Helmut swallowed hard. Everyone knew an Allied invasion from England was inevitable—still the thought that the Americans and the English, doubtless some of them even Jews, now prowled the roads of northern France, territory belonging to the Third Reich, turned his stomach.

“I at least have good news,” said Helmut, trying to sound upbeat. “The numbers I have received are very promising.”

Himmler slid into one of two chairs by the fire. “Have a cigar with me, old friend. We have not had a chat in far too long.”

“We have both been busy,” said Helmut. He took two cigars out of a box on his desk and handed one, along with a silver lighter, to the Reichsführer. The lighter had been a gift to Himmler from Hermann Göring, and the Reichsführer had passed it along to Helmut. Helmut took a seat in the other chair and leaned forward as Himmler lit his cigar.

“I begin to wonder,” said Himmler, returning the lighter to Helmut and leaning back in his chair, “if we should act now. The Reich could use the resources of Projekt Alchemie.”

“True,” said Helmut. “But I do not doubt the wisdom of your original plan. If we crush the Allied invasion, nothing is lost. But if, God forbid, the Americans and the filthy Bolsheviks close in from either side—surely, as you have said, Projekt Alchemie is the Reich’s insurance policy.”

“I truly thought that Projekt Alchemie would save the Reich,” said Himmler with a sigh.

“It will save the Reich,” said Helmut. “Perhaps not today, if things go poorly perhaps not even this year or this century, but it will save the Reich. You taught me that in this very room.”

“Did I?”

“Yes,” said Helmut. He could recall Himmler’s words as if they had been spoken moments ago. One of the reasons Helmut had been so suited to his job, and had lasted so long in it, was his near perfect memory, and now he repeated what Himmler had told him when they embarked on Projekt Alchemie together.

“You said that today, in order to rid the world of Jews and Gypsies and all the lesser races it takes political will and ingenuity and above all superior military might. But someday, you said, all it will take will be money. Someday, money will choose the leaders and write the laws; money will protect those who work outside the law and hide the true power brokers. Money will allow all that we were never able to accomplish to finally come to pass. And when that day comes, you said, our ‘silly little experiment with alchemy,’ as some have called it, will be waiting, ready to provide all that money and transform the world.”

“I said that?” said Himmler.

“You did,” said Helmut with pride that he had been present at such an insightful proclamation.