Greg Iles - The Spandau Phoenix

not-inconsiderable gifts as crown governor of the Bahamas.

Which alternative do you think they would choose, Heydrich? Which would

you choose? An empty-headed child, or the strong hand of a man trained

to rule? How important will Windsor's romantic follies seem in the face

of England's greatest peril?"

Heydrich shifted uncomfortably. "I ... I'm not sure the English view

these things as we do, my Fuhrer."

"Rubbish! And what does it matter? Windsor would only be the window

dressing! The real power of England is in Downing Street! That is

where the change must be made!"

Heydrich sensed that Hitler had finally come to the point of this

meeting. "But how is this change to be made, my FuhrerT' he asked

softly.

Hitler's eyes flickered. "Ruthlessly, Heydrich' ' as all acts of war

must be. On the tenth of May, Winston Churchill is going to die.

And with him King George the Sixth. When that happens, Britain will

hold its breath, headless for a few moments of history. And through

that brief window, we shall snatch the prize we want-peace in the west.

Then Russia will be ours for the taking, and Guderian's panzers will

roll!"

Heydrich cracked his boot heels together and stood rigid before his

master.

"Have you been struck dumbt' Hitler asked, his very posture a challenge.

"No, my Fuhrer. It's simply that ... the scope and genius of your

concept have shocked me."

Hitler nodded. "I understand. Few men think as I do, with a mind

unfettered by the restraints of so-called 'civilized'

SPANDAU PHDENIX

war. Such a concept is ludicrous, a blatant contradictior terms.

But I'm sure you're wondering exactly how deaths of these two men will

gain us peace from the English."

Heydrich nodded, though he was actually wondering how the deaths of

those men could be accomplished.

. "It's quite simple," Hitler explained. "When the new prime minister

takes Churchill's place, his government will be mine. Or at least

sympathetic to my ideas. Don't look so surprised. Like Haushofer and

others, I too know of certain Englishmen who want peace.

However, the men I speak of are Then of deeds, not words. They

understand my true aims, that my primary goal is to expand eastward-not

into Britain. They know that Adolf Hitler is the hammer that will crush

world communism!"

Heydrich stepped back from the raw force of Hitler's zeal.

"The British Empire was not forged by men who whined at the sight of a

little blood, Heydrich. The English understand that to create, one must

first destroy. That out of death comes life!" Hitler wiped his brow-

"So YOu see -- -" Heydrich did see. He saw that Hitler-from

Machiavellian genius or sheer desperation-had decided to extend the

tactics of terror, which had served him so well during the Party's early

expansion, into the realm of international policy.

Heydrich also saw that this decision would immeasurably raise his value

to Hitler vis-A-vis purely military officers.

Where another man might recognize imminent disaster, Heydrich saw

opportunity. hands together, "be "So, " Hitler concluded, bringing his

ginning now, you will devote all your energies to devising a method by

which Winston Churchill and George the Sixth can be liquidated. Three

limits must define your plan. First, your mission cannot be

accomplished in such a way as to incriminate Germany or the National

Socialist Party. Second, you will conduct all inquiries involved in

your t)lanning in in such a way that neither Reichsfiihrer Hi mler,

Admiral Canaris, nor any other member of the High Command becomes aware

of your mission. And finally, the mission must be carried out on the

tenth of May-the glorious anniversary of our historic westward

invasion!"

Heydrich blanched. The Fuhrer had just placed restrictions on the

operation that would make success all but impossible. Even if a bolt of

lightning were to strike down Churchill and the king in Trafalgar

Square, accusing fingers would still point to Germany. Yet despite this

grim truth, Heydrich elected to keep silent. He had seen what happened

to men who protested to Adolf Hitler that his orders were impossible.

"Am I to understand, my Fuhrer, that I am to assassinate these men?"

Hitler exploded. "Were you not listening? The thought of making

Winston Churchill a martyr turns my stomach, but alive he hounds me like

the devil incarnate. I want him dead! The king too!"

Heydrich's mind reeled at the implications of this order. If what the

Fuhrer said about Nazi sympathizers in England was true, the plan could

actually work. But what were the odds of that? The terror bombin of

London and other population centers had hardened Britain's will to

adamant; the reports of all his agents confirmed this. Could there

really still be Englishmen who feared Stalin more than they feared

Hitler? Men to whom profits meant more than national honor?

Men to whom a guarantee of safety from Adolf Mtler was worth more than a

pr-e-war Deutschemark?

"Do not think I labor under any illusions," Hitler said, almost

telepathically. "The English have no love for me, or for things German.

But they understand me, Heydrich. I represent absolute power

concentrated in the head of the state, and the English respect that.

Their industlialists and nobles fear Stalin and his hordes far more than

my policies.

Communism-power seized by millions of fanatical workers who cannot wait

to tear down the ivied walls of traditionthat is like the plague to the

English, the Black Death come again!"

A sharp knock on the bedroom door halted Hitler in midstream.

Martin Bormann opened the door and stood there stubbornly, ignoring

Heydrich. "You asked me to inform you when the generals finished their

dinner, my Fuhrer."

"So I did, Bormann, thank you. Dismissed."

Bormann reluctantly closed the door. Hitler folded his arms and peered

closely at Heydrich. "Do you foresee difficulties, Herr

Obergruppenftihrer?"

"None, my Fuhrer," Heydrich replied automatically.

Hitler raised his chin and smiled. "That is why I selected you for this

mission. The word impossible is one you never learned. If my generals

had the same attitude, we would be in Moscow by now."

Heydrich inclined his head briefly.

"I am going you give you a name, Heydrich. You will never repeat it.

You will never write it down. This is t e Englishman you may contact if

there is vital information you cannot obtain by any other means.

Churchill's likely. whereabouts, such matters as that. His name is

Robert Stanton@' "Lord Granville?" Heydrich ejaculated. He reddened.

"I apologize for the interruption, my Fuhrer, but "But he is the last

man you would have guessed to betray his king?" Hitler smiled wickedly.

"That is good. Just remember, you will never use his name@nly his code

name.

Lord Granville is Mordred."

While Heydrich's brain raced, Hitler said, "I'll go downstairs first.

You follow in a few minutes. I don't want MY generals to know of our

meeting. On the eleventh of May I shall present them with afait

accompli, just as I did with my 1939 pact with Stalin. That should

stiffen their resolve when they cross into Russia!"

,It should indeed, my Fuhrer!"

"The operation must take place on t'he tenth of May, Heydrich.

Other wheels are already in motion. When your plan is ready, call

Bormann and say the word Mordred- He'll set up another meeting."