Chapter 22 Chapter Twenty Two

As soon as Pug told Rhoda that he was going to Stoller's house for the weekend, Rhoda hugged him and kissed him.He made no mention of Stöller's role in Fred Flynn's alleged Jewish robbery.He thought it wasn't exactly a matter of looting, but a legalized expropriation, which was of course very abhorrent, but such was life in Nazi Germany.There was no need for Rhoda to be as disturbed by this as he was, since he accepted Stöller's invitation mainly so that she could have a good time. The chauffeur sent by Stöller drove past the colonnade of the Abendidot's entrance, stopped at a back door to let them out, and a maid led them up two flights of narrow servants' stairs.Pug was a little suspicious that the Germans had deliberately insulted him.But the bedroom and sitting-room which were prepared for them were large and richly furnished, with a beautiful view of the snow-covered lawn, fir-woods, winding river, and thatched huts; two servants came in to help them Change clothes; the mystery of the back stairs is solved when they go to dinner.Abendreu's curved front staircase is two stories high, with balustrades of red marble.The entire staircase is now covered with a smooth plank slide.Guests in black banquet attire stood at the edge, the men laughed and the women giggled and screamed.Downstairs there were other guests standing with Stöller, watching a beautifully dressed man and woman slide down the stairs.She laughed hysterically as her green silk dress ripped from her gartered upper thighs.

"Oh my God, Pug, it's killing me!!" Rhoda giggled. "That's okay! I'm barely wearing anything underneath! Why don't I say hello to the girl!" But of course she slid down, screaming, both happy and embarrassed, her shapely thighs showing to the lace She slid to the bottom of the ladder amid cheers and congratulations, flushed and laughing, greeted by the host couple and introduced to the other weekend guests.Victor Henry thought to himself, this is an effective way to invigorate the atmosphere, maybe a little rough, the Germans are good at coming up with such ideas.

When he woke up the next day, he found that a green leather hunting suit had been prepared for him, as well as a hat with feathers, belt and short sword, all complete.All kinds of people took part in the hunt: in addition to officers of the Air Force and Wehrmacht, there were bankers, the director of an electric power plant, and a famous actor.Pug was the only foreigner.The merry crowd beckoned him enthusiastically to join them in some romp and banter, and then the hunting began in earnest.Pug liked to shoot ducks, but deer had never interested him.Also hunting together was General Armin von Roon.Pug and the hook-nosed general trailed behind, and the general said it hurt him to see deer hunted.This meeting, Long talked more than the previous meeting.It was cloudy and cold in the forest, and he, like everyone else, had just had a Schneippe.They first talked about the United States. It turned out that Long had attended the U.S. Army Military Academy.Then the general talked about the Polish campaign and the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact.Oddly enough, he called that treaty a disaster, since none of Stalin's profits cost a single shot.He is very familiar with the situation on the battlefield.Victor Henry believed his assessment of Hitler was objective and honest.Long expressed unabashed disdain for Nazi ideology and the Nazi Party itself.But he defended Hitler as the leader of Germany confidently. Just as he was speaking, there was a burst of gunshots and noisy voices nearby, and they caught up with everyone.A dead fawn lay in the blood-stained snow, surrounded by people.Then there is a ceremony: the horn is blown, and a small fir branch is inserted into the mouth of the dead deer along the bloody tongue.Henry and the general got separated, Henry went to see him before dinner, and regretfully learned that he had been recalled to Berlin.

①A spirit similar to Dutch gin. After dinner, a string quartet played Beethoven in the milk-gold French-style concert hall.A buxom soprano sang Schubert.With the exception of Pug, the guests listened intently, and some were in tears as the ballad was sung.Rhoda felt refreshed, and she was a regular at concerts in Washington.She sat smiling, whispering expert comments after a song.The concert is over and the dancing begins.One by one the Germans danced with her.On the dance floor, she kept throwing appreciative twinkles at her husband until Stoller took him to the study with him.Dr. Knopman, the actor and director of the power plant, was sitting in his study drinking brandy.

