The Rhinemann Exchange by Robert Ludlum Read Free Book Online Page A

assurances consistently offered by your respective departments, we now learn that production may be brought to a complete halt within a matter of weeks. Several months prior to the
agreed-upon
date for the first operational rockets. That date has never been questioned.It has been the keystone for whole military strategies; entire armies have been maneuvered to coordinate with it. Germany’s victory is predicated on it.… But now Peenemünde is threatened; Germany is threatened.… If the projections the Reichsminister’s staff have compiled—
unearthed
and compiled—are valid, the Peenemünde complex will exhaust its supply of industrial diamonds in less than ninety days. Without industrial diamonds the precision tooling in Peenemünde cannot continue.”
    The babble of voices—excited, guttural, vying for attention—erupted the second Altmüller sat down. General Leeb’s cigarette holder slashed the air in front of him as though it were a saber; Albert Vögler scowled and wrinkled his flesh-puffed eyes, placed his bulky hands on the table and spoke harshly in a loud monotone; Wilhelm Zangen’s handkerchief was working furiously around his face and his neck, his high-pitched voice in conflict with the more masculine tones around him.
    Franz Altmüller leaned toward Speer. “You’ve seen cages of angry ocelots in the zoo? The zookeeper can’t let them hurl themselves into the bars. I suggest you lose your benign temper far earlier than we discussed. Perhaps now.”
    “That is not the way.”
    “Don’t let them think you are cowed.…”
    “Nor that I am cowering.” Speer interrupted his friend, the slightest trace of a smile on his lips. He stood up. “Gentlemen.”
    The voices trailed off.
    “Herr Altmüller speaks harshly; he does so, I’m sure, because I spoke harshly with him. That was this morning, very early this morning. There is greater perspective now; it is no time for recriminations. This is not to lessen the critical aspects of the situation, for they are great. But anger will solve nothing. And we need solutions.… Therefore, I propose to seek your assistance—the assistance of the finest industrial and military minds in the Reich. First, of course, we need to know the specifics. I shall start with Herr Vögler. As manager of Reich’s Industry, would you give us your estimate?”
    Vögler was upset; he didn’t wish to be the first called. “I’m not sure I can be of much enlightenment, HerrReichsminister. I, too, am subject to the reports given me. They have been optimistic; until the other week there was no suggestion of difficulty.”
    “How do you mean, optimistic?” asked Speer.
    “The quantities of bortz and carbonado diamonds were said to be sufficient. Beyond this there are the continuing experiments with lithicum, carbon and paraffin. Our intelligence tells us that the Englishman Storey at the British Museum reverified the Hannay-Moissan theories. Diamonds
were
produced in this fashion.”
    “Who verified the Englishman?” Franz Altmüller did not speak kindly. “Had it occurred to you that such data was meant to be passed?”
    “Such verification is a matter for Intelligence. I am not with Intelligence, Herr Altmüller.”
    “Go on,” said Speer quickly. “What else?”
    “There is an Anglo-American experiment under the supervision of the Bridgemann team. They are subjecting graphite to pressures in excess of six million pounds per square inch. So far there is no word of success.”
    “Is there word of failure?” Altmüller raised his aristocratic eyebrows, his tone polite.
    “I remind you again, I am not with Intelligence. I have received no word whatsoever.”
    “Food for thought, isn’t it,” said Altmüller, without asking a question.
    “Nevertheless,” interrupted Speer before Vögler could respond, “you had reason to assume that the quantities of bortz and carbonado were sufficient. Is that not so?”
    “Sufficient. Or at least obtainable, Herr