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Von Braun watched as Kappler pulled back his left cuff to look at his wristwatch. Von Braun noticed that it was a very fine gold Patek Philippe.

“Wernher,” Kappler said, somewhat impatiently, “I was happy to make a place in my schedule for you. But having just returned from a two-week trip, I have much to catch up on. Can we get to the point of this? I postponed two meetings and absolutely cannot miss my eleven o’clock appointment.”

Wernher von Braun, not accustomed to being so ordered, made a face as he locked eyes with Kappler.

“Very well,” von Braun said. “Tell me about Walter Höss.”

Oh, he’s a real winner. You can have him to go with Schwartz.

But then I’d have to replace him, and I already have him in my pocket.

The next man may not be as easy.

“In all honesty, Wernher?”

“Of course!”

“Well, while Höss is not in Schwartz’s league—”

“Few are,” von Braun interrupted. “You must miss him.”

Oh, yes.

How I miss the bastard.

“—I believe him to be quite capable. He is doing fine in the job.”

“Very good. Then there is no reason that the Special Program quotas cannot be met?”

What do I tell him?

“Well, Wernher, my friend, the first thing I am going to do when I am done in Berlin is rush back to Frankfurt and try to find a quiet way to sabotage the conversion of the plant from high explosives to nerve gas. Other than that? Everything

should be fine.”

“None that I know of,” Kappler said. “Everything should be fine.”

“Very good. It is critical that we remain on schedule. We have been dealt setbacks. First with the bombings in the Ruhr Valley. Loss of the manufacture of certain metals has required that I redesign airfoils among other parts. . . .” He paused, then went on, “I do not know why I tell you this, except having just now been on the receiving end of Hitler’s temper I’m still mentally going over all that I now need to do.”

“I understand.”

“I presume your steelwork losses in the Ruhr are the reason for your meeting with Herr Krupp.”

So he did put some thought into why I mentioned Krupp.

“Among other things, yes.”

“You have my sympathies. I cannot tell you how upset losing Klaus has been,” Wernher von Braun then said.

What?

“You lost Klaus? He no longer works with you?”

Wernher von Braun suddenly looked shocked.

“You don’t know?” he said. “I must say that I am surprised—”

“I’ve been traveling a great deal, as I said. What about Klaus?”