The Shadowboxer Read Online Free PDF Page B

the months they have been assigned to the Spangler case, they have finally discovered—all by their ingenious selves—what four other agencies have known for better than two years: that crossword puzzles are one of the favorite methods used by camp prisoners for sending covert communications to one another. Bravo again. I suggest we all pause, here and now, to applaud Herr Webber and—”
    â€œEnough,” warned von Schleiben.
    â€œExcuse me, Herr Obergruppenfuehrer,” Platt gleefully beseeched, “but the idea that we have all rushed to an emergency session only to find that SD-Ausland’s momentous discovery is a puzzle-message is too ridiculous to believe. Messages like this have been intercepted and deciphered by the dozens, and never have they had any relationship whatsoever with Spangler’s activities.”
    â€œMessages like this have most definitely been discovered in the past,” Webber agreed, “but they have always been random interceptions. One message here, another there. Never has a series been taken. That is why no sense could be made of them. SD-Ausland has intercepted three in the last ten days, therefore we have continuity—and we know what they mean.”
    â€œWonderful, wonderful,” Platt said laughingly. “And would Herr Webber like to tell this Council if this trio of messages have any mark or name on them which would establish that they came from Spangler?”
    â€œThe Gestapo is quite right,” Webber answered politely. “These secret messages have no establishing name or mark in either message text. We would never have known they had come from Spangler if we hadn’t been extremely lucky in finding something at Concentration Camp Gusen.”
    Webber motioned. The second display card was unveiled.
    Koln
    9 January
    M OST CONSIDERATE C OMMANDANT , Please forgive me for troubling you again about my son Martin Vetter, who is one of your prisoners, but as you know from my previous letters I am gravely ill. The doctors now say the road to recovery is off beyond all medical hope. I must prepare to die. Please tell Martin the truck keys are in the house of his Uncle Alfred. Please tell Martin Alfred promised he won’t drive it, only guard it. Martin should call Alfred on his release and get it back. Please, I beg you, might I telephone Martin? I am ready for death, but hearing his voice would mean so much.
    May God bless you and yours.
    I LSE V ETTER
    c/o Harovatin
    38 Hohenzollernring
    Koln.
    The ankle locks were chained to the brackets imbedded in the pulpit-balcony floor, the wrist irons to the rungs protruding from the wooden railing. The white-gloved guards stepped back. The Council gazed up at the first witness.
    â€œName?” asked Webber.
    â€œPrisoner L224537.”
    â€œSpeak louder.”
    â€œPrisoner L224537,” the intruder repeated in a somewhat stronger monotone.
    â€œPrisoner from where?”
    â€œConcentration Camp Gusen.”
    â€œBefore serving at Gusen had you also been a prisoner at both Bergen-Belsen and Dachau?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAre you a member of a secret prisoner society at Gusen?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWas the society known as the Weeping Nuns?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWere they involved in the Vetter escape?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHave you ever seen this letter before?” Webber asked, pointing to the second easel.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDoes it contain a secret message?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œFrom whom?”
    â€œThe Spangler Group.”
    â€œExtract the secret message for us.”
    â€œâ€¦ Ready … telephone call … guard house … truck off road …”
    â€œHow was this message deciphered?”

3
    The waiting line for the Prague Industrial Free Clinic began forming in the street at 5 A . M . By dawn it stretched four and a half blocks, and newcomers were sent on their way. Rain started falling at