The Spy Who Inspired the First Bond Girl | Rescue from execution | 3

0:00Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of The Spy Who ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. Late 1941, northern Syria. Christina Skarbek shoots a quizzical look at Andrzej Kowarski as he pulls his Opel Olympia to the side of the road. Is something wrong? Why are we stopping? Skarbek and Kowarski are in Syria for their first spy mission in months. Syria is now under Allied control, but there are fears Turkey might invade. So Britain's special operations executives sent them here to identify how to sabotage bridges over the Euphrates River should that invasion happen.

0:41But there are no bridges in sight here. I just thought we could admire the view. Skarbek knows something's up, but doesn't complain. She admires the contrast between the stony desert plateau thereon with the river and its green, fertile plains below them. Kovarski joins her, moving with difficulty. His amputated leg is constantly painful these days. He leans on the car bonnet next to her and holds out a gold-embossed jeweller's box. This is for you, something I've been saving up for. It's beautiful. Inside the box is a bracelet with heavy gold links inset with ivory. Skarbek kisses him. I will treasure it always, just as I treasure you.

1:27Kovarski smiles nervously. Listen, I know you and Jerge are still married, but when you divorce, would you marry me? Skarbek draws back. Kovarski's expression switches from hope to hurt. She hates to see it. But although she loves him, she's no longer sure about marriage. My darling, I do love you, but we can't get married now. The war's not over. Kovarski stares out over the river plains. The war may as well be over for us. The British only gave us this mission out of pity. The two of them have spent the last six months under a cloud of suspicion. There's no evidence of treachery, but the Polish resistance won't let them operate in Poland.

2:13They're in limbo, still on the SOE payroll, but relegated to the sidelines. But Skarbek can't accept that fate. She gets back into the car. No, this war is not over for me, no matter what they say. You'll see. We are live from Fetty's house. Guests are gathering around the TV, even with a big storm outside. Are we worried about the feet? Nope, they have Xfinity Wi-Fi. Get reliable fiber-powered gig Wi-Fi with Peacock included to stream the beautiful game this summer. Xfinity, imagine that. Restrictions apply. New gig internet members only. Speeds vary. Use of fiber coaxial cable. Peacock offer for Peacock Premium with ads currently$10.99 a month value.

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3:19I'm Indra Varma, and this is The Spy Who, an Audible original. In the last episode, Polish aristocrat and British spy Christina Skarbek escaped the Gestapo by biting her own tongue to draw blood and fake tuberculosis. She and Kowalski then fled the Nazi advance to reach Cairo, only to be benched by the SOE. You're listening to The Spy Who Inspired the First Bond Girl. This is Episode 3, Rescue from Execution.

3:54Two and a half years later, July 7th, 1944. The skies over Vercors, southeastern France. Christina Scarbeck is lifted off her seat as a jolt of turbulence hits the RAF bomber she's on. Another jolt knocks her into the metal canisters wedged around her seat. It's been a rough ride from Algiers, flying through high winds and enemy fire. But nothing can destroy her happiness of being back in active service. After years of waiting, training and lobbying, she's finally going back behind enemy lines. But this time in France. Since she rejected his marriage proposal, her lover, Angé Kovarski, has been sent to Italy as a parachute liaison officer for SOE.

4:42But Skarbek remained in Cairo, demanding to be sent on active operations. The successful Allied landings in Normandy worked in her favour. She speaks French fluently, and the SOE now needs more agents behind enemy lines to coordinate and support the activities of resistance fighters. One of the bomber's crew yells above the noise. Jumping in three minutes! Scarbeck and the other three SOE officers on the flight move into position. The plane's flying low, just 200 metres above the ground, so her parachute bag must be connected to the fuselage. It should then open the moment she jumps. The RAF man yells in her ear.

5:23It's blowing a gale. Expect a rough landing. He opens the exit hatch. Scarbeck feels the blast of cold air hit her, along with a surge of adrenaline. She'd almost forgotten how she adores that rush. Then she jumps. A gust of wind blasts her sideways. She spins through the air, then smashes into the ground. Pain explodes in her ankle and back. After her body finally comes to a stop, she lies still, catching her breath in the wheat field she's landed in Her ankle is agony to walk on She sits up, grabs her pack and straps it with a scarf She notices her revolver is mangled from the impact She gathers up the parachute and buries it along with the broken gun Finally, she unzips her flight suit and steps out of it, wearing an elegantly cut skirt, blouse and jacket She looks around the dark, moonlit field.

