we might find the general’s message hard to believe, the Americans also sent you, with the same message wrapped up in what I believe they call a “human interest story” – the man who can’t wait to see his wife and son again, who has been told that the Soviets are certain to be first in Berlin. Reinforcing an important lie with a second, less consequential-looking falsehood – it’s a classic tactic.’
‘That’s ridiculous…’
‘Ridiculous?’ Ramanichev exclaimed, raising his voice for the first time. ‘Ridiculous that you should work for American intelligence? Wasn’t that who you were working for in Prague in 1939?’
‘Yes, but..’
‘And did you not act as a contact between German military intelligence and the American Embassy in 1940 and 1941?’
‘Yes…’
‘But you expect me to believe that the moment you escaped from Germany – and chose to go to America – you also stopped working for American intelligence?’
‘That’s what happened. It’s the truth. Just like Ike’s letter is the truth, and the reasons I gave you for coming here. The Americans have no plans for taking Berlin.’
Ramanichev shook his head. ‘On the contrary. Over the last two weeks three Allied airborne divisions have been making the necessary preparations.’
‘I don’t believe it,’ was all Russell could say.
‘According to our information, the British 1st, US 101st and US 82nd airborne divisions have orders to seize Oranienburg, Gatow and Tempelhof airfields.’
‘That’ll be a contingency plan,’ Russell argued. ‘They’ll have dropped it by now.’
‘Our information is up-to-date, Mr Russell.’
‘Yes, but from whom? I doubt if anyone’s bothered to tell the airborne troops that they’re not going.’
Ramanichev sighed. ‘Your lies get less and less convincing. I should inform you that under Soviet law any foreigner caught disseminating false information is deemed guilty of espionage. Those convicted are usually executed.’ He carefully closed the file, and looked at his watch. ‘Before we meet again, I would recommend that you consider your position very carefully. In view of your past services to the Soviet Union – no matter how marginal these might have been – that sentence might be commuted. But a full confession will be necessary. We shall want to know exactly what your orders were, who you received them from, and who your contacts are here in Moscow.’
He reached forward and restored the light to its original position, got to his feet, and strode from the room. Russell was escorted back to his cell by the same pair of guards, along the same labyrinthine route. Slumping onto his bed, the clang of the closing door still echoing around the walls, he was ready to admit it. He felt frightened.
It had been dark for more than an hour, and Effi was mentally preparing for the sirens and their evening trip down to the shelter, when the now-familiar knock sounded on the apartment door. Ali had gone to Fritz’s that morning, and Rosa was playing one of the patience games her mother had taught her by the light of a precious candle.
The moment Effi saw Erik Aslund’s face, she knew it was bad news.
‘We’ve heard from Lübeck,’ he said without ado. ‘The men you took to the train – they’ve all been caught. They were already on the ship, believing they’d escaped. And then the Gestapo swarmed aboard.’
‘But that doesn’t make sense,’ Effi protested. ‘If they knew the men were on the train, then why wait until they were on the boat?’
‘We don’t know. Maybe they wanted to put pressure on the Swedish government. Or perhaps they had a tip-off from someone in Lübeck. One of the sailors even – not all my countrymen are against the Nazis. It doesn’t matter now. The point is, they’re in custody, and you told me that one of the Jews had stayed here. Our contact in Lübeck says that they’re being brought to Berlin for questioning, so this place should be
‘That’s ridiculous…’
‘Ridiculous?’ Ramanichev exclaimed, raising his voice for the first time. ‘Ridiculous that you should work for American intelligence? Wasn’t that who you were working for in Prague in 1939?’
‘Yes, but..’
‘And did you not act as a contact between German military intelligence and the American Embassy in 1940 and 1941?’
‘Yes…’
‘But you expect me to believe that the moment you escaped from Germany – and chose to go to America – you also stopped working for American intelligence?’
‘That’s what happened. It’s the truth. Just like Ike’s letter is the truth, and the reasons I gave you for coming here. The Americans have no plans for taking Berlin.’
Ramanichev shook his head. ‘On the contrary. Over the last two weeks three Allied airborne divisions have been making the necessary preparations.’
‘I don’t believe it,’ was all Russell could say.
‘According to our information, the British 1st, US 101st and US 82nd airborne divisions have orders to seize Oranienburg, Gatow and Tempelhof airfields.’
‘That’ll be a contingency plan,’ Russell argued. ‘They’ll have dropped it by now.’
‘Our information is up-to-date, Mr Russell.’
‘Yes, but from whom? I doubt if anyone’s bothered to tell the airborne troops that they’re not going.’
Ramanichev sighed. ‘Your lies get less and less convincing. I should inform you that under Soviet law any foreigner caught disseminating false information is deemed guilty of espionage. Those convicted are usually executed.’ He carefully closed the file, and looked at his watch. ‘Before we meet again, I would recommend that you consider your position very carefully. In view of your past services to the Soviet Union – no matter how marginal these might have been – that sentence might be commuted. But a full confession will be necessary. We shall want to know exactly what your orders were, who you received them from, and who your contacts are here in Moscow.’
He reached forward and restored the light to its original position, got to his feet, and strode from the room. Russell was escorted back to his cell by the same pair of guards, along the same labyrinthine route. Slumping onto his bed, the clang of the closing door still echoing around the walls, he was ready to admit it. He felt frightened.
It had been dark for more than an hour, and Effi was mentally preparing for the sirens and their evening trip down to the shelter, when the now-familiar knock sounded on the apartment door. Ali had gone to Fritz’s that morning, and Rosa was playing one of the patience games her mother had taught her by the light of a precious candle.
The moment Effi saw Erik Aslund’s face, she knew it was bad news.
‘We’ve heard from Lübeck,’ he said without ado. ‘The men you took to the train – they’ve all been caught. They were already on the ship, believing they’d escaped. And then the Gestapo swarmed aboard.’
‘But that doesn’t make sense,’ Effi protested. ‘If they knew the men were on the train, then why wait until they were on the boat?’
‘We don’t know. Maybe they wanted to put pressure on the Swedish government. Or perhaps they had a tip-off from someone in Lübeck. One of the sailors even – not all my countrymen are against the Nazis. It doesn’t matter now. The point is, they’re in custody, and you told me that one of the Jews had stayed here. Our contact in Lübeck says that they’re being brought to Berlin for questioning, so this place should be
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