Chapter 21 Chapter 21

Rhoda Henry was so angry when she greeted her husband who had just returned that he wondered if she might be sick or something. She was in a bad mood when he left.Everything seemed exasperatingly bad to her.Autumn in Berlin is disgusting, life is also disgusting, she is bored to the core, the efficiency of Germans is a myth, and people here don't understand anything What should be done, and what is service and honesty.She was "sick" again, an old ailment that could not be cured. When she was in a bad mood before, it was pain in one arm and back, and this time it was pain behind one ear.She worried it was cancer, but now that all the good things in life were over, it didn't matter if she got cancer or not.In the past, Rhoda could always recover after being in a bad mood a few times, and would become especially gentle and lovely with guilt.When Pug left Berlin suddenly for Rome, he had hoped to see her better when he returned, but she was in a worse mood.

She wants to go to Kailin Villa with him.While he was away, a staff officer of the Luftwaffe sent an invitation card, with engraved gold lettering on thick creamy yellow paper, which said Lieutenant Colonel Victor Henry was invited.Pug hadn't been home ten minutes before she took out the invitation and asked why she wasn't invited.She said that if he left her at home and he went alone to the banquet given by the Goerings at the Kailin Villa, she would never be ashamed in Berlin. Pug could not divulge that he was there only as an assistant to an international banker on a secret national mission.Nor could he lead her into the snowy garden and comfort her with explicit hints.It was almost midnight, and she was indeed very beautiful in a blue-gray pajamas.

"Listen, Rhoda, take my word for it, all of this is for safety's sake." "Well, for safety's sake! Whenever you want to have your own way, you'll bring it out." "I'd rather take you with me, you know that." "Don't just talk, call the protocol officer of the Luftwaffe tomorrow. If you are embarrassed, I will call." Pug was talking to her in the study, flipping through a pile of letters.He put down the letter, stared at his wife coldly for a while, and asked, "Are you feeling unwell?" "I'm sick of it, or it'd be nice. What's the matter?"

"Have you taken the blood-enriching pill?" "Yes, but I don't need medicine, I just need to go somewhere to relax. Maybe I should get drunk." "You can't call the Air Ministry! I hope you understand that." Rhoda grunted bitterly, and sat aside with her lips pursed. "Oh, there's a letter from that Kirby guy. What did he say?" "You read it for yourself. The letter is as dry as anyone else's. It's all about how happy he is to be home, how fun it is to ski near Denver, how he thanks us for our hospitality, three full pages of nonsense." Pug didn't read the letter. The wife tossed it into some unimportant pile of letters.

"Honestly, Pug, you're a very interesting character. You've got everything planned, and you've been predictable. Every time you've come home for twenty-five years, you've always read your letter first. You What to expect? A love letter from your former lover?" He smiled and pushed the letter aside. "You're right, let's have something to drink, let's have a couple of glasses first. You look stunning." "Not pretty at all. That goddamn barber baked my hair into burritos again. I'm tired. I've been waiting for you to come back and want to talk to you, but you're two hours late."

"Had a little trouble at passport control." "I know. Well, I'm about to go to bed, and since Kalyn's villa can't be made, there's nothing to talk about. I even bought a very bright and chic dress. I was going to show it to you, and now let it go to hell Go ahead. I'm going to send it back." "Don't quit, maybe you will need it soon." "Oh? Waiting for Goring's second invitation?" She went out without waiting for an answer. Pug celebrated the news of his promotion by mixing two whiskey sodas.When he went upstairs, he found that she had turned off the light—a customary and unpleasant signal to a husband.He would love to spend the night with his wife.In addition, he also kept the meeting with Natalie Jastrow as a bedside conversation material.Now he had to drink both glasses of whiskey by himself and sleep on the sofa in the study.

The next day he heard news that made him happy.The German authorities announced that the Graf Spee had heroically sunk herself after her historic victory, and that its commander subsequently committed suicide with a pistol in a hotel room, showing noble spirit.He had heard from BBC broadcasts that in fact three British warships of much lighter rank had beaten the German frigate in a pitched sea battle, badly damaged her, and barely made it back to port, Then he blew himself up.The German people did not hear a word of this, and were therefore perplexed by the news that the victorious pocket battleship was about to sink itself.The Nazi propagandists didn't even bother to explain. They just fabricated the news of the great victory in the air battle to cover it up. They made a big claim that twenty-five British bombers were shot down over Heligeland.Pug knew he would seldom see Count Ciano again, but he wanted to talk to him about the Count Spee again.

