hr.thecarpetbaggers-第61章

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　〃Mr。　Cord！〃　I　looked　up　in　surprise。　Morrissey　was　standing　in　the　open　doorway；　his　mouth　partly　open。　It　took　an　effort　for　me　to　bring　myself　back　to　the　present。
　〃Don't　stand　there；〃　I　snapped。　〃e　in。〃　He　entered　the　office　hesitantly；　and　a　moment　later；　Forrester　appeared　in　the　doorway　behind　him。　Silently　they　came　into　the　office。
　〃Sit　down　and　have　a　drink；〃　I　said；　pushing　the　bottle　of　bourbon　toward　them。
　〃Don't　mind　if　I　do；〃　Forrester　said；　picking　up　the　bottle　and　a　paper　cup。　He　sloshed　himself　a　good　one。　〃Mud　in　your　eye。〃
　〃Up　the　General's；〃　I　said。　〃By　the　way；　where　is　the　old　boy？〃
　〃On　his　way　back　to　the　city。　He　has　a　date　with　a　toilet…paper　manufacturer。〃
　I　laughed。　〃At　least；　that's　one　thing　he　can　test　for　himself。〃
　Forrester　laughed　but　Morrissey　sat　there　glumly。　I　pushed　the　bottle　toward　him。　〃You　on　the　wagon？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃What　are　we　going　to　do　now？〃　he　asked。
　I　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　picked　up　the　bottle　and　refilled　my　paper　cup。　〃I　was　just　thinking　about　declaring　war　on　the　United　States。　That's　one　way　we　could　show　him　how　good　our　plane　is。〃
　Morrissey　still　didn't　crack　a　smile。　〃The　CA…4　is　the　best　plane　I　ever　designed。〃
　〃So　what？〃　I　asked。　〃What　the　hell；　it　didn't　cost　you　anything。　It　was　my　dough。　Besides；　how　much　did　you　ever　make　out　of　building　planes？　It　doesn't　amount　to　one…twentieth　of　your　annual　royalties　on　that　trick　brassière　you　designed　for　Rina　Marlowe。〃
　It　was　true。　But　it　had　been　McAllister　who'd　seen　the　mercial　potential　in　the　damn　thing　and　applied　for　a　patent　in　the　name　of　Cord　Aircraft。　Morrissey　had　a　standard　employment　contract；　which　provided　that　all　his　inventions　and　designs　belonged　to　the　pany；　but　McAllister　had　been　a　sport　about　it。　He'd　given　Morrissey　a　ten…per…cent　interest　in　the　royalties　as　a　bonus　and　last　year；　Morrissey's　share　was　in　excess　of　a　hundred　thousand　dollars。　The　market　was　getting　bigger　all　the　time。　Tits　weren't　going　out　of　fashion　for　a　long　time。
　Morrissey　didn't　answer。　But　then；　I　hadn't　expected　him　to。　He　was　one　of　those　guys　who　don't　give　a　damn　about　money。　All　he　lived　for　was　his　work。
　I　finished　my　drink　and　lit　a　cigarette。　Silently　I　cursed　myself。　I　should　have　known　better　than　to　let　a　chance　remark　about　my　father　bug　me　like　that。　I　could　afford　it　but　nobody　likes　to　throw　a　million　dollars　down　the　drain。
　〃Maybe　I　can　do　something；〃　Forrester　said。
　A　ray　of　hope　came　into　Morrissey's　eyes。　〃Do　you　think　you　could？〃
　Forrester　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃I　said　maybe。〃
　I　stared　at　him。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃It's　the　best　plane　I've　seen；〃　he　said。　〃I　wouldn't　like　to　see　us　lose　it　because　of　the　old　man's　stupidity。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　I　said。　〃We'd　be　grateful　for　anything　you　could　do。〃
　Forrester　smiled。　〃You　don't　owe　me　anything。　I'm　one　of　those　old…fashioned　guys　who　wouldn't　like　to　see　us　caught　short　if　things　suddenly　started　popping。〃
　I　nodded。　〃They'll　start　soon　enough。　Just　as　soon　as　Hitler　thinks　he's　ready。〃
　〃When　do　you　think　that　will　be？〃
　〃Three；　maybe　four　years；〃　I　said。　〃When　they　have　enough　trained　pilots　and　planes。〃
　〃Where'll　he　get　them　from？　He　hasn't　got　them　now。〃
　〃He'll　get　them；〃　I　said。　〃The　glider　schools　are　turning　out　ten　thousand　pilots　a　month　and　before　the　summer　is　over；　Messerschmitt　will　have　his　ME…109's　on　the　production　line。〃
　〃The　general　staff　thinks　he　won't　do　much　when　he　es　up　against　the　Maginot　line。〃
　〃He　won't　e　up　against　it；〃　I　said。　〃He'll　fly　over　it。〃
