The Dark Arena - Mario Puzo [108]
She motioned to Eddie to come to the phone. “Yes,” Eddie said into the phone,
The voice of a man, speaking almost perfect English, heavy with authority, said, “I am sorry, we cannot give information over the phone.”
Eddie knew it would be hopeless to argue with that voice. He recognized the tone. The confidence of a man complying strictly with laws and regulations which governed his own little but complete world. He said, “Let me ask one thing. The woman you have in your hospital, her husband or her lover, what you wiU, is in Frankfort. Now. Is it serious enough that I should tell him to return immediately to see her?”
The heavy voice said, “I would advise that you do so ”
Eddie Cassin said, “He is there on important business. He would not wish to return, unless it is absolutely necessary.”
There was a short silence. Then the heavy voice with a surprising gentleness, said, “I think you should tell him that he must come.”
Eddie hung up. He saw Inge was watching him, wide-eyed. He said, “Get me a clean glass.” When she went out he picked up the phone and asked the Army operator to get him the line to Frankfort. He was still waiting when Inge came back with the glass. He let her hold the phone and made himself a strong drink from the bottle of gin and tin of grapefruit juice in his desk. Then he took back the phone.
When he got through to Frankfort, he asked for the Adjutant Section of the headquarters. He talked to three officers before he learned that Mosca had been there the day before and was now probably in the Legal Section. When he got through to the Legal Section they told him that Mosca had left an hour before. They didn't have any idea where he would be now. Eddie hung up the phone and finished his drink. He made another and picked up the phone again. He thought a moment, then when he got the Frankfort line, he asked for the message crater in the I. G. Farben Building. A sergeant answered and he explained briefly why he had to locate Mosca and asked him if he would broadcast a message over the loud-speaker for Mosca to come to the phone. The sergeant told him to wait Then he came back to say that the announcement would go on and that he should hold on.
Eddie waited for a long time. He had finished the second drink. Suddenly Mosca's voice came over the phone, saying, “Hello, who is this?” There was only surprise in the voice, no anxiety.
Eddie couldn't speak for a moment. TTien he said, “Waiter, it's Eddie. How are you making out?”
Mosca said, “I don't know yet, they just chase me from one office to another. Is anything wrong up there?”
Eddie cleared his throat. He spoke casually. “I guess you'll have to let that deal go, Walter. Your landlady sent a message to Meyer that Hella was taken to the hospital. Meyer sent the messenger out to the base and I called the hospital. They wouldn't give any information over the phone but it sounds serious.”
There was a pause and then Mosca's voice came ovei the wire, haltingly, as if he were searching for the words. “You really don't know anything else?”
“I swear to Christ,” Eddie said. “But you better come back.”
There was a still longer pause. Then Mosca said, “I'll catch the night train at six o'clock. Meet me at the station, Eddie. I think we get in about four in the morning.”
“Sure,” Eddie said. “I'm going down to the hospital as soon as I hang up. Okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Eddie.” There was a click on the othei end and Eddie Cassin hung up.
He made himself another quick drink. He said to Inge. “I won't be back today.” He put the bottle and juice in his briefcase and left the air base.
The city of Bremen was dark when Mosca got off the train from Frankfort. It was not quite four in the morning. In the square outside the station an olive-drab Army bus waited, barely visible. The square was illuminated onfy by a few weak lampposts which scattered