The last vestiges of clothing were stripped away, and one of the corporals washed the body down with a fine spray, while the other wheeled across a trolley on which a selection of surgical instruments had been laid out.
“I’d normally start with taking out the brain,” Speer said cheerfully. “But in this case, speed being of the essence, or so you inform me, we’ll have the organs out first so the lab technicians can get on with their side of things.”
The scalpel in his right hand didn’t seem particularly large, but when he ran it down from just below the throat to the belly, the flesh parted instantly. The smell was terrible, but Greiser hung on, a handkerchief to his mouth. Speer worked at speed, removing the heart, the liver, the kidneys, all being taken away in enamel basins to the laboratory next door.
Speer seemed to have forgotten about Greiser. One of the corporals passed him a small electric saw which plugged into a floor socket. When he started on the skull, Greiser could take no more and removed himself hurriedly to the lavatory where he was violently sick.
Afterward, he sat outside in the corridor and smoked. A young nurse with an Irish accent came up and put a hand on his shoulder. “You look awful.”
“IVe just been watching them do a postmortem,” Greiser told her.
“Yes, well it gets you like that the first time. Ill bring you a coffee.”
She meant well, but it was not the real thing: acorn coffee, a taste Greiser found particularly loathsome. He lit another cigarette and walked down to the main entrance and phoned through to Muller at the Silvertide from the porter’s desk.
“It’s Greiser, Herr Captain.”
“How are things going?” Muller asked.
“Well, it’s hardly one of life’s great experiences, but Major Speer obviously knows his stuff. I’m waiting for his conclusions now. They’re doing lab tests.”
“You might as well hang on until they’re ready. An interesting development. IVe had your brother on the phone from Stuttgart. He’s heard from this Neumann woman in Berlin. The one who works in the Reichsfuhrer’s office at the Chancellery.”
“And?”
“She’s never heard of Vogel. She’s kept her inquiries discreet for the moment. Of course, as your brother points out, these special envoys of Himmler are mystery men to everyone else.”
“Yes, but you’d think someone like Lotte Neumann would have at least heard of him,” Greiser said. “What are you going to do?”
“Think about it. As soon as Speer’s ready with those results, give me a ring and I’ll come around myself to see what he has to say.”
It was just before five when the cavalcade of cars returned to Septembertide. Baum and Hofer got out and Necker joined them with one or two officers. Martineau stood at the back of the group and waited. “A memorable day, Major,” Baum said. “I’m truly grateful.”
“I’m pleased everything has gone so well, Herr Field Marshal.”
“How long does it take to the airport from here?”
“No more than ten minutes.”
“Good. Well see you up there sometime between seven-thirty and eight.”
Necker saluted, turned and got back into his car. As the officers dispersed, Baum and Hofer turned to the front door and Martineau stepped forward. “Might I have a word. Herr Field Marshal?”
Hofer was immediately wary, but Baum said cheerfully, “Of course, Standartenfuhrer. Come in.”
At that moment Heider, the platoon commander, appeared in the gateway and saluted. “Is there anything I can do for you, Herr Field Marshal?”
“What about the cook we had last night?”
“Ill send him over.”
“Not for half an hour, Heider.”
He went inside followed by Hofer and Martineau. They went into the living room. Baum took off his leather coat and his cap and opened the glass door to the terrace. “A drink, Standartenfuhrer?”
“That would be very acceptable.”
“Konrad.” Baum nodded to Hofer. “Cognac, I think. You’ll join us?”
He fitted a cigarette to his holder, and Martineau gave him a light as Hofer poured the drinks. “What an extraordinary view,” Baum said, looking down at St. Aubin’s Bay. “In peacetime, with the lights on at night down there, it must resemble Monte Carlo. Wouldn’t you think so, Konrad?”