SS General by Sven Hassel Page B

glad you manage to make the most of it, gentlemen." He narrowed his eyes and looked across at the two officers. "You!" He suddenly shot out a hand and pointed at Muller. "While you were snoring under your great overstuffed quilt this morning, I was at the receiving end of a complaining telephone call from the Fuhrer. Not very pleasant, as you may possibly imagine. It delayed my morning ride by over half an hour." He breathed deeply. "The Fuhrer was very angry, Muller. And he vented his anger on me--me, you understand! It seems I am to be held personally responsible for your intolerable sleeping habits! You choose to lie abed, while I am abused by the Fuhrer on account of it. Tell me, Muller, at what hour did you put in an appearance this morning?"
    Muller swallowed noisily. "At eight-thirty, Obergruppenfuhrer."
    "Eight-thirty! You're in the Gestapo now, Muller, you're no longer delivering mail in the streets of Munich. What do you think this war is--a joyride? We can't afford to carry passengers, Muller. Anyone who chooses to sleep while the rest of the world is working is a highly dispensable commodity--there are plenty of other mailmen, both in and out of Munich, who would be only too pleased to walk into your shoes."
    Muller's fat red face seemed on the point of bursting in two like an overripe tomato. It crossed his fuddled mind that life had really been far simpler and happier in Munich.
    Heydrich's voice barked on. "The Army Secret Service has intercepted a telegram that was sent by the Belgian ambassador in Rome to his Minister for Foreign Affairs. In that telegram, Muller, were set out our entire plans for the invasion of Belgium and Holland. What do you have to say about that?"
    At this point, Schellenberg suavely intervened. "Pardon me, Obergruppenfuhrer, but we have known for some time of the existence of that telegram. In fact, as I recall, it was first brought to our attention on the very day our troops crossed the Dutch border."
    Heydrich inclined his head in Schellenberg's direction. "Thank you, Brigadenfuhrer. I was aware of that. However, if you will allow me to say so, there is all the difference in the world between your department knowing of it and the Fuhrer coming to hear of it. You understand me?"
    Schellenberg smiled. "Perfectly, Obergruppenfuhrer. Forgive the interruption." He hesitated a moment. "May one ask what the Fuhrer intends to do about it?"
    "Who can tell?" Heydrich hunched a shoulder. "Everything is always ultratop secret at that end, as you very well know. The Fuhrer doubtless lays his plans much as we lay ours." Heydrich turned back to his savage attack on Muller. "Well? How about you, Herr Sherlock Holmes? What information do you have on our little nest of traitors? Admiral Canaris--Ambassador Ulrich von Hassel--Oberburgermeister Goedler--Generalmajor Oster--General Beck--to name but a few. What can you tell me about them?"
    "Obergruppenfuhrer--" Muller shifted heavily from foot to foot, washing his hands in the air and sweating uncontrollably.
    "For God's sake try to keep stilll" snapped Heydrich.
    The head of the Gestapo obediently rooted himself to the spot. "I can assure you, Obergruppenfuhrer, that all these traitors are followed night and day by my men."
    "All of them?"
    "All of them, Obergruppenfuhrer."
    "Mm-hm--" Heydrich gazed down at his fingernails.
    "And Sturmbannfuhrer Axter from your division 111/2? Is he
    one of those on watchdog duty?"
    "Oh, yes," said Muller eagerly. "Oh, yes, he is, indeed! All my men are trained--they are all told--I make quite sure . . ."
    "Precisely;" agreed Heydrich. "But to return to this man Axter. You doubtless receive daily reports from him?"
    "Er--yes," allowed Muller, rather more cautiously. "Yes, that is so. All my men are instructed . . ."
    "You will therefore have heard from him within the last twenty-four hours?"
    "Er--no." Muller shook his head miserably, and began washing his hands again. "No, as a matter of fact I haven't,