“The president’s wife wasn’t quite so enamored of this building, however. She took particular exception to a large bronze female figure—a nude that used to sit on the edge of the reflecting pool. She thought it wasn’t suitable for a military installation.” The Chief chuckled. “Which makes me wonder how many real soldiers she’s actually met.” He frowned. “I’m not sure where that statue went. The Hoechst Building, perhaps? That nude always did look like she needed some medicine, eh, Phil?”

“Yes, sir,” said Scheuer.

“You must be tired after your journey, Herr Gunther,” said the Chief. “So I’ll try not to fatigue you any more than I have to. Would you like some coffee, sir?”

“Please.”

Scheuer moved toward a sideboard where coffee things had been neatly assembled on a tray.

The Chief sat down and regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and distrust. If there had been a chessboard on the table between us, it might have made things feel a little easier for us both. All the same, a game was in progress and we both knew what it was. He waited until Scheuer—Phil—had set a cup of coffee in front of me and then began.

“Zyklon B. I assume you’ve heard of it.”

I nodded.

“Everyone assumes it was developed by I. G. Farben. But they merely marketed the stuff. It was actually developed by another chemical company called Degesch, which came to be controlled by a third chemical company, called Degussa. In 1930, Degussa needed to raise some money and so they sold half of their controlling interest in Degesch to their main competitor, I. G. Farben. And, by the way, the stuff, the actual crystals that exterminated insects with the speed of a cyclone—thus the name—well, that was made by a fourth company, called Dessauer Werke. You with me so far?”

“Yes, sir. Although I’m beginning to wonder why.”

“Patience, sir. All will be explained. So Dessauer made the stuff for Degesch, who sold the stuff to Degussa, who sold the marketing rights to two other chemical companies. I won’t even bother telling you their names. It would just confuse you. So, in fact, I. G. Farben held only a twenty percent share in the gas, with the lion’s share owned by another company, Goldschmidt AG of Essen.