The 34th Degree

70

B aron von Berg was looking through the report that had just arrived from Istanbul when Werner entered his office and took a seat opposite the desk. “Well?” von Berg asked without lifting his eyes.

“The Turtle Dove just docked in Piraeus,” Werner reported. “Altenburg, Neubacher, and the home administration are greeting the Red Cross delegation while the consignments are being loaded onto trucks and other ships for distribution. Herr Andros is there directing the effort.”

“And?”

“Your suspicions are confirmed. It was Andros who allegedly was captured by our own security police in the Royal Gardens last night. The soldiers who chased him picked this up off the sidewalk.” He held up a gold cuff link with a large A embossed in the center.

Von Berg took the cuff link and looked at it. Herr Andros, he could see, was a man of considerably more depth than he had given him credit for. “What does our Gestapo chief say?”

“Wisliceny doesn’t have a clue.”

“And now Andros pops up in Piraeus like nothing’s happened.”

“What do you want me to do now?”

“Nothing yet. According to your observations, Andros also met with Aphrodite yesterday atop Likavitos Hill. What did Helmut have to say about his negligence?”

“He was quite speechless, Herr Oberstgruppenfuhrer.”

“And now?”

“Quite lifeless.”

Von Berg sighed and looked out the French doors to the gardens, where orderlies were setting up tables and lights for the Red Cross reception that evening. He was furious that Aphrodite could still love this man. “What do you suppose they talked about, Werner?”

“Who can say, Herr Oberstgruppenfuhrer?”

“We might try Aphrodite. Bring her to me.”

Werner went out. Von Berg walked over to his safe and removed some photos and looked at them. A few minutes later, Aphrodite came in. Werner ushered her to a chair.

“Please make this quick, Ludwig,” said Aphrodite. “There’s so much to do before the reception and so little time.”

“Yes,” von Berg responded coolly, “of that I have no doubt.” He walked over to the French doors and turned around. “You saw Herr Andros yesterday.”

She seemed too shocked to deny it and said nothing.

“What did he say to you, my love?”

“He wishes to marry me, Ludwig.”

“Still? How faithful of him. What did you say?”

“I…I didn’t know what to say.”

Von Berg paused, photos in hand. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to show you these. But I thought you should be informed of your former fiance’s behavior before you make a wrong decision.”

He spread the photos before her. They showed Chris with a blonde at dinner in Switzerland, on the streets, in bed.

“It seems your fiance is not as faithful as he pretends, Aphrodite. I can only wonder what his true motives are for coming back to Athens. Perhaps you could tell me what he’s told you. I couldn’t bear to see you get hurt.”

She looked up at him with angry, confused eyes. She seemed painfully aware, as he was, that the time to choose sides had come.