Armageddon_ A Novel of Berlin - Leon Uris [225]
Hansen jotted out the first message. Barney Root nodded approval and Billy Crossfield gave a reluctant okay. It was handed to the teletype operator.
TOP SECRET: BLOCKADE EFFECTIVE. SITUATION DESPERATE IN TWO WEEKS. REQUEST PERMISSION SEND AN ARMED CONVOY UP AUTOBAHN AFTER ANNOUNCTNG OUR INTENTION TO RUSSIANS. CROSSFIELD, ROOT IN AGREEMENT. GO AHEAD.
In several moments a message started appearing on the screen.
TOP SECRET: PECK, GERMAN DESK. STATE DEPARTMENT IDEA IS TO MAKE OFFER TO WITHDRAW B MARKS FROM BERLIN IN EXCHANGE FOR GUARANTEED ACCESS RIGHTS TO CITY.
“In a pig’s ass,” Neal Hazzard grumbled. “Take it easy, Neal.”
“Yes, sir.”
They huddled, discussed it quickly. All agreed that the proposal spelled disaster.
TOP SECRET: PENNEY, POLITICAL ADVISOR STATE DEPARTMENT. ADVISES WITHDRAWAL B MARKS FATAL OUR POSITION AND COLLAPSE CONFIDENCE GERMAN AND ALLIES.
A general uneasiness fell on them as they waited for an answer from Washington. The next transmission came from the Chief of Staff of the Army.
TOP SECRET: NOTHING IN CONTINGENCY PLANS TO COVER ARMED CONVOY.
Peck of the German desk continued the message:
ATTEMPTING RENEWAL DIPLOMATIC DISCUSSIONS RUSSIANS. SAME TIME PUT BERLIN QUESTION ON UNITED NATIONS AGENDA. RASH ACTION NOW MAY ENDANGER TALKS.
Eric the Red’s blood pressure began rising. It was beyond his comprehension that the State Department could be so naive as not to know that the Russians would stall talks until the city was on the brink of starvation.
TOP SECRET: REPEAT. IT IS OUR CONSIDERED OPINION WE CAN BREAK BLOCKADE BY IMMEDIATE SHOW OF STRENGTH. REPEAT REQUEST PERMISSION TO SEND ARMED CONVOY ON AUTOBAHN.
As the chips were down, the tension could be read on their faces.
TOP SECRET: REQUEST DENIED.
They were deflated, and talked among themselves quickly, trading ideas.
TOP SECRET: REQUEST YOU CONSIDER MOVING B-29’S WITH ATOMIC WARHEADS TO BRITISH BASES AS PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERRENT.
From Washington, a thread of hope.
IDEA ALREADY UNDER CONSIDERATION. FOR YOUR INFORMATION CODE NAME TOP HAT.
“Well, they’re not completely dead,” Hazzard said.
“We can’t leave it hanging this way,” Hansen said.
TOP SECRET: HANSEN SENDS. REQUEST URGENT MEETING JOINT CHIEFS AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL IMMEDIATELY. ADVISE.
TOP SECRET: KING SENDS. WHEN CAN YOU BE IN WASHINGTON?
TOP SECRET: WILL ADVISE MY ETA. ANYTHING FURTHER?
WASHINGTON: NOTHING FURTHER.
BERLIN: OUT.
Hansen’s rubbery face was knotted as though he were in pain. If Washington decided to move the B-29’s it might throw the Russians off long enough for him to make a last appeal.
Back in his office, his aide called Tempelhof to have the general’s aircraft commander prepare for the trip.
Hansen phoned his wife, instructed her to pack, as she had done for him a thousand times, and bring his bags to Tempelhof. As he swept out of the main gate, an ever-present knot of Germans waved to him. On the way to the airport he droned instructions to his people.
His plane was in ready upon his arrival, warming up under the canopy. His Air Force captain and his aide hastily cleared a flight plan with Operations.
Hansen shook hands with Barney Root and Billy Crossfield, Sean, and Neal Hazzard.
“We’ll be here when you get back, General,” Sean said.
In a few moments Agnes Hansen arrived.
“Mother,” he said, “you don’t know how hard it is for me to leave you here alone but you do know why you must stay.”
She smiled. “If you have time, call the children from Washington.”
“Damn,” he said, “you’re a good trooper.”
They watched as the General’s Skymaster lifted him from the runway and banked out of sight.
Chapter Two
SEAN GROANED LIKE A happy puppy as the sun poured down on his back. It was the first real hot spell of the summer, driving off the fogs and mists and the first time he had had enough free hours to relax by the lake.
At that place where the Little Wannsee