Chapter 26 Chapter Twenty-Five

Werner.Baker had a problem. On his desk was a letter from Section B4, Division 4 of the German Central Security Bureau, asking him to report on the possibility of deporting Italian Jews to the East.Baker dealt with Mussolini's long-drawn-out bureaucracy for such delicate matters.He was, for example, transporting batches of Italian workers to German factories.Baker knew how to deal with Roman officials, those smiling, tactful fellows whose lifelong specialty was to paralyze active action with charisma, tedious paperwork, and perfunctory conversation.Every time the pressure was applied by the Italian secret police, the smiling, smooth guys would go into shock, stop smiling and slipping, straighten up straight, behave honestly, and do what they're asked to do.

Baker, however, was no miracle worker; he thought the plan against the Jews was impracticable, and that no Italian, not even Mussolini himself, could possibly cooperate in sending the Jews to their deaths.Even fanatical fascists found anti-Semitic laws ridiculous.Most Italians like Jews, or at least feel bad for them.So Baker resorted to the most appropriate elusive strategy: he wrote official documents to the relevant Italian authorities, raised questions, received perfunctory official replies, held official appointments with them, and conducted secret discussions that yielded nothing. , and write down the situation as a formal record.He sent a negative official statement to the German Central Security Bureau, and attached a dossier of all the negative responses from the Italians, and he believed that this matter would be over.

Unexpectedly, the SS lieutenant colonel in charge of the fourth B4 section sent a reply saying that he would come to Rome in person.Take a lieutenant colonel as an example. The tone of the letter from this man is too bossy.SS ranks were not at all the same as commissioned ranks in the real German army.The SS, formerly Hitler's Violent Action Group, has become a bloated private army of Nazi believers, which in Beck's eyes is just a false "distillation" of terrorists in the government police. —Although the SS reservist status has become a symbol of allegiance to the Nazis, and Beck himself is a reserve stormtrooper squadron leader.But this lieutenant-colonel Eckermann appears to be well off, for the ambassador then received a brief, stern letter from Heydrich, the SS general second in reputation only to Himmler. A top-secret letter, the letter said: "Everything will be done according to Lieutenant Colonel Aikman's intention." The trembling ambassador asked Baker to provide a detailed report on Lieutenant Colonel Aikman's fourth B4 department.This obliged Baker to describe the whole frustrating and incomprehensible tangled system of the security apparatus, the kind of inside story that even the most senior diplomatic personnel could not understand.

This is a messy establishment that controls the political world.The Fourth Division of the German Central Security Bureau was originally the earliest secret police, a spy organization trained by Goering from the Prussian police.Himmler and Heydrich of the SS recruited Gestapo personnel into the German Central Security Bureau, the bureaucracy that octopus-likely extended its tentacles into the office buildings of Berlin, combining the intelligence and police functions of both the government and the Nazi Party. integrate.Of all the state apparatus of the Nazis there was no worse hodgepodge.The Central Security Bureau was a mischievous, unlimited, all-encompassing institution, but it was clearly just what the party needed: a totalitarian secret police force, free from federal law and accountable only to Hitler.

Section B of the secret police was dedicated to dealing with "various sects".The fourth "denominational" is the Jewish people.The fourth branch B4 of the German Central Security Bureau thus became the agency of the secret police dealing with Jewish affairs.This Lieutenant Colonel Eckermann thus held the fate of all Jews in German-occupied Europe in his hands, as they were classified as a security issue.His tyrannical style became more understandable; he ruled from eight to ten million people over a territory larger than Sweden.Baker had a sort of creepy curiosity about him.

Eckermann arrived in Rome by car shortly after Heydrich was assassinated.Despite the scarcity of gasoline, he traveled all the way from Berlin by car.He met with the ambassador and Baker in the luxuriously furnished reception room of the ambassador's, and the first thing he said was that he never took a plane, it was too unreliable.During this meeting, the three of them just drank coffee and chatted casually.Lieutenant Colonel Eckermann, in spite of his conspicuous and forbidding black SS uniform with silver insignia, looked pleasant in his demeanor and gestures; , a lively, shrewd and capable, crisp look.But he lacks poise.He made a vulgar noise as he drank his coffee.The ambassador was a tall, rosy-faced, practical, elegant, elderly gentleman, a descendant of the Marshal; Be respectful, not the other way around.The ambassador assured Eckermann that everything in the embassy was at his disposal, and also asked Eckermann to convey his sincere condolences to the SS state leader Himmler on the unfortunate death of General Heydrich, and then he sent Lieutenant Colonel Give it to Werner.Baker went for it.

