back a foot from the glass, and a light mesh screen covers the window. It's impossible to tell from the alley that the window is barred. We replaced the bedroom door after Jones displayed how weak it was by rapidly putting his fist through it three times. The new one is solid oak and has two throw bolts that lock from the outside."
The procession followed Kohler downstairs into what hadbeen a kitchen. Here another agent sat in front of a bank of phones. He quickly took his feet off the table and put a novel down as Kohler entered. The man wore a revolver in a belt holster.
"The phones connect all positions in the house. And there is an outside line." Kohler lifted a U.S. Army two-way radio out of its backpack and continued, "We also have a walkie-talkie communications to our two men on the street, who hopefully you didn't see as you approached."
"I looked and didn't find them," Crown said. "I usually do."
"Very impressive, Peter," Ludendorf said. "This house is more secure than our EDC headquarters in London."
"Once again, most of it is Smithson's work. When does Hess first see Mr. Fermi, John?"
"On Monday. I have an appointment with Fermi tomorrow at his laboratory."
They entered the office, where Rudolf Hess sat in an overstuffed chair. The commando leisurely rose as they entered. His submachine gun lay on the desk, and he kept a hand on the stock. Hess was humming a tuneless drone and did not appear to notice the group until Kohler said, "Herr Hess, are you so ill-mannered that you do not rise when a lady enters the room?" nodding to the uncomfortable Heather.
Hess stopped humming and slowly came to his feet, not looking directly at anyone. The deputy führer was the picture of abject humility. His fall from Germany's high inner council to a prisoner had stripped him of all vestiges of pride. He was as crumpled as a piece of scrap paper. One side of his shirttail hung out of his pants. Both shoelaces, given to him for the transatlantic trip only, were undone and lay twisted on the carpet. The leather tongue of his left brogan was jammed to the side of the shoe, and the sockhung limply around his ankle. Hess stooped like an old man, making his tall, husky frame appear worn-out and fragile. A flash of pity passed through Crown.
"Professor, Heather, I'll drive you to your hotel rooms," Crown said. "You'll take care of Hess for the evening, Peter?"
"With pleasure," Kohler replied with a hint of malice. "Herr Hess will find his Chicago stay both interesting and . . . uh, exciting."
Crown thought the strong-man act was carried too far, particularly during Hess's first hour in Hyde Park, but then, Ludendorf and Kohler were the professionals. If anyone could get the full story of the German atom-bomb experiments from Hess, these men, with the help of Enrico Fermi, could.
Josef Ludendorf put his hand on Hess's arm and said, "Now, don't worry about a thing, Rudolf. I'll be back first thing in the morning." He turned quickly to Kohler and said in a stage whisper, "Peter, I want you to take Rudolf to his room and bring him dinner. That is all. We can talk to him tomorrow."
"Of course, Professor."
They trailed out of the office. Only Peter Kohler remained with Hess.
On the sidewalk, Heather touched Crown's arm and said quietly, "I feel sorry for Hess, alone with that Kohler."
"Kohler knows what he's doing," Crown said. "Hess is in the best of hands."
"Nevertheless," Heather persisted, miffed at Crown's insensitivity, "I don't like Kohler's eyes. And you've seen how Hess cowers when Kohler talks to him. Someone else should be with Hess."
Crown opened the Ford's rear door, and Ludendorf climbed in. Crown stopped Heather and said, "You don't know the full importance of what we are trying to get fromHess. His comfort can't interfere with our work. I hope you understand this, Heather."
Her glare conveyed anything but affection for Crown. She entered the car without saying anything further. No, she did not
The procession followed Kohler downstairs into what hadbeen a kitchen. Here another agent sat in front of a bank of phones. He quickly took his feet off the table and put a novel down as Kohler entered. The man wore a revolver in a belt holster.
"The phones connect all positions in the house. And there is an outside line." Kohler lifted a U.S. Army two-way radio out of its backpack and continued, "We also have a walkie-talkie communications to our two men on the street, who hopefully you didn't see as you approached."
"I looked and didn't find them," Crown said. "I usually do."
"Very impressive, Peter," Ludendorf said. "This house is more secure than our EDC headquarters in London."
"Once again, most of it is Smithson's work. When does Hess first see Mr. Fermi, John?"
"On Monday. I have an appointment with Fermi tomorrow at his laboratory."
They entered the office, where Rudolf Hess sat in an overstuffed chair. The commando leisurely rose as they entered. His submachine gun lay on the desk, and he kept a hand on the stock. Hess was humming a tuneless drone and did not appear to notice the group until Kohler said, "Herr Hess, are you so ill-mannered that you do not rise when a lady enters the room?" nodding to the uncomfortable Heather.
Hess stopped humming and slowly came to his feet, not looking directly at anyone. The deputy führer was the picture of abject humility. His fall from Germany's high inner council to a prisoner had stripped him of all vestiges of pride. He was as crumpled as a piece of scrap paper. One side of his shirttail hung out of his pants. Both shoelaces, given to him for the transatlantic trip only, were undone and lay twisted on the carpet. The leather tongue of his left brogan was jammed to the side of the shoe, and the sockhung limply around his ankle. Hess stooped like an old man, making his tall, husky frame appear worn-out and fragile. A flash of pity passed through Crown.
"Professor, Heather, I'll drive you to your hotel rooms," Crown said. "You'll take care of Hess for the evening, Peter?"
"With pleasure," Kohler replied with a hint of malice. "Herr Hess will find his Chicago stay both interesting and . . . uh, exciting."
Crown thought the strong-man act was carried too far, particularly during Hess's first hour in Hyde Park, but then, Ludendorf and Kohler were the professionals. If anyone could get the full story of the German atom-bomb experiments from Hess, these men, with the help of Enrico Fermi, could.
Josef Ludendorf put his hand on Hess's arm and said, "Now, don't worry about a thing, Rudolf. I'll be back first thing in the morning." He turned quickly to Kohler and said in a stage whisper, "Peter, I want you to take Rudolf to his room and bring him dinner. That is all. We can talk to him tomorrow."
"Of course, Professor."
They trailed out of the office. Only Peter Kohler remained with Hess.
On the sidewalk, Heather touched Crown's arm and said quietly, "I feel sorry for Hess, alone with that Kohler."
"Kohler knows what he's doing," Crown said. "Hess is in the best of hands."
"Nevertheless," Heather persisted, miffed at Crown's insensitivity, "I don't like Kohler's eyes. And you've seen how Hess cowers when Kohler talks to him. Someone else should be with Hess."
Crown opened the Ford's rear door, and Ludendorf climbed in. Crown stopped Heather and said, "You don't know the full importance of what we are trying to get fromHess. His comfort can't interfere with our work. I hope you understand this, Heather."
Her glare conveyed anything but affection for Crown. She entered the car without saying anything further. No, she did not
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