They were prepared to fight, to protest … to salvage. They had held
their discussions, they had arrived at strategies.
They were so obvious, thought David.
He stood at the end of the table, reached into his pocket and took out
a handful of carbonado diamonds. He threw them on the hard surface of the
table; the tiny nuggets clattered and rolled.
The men of ‘Tortugas’ remained silent. They shifted their
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14L
eyes to the stones, then back to Spaulding.
‘The Koening transfer,’ said David. ‘The tools for Peenemfinde. I wanted
you to see them.’
Howard Oliver exhaled a loud, impatient breath and spoke in practiced
condescension. ‘We have no idea what. . .’
‘I know,’ interrupted Spaulding firmly. ‘You’re busy men. So let’s dispense
with unnecessary conversation; as a matter of fact, there’s no reason for
you to talk at all. Just listen. I’ll. be quick. And you’ll always know
where to reach me.’
David put his right hand into his arm sling and pulled out an envelope. It
was an ordinary business envelope; sealed, thick. He placed it carefully on
the table and continued.
‘This is the history of “Tortugas”. From Geneva to Buenos Aires. From
Peenemflnde to a place called Ocho Calle. From Pasadena to a street …
Terraza Verde. It’s an ugly story. It raises questions I’m not sure should
be raised right now. Perhaps, ever. For the sake of so much sanity …
everywhere.
‘But that’s up to you here at this table…. There are several copies of
this … this indictment. I won’t tell you where and you’ll never be able
to find out. But they exist. And they’ll be released in a way that will
result in simultaneous headlines in New York and London and Berlin. Unless
you do exactly as I say….
‘Don’t protest, Mr. Kendall. It’s useless…. This war is won. The killing
will go on for a while but we’ve won it. Peenernfinde hasn’t been idle;
they’ve scoured the earth. A few thousand rockets will be built, a few
thousand killed. Nowhere near what they conceived of. Or needed. And our
aircraft will blow up half of Germany; we’ll be the victors now. And that9s
how it should be. What must come after the killing is the healing. And you
gentlemen will dedicate the rest of your natural lives to it. You will
sever all connections with your companies; you will sell all your holdings
above a bare subsistence level – as defined by the national economic
guidelines – donating the proceeds to charities – anonymously but with
substantiation. And you will offer your considerable talents to a grateful
government – in exchange for government salaries.
‘For the rest of your lives you will be skilled government clerks. And that
is all you’ll be.
‘You have sixty days to comply with these demands. Inciden. tally, since
you ordered ny execution once, you should know
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that part of our contract is my well-being. And the well-being of those
close to me, of course.
‘Lastly, because it occurred to me that you might wish to recruit others
under this contract, the indictment makes it clear that you could not have
created “Tortugas” alone…. Name who you will. The world is in a sorry
state, gentlemen. It needs all the help it can get.’
Spaulding reached down for the envelope, picked it up and dropped it on the
table. The slap of paper against wood drew all eyes to the spot.
‘Consider everything.’ said David.
The men of ‘Tortugas’ stared in silence at the envelope. David turned,
walked to the door and let himself out.
February in Washington. The air was chilly, the winds were of winter but
the snows would not come.
Lieutenant Colonel David Spaulding dodged the cars as he crossed Wisconsin
Avenue to the Shoreharn Hotel. He was unaware that his overcoat was open;
he was oblivious to the cold.
It was over! He was finished I There would be scars -deep scars – but with
time….
With Jean….