Doctor Who_ Just War - Lance Parkin [88]
‘My statement is this: “It is a tragedy that the Germans and the British, Aryan blood brothers, are fighting one another. Far too many brave men have died on both sides, and the conflict can only escalate. We have a common enemy: the scale of the Bolshevik threat posed by Russia cannot be overstated. The Reich is willing to sign a treaty with the United Kingdom immediately to end hostilities. The British will be allowed a free hand in the control of their empire. Likewise, all the territories and colonies lost to Germany under the terms of the Versailles Treaty will be returned. Neither side would surrender, or offer reparations and neither side would meddle in the internal affairs of the other. Naval, air and military power would be regulated by a series of treaties. Exact levels would be decided later, but would not be unfavourable to the British. In the event of a Russian attack on German-or British-held territories, the other country would come to immediate military assistance.
These are the major points. There are some minor details: Iraq must be evacuated; France would become a demilitarized area; the British must conclude an armistice with Italy.” ’
Kendrick sat back, astonished by this. It was a little while before he spoke. ‘As you say, Herr Wolff, this is not exactly the proper diplomatic channel —’
Reed interrupted his superior. ‘Mr Wolff, if you intended to deliver a message to the authorities, why did you attempt to escape from the police when they arrested you?’
‘The police would not listen. Even if they had, they would not have the access to the Cabinet that the admiral here does.’
Kendrick straightened. ‘Your claims are... wide-ranging.
Why on Earth should we believe them?’
‘The balance of power has been tipped, Admiral. The Germans are now in a position to win this war.’
‘With what Hartung has built? Hugin and Munin?’
‘If you know of them, you know the truth of my words.
Several weeks ago, certain documents were leaked to you: selected blueprints of Hartung’s device. Now, you only have incomplete plans of the propulsion system, but will know from them that the technology involved is many years in advance of yours.’
‘We can fight it,’ George piped up.
‘No, Herr Reed, you can’t. The Reich expected this response. The offer remains open for another twenty-four hours. At six o’clock this evening we shall use Hartung’s weapon on one of the cities on your south coast. That city shall be systematically wiped out. Your analysis of the attack tomorrow morning will conclude that something new and dreadful was used. Something that no amount of forewarning, preparation or defensive action could stop.’ Was he talking about a nuke? Forrester wondered. She quickly rejected the idea. It would be a ‘new and dreadful’ weapon all right, but nuclear weapons weren’t exactly ‘systematic’. And why pick a target on the south coast? — however primitive their understanding of atomic theory, they’d know about fall-out.
Kendrick was already standing. he stared straight through the mirror at Forrester. ‘Get me Downing Street!’
Roz picked up the handset and got through just as Kendrick arrived in the room. He grabbed the handset from her. ‘This is Kendrick. Cromwell. Repeat, Cromwell.’ He replaced the receiver. Kendrick had just warned the Cabinet that Britain was about to be invaded.
‘He wasn’t lying, was he, sir?’
‘He’s over-confident.’
‘But was he lying?’
Kendrick looked her straight in the eye. ‘No.’
‘Doctor. I’ve just thought of something.’
‘Go on.’ They were sitting in the back of a Mercedes, heading for the secret airbase. Steinmann’s car was in front of them. Chris shifted slightly to face the Doctor.
‘You said that according to the history books, Steinmann doesn’t die for years and years.’
‘True.’ Behind the Doctor’s head the countryside slid past.
‘What happens to Hartung?’ Chris whispered.
‘Hartung is a shadowy, mysterious figure. Once he retires from racing, in ‘36, he becomes a recluse. There are no photos of him after the Cairo race,