Winter of the World (Century Trilogy 2)

‘Ah!’ said Ochs. ‘Because even if one of those children died, you would not be notified.’

‘As we said before.’

‘Forgive me the repetition, but I simply want to establish beyond doubt that you cannot be asked to shed light on those deaths.’

‘Not at all.’

Once again Ochs turned to Walter. ‘I think we’re clearing matters up splendidly.’

Walter nodded.

Carla wanted to say Nothing has been cleared up!

But Ochs was speaking again. ‘Approximately how many children have you transferred in, say, the last twelve months.’

‘Ten,’ said Willrich. ‘Exactly.’ He smiled complacently. ‘We scientific men prefer not to deal in approximations.’

‘Ten patients, out of . . . ?’

‘Today we have one hundred and seven children here.’

‘A very small proportion!’ said Ochs.

Carla was getting angry. Ochs was obviously on Willrich’s side! Why was her father swallowing this?

Ochs said: ‘And did those children suffer from one common condition, or a variety?’

‘A variety.’ Willrich opened a folder on his desk. ‘Idiocy, Down’s syndrome, microcephaly, hydrocephaly, malformations of limbs, head and spinal column, and paralysis.’

‘These are the types of patient you were instructed to send to Akelberg.’

That was a jump. It was the first mention of Akelberg, and the first suggestion that Willrich had received instructions from a higher authority. Perhaps Ochs was more subtle than he had seemed.

Willrich opened his mouth to say something, but Ochs forestalled him with another question. ‘Were they all to receive the same special treatment?’

Willrich smiled. ‘Again, I was not informed, so I cannot tell you.’

‘You simply complied . . .’

‘With my instructions, yes.’

Ochs smiled. ‘You’re a judicious man. You choose your words carefully. Were the children all ages?’

‘Initially the programme was restricted to children under three, but later it was expanded to benefit all ages, yes.’

Carla noted the mention of a ‘programme’. That had not been admitted before. She began to realize that Ochs was cleverer than he might at first appear.

Ochs spoke his next sentence as if confirming something already stated. ‘And all handicapped Jewish children were included, irrespective of their particular disability.’

There was a moment of silence. Willrich looked shocked. Carla wondered how Ochs knew that about Jewish children. Perhaps he did not: he might have been guessing.

After a pause, Ochs added: ‘Jewish children, and those of mixed race, I should have said.’

Willrich did not speak, but gave a slight nod.

Ochs went on: ‘It’s unusual, in this day and age, for Jewish children to be given preference, isn’t it?’

Willrich looked away.

The pastor stood up, and when he spoke again his voice rang with anger. ‘You have told me that ten children suffering from a range of illnesses, who could not possibly all benefit from the same treatment, were sent away to a special hospital from which they never returned; and that Jews got priority. What did you think happened to them, Herr Professor Doctor Willrich? In God’s name, what did you think?’

Willrich looked as if he would cry.

‘You may say nothing, of course,’ Ochs said more quietly. ‘But one day you will be asked the same question by a higher authority – in fact, by the highest of all authorities.’

He stretched out his arm and pointed a condemning finger.

‘And on that day, my son, you will answer.’

With that he turned around and left the room.

Carla and Walter followed him out.

(v)

Inspector Thomas Macke smiled. Sometimes the enemies of the state did his job for him. Instead of working in secret, and hiding away where they were difficult to find, they identified themselves to him and generously provided irrefutable evidence of their crimes. They were like fish that did not require bait and a hook but simply jumped out of the river into the