Heroes by David Hagberg (reading cloud ebooks TXT) 📗

our place, but what about Kasper and Sabine?” Erwin asked. “Won’t you take them with you?”

| Canaris sipped his coffee and smiled wanly. Kaulbars knew what was going on, even if Canaris’ nephew did not. “I’m not necessarily going anyplace, Erwin,” he said. “I merely mentioned it as a possibility.”

“But what about the dogs?”

| “You would have to take care of them as well.”

‘ Erwin shrugged. “It’s all right with me, but for how long?

I Maria will almost certainly want to know that. And how about Aunt Erika? Wouldn’t she rather take care of the animals?”

“I don’t think so,” Canaris said.

‘,, Kaulbars had not said much of anything all afternoon. But it I was clear he was nervous, on edge. He was very worried about I Canaris.

“I miss Helmut’s piano playing,” he said now.

: “He had to be at work this afternoon. They are very busy just now,” Canaris said, glancing toward the windows. It was a beautiful day. The sun shone from a lovely blue sky. Surprisingly, there had been no bombing raids this morning. Everyone had been expecting the planes to come. But they had not. He was sure that the beaches at Wannsee would be crowded.

“Did he stop by yesterday?”

“Yes, Uncle Mau was here,” Canaris said. Kaulbars had always been very emotional. Canaris watched him closely now.

It seemed as if he was ready to burst into tears.

“How is your new job at Eiche?” Erwin asked.

“It’s fine,” Canaris said. “But tell me, how have you been?

How are Maria and the boys?”

“Everyone is in good health …“the younger man started to say, when they heard a car pull into the driveway and stop out front.

Kaulbars half rose out of his seat, but Canaris waved him back.

“Mohammed will see to it,” Canaris said. His heart was racing, and it was difficult for him to catch his breath.

Someone came to the door, and moments later they could hear Mohammed talking. He appeared at the drawing room door.

“SS-Brigadefiihrer Walter Schellenberg is here to see you, sir.”

This time when Kaulbars rose out of his seat, Canaris did not wave him back.

“Show him in,” Canaris said. He stood. “Perhaps you two ‘should wait in the living room.”

“Of course,” Kaulbars said. He waited for Erwin to join him and they stepped across the stair hall. A moment later the SD chief entered. He was dressed in uniform. He was alone.

“Good afternoon, Walter,” Canaris said.

Schellenberg, who was very handsome, a dueling scar on his chin, came across the room and shook hands. “Good afternoon, Herr Admiral. You are in good health?”

Canaris nodded. They looked at each other for a long time.

They had been rivals, but never really enemies.

“Somehow, I felt it would be you,” Canaris said.

Schellenberg said nothing. It was obvious he had his instructions as to exactly what he was to say and what not to say.

“Tell me, have you found anything in writing by that fool Colonel Hansen?”

Schellenberg nodded. “We think it’s possible there was a connection between Georg and Stauffenberg.”

Again they looked at each other for a long time. Canaris’ heart was still hammering wildly in his chest. He hadn’t known how he would react when the time came, but certainly he’d not thought he’d be like this. He felt like a stagestruck schoolboy who has suddenly forgotten his lines for the Christmas pageant.

Schellenberg glanced toward the sideboard. “Do you mind if I pour myself a drink?”

“Please, help yourself.”

Schellenberg inclined his head. He went across and poured a 1 small measure of cognac. His back was to Canaris as he drank. “I | shall wait here in this room for an hour, and during that time you can do whatever you choose. I shall say in my report that you | went to your room to change.”

| Canaris had never had any personal gripe with Schellenberg. It was other men, such as Reitlinger, who were the thugs.

I Schellenberg, on the other hand, was a man of breeding. But this I now was odd. Were they afraid of him? Was there hope, after | all?

| “No, Schellenberg, there’s no question of my escaping. I | shall’t kill myself either.”

Schellenberg put the snifter down and turned around. “Are I you sure?”

I “I know what I’m doing.”

“I see.”

“Just let me pack a few things.”

Schellenberg nodded. “We were all surprised … I did not want to do this. But orders …”

“I understand,” Canaris said. He left the room, crossed the hall, and started up the stairs. Kaulbars came to the living room door.

[ Canaris stopped and looked down at him. “This is it, Baron.”

Kaulbars nodded, not trusting himself to speak. His eyes glittered.

I “Tell Erwin that he is to take Kasper and Sabine as well.”

Again Kaulbars nodded.

Canaris looked at him for several moments, then smiled. “Good; bye, old friend. Perhaps I shall be back.” He turned, went the rest of the way up the stairs, then down the corridor to his room.

He packed a few things, including his toilet gear, in a single suitcase, then changed into his uniform, the Iron Cross in gold around his neck. He went to the mirror and looked at himself. He had lost a lot of weight recently, and his uniform hung sloppily [ on his frame. There were stains on the lapels, and the cuffs were frayed.

It was of no consequence.

When he was ready, he went back downstairs, leaving the suitcase in the hall by the front door.

Mohammed was with the cook by the kitchen door. Canaris turned to them. “I will be leaving now. I don’t know when I’ll be back. Baron Kaulbars and Heir Maurer have my utmost confidence. They will instruct you.”

Mohammed nodded. “Yes, sir,” he said uncertainly.

“You will be all right here. No matter what happens.”

“Yes, meiner Admiral,” Mohammed said. The cook had begun to cry.

Canaris took a deep breath, let it out slowly, then went into the drawing room. Schellenberg waited by the sideboard. Canaris went across to him and put his arm around his shoulders. “All right, let’s go.”

Schellenberg nodded. Together they left