Chapter One Thousand Seventeen
1st June 1953
Wunsdorf-Zossen
With the German Kaiser and Kaiserin out of Germany, all the eyes of the world were focused firmly on Westminster Abby where the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth was about to happen, which was where they were. For David Cornwell it was a once in perhaps a decade opportunity to infiltrate what many in MI-6 considered the ultimate prize for an Intelligence Agent. The Headquarters of the BND within the complex of buildings and tunnels that housed the High Command of the German Military. The outer defenses were daunting, three rows of concertina wire topped electrified chain-link fences, irregularly timed patrols with dogs, mine fields and pillboxes manned with men ordered to shoot any intruders. The only obvious way in or out was a single access road that was covered by what looked like an entire Company of Panzer Dragoons complete with machine guns in towers.
Inside the perimeter, there were more irregular patrols and they encouraged to challenge the credentials of any man inside. David had been gathering information about this place for months and he had been unable to learn what was inside of the buildings themselves. Then he had heard a rumor that the entire complex was about to get a security upgrade, to Kempten level. That was the name of the nuclear research facility in Southern Germany. So that meant that David had to risk the infiltration that day or he would never get another chance.
He presumed that they would need to be functional as offices meaning that outside of extremely sensitive areas that might as well be ordinary office buildings. Even though David knew that he would be executed with only a perfunctory trial if caught, he had realized that the only way in was wearing the uniform of a German Staff Officer with the best forged documents that the SIS could provide. It was a matter of having the balls to walk right in.
Once inside, David had gotten lost. The BND itself building was a maze of identical looking rooms and corridors. He was starting to feel like the dog that had caught the car it was chasing and didn’t know what to with it. Entering a room, he discovered that there were dozens of mostly women sitting at computer consoles entering data.
Knowing that he was risking discovery every second he dawdled, David strode through the room like if he belonged there. The uniform he was wearing kept anyone from bothering him. Walking around a corner he saw what looked like plexiglass enclosures with what looked like stacks of steel platters inside. David had no idea what he was looking at. He did however see several reels of magnetic tape in a bin marked that they were to be destroyed. Grabbing one of the reels David shoved it into his briefcase, convinced that he was going to get caught any second.
Walking out of the complex turned out to be a nerve-wracking experience. The soldier who looked at his papers at the gate didn’t look old enough to shave. Eventually he was waved through.
Potsdam
“Try to behave yourself” Nancy said to Anne as they walked into the rehearsal space, “Or else no one will believe that you are my assistant and they’ll throw you out.”
When Anne learned that Nancy had lunch with Edda, she had started asking Nancy if she could meet the Actress. When the opportunity to be present at the first script reading had presented itself, Nancy had relented. Anne could come along as Nancy’s assistant, but she had to behave herself and not act like a starstruck schoolgirl.
“Edda, this is my assistant, Fraulein Frank” Nancy said, “She’s a bit sheltered.”
Anne was too nervous to react to what Nancy had just said.
“Pleased to meet you” Edda said with a faint smile.
“My friends call me Anne” Anne blurted out.
“Very well, Anne” Edda said, “This is the first script reading you’ve been to?”
Anne looked bewildered.
“This is the first of anything like this that either Anne or I have been to” Nancy said.
“It’s not very exciting” Edda said, “You get to watch us read the lines, the Director watches how the actors interact, and changes are made accordingly.”
“Sounds involved” Nancy said.
“It is” Edda replied, “And it’s a bit boring.”
Nancy saw the look on Anne’s face and knew that she wouldn’t find it boring in the least.
“The representative from our evil corporate sponsor is here” Nancy heard Nicol Sheer say.
“Do they look evil?” Edda asked.
Nicol just laughed.
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“I’m sorry about this” Matthias said, “But it’s a lifetime commitment and inevitably yours is longer than his.”
Of all the times for the Emperor to be out of town. Freddy had found that Ueli, his foxhound was sick. The Kennel Master had called a veterinarian who had discovered that Ueli had a large growth in his abdomen and the situation was hopeless. At fourteen Freddy was trying to act like an adult but it was impossible to hide the reality that he was boy who was about experience one of the worst losses imaginable.
“No one will judge you if you cannot deal with this, but you’ll regret it if you can’t” Mattias said, what else was he supposed to say?
“Can something be done?” Freddy asked.
Matthias shook his head, “The veterinarian is one of the best people in the field” He said, “I’m inclined to take his word in this matter.”
“What should I do?” Freddy asked.
“We end it” Matthias said, “Quickly and painlessly as possible.”
Matthias saw the look on Freddy’s face as he realized what was being asked of him. Matthias had spoken to the veterinarian and it was a simple matter of an overdose. Having spent his entire life around dogs Matthias knew that Ueli would be looking for Freddy. This was better than what Matthias’ own father had done, handing him a loaded rifle and told him to get it over with. It was shame that some lessons could only to be learned this way.
