按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he'd heard stories about the taller one from Rudy。 The third was a snaggle…toothed monstrosity and not worth crossing the street for。 Yet she was the most gregarious of the three； throwing herself down in the laps of the men and joining in their bawdy choruses。 〃The Paradise；〃 Bruno said。 〃They've got women over there who dance on your tables！〃
〃Ahhhhhhh！' You're horny as hell！〃 VonStagel chided。
〃I admit it； then！ The Paradise！ We've got to go！ You friggers think it's a joy breaking your back in an engine room for a tour of duty； you're mad！ I want to fill my lungs with perfume before I have to smell the stench of oil and piss！ The Paradise and then the Seamen's Club！ We'll make the rounds tonight。〃
〃I'm for it！〃 Drexil shouted。
〃What the hell？〃 VonStagel looked around。 〃Schiller； what about you？〃
And then there was a silence in the room as the door came open。 A chill seemed to spread from the door into the Celestial Bar。 The noises of eating and drinking died away； in the quiet the sailors could hear a tug chugging off in the harbor； and the distant wail of a foghorn。 Boots clattered sharply on the hardwood floor。
Korrin had e in from the street； two other men had acpanied him； but now they stood back as he swung his gaze around the bar； meeting the eyes of the crew one after one。 〃Heil Hitler！〃 he said sharply； clicking his heels together and raising his arm in the Nazi salute。
The men stood to attention。 〃Heil Hitler；〃 they replied as one。
Beneath Korrin's U…boat officer's cap the reddish…blond hair was just taking on flecks of gray； and his face was hard； the eyes fierce and pelling； intensely dark and powerful。 He was a tall man； well over six feet； and he was lean and athletic…looking。 A slight scar slashed across his upper lip gave it the trace of a scornful curl； and his cheeks bore the jagged scars of fencing wounds。 He wore black gloves； a dark brown； rain…dappled coat was draped over his shoulders。 Schiller squirmed under his gaze； he felt like an insect being probed by a microscope lens。
〃My name is Wilhelm Korrin；〃 the mander said quietly； his voice softer than Schiller would have expected。 〃So！〃 He looked around the room again； the dark eyes narrowing； as cold as the touch of ice on each man's spine。 〃This is to be my crew。〃 He turned his head toward one of the men who had e in with him。 〃Gert； they bee younger with every new mand。。。 but they age quickly。〃 The aide gave a brief； thin…lipped smile and the mander returned his attention to the seamen。
〃You'll age；〃 he said。 〃Some of you may be old men when we return。 Some of you may die。 Some of you may be heroes。 But rest assured there will be no cowards。〃 He held his gaze steady for a few seconds； and the man under his scrutiny nervously shifted his position。
〃Some of you I know from other boats； some of you will be under my mand for the first time。 What I require is very simple： You will carry out your duties as seamen under the German flag； and you will obey my orders without question。〃
VonStagel lifted his beer； and the mander immediately sensed the movement； Korrin stared at him in silence； and VonStagel lowered the mug from his lips。 〃We are sailing in the finest weapon the German navy has ever built；〃 Korrin continued。 〃And as long as you sail under my mand each one of you will be a vital part of that weapon。 You will breathe with the boat； you'll roll with her； you'll feel her vibrations down in the pit of your guts； and you'll know her like a lover。〃
Korrin rested his hands on the back of a chair； the fingers in those black gloves as long and delicate as a surgeon's。 〃I regret I won't be joining you for the evening； but I'm needed at mand。 Enjoy yourselves tonight； do what you like with whom you like； but be warned。 We leave harbor at first light； and any man unable to report must answer to me。 Is that understood？〃 He reached down for a bottle of red wine； poured half a glass； and then held the goblet up。 For an instant Schiller saw the mander's face through the glass： distorted； something barely human floating in a sea of blood。 〃A toast； gentlemen；〃 Korrin said。
Glasses were hurriedly filled； lifted in silence。 〃To our good hunting；〃 the mander proposed。 He drank a bit of the wine and returned the goblet to the table； without looking at his crew again he rejoined the other two officers and they left the bar together； their boots clattering in the street。
There was a long silence in the room； someone muttered； and very slowly the activity resumed。
Bruno shook his head。 〃It's the Paradise for me；〃 he said。 〃Now or never。〃
Wreckage Discovered。 Those two words had been seared across Schiller's brain。 Was it the wreckage of U…198？ And if so； why wasn't it where it was supposed to be； down in the murky vault of the sea？ He had been the only one to escape； that terrible night so long ago； and now the past had resurfaced； summoning him here to this forgotten place。
They were all dead； of course。 All his friends and crewmates。 He had been there at the end； watching the slow fall of the depth charges； seeing the ocean erupt again and again in geysers of white； roiling foam。 But something still bound him to them； even after all these years； he was still part of them； still part of that weapon； U…198。 Though he was older now； weaker； with failing eyesight and migraine headaches； living a life very different from the one he had once envisioned for himself； he was still a sailor in the German navy； and still a crewman of U…198。
And perhaps； he thought； if it was his boat he should be there to say a final good…bye to his panions。
He held up a hand for the bartender to see； and when the man approached he said； 〃Please。 I'd like another beer。。。〃
Eighteen
KIP RAISED THE HAMMER； brought it sharply down on a nail； another blow and the nailhead was flush with the plank。 He reached for a third piece of wood from a pile lying next to the shelter wall and carefully hammered it into place across the closed door。 Kip pulled at the timber reinforcement； decided another was needed； and hammered until the door was sealed tight。 He stepped back a few paces； wiping the moisture from his forehead。
He was soaked with sweat from his efforts and exhausted from carrying the planks across the boatyard。 He stood where he was for a moment； staring at the blocked doorway。 He needed a chain； a thick chain to pull across the door。 And a padlock； something heavy and tough。 There must be a length of chain here somewhere； he thought； or else I could get one off a boat moored in the harbor。 But the shelter must be sealed。 It must be sealed so nothing。。。 so none of them。。。 can get out。 Another timber； he thought。 Nail another timber in place there at the bottom of the door。
〃Hey！ What in God's name are you doin' there！〃
Kip tensed； turned toward the voice。 A heavyset black in denims and a bright…blue shirt was walking quickly and purposefully across the yard。 The man was almost bald except for tufts of white hair on both sides of his head； and his eyes were wary； untrusting。 He clenched a pipe between his teeth； and trailed gray whorls of smoke behind him。 Kip stood wher