“I don’t think you believe what you’re saying,” said Lockhart.

“That’s your business.”

“I think you know that this war is a giant mistake, a mistake based on aggression and nothing else. You just want to get your own back for the last one, that’s all. You dress it up in worthy-sounding ideals, but it’s just plain violence. Perhaps we’re to blame for that too, perhaps we should have let you keep some of your power after the last war, let you feel better about yourselves. Instead, you festered, grew resentful, then suddenly snapped back, and how! Well, you’re losing again, Carl, and once more Germany is facing ruin. Well, I think it’s gone beyond countries and borders and Communism now, because what I want to do tomorrow has got nothing to do with that.”

“You had better tell me then,” said Strasser.

“Sarin,” said Lockhart. “Ever heard of it?”

“No.”

“It’s a gas, a very nasty gas indeed. It can kill millions….”

Now it was Strasser’s turn to scoff.

“Don’t,” said Lockhart. “I’m being serious. It exists. In fact it’s not that far from here, underneath a mountain called Kohnstein. And do you know what is being planned for this gas, what is being planned in your name?”

Strasser shook his head.

“It’s going to be put on rockets and aimed at London. I expect that’s about the limit of their range. And when those rockets strike, they will kill millions, yes millions. And for what? It’s not going to stop the war. If anything, the Allies will push even harder, if that’s possible. All you’ll achieve is murder on the hugest possible scale. This isn’t about freedom, Carl, this isn’t about who’s right, fascists or Communists or those of us in between. This is about wanton savagery.”

“I don’t believe you,” said Strasser. “I don’t believe this sarin exists. Anyway, how did you find out about it?”

“That I am not going to tell you. But let me assure you, Carl, that it does exist.”

“And what are you going to…Of course! You…you’re going to try to destroy this, this sarin.”

Lockhart nodded.

“That’s right, tomorrow morning, in fact.”

“How?”

“I’ll only tell you that if you decide to help me.”

Strasser coughed on his cigarette.

“H…help you?”

“Yes. But before you agree, let me assure you of something.”

“What?”

“That if I found out that the Allies were intending to do the same thing, I would try to stop them as well.”

“No!”

“I’m being serious, Carl.”

Strasser looked straight at Lockhart. Gone was any trace of warmth or humor—Lockhart’s expression was as defiant as it had been before the firing squad.

“Forget Germany, forget Britain,” said Lockhart. “Just think of the people who might die. They’re just people, Carl, that’s all they are. People.”

Strasser looked at his desk. In his heart, he knew Lockhart was right.

Lockhart reached the guesthouse by eight o’clock. He found Leni in a state of great agitation.