The Shadowboxer Page 4
“Type of permit?”
“Dental.”
“Priority?”
“Blue.”
“What doctor are you to see?”
“Sadarski.”
Sadarski set the alarm clock for nine minutes and began pumping the foot pedal. The drill burrowed into the second molar. He leaned closer to Grebic’s ear. “Word has just been received over the Goliath Line,” the dentist said softly in Russian. “The Germans believe that Vetter was intercepted by a man named Erik Spangler. This Spangler has been raiding their concentration camps for some time under various aliases, but he’s never taken out a political prisoner before.”
Sadarski stood up and glanced down the long row of dentists working on their patients. No one was watching. He leaned forward and resumed the drilling. “The Germans had known very little about this Spangler until the Vetter escape. The tighter security around political prisoners seems to have provided their first tangible information. A secret meeting of the Council for Extreme Security was called yesterday to consider it. The session took place in Munich. Von Schleiben presided. Carrol was provost. The four permanent members in attendance were Platt for Gestapo, Zieff for Abwehr, and Frankel and Lenz for Sipo-SD and Kripo respectively. Six alternate delegates were also present—Waffen-SS, Totenkopf, Frontier Police, Alpine Detachment, Luftwaffe Supply and the subcommandant of Oranienburg.
“The evidence on Spangler was presented by an SD-Ausland colonel named Webber—”
The patient pushed the drill away. “What is SD-Ausland doing on a camp case? The camps are under Gestapo jurisdiction.”
The drill was replaced by a chisel. “Too many new camps are being built. Too many guards are being called to the front. Escapes are increasing. It is too much for the Gestapo alone. SD-Ausland went on the Spangler case two months ago. Webber was operations chief.”
The chisel was set aside, the cavity examined by the mirror explorer. The drill went back into action. “Webber presented the council with a letter addressed to the commandant of Gusen. It was received several days before Vetter’s escape. It was supposed to have been written by Vetter’s mother, asking permission for something or other. Letters like this are never seen by the commandant, nor are they ever answered. They are read by prisoner secretaries and then burned. Two of these prisoner secretaries were members of the Weeping Nuns, a Catholic secret society at Gusen. The Weeping Nuns were Spangler’s contact. The two secretaries and a third Weeping Nun, the man who led Vetter to the fence, were captured shortly after the escape. They appeared as witnesses at the council meeting. They confirmed the SD-Ausland claim that the letter from Vetter’s mother contained a secret message. They demonstrated how the message text was extracted from the letter text. Then they—”
Grebic again pulled the hand from his mouth. “How was it done?”
“The key was in the return address on the back of the envelope, in the numeral part of the address,” the dentist answered as he drilled. “If the address was 28 Ringstrasse, then the message was made up of the second word in the first line of the letter, the eighth word in the second line, the second word in the third line, the eighth word in the fourth line and so on. If the address began with an even number, then you started with the first line of the letter and worked down. If the address began with an odd number, then you began with the last full line, the bottom line, and worked up. Apparently the letter-to-the-commandant method of communication was used only by Spangler. The two Weeping Nun secretaries identified incoming Spangler mail by the names over the return address. ‘Tannen,’ ‘Heyman,’ ‘Warwick’ and ‘Harovatin’ meant the letter contained a secret message from Spangler.”
The drill was replaced by the chisel. “Testimony at the council stated that the Weeping Nuns found out we were planning to free Vetter—”
The dentist’s hand was again pulled away. “Were any names given?”
“Yes, comrade. Both ‘Kerensky Circle’ and ‘Kuprov’ were mentioned.” The mirror explorer and pick began probing the open mouth. “It was the Weeping Nuns who learned we were coming for Vetter. They contacted Spangler, and the intercept was arranged. The witnesses claimed that Spangler, or what they called the Spangler Group, was one of the three outside organizations they had contact with. They had never seen Spangler or any of his organization. They knew nothing about his operation other than that he contacted them through letter-messages. They claimed that Spangler was their only outside contact specializing in escapes. They said that three weeks prior to Vetter’s escape they received word from Spangler that he was interested in political prisoners. It was because of this that the Weeping Nuns notified him about our intention to bring out Vetter. The Weeping Nuns killed our man inside Gusen, replaced him with one of their own and convinced Vetter you were waiting for him beyond the fence. The Weeping Nuns claimed they had no part in the explosions of the guard towers. The witnesses stated they had no idea how it had been arranged.”
The dentist switched back to the drill. “SD-Ausland was trying to use the Gusen letter to cross-identify a series of secret messages they had intercepted at Oranienburg in the last week and a half. Three messages were found. All were contained in newspaper crossword puzzles like the ones being sold on the camp black market. The puzzles were found in a drop at three-day intervals. SD-Ausland photographed each and returned them to their original hiding place. The messages were in simple cipher and read ‘Miss Aïda,’ ‘Long for Aïda’ and ‘Alert Aïda.’ SD-Ausland cryptologists interpreted these to mean ‘Am interested in Aïda,’ ‘Prepare Aïda’ and ‘Alert Aïda.’ All three messages were smuggled into Political Detention and delivered to Friedrich Tolan’s daughter, Hilka. SD-Ausland is certain that Hilka Tolan is Aïda and that Spangler is coming for her.”
