him.’
Krantz stood speechless, palms flattening against the wall behind him for support. His facial features revealed dumbfounded amazement at the news. ‘They-they tried to kill Daranyi?’
‘In the street before his apartment. With knives. He’s going into surgery. But the wounds are superficial. He’ll live. He’ll have much to say.’
Krantz’s disbelief was entire. ‘They attacked Daranyi? I cannot-I cannot believe it.’
‘You don’t have to believe it, Krantz. You can see for yourself. Do you want to come along to the hospital and see for yourself? Then you and Daranyi can hold a joint conference with the authorities-’
Craig stopped. More was not necessary, he could see. It was as if Krantz had just swallowed Dr. Henry Jekyll’s mixture of white powders and red liquid. The transformation on his face-from indignation and defiance to abdication and defeat-was immediate. ‘No, wait,’ he was saying, his voice a high whine. ‘You do not understand-I had nothing to do with Daranyi-the violence. I did not dream they would go to such lengths-it is terrible.’ Swiftly, he discarded old comrades for a better ally. ‘I had nothing to do with any of this-you must believe me!’
‘I believe only one thing. Emily and Walther Stratman are stuck away some place-and Walther will be freed on the condition that Professor Stratman defects-and Daranyi says you’re responsible.’
‘It’s not true-mixing me in so deep. Daranyi knows only half of it. I would never go so far.’
‘You’ve gone far enough. You’re smack in the middle.’
‘No-no.’ He wrung his hands, staring at Craig’s feet, exhorting, explaining, cajoling in the cause of self- preservation. ‘Craig, have some leniency-know the circumstances. I would have had no part of this, if I had known they would resort to-’ He lifted his obsequious eyes. ‘You must have compassion-try to know what happened to me.’
Craig grimly waited.
Krantz went on quickly, a last plea to the jury. ‘I was
‘I’ve heard of Eckart. Tell me who he is.’
‘The one who engineered all this-the one who is a director of Humboldt University in East Berlin. He knew of my good work-and unfair persecution-and he offered me a brilliant post-but wanted a favour first. He said he would like to meet Stratman in Stockholm, get him away from the West for a week in Stockholm, in a neutral atmosphere, to offer him a job. By my influence, I helped Stratman win the award, to come here, and I brought him together with Eckart. But Stratman would have nothing to do with Germans or Communists. So Eckart dangled the post before me like bait, pulled me in deeper and deeper with harmless, small demands. He made me hire Daranyi to ferret out private information on Stratman and his niece. I never imagined how this information would be used. Only this morning did I have an inkling-but it was impossible-I would not permit myself to believe it.’
‘What happened this morning?’
‘Dr. Eckart telephoned. He told me that, through the information I had gotten out of Daranyi, he had deduced Stratman’s brother was alive in Russia. He had persuaded the Russians to send the brother here as an object to be traded for Stratman. I was upset. I had not known Eckart would use the information for such purpose. He had wanted it, he always pretended, as a civilized means of breaking down Stratman’s resistance. I had no idea he would use it for blackmail. But there it was. So when Eckart asked me to get hold of Stratman and bring him to meet his brother, I refused to co-operate. I told him my standing was such, I could not endanger it by going further, not to such limits. I must say Eckart was reasonable. He said he would locate Stratman himself. Later, in person, he informed me that, to save time, he had found Emily instead and brought her to see her father. He introduced me to Walther. He said something of the tape. This I assure you, Craig-and there is no need for me to lie now-he promised me there would be no violence to the niece or Stratman or anyone involved. But Daranyi-the attempt to kill poor Daranyi-I swear I knew nothing of that until minutes ago when you told me. That is too much. It is not worth the contract for the university post. I was to go to the boat again tonight and sign-but not now, no.’
Craig had been observing Krantz closely, to interpret his degree of sincerity, and now, much as he detested the cringing gnome, he believed him.
‘The boat,’ said Craig. ‘Is that where they all are-on some boat in the canal?’
‘Yes. Not all. Eckart is in the city with-with friends-to watch the television for Stratman’s announcement of his defection, and to meet with Stratman after the Ceremony for the exchange.’
‘But Emily and Walther?’
‘They are on the boat. It is guarded, of course.’
Craig felt flushed at the nearness of his goal. He pressed harder. ‘Tell me where the boat is.’
Krantz’s pinhole eyes projected fear. He hesitated. ‘Why?’ he asked.
‘So I can inform the security police. They’ll surround the boat, and we’ll have Walther without any trade or-’
‘No!’ Krantz interrupted. ‘No-I cannot, Craig-not the police. It would be in the open-a scandal. It would be the end of me.’
‘If you don’t tell me, it’ll be the end of you anyway.’
‘I do not care. I will take my chance. My word against Daranyi’s-but the police, no.’
Craig’s instinct about the human animal told him, at once, that even a beast at bay can be pushed only so far. He had gone the limit with Krantz, and he must take advantage of him within that boundary. He relented. ‘All right, then, not the police. You don’t have to tell me where they are. But take me to them right now. So I can see that Emily is all right.’
‘She is all right.’
‘And Walther-I want to see him, speak to him, see if I can talk him out of this.’
‘Just that? Nothing more?’
‘What more can there be? I’m alone. You say there are guards-if they’ll let us through-’
Krantz nodded. ‘Yes, that would be no problem. But you understand, Craig, if I take you there, once you know the location, you will have to remain until late, when the exchange is effected-or perhaps the boat will be moved- so do not expect-’
‘I only want a few minutes with Walther.’
Krantz edged nervously from the wall. His top hat wobbled. His shrub-covered lips puckered. ‘And if I do this, you will not implicate me?’
Craig studied the crafty, servile thing with distaste. ‘I won’t make any promises. I’ll say simply that if you refuse, I’ll take you to the authorities. If you direct me to the boat, well-we’ll see. At least, there’ll be one affirmative act in your favour.’
Krantz hesitated no longer. ‘I shall take you.’
He led Craig out of the apartment and to the elevator. On the way down, neither spoke. At the landing, as they emerged, Krantz seemed to have an afterthought. He broke the silence. ‘I must inquire-are you here alone?’
‘No. Someone drove me. A friend.’
‘Dismiss him. There can be no one else. That is our bargain. The two of us.’
Craig agreed at once. ‘Okay. But remember this. My friend may not know our destination, but if anything goes wrong, he’ll know where to find you.’
‘Yes-yes-never mind about that.’
They went through the building and outside into the cold of the Norr Malarstrand. The portly chauffeur had opened the rear door of the limousine, and he stood beside it at attention. Craig looked off to his right, and then to the left he saw Gottling rise up out of the driver’s seat of the station-wagon and wave.
‘One second,’ Craig told Krantz.
He hurried past four parked cars, and joined Gottling, waiting for him at the kerb.
‘What happened?’ Gottling wanted to know.
‘It’s all settled, friend. He folded fast. He’s agreed to take me where they are-but only if I’m alone.’
Gottling scratched a shaggy eyebrow and squinted his bloodshot eyes in the direction of Krantz. ‘I don’t like it, Craig,’ he said at last. ‘I don’t trust that weasel.’
‘I’ve already warned him. If I’m delayed too long, you can spill the whole affair to Jacobsson.’
