'Nothing is as simple as that, Mr Wilson, as you and I both know. You're an American citizen, and no matter your grievances, you must still love the country you came from.'

'I do not, Reichsfhrer. To me, it's just another country and one that can't help me.'

Himmler actually looked shocked, as if blasphemy had been spoken. 'Patriotism!' he exclaimed. 'You have no sense of that?'

'No.'

'I find that hard to believe.'

'Believe it.'

'If you were a German citizen, I'd have you shot for that att.i.tude.' 'I'm not German, Reichsfhrer.'

Himmler picked up a pencil, drummed it on the desk, tapped it lightly against his teeth, then put it down again. He sighed, almost sadly. 'Even though our country is not at war with yours, what you've done, in coming here to work for us, is virtually treason. Are you a traitor? Is that what you want to be?'

Wilson had to admire him for saying that. The chicken farmer was no fool. He looked like a schoolteacher, perhaps even a monk, but mixed in with his lunatic ideas was a steely intelligence. Not a vast intelligence, but a sharp one, which meant that he had to be handled carefully and never taken for granted.

'A traitor?' Wilson said. 'I don't think in such terms. I was exploited by my government, then betrayed and cast aside, and now I wish to lend my talents to those who will use them.'

'Lend your talents?'

The question actually amused Wilson. 'How wise you are, Reichsfhrer, to understand that a man of my ambition would not willingly do anything for free. Naturally, I came here for the most selfish reasons because I live for my work and only someone like you would have the vision and courage to finance it. I'll work for you as long as you finance my research which is why I wrote to you.'

'And you do not care to what ends your research will finally be put?'

'A true scientist can't be concerned with such matters. My only concern is the pursuit of ultimate knowledge and I know you agree with that. I'm just as much a soldier as you are, but what I fight for is science.'

'Are you as ruthless as a soldier, Herr Wilson?'

'Yes, Reichsfhrer, I am.'

Himmler smiled, obviously pleased with this response, though his smile held no warmth.

'Why me?' he asked softly. 'Of all the people in the Third Reich, why did you write to me, rather than to some influential scientist or politician? You must have known you were taking a great chance exposing yourself as an alien who used false identification papers in order to obtain a position in one of our most important research establishments and that I could have decided to have you shot as a spy. So why me, Herr Wilson?'

'Because you're a man of vision,' Wilson said, combining a lie with a certain amount of truth. He felt that Himmler was, indeed, a man of great dreams, if not vision, who would support any kind of research, no matter how esoteric or even mad. For that, if for very little else, he would certainly be useful. 'Because you believe in the limitless possibilities of the future, will back your beliefs with actions, and will not let petty human emotions stand in your way. You and I, Herr Himmler, if I may say so, are similar that way.'

'What you say may be true,' Himmler replied, unmoved by flattery, 'but it still doesn't explain why I should give you, a foreigner, my support, particularly since you wish to take part in our most vital, and therefore confidential, research.'

'You should give me your support, Reichsfhrer, because my papers have shown you what I can do and what I can do is much more than anyone you have could do.'

'Some of my scientists would take offence at that remark.'

'That wouldn't change its accuracy. My work is proof of my genius. More important, I'm engaged in a project similar to one you've already started: the creation of a revolutionary form of transport and extraordinary weapon.'

'You mean Projekt Saucer.'

'Yes, Reichsfhrer.'

'And how did you know about that, Herr Wilson, since the project is under SS supervision?'

'There are always whispers, Reichsfhrer, particularly among scientists, and naturally I picked them up in Friedrichshafen. I was also puzzled to see certain, odd machine parts in the Zeppelin Works but when combined with some of the experiments taking place in the wind tunnel, I realized they could only relate to the development of an aircraft shaped like a saucer the kind of machine being researched with Projekt Saucer at k.u.mmersdorf West.'

'What kind of experiments were you doing in the Zeppelin wind tunnel?'

'Tests relating to Prandtl's boundary layer.'

'The importance of which is?'

'If we can't solve the problem of the boundary layer, the speed and manoeuvrability of our aircraft will always be limited.'

'Please explain.'

'The perfect flying machine will be one that requires no runway, since it will take off vertically, will be able to hover in midair, and will not be limited in flight by Prandtl's boundary layer.'