Later, when Rhoda found out that Pug had been promoted, her depression disappeared instantly.She also no longer mentioned Kailin Villa.She started treating him like she was on a honeymoon and they were happy for a week or so.He told how he met Natalie Jastrow, and she listened with interest, but also with chills."It seems like our only hope is for her to figure it out and get rid of Braney," she said. Villa Kailin is like a Federal Correctional Institute built in the style of a hunting palace. It is located in a game reserve, about two hours away from Berlin by car. Wood.The road that leads here from the highway passes through a bulky electrically controlled gate, through a reinforced concrete fence covered in jagged icicles, and finally through two rows of airmen standing face to face with machine guns in hand. Sentinels, steaming from their mouths as they yelled for passwords.As soon as the car turned a corner, I caught a glimpse of the magnificent wooden and stone structure building.A frightened, wide-eyed deer leaped across the road.The wildly involuntary smile on the San Francisco banker's face was gone, his lips were pursed, his soft brown Italian eyes were wide open like the deer's, looking this way and that.

In the vaulted domed banquet hall, crowded with a dazzling crowd Uniformed Nazis and white-shouldered women—some of them cute, others thick and fat, but all richly dressed and covered in jewels.Adolf Hitler was also in the crowd, playing with Goering's little girl.A string orchestra played softly Mozart in one corner of the vast marble-paved hall, unobtrusively.Rough logs burned in the fireplace, whose triangular stone walls soared high into the roof.The large carved table that runs the length of the room is filled with rich food that has not been used yet.The air was full of heavy smells: wood-burning smoke, cigar smoke, barbecue, French perfume.A happy, high-spirited crowd of German dignitaries, some laughing, some whispering, some clapping their hands.When Hitler picked up the beautiful little girl in white, talked to her, and teased her with a piece of cake, their eyes lit up at their leader in his usual gray-green military jacket and black trousers.Göring and his curvy wife stood by, smiling with tender parental pride.Both of them were splendidly dressed in evening gowns and jewels, the men more splendid than the women.Suddenly, the little girl kissed the Führer's big pale nose, and he laughed and gave her the cake.There was a burst of cheers from the audience, everyone applauded, and the women wiped their tears.

"What a führer," said the Air Force officer accompanying the two Americans.he He was a short, dark-faced pilot.He wears the "Condor Corps" ① cross inlaid with diamonds. "Oh, if only he could marry! He loves children." ① During the Spanish Civil War, Germany assisted Franco's air force. Pug Henry also found Hitler attractive, for example: the slightly shy smile he gave when he thanked the applause; he shrugged enviously when he patted Goering on the shoulder, and he congratulated those luckier than himself like any other bachelor.Hitler at this time had a naive, almost sympathetic charm.

The Goerings accompanied Hitler to the food table, and everyone flocked there.Servants in gold and blue uniforms lined up, arranged golden tables and chairs, served food and wine to the guests, and bowed repeatedly.The Air Force officer sat Pug and Giannari with a banker named Wolf Stoller.Stoller greeted the American financier like an old acquaintance.He was a slender Teuton man in his fifties, with light tawny hair lying flat on his head.His wife was a graying beauty, with clear blue eyes that shone like the great diamonds that adorned her neck, fingers, and ears. It so happened that Victor Henry had just written a short report on Stöller, so he knew a lot about him. Stöller's bank was the main channel through which Goering made his fortune.He specializes in acquiring "objekte". The word "objckte" is German business jargon for businesses owned by Jews who have been cornered. Henry was just beginning to understand the strange Germany of 1939.At that time, they emphasized the legality of plundering Jews, but rarely used public confiscation or violent expropriation. Instead, they issued a set of legal provisions from 1936 onwards, making it difficult for Jews to actually do business. The various rulings