March 10-12, 1944
The Germans seem to have lost interest in finding me; there are fewer patrols now. Maybe they think if they stop looking for me so hard, I’ll become careless and fall into their net. And it nearly happens that way. Little Jean-Pierre and I are hiking to the pond, while crossing an open space, we have to dive for cover when a Focke-Wulf comes roaring over the treetops.
It’s a pretty farm and I’m a little homesick. That night, Dr. Henri, picks me up and we set out on bikes. I have an ax strapped to my back like any other French woodcutter. We bike for hours on country roads. I have forged identity papers and, if stopped by a German patrol, I’m to let the doctor do all the talking. We travel for two days, biking at night, resting at various farmhouses during the day, until we reach the town of Nerac. One of the farmhouses belongs to M. Dulau.
(Note from Victoria Yeager: We met M. Dulau who was about 14 when F/O Yeager hid at his parents’ house. They were gardeners and sold their wares at the black-market Saturday morning in the square downtown Nerac. M. Dulau’s parents’ booth was next door to Gabriel LaPeyrusse’s – who was a vegetable gardener – whose booth was the first one. A lot of messages were passed between the Maquis at that Saturday market.
Eventually we arrive at Gabriel’s house on the outskirts of town. Gabriel is a larger-than-life character, the leader of Nerac, as well as the leader of the Maquis in the area. He has a large commercial garden that abuts the town cemetery. We say farewell to Dr. Henri, Gabriel’s good friend and Gabriel hides me in his shed.
c. GCYI
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