Fuchs seemed to regard Augustino the same as he did Joe. The captain had a sallow face but his hair was thick and glossy as fur, so he had the animal quality that also clung to Joe. It was as if Fuchs and Anna Weiss had evolved to the next step in human development, leaving Joe and the captain behind, a pair of Stone Age predators.

“Do you mind if I speak to the sergeant alone?” The arc of Augustino’s cigarette waved Joe out.

“Please,” Fuchs said.

Although the ground was frozen, Augustino was in his tunic. Joe couldn’t tell how long he had been listening.

“Our Germans. I’ll say one thing for Fuchs, he’s scrupulous about security, unlike some people. Sergeant, are you aware of the improvement in the living standards of the people in the local pueblos since you arrived on the Hill? Cigarettes, tires from the motor pool, sugar from the commissary. Particularly disturbing is the rumor that Indians have opened some of the old turquoise mines.”

“You don’t like Indian jewelry, sir?”

“What I don’t like is the idea that they’re blasting open the mines with high explosive. There’s only one place in this part of the country for them to get explosives, Sergeant, and that’s the Hill. I’d hate to think any of my men were stealing Army property to sell for personal profit.”

“Indians are pretty poor, sir. He can’t be making too much profit.”

“Then that makes him stupid, too.”

“If he’s that stupid, he’ll make a slip. I’ll watch for him, sir.”

“Do that. In the meantime, General Groves has arrived at the guesthouse. Wrap up the music. Since you’ll be taking the general and Dr. Oppenheimer to see the Alamogordo range tomorrow, I want you to get a good night’s sleep. The fate of the world will be riding in the car you’ll be driving, so it would be nice if you were bright and sober. Agreed?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Please be aware, Sergeant, that I am unhappy with the quality of information that you’ve been giving me lately. We have a deal. You’re on provisional assignment to me. That’s probation. You go back to the brig anytime I say. Now, you return inside and give them a couple more tunes and send our civilians home happy. By the way, do you know the difference between a nigger playing the piano and an Indian playing the piano?”

“No, sir.”

“Funny, neither do I.”