handed down month after month are making it harder for them to do business.Jewish businesses received no import or export permits or raw materials; their access to railroads and shipping was limited system.The situation became more and more difficult, and finally there was no other way but to betray.The market for this "objekte" boomed, with many smart upper-class Germans vying to be the first Afraid to pay a high price for acquisition.Wolf Stoller’s approach is to find and unite all buyers who are interested in “objekte” and propose a very low and only purchase price. The choice faced by the owner is: accept or go bankrupt, There is no other way out.Stöller and his gang then divided the enterprise into shares.Through Göring, Stöller had access to the files of the secret police, so he was always the first to see that an important Jewish business was failing, such as those in steel, metal, banking and textiles that everyone coveted. For large enterprises, Goering himself bought them all or occupied a relatively large share of them.In addition to a commission, the Stöller Bank received its own share in the "objekte". All this was told to Pug by the American radio commentator in Berlin, Fred Fehling.It took him a lot of effort to find out.Flynn told Pug these things with anger, especially since he couldn't broadcast them.The Germans said that all reports of unfair treatment of Jews in Germany were propaganda paid for by the Allies.They also said that the laws concerning the Jews were enacted only to limit this minority to no more than their fair share of the German economy. Pug deliberately put aside the Jewish question in order to concentrate on understanding the military situation, which was his task.Except during the shopping hours set aside for Jews, they were hardly seen in Berlin.When shopping, they are pale and worried, just crowded the store, and disappeared in a blink of an eye.The oppression of the Jews was not apparent on the surface.Pug had never even seen the outside of a concentration camp.He had noticed anti-Semitic signs on the benches or in the dining room, and seen Wretched, pale-faced, worried wretches were dragged off trains or planes, and occasionally shattered windows and dilapidated, burnt-out synagogues were seen.Once he also saw such a unfortunate thing: a man was beaten bloody in the zoo by three youths in the uniform of the Hitler Youth League, his wife cried and screamed, but two policemen stood Laughing on the side.But Fehling's case was his first glimpse into the nature of German anti-Semitism.In Felling's view, its real purpose is to plunder, which is abominable, but at least it makes sense.Pug felt sick when Wolf Stöller bowed politely and held out his hand, but of course he shook hands anyway, and soon sat down to eat, drinking Moselle wine. , Rislin and champagne. Stoller was an earnest and shrewd German, in every respect like the hundreds of other Germans Victor Henry encountered in the military, industry, and socially.He speaks good English and has a bold and earnest expression.He told some clever jokes and dared to make fun of Goering's obesity and his stage-like uniform.He expressed his deep affection for the United States (he especially likes San Francisco), and expressed regret and frustration that the relationship between the United States and Germany has not improved.Couldn't he, he said, do a little bit to improve relations between the two countries by inviting the Giannari and Henrys to his country house for a weekend?His villa is certainly not as good as that of Kailin, but he promises that you will like the company he invites.Colonel Henry might be lucky enough to kill a deer, and game is not part of the meat ration.Mrs. Henry might like some venison too!The banker's wife touched Pug's hand with her cool white finger with the jeweled ring, and narrowed her blue eyes slightly as an invitation.She had heard that Mrs. Henry was the most graceful and beautiful lady at the American Embassy, ​​and she had always wanted to see her. Giannari declined, and he was leaving for his country early tomorrow morning.Considering his work, Victor Henry should have accepted the invitation, because part of his task was to penetrate the circle of influential upper-class people in Germany.He really didn't want to see Stöller again, but then it occurred to him that this was an opportunity for