In Baker's office, Ekman was bossy again.He expressed blatant contempt for the passive reaction of Roman officials.Italians can't talk about serious things, he said, they can only put on airs and put on airs, and they don't understand Jewish issues at all.Although Italy has a government, this matter about the Jews will be handled by the Security Police and the Foreign Office.Because from the Führer’s point of view—and Eckermann said now and then, stretching out a forefinger with a pedantic air—the Jewish question was not limited by national borders.For example, there is a bubonic plague epidemic in Europe. If the bacteria are allowed to multiply beyond the invisible lines on the ground—the so-called national borders—how can the plague be eradicated?It was the Führer's unshakable intention to exterminate the Jews from the Continent.Dr. Baker, therefore, as political secretary in Rome, should have done a better job than just sending negative reports.

"But Italy is not an occupied country," Baker retorted blandly. "It is a sovereign country, and I don't need to point out, a formal military ally. And those Jews are still citizens of Italy." A smile of approval crept across Ekman's face, and his wide, thin mouth seemed wider.At the end of the day, Dr. Baker is a realist!True, in the capital of the occupied country, things are simpler.The German Central Security Bureau was able to install people in German embassies and take over the Jewish question.But doing so in Rome would sting Italians' sensitive sense of national pride.Because it's a tricky task, it's all the more vigorous.

He, Aikman, had come to give Baker guidelines.He had been dealing with various aspects of Jewish affairs long before the war broke out.With the exception of the Third Reich, no government fully understood the far-sighted policies of the Führer, said Eckermann, wagging his index finger like a schoolteacher.All other governments are confused by Christian or liberal ideas.Those governments would gladly restore the anti-Semitic laws that once existed in all the legal codes of Europe, purge the Jews of their countries from government, from professional positions, and from the high-end housing estates where they lived, and use taxes to deprive them of They don't have a penny.As for more drastic measures, some politicians have to think about it and hesitate.

Eckermann talked more and more vigorously, smoking cigarette after cigarette, and went on to say that Baker should remember one crucial step: the most important thing is to get Italy to hand over some Jews to Germany immediately, no matter how small in number and on what principles .Once the first step has been taken, the principle is established, the game is opened, and the phenomenon of defiance of German policy will gradually disappear.This is his experience more than once.For notwithstanding the heavy taxes, the Jews have always managed to preserve their property ably by one cunning or another.But once they're sent away, it's over!The wealth left behind can be confiscated.Once a government was able to be persuaded to hand over some Jews, and for the first time received a staggering amount of revenue from it, their attitudes usually turned fanatical.This happened one after another in one country after another.All the timid politicians need to figure out is how easy it is to do that, how their people don't really disapprove, how willingly the Jews obey, how indifferently the rest of the world looks on, and most importantly, How much profit can be gained from the wise policy of the Führer.

