story about a nonexistent whore and a fictional pimp.
He told it slowly not because he felt he had to pace
the narrative to his listener’s understanding, but
because another option was coming sharply into
focus. The guitar-playing merchantman was young,
but there was a patina about him that indicated he
knew the docks and the waterfront and the various
businesses that flourished in that very special world.
“You should go to the Polizei, ” said the man
when Converse had finished. “They know the whores
and they will not print your name.” The German
smiled. “We want you back to spend more money.”
“I can’t take the chance. In spite of the way I
look, I deal with a lot of important people here and
in America.”
“Which makes you important, ja?”
“And very stupid. If I could just get over into
Holland, I could handle everything.”
“Die IViederlande? Vat is problem?”
428 ROBERT LUDLUM
“I told you, my passport was taken. And it’s just
my luck that every American crossing any border is
looked at very carefully. You know, that crazy
bastard who killed the ambassador in Bonn and the
NATO commander.
“Ja, and in Wesel two, three days ago, said the
German. “They say he goes to Paris.
‘I m afraid that doesn t help me…. Look, you
know the river people, the men who have boats
going out every day. I told you l d pay you a
hundred dollars for the hotel….
“I agreed. You are generous.
“I’ll pay you a great deal more if you can
somehow get me over into Holland. You see, my
company has an office in Amsterdam. They can help
me. Will you help me?”
The German grimaced and looked at his watch.
“Is too late for such arrangements tonight and I
leave for Bremerhaven on the morning train. My
ship sails at fifteen hundred.
“That was the amount I had in mind. Fifteen
hundred. ‘
“Deutsche marks?”
“Dollars.
“You are more crazy than your Landsmann who
kills soldiers. If you knew the language, it cost no
more than fifty.
“I don t know the language. Fifteen hundred
American dollars for you if you can arrange it.
The young man looked hard at Converse, then
moved back his chair. “Wait here. I will make phone
call.
“Send over more whisky on your way.
“Danke. ”
The waiting was spent in a vacuum of anxiety.
Joel looked at the weathered guitar Iying across an
extra chair. What were the words? . . . When you f
nally came down, when your feet hit the ground . . .
did you know where you were? When you f sally were
real, could you touch . . . what you feel, were you
there in the know?. . .
“I will stop for you at five o’clock in the
morning, announced the merchant seaman, who sat
down with two glasses of whisky. “The captain will
accept two hundred dollars, aber only if there are no
drugs. If there are drugs, you don’t come on board.”
“I have no drugs, ‘said Converse, smiling,
controlling his elation. “That’s done and you ve
earned your money. 111 pay you at the dock or pier
or whatever it is.
“Natu’rlich.
* * *
THE AQUITAINE PROGRESSION 429
It had all happened less than an hour ago,
thought Joel, watching the hotel entrance across the
street. At five o’clock in the morning he would be on
his way to Holland, to Amsterdam, to a man named
Cort Thorbecke, Mattilon’s broker of illegal
passports. All the passenger manifests on all aircraft
heading for the United States would be watched by
Aquitaine, but a hundred years ago he had learned
that there were ways to elude the watchers. He had
done it before from a deep, cold shaft in the ground
and despite a barbed-wire fence in the darkness. He
could do it again.
A figure emerged under the dimly lit marquee of
the hotel. It was the young merchant seaman.
Grinning, he beckoned Converse to join him.
“Hell’s fire and Jeesus H. what is it, Norman?”
cried the Southerner, as Washburn suddenly went
into an erratic of convulsions, his lips trembling as he
gasped for air.
“I . . . don’t . . . know.” The major’s eyes grew
wide, the pupils now dancing and out of control.
‘Maybe it’s that Heimlich thing!” said Thomas
Thayer, rising from the banquette and quickly
moving toward Washburn. Hell no, it can’t be! Our
food’s not here; you haven’t eaten!”
