“Well, that depends what kind of stink comes off the record. Nobody’s finding work for Goering. But most of them, you know, just kept their heads down. Nominal Nazis. What the hell, it was a Nazi country. And the thing is, they’re good-that’s the kicker. Best in the world. You talk to the tech boys, their eyes get all dreamy just thinking about them. Like they’re talking about pussy. German science.” He shook his head, taking another drink. “It’s a helluva country when you think about it. No resources. They did it all in laboratories. Rubber. Fuel. The only thing they had was coal, and look what they did.”
“Almost,” Jake said. “Look at it now.”
Tommy grinned. “Well, I never said they weren’t crazy. W/hat kind of people would listen to Hitler? ”
“Frau Dzuris,” Jake said to himself.
“Who?”
“Nobody-just thinking. Hey, Tommy,” he said, brooding. “You ever hear of any money actually changing hands?”
“What, to Germans? Are you kidding? You don’t have to bribe them-they want to go. What’s here? Seen any chemical plants with Help Wanted signs out lately? ”
“And meanwhile Breimer’s recruiting.”
“Maybe a little on the side. He’s the type likes to stay busy.” He looked up from his drink. “What’s your interest?”
“He’d have a lot of money to throw around,” Jake said, not answering. “If he wanted something.”
“Uh-huh,” Tommy said, peering at Jake. “What are you getting at?”
“Nothing. Honestly. Just nosing around.”
“Now why is that? I know you. You don’t give a flying fuck about Farben, do you?”
“No. Don’t worry, the story’s all yours.”
“Then why are you pumping me?”
“I don’t know. Force of habit. My mother always said you learn something every time you listen.”
Tommy laughed. “You didn’t have a mother,” he said. “Not possible.”
“Sure. Even Breimer’s got one,” Jake said lightly. “I’ll bet she’s proud as anything.”
“Yeah, and he’d sell her too if you put the money in escrow.” He put the glass down on the table. “Probably runs the goddamn garden club while her boy’s collecting envelopes from American Dye. It’s a great country.”
“None better,” Jake said easily.
“And I can’t wait to get back to it. Figure that one out. Listen, do me a favor. If you come up with anything on Breimer, let me know, will you? Since you’re just nosing around.”
“You get the first call.”
“And don’t reverse the fucking charges. You owe me.”
Jake smiled. “I’m going to miss you, Tommy.”
“Me and your bad tooth. Now what the hell is he up to?” he said, cocking his head toward a drum roll coming from the band.
Ron was standing in front of the combo, holding a glass.
“Listen up. Can’t have a party without a toast.”
“Toast! Toast!” Shouts from around the room, followed by a chorus of keys tinkling against glasses.
“Come on up here, Tommy.”
Groans and whistles, the good-natured rumble of a frat party. Soon people would be balancing bottles on their heads. Ron started in on something about the finest group of reporters he’d ever worked with, then grinned as the crowd shouted him down, held up his hand, and finally gave in just by raising his glass with a “Good luck.” Some airplanes made of folded yellow typing paper floated in from the crowd, hitting Ron’s head, so that he had to duck, laughing.
“Speech! Speech!”
“Go fuck yourselves,” Tommy said, which hit the right note, making the crowd whistle again.
“Come on, Tommy, what do you say?” A voice next to Jake- Benson, from Stars and Stripes, slightly hoarse from shouting.
Tommy smiled and lifted his glass. “On this historic occasion-”
“Aw!” More hoots and another paper plane gliding by.
“Let’s drink to free and unrestricted navigation on all international inland waterways.”
To Jake’s surprise, this brought down the house, prompting a whoop of laughter followed by chants of “Inland waterways! Inland waterways!” Tommy drained his glass as the band started playing again.
“What’s the joke?” Jake said to Benson.
“Truman’s big idea at the conference. They say the look on Uncle Joe’s face was worth a million bucks.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Who could? He actually insisted they put it on the agenda.”
“I thought the sessions were secret.”
“That one was too good to keep quiet. They had five leaks in about five minutes. Where’ve you been?”
“Busy.”
“Couldn’t get him off it. The way to lasting peace.” He laughed. “Open up the Danube.”
“I take it this didn’t make the final agreement?”
“You nuts? They just pretended it wasn’t there. Like a fart in church.” He looked over at Jake. “Busy with what?”