As an example, Aikman said he is currently negotiating a deal with Bulgaria.It was a bad system, a vacillating satellite country that could fall to any direction at any time.The German army made progress in the summer offensive before the Bulgarian king relented.Rommel's successive victories and his huge advance in Crimea finally made him really willing to negotiate a deal.The key to sweeping all Bulgarian Jews out was the small group of Bulgarian Jews now living in Germany.A quid pro quo is being fulfilled.Bulgaria would control all German Jews who fled there, and Germany would deal with Bulgarian Jews on Reich lands.In economic terms, the Bulgarians took advantage, but they formally acquiesced to basic German policies; they dumped Jewish Bulgarian citizens to the Germans.Victory has been achieved on this main issue.Italy, not much different from Bulgaria, is also a weak country, run by a band of volatile politicians.So Dr Baker could try the same. Eikman goes on to say that the problem is all about the current status of the various Jews.The native Jews now living in Italy will be the hardest to come by.It was easier for the Jewish diaspora, but they still had some kind of asylum.The Italian Jews living in Germany should be targeted first.The exact number of that lovely group was one hundred and eighteen, Eckerman said.He would send Dr. Baker a dossier on each of them, showing their place of birth, their current address in Germany, their age, their health, their main social affiliations, and a list of their possessions.Dr Baker should then ask the fascists to recommend the Bulgarian approach.And there is an excellent humanitarian argument Dr. Baker can make.If it was true that Germany's policy towards Jews was too harsh - though of course he should have denied it - the deal would only be good for the Jews, wouldn't it?There will be far more Jews freed from German control than there are at its disposal, for there are hundreds of German Jews in Italy.Eckermann added with the sly grin of a stingy bargaining businessman that Baker need not worry about the German Jews in Italy who were offered in exchange; they would always find their way in the end. All in all, Ekman says, opening the gap matters.Did Dr. Baker sleep with the little girl?That's the whole trick: start with soft coaxing, a whole slew of sweet words to get her swooning, and when the moment is right - hit it now!After doing it for the first time, it will be fine.This Italian Jew problem needs a coaxing diplomat to deal with.The Ministry of Labor enthusiastically recommended Dr. Baker, and state leader Himmler confidently awaited a positive outcome. The more clearly Eikman means, Werner.The more Baker felt disliked.He had heard enough of the whispers about the concentration camps in the East from insiders.Anti-Semites abound in the Foreign Office, all of them the trainees of Ribbentrop.The worst of them all was an undersecretary, inappropriately named Martin.Luther was the leader of a top-secret group called Germany, which dealt with Jewish affairs.Once at a banquet in Berlin, Beck had a conversation with this vulgar drunk.Luther did not know how much he drank, and with a gloating smile, blinked, and covered his mouth with his hands, he automatically revealed that the Jews were finally "beating their asses hard" in the concentration camps in the East, just as the Fuehrer predicted.Among the higher class Germans this subject is avoided.Werner.Baker never asked anyone for details of this kind, and tried not to think about the whole misfortune.His younger brother in the army hadn't said anything about it these days either. In front of him, this little-known official has round shoulders and a long, thin face.With a pointed nose like a fox, a high bald forehead, quick movements, wearing a black military uniform that makes him pale as an office man, he is urging him to jump into this muddy pond automatically and sink deeply in it.As a seasoned diplomat and Ph.D. in history, one thing Baker could never forget: All wars end, and postwar reckoning can be troublesome.He was a little uneasy about his own part in recruiting Italian laborers.It bothers him that he has rejected a large number of appeals that reflect the hardships of the situation.War is war, and orders are orders, but it is outrageous to deal with the Jews like this. He intended to nip the matter in the bud by saying bluntly: "Let me point