Bock didn't say anything, and the room was too dim to see how pale his face went. It was as though a hot blast from a furnace swept over him, followed by one from the North Pole. He closed his eyes for a brief second to get control of himself. Petra would not have wished him to be governed by emotion at a time like this. He opened his eyes to look at his friend "Is that a fact?"

"I know the name of the detective. I know his address. I still have friends." Keitel assured Bock.

"Yes, Erwin, I am sure you do. I need your help to do something."

"Anything."

"You know, of course, what brought us to this."

"That depends on how you mean it," Keitel said "The people disappointed me in the way they allowed themselves to be seduced, but the common people always lack the discipline to know what is good for them. The real cause of our national misfortune."

"Precisely, the Americans and the Russians."

"Mein lieber Gunther, even a united Germany cannot-"

"Yes, it can. If we are to remake the world into our image, Erwin, both of our oppressors must be damaged severely."

"But how?"

"There is a way. Can you believe me that much, just for now?"

Keitel drained his beer and sat back. He'd helped train Bock. At fifty six, it was too late for him to change his ideas of the world, and he was still a fine judge of character. Bock was a man such as himself. Gunther had been a careful, ruthless, and very effective clandestine operator. "What of our detective friend?"

Bock shook his head: "As much satisfaction as that might give me, no. This is not a time for personal revenge. We have a movement and a country to save." More than one, in fact, Bock thought, but this was not the time for that. What was taking shape in his mind was a grand stroke, a breathtaking maneuver that might - he was too intellectually honest to say would, even to himself - change the world into a more malleable shape - Exactly what would happen after that, who could say? That would not matter at all if he and his friends were unable to take the first bold step.

"How long have we known each other - fifteen years, twenty?" Keitel smiled. "Aber naturlich. Of course I can trust you."

"How many others can we trust?"

"How many do we need?"

"No more than ten, but we will need a total of ten."

Keitel's face went blank. Eight men we can trust absolutely

"That is too many for safety, Gunther. What sort of men?" Bock told him. "I know where to start. It should be possible men of my age and some younger, of your age. The physical skills you require are not difficult to obtain, but remember that much of this is beyond our control."

"As some of my friends say, that is in God's hands," Gunther said with a smirk.