The Haigerloch Project

“Gisela can be trusted,” Weber said, answering the unspoken question in the air. “When you know more about her, you will understand. Her parents — her mother was my sister — they were killed. Only a year ago. In Stuttgart. It was an air raid.” He sighed. “It is difficult for her.” He looked toward the open coffin.

“Last night,” he said heavily. “Only last night the accident happened. It was at the railroad yards. We both work there—” He suddenly stopped. “I—work there,” he continued. “Otto slipped and fell between two cars being coupled.” He turned away. “Together, Otto and I — we did what little we could down there to stop the war machine that is destroying our Fatherland.” He looked earnestly at Dirk. “But only when we were a hundred and ten percent certain that we would not be caught. You understand, my friend, we must be more careful than anyone else….”

Dirk nodded. “We understand,” he said. “You are part of Storp's cell?”

“Cell?” Weber asked in surprise. “What cell? There were the two of us. And Gisela…”

Dirk and Sig glanced at one another. They had the same bleak thought. The forces they could count on in carrying out their mission consisted of one man, one reluctant girl — and one corpse….

Dirk looked speculatively at Weber. “How much do you know?” he asked.

For a moment the big man fixed his pale blue eyes on Dirk, then he shrugged. “Only what Otto told me,” he said. “What he thought I should know…. We were expecting you. Otto knows — Otto knew a man in Stuttgart. He operates a Schwarzsender—an illegal radio. We have no radio here. The man in Stuttgart told Otto about you.”

“This man,” Dirk asked, “who is he?”

Weber shook his head. “I do not know,” he said. “I do not know how to find him. Otto thought it best.”

Dirk nodded. He dismissed it. It was not of paramount importance. “Go on,” he said.

“I know that you are here to learn about the scientific project at Haigerloch. The one Otto said is atomic research.”

“Is it?”

Weber shrugged. “Otto said yes. To make a terrible bomb. He knew a man who works there.”

“Himmelmann?” Sig asked.

“Yes. Gustav Himmelmann.”

“Who is he?”

“A scientist. From Austria. Otto said he is a very good scientist. But he has become disillusioned. With the Nazis. He cannot bear to see his work in science being used for destruction. So — he will do what he can to help stop this bomb project. Once such a bomb is made — he knows how it will be used.” The big man looked solemnly at the two Americans. “Understand,” he said in a low voice, “we are none of us traitors to our Fatherland. We love our country. We are not your allies to help destroy her — but to help her survive. Adolf Hitler and his gang have laid waste our Germany. They have pushed her to the brink of total ruin. We would try to save her. Stop this final cataclysm — if we can.” He was silent for a moment. “We will help you, Gisela and I. But at all times our Fatherland and our people come first. You understand this?”

“It is understood,” Dirk said.

Weber nodded solemnly. “It is good. Now, my friends, what would you have us do?”

“First — we need a place to stay.”

“Here. There is a room in the basement which will be safe. And I will give you Otto's work papers. From the railroad yards. They may be helpful.”

“Good Secondly. How soon can we talk to Himmelmann?”

“I will get to him as quickly as I can.”

“Okay,” Dirk acknowledged. “That's our next step.”

There was a small noise behind him. He turned. Gisela was standing half-hidden in the open doorway. When she saw him turn toward her, she stepped into full view. She was carrying a small tray with three steaming cups.

“Kaffee,” she said tonelessly. “Ersatz, of course…” She gave the open coffin a quick look. “I will serve it in the parlor.” She looked at Dirk and Sig — a look full of resentment and bitterness. She turned on her heel and walked away.

Dirk looked soberly after her. It was not her brother, Otto, who held their lives in his hands.

It was Gisela.

* * *

It was late when Standartenführer Harbicht returned from Haigerloch, but he went directly to his office. There was work to be done.

Despite a strenuous day and the late hour, he felt exhilarated. The Haigerloch Project might well be the key to final victory. With half-guilty wonder, he realized that in the hidden recesses of his mind he had actually begun to doubt the ability of the Reich and the Führer to conclude the war victoriously. No more. The Haigerloch Project would ensure the ultimate triumph of the Third Reich.

Nothing must be permitted to interfere.

He pulled a large sheet of paper in front of him and began to write on it. Quickly, purposefully. Dividing the paper into two columns, he wrote: