Wartime story about a boy in the Netherlands during WW2. Based on a book written by Jan Terlouw.
Winter 1944. Sixteen year old Michiel van Beusekom is helping his father, the Major of Vlank in taking care of travelers searching for food.
Michiel learns that his friend Dirk Knoppers is planning a raid on a distribution office for the resistance. He promises to take care of a letter for him in case something goes wrong.
Michiel is running errands and even refuses to tell his parents what for. He's afraid of being questioned by collaborator Schaften and patrolling Germans.
Bertus has been picked up on account of the letter Michiel is carrying. It turns out to be a request to take care of a downed English pilot. So Michiel takes it upon himself to look after the man.
Michiel asks Erica to tend Jack's wound. She immediately take a liking to the downed English Airman, and he to her.
The dead body of a German soldier has been found in the woods, prompting the Germans to arrest the major and 9 prominent villagers. They threaten to execute them unless the murderer gives himself up.
Four hostages, including Michiels father have been shot and the remaining 5 men have been let go with a warning. This leaves Michiel as the man of the house and help to ferry two Jews across the pond dressed as women.
Michiel has loaned a horse and cart from the Baroness and is risking his life transporting father and son Kleerkoper (who are dressed as women) across the Ijssel.
The Germans have discovered that people are being ferried across the pond during their tea break and have put the Baroness under house arrest. She insist to speak with the the colonel and no one else.
The Germans are on the retreat. One German soldier takes it upon himself to rescue Michiel's little brother Jochem who's climbed up a crumbling roof. Meanwhile Dirk Knoppen and friends manage to escape from a train transport.
Despite his weakened state, Dirk manages to find his way back to Jack's hiding place. Michiel sets a trap for Schaften to prove he's the traitor, but Dirk claims Schaften is actually a resistance man. Then it turns out it was Dirk and Jack who killed the German in the woods.
After being cooped up for five months, Jack insists on making his way back to the RAF. Michiel decides to tell his 'uncle' Ben everything and ask him to help Jack get out.
The war is almost over and Michiel has finally deduced the identity of the traitor. Unable to kill him in cold blood, he and Dirk decide to hand over the traitor to the resistance.
Onno Molenkamp
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