“This one,” he said.
Wielgus looked at the record. “How much is the stone worth?” he asked.
“The best price, sold individually, would be three thousand dollars. No more.”
“That cannot be. I paid over ten thousand for this, some years ago, from a very reputable dealer.”
“You vere cheated.” De Groot picked up the next stone and held it to the light. “I do not make mistakes. That is vy my fee is so high.”
One hour, then two hours went by, and De Groot never faltered. Only Wielgus remained interested, as stolid and careful as the Dutchman. Watching every movement, marking off the stones and sacks one by one. At the end of the third hour De Groot laid the loupe down on the cloth and stood up.”
“I will now take fife minute rest. I vould appreciate a cold mineral water.”
He stood and stretched, then walked about the room while he sipped at the water. Wielgus did not move from his chair. At the end of the five minute period De Groot returned to his work.
It was evening before the job was done. The last stone was examined in the same methodical manner, no slower and no faster than the others had been, then put into the final bag. This was sealed and placed with the others; a last entry made into the calculator.
“You will now add these up and give me a’total,’ Wielgus said. “You will not speak the sum aloud but will give me the piece of paper. You will then clear your machine and give me all of the printed records. Is this understood?”
“Uf course.”
De Groot did as he had been instructed. He did not bother to mention that as soon as he went to his stateroom he would make a record of the total and of the value of each of the little bags. He had a remarkable memory for money and for diamonds. He would also record the description of the unusual stones. It would be interesting if he ran across any of them again some time.
Wielgus put his notebook away and examined the printouts closely. “This total,” he said. “How accurate is it?”
“It is what I vould get if I sold the stones on the open market. But only an aferage, mind you. If I sold them one at a time, taking months to do it, the price vould be higher. If I sold them quickly, in bulk lots, it vould be lower. An aferage, as I said.”
This satisfied Wielgus who nodded agreement. “All right. Go now. Tell your principals what you have told me. I assume you can describe the stones and prices to them.” He had been involved in buying diamonds for a long time and knew the abilities of experts in this field.
De Groot nodded and restored his equipment to the bag with the same meticulous care that he had used in taking everything out in the first place. He even put the items from the floor back onto the desk before donning his jacket. He left without a word. Wielgus waited until the man had gone and the door was locked before he spoke again.
“Major, get the General,” he ordered. “You, soldier, open some champagne.”
The Paraguayans hurried to obey. Stroessner appeared some minutes later, bleary eyed, he must have been asleep; but at least he was over the effects of his motion sickness.
“Herr Doktor Wielgus, what a pleasure to see you again,” he said in thick Bavarian-accented German. He hurried over to take the other’s hand in both of his. “I see the champagne is open, wonderful idea. Do I-assume that we have something to celebrate?”
“A business deal, General, not a celebration. I was thirsty. Here is the total.”
Stroessner set down his glass and fumbled a pair of spectacles from his breast pocket and held them up to read the figure.
“So! It is larger than agreed.”
“Now it is. The market value has risen faster than I calculated. I’ll remove enough stones so the value will be correct.”
“Then everything will go through as arranged?”
“It will, if we can agree on the final terms. Up until now we have been dealing through representatives. The time has now come to settle all the details, to be sure that we are in complete agreement and that there will be no slipups in putting the arrangements into effect. Remember, this is a long-term affair that will cover a number of years and there will be a great number of people involved. We must be specific about everything. And in writing.,
“Of course, understood. I will send for Admiral Marquez. The papers are ready? Good. We will agree and then we will sign and then we will drink champagne in celebration of the brilliant future of our countries.”
“Send for him. It has been a long day.”
17
Dr. Joachim Wielgus looked around at the men gathered in the suite as he sipped his champagne and felt, for the first time in a very long time, the indescribable sensation of unlimited power that he enjoyed so much. To him it was the ultimate sensation. He still sent for women occasionally, but they were pleasures to be consumed quickly like food and drink. None of these had the lasting, lifting excitement that his work gave him, making him immune to fatigue. He needed little rest, scarcely any food when he was working like this. Twenty hours had passed since he had last eaten yet he was unaware of it. Not since the good times during the war had he felt this way. Then he had hundreds of factories and camps under his direct administration; the destinies of hundreds of thousands of workers were controlled by his decisions. The factories had kept working and the great German war machine had kept functioning and Joachim Wielgus had made that all possible.
And now he was working another economic and military miracle. The destinies of his comrades were at stake, not to mention the fate and future of two sovereign countries and all of their millions of inhabitants. It had taken over a year to make all of the arrangements, a year of hard work that he had enjoyed immensely. And now it was to be finalized, the crowning achievement of his career.
They waited for him to begin, waiting silently, knowing that he was the one in charge. He stretched the moment out, luxuriated in it. First sipping again from his glass of champagne, then taking a long Havana cigar from the silver case in his pocket. The clipper was on his key chain and he carefully cut off the end. The Major hurried forward to light it. What was his name? De Laiglesia, that was right. The only servant present. A creature who could be controlled absolutely.
There were four more men present at the meeting. His associates Eitmann and Hartig. Good, trustworthy, unimaginative men who could be counted on to obey orders without question. They had assisted him for years and would continue to do so into the indefinite future.
And then the two tinpot dictators. What miserable creatures he had to work with! Stroessner, the brewer’s offspring, sweating and drinking neat gin like the peasant he was. But he was also absolute ruler of Paraguay. But poor material still. But what was it that Jew President Rosenfeld had once said about one of these South American dictators, when he had been told that the man was a son of a bitch? Yes, but he’s our son of a bitch. Too true. Probably President Rosenfeld had heard someone else say it first.
Next to Stroessner another son of a bitch that he owned. Sadistic, ulcerous, one-armed Admiral Marquez, leader of the military junta that ruled Uruguay with an iron fist. Not much to look at — but he knew how to take orders.
It was time to issue some orders, yes, it was. Wielgus blew out a large cloud of aromatic smoke and spoke suddenly and loudly. ‘This meeting will begin.” The others braced themselves, almost sitting to attention when he spoke. As well they might.
“This is a momentous day, gentlemen, a momentous day indeed. A day that will not only initiate the continued military security of both Uruguay and Paraguay for the foreseeable future, but will guarantee the personal security and happiness of my comrades in the Brunderbund. I want to make it absolutely clear to both national leaders where the finances are coming from for this major operation.