6:20There's no sign of the reception committee. The wind must have blown her far from the drop zone. She smooths her hair, applies some lipstick and hobbles forward. She needs to find them before the Germans find her.

6:37It's a few days later. Scarbex found her fellow SOE agents and is now helping them and a group of resistance fighters comb the hillsides for last night's airdrop of explosives and supplies. A very tall blonde man with a neat moustache waves to the group as he approaches on a bicycle. As the resistance members greet him warmly, Scarbeck realises he must be Major Francis Camard, the English SOE officer who runs the resistance network in the region. He holds out a hand to her with serious dark eyes. You must be the new assistant I asked for. Yes, Boline. Lovely to meet you. He nods approvingly at her, using her cover name.

7:19I found you a cottage in Saint-Julien. I'll take you there after we've finished here. Scarbeck refuses to limp in front of Camard, who she has decided is very handsome. But he notices her strapped ankle. I heard you had a pretty rocky landing. One of the other chaps broke his leg. It certainly wasn't graceful. I imagine I looked like a wet dishcloth coming down. Gamard grins and it lights up his serious face. Skarbek feels her heart beat faster and is conscious of wanting to impress him. She's heard he built the SOE's secret network in southeast France from scratch. It now has around 10 ,000 agents.

7:58I heard you asked for a woman to assist you. Yes, women work harder than men. Talking of which, you'll be covering a lot of ground each day, so the bicycle I brought is yours. Scarbeck looks at the bicycle and shudders. What's wrong? Bicycles are dangerous. I prefer to walk. You just jumped out of a plane, into enemy territory in the middle of a gale no less, but you're afraid of bicycles? It's these little foibles that make me very unique. Well, I recommend a lot of plasters for your blisters to come. What instructions did HQ give you? I'm to be a courier, but my secondary mission is to convince Polish conscripts fighting with the Germans to defect.

8:42An excellent idea. We'll have to find out which garrisons they're based at. Let me think about how. Ah, there's one. Skarbek watches Camar move swiftly to retrieve the canister and feels a surge of happiness at being in action once more with a handsome man at her side. A few days later, July 14th, 1944. Bastille Day. In the alpine town of D, Scarbeck soaks up the sun at a cafe table in the street, while Camar sips coffee made from ground acorns, a wartime substitute for real coffee beans. It's a rare moment of relaxation. Since parachuting into France a week ago, Scarbeck's worked non-stop couriering intelligence and supplies across the region's resistance network.

9:30Now, encouraged by the Allied invasion of Normandy, The people of D are defying the Nazis by celebrating Bastille Day. Celebrating France's National Day is risky, but the town is a resistant stronghold. The celebrations stutter to a halt as the buzz of approaching planes fill the air. Skarbek looks up and sees dozens of silver B-17 flying fortresses moving in tight formation. The American bomber planes close in on a nearby mountain plateau. They open their bomb doors and release their payloads. Thousands of red, white and blue parachutes attached to crates of weapons and food fill the sky. Supplies that will prepare the resistance for the Allies' imminent invasion of southern France.

10:20The townsfolk erupt in celebration. Skarbek turns to Camar to share the moment. But he's not smiling. Instead, he has a face of thunder. A drop of that size in broad daylight. Do they think the Germans are blind? Scarbeck snaps out of her jubilance and realises he's right. Then we need to organise collection teams immediately. Yes, and we have half an hour before the Germans arrive. Come on.

10:52The next night. Scarbeck picks her way tiredly through the rubble of the small village of Saint-Agnon. Like every settlement in Verkort, it's been bombed and strafed non-stop by the Luftwaffe for the past 24 hours. Buildings are burning and makeshift hospitals have been set up for the wounded. Skarbeck hasn't slept since the American supply drop and feels beyond tired. She cut away parachutes and buried them, stripped weapons of packing grease and delivered them across the region. She's also carrying urgent messages between resistance groups and SOE operatives. Through it all, she has had to dodge relentless German bombing raids and take care of the bodies of those killed working beside her.

