eyes looked thoughtfully at her. “Are you not Madame Curie?”

“No,” she whispered, “you are mistaken.”

He looked doubtful, but then said, “My mother was too generous packing my lunch. I have more than enough. Would you like a sandwich?” Marie accepted graciously and shared it with me. “That is a handsome cat you have,” he continued. “What is his name?”

“Lexi. It is short for Alexander Catt,” Marie answered quietly. He patted me gently. “Well, Lexi, let’s hope you bring me luck in this war!”

Puss and bones.