Harry Palmer 3_Funeral in Berlin by Len Deighton

Author:Len Deighton
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780586045800
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 1964-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

'We usually do the whole block in these sort of cases,' said the cop.

'Fine,' I said.

'We've got some Elastoplast in the squad car,' he said. 'You'd better get something on that cut.'

'What, Dave ?' said the young S.B. man.

'I said I don't like the look of his head,' said Dave.

'No, nor do I,' said the young S.B. man. Then they both looked at me quizzically for a couple of minutes. Finally the young man went and gazed at the steel padlock with the same forensic dispassion. There was a little glass pea set in the fresh black paintwork at eye level. When Dave had decided that he was trying to see through it the wrong way he said, 'Well this won't do,' to the young man, who produced a large screwdriver from his raincoat pocket.

It took him only two minutes to rip the hasp out of the shoddy cardboard panels of the door. 'Landlords who rent places like this,' said the young S.B. man rapping the door, 'that's who we should be locking up.' He raised his foot and gave the door a great superfluous smash of his boot that caved in one panel. The older S.B. man stepped inside and switched on the lights. He whistled very softly to himself.

It was a semi-basement room. It got any daylight that could be spared by the architect and God between them through four small slots set high along one wall. There was some cheap lino of large black and white squares carefully cut to shape but not nailed down. Across the long side of the room was a low bench with two Angle-poise lamps and a gramophone. Draped over the bench was a huge red flag with a white circle and a black swastika in it. Upon the very centre of the swastika was a plaster cast of a rather idealized head of Hitler; around it were a few books, including a signed copy of Mein Kampf, some ceremonial daggers and a box of medals and badges. There were a few travel brochures and a notice that said: 'Hameln in Lower Saxony. Waffen S.S. Rally. Organized by the Welfare Association of former Waffen S.S. members. Members wishing to attend give in their names by next week. Friday 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 a.m. Monday. Comfortable hotel, all meals, a visit to a nightclub and attendance at the rally: by air both ways £30 inclusive.'

Behind the gramophone there were some records put out by an American company which gave the connoisseur a chance to hear Hitler speeches and Nazi bands in hi-fi, even if they couldn't afford the thirty quid for the S.S. week-end. There were well-framed official portraits of the Nazi leaders on the wall, including one of the American Fuhrer in his home-made uniform. There was army surplus seating stacked around the walls and a large very well-cleaned blackboard on an easel. Propped on the mantelpiece there was a piece of wrapping-paper with a message pencilled on it: 'Tell Mrs Wilkenson there will be a big turn-out Thursday.

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