Rhoda to enjoy the joy she complained of losing.The good and bad faces of the Germans do not tell, and it is also possible that Stoller served Goering under duress, although his wife benefited from it, so she was able to wear diamonds.Pug said he was going, and an exchange of glances between the Storers convinced him that the invitation was by no means accidental, and that they clearly intended to make his acquaintance. Stoller led the two Americans around the Kailin Villa. Every time Pug saw the magnificent scenes of the Nazis, he always had the impression of a Hollywood set, and this time it was the same.No matter how grand and solid the structure, no matter how high the roof, no matter how exquisite the decoration, no matter how precious the works of art, it always feels like a fleeting fake scene.The corridors and rooms in Villa Kaelin seem endless.A dozen glass cases displayed objects of solid gold studded with precious stones: vases, crosses, sceptres, swords, busts, sceptres, medals, books, globes, etc. A gift from the government on the marshal's birthday, marriage, childbirth and when the "Condor Corps" returns from Spain.The walls are covered with famous paintings of Italian and Dutch masters from the 13th to the 17th centuries, as well as some nude paintings by contemporary painters approved by the Nazis that have no artistic value and can only be used for commercial advertisements.The other parlors were empty, but as large and ornate as the banqueting hall, with tapestries and banners on the wooden walls, and statues and jeweled armor on display.But all of these can be seen as Hollywood sets made of cardboard and canvas, and even the delicacies displayed on the banquet table look very much like the banquet scene directed by Cecil B. de Miller, roast pig The pink flesh inside also resembles the wax and plaster used to make set models.But Victor Henry knew very well that what he saw was a large amount of treasure, and most of it was stolen through Stoller.Moral reasons aside, Pug was disappointed by the vulgarity of the building's design, since Göring was said to be of a well-born family.Even Luigi Giannari's words of praise sounded distinctly ironic. The Air Force officer wearing the Diamond Cross found them and muttered something to Stöller. "Oh, what a pity, you must go now," said the German banker, "you have not yet seen the wonder of the villa. Colonel Henry, everything will be arranged in my office to fetch you and your dear." Madame is coming to Abendru on Friday, but I'm afraid you'll think it's a bad place after you've been here, so we'll call you tomorrow." Stoller accompanied the two Americans through some rooms and corridors, and stopped in front of the wooden light black double doors, which were covered with carvings of hunting scenes.He pushed open the door, and inside was a log cabin with antlers, stuffed animal heads, and animal skins hanging on the wood and plaster walls, and the air was filled with the strong stale smell of dead animals.Sitting on either side of the roaring fire were Ribbentrop and Goering. Hitler was not in the room.A long rough table and two benches took up most of the floor.It occurred to Pug at once that this must be the principal room of the original hunting house around which the Marshal had built this banal, palatial structure.This is the center of Kailin Villa. Apart from the glowing red fire, the space is dark and cold. Goering leaned lazily on the couch, raising one leg in a thick white leather boot.He sipped his coffee from a small gold cup out of gold service on a low carved marble table.Diamond rings protrude from three of his five fingers holding the cup.He nodded and smiled kindly at Giannari.Ribbentrop looked up at the ceiling and folded his hands on his stomach.After the German banker introduced Victor Henry, he walked out the door. "The Führer gives you seven full minutes to talk about your business," Ribbentrop said in German.Giannari stammered: "Your Excellency, please allow me to answer in English. I am here in a private capacity and I consider it a special courtesy to my country and the President of Russia to give me so much time." Ribbentrop sat there with his eyes fixed on the ceiling, his face expressionless.When Victor Henry saw this situation, he translated it no matter whether it was needed or not.Without waiting for him to finish speaking, the