Glenn Meade by The Sands of Sakkara (html) Page B

your cover to be that of an
international archaeological team, stranded in the
Middle
East
because of the war. My intelligence sources tell me there are
several such groups still languishing in the area because of the hostilities.
    Needless to say, I can't go over
the exact details of the entire plan until I know you're committed, but you can
take it you'd have the usual faultless forged papers and documents that'll pass
the stiffest test. Not that you'll need to use your cover story for very long.
You shouldn't have to spend more than two or three days in
Cairo
at the most.'
    'There are other cover stories you
could have come up with.
    You're sure you're not just using
her as another pawn to get me to go along with this?'
    Schellenberg grinned. 'Perceptive
of you, Jack, and valid enough, but actually there is another reason why we
need her.
    And perhaps a very important one,
though it'll have to keep for now. You'll be told in good time, if you agree to
come on board.'
    'You're forgetting one important
fact. What makes you so sure she'll cooperate?'
    Schellenberg smiled knowingly.
'There are always ways to entice. Besides, she'll know nothing about our true
intentions.
    As far as she's concerned, it'll
be just a little intelligence gathering operation in
Cairo
.'
    Haider shook his head. 'I don't
like the idea of using her. If she's been in a prison camp, she'll have been
through enough as it is.'
    'I'm afraid there's no one else
quite suitable. Himmler's already read her file and thinks she's an ideal
choice. And I must say, I agree.'
    There was a sudden, pleading look
in Haider's voice. 'Not her, Walter. I'm asking this as a favour.'
    'I'm sorry, but it's out of my
hands.' Schellenberg paused, deliberately. 'I'm sure the girl would be safer if
you went along.
    Especially if she had to endure
Kleist. I'd rather fear for her safety once she'd outlived her usefulness.'
    Anger erupted on Haider's face.
'You're a bastard, Walter.'
    'And I have a war to win.
Sentiment can play no part in it.'
    'You can't honestly believe this
crazy business stands a chance?'
    'Quite the contrary. I'm convinced
it does. What Skorzeny accomplished in
Italy
can be repeated in
Egypt
,
and with deadlier consequences. It'll be a hit-and-run operation - our men will
be in and out so fast the Allies won't know what's going on until it's too
late.' He paused. 'As regards your team, I'm told
Cairo
's quite cosmopolitan right now. Crammed
with displaced Europeans and lots of Americans, not to mention troops from
every nationality. In a big, sprawling city with a population of over two
million, a few more faces won't look amiss. You should be able to move around
with impunity. And by the way, Himmler's even promised you the Knight's Cross
if you accept.'
    'You can keep the damned medal.'
    Schellenberg laughed. 'I thought
you might say that. More importantly, he's agreed to offer you safe passage to
Sweden
, for you
and your son. And onward to wherever you want to go.'
    'I don't know. It all sounds too
risky to me.'
    'Trust me, it can work. And think
about it. A German American, sent to help kill
Roosevelt
?
Surely it's almost a kind of poetic justice. You know what could happen if the
Allies win and you're caught by the Amis.' Schellenberg used the contemptuous
German word for Americans. 'It's either a long prison sentence or a long rope.
This way, you have a chance.
    One last mission and that's it.
And there's a bonus.'
    'What?'
    Schellenberg nodded at the file on
the desk. 'The report on the
Hamburg
bombings - you ought to read it.
Roosevelt
gave his complete approval for the raids - in fact, he publicly urged the
bombing crews to be merciless. Now
Germany
has a score to settle and
you have the chance to repay what happened to your father and son. Personal, of
course, but I always think the personal helps in such matters.'
    'Who says I want revenge?'
    'I can see it in your eyes, Jack.
It's written on your