`A leader!' Hitler echoed. `A leader! Do you really think…?
'You, mein Fьhrer,' Gregory lied with every ounce of conviction of which he was capable. `That is your future. Malacou is certain of it, and so am I
'To conquer the world! The whole world! And with a really determined people behind me, instead of these cowardly Germans. What a prospect! It would make death welcome.'
Gregory stole a glance at the maniac beside him, then hammered home his grandiose deception. `It would, indeed, mein Fьhrer. With that in view, to struggle on against overwhelming odds and risk becoming a prisoner of the Allies would be madness. How infinitely better to make a spectacular end of things here in Berlin, with the ruins of your capital about you. My most fervent prayer is that I may be permitted later to join you on Mars and become one of your lieutenants in this new and greater glory.'
`You shall! You shall,' muttered Hitler, now utterly bemused by this prospect that had been held out to him of becoming Emperor of the World. `You have given me more than new hope: a vision, the sooner to attain which I could die happily.'
It was on the following evening that Goering sent for Gregory. The Reichsmarschall had spoken personally to Koller on the telephone and said that the matter was urgent; so, reluctant as Gregory was to leave the bunker now he had, temporarily at least, manoeuvred Hitler into a position where he might soon be dead, he set off in an, Air Ministry car for Karinhall.
For a time he thought he would never get there. Now that the Allies had overrun a great part of Germany they had the use of airfields within such easy reach of Berlin that they bombed it not only every night but all night and in the daytime as well. Five out of every six streets had been rendered impassable by bomb craters, or great heaps of rubble that had fallen from wrecked buildings. The obstructions were so numerous and new ones of such frequent occurrence that all attempts to put out diversion signs had had to be abandoned; so the progress of the car was like that of a person in a maze, who comes up against a succession of dead ends and has again and again to - turn back and try another way.
Meanwhile a thousand ack ack guns were blazing away, the explosion of heavy bombs shook the ground, scores of searchlights raked the sky and the flames from dozens of burning buildings, reflected from the clouds, gave the night sky the hue of hell. Even when they at last got clear of the city the car could proceed only at a moderate pace, as the area was now the rear of a battle front. The headlights frequently glinted on water-filled potholes, in places fallen trees partially blocked the road, and from time to time they were held up by convoys of lorries or columns of weary, marching troops. The hideous journey took over five hours; but they made it and, soon after midnight, Gregory arrived at Karinhall.
When he gave his name, an adjutant took him straight up to Goering's vast study. The Reichsmarschall was not in fancy dress but wearing a uniform of pure white silk, the tunic of which was smothered with stars and decorations, for he had collected not only every German order but also those of every country Germany had overrun.
With a curt nod he said to Gregory, `Sit down. I imagine you had the hell of a time getting here; but I'm glad you've come and I think you'll find the effort worth it. Have you ever heard of Allen Dulles?'
`Yes,' Gregory replied. `He is the head of the Office of Strategic Services; or, to call it by another name, the American Secret Service.!
'That is so. Well, for some time past he has been operating from Switzerland. Of course, we knew that, as we have plenty of our people there too. He runs all the escape routes for their prisoners of war who can break camp, and a vast espionage system. But recently he's been after bigger game than that. Quite a number of prominent Germans have been into Switzerland and had discussions with him on ways in which the war might be brought to an end.'
`I'm glad to hear it,' Gregory commented.
`Yes. The sooner it's over now the better. No man with an ounce of sanity could contest that. Incidentally, I've been too occupied to give you a thought lately, but are you making any progress with the Fьhrer'
Gregory did not wish to disclose his hand; so he replied, `Yes and no. I felt from the beginning that there was very little hope of getting him actually to order a surrender. But I've succeeded in becoming his chief witch doctor. He now treats me as a friend, has long private talks with me and pays heed to what I say; so there is just a chance that I may succeed in persuading him to throw in his hand and let someone else take over.'
`Good luck to you, then. Unless he alters the succession his mantle will fall on me, and I'll open negotiations with the Allies within the hour. But reverting to Dulles. He has sent an emissary to me, and the suggestion is that I should arrest the Fьhrer, or ignore him, and broadcast an order for our forces to lay down their arms.'
`Thank God for that!' Gregory exclaimed.
Goering frowned. `You go too fast. When we spoke of this before I told you that I would never betray the Fьhrer, and I still stand by that.'
Gregory knew that it would be futile to start an argument, so he simply shrugged and asked, `Why, then, did you send for me?'
The Reichsmarschall heaved himself to his feet. `Because I thought it would interest you to have a talk with Mr. Dulles' emissary. Come with me.'
Side by side they left the lofty room, walked down a flight of stairs and along several corridors. Then Goering halted at a door, turned the handle and threw it open. In the room, near the fire in an armchair, sat a woman dressed as a hospital nurse.
Gregory's heart missed a beat. He could hardly believe his eyes. It was Erika.
27
The Great Decision
ERIKA dropped the book she had been toying with, jumped to her feet and, with a radiant smile, cried, `Gregory! My darling! I thought you'd never get here.' Next moment she was in his arms.
Goering remained grinning in the doorway. When they had exchanged breathless kisses and, still holding hands, come apart, he said mischievously, `I told Erika I had sent for you and she suggested that you might prefer to spend the night here instead of returning to Berlin. So I had this suite made ready for you. There is, of course, a separate bed in the dressing room. I hope you will find every thing you want. Schlafen Sie wohl.'
As the door closed behind him, Gregory exclaimed with mingled delight and anxiety, `My sweet, to see you again after all these months is marvelous wonderful. But I'm horrified at the thought of the danger you are running. You ought never to have come into Germany.'
`I had to,' she replied quietly. `There are some duties that one cannot neglect. I know you no longer think of me as a German. But I am one. And my poor country is now in extremis. Whatever horrors the Nazis have perpetrated, that does not alter the fact that there are many millions of decent German men and women who did not want the war and have been forced into doing. what they have done by the Nazi tyranny.'
`I know it. But that's no fault or concern of yours.'
`It does concern me, darling. They are my people. Thousands of them are now dying every day or suffering from ghastly wounds. And the children. Poor mites,, just think what the bombs are doing to them. Nothing should be left unattempted that might bring an end to this horror. Nothing!'