'Yes.' Ernst glanced through the windows at the hangar beyond and

saw the scorched, gutted saucer on the metal platform, some metal plates hanging loose. 'Himmler was most upset '

'I gathered,' Wilson interjected dryly.

' and claims that he now has more faith in the V-I and V-2 rocket project at Peenemnde than he has in our project. So, he's going to switch his attention to that and leave us to struggle on without support, with me in charge, until he decides what to do about us.'

Ernst was startled when he saw what he thought was the beginning of a smile on Wilson's lips, but the American, as if realizing what he was doing, retreated instantly back into a solemnity that showed not the slightest trace of concern.

'So what's going to happen to me?' he asked in a surprisingly calm, almost academic manner.

'He didn't mention you personally,' Ernst said. 'I think he's just going to forget you. You're safe for the moment, but your time here could be limited. We'll just have to wait and see.'

Wilson nodded. 'Yes, Captain.'

Ernst realized instantly that Wilson was actually pleased with what he had heard.

He just wanted to be left alone.

Perplexed, Ernst said, 'Good night, Wilson,' then turned away and walked out.

He had a miserable three weeks, living mostly in the SS barracks, feeling depressed, and returning only occasionally to his apartment, which, having been vacated by Ingrid and the children, simply depressed him even more. However, his feeling of being in limbo regarding Projekt Saucer was resolved when, in early September, he was called back to the Reichsfhrer's office.

Trying to sound as casual as possible, Himmler said, 'You have heard, have you not, of the recent bombing of Peenemnde by the RAF?'

'Yes, sir,' Ernst replied.

'Exactly what have you heard, Kapitn?'

'That Peenemunde was seriously damaged,' Ernst said, deliberately

understating the case, knowing full well that on the night of August 17, Wernher von Braun's rocket research centre on the Baltic had been bombed by a ma.s.s of RAF Lancasters and Halifaxes, which dropped thousands of tons of explosives and incendiary bombs, reportedly almost totally destroying the complex.

'And that's all you know, Kapit n Stoll? That Peenemnde was seriously damaged?'

'Yes, Reichfhrer.'

'Then let me give you the full facts,' Himmler said in an unusual display of frankness. 'Fifty of the important development and test buildings were destroyed, including Wernher von Braun's laboratory. Not one of the hundred-odd buildings used to house the scientists was left standing. The foreign workers' settlement was a heap of rubble. The concentration camp suffered greatly. And, finally, included among the dead were several hundred German girls from the women's auxiliary service, one hundred and seventy-eight scientific workers, Dr Walter Thiel, and senior engineer Helmut Walther. A total loss of seven hundred and thirty-five people, plus the destruction of sewage and power lines, water mains, railway tracks, and the road running down the middle of the complex. In short, Kapitn Stoll, it was for us an unprecedented disaster.'

'I'm sorry, Reichsfhrer.'

'We will recover, Kapitn' Himmler insisted, sounding unusually pa.s.sionate. 'We will recover!'

'Of course, Reichsfhrer. Naturally.'

As if satisfied with Ernst's confirmation of his own faith, Himmler nodded solemnly, adjusted the pince-nez on his nose, then became more relaxed.

'I'm sure I don't have to tell you,' he said, 'of my conviction that Peenemnde could not have been bombed had some disgusting traitor not betrayed us.'

'Yes, Reichsfhrer,' Ernst replied, despising himself for this grovelling.

'So,' Himmler said, 'because of this conviction, and also because of the subsequent air raids on the Zeppelin and Henschel-Rax works, I insisted to our beloved Fhrer that everything connected with the rockets should be put under the care of my SS.'

'He agreed?'

'Naturally, Kapitn. And I have since decided that the experiments involving the rockets will be moved to central Poland, the development works to caves in the mountains near the Traunsee, in Austria, and ma.s.s production to our underground factories in Nordhausen, in the southern Harz Mountains. Meanwhile, the eastern side of Peenemnde will be rebuilt and camouflaged from the air in a way that makes it look like a deserted battlefield. You agree with this, yes?'

'It's brilliant, Reichsfhrer. But if we move the development works to Nordhausen, we will need to expand the labour force there.'

'That has already been arranged,' Himmler replied, in the testy manner of a man whose judgment is being questioned. 'Three thousand prisoners from Buchenwald will be used as slave labour and housed in a new subcamp named Dora, which also will be underground. We will then expand Dora until it has approximately fifteen thousand prisoners, which should be enough.'

'Excellent, Reichsfhrer. I will be proud to take command of '

But Himmler cut him short with an impatient wave of his hand, which was, as Ernst had long noted, rather effeminate. 'No,' he said. You will not be in command. Since I have already put you in charge of Projekt Saucer which, I must confess, I now have grave doubts about

I am placing General Hans Kammler in charge of the transfer and, subsequently, the whole ma.s.s-production plant, which will now be known as the Nordhausen Central Works.'

'Yes, sir!' Ernst said, trying to hide his shock.

'Do you have any further questions, Kapitn?'