out a fact. When recruiting labor, I had to put the destination, wages and working conditions on the bond clearly." "Of course, but those are Italians. These are Jews." The tone of voice embarrassed Baker, because Eckerman seemed to say, "These are horses." "The officials in Rome still treat them as Italian citizens. They will ask me where the one hundred and eighteen Jews will resettle, what they will do there, and what conditions they will live in. I will have to write a Foreign Office The official reply is in the file." "Excellent!" Ekman shrugged and smiled, showing no sign of being impressed. "Write it however you like. What's that nonsense?" Baker gasped, but he managed to hold himself back.He was used to the vulgarity of the Nazis and had to put up with it. "That's not how the foreign service works, you know. We're very pragmatic when it comes to labor issues. We speak with reason. That's why we got such a smooth outcome." The two stared at each other.Lieutenant Colonel Aikman's expression suddenly changed.All the lines of his face stiffened a little, and there was a strange, bewildered look in his small eyes. "If you like," he said in a low, sarcastic voice that came from his hollow chest, "I'd be happy to tell you exactly where those Jews are going, according to orders from the Führer himself, and they How will it be arranged. Then, you decide what story to write to the Italians." The man's eyes were unfocused.Behind his shiny spectacles it looked as if two black holes were gaping, and in those holes Werner.Dr. Baker saw horror, visions of mountains of dead bodies.Neither of them said a word, but the moment of silence made the political secretary understand what had become of the deported Jews.It's frustrating to have to face a situation like this.A chill ran down his spine and he had to grab at straws. "Be sure to let the ambassador know." "Ah, I understand what you mean." The expression on the long livid face softened.Eckerman said in a warm, humorous voice: "He's one of those old, backward bastards who give us trouble, isn't he? Oh, and the Foreign Minister's going to talk to him himself. It'll fix him." Keep your mouth shut, I promise you, he'll be too honest to fart. He won't dare to say 'yuck' to Ribbentrop." Ekman sighed happily and shook his index finger. "I'm telling you, you can count on a big promotion if you just get this thing done. Have you got some brandy in the office, man? I drove two hundred miles in the car this morning and I haven't had breakfast yet." Werner brought a bottle of wine and two wine glasses, and he was thinking quickly while pouring the wine. "He shouldn't even look like he agrees; otherwise, if he doesn't deliver someone, he'll be in trouble. The Italians won't budge on the Jewish question; he's sure of that. They might The Jews rounded up the camps, abused them, and so on; but handed them over, deported them—that couldn't be done. They clinked glasses, drank, and he said, "Well, I'll try.But it depends on what the Italians say.I have no idea.No one can do anything, unless we occupy Italy. " "Is that so? You can't help it." Ekman rudely handed over the empty wine glass as if he were treating a waiter.Baker filled his glass again.The lieutenant colonel drank another glass and folded his hands on his stomach. "I'm asking you now," he said, "to explain Jastrow's situation." "What about Jastrow?" Baker stammered. "You were in Siena, Dr. Baker, and detained a stateless Jew named Ellen. Jastrow, sixty-five, a well-known writer from America, with a niece and her Children. You've seen them. You've written them. You've called them. Haven't you?" Beck, of course, had repeatedly drawn upon his connections with the German secret police in dealing with the Jastrow issue.He knew that must be Aikman's source.He has always been public and public, and there is nothing to be afraid of.The Lieutenant Colonel's sudden change of attitude, displaying an astonishing memory for details, was simply a way of surprising