The 34th Degree

PERSONAL. MOST SECRET. UNUSUAL ARRIVAL IN BERN MAY INTEREST YOU. CHRIS

Von Berg stared at the message, filled with a strange mixture of fear and excitement. Chris Andros, he thought. My God, you do exist after all.

For too long he had been haunted by the ghost of Andros, not because the man was any threat in himself-that remained to be seen-but because of Aphrodite. While he could remove a dagger from her lovely hand, he could not remove the poison from her blood: her love for this infidel. And just when he was on the brink of deposing Hitler, rescuing continental Europe, and establishing global peace, this devil Andros has chosen to surface in Bern after four years. Why now, of all times?

Franz cleared his throat. “Trouble, Herr Oberstgruppenfuhrer?”

“Perhaps, Franz.” Von Berg put the signal down on Buzzini’s desk and picked up the commandant’s coffee cup. He took a sip and frowned. Terrible stuff. No wonder the Italian was always in a bad mood. He put it down. “I need you to draft a signal for Bern.”

Franz stiffened to attention in his chair. “ Zu Befehl, Herr Oberstgruppenfuhrer.”

Von Berg perceived Andros as a psychological threat to his control of Aphrodite and his plans, which he now began to see were intertwined. What was the use of being a sovereign without her? His mission suddenly lost its meaning. But how could that be if he didn’t believe in meaning? He pushed the thought out of his mind and began his dictation.

“‘To German minister Kocher, personal, most secret, et cetera,’” von Berg began with a wave of his hand. “‘Interested in Andros arrival. Would like to greet personally, see what business he has in Bern. Arrange proper reception in person of Agent Barracuda. Expect detailed report as soon as possible. Von Berg.’”

“No more, Herr Oberstgruppenfuhrer?”

“Not yet, Franz.” Von Berg stood at the window and looked out at the lush green spiniada of Corfu Town. “So, Herr Andros, you return. Let’s see what kind of a man you really are.”