All weekend, so far, Pug hadn't heard a single question about the war from anyone.The conversation didn't go beyond small talk, business or art. "Ah, here comes Colonel Henry," said the actor in a thick, sonorous voice. "There is no better question than to ask him, and we will let him answer the question." The actor, with his gray beard and thick hair, was The kind that plays kings, generals, and old men who love young women.Pug had seen his famous performance of "King Lear" at the Grand Theater.He was purple in the face now, with a stiff collar round his neck, and a starched shirt that was buttoned up very tightly.

"It's a question that may have stumped him," Dr. Knopman said. "Don't talk about the war, don't talk about this," Stöller said. "This weekend is dedicated to entertaining everyone." "Never mind," said Pug, taking the brandy and sitting in a leather chair. "What's the problem?" "I make illusions for a living," the actor said, in a booming voice. "I think creating illusions should be limited to the stage. I just said that hoping that the US will watch the UK fall and ignore it is completely an illusion."

"Well, don't talk about that," said the banker. Dr. Knopmann, with his round face and blinking eyes, was a bit like the captain of the cruise ship "Bremen", but much shorter and fatter.He said: "I don't think it's 1917. The Americans took chestnuts for Britain and what did they get? Absolutely ungrateful. The Americans will accept a fait accompli. They are realists. Normalize, and we'll have a hundred years of stable Atlantic peace." "What's your opinion, Colonel Henry?" asked the actor. "That question may never happen. You've got to beat Britain first."

None of the three were happy to hear this."Well, I think we can assume that's a sure thing -- as long as the U.S. doesn't get involved. That's the whole bone of contention," the actor said. "Your president doesn't try to hide his sympathy for Britain," Stöller said. "Is that true, Victor? His ancestry is British and Dutch, and it's only natural for him to take that attitude. But don't you think the people are against him?" , or, at least, opinions are widely divided?" "There are differences of opinion, but America is a strange country, Dr. Stoller, and opinions can change quickly. No one should ever forget that when dealing with us."

The Germans exchanged glances."Changes in public opinion are not going to happen spontaneously, there are manipulations out there," Dr Knopman said. "This is a very sensitive issue," said Stöller. "Even the Field Marshal doesn't quite believe me on this point. He's a very practical man. Germans, if they haven't crossed the ocean to America, don't think much of it." Some of the circumstances are impossible to comprehend, and I regret to say, the same for the Führer. I don't think he really understands how much power American Jews wield. This is an extremely critical factor in the war situation. "

"Don't exaggerate this factor," Henry said, "you people always like this, it's tantamount to lying to yourself." "My dear Henry, I have been to America nine times and lived in San Francisco for a year. Who is your treasury secretary? The Jew Morgan Tow. Who is the president of your supreme court who exerts the greatest influence? It is the Jew Frankfort." He began to read a long list of Jewish officials serving in Washington, all the same corny material repeated in Nazi propaganda, and Pug was bored.He repeated their usual claim that the Jews controlled America's finances, transportation, judiciary, and even the presidency.Stöller puts all this forward calmly and cheerfully.He kept saying der jude, der jude