him.Eckermann, sitting upright now, scrunching his face with suspicion, was the living specimen of a malevolent secret police officer. Baker looked as nonchalant as possible, explaining that he intended to have Ellen.What is Jastrow doing. Eckerman shook a cigarette from a pack of cigarettes, put it in his mouth, and said: "But Dr. Baker, it's all very confusing. You talk about the poet Ezra. Pound and he gave Rome Radio Made shortwave broadcasts. It's good material, very good. The Propaganda Department recorded and used these broadcasts. But the poet Ezra Pound was a rare man, a very learned American anti-Semite. He beat Jewish bankers And Roosevelt's ass, better than our own short-wave radio. How can you compare this man named Jastrow? Jastrow is a pure-blood Jew." "Ezra Pound's broadcasts don't work for American listeners. Take my word for it. I know America. He must be seen there as a traitor or a lunatic. I've got Jastrow... " "We know you went to school in America. We also know that Jastrow was your teacher." Baker felt that he was wasting his words—his ideas were beyond the comprehension of an SS officer's mind—but he had to go on talking.What he hopes, he says, is "a visionary and forgiving sublime broadcast or series of broadcasts that speak of the Germans and Japanese as dispossessed, misunderstood proud peoples, and the Allies as It is the rich man who hoards the wealth acquired by force, and speaks of the whole war as a meaningless bloodshed, which should be solved immediately by 'sharing the hegemony'." This excellent wording is Jester Created by Luo himself.Words like this coming from the mouth of a Jewish writer of eminent reputation would have had a tremendous effect in America, weakening the war effort and encouraging the peace movement.Perhaps other high-level intellectuals living in Italy, like Santayana and Berenson, will follow Jastrow's example. Akman had a look of disbelief on his face.The name Santayana was obviously completely foreign to him.On hearing Berenson his eyes sharpened. "Berenson? That's a shrewd Jewish millionaire. Berenson has a lot of protection. Oh, well. When does that Jastrow start broadcasting?" "It's not yet certain." Ekman stared at him sternly and in amazement, and added: "The problem is convincing him. It will take time." The lieutenant colonel smiled mildly. "Really? Why does it take time? It's not easy to convince a Jew." "In order to be effective, it must be done voluntarily." "But the Jews will do what you ask them to do, and they will do it voluntarily. Then again, I believe I understand you now. He was your old teacher, a good man. You have He still has feelings. You don't want to annoy him or frighten him. It's not like you're looking after or protecting a Jew,"—Eikman smiled gaily, wagging his forefinger like a schoolteacher—"no So what, but, rather, you think you'll catch more flies with honey than with balsamic vinegar. Huh?" Dr. Baker began to feel worried.The man was something of an actor, and his volatile moods and attitudes were formidable.However, no matter how much power he had over the Jews, he was no more than an SS lieutenant colonel, Baker told himself.He, Baker, should never be bullied into taking on an impossible task.He answered as easily and confidently as possible. "I am sure that the course I am taking is correct and will yield satisfactory results." Ekman nodded and gave a short giggle. "True, true, if you can get results before the war is over. By the way, is your family here in Rome with you?" "No, they stay at home." "Where is my hometown?" "Stuttgart." "how many kids do you have?" "Four." "Where's the boy? Or the little girl?" "Three boys. A little girl." "Little girls are lovely. I have three boys. No luck with a little girl." Eckerman sighed and snapped his fingers again. "In any case, I always try to go home once a week to see the children. Even if it's only for an hour, I strictly insist on seeing the children once a week. Even General Heydrich