Hans Ritter, by all thats holy.
Ritter got up to greet him, leaning on his stick, and shook hands. You look well, Carlos. Spain seems a long time ago.
I heard about your leg. Im sorry.
Ritter said, Admiral Canaris, Head of the Abwehr.
Romero got his heels together and saluted. An honour, Herr Admiral.
Join us, Herr Hauptsturmführer. Canaris waved to the mess steward. Champagne. Bollinger for preference, and three glasses. He turned to Romero. You are a courier pilot, I understand. Do you like that?
To be frank, Herr Admiral, these milk runs of mine bore me to death.
Then well have to see if we can find something more rewarding for you, Canaris said as the champagne arrived. Tell him, Hans.
Romero finished reading the file and closed it. His face was pale and excited as he looked up. Canaris said, Are you interested?
Interested? Romero accepted a cigarette from Ritter and his hand shook. Herr Admiral, Im willing to go down on my knees and beg.
Canaris laughed. No need for that.
Ritter said, The Catalina would not present you with a problem?
Good God no, an excellent aircraft to fly.
And what about a crew?
Romero sat back thinking about it. I could manage with a second pilot and an engineer.
And where would we find them? Canaris asked.
Right here in the Spanish Legion of the SS. Like myself, Herr Admiral. I can think of two suitable candidates right now: Javier Noval, a fine pilot, and Juan Conde, an aircraft engineer of genius.
Ritter made a note of the names. Excellent. Ill have them transferred to Abwehr duties along with yourself.
What about the explosives and the mines? Romero asked.
Well have them delivered by some suitable freighter, Ritter told him. There should be no problem in a place like Dahrein. You will naturally build up your credentials during the run-up to September. Coastal trade, freight, that kind of thing.
Romero nodded slowly. But I do have a suggestion. When the time comes we could make the transfer of the mines at sea. I could land beside the freighter with no problem. From there a direct flight to the base would simplify the whole thing.
Excellent. Canaris stood up. I think you should meet our friend Professor Muller. You can come back to town with us, drop me off on the way and then continue to the University. From now on, you deal with Captain Ritter in all things.
At your orders. Herr Admiral.
Good, Canaris said, and he turned and led the way out.
Mullers department at the University was housed in a vast echoing hall filled with artefacts of every description. Egyptian mummies, statues from Rome and Greece, amphorae retrieved from ancient wrecks at the bottom of the Mediterranean, it was all there. Ritter and Romero browsed while Muller sat at his desk in his glass office and read the Operation Sheba file. Finally he got up and went to join them.
Ritter turned. Well, what do you think?
Muller was highly nervous, tried to smile and failed miserably. A wonderful idea, Herr Hauptman, but I wonder if I have the qualifications you need. I mean, Im not a trained spy, Im just an archaeologist.
This will be done, Professor, and by direct order of the Führer. Does this give you a problem?
Good heavens no. Mullers face was ashen.
Romero clapped him on the shoulder. Dont worry, Professor, Ill look after you.
Ritter said, Thats settled then. When Hauptsturmführer Romero leaves from Lisbon in the Catalina, you go with him, so make your preparations. Ill be in touch.
Ritter limped away, his stick tapping the marble. As they moved along the hall to the entrance, Romero said to him, Hes a nervous little bastard, Ritter.
Hell come to heel and thats all thats important. They went out of the main entrance and stood at the top of the steps. Ill make arrangements for the immediate transfer of you and Noval and Conde today. Youll leave for Lisbon tomorrow, in civilian clothes naturally. Ill arrange priority seats on the Lufthansa flight. As regards the purchase of the Catalina our man at the German Legation will be your banker. Once youve checked the plane out, report back to me on the Embassy secure phone. Ill expect to hear from you by Thursday at the latest.
Mother of God, but you dont hang about, Hans, do you?
I could never see the point, Ritter said, and started down the steps to the Mercedes.
