Mila 18 - Leon Uris [178]
“I thought you would comprehend the situation.”
“But, as always, Max Kleperman is a reasonable man.”
Max nodded in the direction of the SS men. Koenig ordered them to wait outside.
“Now, Kleperman, let’s make a clean breast. How much do you have sitting in Swiss banks, and which banks?”
“I have forty thousand dollars on demand,” Max confided.
“Which banks?”
Max wiped his forehead with his sleeve.
“May I conclude, Herr Doktor, that the various contracts between you and the Big Seven are about to be terminated?”
“You may conclude whatever you wish to conclude.”
Max cleared his throat and leaned over the desk to dispense a great confidence. “The fact is, I have a few dollars more. Fifty thousand. Frankly, I am weary of business. I should like to enjoy the fruits of my labor. Now—we make a final deal. I’ll sign half this money to you now and half when I arrive in Bern with my family.”
Koenig rocked in his chair and smiled tightly. “Ready to jump ship, eh, Max.”
Max winked.
“How about your partners?”
“Believe me, I’ve tolerated those thieves as long as it is humanly possible. I think this is a reasonable way for two honorable men to end a long and fruitful association.”
“But, Max, how will you live?”
“Somehow, I’ll struggle by.”
“Perhaps with the money in the National Bank in Geneva?”
“Oh—oh yes, I did have an account there.”
“And the Bank of South America in Buenos Aires, and the Grain Exchange in Rio de Janeiro.”
“Herr, Herr, Herr ...”
Koenig spread six documents before Kleperman and handed him a pen. “Just sign these, Mr. Kleperman. We will fill in the details.”
Max’s face twitched violently. A belch of misplaced cigar smoke gagged him. “The other partners have money over the border too. If I sign these papers and give you the information on them, do I get a passport?”
Koenig smiled. “You’ve made yourself a deal.”
Max scrawled his signature on the papers, giving away over two hundred thousand ill-earned dollars. Droplets of sweat dripped on the transfers as he signed.
“When I arrive in Switzerland I will give you the information on the others.”
Koenig nodded. “We knew we could depend on your co-operation, Max. You will receive information about your departure shortly.”
Max was sick, but he still had his life. The pair of SS men led him out of Koenig’s palace. He had money in eight banks. There were two places that that righteous thief Koenig had not discovered. Max flopped in the back seat of his car, removed his hat, and fanned himself and groaned.
His eyes bulged in terror! His cigar fell from his mouth. His chauffeur had been replaced by an SS man, and his bodyguard was gone. Before he could budge, a pair of SS were on either side of him and the car whisked out of the driveway. It stopped six minutes later at the entrance to the Jewish cemetery.
Max was white with terror at the sight of Sturmbannführer Sieghold Stutze. The SS men had to help him walk. Stutze tapped a length of pipe in his open palm as Max was dragged before him. Kleperman took off his hat. “Your excellency, Sturmbannführer ... I ... I ...”
Stutze spoke. “I wanted to be here for you personally, Kleperman. You are the filthiest of all the filthy Jews. I have always admired that ring of yours. No, don’t bother to give it to me now. I’ll get it after the execution.”
“Ah, then ... you did not receive the word. Dr. Koenig and I made a deal. You are in for a hundred thousand dollars ... you see ...”
“Shut up. You didn’t really think we would let you out of Poland with what you know?”
“My lips are sealed. I swear it.”
“You don’t have to swear it. We are going to seal them for you.”
Six powerful hands gripped him. He dropped to his knees. They began to drag him.
“Wait!” the Austrian said. “Let him crawl.”
“Excellency. There is more money. I didn’t tell Koenig. You ... me ... a private deal ...”
The lead pipe caught Kleperman behind the ear. He pitched face down on the dirt and crawled to Stutze and threw his arms around his knees. “Mercy! Mercy! Mercy for Max Kleperman!”
The pipe came down