①, without sarcasm.Pug often noticed that when Rhoda argued with anti-Semitic rhetoric, the other party often looked displeased, but there was no such look in Stoller's eyes.The banker stated his opinion as if he were reading the stock market quotes of the day. ① German: Jewish, Jewish. "First," replied Pug, feeling a little weary, "in our country the Treasury Secretary has very little power. The position is a minor political bonus. All the other cabinet ministers are Christian. The treasury rests with the Bank, Insurance companies, oil, railroads, lumber, shipping, steel, and automobiles, all of which are in the hands of Christians, and always have been." "Lehman was a banker," Dr. Knopman said. "Yes, he's a banker. There are exceptions to everything," Pug replied calmly, in the same stock-quote fashion: newspapers, magazines, and publishing houses were almost entirely in Christian hands; Congress, Cabinet Eight of the nine Supreme Court justices are Christian, so is Harry Hopkins in the all-important White House, and so on.The Germans listening to him all smiled at this time.Whenever the Jews are mentioned, the average German has a peculiar smirk on his face.It was a condescending, humorous sneer, as if it was a very secret inside joke that only senior people could know. Stöller said in a mild tone: "You know, saying that the status of the Jews is not very important is the argument that the Jews often spread." "Do you want to suggest that we take away their businesses and turn them into objek-te?" ① German: Goods.As mentioned above, this is a jargon in the German business circles, referring to Jewish companies that are cornered. Stoller looked surprised, then laughed, not angry at all. "Victor, you know more about the situation than many Americans. It's a very good idea for the health of your economy, and sooner or later you'll take that step." "Is it your point," said the actor earnestly, "that the Jewish question really has no bearing on whether America enters the war?" "I didn't say that. Americans reacted very strongly to the phenomenon of injustice and Jewish suffering." The strange smiles appeared on the faces of the three of them again.Knopman said, "And what about your Negroes in the South?" Pug paused. "It's not good, but it's improving and we're not using barbed wire to enclose them." The actor whispered: "That's a political punishment. A law-abiding Jew doesn't go to a concentration camp." Stöller lit a large cigar, looked at the match and said, "Victor is very diplomatic. But his social connections are fine. One person who stands out is Florida Congressman Ike Larry." Gu Qiu. He fought an uphill battle against amending the Neutrality Act." He cast a sly glance at Pug, and added, "He's related to you, isn't he?" ① Ike is Isaac's nickname. Pug didn't expect him to ask this, but he said calmly: "You are very well informed. Not everyone knows about this matter." Stoller smiled. "The Marshal knew about it. He told me. He admired Lacouture. Why isn't the dance music playing? Oh, when is it? What? It's all over." It's half past one?There's some supper, gentlemen, but there's nothing to eat—" He stood up, puffing on his cigar. "Victor, the American Jews are making the biggest mistake if they drag America into the war.Ragucho was their friend, and they wished they would listen to him.You know what the Führer said in his January speech - if they start another world war it will be the end of them.He meant it very seriously, you can believe it. " Pug realized he was dealing with a granite head, but had to retort."Peace or war is not up to the Jews," said Pug. "And you have a clear misunderstanding about Ragucho." "I misunderstood him? But my dear Colonel, what do you think of the British guarantee to Poland? It is politically and strategically foolish, if not insane. All it does is to make The participation of two great powers against Germany on the small issue of Danzig is what the Jews would have liked. Churchill was a notorious Zionist. All this is shown in the lines of Ragucho's last speech That's clear. I tell you that a man like him might still be able to restore the peace, and thus save the Jews from that terrible fate that they seem to have decided to inflict on themselves. All right. Come on—go get an omelet and a glass of champagne, will you?" Victor Henry left the embassy early on Christmas Eve to walk home.The weather looks like it's about to change, but he needs some fresh air and exercise.Christmas in Berlin is miserable.There was little good news about the war in the dull newspapers.The Germans were not too happy about the Russian attack on Finland.The store windows are filled with colorful utensils, clothes, toys, wine and food, but people are hurrying along the cold windy streets with sad faces.The sky was so dark that they didn't even look at the tempting exhibits in the windows.None of these items are actually