The Valhalla Exchange - Jack Higgins [26]
'But Ritter, Willi. A man like him, they'll follow into the jaws of hell, and you know why? Because men like him don't give a damn. They're what they are. Themselves alone.'
'And what would that be, Reichsleiter?'
'In his case, a very gentle perfect knight. You see, Willi? All that reading I do - even English literature. They think me Bormann the boor, Goebbels and company, but I know more than they do - about everything. Don't you agree?'
'But of course, Reichsleiter.'
'And Ritter - fine Aryan stock, like one of those idealized paintings the Fuhrer loves so much. A standard impossible for the rest of us to attain. Forget the nasty things, Willi. The rapes, the burnings, the camps, the executions. Just think of the ideal. The finest soldier you've ever known. Decent, honourable, chivalrous and totally without fear. What every soldier in the Waffen-SS would like to imagine himself to be, that's what Ritter is.'
'And you think these Finnish barbarians we discussed earlier would concur?'
'The Knight's Cross, Willi, with Oak Leaves and Swords? What do you think?'
Rattenhuber nodded. 'I think that perhaps the Reichsleiter would like me to bring him to the office now.'
'Later, Willi. Now I must go to the Fuhrer. The news of Himmler's defection and Fegelein's cowardice have considerably angered him. He needs me. You speak to Ritter, Willi, when he's had a drink or two. Judge if it's changed him. I'll see him later. After midnight.'
The shelling increased in intensity, the thunder overhead continuous now, so that the walls shook constantly and in the canteen behaviour deteriorated considerably. The place was crowded with a noisy, jostling throng, here and there a drunk lying under the table.
When Rattenhuber returned a couple of hours later, Ritter and Hoffer were still at the table at the rear of the room, playing chess.
Rattenhuber said, 'May I join you?'
Ritter glanced up. 'Why not?'
Rattenhuber winced as a particularly thunderous explosion shook the entire room. 'I didn't like the sound of that. Do you think we're safe here, Major?'
Ritter looked at Hoffer. 'Erich?'
Hoffer shrugged. 'Seventeen point five calibre is the heaviest they've got. Nothing that could get down this far.'
'A comforting thought.' Rattenhuber offered them both cigarettes.
Ritter said, 'Hoffer saw a strange sight some hours ago. General Fegelein being led along the corridor under escort, minus epaulettes and insignia.'
'Yes, very sad. A disgrace to all of us,' Rattenhuber said. 'He cleared off yesterday. When the Fuhrer found he was missing, he sent a detachment out looking for him. The fool was actually at his own house in Charlottenburg in civilian clothes and with a woman. They took him outside and shot him half an hour ago.'
Ritter showed no emotion whatsoever. 'If what you say is so, then there could be no other penalty.'
'No, we can't just leave the war by taking off our uniform and putting on a raincoat, not at this stage,' Rattenhuber said. 'Not any of us.' He lit another cigarette. 'By the way, Major, the Reichsleiter would like to see you a little later on. I'd be obliged if you'd hold yourself in readiness.'
'Naturally,' Ritter said. 'I'm at the Reichsleiter's orders.' The slight, sardonic smile that touched his mouth had an edge of contempt to it. 'Was there anything else?'
Rattenhuber felt in some curious way as if he was being dismissed. 'No,' he said hurriedly. 'I'll look for you here.'
An SS orderly entered the room, gazed around quickly, then bore down on them. He clicked his heels and offered a signal to Rattenhuber. Rattenhuber read it, his face broke into a delighted smile and he waved the orderly away.
'Excellent news. The Fieseler Storch in which Feldmarschall von Greim and Hannah Reitsch flew into Berlin on the 26th was destroyed this morning by artillery fire.'
'So, the Feldmarschall is also a permanent guest here?' Ritter said. 'Bad luck.'
'No, he got away this evening in