"My God, what have you done?" Sawyer asked.
Both old soldiers had pulled themselves down from their firing positions at the military crest of the hill.
Sawyer looked at the beach again. But not for long. He was knocked off his feet by the Argentine called Enrico, and dragged off the crest of the hill.
"We go now," Enrico said in heavily accented English.
"My God, man, do you realize what you have done?"
Enrico did not speak English, but he understood the question nevertheless.
"My Coronel, mi Teniente," he said, "and my beloved sister may now rest among the saints in peace throughout eternity. Their murders have been avenged."
"What? What?"
"We go now, Teniente," Enrico repeated, and started to walk down the hill to where they had tethered their horses.
[FOUR]
The Embassy of the German Reich
Avenida Cordoba
Buenos Aires, Argentina
1G50 19 April 1943
"Captain, we have of course spoken with Major von Wachtstein," Ambassador Manfred Alois Graf von Lutzenberger said, "but he iswith good reasonupset about the tragic events of this morning, and we thought you might be able to tell us something he didn't."
And I pray God that your story won't give Gradny-Sawz grounds to suspect that Peter is somehow involved in what happened.
"There really isn't much to tell, Herr Ambassador," Capitan de Banderano said. "We had just reached the shore. Major von Wachtstein wasn't even out of the boat when the Communists struck"
"The Communists?" Gradny-Sawz interrupted.
"You don't think this is the work of the Communists?" de Banderano asked.
"I'm prone to think the Americans are the ones responsible," Gradny-Sawz said, just a little sarcastically, and then had a thought: "Tell me something, if you please. Captain. Did Major von Wachtstein do anything at all to suggest he expected trouble when you landed?"
The question visibly surprised de Banderano.
"No," he said. "He didn't know where we were going until Standartenf?hrer Goltz told him."
"And when was that"
"At the time he showed me his map," de Banderano said, "he said something to the effect that it was time von Wachtstein should know where they were going."
Gradny-Sawz grunted.
"You're not suggesting that Major von Wachtstein had something to do . . ." de Banderano said.
"I made no such suggestion," Gradny-Sawz said.
"Baron von Gradny-Sawz is simply doing his duty, Captain. Until we find out who is responsible for this, all are suspect."
"All I know is that Major von Wachtstein risked his life to aid Standartenf?hrer Goltz and Oberst Gr?ner," de Banderano said. "And to guard the special materiel. I could not leave the helm of the launch, of course, and I am ashamed to say that my crew did not behave admirably. It was von Wachtstein"
"How do you mean, your crew did not behave admirably?" Gradny-Sawz interrupted.
"When Standartenf?hrer Goltz was struck, it was in the forehead. The shotforgive the indelicacyopened his head like a ripe melon. There was blood and brain tissue all over. My men jumped back into the boat. Major von Wachtstein, on the other hand, jumped out of the boat while the firing was still going on, and rushed to help."
"How many shots were fired?" Gradny-Sawz asked.
"I don't know. At least six, possibly eight or more."
"Odd," von Lutzenberger said. "Von Wachtstein said there were only four shots."
"How exactly did von Wachtstein help?" Gradny-Sawz asked.
"He went first to Standartenf?hrer Goltz, saw that he was dead, and called that fact to me. Then he went to the other officer. . . ."
"Oberst Gr?ner," von Lutzenberger supplied.
"Yes. And while he was bent over him, there was another shot. In my mind clearly intended for von Wachtstein. He didn't let it bother him. He showed great presence of mind."
"What did you mean the second shot was 'clearly intended for von Wachtstein'?" von Lutzenberger asked.
"The Oberst had been shot in the head also. And was clearly dead. There would have been no point in shooting him again. And the shot didn't miss von Wachtstein by the width of my hands when it struck the Oberst for the second time."
"And the great presence of mind?" von Lutzenberger asked.
"Again, excuse the indelicacy. But von Wachtstein, who had every reason to be terrifiedthis was moments after the bullet missed him by the width of my handsnever let the importance of the special materiel out of his mind. Before he carried the bodies to the launchand I am ashamed to say not one of my men had the courage to leave the launch to help himhe reloaded the one crate that had been off-loaded. A lesser man, knowing the two were dead, would have been content to leave them on the beach. But von Wachtstein insisted that we had to take them with us."
"He is a courageous officer," Gradny-Sawz said. "He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross from the hands of the F?hrer himself, you know."
"Standartenf?hrer Goltz told me that. I had the feeling that they were fond of one another. I could tell how difficult it was, on the way back to my ship, for von Wachtstein to retain his composure."
"The special materiel is intact?" von Lutzenberger asked. "Berlin will want to know about that."
"It is safe in my hold," de Banderano said.
"Well, Anton, what do you think?" von Lutzenberger asked after de Banderano had left.
"I think we have a spy in our office, a traitor. The Americans knew where that boat was going to land."
"And you think it's von Wachtstein? Is that it?"
"Herr Ambassador Graf, I said nothing of the kind."
"You gave me that impression, I'm afraid."
"That was not my intention. I mean, after all, Herr Ambassador Graf, one does not quickly question the courage or loyalty of a holder of the Knight's Cross. And then we have Captain de Banderano's testimony to von Wachtstein's courage under fire."
"Well, that may be. I find it quite difficult to even wonder if the traitor is von Wachtstein, but you're right, Anton, we have one."
"We will smoke him out. Or her out."
"You really think it could be Fraulein Hassell?"
"As you yourself said, Herr Ambassador Graf, until we know for sure, everyone is suspect."
"Yes, that's so."
"I wonder what Berlin's going to say?" Gradny-Sawz asked.
"I suppose, Anton, they will most likely name you to replace Standartenf?hrer Goltz in carrying out this project. They'll probably send in another military Attach?"
"Do you really think so?" Gradny-Sawz interrupted. "Place me in charge of this operation?"
"Yes, I do," von Lutzenberger said.
"They'd almost certainly ask for your recommendation about that."
"And I would certainly give it."
Praying, meanwhile, that they would be so stupid as to actually do it.
What they will do, probably, is send in someone to take Gr?ner's place as Attach?, and someone else to be the security officer, and keep an eye on Gradny-Sawz. And, of course, on me and von Wachtstein.
[FIVE]
Estancia San Pedro y San Pablo
Near Pila, Buenos Aires Province
1730 19 April 1943