Boys from Brazil by Ira Levin

Europe!—but obviously they ignored him. What else would they do?—an old Naziphobe like him coming to them with a story that must sound insane when he can’t give the reason behind it. That’s what I counted on when I made the decision.”
    â€œ It wasn’t your decision to make ,” the colonel said. “You put six of our men into much more danger than we bargained for.”
    â€œAnd by doing so preserved your very large investment, not to mention the destiny of the race.” Mengele got up and went to the desk, took a cigarette from a brass cup of them. “Anyway, it’s water over the dam,” he said.
    The colonel sipped coffee, looking at Mengele’s back. He lowered his cup and said, “Rudel wanted me to call the men in today.”
    Mengele turned, took the lighted cigarette from his lips. “I don’t believe that,” he said.
    The colonel nodded. “He takes his responsibilities as an officer very seriously.”
    â€œHe has responsibilities as an Aryan!”
    â€œTrue, but he’s never been as sure as the rest of us that the project will work; you know that, Josef. Good Lord, the selling job we had to do!”
    Mengele stood silently—hostile, waiting.
    â€œI told him pretty much what you just told me,” the colonel said. “If the men check in and everything’s all right, then Liebermann hasn’t been able to stir anything up, so why not leave them out? He finally agreed. But Liebermann’s going to be watched from now on—Mundt’s taking care of it—and if there’s any sign that he is stirring anything up, then a decision will have to be made: either to kill him, which might only stir things up further, or to bring the men in.”
    Mengele said, “Do that and you throw everything down the drain. Everything I achieved. All the money you spent on staff and equipment and arranging the placements. How can he even think of it? I’d send out six more men if these were caught. And six more . And six more! ”
    â€œI agree, Josef, I agree,” the colonel soothed. “And I’d like very much for you to have a voice in the decision if it ever actually has to be made. A strong voice. But if Rudel learns now that you let the men leave knowing Liebermann was alerted—he’ll cut you out of the operation completely. You won’t even get the monthly reports. So I’d rather not tell him. But before I can do that I have to have an assurance from you that you won’t…make any more solo decisions.”
    â€œAbout what? There are no more decisions to be made, except to keep the men out and working.”
    The colonel smiled. “I wouldn’t put it past you to hop on a plane and go after Liebermann yourself.”
    Mengele drew at his cigarette. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. “You know I wouldn’t dare go to Europe.” He turned to the desk and tapped ash into a tray.
    â€œDo I have your assurance,” the colonel asked, “that you won’t do anything affecting the operation without checking with the Organization?”
    â€œOf course you do,” Mengele said. “Absolutely.”
    â€œThen I’ll tell Rudel it’s a mystery how Liebermann got wind of things.”
    Mengele shook his head incredulously. “I cannot believe,” he said, “that that old fool—Rudel, I mean, not Liebermann—would write off so much money, and the Aryan destiny along with it, out of concern for the safety of six ordinary men.”
    â€œThe money was only a fraction of what we have,” the colonel said. “We exaggerated its importance to keep you cost-conscious. As for the Aryan destiny, well, as I said, he’s never fully believed the project will work. I think it smacks a little of magic or witchcraft to him; he’s hardly a scientific-minded man.”
    â€œYou’d be insane to let him have the final