foreign minister interrupted him with a standard Oxford accent: "I understand English." Goering said to Giannari: "Welcome to Villa Kailin, Lu Ji. I have wanted to invite you several times. But this time you came from afar, and the meeting you got was very short." "Marshal, I want to say," the banker replied in broken German, "I've seen that millions of dollars have been settled in a few minutes' meetings, and that world peace is worth any effort, no matter what the prospects look like." How hopeless." "I totally agree with you," Göring gestured, and they sat down in chairs near him. Ribbentrop grabbed the armrest of the chair, closed his eyes, and suddenly said loudly in German like a cannonball: "This peculiar visit is another deliberate insult by your president to the head of state of Germany. Who has ever heard of it?" Send only an ordinary citizen as an envoy in such a matter? Civilized nations use diplomatic agencies. It is not that Germany is willing to withdraw its ambassador to the United States, but the United States is the first to show hostility. The United States allows the boycott of Germany at home Goods, allowing a campaign of hatred against the German people. The US has amended its so-called 'neutrality laws' to openly favor the aggressor side of the conflict. Germany did not declare war on Britain and France, they declared war on Germany. " The Foreign Minister stopped talking and sat with closed eyes, motionless on his long-jawed, thin face, with a few locks of graying blond hair hanging over it.The California banker looked first at Goering, then at Victor Henry, visibly surprised.Göring poured himself some more coffee. Victor Henry went to great lengths to translate the foreign minister's long and furious words into English.Ribbentrop did not correct or interrupt him. Giannari was about to speak when Ribbentrop cried out again: "What does this clumsy attitude serve but another deliberate provocation? It shows once again your president's respect for a man with eighty million dollars. The contempt of the leader of the people's power, which is very dangerous." Giannari waved Henry a trembling hand to show that he understood him, and said, "I would like to answer with great respect—" Ribbentrop opened and closed his bright blue eyes and said in a higher voice: "The Führer is still willing to listen to you under these circumstances, which proves his desire for peace, which will one day It will go down in the history books. That is the only value of this strange meeting." Goring asked the banker in a milder but unfriendly tone: "What is your purpose here, Lu Ji?" "Marshal, I am an unofficial emissary sent by the President of our country to the Führer. I have a question to put to him at the direction of the President. It does not take much time to ask and to answer it. But thank God it did can lead to results of lasting historical significance." Victor Henry translated his words into German. "What's the question?" Goering asked. The banker's face turned a little yellow. "Marshal, by order of our President, the question is addressed to the Führer," he said in German, his voice a little hoarse. "It's up to the Führer to answer," said Goering, "but, obviously, we'll hear it anyway. What's the problem?" He raised his voice, looking at the banker. Avoiding Göring's lazy, stern eyes, Giannari licked his lips and said to Henry: "Colonel, I ask you to confirm to the Generalissimo what instructions I have been given." Victor Henry was quickly assessing the situation, including signs that his body might be in danger. This feeling was like a shadow hanging over his heart after entering the fence of Kailin Villa.Although the big man Goering looks very kind from the outside, he is actually a sinister, vicious and brutal guy.The inviolability of diplomats would not do much to protect them here, if this ugly fat man with his rouged face, thin red lips, and small jeweled hands tried to hurt them.But Pug judged his talk to be nothing more than cat and mouse, trying to pass the time.He translated the banker's answer into German under Göring's staring eyes, and added: "I testify that the President's instructions were to put the question directly to the Fuehrer, Just like Mr. Giannari's il duce to the head of state's friend in Italy ①As I did, I was there at the time, and il duce gave him a satisfactory answer. " "We all