The Whalebone Theatre

January 1944

Cristabel is invited to the SOE’s headquarters in London. Digby’s whereabouts are still unknown, but Cristabel’s superiors are willing to send her back to France. Perry believes that Digby “has gone native” (414). He is unsurprised at this turn of events, asserting that undercover work comes more naturally to some than to others. Perry points out that Cristabel has the instincts of a secret agent. He asks what she will do when the war ends and her role becomes defunct.

March 1944

Cristabel again parachutes into France. Her new organizer’s code name is Antoine. Antoine reveals that they are short on agents and impatient for the Allies to arrive. He explains that the circuit’s wireless operator has no time to sleep and keeps herself awake with uppers. Cristabel discovers that the wireless operator is Sophie Leray. Sophie lives in a remote cottage and is posing as a district nurse.

On one occasion, Cristabel and Antoine attend a drop as one of the French president’s men is parachuted in with supplies. Their job is to transport him to a safe house. However, once on the train, the Frenchman is apprehended by German officers. To escape capture, Cristabel opens the train window and jumps out, injuring her ankle in the process.