The River Tagus, as someone once said, is the true reason for the existence of Lisbon, with its wide bays and many sheltered anchorages. It was from here that the great flying boats, the mighty clippers, left for America and it was here, attached to two buoys about three hundred yards out to sea from the waterfront, that Carlos Romero found the Catalina. He had arrived at the dock close to the Avenida da India together with Javier Noval and Juan Conde ten minutes early for the appointment with the owners agent, a man called da Gama. They stood at the edge of the dock looking out at the amphibian.
It looks good to me, said Noval, a tough young man around Romeros age, who wore an old leather flying jacket.
Conde was older than either of them, thirty-five and stocky. He also wore a flying jacket and looked across at the Catalina, shading his eyes from the sun.
What do you think, Juan, can you handle it?
Just try me.
A motor boat nosed in to the dock and a man in a brown suit and Panama hat waved from the stern. Señor Romero? he called in Spanish. Fernando da Gama. Come aboard.
They went down the steps and joined him, and he nodded to the boatman, who took the motorboat away.
She looks good? da Gama suggested.
She looks bloody marvellous, Romero told him. Whats the story?
A local shipping line had the idea of regular flights down to the island of Madeira. Purchased the Catalina in the United States last year. It has performed magnificently, but they wanted to concentrate on passengers and the capacity is limited too limited for there to be any money in it. May I ask what your requirement would be?
Romero stayed very close to the truth. General freight in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, flying as far as Goa perhaps. Its a new venture.
I know that area, da Gama said. The Catalina would be perfect.
They bumped alongside a small floating dock and as the boatman killed his motor, Noval and Conde grabbed a line and tied up. Da Gama opened the cabin door and led the way in. Romero looked into the cockpit with conscious pleasure, took one of the pilots seats and reached for the control column. Noval took the other seat and examined the instrument panel.
What a beauty.
Da Gama, Conde at his shoulder, opened a file. Ill just give you approximate dimensions. Length sixty-three feet, height twenty, wingspan a hundred and four. The twin engines are Pratt and Whitney, twelve hundred horsepower each. Cruising speed a hundred and eighty miles an hour. Remarkably long range. Without freight it is possible to fly for four thousand miles before the need to refuel. I cant think of another aircraft that could do this.
Neither can I, Romero told him and got up. You can take us back now.
As they scrambled into the motor boat da Gama tried the usual tack. Of course, a number of people are interested.
The motor boat pulled away and Romero said, Drop the sales pitch, my friend, just draw up the contract. Ill give you my lawyers name, we sign tomorrow and youll receive a cheque for your asking price. Satisfied?
Da Gama looked astonished. But of course, Señor.
Romero took out a cigarette and accepted a light from Noval. He looked back at the Catalina and blew out a long plume of smoke.
Looks like were in business, boys, he said.
Baron Oswald von Hoyningen-Heune was Minister to the German Legation in Lisbon. An aristocrat and career diplomat of the old school, he was no Nazi and, like most of his staff, was thankful to be as far away from Berlin as possible. Initially wary of the strange Spaniard who was a Hauptsturmführer in the SS, and resigned to following orders from Berlin, he had been pleasantly surprised, had taken to Romero.
He rose to greet him now as the Spaniard entered his office. My dear Romero, it went well?
Couldnt have been better. Da Gama will be in touch with the lawyer you gave me. You provide the funding and we conclude tomorrow. Ill need to speak to Captain Ritter at Abwehr Headquarters at once, by the way.
Of course. The Baron reached for the red secure phone on his desk and placed the call. It shouldnt take long. He stood up. Cognac?
Why not?
Romero lit a cigarette and sat on one of the sofas. The baron handed him a glass and sat opposite. All very intriguing, this business.
And also highly secret.
But of course. Im not prying. In fact, Id rather not know. He raised his glass. But Ill drink to your success anyway.
At that moment the red phone rang. Romero said, With your permission?
But of course. Ill leave you to it.
The Baron went out and Romero picked up the phone. Hans, is that you?
Who else? Ritter said. How did it go?
Perfect, Romero told him. A superb aircraft. I couldnt be more pleased. Tell the Admiral were on our way.
Ritter knocked on the door and went in. Canaris was drinking tea, one of the dachshunds on his lap. He looked up.
What is it, Hans?
