CHAPTER 22
Waves from the dark water lapped ashore at a constant melodic pace echoing through the stately pines of the north shore. Ice built up into a pile at the edge of the lake forming a constantly changing sculpture. A heavy, wet snow blanketed the ground.
Isaac Lebovitz paused for a moment on the wooden porch of the cabin and turned to view the glinting light that remained in the sky above the lake. I'll have a place like this on Lake Geneva, he thought. Soon!
He entered through the heavy oak door; clamoring voices stopped, and a table of men turned to look at Isaac. Satisfied that the security lookouts had not fallen asleep or were not drunk yet, the men continued with their conversation.
Isaac retrieved a shot glass from the mantle above a stone fireplace. The fire was burning hot providing most of the light for the main room of the large log cabin. He blew out the dust and wiped out the rest with his middle finger.
"A little dirt won't hurt," said a stout man with gray hair and a long gray beard. He gestured for Isaac to join the group at the table. "Come. The schnapps will warm you as much as the fire."
Isaac sat down on the hard wood chair and slammed his glass onto the great table. The gray-haired man filled it to the top with schnapps.
With one smooth lift and twist of the wrist, Isaac devoured the contents. A hot flash streaked through his body to the furthest extremity. He slowly set the glass down in front of him.
"Have I missed anything?" Isaac asked, silencing the room. He didn't really expect an answer. "As you all know, I enjoy myself as much as the next. But we must discuss what progress has been made."
Isaac glanced around the table for a response from anyone. "Anatol, why don't we start with you," he said to the man with the gray beard.
The man finished lighting his pipe, allowing plumes of smoke to rise and join a cloud that had already formed. "Thank you, Isaac, I will," Anatol said. "My people are ready to move forward as planned. We'll be ready to go into full production in less than six months."
"Six months!" Isaac said with disbelief. "Your engineers can convert the Prague plant that quickly?"
"Yes!"
"Your people are impatient, Anatol. It won't be long…it won't be long," Isaac said patting him on the shoulder.
He looked at the men once again. Come on…this was their chance to gain back the dignity and respectability that had been denied their families for over fifty years. "Who's next? Rudolf?"
The youngest of the six men sat back in his chair and took a slow sip of schnapps. He was only a child when the great war changed his family so dramatically.
"I've just come from Berlin," Rudolf said, pausing and finding attentive ears. "The city is still not equal. We have a united Germany, but the people are sick of the jaded promises that the communists spouted for so many years. The young people want fast cars, stereos, computers…you name it. They've seen what the West has to offer, and they can wait no more. I agree with Anatol, we should be ready to produce in six months as well."
Isaac poured himself another schnapps and stared at it in front of him. He tapped the side of his forehead with his finger, and then grabbed the small glass with one smooth stroke and let the schnapps slowly slide down his throat until the glass was empty. The men are so eager, he thought. Energy was vital to success. But it would take more than energy for the plan to work.
The men talked into the night. One by one each revealed the agenda he had for their countries. The old world ties that bound each of the men were as strong as ever. Then, one by one they bowed out and found a place to sleep. In the end, Isaac remained with Anatol. The fire slowly faded until the flames were replaced by glowing red logs. Hope had been born, and the child would be stronger, healthier, and free.
CHAPTER 23
Gunter Schecht crossed his legs with difficulty, and stared at his boss for a moment trying to read his thoughts. He found himself in the red leather hot seat again. What in the hell does he want from me, Gunter asked himself.
Finally, the president of Bundenbach Electronics shifted his large leather chair and returned Gunter's stare. "The Polizei found Charlie Johnson belly up in the Rhine this morning," the boss said.
Gunter shifted in his chair trying to come up with the right answer. "But…"
"You jumped the gun, Gunter. I needed to know who our competition was. But more importantly, I found out that Johnson didn't give us everything we needed. I won't bore you with technical terms. Let's just say Johnson failed to give us an important binding link. Without it, we'll never know what makes the chip so fast or how to mass produce it." He paused to take in a deep breath. "So, what have you come up with in the past few days?"
Gunter felt cornered and disturbed. "Plenty," he said with a clenched jaw. "I've told you that I suspected Johnson was selling to another government or company. Now I'm sure it must be Hungary."
"Why?"
"Because the last couple of days I've been trailed by a couple of Hungarian Intelligence agents."
"How do you know them?"
"I've been in this game for a long time," Gunter said brusquely. "You get to know the players. The problem I'm having, is why they're following me."
"Perhaps they saw you with Johnson."
"Perhaps! I'm not really concerned if you aren't. I can handle those two."
The Bundenbach boss leaned back in his great chair and swiveled back and forth a few times before looking directly at Gunter again. "We have another problem with Jake Adams," he said. "I've been told that Jake acquired the missing items we need." The boss smiled and lifted his eyebrows. "Have you seen Jake lately?"
Gunter shifted in his chair uneasily. "Dropped from sight. He hasn't shown up at Bitburg or any of our other locations. I don't know…maybe he returned to America."
The boss got up out of his high back chair and walked over to a large book shelf. He pulled out an old leather bound book, and turned to face Gunter. "Marx was wrong you know. History has proven that his Communist Manifesto was a baseless farce."
The two men looked at each other for a minute, and then the boss let out a slight laugh as he put the book back in its slot and returned to his chair.
"We need that data, Gunter," the boss said, becoming more serious. "You must work your contacts harder. The country is going through some growing pains. I want to be on the leading edge of technology when we get stronger. What have you promised your contacts in Berlin?"
"Just what you told me to promise."
"Are the leaders loyal?"
"Loyal? Yes! Trusting? Now that's another point," Gunter said. "As you know, they have a hard time believing anything they're told. But some of them are relatives, and those believe.
"Finding very few jobs should help our cause. And as I've told you I don't want Turks. They work hard, but there will be too much conflict at the plant. We don't need that standing in our way."
"I'll make sure that my friends in the government make it difficult for them to find jobs," Gunter said with a smile. "They'll beg us for work."
"Good! Get me more."
Gunter eased back into his chair and finally let his muscles relax. He tried to digest what his boss had just told him. How did he know that Jake Adams had his missing items? He'd find out. Gunter stood up slowly, nodded good-bye, and then left the office.
CHAPTER 24