　Forrester　nodded。　〃All　the　more　reason　for　me　to　try　to　get　them　to　check　out　your　plane。〃　He　looked　at　me　quizzically。　〃You　talk　like　you　know。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　answered。　〃I　was　there　less　than　nine　months　ago。〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　remember。　I　saw　something　about　it　in　the　papers。　There　was　some　kind　of　a　stink　about　it；　wasn't　there？〃
　I　laughed。　〃There　was。　Certain　people　accused　me　of　being　a　Nazi　sympathizer。〃
　〃Because　of　the　million　dollars　you　turned　over　to　the　Reichsbank？〃
　I　shot　a　quick　glance　at　him。　Forrester　wasn't　as　simple　as　he　pretended　to　be。　〃I　guess　so；〃　I　answered。　〃You　see；　I　transferred　the　money　just　the　day　before　Roosevelt　slapped　on　his　restriction。〃
　〃You　knew　the　restriction　was　about　to　be　placed；　didn't　you？　You　could　have　saved　yourself　the　money　by　just　waiting　one　day。〃
　〃I　couldn't　afford　to　wait；〃　I　said。　〃The　money　had　to　be　in　Germany；　that　was　all　there　was　to　it。〃
　〃Why？　Why　did　you　send　them　the　money　when　obviously　you　realize　they're　our　potential　enemy？〃
　〃It　was　ransom　for　a　Jew；〃　I　said。
　〃Some　of　my　best　friends　are　Jews；〃　Forrester　answered。　〃But　I　can't　imagine　shelling　out　a　million　dollars　for　one　of　them。〃
　I　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　refilled　my　paper　cup。　〃This　one　was　worth　it。〃
　
　His　name　was　Otto　Strassmer　and　he　started　out　in　life　as　a　quality…control　engineer　in　one　of　the　many　Bavarian　china　works。　From　ceramics　he　had　turned　to　plastics　and　it　was　he　who　had　invented　the　high…speed　injection　mold　I'd　bought　and　sold　to　a　bine　of　American　manufacturers。　Our　original　deal　had　been　on　a　royalty　basis　but　after　it　had　been　in　effect　for　several　years　Strassmer　wanted　to　change　it。　That　was　in　1933；　shortly　after　Hitler　came　to　power。
　He'd　e　into　my　hotel　room　in　Berlin；　where　I'd　been　on　my　annual　visit　to　Europe；　and　explained　what　he　wanted。　He　was　willing　to　relinquish　all　future　share　in　royalties　for　a　flat　payment　of　one　million　dollars；　to　be　held　in　escrow　for　him　in　the　United　States。　This　was　agreeable　to　me；　of　course。　His　share　of　the　royalties　would　amount　to　much　more　than　that　over　the　licensing　period。　But　I　didn't　understand　why。　So　I　asked　him。
　He　got　up　out　of　his　chair　and　walked　over　to　the　window；　〃You　ask　me　why；　Herr　Cord？〃　he　asked　in　his　peculiarly　accented　English。　His　hand　pointed　out　the　window。　〃That's　why。〃
　I　walked　over　to　the　window　and　looked　down。　There　in　the　street　in　front　of　the　Adlon；　a　group　of　brown…shirted　young　men；　scarcely　more　than　boys；　were　tormenting　an　old　frock…coated　man。　Twice　while　we　were　watching；　they　knocked　the　old　man　into　the　gutter。　We　could　see　him　lying　on　the　edge　of　the　sidewalk；　his　head　in　the　gutter；　blood　streaming　from　his　nose。　The　boys　stood　there　for　a　moment　watching　him；　then　walked　away　after　kicking　him　several　times　contemptuously。
　I　turned　to　Strassmer　questioningly。
　〃That　was　a　Jew；　Herr　Cord；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃So　what？　Why　didn't　he　call　the　police？〃
　Strassmer　pointed　across　the　street。　Two　policemen　stood　on　the　opposite　corner。　〃They　saw　everything　that　happened。〃
　〃Why　didn't　they　stop　them？〃
　〃They　are　under　instructions　not　to；〃　he　answered。　〃Hitler　claims　that　Jews　have　no　right　under　German　law。〃
　〃What　has　this　got　to　do　with　you？〃
　〃I　am　a　Jew；〃　he　said　simply。
　I　was　silent　for　a　moment。　I　took　out　a　cigarette　and　lit　it。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do　with　the　money？〃
　〃Keep　it　until　you　hear　from　me。〃　He　smiled。　〃My　wife　and　daughter　are　already　in　America。　I　would　be　grateful　if　you'd　let　them　know　I'm　all　right。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　join　them？〃　I　asked。
　〃Perhaps　I　will　…　in　time。　But　I　am　German；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　still　hope　this　madness　will　one　day　pass。〃
