The Hunt

“That’s all it means to you, isn’t it?”

“No, I’m worried about you. What’re you going to do?”

“Go back to Washington for reassignment. It’s the end of my career.”

“What the hell happened?”

“I screwed up, that’s what happened. Almost got Trace arrested for espionage. We tried to sneak Reinhardt out of the country in an official vehicle but the Gestapo stopped them. Roosevelt apologized to that little freak in the Reichstag and I got recalled. I’m going to have to quit. It’s like getting court-martialed in the army. Win or lose, you’re finished.”

“Didn’t the intelligence people help you?”

Wallingford stared at him for a moment, then sat down on the corner of his desk.

“Listen, Keegan. We don’t have an intelligence system. Every other country in the world is up to their ears in spies but we don’t have a spy among us. And you know why? Because my boss, the mighty Cordell Hull, says it’s ungentlemanly to pry in other country’s’ affairs. Ungentlemanly! So, we play by the Marquis of Queensberry rules and they play with a billy club. That’s what happens when the secretary of state is a gentleman.”

“I’m sorry, pal .

“Hey, it’s your country, too. And I’m not your goddamn pal.”

“C’mon, Wally, we’ve had some pretty good times together. How about those weekends in Paris. That trip down to Monte Carlo last spring .

“Christ, is that what life is to you, just one long goddamn party?! Reinhardt is dead! According to our best sources, they tortured him for hours and when he bit off his own tongue to keep from talking, they forced him to drink battery acid. Of course, we can’t confirm it but it sounds right. Felix is dead and my career’s in the toilet and what the hell difference does it make to you? You’ll find another party to go to.,,

“I’m sorry about Reinhardt. And I do care what happens to you. My friendship for you doesn’t have anything to do with him.”

“I asked you to help me and all you did was worry about your goddamn plane. We could’ve gotten him out.”

“Maybe.”

“What’s it going to take to wake you up and see what’s going on here?”

“I see what’s going on.

“No, no. You don’t see what’s going n. You drive past the bloody storm troopers beating up some pawnbroker or doctor, but you don’t really see it. At least it doesn’t register. You think this can’t happen back home? Let me tell you something, pal, Hitler was absolute dictator of Germany less than a month after Hindenburg appointed him president and the Nazi party had less than forty percent of the vote in the last election. Hitler didn’t have a majority of anything, he was never elected to anything. He just took over. He threw out the Constitution and took over. Every time the arrogant little bastard opens his mouth he insults Americans. And he’s making racism acceptable. Hell, fashion able. Not only here—everywhere, everywhere! The other day I heard a couple of our secretaries giggling over the latest Jewish joke.”

“That’s human nature.”

“You call it what you want, I call it prejudice. Hitler wakes up that sleeping giant in everyone, he makes it desirable to flaunt hate. He has the key, Keegan. Pride. He appeals to their pride.” He paused for a moment, then asked, “What do you want, Francis? What are you after?”

“I don’t know, Wally.”

“Well, I do know. See, I’m just an everyday jerk from Philadelphia. I planned my whole life out. The diplomatic corps, that was it for me. That’s what I wanted, worked my ass off to get it. And you know where I wanted to be?” He jabbed a forefinger toward the floor. “Right here. Berlin. From the moment I entered the diplomatic service, this is where I wanted to be. Know why? Because I knew it was going to be the hot spot in the world. I knew it. I knew I could make a name for myself here if I played it just right. And I was doing great until last night.”

He turned back to the shelves and stacked the last of his possessions in the box on the desk. He kept out one book and opened it to a random page.

“Collected speeches of Woodrow Wilson,” he said. “My hero, Mr. Wilson. Great vision. Sold out by his own country. You know, the day Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany he also warned them not to be too hard on the losers when we won the war or they’d rise up and strike back. Had a lot of vision, Mr. Wilson. You paint a mouse into a corner and a tiger comes out. Nobody paid any attention to him. We left Germany with nothing and now the tiger is loose and America sleeps on, as fucking usual.”

“You’re an angry man, Wally.”

“I’m a scared man. People like you scare me. You’re sophisticated enough to understand what’s happening.”

“You don’t belong in the State Department. Go back home and run for the Senate or something.”

“I couldn’t get elected meter reader,” Wallingford said with disgust. “Nobody wants to hear what I’ve got to say. By the time they wake up it’ll be too late.”

“People are sick of gloom and doom,” said Keegan. “They’ve had their fill of war. Now they’re trying to get over the Depression. They’re looking for good times, not threats.”

“Typical attitude.”

“I’m calling it the way I see it.”

“I’ll admit you have a certain roughneck charm, Keegan, but as far as I’m concerned it’s all veneer,” said