Read Online Patricia Potter by Island of Dreams - Free Book Online
Authors: Island of Dreams
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him, had the power now. And they wouldn’t relinquish a bit of that control to thin-blooded weaklings.
Hans knew the von Steimen name well enough. A wealthy Berlin family. Even though von Steimen’s father had been a Nazi and a “hero” of the Third Reich, Hans still harbored deep dislike and suspicion for anyone of that class.
Just as vitriolically, he distrusted Eric von Steimen as he distrusted many of the military establishment. They had no loyalty to the führer, to the man who had brought glory back to Germany. The dossier on von Steimen was revealing in many ways. The naval officer had never joined the Nazi party and was known to make less than favorable remarks about the führer. Hans had been opposed to his selection for this mission, but he had been overruled by Canaris, who had known von Steimen’s father and believed in the son’s loyalty. They had gone over the files of thousands of men, Canaris had said, and none fit the peculiar requirements as well as von Steimen.
But to Hans, a member of the SS who had been borrowed for this mission because of his American background, von Steimen was one of the supercilious, disloyal military officers whom he detested. When they had been brought together in Canaris’s office, Hans had seen the brief, contemptuous look von Steimen had given his black SS uniform. In succeeding meetings, von Steimen had been both arrogant and condescending. Condescending!
A long time had passed since anyone had been condescending to him, not since he’d joined the SS and started his rise in the elite organization. His black uniform usually produced fear, not contempt, and his pale, icy eyes did nothing to alleviate that fear. But they’d had no impact on von Steimen, who sometimes looked at him with amusement, as if he were a small boy strutting in his father’s clothes. The barely hidden derision had brought back memories of his childhood, when he had been sent to an aunt and uncle in America, relatives who hadn’t wanted him and who had made his life a misery. He had returned to Germany at eighteen and joined the Brown Shirts because it was an outlet for his rage and ambition. When war broke out, Hans had joined the SS, reveling in the power he accumulated. He had a basic raw intelligence and ruthlessness that attracted attention, and he was made an officer, a position which brought him more accolades, particularly in ferreting out and punishing traitors and secret Jews. But when America joined the war, he was sent to Berlin because of his background; he spoke English like an American, a very valuable commodity in certain secret activities.
He had savored the opportunity, both because he hated Americans and because success would mean further advancement and, hopefully, the notice of the führer. He had proudly told his son, a member of Hitler Youth, that he had been hand-picked for one of the most important missions of the war, and he had taken deep satisfaction in his son’s pride.
Only the selection of von Steimen as his partner had colored his enthusiasm. It would be good to teach the Americans a lesson. He looked forward to seeing the fear on their faces, the same kind of terror he had aroused in others who dared to challenge the Third Reich.
The sound of American voices on the boat brought back the taunts he had suffered as a boy. His father had died in the First World War, and his mother had starved to death. A neighbor had written his mother’s sister in America, and he had been grudgingly taken in.
But while his aunt was German, his uncle was American and had fought in the war. Hatred for Germany ran high in America; many veterans were still suffering from the effects of poison gas, and in the intolerant, working-class neighborhood of Chicago, Hans had been called every name possible, the most mild being kraut, and he was beaten frequently by other children as well as by his uncle. He wore second-hand clothes and worked long hours in his uncle’s small store. When
Hans knew the von Steimen name well enough. A wealthy Berlin family. Even though von Steimen’s father had been a Nazi and a “hero” of the Third Reich, Hans still harbored deep dislike and suspicion for anyone of that class.
Just as vitriolically, he distrusted Eric von Steimen as he distrusted many of the military establishment. They had no loyalty to the führer, to the man who had brought glory back to Germany. The dossier on von Steimen was revealing in many ways. The naval officer had never joined the Nazi party and was known to make less than favorable remarks about the führer. Hans had been opposed to his selection for this mission, but he had been overruled by Canaris, who had known von Steimen’s father and believed in the son’s loyalty. They had gone over the files of thousands of men, Canaris had said, and none fit the peculiar requirements as well as von Steimen.
But to Hans, a member of the SS who had been borrowed for this mission because of his American background, von Steimen was one of the supercilious, disloyal military officers whom he detested. When they had been brought together in Canaris’s office, Hans had seen the brief, contemptuous look von Steimen had given his black SS uniform. In succeeding meetings, von Steimen had been both arrogant and condescending. Condescending!
A long time had passed since anyone had been condescending to him, not since he’d joined the SS and started his rise in the elite organization. His black uniform usually produced fear, not contempt, and his pale, icy eyes did nothing to alleviate that fear. But they’d had no impact on von Steimen, who sometimes looked at him with amusement, as if he were a small boy strutting in his father’s clothes. The barely hidden derision had brought back memories of his childhood, when he had been sent to an aunt and uncle in America, relatives who hadn’t wanted him and who had made his life a misery. He had returned to Germany at eighteen and joined the Brown Shirts because it was an outlet for his rage and ambition. When war broke out, Hans had joined the SS, reveling in the power he accumulated. He had a basic raw intelligence and ruthlessness that attracted attention, and he was made an officer, a position which brought him more accolades, particularly in ferreting out and punishing traitors and secret Jews. But when America joined the war, he was sent to Berlin because of his background; he spoke English like an American, a very valuable commodity in certain secret activities.
He had savored the opportunity, both because he hated Americans and because success would mean further advancement and, hopefully, the notice of the führer. He had proudly told his son, a member of Hitler Youth, that he had been hand-picked for one of the most important missions of the war, and he had taken deep satisfaction in his son’s pride.
Only the selection of von Steimen as his partner had colored his enthusiasm. It would be good to teach the Americans a lesson. He looked forward to seeing the fear on their faces, the same kind of terror he had aroused in others who dared to challenge the Third Reich.
The sound of American voices on the boat brought back the taunts he had suffered as a boy. His father had died in the First World War, and his mother had starved to death. A neighbor had written his mother’s sister in America, and he had been grudgingly taken in.
But while his aunt was German, his uncle was American and had fought in the war. Hatred for Germany ran high in America; many veterans were still suffering from the effects of poison gas, and in the intolerant, working-class neighborhood of Chicago, Hans had been called every name possible, the most mild being kraut, and he was beaten frequently by other children as well as by his uncle. He wore second-hand clothes and worked long hours in his uncle’s small store. When
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