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It is clear from this report that the fate of Sneum and his colleagues during these tense weeks hung by a thread. Their freedom, perhaps even their lives, depended upon Soetje’s and his wife’s decisionmaking. Whether the caretakers resented the occupation, or whether they were simply too scared of the consequences of getting involved, they chose not to act on their suspicions by reporting the mysterious trio to the police at the time. Perhaps they took this decision because a police raid might have damaged the property for which they were responsible, especially if it escalated into a shootout. Or it could have been because of something as simple as a party the previous summer. The police report revealed: ‘Mrs Oxlund moved out in the first half of July, 1941. On 15 July, Soetje had his 53rd birthday party, and he remembered that Kaj Oxlund was by then living all alone. So he invited Oxlund to the birthday party.’

Had Kaj’s natural charm, and the sad end to his marriage, struck a chord with the caretaker? Although he clearly wasn’t a great fan of the strange company Oxlund was now keeping, it appeared that Soetje still liked the man he had known for so long. So, for the time being, Kaj Oxlund, Thomas ‘The Aviator’ Sneum and Sigfred ‘The Russian’ Christophersen remained at liberty.

Chapter 30

LONDON BECKONS

WHEN SIGFRED CHRISTOPHERSEN RETURNED to Oxlund’s flat wearing a false beard and glasses one day, he was summoned to the kitchen table.

‘There’s a message for you,’ said Tommy. ‘It arrived this afternoon. Duus Hansen and I transmitted without you, and for once the British sent a message back.’

Christophersen looked suspicious. ‘What did they say?’

‘It’s coded,’ explained Sneum. ‘Yours, I assume.’

Sure enough, when Christophersen looked at the piece of paper, he recognized his code name and codes. The message read: ‘Columbus ordered to leave Denmark. Go to British Legation in Stockholm then England.’ He was stunned.

Sneum, his face blank, waited for an explanation.

‘They’re pulling me out,’ revealed Christophersen. ‘I’ve got to get across to Sweden.’

‘What about me?’ Tommy’s question was impatient.

‘Doesn’t mention you. Just me.’

Though Sneum offered to help his partner find a way out, Christophersen quickly made it clear that he intended to make his own plans. However, both men were aware that the harsh Scandinavian winter offered one dramatic means of escape—straight across the ice of the frozen sea. In some parts of the Oeresund, the channel which separated Denmark from Sweden, the ice was up to a meter thick; in others, though, it was considerably thinner. The viability of this option depended largely upon whether Christophersen could summon enough courage to use the elements to his advantage. Sneum was simply grateful that Christophersen was finally preparing to leave, and not before time.

When Christophersen next left the apartment, Kaj sat down with Tommy to discuss the new development. ‘So, you’re receiving messages from London at last,’ he said enthusiastically.

‘No, we’re not,’ replied Sneum.

Oxlund looked confused, then stunned, as though an extraordinary idea had just entered his head.

‘I faked the message,’ Tommy added by way of confirmation.

By now Kaj wore a mischievous grin. ‘Bloody good idea!’ he admitted, by way of congratulation. ‘But how did you get his codes?’

‘Hardly difficult,’ Sneum replied. ‘This is Christophersen we’re talking about.’

While one British agent and close associate of Sneum began planning a way out of Denmark, another was ready to enter. On the night of 28 February, Christian Michael Rottboell prepared to jump from a British plane as it circled just outside Copenhagen. The previous summer, he had survived his own, less dangerous escape across the Oeresund by boat. He had then reached England not long after Tommy, but they had not met because Christian Michael had been recruited by SOE, rather than SIS.

In choosing Rottboell, SOE made a decision which Sneum had warned against when briefing his own Britsh