1935 29 December 1945
Former Colonel Ludwig Mannberg was sitting with Sergeant Friedrich Hessinger at the latter’s desk, both of them bent over a chessboard. They both stood when Cronley, followed by Gehlen and Dunwiddie, came into the room.
Mannberg was wearing a well-tailored suit and tie. Fat Freddy was in pinks and greens.
Cronley thought, more objectively than unkindly, Looking at the two of them, you’d think Gehlen was a black marketeer caught dealing in cigarettes and Hershey bars and Mannberg was his lawyer. His English lawyer. I’m going to have to do something about getting the general some decent clothes.
How am I going to do that? “Excuse me, General, but in that ratty suit, you look like an unsuccessful black marketeer.”
“I just had one of my famous inspirations,” Cronley announced. “Freddy, call the dining room and tell them there will be two more at dinner.”
“Who?” Hessinger asked.
“You and Oberst Mannberg.”
“Is that wise, Jim?” Dunwiddie asked. “Mattingly said you were to go alone.”
“I know,” Cronley said. “Do it, Freddy.”
“General,” Mannberg said, “we have heard from Seven-K.”
Who the hell is “Seven-K”?
“And?” Gehlen asked.
“She reports Natalia Likharev and her sons, Sergei and Pavel, do in fact occupy a flat at Nevsky Prospekt 114 in Leningrad. It’s a luxury apartment building reserved for senior officers of the NKGB.”
Seven-K, you soaking-wet-behind-the-ears amateur intelligence officer, is obviously Gehlen’s agent in Russia. If they said his name out loud, someone might hear. She?
“Which means,” Gehlen said, “especially since the NKGB knows Colonel Likharev is now in Argentina, that they are watching them very carefully, and that it’s just a matter of time before she is arrested. Pour encourager les autres.”
To encourage other NKGB officers not to change sides because the penalty is having your wife and kids sent to Siberia. Or shot. Or tortured. Or all of the above.
“Yes, sir,” Mannberg agreed. “She also reports the Underground Railroad is in disarray.”
“She”? That’s twice Mannberg said “she.” Seven-K is a woman?
Jesus, stupid! You should know the Russians have women spies. One of them made a horse’s ass out of you. So why should Gehlen having female agents be such a surprise?
“Underground Railway”? As in the States? Getting slaves out of the South? Mannberg is obviously talking about this woman’s setup to get the Likharevs out of Russia. Interesting that the Russians use a term from American history.
Gehlen said, “Send her ‘Act at your discretion.’”
“Signed?” Mannberg asked.
Gehlen pointed his index finger at his chest.
I wonder what your code name is?
“Jawohl, Herr General,” Mannberg said.
“Why don’t we all go down to the bar and have a drink before we feed the nice men from the Pentagon?” Cronley asked.
“Once again,” Dunwiddie said, “are you sure that’s what you want to do, have us all there?”
“I don’t want to face them all by my lonesome,” Cronley replied.
But that’s not the only reason I want everybody there.