respects this fact, He is a difficult master to serve." Aikman sighed again. "I guess you like kids as much as I do." Every time Ekman said "kids," he pronounced the word with eerie menace. "I love my kids," Baker said, keeping his voice under control, "but I don't see them once a week, or even once a month." Akman's face was sullen and dreamy. "Come on, Dr. Baker. Let's get straight to the point. Can State Leader Himmler expect to get a progress report on the one hundred and eighteen Jews in a relatively short period of time? You can get them from the diplomatic courier tomorrow." All archival material." "I'll do my best." Eckerman grinned affectionately and said, "I'm so glad we came here this time and we came to a conclusion. Glad. This thing about Jastrow isn't 'legal' ’” Eckerman repeated the Jewish word with rude interest: “It’s not ‘legal,’ Dr Baker. You’re walking on dunghills and shit gets on your leather shoes. So tell the Jew Broadcast the old man. Then have the Italian secret police lock him up and his niece with the rest of the Jews." "But they were guaranteed safe return to the United States, and they were counted as journalists in exchange." "How is that possible? All the American journalists have left Italy. Anyway, he's not a journalist, he's writing books." "I stopped them myself. This is a temporary measure. We put them together with a dispute in Brazil, which will be resolved sooner or later." A happy smile played on the lieutenant colonel's narrow face. "Oh, you stopped them! That's not clear? You can do it if you want to. So now do something for the Führer." Eckerman accepted another glass of brandy.Werner.Baker accompanied him all the way to the embassy gates, and they talked about the progress of the war in platitudes.The lieutenant colonel wore a pair of well-polished black leather boots, which made his walk seem to be bow-legged; his leather boots creaked and rattled on the marble floor, which was very strange. Like a civil servant in ecstasy.At the door, he turned around and saluted. "You have a lot to do, Dr. Baker, so good luck. Heil Hitler." This salute and extended arm gesture is almost completely unused in embassies.Baker felt unfamiliar with both. "Heil Hitler," he said. The man in the black uniform walked down the steps with heavy steps, and the two peacocks, who were roaming freely in the embassy garden, fled into the flowering bushes in fright.Baker hurried back to his office and called Siena. Natalie happened to have her hand on the phone when the phone rang.She stood by Jastrow's desk, holding the doll in one arm.Madame Castelnuovo was admiring the Madonna and Child on the mantelpiece, with Miriam clinging to her skirt; the little girl kept looking from the painted doll to the real one. On the doll, it seemed that she couldn't figure out why the doll in the painting had a circle of light behind its head.Dr. Baker's voice came from the phone, cheerful and excited. "Good morning, Mrs. Cooley! I hope you are feeling well. Is Dr. Jestrew home?" Baker, when excited or nervous, has a queer problem with speaking English, adding "river" and "mountain." No. The first time Natalie noticed this was when they were stopped by a patrol car on the highway from Naples to Rome in that Mercedes. "I'll get him, Dr. Baker." She stepped out onto the terrace.Jastrow writes in the sunshine there. "Werner? Needless to say. Does he sound happy?" "Oh, nothing could be happier." "Oh! Maybe it's news of our release." He rose with difficulty from the recliner and began limping into the house. "Why, my God, my legs are numb! I can't stand like Methuselah." Natalie took Miriam and Anna to her bedroom, where the pink satin curtains and bedspread were a little frayed with age; the cherubs painted on the ceiling looked fine from peeling plaster It was like having leprosy and sweating.She put Louis on the crib, but he stood up immediately, clutching the bed rail with his little hands.Miriam was playing with him, and the two women