The couples near by expressed alarm, talking
loudly, rapidly in German. At a remark made by one
of the diners, the Southerner turned and spoke to
the man. ‘Midas glaube ich night, ” said Johnny Reb
in flawless German. ‘A1ein Wagen sight draussen Ich
weiss einen Arzt. ”
The maitre d’ came rushing over and, seeing that
the commotion involved the Americans, addressed
his concern in English. “Is the major ill, sir? Shall I
ask if there is . . .”
“No doctor I’m not familiar with, thanks,”
interrupted Thayer, bent over the embassy’s charge
d’affaires, who was now inhaling deeply, his eyes half
closed, his head swaying back and forth. ‘This here is
Molly Washburn s boy and I’ll see he gets the best!
My car’s outside. Maybe if a couple of your waiters
will give a hand we can put him in the limo and I’ll
take him right over to my man. He’s a specialist. At
my age you gatta have ’em everywhere.”
‘Restimmt. Certainly!” The maitre d’ snapped his
fingers; three busboys responded instantly.
“The embassy . . . the embassy! ‘ choked Washburn as
the
430 ROBERT LUDLlJM
three men half carried the officer to the door of the
restaurant.
“Don’t you worry, Norman-boy!” said the
Southerner hearing the plea, walking with the
maltre d’. “I’ll phone ’em from the car, tell ’em to
meet us at Rudi’s place.” Thayer turned to the
German beside him. “You know what Ah think? Ah
think this fine soldier is jest plumb wore out. He’s
been workin’from sunrise to sunrise with nary a
break. I mean, can you imagine everything he’s had
to contend with these last couple of days? That
crazy mongrel goin around shootin’ up a feud, killin’
the ambassador, then that honcho in Brussels! You
know, Molly’s boy here is the charday d’affaires.”
“Yes, the major is our guest frequently an
honored guest.”
‘ Well, even the most honorable among us has a
right and a hme to say ‘The hell with it, I’ll sit this
one out.'”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Ah have an idea this fine young man who I
knew as a mere saplin’ led never learned about the
quantitative effects of old demon whisky.”
“Ohh?” The metre d’ looked at Johnny Reb a
fashionable gossipmonger relishing a new rumor.
“He had several mites too much, that’s all and
that’s jest between us.”
“He vas not in focus….”
“He started bustin’ corks before the sun hit the
whites of the west cotton.” They reached the front
entrance, the unit of busboys maneuvering
Washburn out the door. “Who was more entitled?
That’s what I say.” Thayer removed his wallet.
‘ha, I agree.”
“Here,” said the Southerner, removing bills. “I
haven’t had hme to convert, so there’s a hundred
American that should cover the tab and plenty for
the boys outside…. And here’s a hundred for
you for not talkie’ too much, verstehen ?”
“Completely, main Herr!” The German pocketed
both $100 bills, smiling and nodding his head
obsequiously. “I vill say absolutely nozzing!”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far. It might be a good
thing for Molly’s boy to learn that it ain’t the end of
the world if a few people know he’s had a drink or
two. Might loosen him up a bit, and in mah Georgia
judgment, he needs a little
THE AQUITAINE PROGRESSION 431
Joosenin . Maybe you might wink at him when he
next comes m.
“Vink?”
‘Give him a friendly smile, like you know and it’s
okay. Verstehen?”
‘/a, I agree! He vas entitled!’
Outside at the curb, Johnny Reb instructed the
busboys just how to place Major Norman Anthony
Washburn IV into the backseat. Stretched out, facing
up, supine. The Southerner gave each man a $20
American bill and dismissed them. He then spoke to
the two men in front, pressing a button so they could
hear his voice beyond the glass partition.
‘Ah got the jump seats down,” he said, pulling
the velvet backs out of the velvet wall. He’s out.
Come on and join me, Witch Doctor. And you,
Klaus, you entertain us with a long drive in your
beautiful countryside.”
Minutes later, as the limousine entered a
backcountry road, the overhead light switched on,
the doctor unbuckled Washburn’s belt, slid the
trousers down, and rolled the charge d’affaires over
and into the seat. He found the area he wanted at
the base of the spine, the needle held above in his