know this," Ribbentrop said, "and we also know what your question is." Goring winked at Henry, and the tense atmosphere eased.The banker wiped his forehead with his finger.There was silence for about a minute.At this moment Adolf Hitler came in through a side door hung with a tiger skin, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. ① Italian: leader (referring to Mussolini). Göring and Ribbentrop, like the two Americans, stood up quickly and pretended to be very respectful.Goering changed from the comfortable couch to another chair and sat down. Hitler sat where Goering had been sitting, made a gesture of letting go, and did not shake hands with the guests.Seen from such a close distance, the Führer looks healthy and calm, although his eyes are a little swollen and his body is too fat.The black hair on the temples is cut very short, just like ordinary soldiers.Apart from the famous moustache, he was ordinary-looking, like any little man of fifty or so who walked the streets of a German city.Compared with the appearance of ordinary people like him, the outfits of the two Nazis looked particularly ridiculous and uncoordinated.His gray jacket, in which he wore only the Iron Cross on the left breast, was in sharp contrast to Ribbentrop's dark blue uniform with gold trim and the bright colors, colorful gems and medals on the Air Marshal's body. .He folded his hands on his lap and gave the two Americans a serious look. "Luci Giannari, American banker. Colonel Victor Henry, American Naval Attaché in Berlin," Ribbentrop said sarcastically, suggesting that the two visitors were of little importance. figure. "My head of state, they are unofficial emissaries sent by the President of the United States." The banker gave a dry cough, first tried a few words in German to express his gratitude for the meeting, then hastily expressed his apologies, and switched to English.When Henry was translating, the Führer kept his eyes on the banker, constantly changing his sitting posture on the chair, crossing his feet for a while, and laying them flat for a while.Giannari repeated the set of opening remarks he had given to Mussolini about world peace, and then asked the Führer about Sumner Wells.As soon as he finished speaking in English, Ribbentrop smiled contemptuously.After Henry translated into German, Hitler and Goering glanced at each other.The Führer's attitude was very cold. Goering shrugged his shoulders, waved his jeweled hand, and shook his head, as if to say: "It really is this question, it's unbelievable!" Hitler thought silently, his deep gray-blue eyes stared straight into the distance, he smiled wryly, his mustache and small mouth moved.He began to say calmly in German with a clear Bavarian accent: "Mr. Giannari, it seems that your esteemed President has an unusual sense of responsibility for the current course of world history as a whole, and this sense of responsibility is especially manifested in the United States alone among the major powers." Did not join the League of Nations; your Congress and people have repeatedly shown that you do not want to be involved in foreign disputes. "In the speech I mainly addressed to your President on April 29, I admitted that your country's population is more than twice that of our small country, the living space is more than fourteen times larger, and the mineral resources are incomparably abundant. Perhaps that is why your President feels he has to give me a fatherly warning from time to time. Of course, I have devoted my life to the revival of our people, and I can only see everything from this narrow perspective." Victor Henry tried his best to translate, feeling his heart pounding and his mouth dry. Hitler now began to babble about the history of the Rhineland, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland.They explained the situation in great detail and seemed to be enjoying it, waving their hands slowly and speaking in a more relaxed tone.His reasons are well-known and old-fashioned.Only when it came to the British guarantee to Poland did he raise his voice and use sharp words.British guarantees, he said, had encouraged a cruel reactionary regime to adopt brutal measures against its German minorities, in the false belief that it was safe to do so.This is how wars happen.Since then, Britain and France have contemptuously rejected his proposals for a peaceful