By Order of the President (Presidential Agent 1)

Haus im Wald Near Bad Hersfeld Kreis Hersfeld-Rotenburg Hesse, West Germany 1850 13 March 1981

The Jaegermeister at the gate would not permit the Lustrous Mercedes to pass until he had authority from the house. When it finally came, and they reached the house, Karl Wilhelm von und zu Gossinger was waiting for them on the stone verandah.

“Good evening,” he said.

“Hey, Karl,” Major Naylor said.

“I am sorry but Mother is not receiving,” the boy said.

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p; “We really want to talk to her,” Naylor said. “May we come in?”

“Of course.”

He opened the door for them and then followed them into the house.

“I don’t believe I know this lady,” he said when they were all inside.

“Karl,” Netty began, “this is your . . .”

“Karl, I’m your grandmother,” Alicia Castillo said.

“Oh.”

“If I had known about you, I would have been here much sooner,” Alicia said. “May I give you a hug and a kiss?”

“I would rather you didn’t,” the boy said.

“Jesus, Karl!” Naylor said.

“It’s all right,” Alicia said.

“Karl,” Netty said, “we would really like to see your mother for just a moment.”

“Mother is not feeling well,” the boy said.

“We understand, Karl,” Elaine Naylor said.

“She has had a good deal to drink,” the boy said.

“Karl,” Alicia said, “take me to your mother.”

He looked at her for a moment, and then said, “If you insist. ”

The room, Alicia was to remember later, reeked of cognac.

Erika von und zu Gossinger was in bed, on her side, and raised her head when the light from the corridor came into the darkened room.

“Who’s that?” she challenged, in German. “Get out and leave me alone!”

“I’m sorry,” Alicia said. “I don’t speak German.”

“Who are you?” Frau Erika asked, not pleasantly, in English.

“I am Jorge’s mother, my dear,” Alicia said. “And I’ve come to take care of you and Karl.”

Frau Erika, not without effort, managed to sit up in the bed and turn the light on.