“No, sir.”
“Peter, if the ambassador should send for them, how would they return?”
“By the boat.”
“Tell me about that.”
“There is an eleven P.M. boat from Montevideo to Buenos Aires. It’s usually an eight- or nine-hour ride. There’re cabins on the boat, and a bar and a nice restaurant.”
“I can see where First Secretary Gradny-Sawz would prefer that to flying in that little airplane,” Cranz said, then added, “And Boltitz? Where is he?”
“Also in Montevideo. If Ambassador Lutzenberger hadn’t told me how much he needs me to help run the embassy, I would think that no one likes me.”
Cranz laughed. He put his arm around von Wachtstein’s shoulder.
“I like you, Hansel,” he said. “And Oberst von und zu Aschenburg likes you. Isn’t that so, Herr Oberst?”
“Can I have some time to think about that?” von und zu Aschenburg said.
Cranz laughed again.
“I can see why you’re friends,” he said. “Well, then, let’s go to the embassy. I can report to Ambassador Lutzenberger and see what he thinks is the best way to get everyone together.”
Cranz looked impatiently at the door of the Condor.
“What’s taking him so long?”
[FOUR]
The Embassy of the German Reich Avenue Córdoba Buenos Aires, Argentina 1735 12 July 1943
“Where did you meet Herr Cranz, Hansel?” Dieter von und zu Aschenburg asked after von Wachtstein had led him into his office and waved him into a chair.
“Charming man, isn’t he?” von Wachtstein said, pointing to the light fixture on the ceiling and then at the telephones on his desk.
Von und zu Aschenburg nodded his understanding.
“I met him when I was in Germany,” von Wachtstein said.
“You mean recently?” von und zu Aschenburg asked. He looked around the room, then motioned for von Wachtstein to come close.
“In May,” von Wachtstein said.
“I didn’t know you’d been in Germany, Peter.”
“Oh, yes.”
Von und zu Aschenburg handed him a thick, airmail-weight envelope and mouthed the words Your father.
Peter took the envelope and mouthed, Thank you, Dieter.
“Doing what?” von und zu Aschenburg asked, as von Wachtstein walked across the room and sat behind his desk.
“Apropos of absolutely nothing, have you heard that there is a new Messerschmitt with a new kind of engine?”
“When I’m not an airline pilot, I’m a Luftwaffe officer. General Galland was kind enough to show me what he’s doing in Augsburg. Unfortunately, I was unable to convince my superiors that I could make a greater contribution to the final victory with a squadron of Me-262s than I am flying a transport back and forth here.”
“I know exactly how you feel,” von Wachtstein said. “I was in Augsburg and had just passed my check ride in the Me-262 wh