Vengeance 10

‘I want to talk to you about that,’ Mundt said. ‘You’re a conscientious worker and a good engineer. Is there anything in your background that you would not want the SD to uncover?’

Memling choked on his bread ration, and Mundt thumped him on the back.

‘That’s always the reaction when you talk about the SD.’ He laughed. ‘Look here, I mentioned you to Doktor von Braun and described the work you had done. He was most impressed. We have another project going here,’ he went on, not noticing how Memling paled, ‘much more important than I can even begin to tell you. If we had our way, the A-Four would be scrapped. If we could begin again, with what we know now the missile would be entirely redesigned. Its reliability might reach as high as ninety-two per cent rather than seventy-two point four per cent. However, enough of that. This other project concerns space travel.’

He said this last without inflection and sat back to watch Memling’s reaction. He wasn’t disappointed.

‘Space travel! What the devil are you talking about? I thought this was a military installation?’

‘It is, but some of us are looking far beyond the war. We all agree the future of the human race lies in space travel. You said as much yourself, and we need good engineers for that project. Our staffing problem is horrible, especially for non-military projects. Whenever we find someone who shows promise, we try to recruit him. So, once those specifications are finished, you will be transferred to this other project, which is being directed by Herr Doktor Franz Bethwig. I don’t suppose you know him?’

My God, who next, Memling thought, just managing to shake his head.

‘Franz has been with us since the VfR days. He’s a damned good sort and you’ll like working for him. When I go back to my laboratory tomorrow, you are to go with me. Now, this project is secret, so keep your mouth shut about what I tell you. We are developing a rocket engine that will produce one hundred and fifty-nine thousand kilograms of thrust. That’s nearly six and a half times more powerful than the A-Four. The engine is simpler and a hell of a lot more reliable. The idea is to cluster enough into a single booster rocket’ — Mundt glanced around quickly — ‘to produce a total thrust of three and a half million kilos. Now where do you think we can go with that?’

Memling stared at him in disbelief. ‘Three and a half million…’ His voice trailed away in astonishment. ‘You can’t be serious?’

‘But I am. We’ve already launched three test vehicles.’

‘Three….!’ The idea was almost more than Memling could grasp. The strides the Germans had made in the past decade were astounding. They had gone from firecrackers shot across a deserted World War I army camp near Berlin, to a rocket with six and a half million pounds of thrust.

‘What altitude have you reached?’ he asked, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the technological advance, conceal his dismay, and sound vitally interested at the same time.

‘It is not altitude that counts these days but range, my friend. And that is secret, so let us just say that one of our U-boats photographed the third test vehicle as it fell into the South Atlantic.’ Mundt laughed with delight at his expression.

‘But that is incredible! With that much power you could reach the moon.’

Mundt winked. ‘I have told you enough to whet your appetite. Would you like to join us and accomplish something meaningful?’

‘What would I do?’ Memling stammered.

‘Work with me, of course. As my assistant. I need someone to oversee the preparation of the appropriate documentation for the engines. You would also assist in supervising the test crews. Now, yes or no?’

‘Yes! Of course, yes! How could I possibly say no?’

‘Good.’ Mundt beamed with satisfaction. ‘Report to Building Twenty-three at seven a.m. The guards will tell you where to go. You’ll have your own office and secretary. We even have air conditioning, and of course, as a member of the professional staff, you will have access to the officers’ club. For the first few days you will not be allowed to do much, as you won’t have the proper security clearances. I should warn you that this project has attracted the personal interest of someone very high in the SS. So, the SD is in charge of security, rather than the army. But don’t worry about that. I knew you were going to say yes, so I submitted your name to the SD two days ago. It normally takes only three or four days to complete a security check.’

Memling could only nod weakly.

Mundt grabbed up his shirt. ‘Well, now that’s settled and the girls are waiting. Sorry you can’t come along, but then that is what I liked about you from the start. No nonsense when it comes to work.’

* * *

Memling burst into the kitchen, grabbed Francine, and hurried her to the attic in spite of her protests.

‘We’re leaving tonight,’ he told her. ‘As soon as it’s dark.’

‘Leave tonight?’ Francine wailed, and Memling glared her into silence.