for sale.While Pug was still walking, it was getting dark and a blackout had begun.He heard muffled Christmas carols coming from behind the curtains.He could imagine Berliners celebrating Christmas: in dimly lit rooms, in overcoats, sitting around a fir tree hung with glowing metal bars, drinking ale, eating potatoes and salted mackerel.During Abendrew's visit, the Henrys almost forgot about the war and the worst scarcity, perhaps not yet in full swing.For Wolf Stoller, he lacks nothing. Under Rhoda's repeated urging, he accepted the invitation to visit Abendru again in January, although he himself did not feel that the place was very interesting.Especially after seeing the leaders of the National Socialist Party at Villa Kerin, he increasingly regarded the Germans as an enemy he would fight one day, and it made him feel hypocritical to ask him to pretend to be friendly with them.But in Stole's villa, there are indeed opportunities to obtain various information.Pug sent home a five-page report on his conversation with General von Roon alone.If he pretended to agree with Ike Ragucho in his heart--Stoller already believed it because he subjectively wanted it--it would increase his chances of getting information, which would mean lying and publishing. What he considers harmful views and abuses of hospitality extended to him--serving the country, what a shame it is to have to!If Stöller was playing tricks with him, a U.S. naval attache, he had to take the risk.While thinking, Victor Henry strode forward. It started to rain, and the rain and snow hit his face, making him almost unable to open his eyes.At this moment, a stooped figure came out of the darkness, approached him, and touched his arm. "Is that Colonel Henry?" "Who are you?" "Rosenthal. The house you live in now is mine." They were walking around a corner, and in the blue street light, Pug saw that the Jew was much thinner than before;He was very bent, and his previous calm and confident demeanor disappeared, and he looked embarrassed and sick.The change is shocking.Pug held out his hand and said, "Oh, it's you, hello!" "Forgive me. My wife and I will soon be deported to Poland. At least we have heard rumors of this, and we want to prepare in advance, just in case. We can't take our things with us, so I want to ask you Among those things in my house with Mrs. Henry, are you willing to buy anything? You can buy any one you want. The price must be fair. " Pug had also heard all kinds of inaccurate rumors that the Jews of Berlin would be transported by boat in large numbers to settle in the newly established Polish Jewish settlement.One theory is that conditions in these ghettos were pretty bad, another that they were hell on earth.Talking to someone who was threatened by such a dark and elusive fate made Pug uneasy. "You have a factory here," he said. "Can't someone from your place look after the property for you until things improve?" "The truth is, I've already sold it, so there's no one left." Rosenthal turned up the lapels of his battered jacket to keep out the piercing hail and wind. "Did you sell to Banker Stole?" The Jew had a look of surprise and timid suspicion on his face. "You understand the situation? Yes, it was sold to Stoller Bank. The price set for me is very fair. Very fair." The Jew was a little more courageous and gave Henry an ironic look.But this income will be used for other things.My wife and I live in Poland more comfortably if we have some cash on hand.Money is always useful.So maybe a rug, tableware or some china would work for you? " "You come and talk to my wife. It's all up to her. Maybe you can have dinner with us." Rosenthal smiled miserably. "I'm afraid not, but I appreciate your kindness." Pug nodded, remembering the servants the Secret Service had placed for him. "Mr. Rosenthal, I must repeat to you what we said when we rented your house: I don't want to take advantage of your misfortune." "Colonel Henry, I hope you can buy me something. This is the greatest help to me and my wife." Rosenthal put a business card in his hand and disappeared into the blackout darkness.When Pug got home, Rhoda was dressing for a dinner at the agent's, so there was no chance to talk to her about the shopping. The embassy Christmas dinner was passable, though not as rich as the Abendreu banquet.Almost all the Americans who stayed in Berlin came and drank eggnog.After chatting for a while, they all gathered at three long tables to eat together. There were roast goose, pumpkin pie, fruit, cheese, cakes, etc., all imported from Denmark. Without the embassy's import privileges, they couldn't buy these things.The food is rare so rich, and the guests are all in high spirits.Victor Henry was also delighted to be back among the Americans, talking to them, with unbridled cheerfulness and heartfelt laughter.No fake smiles, no polite bows or two heels snapping to attention, no