Chapter 8

           Ateighto’clockinthemorningFreiherrHugoReiss,theReichsConsulinSanFrancisco,steppedfromhisMercedesBenz220-Eandwalkedbrisklyupthestepsoftheconsulate.BehindhimcametwoyoungmaleemployeesoftheForeignOffice.ThedoorhadbeenunlockedbyReiss’staff,andhepassedinside,raisinghishandingreetingtothetwoswitchboardgirls,thevice-ConsulHerrFrank,andthen,intheinneroffice,Reiss’secretary,HerrPferdehuf.

           "Freiherr,"Plerdehufsaid,"thereisacodedradiogramcominginjustnowfromBerlin.PrefaceOne."

           ThatmeantremovinghisovercoatandgivingittoPferdehuftohangup.

           "TenminutesagoHerrKreuzvomMeerecalled.Hewouldlikeyoutoreturnhiscall."

           "Thankyou,"Reisssaid.Heseatedhimselfatthesmalltablebythewindowofhisoffice,removedthecoverfromhisbreakfast,sawontheplatetheroll,scrambledeggsandsausage,pouredhimselfhotblackcoffeefromthesilverpot,thenunrolledhismorningnewspaper.

           Thecaller,KreuzvomMeere,wasthechiefoftheSicherheitsdienstinthePSAarea;hisheadquarterswerelocated,underacovername,attheairterminal.RelationsbetweenReissandKreuzvomMeerewereratherstrained.Theirjurisdictionoverlappedincountlessmatters,adeliberatepolicy,nodoubt,ofthehigher-upsinBerlin.ReissheldanhonorarycommissionintheSS,therankofmajor,andthismadehimtechnicallyKreuzvomMeere’ssubordinate.Thecommissionhadbeenbestowedseveralyearsago,andatthattimeReisshaddiscernedthepurpose.