London Refrain (novel)
London Refrain (2006) is the seventh novel of Bodie and Brock Thoene's Zion Covenant Series, and the first of a three-novel subset of the series using material largely from the single-novel (also by the Thoenes) The Twilight Of Courage.
Plot Summary
As poorly-equipped Poland inevitably falls to the overwhelming German invasion, the American Ambassador to Poland flees Warsaw for the Rumanian border in the Embassy Car along with TENS journalist Robert "Mac" McGrath, joined by Polish Jewish scientist Richard Lewinsky and Czech Jewish refugee schoolteacher Eva Weitzmann (who has a false British passport in the name of "Julia Smith"). The car, in a refugee convoy, has rather slow ProgresS for the 300-kilometre trip, and is frequently strafed by German pilots (one of whom is fimed by Mac, getting close enough to make fatal shots on him).
Mac's colleague Josephine Marlow is trapped inside a Warsaw hospital, and attempts (futilely) to give medical aid to casualties. After Warsaw finally surrenders, Josie is taken by Polish Army Captain Alexander Ryznow to the German lines where she can surrender (and where she swoons from the exhaustion); Ryznow gives her contact information of his mother and sisters who have fled to London. As [...] enters Warsaw, a triumphal parade is organised with the reporting journalists (including Josie) in one section to observe; [...] is enraged when Josie does not show awe at his presence--and orders that her bags be searched and all papers (except those necessary for travel) be confiscated. When she reaches London, she is met by her Canadian colleague Alma Doge, who gives her some clothing, for which Josie is grateful.