Nicholas Searle - The Good Liar

The state protects those who are public- minded enough to offer

confidential information. The presiding judge of the People’s Court will simply read the statement and hear my testimony.’

‘You would be prepared to omit relevant facts?’

‘Of course not. I simply don’t believe the boy’s age is particularly germane. More pertinent is his reliability, and we seem to have

established that. There are plenty of adults whose reports would be far less detailed and accurate. And if you and I have the choice of protecting the Reich or allowing known criminals to go scot free on questionable procedural grounds, then we surely have to err on the

side of justice. I’ll think about it overnight. Please have the boy available tomorrow.’

3

The next morning Hans was called from his first lesson by Herr

Professor Wolff and taken in a car to an anonymous office block he

did not recognize near the Ku’damm. It was exciting and at the

same time unnerving. He might easily be incarcerated in this grim

place. The Mercedes parked underneath the building and he was

escorted in the lift to an empty office on the fourth floor.

The office was panelled in walnut and had deep blue carpets.

Around a long polished conference table were twelve leather-

upholstered chairs. Hans walked around the table and counted

them twice. One long wall was dominated by a huge swastika flag.

He felt a frisson of pride.

Weber entered quickly with two other men. He was wearing a

black uniform so smart that Hans immediately coveted one. Weber

said, ‘ Heil, Hitler ,’ and saluted. Hans did not know whether this was 193

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a trick or a test. He responded with an outstretched arm and a bold

‘ Heil, Hitler .’ This was so much better a feeling than when he had practised it in his bedroom, or saluted in class. This was for real, and he felt just slightly taller. The three men smiled, a little patronizingly he felt.

Weber was businesslike. ‘Now then, Herr Taub.’

It took Hans a moment to realize that Weber was referring to

him. He sat on one side of the table with the other two men and

invited Hans to sit on the other.

‘May I introduce two colleagues from the legal department, Herr

Engel and Herr Ziegler? As you’ve made a number of serious allega-

tions we are required to ensure complete accuracy in taking your

statement. We must at all costs avoid a miscarriage of justice. Legal counsel are present to confirm that this statement has been taken in accordance with the law of the Reich and is admissible in possible

future legal proceedings.’

Legal proceedings. Hans had, he supposed, understood that this

was an inevitable consequence of the information he had given to

Weber the previous day. But to hear it said out loud made it all the more concrete. The kernel of a qualm germinated in his stomach

but was easily quelled. That bastard Schröder was after all planning to betray the Fatherland. And so what if the family would be humiliated and ruined? They deserved all they got.

‘Do you understand?’ asked Weber.

‘Yes, sir,’ said Hans.

Patiently and kindly, they took him through what he had told

Weber the previous day. Hans had an excellent memory and was

able to recall more or less word for word what he had said. He stuck closely to the same script, venturing the odd extra detail but avoiding wholesale additions even when invited to provide more

information by Weber or his two lawyers. The three men each had

a copy of what seemed to be an identical document in front of

them, which they checked carefully at each stage.

Engel pressed him on the circumstances of his hearing what his

father and Schröder had said.

‘For the first part I was in the room,’ he said. ‘They simply forgot 194

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I was there. Herr Schröder was so keen to begin the discussion. I

went away then and returned later. That’s when I listened outside

the door.’

‘You would say that you heard the conversation clearly?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘And there were no other persons in the room? You could recog-

nize the two speakers quite clearly?’

‘Yes, sir.’

Engel pursed his thin lips. ‘So you are quoting the direct words of these two individuals?’

‘Yes.’

‘I want to ask you about your father’s response to what Herr

Schröder had to say,’ said Ziegler, the friendlier of the two. ‘Your father is a socialist, I understand.’

‘He calls himself a liberal, sir. I don’t know a lot about politics, but I think that means he is on the left?’

‘Indeed.’ Ziegler smiled at him. ‘Now, would you say your father

was happy with what Herr Schröder proposed?’

Weber looked sideways at Ziegler and cast a warning glance in

Hans’s direction.

‘No, not happy, sir. Not really. Of course I couldn’t see their faces.’

‘If I may interrupt for a moment, Herr Doktor Ziegler,’ said

Weber. ‘I’ve noted Hans’s impression that his father seemed shocked at the boldness of Herr Schröder’s statements. I believe you said,

Hans, if I’ve written it down correctly, that “whatever my father’s personal views he would not be disloyal to his country at a time of national crisis”. Do I have that correct?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘I ask,’ persisted Ziegler, ‘because it appears that for some reason Herr Schröder had the impression that your father would be passing his information on to third parties. Do you have any idea why

that might be the case?’

‘None at all, sir.’

‘Very well.’ Ziegler smiled again, and their business was all but

done.

Weber gathered together the three copies of the document they

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had been perusing and neatened the edges. It seemed to Hans a

rather feminine gesture.

‘This is a statement I had prepared for your signature, Hans. Read

it carefully. It is a legal document. Then, if you’re happy, please sign each copy.’

Hans took a moment or two to pretend to read the document. In

truth the adrenalin burst had robbed him of the ability to concen-

trate. Casually, he signed the three copies.

‘Well then,’ said Weber, addressing Engel and Ziegler, ‘you gen-

tlemen may wish to begin the process. I need to discuss some

practical details with Herr Taub.’

The two lawyers filed from the room.

‘Three days,’ said Weber. ‘That’s all I can guarantee you. There’s

a chance the process of drawing up warrants may take longer if I

drag my heels but three days is the maximum on which you can

count. You’ll need to be gone by then. After that it’ll be as if our agreement never existed. In the meantime, if your parents are

arrested for reasons outside the bounds of our agreement, the same

applies. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘I’ve spoken with Herr Professor Wolff. Later today he will do as

we discussed.’

‘Thank you, sir.’

‘And your parents will need exit visas. They’ll have to obtain them through Herr Professor Wolff. I’ll brief him what to say. I can do

nothing about foreign entry visas. I’m assuming your father has

contacts abroad who can supply whatever is required . . .’

‘I suppose so, sir.’

Weber’s mood lightened somewhat. ‘Then all that remains is our

written contract.’ He took a single sheet from his pocket and looked at it for a moment before handing it to Hans to sign. Hans did so