Inasmuch as Goring and Goebbels will appoint him–and not from the ranks of professionals, Helmut, since we bumblers have obviously failed to do what we were supposed to do–I rather doubt that he will report that the Hungarians have resumed trying to save their skins the minute Goring and Goebbels turn their backs.”
“Forgive me if I seem to be jumping ahead, but if I were there, I wouldn’t be believed, either.”
“Not by those two, of course not,” von Ribbentrop said. “No more than you were believed when you raised the alarm about an American invasion of North Africa.”
“But the Fuhrer would,” Kaltenbrunner said. “Once we remind him that you are the man that no one listened to about North Africa.”
“I see, “von Heurten-Mitnitz said. He understood their reasoning, and understood, too, that doing what they asked was a good way to get himself shot.
“What I’m going to do, Helmut,” von Ribbentrop said, “is make you first secretary of the Embassy. You have the rank for the job, and the experience.
There will be no objection from any quarter. And then you do exactly what you did in Morocco. Except that you send your thoughts directly to me.
This time, they will not be ignored. I will share them with the general, and when the time is ripe, we will take them to the Fuhrer.”
“It would make my position vis-a-vis the ambassador difficult,” von Heurten-Mitnitz protested.
“Germany’s position, von Heurten-Mitnitz, is difficult,” Kaltenbrunner said.
“Your man in Morocco, General,” von Heurten-Mitnitz said, “Standartenfuhrer Muller, was very valuable to me there. It would be helpful–” “He’s yours,” Kaltenbrunner said.
“Then I can only say I am flattered and humbled by the responsibility you are giving me.” “People like ourselves,” von Ribbentrop said slowly, as if to emphasize the inarguable truth of his words, “for centuries have been called upon to assume greater responsibility for Germany.” And then von Ribbentrop stepped on von Heurten-Mitnitz’s toe.
Startled, he looked at him.
“Sorry, my dear fellow,” von Ribbentrop said. “I was reaching for the damned call button. I didn’t want anyone in the room during that part of the conversation.” And immediately the two handsome young SS troopers appeared, this time bearing medallions of veal in a lemon butter sauce, and potatoes Anna, and haricots verts.
When he returned to his office, he told Fraulein Schermann that he did not wish to be disturbed by anyone less important than the Reichsminister himself. Now he really needed time to think, to come out of the surreal dream.
It wasn’t only his new assignment, or the elegant meal, or the realization that as an American agent he had just been assured of the trust of the Reichsminister for Foreign Affairs and the head of the SS, He had attended a reception at the Argentine Embassy the night before.
When he had retrieved his hat and coat from the checkroom and put his hand in the pocket, there was a postcard there that hadn’t been there before he went into the embassy.
He had to wait until he reached home to have a good look at it.
It was a black-and-white drawing of a church in Budapest, specifically of St. Ann’s Church on the Vizivaros, the flatland between the river and Castle Hill in Buda.
The address was smudged and illegible, but the message was clear, even under the purple censor’s stamp, “Hope to see you and E and G. Here very soon. Will call. Fondly, Eric.” It had taken a moment before he was sure what it meant. But it was really very clear. He was expected to somehow get Friedrich Dyer and his daughter Gisella from Marburg to St. Ann’s Church in Budapest.
Someone would call and tell him when.
Fulmar himself? Or was “Eric” just identification?
And why did the Americans want Dyer? What did he know that justified all this effort and risk? And where would he–or Muller–find travel documents for these people?
Now, what had seemed almost impossible seemed to be impossibly easy.
Both he and Muller could simply load the Dyers into Muller’s car.
No one was going to stop a car carrying an SS-SD Standartenfuhrer and the newly appointed First Secretary of the German Embassy.