　But　Herr　Strassmer's　hopes　were　not　to　be　realized。　This　I　found　out　less　than　a　year　later；　as　I　sat　in　the　office　of　the　Reichsmarschall。　〃The　Jews　of　the　world　are　doomed；　as　are　the　Jews　of　Germany；〃　he　said　in　his　polite　voice。　〃We　of　the　New　Order　recognize　this　and　wele　our　friends　and　allies　from　across　the　sea　who　wish　to　join　our　crusade。〃
　I　was　silent；　waiting　for　him　to　speak　again。
　〃We　men　of　the　air　understand　each　other；〃　he　said。
　I　nodded。　〃Yes；　Excellency。〃
　〃Good；〃　he　said；　smiling。　〃Then　we　do　not　have　to　waste　time。〃　He　threw　some　papers　on　the　desk。　〃Under　the　new　laws；　the　Reich　has　confiscated　the　properties　of　a　certain　Otto　Strassmer。　We　understand　there　are　certain　monies　due　him　which　you　are　hereby　instructed　to　pay　over　into　the　Reichsbank。〃
　I　didn't　like　the　word　〃instructed。〃　〃I　have　been　trying　to　get　in　touch　with　Herr　Strassmer；〃　I　said。
　G？ring　smiled　again。　〃Strassmer　had　a　severe　breakdown　and　is　presently　confined　to　a　hospital。〃
　〃I　see；〃　I　said。　I　got　to　my　feet。
　〃The　Third　Reich　will　not　forget　its　friends；〃　the　Reichsmarschall　said。　He　pressed　a　button　on　his　desk。
　A　young　German　lieutenant　appeared　in　the　doorway。　〃Heil　Hitler！〃　he　said；　his　arm　upraised　in　the　Nazi　salute。
　〃Heil　Hitler！〃　G？ring　replied　negligently。　He　turned　to　me。　〃Lieutenant　Mueller　will　escort　you　to　the　Messerschmitt　plant。　I　look　forward　to　seeing　you　again　at　dinner；　Herr　Cord。〃
　The　Messerschmitt　plant　opened　my　eyes。　There　was　nothing　like　it　building　airplanes　in　the　United　States。　The　only　things　parable　were　the　automobile　production　lines　in　Detroit。　And　when　I　saw　some　of　the　sketches　of　the　ME…109　that　adorned　Messerschmitt's　office；　I　didn't　have　to　look　twice。　It　was　all　over　but　the　shouting　unless　we　got　up　off　our　collective　asses。
　That　night　at　dinner；　the　Reichsmarschall　got　me　to　a　corner。　〃What　did　you　think　of　our　factory？〃
　〃I'm　impressed；〃　I　said。
　He　nodded；　pleased。　〃It　is　modeled　after　your　own　plant　in　California；〃　he　said。　〃But　much　larger；　of　course。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　I　agreed；　wondering　how　they　got　in　there。　Then　I　realized　it　was　no　secret。　Up　to　now；　we'd　never　got　any　government　work；　all　we'd　built　were　mercial　airlines。
　He　laughed　pleasantly；　then　turned　to　move　away。　A　moment　later；　he　came　back　to　me。　〃By　the　way；〃　he　whispered。　〃The　Führer　was　very　pleased　about　your　co…operation。　When　may　I　inform　him　that　we　will　receive　the　money？〃
　I　stared　at　him。　〃On　the　day　Herr　Strassmer　walks　into　my　office　in　New　York。〃
　He　stared　back　in　surprise。　〃The　Führer　won't　like　this；〃　he　said。　〃I　told　him　you　were　our　friend。〃
　〃I'm　also　Herr　Strassmer's　friend。〃
　He　stared　at　me　for　another　moment。　〃Now　I　don't　know　what　to　tell　the　Führer。　He　will　be　very　disappointed　when　he　learns　we　shall　not　receive　the　money。〃
　〃In　that　case；〃　I　said；　〃why　disappoint　him？　One　Jew　more　or　less　can't　matter　to　Germany。〃
　He　nodded　slowly。　〃Perhaps　that　is　the　best　way。〃
　Exactly　a　month　later；　the　little　German　engineer　walked　into　my　office　in　New　York。
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　now？〃　I　asked。
　〃First；　I'm　going　to　join　my　family　in　Colorado　and　rest　for　a　while；〃　he　said。　〃Then　I　must　look　for　work。　I'm　no　longer　a　rich　man。〃
　I　smiled　at　him。　〃e　to　work　for　me。　I'll　consider　the　million　dollars　an　advance　against　your　royalties。〃
　When　he　left　the　office；　I　gave　Morrissey　the　O。K。　to　go　ahead　on　the　CA…4。　If　my　hunch　was　right；　there　wasn't　enough　time　left　for　any　of　us。　But　it　was　another　story　to　make　the　U。S。　Army　believe　that。
　I　looked　across　the　desk　at　Forrester。
　〃I'll　get　back　to　town　and　make　a　few　calls　to　Washington。　I　still　have　a　few　friends　down　there；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　stop　by　and　talk　to　the　General。　Maybe　I　can　persuade　him　to　listen。〃
　〃Good；〃　I　said。　I　looked　at　my　watch。　It　was　almost　twelve　thirty。　The　stockholders'　meeting　ought　to　be　over　by　now。　McAllister　and　Pierce　should　be　back　in　the　hotel　wi