'And how do you propose creating such a machine?'

'By building the perfect flying wing a circular wing that is, in a sense, wrapped around its suction pump, with the pump being part and parcel of the engine a machine shaped like a saucer and by constructing it from a porous metal that will act like a sponge and remove the need for air intakes altogether. This would result in frictionless air flow during flight: in an aircraft that slips through the air in the same way as a piece of wet soap slips through the fingers. Its speed and manoeuvring capabilities would be literally limitless.'

Wilson felt excited merely thinking about it, and could see, in the sheltered gleam of Stoll's dark gaze that he was feeling the same way. Nevertheless, the young oberleutnant was being careful about showing his true feelings.

'This sounds wonderful in theory,' he said, 'but practice is something else again. I'm not sure that your so-called porous metal is a realistic proposition.'

'In fact, it's being worked on right now,' Wilson said, 'and right here in Germany. Among the many other experiments I helped run in the Zeppelin wind tunnel were those concerning different porous metals being created by the scientists of Gottingen and Volkenroda: a compound of magnesium and aluminium. The scientists are calling it Luftschwamm, or aerosponge... and I think it will work.'

The instant he saw Lieutenant Stoll fold up his papers and slip them back into his briefcase, Wilson knew he had won. 'It's interesting,' the lieutenant said, pushing his chair back and standing up, 'that even the great Russian, Tsiolokovsky, evinced a strong interest in circular, hyperbolic, and spherical airframes.'

'I can see that you know more about this subject than you pretend, Oberleutnant,' Wilson replied, thus making the sombre SS officer smile. 'And knowing that, you clearly also know that the extensive research into all-wing aircraft and rocketry that's been carried out in Germany during the past decade is directly due to German admiration for Tsiolokovsky's theories.'

'And due to admiration for the American, Robert H. G.o.ddard, for whom you worked for six months.'

'I have to admit that although he's my junior, I learned a lot from G.o.ddard about the problems of stabilization and gyroscopic controls. That's why I wanted to work with him. It was my only weak area.'

Smiling genuinely for the first time, the lieutenant said, 'Come, Herr Wilson, we are leaving. We are going to put you to work. We do not have much time, so don't bother with your possessions. This cell will be cleaned out as soon as we leave, and your possessions here, as well as those being kept by the Gestapo, will be forwarded to you this afternoon. So please, follow me right now.'

Quietly exultant, Wilson was led out of the cell and up the stairs to the lobby near the front door of the building. There, while he adjusted to his sudden sense of s.p.a.ce and movement (after weeks in his tiny cell, this lobby appeared to be immense and far too crowded), he was given an army greatcoat. Then he was led out to the police car waiting for him in the Prinz Albrechtstra.s.se.

Seated in the rear beside the notably more relaxed Lieutenant Ernst Stoll, Wilson gazed out the window as the car pulled away from the curb and proceeded through Berlin. In the early afternoon's pearly light, the city looked solid, busy, and perfectly normal, except for a notable increase in military personnel and vehicles, which seemed to be everywhere.

'This is a city preparing for war,' Wilson said.

'Yes,' Stoll replied. 'You're very observant.'

Intrigued by the handsome young lieutenant's oddly haunted look and reticence, Wilson said, taking a chance, 'Am I allowed to ask if you're involved with scientific work as distinct from intelligence?'

Lieutenant Stoll sighed. 'You may ask, but the answer is no. I'm no longer involved in scientific research per se, but instead am forced to use my scientific knowledge for the gathering and a.n.a.lyzing of technical intelligence material.'

'Which is why you were sent to interview me, right?'

Stoll sighed again, as if deeply depressed. 'Yes, Herr Wilson, that is the case. And now I will take you to k.u.mmersdorf West, where you'll work with men less talented than I was. Such is life, I suppose.'

'You can't protest?'

'To be a member of the SS is to obey. I obey and take my pride from that.'

Wilson doubted that Ernst Stoll was gaining any pride from his work and filed the knowledge away in his head for future reference.

The journey to k.u.mmersdorf did not take long it was only fifteen miles from Berlin and the car soon slowed down at barbed-wire fences and a guarded gate. It was inspected by a particularly careful SS sergeant and eventually waved through, then stopped in front of an enormous hangar in a broad stretch of bare ground that ran out to more barbed wire and signs announcing that an army firing range lay beyond.

Puzzled to find only this enormous hangar and bare ground where he had expected to find a hive of activity, Wilson glanced questioningly at Stoll. As if reading his mind, the lieutenant smiled understandingly and said, 'Projekt Saucer has been separated from the Rocket Research Inst.i.tute proper by that army firing range. Beyond the firing range are Wernher von Braun's more impressive research works, which is what you were, I a.s.sume, hoping to find.'

'Frankly, yes,' Wilson said, hearing the moaning of the wind and seeing only swaying, untended gra.s.s around that single, enormous hangar, under the leaden gray sky.

'Try not to be too disappointed,' Stoll said, as he led Wilson across the windblown gra.s.s, toward the already rusted, corrugated-iron hangar. 'You'll be visiting the Research Inst.i.tute on a regular basis, contributing your knowledge to their rocket projects, but most of your time will be spent here, in conditions of strict secrecy, where you will work more specifically on Projekt Saucer. Even those who work at the other side of the firing range don't know what we're doing here.'

The main hangar doors were closed. The smaller side door was guarded by armed SS troops who gave the n.a.z.i salute when Stoll approached. After returning the salute in a desultory manner, the lieutenant motioned Wilson into the hangar. Stepping inside, Wilson was temporarily blinded by the bright light. He adjusted to it as Stoll came in behind him to stand beside him. Then he saw an enormous open floor, surrounded by gla.s.sed-in offices, filled with machines and a few men in oily coveralls.

Raised about six feet off the concrete floor on a hydraulic platform was the skeletal prototype of a saucer-shaped craft, about forty feet in diameter and rising up to a central dome. Its discus-shaped ribcage of steel covered what looked like two Hirth 80 hp engines.

'It' ll never fly,' Wilson said.

Lieutenant Stoll smiled. 'No, it won't.' Obviously pleased by Wilson's perception, he led him across the hangar floor to one of the larger offices. Stepping inside, he suddenly stiffened, gave the n.a.z.i salute and said, 'Heil Hitler!' He then stepped aside to introduce Wilson to a man who, even wearing his Reichsfhrer's uniform, did not look like a soldier.

'So, Herr Wilson,' Heinrich Himmler said, 'we meet again, yes?'

'Yes, Reichsfhrer I'm glad to say.'

'I'm sure you are, Herr Wilson since if we hadn't met again here, you would now be a dead man.'

Reminded by that remark that his a.s.sessment of Himmler was not amiss, Wilson glanced over the lunatic's shoulder at the men grouped behind him. As they were all wearing oily coveralls, they were either scientists or engineers.