I was torn over which of them to believe. I thought I knew what it was like to be Felix Baer, struggling with an unruly flight crew, utterly unable to sacrifice himself to authority because of his own experience and knowledge. But I also sympathized with Eberhard Moritz, trying to command someone who was uncooperative and had his own plans.

Was that how Cromwell felt about me? The same way I felt about my lads?

Mrs. Warner repeated in English, “Moritz says this place is informal and insecure. Baer says he won’t share War Office information with anyone but his contact. A man called—Mr. Nestor?”

“Nestor!” exclaimed Wing Commander Cromwell.

My classical education wasn’t going to waste after all. I knew who Nestor was: Odysseus’s faithful advisor in The Odyssey.

Cromwell worked it out too.

“Nestor, indeed,” Cromwell repeated. Then he sighed. “Our man with Intelligence, Robert Ethan, is in Abyssinia. What damnably poor timing. It will be at least a week before he can get here—if we can reach him.”

He paused to think. Phyllis looked as if she were holding her breath.

“Pennyworth, make a call to Coastal Command Headquarters to send us a translator. One of their German-speaking wireless operators.”

“Yes, sir. Now, sir? On the Limehouse telephone? It’s a public line, sir.”

“Ask for a Y girl. Mention Nestor and Odysseus. They’ll know what to do.”

Phyllis scurried off to the hall telephone.

Chip took two long steps forward and confronted Felix Baer. They glared at each other coldly. “I’ll take over if you want,” Chip said assuredly. “I’ll make him talk.”

He was going to get me another reprimand if he didn’t settle down. I clamped a hand hard on his shoulder and pitched my voice low.

“Back off, Tex.”

“C’mon, it won’t take long.”

Then I got insurrection from the Polish and Welsh contingent as well.

“If the Yankee breaks a few more filthy Nazi noses, no one will cry,” Ignacy said. “Or let Taff at them. He is good at throwing punches.”

Derfel nodded enthusiastically.

“Your U-boat score is thanks to these so-called Nazis,” I reminded them.

“Back in line, all of you,” barked Cromwell. “You’re a disgrace to enlisted men.”

Everybody snapped to attention again.

Cromwell spoke directly to the prisoners, cold and formal.

“This base is not equipped for a tribunal. As military men you will appreciate we have made hasty accommodation here, but I will postpone our discussion until an appropriate translator is summoned. I will not release you to a higher command until I have been ordered to do so by the contact you yourselves have named.”

After Mrs. Warner translated this, Cromwell pushed back his chair and stood.