more European blinking eyes, flashlight-signaling smiles on women . ①A drink made from egg flower, sugar, milk and wine. But there was a dispute with Rhoda.At the end of the table he heard her yelling at Fred Flynn, who was smoking his corncob pipe and watching her.Pug called out, "Hello, what's the matter, Fred?" "Pug, the Wolf Storers are the loveliest people your wife has ever met." "I said they were the friendliest Germans," Rhoda screamed. "It's true. You're blindly prejudiced." "Rhoda, I think it's time for you to return home," Flynn said. "What do you mean?" she asked, interrupting him.The voice was still very loud, and Rhoda drank too much in Abendelo, and it seemed that he drank a lot this evening.Her gestures became more and more rough, her eyes were half closed, and her voice was a little hoarse. "I said, boy, if you think people like Wolf Stoller and his wife are friendly, next time you should believe that Hitler is only trying to reunite the German people by peaceful means. Then, you You need to go back to the United States to live for a while, eat American food and read the "New York Times." "All I know is that Germans are not monsters with horns and tails," said Rhoda, "but just like ordinary people, no matter how they go astray. Excuse me, do any of your German ladies show themselves in bed?" The original monster, dear?" There was a sudden silence at this savage mockery.Although Flynn was ugly, tall, with a long face, curly hair, and a slender red nose, he was an upright man, an idealist, full of absolute liberal thoughts.Reactions to injustice and political hypocrisy are overwhelming.But he also has weaknesses.He once seduced the wife of a friend with whom he had co-written a best-selling book on the Spanish Civil War, and had recently placed the woman in London with a little girl.Now, according to rumors, he was hooking up with every German woman he could get his hands on, and even some American wives.Rhoda once half-seriously told Pug that she and Fred were having a little trouble dancing.Still, Fred Flynn was a well-known and capable radio commentator.He hated the Nazis, which made it difficult for him to report on conditions in Germany fairly and objectively.The German Propaganda Ministry understands this.Most of what Americans heard about Nazi Germany in a state of war came from Fehling's radio. Victor Henry broke the silence by saying, as graciously as possible: "Rhoda, If bad guys had horns on their heads or hair on their palms or something else, it would be easy in this country. " "Wolf Stoler's hands are stained with blood, a lot of blood," Flynn said provocatively, borrowing some alcohol, "He pretended nothing happened, Pug, and you and Rhoda also pretended nothing happened, so that It encourages this kind of color-blind tendency of not distinguishing between black and white, right and wrong." "It's Pug's job to associate with a man like Stoller," said the chargé d'affaires at the head, mildly. "I propose that no discussion of Germans be allowed tonight." Colonel Forrest rubbed the side of his nose, which was his habit, to show that he couldn't help but also want to participate in the debate, although his round face still looked calm.He said in a heavily nasal voice: "I say, Fred, I just happen to think that Hitler just wanted Central Europe to be a German sphere of influence, to be reorganized as peacefully as possible, and if the Allies agree to his demands , he will stop the war. Do you think I should go home too?" Flynn exhaled a stream of blue smoke and took another long draw that made the pipe glow red. "What's going on, Peel?" "It was a campaign document written by a thirty-year-old man in a fever," replied the army attache impatiently. "Written in prison eighteen years ago. Now he is the head of state. His actions have never Nothing beyond his reach, all about wresting the southern half of Russia and turning it into a German granary. This is the fantasia of the old Viennese coffeehouses, long gone forever with the German-Soviet treaty Tossed out of the blue. Of course it's not good to mess with Jews like that, but he's a man with a legacy of poor tactics that he used to conduct himself, including, unfortunately, anti-Semitism. It wasn't his invention. Long before he was born , anti-Semitism has gained prominence in Germany." "You're right, it's time for you to go home," Ferrin said, taking a sip of the Mosel wine. "And what do you think?" asked the military attache, imitating the voice of the announcer, who was now visibly annoyed. "Adolf Hitler, the maniac who painted houses, is now out to conquer the world?" "Of course it is, Peel. Hitler's revolution, like the French and Russian revolutions, is directionless." Flynn shouted, flicking his corncob pipe angrily. "It's like those revolutions. It rolls on like crazy. If you don't stop it, it will push forward and expand forever. Of course, he