The Reich Device Read Online Free PDF Page B

menacing look to the trooper. ‘You have a political prisoner here. He arrived in a batch yesterday afternoon. His name is Nico van der Kemp; take me to him.’
    The dog pulled again at the handler’s arm; the trooper held firm. ‘Arrived yesterday you say? The fresh ones we put on heavy duties. He’ll be digging foundations for the barracks. This way Commandant, sir.’
    The trooper wheeled about, and trudged back towards the various buildings that were under construction. Some were near completion with roofs in place and wooden cladding being secured to the walls. Others were simply concrete plinths, waiting for the timber frames to be made. A stack of timber punctuated the site, a barrel of hot tar stood burning near one of the less complete buildings. Kessler and the detective kept a discrete distance from the snarls of their canine friend.
    The trooper suddenly stopped at the edge of a concrete foundation. Groups of prisoners were busy nailing together timber to make sections of the frame for the hut under construction. Curls of black smoke drifted across from the adjacent barrel of tar.
    ‘Nico van der Kemp,’ the trooper shouted, ‘which one of you is Nico van der Kemp?!’
    The gang of bodies stopped working momentarily. A voice piped up from the middle of the group. ‘I am van der Kemp.’ Nico stood upright, putting his cement-covered spade to one side. He jumped down off the plinth and slid a few paces across the gloop, his clothes were already filthy and torn from the labour. He stopped in front of the trooper and took off his cloth cap.
    ‘I am van der Kemp, sir,’ he repeated.
    Kessler flicked his eyes over the inmate, taking in every detail as he dragged on the last of his cigarette. ‘Nico van der Kemp? You worked for Professor Mayer at the University of Leipzig?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’ Nico began to shiver, suddenly registering the cold through the remains of his brown woollen shirt. His black trousers were ripped at the knees, revealing a congealed wound on one of the kneecaps. Bruises marked his face.
    Kessler revelled in the prisoner’s discomfort, but kept a blank expression. ‘You are a Jew and have spoken out against the Party?’
    ‘Sir, no I… ’
    Kessler slapped him hard across the face. ‘Did I give you permission to speak?!’ He abruptly punched the inmate in the gut.
    Nico curled up towards the floor, holding his gut and gasping for breath. Suddenly, Kessler gave a well-placed kick with his heel, sending Nico sprawling face first in the mud. The dog snarled.
    Kessler flicked his spent cigarette end at the prisoner. ‘Now answer, yes or no. Did you work for Professor Mayer?’ He rammed a boot home into the side of Nico’s ribs.
    ‘Argghh! Yes! Yes!’ Nico squirmed onto his back trying to fight the pain.
    Kessler placed a boot on his chest, pinning him to the floor.
    ‘Fucking marvellous! An intellectual Jew!’
    The trooper and detective laughed nervously.
    ‘Your Professor Mayer has been seen working very late at the University. What is so interesting to keep him at his desk half the night?’
    ‘Err… I don’t know, sir. He simply likes his work… ’
    Kessler interrupted with his boot. ‘Indeed, as you can see, I enjoy my work!’ He gave another kicking. ‘But, I don’t spend half the night in my office!’
    ‘Arghh! Please, sir! I don’t know, we are just physicists.’
    ‘Tell me something I don’t know!’ Kessler suddenly grabbed Nico by the scruff and dragged him towards the barrel of tar. The trooper and detective followed, casting glances between each other.
    ‘You are all the bloody same! Too intellectual for your own good! Well, not any more!’ He dumped Nico unceremoniously against the side of the hot barrel.
    ‘Arghh!’ A splash of the scolding liquid spilt over the lip of the barrel, catching Nico’s right hand. He cushioned the wound with his left, hyperventilating against the searing pain.
    ‘Why is Mayer working so late?!’
    ‘Please, sir! I