Romero has just spoken to me from Lisbon, Herr Admiral. The Catalina is perfect and the sale will be concluded tomorrow.
Excellent. Canaris nodded. Do an additional report bringing everything up to date and Ill make an appointment for us to see the Führer.
At once, Herr Admiral.
As Ritter limped to the door, Canaris called, Oh, and Hans.
Yes, Herr Admiral?
Well take Muller with us.
The summons came sooner than they had expected and took them to the Chancellery for an appointment at ten oclock that night. They picked up Muller at the University on the way and the news that he was to meet the Führer shocked him completely.
When they reached the reception area of Hitlers suite the aide on duty rose to greet them. I understand you have a report for the Führer, Herr Admiral.
Thats right, Canaris said.
The aide held out his hand. He would like to read it before seeing you.
Of course.
Canaris gave him the file; the aide opened the door and went in. Canaris nodded to the other two and they sat down.
Muller was trembling slightly and Canaris said, Are you all right?
For Gods sake, how do you expect me to feel, Admiral. This is the Führer were talking about. What do I say?
As little as possible, Canaris told him and added with some irony, Remember hes a great man and behave accordingly.
The door opened and the aide appeared. Gentlemen, our Führer will see you now.
The room was a place of shadows, and Hitler sat at the enormous desk with only the light of a single brass lamp. He was reading the file, closed it and looked up.
Still brilliant, Herr Admiral. An absolutely first-class job.
Captain Ritter really deserves all the credit.
No, Herr Admiral, I think after all this that Major Ritter would be more appropriate. In fact, I warn you that I could well steal him for my own staff.
He stood up and Ritter said the obvious thing. You do me too much honour, my Führer.
Hitler came round the corner of his desk and approached Muller. Professor Muller, isnt it? An amazing discovery and you sacrifice it for the sake of the Reich.
And Muller, shaking almost uncontrollably, said exactly the right thing. For you, my Führer, for you.
Hitler clapped him on the shoulders. A great day is coming, gentlemen, the greatest in Germanys history. He walked slowly away and the desk lamp threw his shadow across the huge map of the world. He stood there, arms folded. You may go, gentlemen.
Canaris nodded to the other two, jerked his head and led the way out.
Later, after dropping Muller off at the University, Canaris told the driver to take them back to Tirpitz Ufer. As they turned into a side street they came to a café on the corner, windows lighted.
Canaris leaned forward. Stop here. He turned to Ritter. A nightcap, coffee and schnapps. Well toast your promotion, Major.
My pleasure, Herr Admiral.
The café was almost deserted and the proprietor was overwhelmed. He ushered them to a booth by the window and hurriedly took the order. Canaris pulled out his cigarette case and proffered it to Ritter, who took one and gave him a light.
He was pleased, the Admiral said and blew out smoke. Muller was a mess though. Hes not strong enough.
I agree, Ritter said. We need a professional to back him up.
The proprietor brought coffee and schnapps on a tray and Canaris waved him away. Youll have to find somebody, an old Abwehr hand. Somebody reliable.
No problem, Herr Admiral.
You know this thing is so simple it could work, Canaris said and poured schnapps from the bottle into two glasses.
I agree, Ritter said.
Canaris nodded. Theres only one problem.
And whats that, Herr Admiral?
It wont win us this coming war, my friend, nothing can do that. You see, Hans, were all going straight to hell, but heres to your promotion anyway.
He raised the glass of schnapps and drained it at a single swallow.
Dahrein3
The wind, blowing across the Gulf from Africa, still carried some of the warmth of the day to Kane as he stood on the deck of the launch, listening.
There was no moon and yet the sky seemed to be alive, to glow with the incandescence of millions of stars. He breathed deeply, inhaling the freshness, and followed a school of flying-fish with his eyes as they curved out of the sea in a shower of phosphorescent water.
A door opened and light from the saloon momentarily flooded out as Piroo, the Hindu deckhand, came up the companionway with a mug of steaming coffee.
Kane sipped some of it gratefully. Thats good.
The Kantara is late tonight, Sahib, Piroo said.
Kane nodded and checked his watch. Almost two a.m. I wonder what the old devil OHara is playing at?