11:38Scarbeck stops. In the distance, she can hear tanks and soldiers amassing. The German army is preparing for a massive assault. A tall, familiar man emerges from the hotel in front of her. She feels emotional with relief. Francis, thank God! So many are dead. I know, I know. Camard catches her as she collapses into his arms and together they sink onto the steps of the hotel. After a moment, Camard lights a cigarette and they share it. I just met with the other commanders. It's not looking good. We don't have enough firepower to withstand this onslaught. Is it true then? They're trying to wipe us out.

12:18Camard's eyes reflect the flames around them as he nods. Despairing, they survey the brutal war scene in front of them. Scarbeck stands resolutely. My last moments on this earth will be love, not hate and grief. She takes his hand and pulls him up. They stare into each other's eyes for a moment. Then she leads him into the hotel.

12:43Dawn, the next morning. Inside their hotel room, Scarbeck and Kamal stand at the broken window, watching a Luftwaffe bomber heading directly for them. Kamau drops to the floor trying to pull Skarbek down. If they release the bomb now, it'll come through this window. But Skarbek refuses to crouch. She watches the bomb doors open and the bomb begin its flight. She takes a deep breath. She will meet death on her feet, looking it firmly in the eye. Skarbek hears the bomb hit the roof. but nothing happens. She grabs Camar by the hand and together they sprint outside to find the bomb half-buried in a dry earth bank behind the hotel.

13:31Skarbek whirls Camar round with wild joy. They don't want us to die! They hug and kiss. Finally, Camar pulls away. Well, if we're not dying, we've got work to do.

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15:17The End

15:34weeks since Skarbek and Camar escaped the Battle of Verkort. The Germans attacked without mercy, killing more than 600 resistance fighters and raping and slaughtering 200 villagers. Unable to bear thinking about it, she has thrown herself into her new mission, searching the Alps for Italian partisans who might help in the fight against the Germans. Now she's back in a resistance safe house, updating Camar on how the partisans told her there are Polish conscripts at two garrisons on the border with Italy. This is good news. We need fighters. I'm sure I can convince the conscript to desert the Germans and join the resistance.

16:14Noting her hunger, Camar cuts her some goat's cheese and more bread. How many officers in total? About 150. Camar studies the map. Goldelache is ideal strategically, but it's difficult to reign. You'll need someone with you. No one is available and we cannot afford to wait. I do this alone. I'm not happy about that. But it's true, we are short of people and we've been told that German troops are massing in Italy. SOE headquarters wants us to sabotage the Alpine passes to stop them securing the area. Taking out Goldalash would help with that. So you agree with my plan? Yes. Get some sleep and rest those blisters.

16:56We'll organise the logistics tomorrow. Skarbek grins and leans in close, whispering into his ear so as not to be overheard by the other SOE officers in the safehouse. I sleep much better with you beside me. She feels his body tremor as desire flickers between them. Since their first night among the bombs, she and Kamau have spent every night together they can discreetly manage. She knows Kamau feels conflicted. He has a wife and two small children back in England. but Skarbek has fallen as deeply in love with him as she is with Kovarski. She looks into his eyes. I don't want to waste a single minute I have with you.

17:34He lightly caresses her hand with his little finger and then moves away. She feels her heart thumping with the knowledge that he will come to her after everyone is asleep.

17:47Nine days later, August 12th, 1944. Scarbeck stands at the top of the steep mountain track she's just climbed and crawled her way up. Her hands are covered in cuts and her muscles ache, but she's reached her destination, the Coal de Lache garrison. It's an intimidating fort built into the face of a 2 ,000-metre-high mountain. Far below it is the Lache Pass, one of the few roads that link this part of France to Italy. As Skarbek sneaks around the garrison making notes, she spots a guard and drops to the ground. She can't talk her way out of trouble if caught here, especially with a loud hailer slung across her back.

18:31But as she creeps towards the guard's position, she smiles. He's humming a Polish folk song.

18:42She begins humming and then singing too.

18:52The guard snaps his head around. Skarbek takes a deep breath and steps into the open. He lifts his rifle but lowers it when she addresses him in Polish. My countryman, my brother, who are you? What are you doing here? I'm with the British. I know you only serve the Germans because they threaten your family, but in a week we have a chance to defeat them. What do you mean? The Allied invasion force is coming. In a week's time, British officers and resistance fighters will arrive. When you see the signal, you and the other Polish conscripts must sabotage the German weapons and desert. Here, I've brought instructions.

