white_hart

Ficlet set in Jo Walton's Farthing universe; no real spoilers for the book beyond knowing that it's set in an AU where Britain negotiated a peace deal in 1941 that left Hitler in charge of mainland Europe. The Chalet School belongs to the estate of Elinor M Brent-Dyer, the Farthingverse belongs to Jo Walton. No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is being made from this work.

***

Jo Maynard switched the wireless off with a definite click and a muttered epithet that she would most certainly not have wanted her almost-two-year-old triplets to hear.

'"Peace with honour" indeed! What kind of honour is there in leaving millions of innocent people suffering under a monster like Hitler, I'd like to know? Why - why - I'm ashamed to be English, really I am!'

Hilda Annersley, Headmistress of the Chalet School, regarded the younger woman sternly, although there was a deep sympathy in her blue eyes.

'You shouldn't say such things, Jo. The war may be over, but that kind of talk will still be seen as treason by many people.'

'But, Hilda, how can we stand by and let this happen? This isn't the Peace we all vowed to work for!'

'No, Jo, it isn't, and I am as sorry as you are that the leaders of our country have chosen to put their own safety before their duty to our allies in Europe. Perhaps they are right, and we could never have defeated Hitler, but I am with Churchill; we should have been prepared to die trying.'

'But people are so tired of death' added Madge Russell from the window-seat. 'And don't forget, most of them haven't seen Nazism close to, as we have. They don't realise that there are worse things than death.'

'Well, I think it's cowardly. And I hate the feeling that we've let our friends down, when we promised to do everything we could to help them.'

Hilda spoke gravely. 'I think, Jo, that as long as you are willing to help our friends there will be ways to do so. It seems to me that the ending of the war will make it easier for refugees from the occupied countries to reach England, but without friends here they risk being delivered back into the hands of the Gestapo.'

Jo's eyes widened, and despite the seriousness of the situation Hilda found herself smiling to see the echo of the schoolgirl she had been only a few years ago. 'Oh! Like the Underground Railroad? Oh yes!'

'It will be difficult. And it will be dangerous, but I believe that it is our Christian duty to do all we can. However, we must ensure that no-one can ever suspect what we are involved in. Which is why,' she stood up and raised her head high, 'we are going to tell the School the great news and join in the nation's rejoicing as though this peace was truly victory.'