Heroes by David Hagberg (books under 200 pages .TXT) 📕

“We have lost his war for him?” Canaris asked. Somehow the knowledge gave him strength. The Fiihrer was breaking down as fast as Germany. It was as if they were one and the same being.

He had to smile. He was now coming to the conclusion that Hitler had been teaching his people for years. The people were Germany’s body, and he was her soul.

“Mein Gott, Admiral, please, you must listen to me. You must save yourself.”

“If I went with you now, like this. I would be telling the world that I am guilty.”

“He said the plotters must be destroyed at once. Those were his exact words.”

“You must do as I ask. There will be a trial, and I will need a very good attorney. The very best in Germany. Preferably seme one with no baronage or link with any title. I think just for the moment there is a mood in Germany that runs contrary to the aristocracy.”

“I cannot believe this,” Meitner said incredulously. “There will be no trial.”

“Certainly there will be. We are a civilized nation of laws, Hans, no matter what the Fuhrer has brought us to.”

“There will be no attorney.”

“Not if you refuse my request. But there is more.”

They were getting close to the guards by the door. They stopped again.

Meitner did not know what to say.

“I must know what news there is of Dieter Schey.”

For a long time Meitner just looked at him. But then he hung his head. “The spy has returned.”

It was a thunderbolt. Canaris could hardly believe his ears.

“Hitler awarded him the Iron Cross. In gold. He is like a puppy dog at the Chancellery and in the Reichs Bunker.”

It could not be true. It must not be true. “Did he bring anything back?”

“Yes. The Americans are building some sort of a new Wunderwaffen.”

“Then our scientists …”

Meitner shook his head. “The Fiihrer does not understand it.

He calls it Jew science. He refuses to believe it could work, so he has blocked it out of his mind.”

“All the work … all Schey’s years?”

“Wasted. And I think the poor young man realizes it. From what I understand, he was married over there. His wife was murdered by the FBI.”

“Yet he returned.”

“Yes.”

Canaris reached out and clutched Meitner’s arm. “He must be killed before he can convince the Fiihrer that the miracle has arrived.”

Meitner pulled away as the two SS guards stepped out from the doorway and approached uncertainly.

“I am sorry, Colonel,” one of them said.

“Yes … I understand,” Meitner said.

“It is time for me to get back, in any event.” Canaris said looking into Meitner’s eyes.

Meitner looked from the guards to the bunker door and back again.

“Have a safe trip.” Canaris said.

Meitner had a wild expression in his eyes. He started to reach for his coat pocket, but Canaris knew what was about to happen, so he stepped between the guards and Meitner.

“Give my regards to your friend,” Canaris said, and he made a small negative motion with his head.

Meitner was confused. His adrenaline was pumping. “Friend?”

“Yes,” Canaris said calmly. “The attorney. You know the one.”

Meitner started to come down. He was sweating, and his eyes darted back and forth. His hands were shaking. “Yes.” he said.

“Yes. I will.”

“Then, aufwiedersehen, Hans,” Canaris said, and he walked back up to the bunker, his guards directly behind him.

Inside, Stawitzky was waiting in the corridor. He was grinning.

“A lovely performance, sailor boy.”

“What?” Canaris said, only half listening. Meitner’s two former Brandenburger troopers were waiting just inside the front entrance. He could see them, their backs turned his way. Four SS guards stood with them by the door. Meitner would never have had a chance.

He looked back at Stawitzky.

“First the fence, then the little display of affection with your colonel friend. What did you hope to gain?”

Canaris shook his head. “I have no idea what you are talking about, you contemptible little toad.”

Stawitzky’s eyes widened. But then he chuckled. “Your spirit has been renewed by the visit. Old friends do have their uses.

But we shall soon put that to rights, I suspect.”

“I suspect not, Herr Kriminalrat. In fact, I will offer you a piece of friendly advice, if you and your rat-faced corporal will only listen to it.”

“And what might that be?”

“There will be a trial soon. My trial. I will be acquitted.

Afterwards I shall go after my tormentors with a vengeance that even you will not be able to believe.”

“I see,” Stawitzky said. He shook his head and motioned for the SS guards to take Canaris back to his cell. “A toad?” he said.

Meitner entered the bunker, passed behind Canaris without looking up, and hurried out the front door, his two men with him.

Stawitzky laughed. “And Kriiger will love his new title—rat-faced corporal.”

Canaris preceded his guards down the corridor back to his cell and inside, where his handcuffs were placed on him and his ankles were again shackled. They were grinning when they left.

It would not be long now, he thought, crouching down on the floor and tapping the wall with a chain link.

Lunding’s reply came almost immediately, and Canaris began telling him about his visit and about his new hope.

The bombing had started up again at four in the morning.

Schey had been up in the backyard, smoking, when he heard the first bursts out around Spandau. They were probably going after Staaken Airfield again, although there wasn’t much left out there these days. Hitler wanted to use some of the broad avenues downtown as runways. It would work.

He could see the flashes far off to the west, and then the dull thumps came as the sound caught up.

They’d work their bombs up here, and then downtown. This apartment was a few blocks south of the corridor. Very little damage had been done here. Most of it had been confined toward the west and, of course, in the east, around Tiergarten.

The Fuhrer was talking about his scorched earth policy again.

Yesterday “rie had actually issued several orders. But Goebbels had taken his mind off the subject with