“Of course it is. But Stroessner apparently not o
nly believes it, but has managed to bring President Morínigo around to believe it’s the case. Going off on a tangent, Martín believes that Stroessner intends to depose Morínigo as soon as he sees the opportunity so that he can bring ‘True National Socialism to Paraguay.’”
“General Buckner,” White said, “General Simón Bolívar Buckner, who was killed on Okinawa, once told me that the man for whom both he and his father had been named wrote that South America is ungovernable.”
“One sometimes does get that impression,” Gehlen said. “In this case, this plays to our advantage. Martín and Colonel Niedermeyer—with the concurrence of Colonel Frade—have been sending ‘True National Socialists’ to Paraguay after making it clear to them that Stroessner will execute them out of hand if he even suspects they were part of the evil Nazi cabal that caused the downfall of National Socialism.”
“Incredible,” White said.
“So far, I understand, Colonel Stroessner has only had to do this twice. And since then, the others have been diligently trying to be good Paraguayan National Socialists. As far as the Nazis released in Argentina are concerned, General Perón has made them conditionally welcome. I don’t think they’ll cause him, or us, any trouble.”
“I’ve heard that he had—has—Nazi inclinations?”
“According to Oberst Niedermeyer, he was a great admirer of Mussolini Fascism. Oscar Schultz told me Perón sees himself as the future Il Duce of South America.”
“Speaking of Schultz, how much does he know of what’s going on with Colonel Mattingly?”
Gehlen nodded toward Cronley, who replied: “Sir, I sent him—DCI sent him—a report of what happened in Vienna as soon as I got back and, at oh-dark-hundred this morning, I sent a report of what happened in Berlin, and told him I was going to go through with the Russian Orthodox funerals and then go back to Berlin.”
And I also sent a message via Hansel to Clete saying I will scuttle any attempt to swap the Likharevs for Mattingly.
But I don’t think this is the time to mention that.
“Then the ball is in their court,” White said. “Whether to exchange Bob Mattingly for the Russian or not. I’m glad I don’t have to make that call.” He paused thoughtfully for a moment, and then went on: “Well, we should know soon. In the meantime . . . what do we do, Cronley?”
“As I said, sir, I’m going to go ahead with reburying the Russians, and then go back to Berlin.”
“You don’t think there’s any chance of resurrecting your idea of getting into Odessa through Commandant Whatsisname, the Frenchman, in Strasbourg?”
“Fortin, sir. Commandant Jean-Paul Fortin. Anything’s worth a try, sir.”
“Your cousin—that relationship—would not pose a problem for you?”
“No, sir.”
“How did Winters get along with Commandant Fortin?”
“Very well, sir.”
“Then do you think it would be a good idea if he flew you—before or after the reinterments of the Russians, but before you return to Berlin—over there to have a shot at that . . .”
Is Cousin Luther going to cause me problems if Tom Winters flies me over there?
Have I just ever so tactfully been reprimanded for flying down here in the bad weather last night?
You bet your ass I have.
“. . . and, in the meantime, I was thinking that General Gehlen, Colonel Wallace, Colonel Wilson, and myself can get together with that marvelous Pennsylvania Dutchman PFC of yours and see what we can come up with about getting into Odessa through the Stars and Stripes trucks. Does that make sense to you, Cronley?”
“Sir, I would suggest you include Augie Ziegler in that.”
And now I have just been ordered, with great tact, so as not to antagonize the enormous—and wholly unjustified—ego of the chief, DCI-Europe, to have DCI do something I should have thought of myself, involving Wallace and Hotshot Billy Wilson, with the Stripes trucks.
This man is amazing!
No wonder Wallace, Hotshot Billy—and, come to think of it, Mattingly and Tiny Dunwiddie—think Major General Isaac Davis White walks on water.
“I should have thought of that,” White said. “I am afraid PFC Wagner really still thinks I bite off people’s heads. Thank you for that suggestion, Cronley. And for what I think of not only as a profitable meeting, but one which will permit me to put General Bull’s concerns at rest when I tell him about it.”