sat and talked. Natalie becomes very fond of Anna.Castelnuovo.She saw that it was only snobbery that had allowed her to live alone, missing the company of this warm and intelligent woman throughout her long sojourn in Italy.What a waste of time!It never occurred to either she or Ellen that the few phantom Jews in Siena might be worth befriending.Doubtless Dr. Castelnuovo felt this and had not told her that he was Jewish. Ellen poked her head in. "Natalie, he's coming on the night train. He's coming for lunch tomorrow. He's bringing us letters from America. From his tone, he has some important news that he can't talk about on the phone." Hope grew in Jastrow. , that wrinkled face looked alive. "So tell Maria to prepare lunch, my dear, and tell her I'd like some tea and fruit in syrup now, and send her up on the platform." Natalie stayed with Anna while Louis fell asleep with his ass sticking out.Castelnuovo walked to the bus stop with her daughter.They sat in the crooked waiting wooden shed and talked and talked, talking non-stop, until they saw the old bus winding and smoking along the ridge among the green vineyards and far away. Come.Anna said: "Well, I hope your news is really good news. It's strange that your benefactor is a German official." "Yeah, that's plain odd." They exchanged a skeptical look grimly. The bus drove away; she walked back to the villa feeling very alone. The next day, as soon as Dr. Baker arrived, he delivered two letters to Natalie and one to Dr. Jastrow.They were already waiting for him on the platform. "You're welcome. Go to the letter." He sat on a bench in the sun and smiled softly as they opened the envelope. "The Arch of Constantine! It has arrived safely!" Jastrow cried out suddenly. "Werner, you must tell Father Spannelli and Ambassador Tittmann. Natalie, listen to me!" Read, this is from Ned Duncan. 'We are indebted to the Vatican.  … The Arch of Constantine is your best work to date .  Sexual contribution...'I said, how satisfyingly worded that is!'...on par with the classics...will certainly be recommended by book clubs...brilliant picture of Rome in decay...an honor to publish such a A fresh, insightful book...'Hey, hey, hey! Isn't that top news, Natalie?' "That's good news," Dr. Baker said, "but there's more to it than that." Natalie lifted her eyes warily from Sloter's discouraging letter.There seemed to be no end to the tedious correspondence between Germany and Italy concerning the Brazilian matter, he wrote; there would always be an end, but he could no longer estimate how long it would take.She handed the letter to Baker, who glanced at it, shrugged, and smiled back at her.He was very pale and his eyes were bloodshot, but there was still a sense of humor in his demeanor. "Yes, yes, but it was all a long time ago. Shall we have lunch? Or we've got so much to talk we might have forgotten our dinner." Natalie was scrambling through a microfilm photo of Byron's victory mail, so poorly magnified it was almost impossible to read, the three-page scrawled letter attached to her mother's letter. in the letter.There was really nothing new in either letter; Byron was writing from Australia, feeling lonely while her mother was complaining about the coldest spring Miami Beach had seen in ages, and because Natalie had been killed. Detain and worry.She jumped up. "Souffle and salad for lunch, Dr. Baker." "Ah, I don't expect to have any more of your croaking veal." "But anyway," said Jastrow, "let's drink up what little Berenson's coffee we have left." After lunch, Baker asked Natalie to let him light a thick black cigar.He took his first puff, leaned back in his chair, sighed, and gestured to the open window. "Well, Dr. Jastrow, will you be reluctant to part with this view?" "Are we leaving soon?" "That's what I'm here for." He talked for a while.He spoke in a deliberate pace and intonation, and occasionally took a deep puff on his cigar, but he started pronouncing the f and th wrongly.Italy's official