is willing to move forward in a peaceful way whenever he can. Why not? Wherever he goes , there is always a crowd of leading figures, or rather traitors, to welcome him. There are many such people in Poland. You know, there are parties in Germany and England that are ready to cooperate with him at this time. He stepped up his offensive on the front line, drove out those in power, and brought up those in opposition. He threw a few bones to Stalin in the Baltic Sea, and in exchange for Stalin to obediently provide him with all the Russian oil and wheat he needed. " Flying waved his smoking pipe as if in a drama, and continued: "From the current development situation, by 1942, you will see such a world: Germany controls the industry of Europe, the Soviet Union Raw materials and British and French navies. Well, just a proper general sneezes and the French fleet will go over to Hitler tomorrow. He will make a deal with Japan on the exploitation of Asia and the East Indies and the domination of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Next What? The organizational network of the dictatorship in South America has long been in the hands of the Nazis, so there is no need to say more. Peel, of course you know that the U.S. Army now has more than 200,000 people, but Congress still intends to reduce it." "That, of course, I object to," said Colonel Forrest. "Dare I say it! A bloody new dark age threatens to swallow the world, and Congress is cutting the military!" "Your imagination is very interesting," the chargé d'affaires smiled, "it's just too mysterious." Rhoda Henry raised her wine glass and giggled loudly. "God bless! I've never heard such absurd nonsense. It's time for you to go home, Fred. Merry Christmas to you." Fred Flynn blushed.He looked around the table. "Pug Henry, I like you, and I want to go for a walk now." When the announcer left the table and strode away, the chargé d'affaires stood up and hurried after him, but did not bring him back.Henry and his wife went home early.Henry gave Rhoda an arm as they left, because she was too drunk to straighten her knees. The incoming Navy mail contained a list of personnel transfers throughout the Navy.Most of the newly commissioned Navy captains moved to new jobs.Some served as the deputy captain of the battleship, some served as the captain of the cruiser, and some served as the chief of staff of the commander of the sea fleet.But there was no transfer of Victor Henry.He stood at the window gazing out at Hitler's Führer's Palace and SS men in black uniforms stood like statues, letting the snow pile up on their helmets and shoulders.Suddenly, he felt he had had enough.He told the clerk not to disturb him, and then wrote three letters. The first letter was to Stoller, expressing regret that he and Rhoda could not go to Abendru as guests due to temporary business.The second letter was written to the Personnel Bureau, two very formal paragraphs, requesting to be transferred to a maritime position.The third, addressed to Vice Admiral Priber, was a long letter, handwritten.In the letter Pug confided his distaste for his current job and expressed his desire to return to sea.He concluded by writing: I have been trained to fight at sea for twenty-five years.General, I am suffering now, and perhaps for this reason, my wife is also suffering now, she is in Berlin.This is a hell of a place.It's not about the Navy, but it's important to me.If service to the Navy can be counted at all in my life's career, the only payment I now ask and beg is a transfer to sea duty. A few days later, another letter came from the White House, written in rough italics in a thick black pencil, and the postmark date showed that his letter had not yet been received when it was written. Pug: Your report is really good and very helpful for me to understand the situation.Hitler was a very strange man, wasn't he?Everyone has a different impression of him.I'm glad you're still in your current post, and I've passed this opinion to the Chief of Naval Operations.He said you wanted to come back for the wedding in May.This can be arranged.If you can spare time, don't forget to come to my place. Roosevelt Victor Henry bought two oriental rugs at Rosenthal's asking price, and a set of English porcelain that Rhoda particularly liked.His main purpose was to cheer Rhoda up, and it worked.For weeks Rhoda admired these things with satisfaction, and kept saying that she was ashamed that the poor Jew kept thanking her.And it is true.Pug then wrote Stöller another letter saying that he and Rhoda were willing to go to Abendru again if the invitation was still valid.He decided that if his mission was to gather intelligence, he'd better do it.In addition, the moral gap between him and Stoller seems to have narrowed.Although Rosenthal expressed his gratitude for the transaction pathetically, what he bought was objekte after all.