The patient jerked the drill away. “Is Tolan still alive?”
“I have no idea, comrade,” said Sadarski, pushing the bit back into the cavity. “I can only pass on to you what Goliath relayed to me.” He pumped on the foot pedal, and the drilling resumed. “The problem with the Aïda messages is that no date for escape was given. Neither was there any identification in the messages’ text to prove who they came from. This is why a comparison was used.
“The three Weeping Nun witnesses testified that the unique characteristic of Spangler’s letter-messages to Gusen was that no dates for escape were ever provided. Secret messages usually came in series. After the prisoner was selected and the escape plan was given, the second-to-last message would establish either a final signal or a secondary and final signal. The last message would be the ‘ready’ warning. From that point on, the Weeping Nuns would have to have the prisoner ready for transport at any time. They would have to wait for the final signals, but they never knew when they would come. In some cases they waited up to two weeks.
“In Vetter’s situation two ready signals were employed. The first was a telephone call to the guardhouse stating that an incoming delivery truck had crashed nearby. A Weeping Nun prisoner who kept the guardhouse telephone logbook alerted his associates. Vetter was taken to the west fence to wait for the final signal, the second of two power failures.”
Sadarski glanced over at the alarm clock. Three and a half minutes were left. “SD-Ausland was trying to establish that the Oranienburg and Gusen messages were similar in three respects: the date for escape was never given, a final-ready signal system was used, and the sender was never identified in the message text. Since the Gusen letter-message was known to have come from Spangler, they concluded that the crossword-puzzle messages had also come from him.”
Sadarski swung the drill to the side. The chisel began its final scraping. “Two of the Weeping Nun witnesses did know of other organizations working on the no-date, no-identification, final-ready system. One witness remembered a group called the Rag Man who used this pattern in their communication with a secret prisoner society at Dachau. The messages had been conveyed in crossword puzzles. The second Weeping Nun claimed she remembered the crossword puzzle
bearing no-date, no-identification, final-alert messages employed by the Tan Man when she was imprisoned at Mauthausen.”
Sadarski made a final probe of the cavtiy. “SD-Ausland produced three more witnesses and five depositions. Both testimony and statements came from former Weeping Nuns now at other camps. All verified that the crossword-puzzle-type messages were the trademark of either the Tan Man or the Rag Man. According to the revised German dossier on Spangler, both Rag Man and Tan Man are among his known aliases.”
The chisel was used for one final ridge. “According to Goliath, the SD-Ausland seems to have convinced the council that Spangler is coming after Hilka Tolan, but they are meeting resistance from the Gestapo. The Gestapo apparently cannot risk the humiliation of another organization solving in two months what they failed with for over a year. The Gestapo is trying everything they can to block the Council’s approval of the SD-Ausland capture plan—the Webber Proposition.”
“Will they be able to?”
“It depends on this morning’s meeting. If SD-Ausland can establish what day Spangler will be coming for the Tolan girl, then no, there’s nothing the Gestapo can do but join in on the trap.”
Sadarski began mixing the silver-amalgam filling. The alarm clock rang. “I am afraid there is not enough time left to close up the tooth,” he said.
“Leave it as it is.”
“It will be very painful, especially in this cold. You have a long way to travel before you reach our lines.”
“Then pull it.”
Sadarski sighed, picked up his forceps and extracted the molar. A moment later the buzzer sounded. All the dentists stopped work.
“Get word to Goliath,” the patient said, spitting blood. “Say that I want an immediate meeting. Go by Situation Three. Also, get me a copy of that dossier.”
Comrade General Kuprov rose to his feet, fell in line with the fifteen other patients and marched from the room.
4
The Council looked up to the pulpit-balcony. The witness’s striped uniform had been fashioned into a replica of the SS tunic and breeches. He stood unmanacled. An aura of shabby self-importance lingered.
“Name?” demanded Webber.
“Prisoner SP-M 32113, Herr Standartenfuehrer.”
“Prisoner from where?”
“Concentration Camp Breendonck, now on special assignment to SD-Ausland, Standartenfuehrer.”
“The prisoner,” von Schleiben interjected, “will refrain from using the word ‘Standartenfuehrer.’”
“List your occupations prior to arrest,” Webber continued.
“Doctor of brain surgery, psychoanalyst, criminologist, professor, author, lect—”
“Were you a full professor?”
“Oh, quite assuredly, Herr Stand—Excuse me. Yes, a full professor.”
“Where have you taught?”
“The University of Vienna, the University of Heidelberg, Princeton University—that is in the United States of America, Standartenfuehrer—Oxford Univ—”
“What subjects did you teach?”
“Criminology, Stand—criminology. Most particularly the area of criminal pathology and, to a lesser degree …”
Platt stared intently at the witness.
“Have you written books on the subject of criminal pathology?” Webber continued.
