Games of State - Tom Clancy [127]
The man was speaking. Herbert wheeled himself behind a tree and listened, able to understand most of the German.
" that this day ends an era of struggling at cross purposes. From tonight forward, our two groups will work together, united by a common goal and a single name: Das National Feuer."
The man shouted the name not just for effect but to be heard. Herbert felt his strength return as well as his anger rise as the crowd cheered. They whooped and raised both arms high as if their team had just won the World Cup. Herbert wasn't surprised that these people eschewed the Nazi salute and cries of Sieg Heil! Though they surely wished for salvation and victory, and though they had ruffians and killers among them, they were not the Nazis of Adolf Hitler. They were far more dangerous: they had the advantage of having learned from his mistakes. However, almost everyone was holding something aloft, either a dagger or a medal or even a pair of boots. They were probably the artifacts stolen from the movie trailer. So Hitler wasn't entirely unrepresented in this new Nuremberg rally.
Herbert turned from the fires so his eyes would again adjust to the darkness, and peered around for Jody.
When the cheering died, he heard a voice whisper behind him, "I waited for you."
Herbert turned and saw Jody. She looked nervous.
"You should've waited for me back there," Herbert whispered, pointing the way he'd come. "I could've used some help." He took her hand. "Jody, let's go back. Please. This is insane."
She gently tugged her hand away. "I'm scared, but now more than ever I have to fight it."
"You're scared," Herbert whispered, "and you're also obsessing. You're fixated on a goal which has taken on a life of its own. Believe me, Jody, going over to them isn't as big as you're making it."
Herbert's voice was drowned out as the speaker continued. Herbert wished he didn't have to hear him, his voice carrying clearly, forcefully, without a megaphone. Herbert tugged at Jody. She refused to budge.
The German said, "The woman beside me, my co-leader Karin Doring "
Applause rolled from the mob spontaneously, and the man waited. The woman bowed her head but didn't speak.
"Karin has sent emissaries to Hanover," the man shouted as the applause quieted. "In just a few minutes we will all go to the city, to the Beer-Hall, to announce our new union to the world. We will invite our brothers there to join the movement and together we will show civilization its future. A future where sweat and industry will be rewarded "
There was more applause and cheering.
" where perverse cultures and faiths and peoples will be segregated from the heart's blood of society "
The applause and cheering built. It remained strong.
" where spotlights will play across our symbols, our accomplishments."
The applause grew to a torrent and Herbert used the cover of the din to yell at Jody.
"Come on," he said, pulling at her hand again. "These people will fall on you like dingoes."
Jody looked out at them. Herbert couldn't make out her expression in the dark. He had the urge to shoot her in the foot, throw her across his lap, and start wheeling back.
The speaker yelled, "And if the authorities in Hanover turn on us, let them! Let them! For over a year I have been personally harassed by Hauptmann Rosenlocher of the Hamburg police. If I drive too quickly he is there. If I play music too loudly he is there. If I meet with my colleagues, he is there. But he will not beat me. Let them target us individually or together! They'll see that our movement is organized, that our will is strong."
Jody stared out at the rally. "I don't want to die. But I don't want to live pathetically."
"Jody, you won't--"
She wrenched her hand from Herbert. He didn't try to get it back. He wheeled after her, cursing the stubbornness which had stopped