The Honor of Spies

"What comes immediately to mind, obviously, is that it is not in the best interests of the German Reich for the Soviets to have an atomic bomb. Stealing the knowledge of how to make one from us is a quick way for them to get one."

Graham nodded his agreement.

"This is all you got from this guy? What's his name?"

"Fregattenkapitan Otto von und zu Waching. That's all. He asked if you were coming, and when I told him you were, he 'suggested' we wait until you got here before we got into anything else."

"Where is he now?"

"In his room, waiting for me to call him."

"Call him," Graham said.

[TWO]

"Good evening," Fregattenkapitan Otto von und zu Waching said five minutes later, with a bob of his head.

He was in civilian clothing, a gray-striped woolen suit that looked a little too large for him, a once-white shirt--which instantly brought to Graham's mind the advertising campaign that tried to convince American housewives that the use of a certain soap powder would absolutely protect their husbands' white shirts from turning "tattletale gray" and thus suggesting they were failing to properly care for the family breadwinner--and worn-out shoes.

The Germans are running short of soap. And material for suits. And shoes.

It's as simple as that.

"My name is Graham," Graham said, offering his hand.

"Your reputation precedes you, Colonel," von und zu Waching said. "I am, as I'm sure Mr. Dulles has told you, Otto von und zu Waching, and I have the honor of being Vizeadmiral Canaris's deputy. Thank you for coming. I am sure you will feel the effort was worthwhile."

His English was fluent, with a strong upper-class British accent.

"Let's hope so," Graham said.

"Would either of you be offended if I outlined my position here? Our positions here? I suggest that would be useful."

"By all means," Dulles said.

"I am a serving officer. Our nations are at war. I have, as has Admiral Canaris, come to the conclusion that Adolf Hitler, and most of the senior officials and military officers around him, must, in the interests of Germany, be removed from power.

"This is an internal matter. While on its face it is treason, that treason is limited to removing the National Socialist government--the Nazis--from power. Neither Admiral Canaris, nor myself, nor any of those associated with us are willing to betray our soldiers, airmen, or seamen by taking any action, or providing to you or anyone else any intelligence which could affect their combat efficiency and therefore place their lives in danger.

"Is that your understanding of the situation?"

"Frankly, Captain . . ." Graham replied, so quickly that Dulles looked at him with what could have been surprise or alarm or both. ". . . is that what I call you, 'Captain'?"

"If it pleases you," von und zu Waching said.

Graham went on: "You're aware, I'm sure, Captain, that we are both serving officers in the naval service of our respective nations; that the U.S. Marine Corps is part of the U.S. Navy?"

"So I understand."

"Well, in the United States Navy, we have a saying, and I would be surprised if there isn't a similar saying in the Kriegsmarine."

"And that saying is?" von und zu Waching asked with a smile.

Graham switched to German and said, rather unpleasantly, "Why don't we cut the bullshit and get down to business?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"There are two cold facts coloring this conversation," Graham said pointedly. "One is that you've lost the war, and you know it, and the second is that you want something from us. So why don't we stop splitting hairs about what constitutes treason and get down to what you want from us?"

Von und zu Waching's face turned white.

"Captain," Graham said, "I came a very long way at considerable inconvenience because I thought that Admiral Canaris had something important to say, not to listen to crap like you just mouthed."

Von und zu Waching looked at Dulles.

Graham snapped: "Don't look to Dulles to bring me up short, Captain. I don't work for him, and he can't order me to give you whatever it is you want from me. And you wouldn't have asked him to get me here if you could get what you want from him."

Von und zu Waching said nothing.

Neither did Dulles.

"Okay, getting to the bottom line, Captain," Graham said, coldly reasonable, "why don't you tell me what it is you want from me, and what you're willing to offer in exchange?"

"Has Mr. Dulles shown you the material from Oak Ridge?"

"He showed me what you purport to be material from Oak Ridge," Graham said.

"The Russians have spies in Oak Ridge and elsewhere within your Manhattan Project. I am prepared to identify them to you."

"Come on, Captain. If you work for Canaris, you didn't get into the intelligence business last week."

"I don't know what you mean," von und zu Waching said.

"Okay, a couple of givens in here. Germany doesn't want the Russians to get their hands on the atomic bomb, or the details of how one makes an atom bomb."