radio station, he confided, asked Jastello to broadcast!The shortwave department was planning a series of speeches by eminent figures from the belligerent countries, to create abroad an image of fascist Italy being magnanimous towards intellectuals.There are no restrictions on who speaks.The plan requires the borrowing of a big man: Bernard.Berenson, George.Santayana, and of course Ellen.Jastrow.The Italian secret police have just handed Baker a written guarantee, just broadcast, Jestello.His niece, and the doll, could leave for Switzerland at once.So things developed like this, but it was a quick solution to the departure dispute.As long as Jastrow is willing to go to Rome with Mrs. Henry and her doll for a two-hour unhurried taped interview—or four half-hour broadcasts, it's his choice—the Brazilian question aside. Let's not talk about it.贝克会预先安排好三张出国签证和从罗马到苏黎世的飞机票。他们甚至用不着回锡耶纳！事情办得越早越好。罗马电台非常热衷于这个设想。 说罢了这些话，贝克向后一靠，神情轻松，微笑着。“晤，教授？你认为怎样？” “啊呀，老实说，我给搞胡涂了。他们要我谈一些有关我的专业的事，譬如说君士坦丁吗？” “啊，不，不。根本不是这么一回事！他们需要从哲学观点来谈谈战争，只要说明正义并不全在一方就行了。还记得咱们就在这个房间里吃那顿有名的小牛肉晚饭的时候，杰斯特罗博士，你说过的那些话吗？那正好符合需要。” “啊，可是维尔纳，那天晚上我酒喝得太多了。我不能在敌人的短波里这么谩骂我自己的国家啊。这你是能够明白的。” 贝克噘起了那叼着雪茄的嘴，脑袋一歪。“教授，你在制造困难，是不？你在运用语言和巧妙地阐述概念方面是个天才。你对这场世界性的灾难有一种伟大的、独特的远见，对整个悲惨的场面有一种卓越的、洞察一切的眼光。'分享主权'这个主题是再好也没有了。你只要一心想着它，话就会顺利地讲出来。我拿得稳，你不但会使罗马电台感到满意，同时也会给你自己的同胞留下深刻的印象。把事情挑明了说，你马上就可以离开意大利。” 杰斯特罗转过脸去问他的侄女：“怎么样？” “嘿，你和埃兹拉。庞德一个样，”娜塔丽说。 贝克肥胖的脸上掠过一丝不愉快的表情。“拿人作比较是叫人讨厌的，亨利太太。” “贝伦森和桑塔雅纳怎么样？”杰斯特罗问，“他们都同意这么办吗？” 贝克深深吸了一口雪茄。“意大利电台的人员认为你是关键人物。桑塔雅纳很老了，你也知道，他好象生活在云端里，抱着他的本质论和那一大套晦涩的哲学。他会把老百姓闹得摸不着头脑。不过。还是个大人物嘛。贝伦森呢，哦，贝伦森是个异想天开、不受拘束的人。罗马电台认为，你一旦同意，他们就能说服贝伦森。他是非常钦佩你的。” “这么说，他们俩还一个也不知道这件事哩，”娜塔丽说。 贝克不乐意地摇摇头。 “不行，不行，不行！”杰斯特罗突然嚷起来，“我再怎么也不能变得跟埃兹拉。庞德成为一路人。他的批评文章不可否认是有才气的。他有独特的见解，可是他的诗故意写得晦涩难懂。我们见过几次，我发现他是个邋里邋遢、自高自大、唯我独尊的人，不过这倒并不重要。问题是，我听过他的广播，维尔纳。他对犹太人的攻击甚至比你们柏林广播的哪一篇都更不象话，而他对罗斯福和金本位的疯狂谩骂简直是叛国行为。战争结束以后，他会被绞死，或是关进疯人院。我想象不出他中了什么邪，可是我情愿困死在这儿锡耶纳，也不情愿去做另一个埃兹拉。庞德。” 贝克嘴唇一噘，反驳起来，他把f 和th这两个音完全发惜了：“不过还有亨利太太和她娃娃'困死在这儿'的问题呢。再说，更严重的问题是，你还能在锡耶纳呆多久。”他掏出一个金怀表。“我老远赶来告诉你这件事。没料到当场就被拒绝了。我原以为我是得到你信任的。” 娜塔丽插嘴说：“我们呆在锡耶纳有什么问题？” 贝克一边从容不迫地把雪茄弄熄，在烟灰缸里碾碎，一边回答：“嘿，意大利秘密警察从来没放松对我施加压力，亨利太太。你知道你们原该跟其他外国犹太人一样呆在集中营里。他们提出了这个广播的主意，就非常露骨地提醒我这一点，还说……” “可是我想不通！”杰斯特罗不服气地反驳，一双斑斑点点的小手搁在他身前的桌子上，在籁籁发抖。“我们得到早晚可以到瑞士去的保证！对不对？甚至莱斯里。斯鲁特这次来信上也证实了这一点。罗马广播电台怎么能够威胁我，要我糟蹋自己的名誉呢？坚强起来，维尔纳。通知他们死了这条心吧。我不会考虑的。” 贝克的尽是血丝的眼睛对着娜塔丽骨碌碌地转。“我不得不告诉你，这是个严重的声明啊，教授。” “不管怎么样，这是我的回答，”杰斯特罗嚷起来，他越来越激动了，“而且是最后的回答。” 外面传来一阵汽车喇叭声。 “贝克博士，你叫过出租汽车吗？”娜塔丽把餐巾折好，摆在餐桌上。她的声调低沉而安详。她的脸看上去瘦得皮包骨头，眼睛瞪得老大。 "yes." “我送你出去。不，埃伦，你别走动了。” “维尔纳，要是我看上去好象态度固执，我表示抱歉。”杰斯特罗站起来，向贝克博士伸出一只哆嗦的手。“马丁。路德有一次说得好：”我不能再改变了。，“ 贝克僵硬地鞠了一个躬，跟在娜塔丽后面走出去。走到平台上，她说：“他会干的。” “他会干什么？广播吗？” “对。他会干的。” “亨利太太，他的反抗可非常坚决啊。”贝克的眼睛里流露出严酷、探索和担心的神情。 大门外面又传来断断续续的粗哑的喇叭声。 “我很了解他。这样发过一通脾气以后就会心平气和的。我提到庞德，把他惹火了。我感到非常抱歉。罗马电台什么时候要他广播？” “这还没确定，”贝克热切地说，“可是我迫切需要，一定要马上从他那儿得到一封同意广播的信。这会消除那些狗东西在我身上施加的压力，并且能使我开始进行活动——释放你们的活动，亨利太太。” “你要的这封信在本星期末会得到的。” 他们站在开着的大门口，一辆陈旧的大游览车停在那儿。贝克用刺耳的、烦恼的声调说：“我巴不得现在就把信带回罗马。这样就解除了压在我心头的一个巨大负担。我甚至情愿推迟回去的时间。” “他情绪这么糟，我不能逼他写了。我答应你，信会给你的。” 他盯着她看，接着果断地把手一挥，伸出手去。“那么我只得把希望寄托在你的通情达理上了。” “你可以把希望寄托在我对自己孩子的关心上。” “我最大的愉快是，”贝克站住脚说，他一只手摆在出租汽车的车门上，“看到你们全都动身到苏黎世去。我急切地等着这封信。” 她匆匆地回到别墅。杰斯特罗仍然坐在餐桌旁，手里拿着酒杯，眼睛盯着外面的大教堂。他带着惭愧的神情看着她，用仍然颤抖的声音说：“我实在没办法，娜 塔丽。这个建议真岂有此理。维尔纳没法象美国人那样思想。 " “他确实不能。可是你不该斩钉截铁地拒绝他，埃伦。你应该推托和拖延。” “这话也许不错。可是我再怎么也不会按照他的要求去广播。绝不会！他把那一回吃小牛肉的时候我那番负气的、半真半假的、激昂慷慨的话完全按字面来了解。你瞧，德国人就是这副模样！你当时惹火了我，我又喝多了，反正我爱为错误的一方辩护。这你是知道的。我当然恨轴心国的独裁政权罗。我侨居在外国是为了要省钱和安静地生活。显然这是我铸成的终生大错。不管国务院多么亏待我，我爱美国。我不会上电台去为轴心国广播，玷污我的学者身份，使自己成为卖国贼。”老人抬起长着胡子的下巴，绷着脸，没有一丝表情。“他们可以杀死我，可是我死也不干。” 娜塔丽又惊慌又激动，说：“那么咱们的处境就危险了。” “可能是这样，归根结蒂，你还是去找卡斯泰尔诺沃医生商量逃走计划的好。” "what!" “豁出去准备这么干，看来好象是想入非非，可是事情可能会闹到这个地步的，我亲爱的。”杰斯特罗倒了一杯酒，振作起精神，笑嘻嘻地说，“拉宾诺维茨是个很能干的人。那个年轻的医生看来很有决断。最好还是有所准备。可能在这期间咱们会得到释放，不过我没法说我喜欢贝克的新调子。” “全能的基督，埃伦，你可是改变主意啦。” 杰斯特罗疲倦地把头搁在一只手上。“我这么一把年纪，原来不指望去冒这个险，可是最要紧的是把你和路易斯安全地送出去，对不对？我喝了这杯酒要打个吨。请起草一封给维尔纳的信，亲爱的，原则上表示同意，对我的发脾气表示抱歉。就说我现在开始在准备四次广播的稿子。脱稿的日子千万要说得含糊，因为我将要模仿涅罗田织布，你知道。接着你还是找那个年轻的医生去谈谈的好。意大利秘密警察很可能在监视他，所以最好你装出象是去看病。带上娃娃。” 娜塔而默不作声地点点头。她到藏书室去起草那封信，感到——既有点害怕，又好象有点安心——一眨眼，她的叔叔跑到她前面去了，又感到她和她的孩子现在正在黑沉沉的急流中漂流。