A German Requiem

'There is nothing to admire in America. Not like Russia. But the Amis do have power. And what gives them this power is the dollar. That is the only reason why we must oppose Russia. We need the American dollars. All that the Soviet Union can give us is an example: an example of just what loyalty and dedication can achieve, even without money. So then, think what Germans might do with similar devotion and American cash.'

I tried and failed to stifle a yawn. 'Why are you telling me this Herr Herr Doktor?' For one ghastly second I had almost called him Herr Mnller. Did anyone but Arthur Nebe, and perhaps von Bolschwing, who had interrogated me, know who Moltke really was?

'We are working for a new tomorrow, Herr Gunther. Germany may be divided between them now. But there will come a time when we are a great power again. A great economic power. So long as our Organization works alongside the Amis to oppose Communism, they will be persuaded to allow Germany to rebuild herself. And with our industry and our technology we shall achieve what Hitler could never have achieved. And what Stalin yes, even Stalin with his massive five-year plans what he can still only dream of. The German may never rule militarily, but he can do it economically. It is the mark, not the swastika, that will conquer Europe. You doubt what I say?'

If I looked surprised it was only because the idea of German industry being on top of anything but a scrapheap seemed perfectly ludicrous.

'It's just that I wonder if everyone in the Org thinks the same way as you?'

He shrugged. 'Not precisely, no. There are a variety of opinions as to the worth of our allies, and the evil of our enemies. But all are agreed on one thing, and that is the new Germany. Whether it takes five years, or fifty-five years.'

Absently, Mnller started to pick his nose. It occupied him for several seconds, after which he inspected his thumb and forefinger and then wiped them on Nebe's curtains. It was, I considered, a poor indicator of the new Germany he had been speaking of.

'Anyway, I just wanted this opportunity to thank you personally for your initiative. I've had a good look at the documents that your friend has provided, and there's no doubt in my mind it's first-class material. The Americans will be beside themselves with excitement when they see it.'

'I'm pleased to hear it.'

Mnller strolled back to his chair by my sofa and sat down again. 'How confident are you that he can carry on providing this sort of high-grade material?'

'Very confident, Herr Doktor.'

'Excellent. You know, this couldn't have come along at a better time. The South German Industries Utilization Company is applying to the American State Department for increased funding. Your man's information will be an important part of that case. At this morning's meeting I shall be recommending that the exploitation of this new source be given top priority here in Vienna.'

He collected the poker off the hearth and jabbed violently at the glowing embers of the fire. It wasn't too difficult to imagine him doing the same to some human subject. Staring into the flames, he added: 'With a matter of such personal interest to me, I have a favour to ask, Herr Gunther.'

'I'm listening, Herr Doktor.'

'I must confess I had hoped to persuade you to let me run this informer myself.'

I thought for a minute. 'Naturally I should have to ask his opinion. He trusts me. It might take a little time.'

'Of course.'

'And as I told Nebe, he'll want money. Lots of it.'

'You can tell him I'll organize everything. A Swiss bank account. Whatever he wants.'

'Right now what he wants most is a Swiss watch,' I said, improvising. 'A Doxas.'

'No problem,' Mnller grinned. 'You see what I mean about the Russian? He knows exactly what he wants. A nice watch. Well, leave that to me.' Mnller replaced the poker on its stand and sat back contentedly. 'Then I can assume you have no objections to my proposal? Naturally you will be well-rewarded for bringing us such an important informer.'

'Since you mention it, I do have a figure in mind,' I said.

Mnller raised his hands and beckoned me to name it.

'You may or may not know that I suffered a heavy loss at cards quite recently. I lost most of my money, about 4,000 schillings. I thought that you might like to make that up to 5,000.'

He pursed his lips and started nodding slowly. 'That sounds not unreasonable. In the circumstances.'

I smiled. It amused me that Mnller was so concerned to protect his area of expertise within the Org that he was willing to buy me out of my involvement with Belinsky's Russian. It was easy to see that in this way the reputation of Gestapo Mnller as the authority on all matters relating to the MVD would be ensured. He slapped both his knees decisively.

'Good. I'm glad that's settled. I've enjoyed our little chat. We'll talk again after this morning's meeting.'

We certainly will, I said to myself. Only it would probably be at the Stiftskaserne, or wherever the Crowcass people were likely to interrogate Mnller.

'Of course we'll have to discuss the procedure for contacting your source.

Arthur tells me you already have a dead-letter arrangement.'

'It's all written down,' I said to him. 'I'm sure you'll find everything is in order.' I glanced at my watch and saw that it was already past ten o'clock. I got up and straightened my tie.

'Oh, don't worry,' Mnller said, clapping me on the shoulder. He seemed almost jovial now that he had got what he wanted. 'They will wait for us, I can assure you.'

But almost at the same moment the library door opened and the slightly irritated face of the Baron von Bolschwing peered into the room. He raised his wristwatch significantly and said, 'Herr Doktor, we really must get on now.'

'It's all right,' Mnller boomed, 'we've finished. You can tell everyone to come in now.'

'Thank you very much.' But the Baron's voice was peevish.

'Meetings,' sneered Mnller. 'One after another in this organization. There's no end to the pain of it. Like wiping your arse with a car tyre. It's as if Himmler were still alive.'

I smiled. 'That reminds me. I have to hit the spot.'

'It's just along the corridor,' he said.

I went to the door, excusing myself first to the Baron and then to Arthur Nebe as I shouldered past the men coming into the library. These were Old Comrades all right. Men with hard eyes, flabby smiles, well-fed stomachs and a certain arrogance, as if none of them had ever lost a war or done anything for which they ought to have been in any way ashamed. This was the collective face of the new Germany that Mnller had droned on about.

But of K/nig there was still no sign.

In the sour-smelling toilet I bolted the door carefully, checked my watch and stood at the window trying to see the road beyond the trees at the side of the house. With the wind stirring the leaves it was difficult to distinguish anything very clearly, but in the distance I thought that I could just about make out the fender of a big black car.

I reached for the cord of the blind and, hoping that the thing was attached to the wall rather more firmly than the blind in my own bathroom back in Berlin, I pulled it gently down for five seconds, then let it roll up again for another five seconds. When I had done this three times as arranged, I waited for Belinsky's signal and felt very relieved when I heard three blasts of a car horn from far away. Then I flushed the toilet, and opened the door.

Halfway back along the corridor leading back to the library I saw K/nig's dog.

He stood in the middle of the corridor sniffing the air and regarding me with something like recognition. Then he turned away and trotted downstairs. I didn't think there was a quicker way of finding K/nig than by letting his crapper do it for me. So I followed.

At a door on the ground floor the dog stopped and whined a little bark. As soon as I opened it, he was off again, scampering along another corridor towards the back of the house. He stopped once more and made a show of trying to burrow under another door, to what looked like the cellar. For several seconds I hesitated to open it, but when the dog barked I decided that it was wiser to let him through rather than risk that the noise would summon K/nig. I turned the handle, pushed, and, when the door didn't budge, pulled. It came towards me with only a gentle creak, largely concealed by what sounded at first like a cat mewing somewhere down in the cellar. Cool air and the horrible realization that this was no cat touched my face, and I felt myself shiver involuntarily. Then the dog twisted round the edge of the door and disappeared down the bare wooden stairs.