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By Root 1171 0

aside hopes that his doctor might visit again. One week had passed since the first visit, and the doctor had said he would return again in a week, if possible. He had come at mealtime, seven days ago. The chance he might return had been a spark of hope for the prisoner, as faint and improbable as it was persistent. Seeing somebody other than the executioner and Gestapo agent Koder come through the door was a glittering prospect. Dietrich slowly lifted the spoon, having determined that once he sipped the soup, all possibility of the visit would end.

The latch sounded. Wearing a knotted frown, Rudolf Koder pushed open the metal door and stood aside to let the doctor into the cell.

Dietrich closed his eyes a moment at the answered prayer. Then he carefully put the bowl to one side and stood to greet the visitor.

"Otto, you look even worse than last week," Kurt Scheller said, gripping his friend's arms.

"You humor me." Dietrich's voice cracked, and he failed to make himself sound anything but pitiable.

The doctor helped lower Dietrich back to the bench. Scheller's face was narrow, with cheeks so drawn that the outline of his teeth showed on them. His neck was as thin as his wrists, and he was so slight he was lost in his clothes. His smile was warm.

"Did you find out anything about Maria?" Dietrich's words tumbled forth. "Could Golz find out anything? Did you talk to Wunnin- burg? Did they get anywhere?"

Scheller shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Otto."

Dietrich closed his eyes. Erwin Golz was director of Berlin police, Dietrich's superior. And Alfred Wunninburg was general of police, Golz's superior. Maria Dietrich had been arrested because of the new practice called Sippenhaft—the arrest of kith and kin.

"I spoke with both Golz and Wunninburg, Otto. Several times. They tried hard, but they couldn't locate her."

''Maria is alive, though?"

"They couldn't even tell me that. She was arrested soon after you were, and has disappeared somewhere in the political prison system. They told me police officers don't have any influence in those places. Director Golz said he has used all his chits just to get me inside Lehrter- strasse Prison to see you these few times."

A roach crawled along the floor toward the bucket that served as the privy. Dietrich rubbed his forehead, hiding his eyes. He didn't want the doctor to see his tears. But Dr. Scheller had served the Dietrich family for a generation, and knew his patient. He lowered himself to the bench and gripped Dietrich's hand.

"Don't give up hope, Otto," the doctor said in a low voice. "You are still alive. You have survived this long. Don't give up."

Dietrich looked up. He whispered, "Did you bring it?"

Scheller answered lamely, "The guards took my black bag away from me before letting me into your cell and ..."

"You aren't answering my question, Kurt. Did you bring it?"

Scheller inhaled hugely. "I'm dead set against this, Otto. It's against all my beliefs and all my training."

"And that's damned easy for you to say, because in two minutes you are going to waltz out of here back into the sunlight." Dietrich gripped the doctor's arm. "You brought it. Give it to me."

Scheller glanced at the closed cell door, then he pulled off a shoe and held it upside down. A silver pill dropped into his hand. Dietrich reached for it, but the doctor closed his hand.

"Otto, you must pledge something to me."

Dietrich scowled with frustration.

Scheller continued, "You won't use this until all hope has ended, and you can no longer endure."

Dietrich nodded noncommittally.

"Do you pledge that to me?" Scheller persisted. "Do you swear? Maybe there will be good news about Maria. We can still hope. Wait until you hear."

After a moment Dietrich answered quietly, "I'll wait until I hear."

Indecision written on his face, the doctor slowly opened his hand and let Dietrich claim the pill.

"What do I do?" the detective asked.

"Bite down on it, and close your eyes. It'll do the rest."

"How long does it take?"

"Thirty seconds."

The cell door opened. Agent Koder said, "Your time is up, Doctor."