Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

[The doctor] looked again toward the other room, where Madame Marcelle waited, and then back at me. He lowered his voice. 'I could use a tough girl to do some work for me. Do you want to hear about it?'

Something in his voice chilled me. It was the Resistance. I am not sure how, but I know it right away. As I stared at the floor, fear and hope welled up inside me and my throat slowly went dry. Goose bumps rose on my arms.

'Are you a spy?' I whispered. Dr. Leclerc, whom I had known all my life! He looked back at me steadily, silently. I realized that even the little bit he had already said endangered him. I was pleased he trusted me. I smiled. Then I thought suddenly of Madame Montagne and the helplessness I had felt the day she died in the square. I licked my lips to wet them. 'Is it about the Germans?' I asked.

'You can't tell anyone,' Dr. Leclerc said. 'Not your mother, not your brothers, not your best friend. And if you agree to help me, you can never back out. Not ever, no matter what. You must help me until the very end.'

'Is it about the Germans?' I repeated.

'It is about freedom,' he said.

I lifted my chin. 'I hate the Germans,' I said.

His eyes looked steadily into mine. 'It's about that too.'