19:27She hands over a sheet of typed instructions in Polish. He reads through it, frowning. Look, I would, but I don't know about my brothers. Then I will convince them. What time is roll call? 6.30. Why? What are you going to do? You'll see. Two hours later. Through a pair of binoculars, Skarbek watches the roll call begin before creeping down and hiding beneath the garrison's concrete and stone buttresses, which jut out from the mountainside. Then, as the Germans begin the roll call, she switches on her loud hailer. Men of Poland, my name is Countess Christina Skarbek. The Allies are coming. Now is the time to throw off the yoke of our German oppressors.

20:15She hears the garrison's German commander panicking above her. Who is that? Where is she? For those of you brave enough, you will be found and given instructions. Our people are rising up in the streets of Warsaw. Do not abandon them. Fight! Fight until Poland is free! Fight her! Skarbek judges she has pushed her luck long enough. She switches the lautailer off and slips away into the cover of the forest. The next day, the village of Seine-les-Alpes. Skarbeck heads towards a safe house owned by the local grocer and his wife. After evading the guards at the garrison, she's trekked 35 miles to get here.

21:00Now she's thinking longingly of a hot bath and some food. Pauline, thank God, come in. Skarbek knows something's wrong the moment she steps into the safe house. Inside, a resistance fighter who was using his Red Cross van to drive Gamar around the region sits with his head in his hands. What's wrong? Has something happened? The grocer places a sympathetic hand on Skarbek's shoulder. It's Francis. He and the others were arrested by the Gestapo. They have been sentenced to death. Skarbek feels her insides churn. How? How did this happen? The resistance driver stands, twisting his cap in his hands.

21:41We were heading to Dignes when we hit a roadblock. It was a routine search, but then the Gestapo officer noticed the banknotes in their wallets were all from the same series. How did you escape? I didn't have any money, so they let me go. Skarbek feels sudden anger at how they are all just sitting around moping. For heaven's sake, what are you all doing? We have to organise a commando team and rescue them. The grocer, an influential member of the local resistance, shakes his head. We will just get more people killed. We cannot afford more losses. We cannot afford to lose Francis. Our entire network will collapse without him.

22:20Nobody responds. They all look at the floor. I will not abandon him. Damn the rest of you! Scarbeck storms outside, trying to think of a plan. The town of Dignes is 25 miles away and she doesn't have time to walk there. She sees the grocer's bicycle leaning up against the wall. She bites her lip and clamps down the fear in her throat. She swings a leg over the bicycle, pushes off and wobbles her way down the street towards Dignes. Two days later, Dignes. Skarbek walks through the Gestapo offices inside the prison with her head bowed and hair tied into a scarf. There is a price on her head and the Gestapo has her photo.

23:02She told the elderly French gendarme guarding the outside of the prison that her husband had been arrested and she wished to bring him some food. He's now taking her to his captain to see if it can be arranged. As she is ushered in before the captain, adrenaline washes through her. The captain eyes her slim figure and jumps up to close the door behind the elderly gendarme. Madame, I am Captain Albert Schenk. My man says you wish to bring in some food for your husband. In a split second, she switches tactic. She pulls off her scarf, shakes her hair out and gives Schenck a glittering smile. The Gestapo have arrested three very important Allied agents, including my husband.

23:45I am also a British agent and the niece of Field Marshal Montgomery. I'm sure you have heard the Allies have just landed to the south. It won't take them long to reach here. And when they come, they will hunt those who killed my husband and his friends. Schenk gapes at her, astounded at her brazenness. But Scarbeck has no intention of giving him time to think. If the British soldiers don't shoot you, then you can be certain the resistance will. Schenk closes his mouth with a snap as he reassesses his options. I see. Well, I can do nothing, but there is a Belgian, Max Wan. He is a Gestapo interpreter.

24:24He's the one who arrested your husband. He might be able to help. But you'd need to make his intervention worthwhile. I'm sure with your connections that wouldn't be a problem. He wouldn't be interested in any sum under two million francs, and it would need to be delivered soon. Your husband's execution is scheduled for two days' time. Scarbeck's mouth compresses into a tight line. It's clear that Schenk intends to pocket the money himself. I see. Well, if you fix a meeting with Mr Wham, I'll see what I can do about the money. She rises and moves to the door before turning back to him, almost as an afterthought.