Schillenhorst nodded. He said, ‘Yes, we can control all eventualities, this is true. You see, information would be fed back to me by our agents, so many of them in high places throughout the world, and I would keep myself up to date.’ He paused, stared fixedly at Shaw. ‘It is the guided missiles that count today — they and they only. Your conventional forces, they are all quite useless now! But to go back to the point. We, here in the Moehne, are strategically placed to interfere with the Warmaster missiles of both East and West. In effect, we can control them all by keeping a continuous radar watch for all launchings. We will hold the balance, we will be the Third Force — we, the Party, and not Europe under France, as General de Gaulle once hoped! Peace or war will be up to us, Commander Shaw, if we wish to play it that way—’
‘I don’t see that,’ Shaw objected. ‘I presume you can only control Warmaster in flight?’ Then, recalling his own earlier thoughts about what the Moehne was equipped to do, he added, ‘Or — can you blow it up on the launching-pads?’
‘No, we can’t. It is true that the missile must be in flight before our signals will have any effect. But, you see, the theory is, or perhaps I should say was — and the reason for my use of the past tense will become clear later — the theory was that once both East and West knew we were the controlling factor, they would be most reluctant to disturb the peace of the world by sending their missiles off. Thus our Directorate could play off one against the other, threaten one with interference but not the other, and so on, so as to gain our objectives — which were, and are still, the re-emergence of our Party, the successful uprisings of our cells, especially of course in Germany so that we could bring about the reunification of the Reich, but also all over the world as directed by our International Agencies. By the way,’ Schillenhorst added, ‘do not doubt that Russia will be in a position to announce her own missile, her own Warmaster, at literally any moment.’
‘Maybe. But how do you know you’ll be able to interfere with the Russian one?’
‘Because its controls will be identical with the American missile, or almost so. Herr Fleck is still in touch, you see, with Comrade Keiler, who still believes him to be a Communist — and so I know.’
‘I see. But — well, what makes you think you can stay around here indefinitely, anyway? Whatever you say about no one thinking of looking for you here — and don’t forget Pullman’s got his eye on Magellan at any rate — someone’s going to tumble to where you are once you let the world know you’re the — what did you call it? — controlling factor, Third Force or what-have-you. And then they can simply destroy the Moehne and all your equipment with it. And you too.’
Schillenhorst sneered. ‘And cause an international incident — before we have done anything against anybody? I think not, Commander! The world no longer works that way. In any case, we are not in United States territorial waters and there may be a certain country who will permit no reprisals!’
‘The country whose waters you’re in now?’ Shaw grinned nastily. ‘I wouldn’t bank on Chile if I were you!’
‘I do not.’ The tone was arrogant, fully assured. ‘We can move at will between Chilean and Argentinian waters when necessary — or indeed anywhere else.’ He added, ‘You must know as well as I do, that our Party has many active sympathizers in South America.’
‘Oh, sure! Big-shot Party Members… for whom Fleck’s probably just cover — someone who’ll take a back seat when all these glories of yours come about! All right — I’ll accept the fact that you’ll scurry backwards and forwards to suit yourselves. But how can you be sure,’ he added, ‘that this radio beam’s going to work anyway?’
Schillenhorst glanced at Fleck. There was a curious glint in Fleck’s eyes now. Taking over from the doctor, he said. ‘Hans Schillenhorst is a very clever scientist and he is quite confident. However, it is no use disguising the fact that you have struck a nail on the head, Commander. The proof of the pudding is in the eating — no? We cannot, obviously, be entirely sure until we have tried out our beaming procedure. Therefore, both as a test and as an earnest to the world of our power and of our ultimate intentions, we shall test it out… very shortly.’
‘When?’
‘Next Friday — one week from today. That, you may possibly like to know, is the date, decided only yesterday, for the United States full-scale test.’
‘Really…’ Shaw felt a sudden chill, but he showed no emotion, and the German seemed nettled at his lack of reaction. ‘You are not surprised?’ he asked, lifting his eyebrows.
‘Only that you knew the date of the test.’
‘Ah — but that is easily explained! I have told you that we have many contacts, many agents. Such a large-scale operation as the first live test of Warmaster, the first real firing, cannot be kept entirely secret whatever the precautions. But I should be interested to know why you showed no surprise when I told you what we mean to do?’
Shaw said quietly, ‘I’d done a certain amount of thinking, you know. Things began to point in that direction.’
‘I see.’ Fleck’s voice had an edge. ‘Are the authorities likely to postpone the test, do you imagine, on account of your… thinking?’
Shaw shrugged. There was no point in telling Fleck that he hadn’t tumbled to what was going on in time to warm Pullman. So he said, ‘I’ve no idea. They may.’
‘Really!’ Fleck’s face hardened for a moment, then he too shrugged. ‘If they do — so be it! They cannot possibly delay indefinitely, and we shall still be here…’
‘If you muck around with the test, they’ll pick you up soon enough afterwards.’
Fleck smiled acidly. ‘I rather think not. We may not need to remain in any case — as I mentioned earlier.’ He added, ‘Things have changed a little since I first asked for the floating dock to be sent, and the future may not be quite so simple as perhaps you think. You see… it all depends on what you mean by “muck around,” doesn’t it?’
Unaccountably, Shaw felt a shiver of apprehension. He asked, ‘What exactly do you mean to do to that test, Fleck?’
‘A lot, my dear fellow, a lot! Dr Schillenhorst and I have explained to you what the theory was about the concept of the Third Force. In point of fact, that is now obsolete. Our German Directorate has been able to move somewhat ahead of that position, because Dr Schillenhorst himself has moved ahead.’ Fleck looked across at Lindrath. ‘Captain — the map, if you please.’
In silence Lindrath went over towards a locked cupboard. He fumbled with a key, opened the cupboard, and produced a rolled-up map. Bringing this to the table, he smoothed it out in front of Fleck. As he did so, Shaw caught his eye. The old Captain seemed very troubled, almost haunted. And he appeared to have aged; his proud bearing had crumpled. Shaw didn’t like the implications now.
Fleck glanced deferentially at Schillenhorst and pushed the map towards him. The scientist began tracing on it with a finger, his eyes screwed up. Looking at Shaw, he said, ‘I have developed a system whereby I can actually redirect Warmaster in flight. That is what it is proposed I do while the missile is on test.’ He looked down again at the map. ‘Yes… now, there we are, you see? All marked out… New York, Washington, Norfolk and Portsmouth in Virginia — the Navy base, you know — Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Canaveral itself… those are some of the places to which I shall re-direct Warmaster and her little chicks at noon on Friday next, Commander Shaw. And the resulting dislocation will be quite sufficient for our purpose despite the reduced-charge warheads.’