Day of Judgment

– in here.’

Van Buren entered, hands in the pockets of his coat. He stood in front of the desk, that slight, mocking smile set firmly in place.

‘You find something amusing?’ Ulbricht enquired.

‘My deep regrets, Comrade Chairman,’ Van Buren said. ‘But the smile is beyond my control. A Chinese bayonet in the face at Koto-Ri in Korea in the winter of nineteen-fifty when I was serving with the American Marines. Eight stitches, very badly administered by a medical orderly who didn’t really know much better. He left me looking on the bright side permanently.’

‘This Conlin affair,’ Ulbricht said im patiently. ‘You understand the implications?’

‘They’ve been explained to me.’

‘Then allow me to refresh your memory. Conlin, as you know, stood beside Niemoller in opposition to the Nazis. Went to Dachau for it.’

‘And survived,’ Van Buren said. ‘Which means he must be quite a man. I’ve been looking him up. At his trial in nineteen-thirtyeight the Nazis were able to prove that his organization had helped more than six thousand Jews to escape from Germany over a two-year period. The Israelis gave him honorary citizenship two years ago.’

‘None of which is material to the present issue,’ Ulbricht said. ‘We have a situation in which thousands of misguided comrades persist in attempting to cross over to West Germany. In the main, they have to rely on the help of organizations based on the other side who operate purely for financial gain.’

‘Exactly. This League of the Resurrection of his asks for nothing.’

‘Very charitable of them.’

‘Which unfortunately makes for excellent publicity,’ Klein said. ‘It has made Conlin a celebrity again. He was featured on the front of Life magazine in America only four months ago. Last year he was recommended for a Nobel peace prize and had to turn it down because the Church didn’t approve.’

‘I should imagine that must have been the first time in years he took any notice of the Vatican,’ Van Buren commented.

Ulbricht said, ‘You know that President Kennedy visits Berlin next month?’

‘I had heard.’

Ulbricht was angry now, removed his glasses and polished them vigorously. A dedicated Communist of the old school, he had managed to prevent, in East Germany at any rate, the de-Stalinization movement which had swept Eastern Europe after the death of the Russian dictator. There was no one he hated more than the present American president, especially since his triumph in the Cuban crisis.

‘If it could be proved in a public trial that Father Conlin’s actions were motivated not so much by Christian ideals as by political ones, if he could be made to admit to the world his involvement with the American CIA and their espionage activities directed against our Republic; this would have the most damaging effect on Kennedy’s visit to Berlin. It would, in fact, make it totally worthless as a diplomatic gesture.’

‘I understand.’

‘For God’s sake, man.’ Ulbricht was almost angry now. ‘Rats in cages, dogs oozing saliva at the sound of a bell. I know as much of this Pavlovian psychology as anyone, but can you really change a man? Make him act like a different person? Because that’s what we need. Conlin to stand up in court before the cameras of the world and freely admit to having been a political agent acting for the Western powers.’

‘Comrade,’ Harry Van Buren said crisply, ‘I could make the Devil himself think he was Christ walking on the water, given enough time.’

‘Which is exactly what we don’t have,’ Klein said. ‘The problem of the Campbell girl and her knowledge of the affair has solved itself, but there will be others. Conlin’s associates in this League of Resurrection will be aware, within a matter of days, that something has gone badly wrong.’ He hesitated, then said carefully to Ulbricht, ‘And then, of course, Comrade, there are certain traitors in our own ranks still …’

‘I know that, man, I’m not a fool,’ Ulbricht said impatiently. ‘What you are saying is that there are those in the West who will discover what’s happened and attempt to do something about it?’ He shook his head. ‘Not officially, believe me. The Americans are heavily concerned to improve relations with Russia at the moment and Pope John’s attempts to come to terms with the Eastern bloc speak for themselves. And what can they say? Conlin has simply ceased to exist. After all, he shouldn’t have been here in the first place, should he?’

He actually permitted himself a smile.

‘Of course, Comrade,’ Klein said.

‘I have every confidence in your ability to deal with any such attempts with your usual efficiency, Colonel.’

There was a slight silence. Ulbricht adjusted his glasses and said to Van Buren, ‘You have a month. One month, that’s all, before Kennedy’s visit. You have those papers, Colonel Klein?’ Klein produced a sheaf of documents instantly and laid them before Ulbricht, who took out his pen and signed them, one after the other.

‘These give you full authority, civil and military, in the district of Neustadt where Conlon is being held at the Schloss. Power of life and death, total and complete, Comrade. See that you use it wisely.’

Van Buren took them from him without a word and Klein came forward with the Chairman’s coat as Ulbricht stood up. He helped him into it, then escorted him to the door.

Ulbricht turned, looking from one to the other. ‘When I was a boy, my mother was

very fond of reading the Bible to me. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” I remember that phrase particularly. The Council of State feels exactly like that, Comrades, towards those who succeed, but for the failures …’

He put on his hat and went out, closing the door behind him.

Klein turned to Van Buren. ‘So, my friend, it begins,’ he said.

3

For Margaret Campbell re-birth was a nightmare. Of suffocation, of freezing cold and then a long darkness from which she finally surfaced to find a middle-aged, grey-haired man at her side. He wore a brown habit, with a knotted cord at his waist from which a large crucifix was suspended.

Her mouth was dry so that she found it impossible to speak and he got an arm around her shoulders and put a glass to her lips.

‘Easy now,’ he said in German.

She coughed a little and said hoarsely, ‘Who are you?’

‘Brother Konrad, of the Franciscan order of Jesus and Mary. This is our house at Neustadt.’

‘How did I come here?’

‘One of my brothers found you this morning, caught on the weir, draped across the trunk of a tree. The Elbe is in flood because of the heavy rains.’

She tried to move and was aware of an excruciating pain in her left leg. Her hand, moving instinctively to the spot, encountered heavy bandages. ‘Is it broken?’

‘I think not. Very badly sprained. A torn thigh muscle.’

‘You seem very sure.’

‘I’m not without experience in these matters, Fräulein. During the war I served as a volunteer with the medical corps, mainly on the Russian front. Unfortunately the nearest doctor is at Stendal, but if you think it necessary …’

‘No,’ she said. ‘The nearest doctor is here.’

‘I see.’ He nodded calmly. ‘On the other hand, although our Lord said, “Physician, heal thyself”, this is not the easiest of precepts to follow.’

‘I am in your hands, it would seem.’

‘Exactly.’ He gave her two white tablets and a glass of water. ‘Take these, they will help with the pain.’ He arranged the pillow behind her head to make her more comfortable. ‘Sleep now. We will talk again later, Fräulein …?’

‘Campbell,’ she said. ‘Margaret Campbell.’

‘Is there someone I can notify of your safety?’