Chapter 10

           IthadbeenaterribletwoweeksforMr.Baynes.FromhishotelroomhehadcalledtheTradeMissioneverydayatnoontoaskiftheoldgentlemanhadputinanappearance.Theanswerhadbeenanunvaryingno.Mr.Tagomi’svoicehadbecomecolderandmoreformaleachday.AsMr.Baynespreparedtomakehissixteenthcall,hethought,Soonerorlaterthey’lltellmethatMr.Tagomiisout.Thatheisn’tacceptinganymorecallsfromme.Andthatwillbethat.

           Whathashappened?WhereisMr.Yatabe?

           Hehadafairlygoodidea.ThedeathofMartinBormannhadcausedimmediateconsternationinTokyo.Mr.YatabenodoubthadbeenenroutetoSanFrancisco,adayorsooffshore,whennewinstructionshadreachedhim.ReturntotheHomeIslandsforfurtherconsultation.

           Badluck,Mr.Baynesrealized.Possiblyevenfatal.

           Buthehadtoremainwherehewas,inSanFrancisco.Stilltryingtoarrangethemeetingforwhichhehadcome.Forty-fiveminutesbyLufthansarocketfromBerlin,andnowthis.Aweirdtimeinwhichwearealive.Wecantravelanywherewewant,eventootherplanets.Andforwhat?Tositdayafterday,declininginmoraleandhope.Fallingintoaninterminableennui.Andmeanwhile,theothersarebusy.Theyarenotsittinghelplesslywaiting.

           Mr.BaynesunfoldedthemiddayeditionoftheNipponTimesandoncemorereadtheheadlines.

           DR.GOEBBELSNAMEDREICHSCHANCELLOR

           SurprisesolutiontoleadershipproblembyParteiCommittee.Radiospeechvieweddecisive.Berlincrowdscheer.Statementexpected.GöringmaybenamedPoliceChiefoverHeydrich.