settlement and disarmament time and time again.Together, Britain and France control three-fifths of the habitable land on the earth, and nearly half of the earth's population. As the head of a country, what else is there besides arming his country to resist these two military empires? What about other ways? He went on to say that Germany's political aims are simple, open, modest and not prepared to change.Five centuries before Columbus discovered the American continent, there was a Germanic empire in central Europe, whose boundaries were largely determined by geographical conditions and population growth.The heartland of Europe was constantly at war as many powerful nations attempted to dismember the German people.Often their attempts are temporarily successful.But the German nation, with its strong instinct for survival and development, regrouped again and again and broke the encirclement and shackles of foreign countries.In this part of the conversation, Hitler mentioned Bismarck, Napoleon, Frederick the Great, the War of the Spanish Succession, and the Thirty Years' War. Victor Henry was not very clear about these, and he tried to translate them word for word.The Treaty of Versailles, the Führer said, was only the latest attempt by foreign countries to dismember the German heartland.Since this treaty was historically irrational and unfair, it is now dead.The Rhineland is German, so is Austria, the Sudetenland, Danzig and the Corridor are all German.The artificial monster of Czechoslovakia, which had been like a spear to the heart of Germany, had once again become the traditional protectorate of Bohemia of the German Empire.The process of returning to normalcy in Germany is now complete.He did this almost without bloodshed.All this could have been done peacefully without the absurd British assurances; the Danzig and Corridor issues were practically settled this past July.Even now there are no substantive problems that stand in the way of a lasting peace.As long as the other party recognizes the status quo in Central Europe and returns the German colonies.The German Empire, like other modern powers, had a natural right to raw materials from underdeveloped continents. What impressed Victor Henry most was Hitler's unwavering attitude, his apparent belief that justice was on his side, his wide-ranging view of history, and his demeanor that he thought he was the embodiment of the German nation... what" Therefore I return the Rhineland to the German Empire...Therefore I return Austria to its historical affiliation...Therefore I normalize the situation on the Bohemian Plateau..." etc.He assumed the air of a raving demagogue at party meetings only because he thought the Germans needed such a mass icon.He gave a deep sense of his personal power which Colonel Henry had seen only in two or three generals.As for the way he was portrayed in the press—as a rug-biting, hysterical Charlie Chaplin-like politician—Pug now felt that it was a distortion of him by small-minded people, a distortion that had Lead the world into disaster. "I, too, like the president, want peace," said Hitler, who now began gesticulating as he did in his speech, though not as much.His eyes brightened up strangely, and Henry thought he might be hallucinating, but they seemed to emit a strange light. "I long for peace. I fought four years at the front as a common soldier. And he, as a man of high birth and wealth, had the honor of sitting in Washington's office as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. I know what war is. Fate gave My mission is to build, not to destroy, who knows how many years I have left to complete my task of building? But the British and French leaders demanded the destruction of 'Hitlerism' (he said the foreign word with contempt and sarcasm) , as the price of peace. I can also say that I can understand why they hate me. I have made Germany strong again, which is not to their liking. But if this hatred continues, it will definitely make Europe suffer, because I am the same as the German people. Indivisible, we are one. This is a simple truth, but for the British, I am afraid it will take a big test to prove it. I believe that Germany has the power to emerge victorious in the end. If not, we will sink together, and the historic Europe as we know it will cease to exist." He paused for a moment, his face darkened, and suddenly he raised his voice: "How can they ignore reality like this? In 1937 I achieved equal status in the Air Force. Since then, I have never stopped making airplanes, airplanes." , planes, submarines, submarines, submarines!" he screamed, clenching his fists and waving his stiff, outstretched arms. "I piled up bombs, bombs, bombs, tanks, tanks, tanks as high as mountains! It was a waste and a heavy burden on my people. But how did the great powers ever know another language ？