Greg Iles - The Spandau Phoenix

Abschnitt 53, the call that had started, all the madness. Luhr was the

man who had gouged the Star of David into Erhard Weiss's chest. His

presence here, five thousand miles from Germany, compounded Hans's sense

of dislocation.

Smuts released Hans. "Step back from the window," he, commanded.

Hans didn't move.

"Step back!"

When Hans refused, Smuts gave another hand signal. The Zulu handed the

leash chain to Luhr, then reached down an lifted the tire high into the

air. As it hung suspended like a black halo over Ilse's head, amber

liquid sloshed out of it onto her hair. With a sadistic grin the Zulu

jerked the tire savagely down around Ilse's torso, pinning her arms to

her sides.

Smuts spoke from behind Hans. "Are you familiar with the 'necklace,'

Sergeant? It's a local native specialty. They fill an old tire with

gasoline, pin the victim's arms to his sides with the tire-thus the term

'necklace'-then they set the gasoline afire. The results are quite

ghastly, even to a , man of my wide experience. A human torch running

about Blind with rage, Hans hurled himself backward and hammered his

elbow into Smuts's chest. Then he whirled, lowered his head like a

bull, and drove the Afrikaner back toward the heavy door. The sudden

attack startled Smuts, but as the Afrikaner backpedaled toward the wood,

he bucked his knee into Hans's ribs-an upward blow so sharp and quick

that Hans did not even realize what had hit him. He went down gasping.

When he looked up, Smuts was standing across the room, arms folded,

glaring at him.

"Let her go!" Hans begged. "What has she done to you?"

"Where is Captain Hauer, Sergeant?"

Hans staggered to his feet and went to the window. Ilse's face had

taken on an ashen pallor. She had recognized the smell of gasoline, and

with it the terrible danger. She swayed -slightly on her feet. Luhr

jabbed his pistol at her. Behind Hans, Smuts lifted his hand yet again.

Grinning, Luhr reached into his pocket, withdrew a cigarette lighter,

and flicked it alight. He held the flame less than a meter from Ilse,

his arm stretched to its limit in case the gasoline vapor should

accidentally ignite.

"Don't make me do it, Sergeant," Smuts said into Hans's ear.

"Why give Lieutenant Luhr the enjoyment at your expense?"

"You fucking animal! Hauer's at the hotel!"

"Which hotel?"

"The Bronberrick Motel! Now let her go!"

Smuts raised his hand once more, and Luhr, his face red with anger and

disappointment, snapped his cigarette lighter ;hut. The Zulu shoved

roughly down on the tire until it lropped at Ilse's feet, then he led

her away.

like a dying chicken-"

"Let's go, Sergeant," said Smuts, pulling Hans toward the door.

"You've got a telephone call to make."

326 pm. Room 604. The Protea Hot Hotel

"I ought to shoot you!" Hauer growled. "You senile idiot!"

"Steady, Captain," Professor Natterman urged. "I told you I meant to

get here one way or another."

Hauer's mind reeled. How could he have been so stupid as to leave

Natterman holding a shotgun on the forger in Wolfsburg? The professor

had probably gotten the false passport names before he and Hans had

driven a mile from the cabin!

"Are you alone?" Hauer asked sharply.

Natterman's eyes flicked to the door. "Please don't overreact, Captain.

I was in no position to get here on my own."

"Who is with you?"

"Another old man like me. He's a Jew."

Hauer whirled around toward the foyer and covered the door with his

pistol. "Where is he?"

"Is Hans with you?" Natterman asked.

"Where is this Jew?"

Hauer's question was answered by a deep, unfamiliar voice. "I am

standing alone in the washroom," it said.

Hauer dived into the space between the bed and the bathroom wall,

clutching his Walther to his chest.

"I'm unarmed, Captain," said the voice.

"Shut up! Stay where you are!" Hauer jabbed his pistol at the

professor. "You too, damn you. Don't move."

Natterman snorted. "You're being ridiculous, Captain.

Herr Stern is harmless."

"You couldn't stay away, could you?" Hauer thought furiously for

several seconds. "All right!" he called finally.

"You in the toilet-walk out slowly- with your hands over your head! I

won't hesitate to shoot!"

"Can I put on the light?"

"No!" Hauer lay pr-one in the'space between the beds with only his head

and his gun hand exposed. When the tall silhouette appeared in the dim

foyer, Hauer trained his Walther on the man's head. "Start talking," he

growled. "And keep your hands up."

"My name is Jonas Stern," said the tall shadow. "I assure you that I

mean you no hartn, Captain. I suspect that my interest in this case is

similar to your own, and I would like to discuss it with you."

"Who do you work for?"

"For myself. But to give you a frame of reference, my native country is

Israel." Stern paused. "May I switch on the light now?"

"The bathroom light. That's enough to talk by."

Fluorescent light flickered from the small cubicle. The fixture buzzed

softly. Stern stood squarely in the pool of light so that Hauer would

feel at ease, but Hauer kept his Walther trained on him anyway.

As -the silhouette took on human features, Hauer noted the tanned,

angular face with its quick, piercing eyes.

"Captain Hauer," said Stern, "would you mind telling me where Sergeant

Apfel is now?"

"I'd rather find out how you arrived on my doorstep."

Stern's eyes met Hauer's with steady assurance. "Frankly, that would be

a waste of time. Suffice to say that I have been involved in this

situation since the first night at Spandau. I'm sure the most important

detail from your perspective is that I have the three missing Spandau

pages in my possession."

Hauer felt his heart stutter. So you're the one. You slashed that

Afrikaner's throat like a suckling pig. "You still haven't explained

your interest in this matter."

Stern sighed. "We're all concerned for the girl, Captain, let's have

that said. But I suspect that your interest, like mine, runs a bit

deeper than simple kidnapping. To the safety and future of Germany,

perhaps?"

Hauer waited.

"I am a Jew, Captain. An Israeli. I believe that the men who want

these Spandau papers pose a very serious threat to my country.

They may pose a different but equally perilous danger to democratic

Germany- I have come to root these men out."

"How do you propose to find them?"

"With your help."

Hauer shook his head in amazement. "You expect me to drag the two of

you along with me? Is that what you think?"

Stern smiled. "I do bring certain assets to the game."

Hauer raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Such as?"

"Superior intelligence experience. The professor tells me that you have

counterterror training, Captain. That is of limited value under the

circumstances. We're not dealing with the Red Army Faction here. This

is the 'big league,' as the Americans say. I've fought in the secret

world for many years. I can keep you from making some very serious

mistakes."

Hauer shook his head. "I don't think your experience offsets your age.

This is a hostage situation. Speed and reflexes will be critical."

Stern suppressed his anger. "If you see this as rely a hostage

situation, you are fatally mistaken. We are at the edge of a web of

intrigue spun fifty years ago, a web that has grown more complex with

each passing year. Ilse Apfel is but a speck of dust trapped inside