Code Name Verity

Julie writes this chapter on November 17, 1943 in the Gestapo headquarters in Ormaie, France. Instead of executing her, her captors delouse her hair with the kerosene. This chapter contains underlined portions.

Next, the Nazis give her an aspirin. She soon learns that she is being cleaned up in order to give a propaganda interview with Georgia Penn, an American broadcast journalist sympathetic to Fascist causes. Julie must explain how humanely she has been treated by the Nazis; in exchange, she will receive another week of life in which to continue writing her confession. Julie reveals that she knows from overhearing the loose talk of her guards that she is a Nacht und Nebel—or Night and Fog—prisoner, meaning that at some point she will simply disappear without a trace into the night and fog of war.

However, she is also put to work translating von Linden’s interrogations into French for the Nazis’ records. As a result of this work, she learns much more about von Linden’s interrogation methods, as well as the information extracted from her fellow prisoners. She works side-by-side with Anna Engel, the German civilian in charge of making sure Julie stays on task.

Back in Maddie’s story, Maddie begins work with the ATA, flying broken planes to and from repair and also sometimes ferrying passengers. She learns about the Special Duties flights, involving secret locations and passengers, which take place only during nights with a full moon. Maddie soon earns a reputation for being able to land accurately, within a short distance, in the dark.

Julie writes this chapter on November 18, 1943 from Gestapo headquarters in Ormaie, France. Julie has stolen some recipe cards during her translation work. She has learned from Engel that, if she is lucky, she will be sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, which is for women only, where the prisoners perform hard labor until they are unable to work anymore; then they are hung. If she is unlucky—meaning if von Linden is not pleased by her report—she will be sent to Natzweiler-Struthof, a medical experimentation camp. Julie decides that she will try to arrange to be shot here in Ormaie before being sent away. She reexamines her list of fears and reports that she no longer fears growing old. She chastises herself for being silly and arrogant enough to fear old age; she desperately wants to grow old.

Back in the Maddie story, Julie reports that Maddie found herself in Scotland in November 1941, and went to visit Castle Craig. She finds it inhabited by Jamie, Julie’s favorite and youngest brother, whom Maddie met when she visited him in the hospital after he was shot down over the North Sea. He has a thumb and two fingers on each hand, and no toes. Lady Beaufort-Stuart has taken in eight refugee boys from Glasgow. Maddie arrives as Jamie is making the boys their tea, which consists of eggs and toast. The boys are called the Craig Castle Irregulars. They are sweet and funny. After Jamie puts the boys to bed, he and Maddie talk. Maddie recruits him to the Special Duties flying squadron. Their friendship grows.

Julie writes this chapter on November 20, 1943. Two days have passed since she last wrote. She is recording her thoughts about the radio interview that took place the day before with the American journalist, Georgia Penn. This chapter also contains underlined portions.

Even though Georgia Penn is broadcasting a pro-fascist radio program, quickly reveals to Julie that she is looking for Verity. Julie understands the code and answers that she is Verity. The two women carry on a coded conversation, right under von Linden and Anna Engel’s noses. Julie is able to show Georgia the wounds on her wrists and legs. In return, Georgia lets Julie know that everyone knows what is going on in this hotel prison. She tells Julie that the nickname for this hotel is “Le Château des Bourreaux” (131), or Castle of Butchers, a play on words off the original “Château de Bordeaux,” or Castle Bordeaux.

Later that night, von Linden stops by to have a literary conversation with Julie about Goethe’s Faust—wherein a man sells his soul to the devil. Julie discovers from Engel that von Linden was the headmaster of a school before the war and that he has a daughter only a little younger than Julie who attends a Swiss boarding school, just as Julie herself did.