我是因为感到自己的力量才提出和平的。我被拒绝了并且受到蔑视。他们提出要我的脑袋作为和平的代价。德国人民对这种可怜的荒谬要求只觉得非常可笑！” 当他祈祷似地高声喊叫“飞机……炸弹……潜艇”时，他的两个拳头一再抡到下面用力敲打地板，由于身子弯得很低，那绺著名的头发耷拉到脸上，这时看上去更象在新闻片中常见的那个街头宣传鼓动家的样子，而那红红的脸和尖叫的声音的确也还是那种疯狗似的形象。突然，富于戏剧性地，象一个乐队指挥一样，他又恢复了安静的有控制的声调。“让火的考验来临吧。我已经尽了最大的努力，在历史的审判面前，我是问心无愧的。” 希特勒沉默了一会，然后站起来，准备退出的样子。他的眼色愤怒而冷淡，嘴唇和口角向下弯着。 “我的元首，”戈林说，笨拙地站起来，长靴咯吱咯吱地响。“我的理解是，在您对现实情况作了如此清楚的阐述之后，如果总统坚持，您将不反对萨姆纳•威尔斯先生前来访问。”希特勒犹疑了一会，有些困惑，不耐烦地耸了耸肩说：“我不想用无礼对待无礼，也不想以不识大体对待不识大体。我愿为和平作出一切努力。但是在英国要摧毁我的愿望本身遭到摧毁之前，通向和平的道路只能通过德国的胜利获得。其他一切都无济于事。我将仍然诚心诚意地期待着对方在大规模毁灭爆发前一分钟表现出清醒的头脑。”他神色激动，也不向客人告别，就大踏步从雕刻着画面的双扇门走了出去。维克多•亨利看了看手表。元首花了一小时又十分钟和他们谈话。就亨利所知，罗斯福总统的问题并没有得到答复。他从吉阿纳里苍白而沮丧的脸上可以看出，后者得到的印象跟他一样。 戈林和里宾特洛甫相互看了一眼。胖子说：“罗斯福总统已得到了他所要的答复。元首认为威尔斯的出使不会带来什么希望，但是由于元首仍然寻求一项公正的和平，并不拒绝他前来。” “我不是这样理解，”里宾特洛甫说得很快，语调很生硬。 “元首认为他的出使无济于事。” “如果你要元首澄清一下，”戈林指着双扇门，用讽刺的口吻向他说：“去找他吧，我非常了解他，我认为我知道他是什么意思。”他又转向银行家，声音比较缓和地说：“在向你们总统报告这次会见情况时，告诉他是我说的，元首将不拒绝接见威尔斯，但元首认为不会带来什么希望——我也这样认为——除非英法放弃他们通过战争以除掉元首的目的，但这就象要搬掉白朗峰①一样不可能。如果他们坚持这样做，结果将是在西线发生可怕的战争，这场战争将在死亡几百万人后以德国获得胜利而结束。” ①阿尔卑斯山的最高峰。 “结果必然如此，”里宾特洛甫说，“恐怕，在萨姆纳先生整理文件和打点行装准备启程之前，事情就已经发生了。” 戈林两手挽着两个美国人的胳膊，突然变得和蔼可亲，使维克多•亨利想起万湖的那个侍者。他说：“你们不是马上要走吧？一会儿还有跳舞，多少吃点晚饭，然后还有从布拉格来的一些艺术舞蹈家的精彩表演。”他诙谐地转动眼睛表示留客。 “多谢阁下盛意款待，”吉阿纳里回答说。“但是有一架飞机正在柏林等着把我送到里斯本转乘飞剪型客机。” “那我只好不留你们了，但是你们一定要答应以后再来凯琳别墅，我送你们出去。” 里宾特洛甫站了起来，背向他们，望着炉火。当银行家犹豫地说了一声再见时，他咕噜了一声，耸起一只肩膀。两个美国人和戈林臂挽着臂沿着凯琳别墅的走廊走出去。这位空军部长身上散发出一种浓厚的洗澡油的味道。他用手轻轻拍了一下维克多•亨利的手腕说：“亨利上校，你到过斯维纳蒙台，看过我们生产潜艇的工厂。你对我们的潜艇计划有什么意见？” “阁下，你们工业水平很高，可以跟世界上任何国家相比。加上有象格罗克和普伦这样的军官，你们有了很完整的规模。你们的潜艇已经在大西洋取得了很不错的成绩。” “这仅仅是开始，”戈林说，“现在生产潜艇的速度就象生产香肠那样快。我怀疑是否所有这些潜艇都将有机会参加战斗。空军将很快决定这场战争。我希望你们的空军武官鲍威尔上校能够很准确地向你们总统报告德国空军的实力。我们对鲍威尔一直是很开放的，这是根据我的命令。” “当然，他已经作了报告，他所获得的印象是非常深刻的。” 帕格的话看来使戈林感到高兴。“我们从美国学了很多东西。特别是寇梯司①有很出色的设计师。我们曾经仔细研究了你们的海军俯冲轰炸机，并根据研究结果制成'斯杜加'。”他转向银行家，用简单的德文讲得很慢，询问了一些有关南美矿业公司的情况。这时他们正穿过一间空的舞厅，舞厅顶上悬挂着镀金的水晶玻璃大吊灯。他们踩在拼花地板上的脚步声泛起了空洞的回音，银行家从容他用德文回答，一紧张他就说不了德文。往正门走的一路上，他们都谈着关于财政的问题。在大厅内走动的客人们盯着夹在两个美国人之间的戈林。银行家脸上的那个老练世故的笑容又重新出现了，脸色也恢复了正常。 ①寇梯司原是美国最早的飞机设计师，这里指他所开设的飞机工厂。 外面正下着雪。戈林停在门道口和他们握手告别。吉阿纳里这时已经恢复过来，因此提出了维克多•亨利认为绝对重要的事。亨利正在考虑用什么方法向他暗示一下，银行家在雪花轻飘中一面跟空军部长握手，一面说：“阁下，我必须告诉总统，贵外交部不欢迎威尔斯的出使，并且申明元首也不欢迎。” 戈林收敛起笑容。“如果威尔斯来，元首将见他。这是正式意见。”这时一个空军军官把汽车开到门前，戈林仰头看了一眼天色，两个美国人一起穿过飞雪走到车前。“记住这一点。德国同所有国家一样，并不是所有人都要和平。但是我要。” 维克多•亨利几乎一夜未睡，写他的报告，以便由银行家带交总统。报告是手抄的，写得很乱。亨利先写事实经过，一直写到戈林在雪地里讲的最后一句话为止，最后写道： 关键问题当然是：第三帝国现在是否期待萨姆纳•威尔斯的和平使命。看来难以置信的是，会见了希特勒、戈林和里宾特洛甫以后，您的特使没有得到一个明确的答复。我相信希特勒将会接见萨姆纳•威尔斯，但是我认为这次出使不可能有什么结果，除非盟国想要改变主意，接受所谓“伸出和平之手”的那一套解决办法。 这三个人看来都不很重视我们这次会见。他们还有别的大事要考虑，根本不把我们两人放在眼里。我倾向于认为戈林是愿意举行这次会谈的，而希特勒刚认为，既然来到凯琳别墅，顺便见见也无妨。我感到他象很乐于把心中想法坦率地向两个将直接向您作报告的美国人谈谈。这三个人的表现都好象西线的进攻马上要开始了。我认为威尔斯来不来，他们根本不在乎。如果英国也象希特勒那样坚持自己的条件，春天就会发生一场全面战争。双方分歧过大，无法调和。 在我看来，戈林侈谈和平是另有打算的。这个人是第三帝国中最大的杀人魔王。他的外表很象马戏团里的畸形人，胖得的确令人作呕，却偏爱打扮，但是在他们那伙人中，他是最大的现实主义者，并且是众所公认的第二号人物。他从纳粹主义中获利甚大，得到的好处远比其他人要多。吉阿纳里先生无疑会向您描述凯琳别墅的样子。它很粗俗，但规模相当惊人。戈林尽管地位已经很高，他仍然可能很机灵地想到，好运总有走完的时候。如果进攻搞糟了，那时候这个一直高唱和平的人就会出来，一面为那垮台的元首流泪，一面很高兴能取而代之。 至于里宾特洛甫，总统先生，请原谅我的用语，只能用典型的德国混蛋这个词来形容他。他正是书上描写的那种狂妄自大、毫无教养、愚蠢、顽固和自以为是的人。我想这是他的本性。但是我也相信他反映了希特勒的想法。这是海军经常玩的那套老把戏：指挥官充当那道貌岸然的“老好人”，而副指挥官都是性情乖戾的，专门出面当恶人。希特勒毫无疑问憎恨您的勇气与决心，觉得您过多地干涉了他，跟他作对。他还觉得反抗美国是相当保险的，因为他知道舆论有分歧。所有这些想法，里宾特洛甫都用明确的语言代他表达了，而让他们的党魁去自由地扮演那宽宏大量的德国拿破仑和欧洲的救世主。 乘车离开凯琳别墅时，我感到好象刚从幻境中苏醒过来，开始想起有关希特勒的种种：他在一书中的狂言乱语，他如何一而再、再而三地背信食言，信口雌黄；是他发动了战争，进行对华沙的令人发指的轰炸以及对犹太人的迫害。当我在听他讲话并进行翻译时，我的确把这些都忘了。 面对着这样一个人，我竟然能够一时忘记这些事，这在一定程度上也说明他的能言善辩。他是一个很吸引人的演说家。我听过他在很大的群众场面上发出粗暴的战争叫嚣，但是当他和两个神经紧张的外国人在室内谈话时，由于需要，他却又可以做得象一个讲道理的、为人爱戴的世界领袖——人们说，当他愤怒时，讲话唾沫横飞。我们仅仅隐隐约约地看到了这一点。我完全相信他会这样。但是把他刻画为一个滑稽的疯子，则是失真的。他说到自己和德国人是一个整体时，好象有无比的信心。他知道这是事实。去掉他的胡子，他的外表象所有德国人揉成一个人一样。他不是贵族，不是企业家，也不是知识分子或其他什么，他就象一个街上的普通德国人，一个受到某种启发而有所领悟的德国人。理解希特勒和德国人民之间的这种关系是非常重要的。盟国当前的目的似乎是要把二者区分开来。我现在深信这是做不到的。不管怎么说，盟国仍然只有两个选择：或是向希特勒投降，或是打败德国人。一九三六年他们面临着同样选择，当时打败德国人本来是容易而有把握的事。迄今一切都没有变化，只不过德国人现在可能变得不可战胜了。 最上层人物之间的同床异梦的情况可能反映了纳粹体制的一个薄弱环节，但是即便如此，它也纯属内部政治问题，并不影响希特勒对德国人的控制，包括对戈林和里宾特洛甫的控制。当他进屋时，他们站了起来，并且表现出卑躬屈节的样子。 如果希特勒真是书报上给我们描绘的那个半疯半滑稽的匪徒，那么打赢这场战争是很容易的。因为指导一场战争需要头脑、坚定性、战略远见和手腕。对盟国来讲，不幸的是，他是一个很有能力的人。