“Precisely eleven, Standartenfuehrer. Eleven volumes, of which five—”
“Then you could be considered an expert in the field of criminal pathology?”
“There was a time—”
“Prior to arrest, what was your name?”
“Excuse me, Herr Stan—”
“What was your name before you were arrested?”
“… My name?”
“Yes, your name.”
“Oh … of course. I was—I am Professor Franz Josef Tebet—”
“This is an outrage,” Platt shouted, jumping to his feet. “Obergruppenfuehrer, Herr Webber has intentionally deceived and insulted this body by confronting it not only with a degenerate, but with a notorious and unconscionable charlatan as well. Even his fellow Jews have disavowed his mad rantings. If the facts be known—”
“If the facts be known,” Webber countered, “Herr Platt was once a student of this so-called heretic, a student who twice failed the examinations.”
“That is a lie, an abject lie. I demand—”
Von Schleiben’s fist crashed onto the table. “Sit down.”
“But—”
“Down.”
Platt hesitated, flushed, then slowly lowered himself into his chair.
“If you have a request,” von Schleiben announced with benevolence, “it will be made in ordinary tones, not at the top of your lungs.”
“I request the removal of the charlatan, Obergruppenfuehrer,” muttered Platt.
“Request noted. Webber, continue, but be warned: the introduction of alien and degenerate philosophy will not be tolerated.”
“Of course, Obergruppenfuehrer.” Webber turned back to Tebet. “Have you read the dossier and other material relating to Erik Spangler?”
“I have read it most thoroughly, Herr Standartenfuehrer,” Tebet replied, wiping the perspiration from his forehead.
“From the material presented you, is it possible to determine the date or dates on which Spangler will attempt to free Hilka Tolan?”
“Most definitely, Herr Standartenfuehrer.”
“What are those dates?”
“The twenty-sixth of this month. It is possible he might appear on the eighth or the seventeenth of next month, but I would think such a delay is most improbable.”
“Which material on Spangler led you to this conclusion?”
“The Chronology of Events.”
“The three-page Chronology of Events in the Spangler Dossier?”
“Yes, Standartenfuehrer.”
“The dossier contains over eight hundred pages,” Webber commented in feigned amazement, “yet you contend that only three pages were required to establish the date of escape?”
Platt began to rise, but von Schleiben motioned him down. “Herr Webber,” he counseled sternly, “whatever point you are trying to make with this witness, get on with it.”
“Certainly, Herr Obergruppenfuehrer.”
Webber motioned. Typewritten pages were distributed.
Von Schleiben stared down at the sheet.
EXHIBIT V
8 Feb 1942,
Ebansee
17 Feb 1942
26 Feb 1942
14 Mar 1942
27 Mar 1942
7 Apr 1942
11 Apr 1942
23 Apr 1942
23 Apr 1942
8 Jun 1942,
Ebansee
17 Jun 1942
5 Oct 1942
6 Oct 1942
26 Dec 1942,
Ebansee
23 Mar 1943
5 Apr 1943
5 Apr 1943
26 Aug 1943
12 Oct 1943
12 Oct 1943
17 Nov 1943
20 Nov 1943
20 Nov 1943
9 Jan 1944
“Explain!” Webber commanded.
Tebet cleared his throat. “You see in front of you—”
“Louder!”
“You see in front of you,” the prisoner repeated more audibly, “the list of dates extracted from the Chronology of Events in Spangler’s dossier.”
Tebet paused for reproaches. None came. “The word ‘Ebansee’ beside three of the dates shows the only times Spangler returned to a concentration camp more than once. Those dates which are underlined indicate when a murder was committed. There are two important factors to note: first, the numerical dates of Spangler’s first three escapes—the eighth, the seventeenth and the twenty-sixth; and, second, the numerical dates immediately following a murder.”
Webber motioned. A second sheet of paper was distributed.
EXHIBIT VI
A
B
C
D
E
F
8 Feb (E)
8 Jun (E)
26 Dec (E)
26 Aug
17 Nov
9 Jan
17 Feb
17 Jun
23 Mar
12 Oct
20 Nov
26 Feb
5 Oct
5 Apr
12 Oct
20 Nov
14 Mar
6 Oct
5 Apr
7 Mar
11 Apr
23 Apr
23 Apr
“In Exhibit Six, the days have been divided so that the dates following a murder are more clearly evident. We see at once that each column, with the exception of the last, F, starts with either eight, seventeen or twenty-six—the same pattern established with Spangler’s first three escapes in Column A.”
Tebet hesitated. Von Schleiben was staring at him curiously. Platt was busy making notes. “As for Column F, the ninth of January, it ostensibly indicates that day on which Vetter was first reported to have been freed by Spangler. It has subsequently been established, however, that Vetter left the compound slightly before midnight on January eighth. Thus we see that the eight–seventeen–twenty-six combination holds throughout. One can conclude, without hesitation, that once Spangler commits a murder his next escape will take place on either the eighth, the seventeenth or the twenty-sixth day of a month.”