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Von Dattenberg took the uniform.

“That will be all, Plinzer. Thank you.”

“Jawohl, Herr Kapitän,” Plinzer said, threw out his arm, barked, “Heil Hitler!” again, then stood there, obviously waiting for von Dattenberg to return the salute.

He almost didn’t.

Fuck the Nazis and their salute!

What’ll this kid do, report me to one of the SS officers?

And, anyway, what the hell could they do to me on a submarine-replenishment vessel off the Falkland Islands?

For that matter, what the hell is the SS doing on a submarine-replenishment vessel off the Falkland Islands?

In the end, he returned the salute by raising his arm from the elbow.

That arrogant kid would’ve reported me for not saluting.

But he’s not going to complain that my salute wasn’t as crisp or enthusiastic as he thought it should’ve been.

Capitán de Banderano came back to his cabin moments after von Dattenberg had put on the new uniform, still smelling of camphor mothballs.

He smiled and raised his hands in a gesture that said, Well, what a change!

Von Dattenberg smiled back.

“When the fuel’s running low, the first thing that gets shut down is the seawater distiller,” von Dattenberg said.

De Banderano nodded his understanding.

“Is there anything else I can get you?”

"I don’t suppose you have a well-breasted blonde—or two—who just loves sailors?”

De Banderano chuckled as he shook his head.

“Thank you very much for all you’ve given me so far, Capitán.”

"My privilege, Kapitän,” de Banderano said. He looked at the young U-boat captain for a moment—he had liked him from the moment he saw him in the conning tower of the U-405—and decided to go ahead with what he had just about decided to do somewhat later.

“I have your orders, Kapitän,” de Banderano said. “I’m familiar with them. Would you like to have them now, or wait until Sturmbannführer Kötl, to whom the orders also apply, can join us?”

Without hesitation, von Dattenberg replied, “I’d prefer to have them now, if you don’t mind.”

De Banderano went to a wall safe, took three large gray manila envelopes from it, and handed one of them to von Dattenberg.

“Sir, the seal is broken,” von Dattenberg said.

“My orders gave me the authority to open yours,” de Banderano said.

MOST SECRET

Oberste Hauptsitze der Kriegsmarine

Berlin

2 June 1943