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."You have a message," Schulker said."Fraulein Lerner just brought it to theresidence." He handed it to him, showing absolutely no interest in it.He knew Forster well enough by now to know this was the best way to learn itscontents.It was elementary psychology.Forster believed he was an important man.Indeed, he had almost certainly beentold this by his Gestapo superiors.But if you are an insecure little man which was how Schulker thought ofForster.which did not challenge his belief that Forster was also a verydangerous man; the two characteristics were not mutually exclusive whocontinually needs the approval of peers and superiors.As Forster works aloneand secretly in his Gestapo role, he has neither.The only person he can talk to about his important duties is me, and so longas I show no interest in his affairs, the only thing Forster can do to earn myadmiration is to tell me more than he should."It may be important," Forster said self-importantly."May I ask you to wait, Herr Ambassador?" "Of course, if you think it isimportant." "I'll have the girl bring you a coffee," Forster said, leadingSchulker into the sitting room."Thank you." Twenty minutes later, having decrypted the message, Forster wasback, even fuller of self-importance."There has been a development, Excellency, vis-a-vis the incident inArgentina," he announced.Schulker looked at him without expression."You will have certain responsibilities in this regard," Forster went on."Butfor the moment, all I can tell you is that Sturmbannfiihrer von Tresmarck willshortly be ordered to Berlin." Schulker nodded."Your instructions in this regard will come via Buenos Aires," Forster said.Page 105ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlSchulker nodded again."In the meantime, in other words, until you receive this information throughyour own channels, nothing must be said to the Sturmbannfuhrer." "Iunderstand." "At this moment, I can tell you only that these actions are beingordered at the highest level." "I understand your position, Forster." "I willbe providing further details as it becomes necessary for you to learn ofthem." "I'm at your disposal, Forster, if I have to say that." "The Gestapoappreciates your cooperation as always, Excellency," Forster said."We are both serving the Reich and the Fiihrer," Schulker said."And now Imust get back.We're having the Paraguayans for lunch." "Let me know if youhear anything interesting," Forster said."Of course," Schulker said, and,.raising his arm at the elbow, added, "HeilHitler!"TWO Estancia de los Dos Caballos Blancos Kilometer 87, Route National 1 EntreRios Province, Uruguay 0945 2 May 1943 "You decent?" Beth Howell asked,putting her head in the door of the master bedroom."Yeah, come on in," Clete called."I'm out here on the balcony, or patio, orwhatever the hell it is." She walked across the bedroom to where he wasstanding on a small area outside the room, which overlooked the rolling hillsof the pampas.He was wearing a polo shirt, khaki trousers, and a batteredpair of Western boots.Clete smiled at her and pointed to a coffeepot.She helped herself."If breakfast is anything like dinner last night, it will be noon before it'sready." She poured herself a cup of coffee."I knew you were alone, Clete," she said, smiling at him.' He looked at her.She was wearing a skirt, a pullover sweater, loafers, and white bobby socks.She looked very American."I just happened to open my door when I saw Dorotea coming out of this one.Inher bathrobe, looking as chipper as can be.What is that, Cletus, do as I say,not as I do?" "Jesus, you didn't say anything to her, did you?" "She said,'Good morning, Beth,' and I said 'Good morn ing, Dorotea.'" He shook his head."Well, it will be legal on Saturday," Beth said."What's the i harm in jumpingthe gun a little, right?" "So far as you're concerned, it is do as I say, notas I do." ; "She really loves you, Clete, I can tell.I'm happy for you.For both of you." "Thanks, Beth." "And for a small consideration, I won't tellMother." "Well, I think Mom has figured out that we're already j more thanjust good friends." "I've been working on her Mom asked me to to get !her to come to the States to have the baby." "I wish she would, but I don'tthink that will work.She'll want to be around her mother." "Mom's beenworking on her, too.Pamela, I mean." "I hope she's successful," Clete said."You think everything's OK with Captain Ashton?" Beth asked."Once we got out of the airport at Carrasco, he was home free," Clete said."By now he's probably already in Brazil." "He's a nice guy.I like him.""Yeah, he is." "When he comes back to Argentina, what am I supposed to do,pretend I never met him before?" "Since he was never in Argentina, how couldyou have met him?" "OK.Marjorie told me to ask." She sipped her coffee, thengestured around at the rolling hills.Page 106ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"I like your spread, Clete," she said."It's so green." "As opposed to BigFoot Ranch, you mean? Yeah, this is great farmland.The topsoil is black andfive, six feet deep.Too good, really, to graze cattle and sheep, which isabout all they do with it." "I like it down here," she said."I almost hate togo back." "Nobody special's waiting for you?" She snorted."Nobody who looksat me the way you look at Dorotea." "How do I look at Dorotea?" "Like she'severything you want in life." "Guilty," he said."When the war is over, what are you going to do? Stay here?Or come home?" "I don't know," he said."Somehow I can't see Dorotea inMidland." "What about 'Whither thou goest,' et cetera, et cetera?" "It'sreally strange, Beth, but I feel I belong here.Too, I mean.I will always bea simple roughneck-slash-cowboy from Midland, Texas, but " " 'Simple'? The onething you have never been is simple.You're really a chip off the old blockhead." "Which blockhead is that? Myfather? Or the Old Man?" "I was thinking of the Old Man, but now that I thinkabout it, probably both.I can see how you eat up this 'el patron' business.""Meaning what?" "Just what it sounds like.You like it.That's an observation,not a criticism [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]