Ch.3
Karl looked at his reflection in the mirror. On his right breast hung a large, golden medal with a black swastika in the middle and rays of gold sprouting around the medal. On his left breast, below his pocket square, hung a silver medal with a helmet engraved in it as well as a swastika. He looked for only a moment before his dark brows knit over his green, intelligent eyes. He left his sunglasses on the table, then he walked out and walked into the elevator, ascending to the top floor of the building. As he stepped out of the elevator he saw a line was already forming to enter the receiving room and greet the Crown Prince and Princess personally before the tea commenced. Hans walked up to him, "Alright, you know your place and what to do, I have to go in now."
"Ah, you have the luxury of standing in the background."
"It'll be fine," Hans said, "If nothing else it will be funny to see the Japanese hide their shock when they find out who you are." He said as he smiled and clapped Karl on the back. Karl walked the opposite direction from Hans who walked into a room. There would only be five people at the tea table. It would be him, the Crown Prince and Princess, Trade Minister Tagomi and Ambassador Reiss, but a lot more people were given the opportunity to meet the Crown Prince and Diels would join them for an after tea talk. Karl stood at the back of the line. No one noticed him as he stood leaning against the wall slightly. They were all too concerned with how they looked.
Kido watched as Nazi after Nazi entered the room, bowing too low or not low enough. Disdain was clearly on his face as the end of the line neared. He assumed it would be Ambassador Reiss, so when the young ambassador entered second to last he raised his eyebrows a fraction of an inch, his eyes now fixed on the door, "Reichsminister Karl Erwin Rommel," The man announcing names said and it was all Kido could do to hide his surprise and interest as a thin, tall but strong-looking young man entered the room. He cast warning glances at the rest of the Kempeitai present as they shifted slightly to get a good look at Karl. Kido saw that Karl had a slight limp to his gait and he had his hands clasped behind his back respectfully as he walked forward. Kido watched as the Crown Prince smiled politely, then genuinely as Karl followed protocol exactly and delivered a perfect bow.
"It is a pleasure, Reichsminister Rommel." He said as they shook hands.
"Yorokobi wa, subete watashi no monodesu." Karl responded in perfect Japanese and Kido looked at Trade Minister Tagomi who looked equally as shocked.
The Crown Prince smiled widely, "Your Japanese is beautiful." He said as he drew Karl's gaze to his wife, "My wife, the Crown Princess."
Karl knew better than to take her hand, instead he bowed even deeper than he had for the Prince and all of the Japanese watched in awe as this young, white kid performed the traditional Japanese ritual perfectly. After the greeting was over Kido stepped forward and directed Karl into the dining area. Karl nodded his thanks at Kido and looked at him curiously then flashed a quick glance to Hans who nodded slightly. Karl smiled wanly at Kido and walked into the fully set up table. As Karl was waiting in the room a young SS man walked towards him and Kido watched as Karl put his hand in his pocket and looked at the ground, listening as the SS man said something in his ear. Kido watched as Karl furrowed his brow, "Sind Sie sicher?" He asked and the man nodded.
Karl winced slightly and Kido saw him reach into his suit pocket, pull out a bottle of pills and take three. He breathed out and scratched his eyebrow, "Scheisse." He said softly as he looked at the door, "Nicht jetzt, put the file in my room and I'll handle it later. Danke." He said and the man snapped his heels and walked away.
"Reichsminister Rommel," Tagomi said as he approached Karl and bowed.
"Trade Minister, please it's Mr. Rommel or even Karl. I won't bandy titles with such a well-placed man." He said as he returned Tagomi's bow.
"It is a pleasure to have you in our Pacific States." Tagomi said as he studied Karl's face.
"An unfortunate incident after a…boxing match," Karl said as he pointed at his face, "I assure you it is far better than it looks."
Tagomi nodded, "I regret that we could not have planned something for your visit Reichsminister." He said and Kido listened closely, he knew Tagomi was attempting to tease out a reason why his visit had been kept secret.
Karl smiled politely, "You honor me, but this visit is about your own glorious empire. I refuse to take away from that." He said as the Crown Prince and Princess entered. They all bowed as the two members of royalty took their seats and then they each took their seats as well. Karl was sitting to the right of the Crown Prince with Kido directly behind him and Tagomi directly across from him. As the tea was poured, Ambassador Reiss watched what Karl did carefully and imitated him as they commenced with the ceremony. Once that was over, sweet bean treats were laid out and quiet, polite conversation commenced.
"So Reichsminister, I am very fascinated with the farmland project in the Mediterranean." The Crown Prince said as he looked at the young man searchingly.
Karl raised his eyebrow, "It was a fascinating project." He said as he sipped his tea, "I don't want to bore anyone with details…"
"Not at all," The Crown Prince said and the table all focused on Karl.
Karl nodded and put the glass down, "Well, the Mediterranean communities were entirely focused on trade. That was why the economies were so stagnant and the people suffered for it. Farming brings stability, an abundance of food and it positively impacts Eastern Europe where there is a deficit of good, fertile farmland." He said.
"Were you not concerned about the possible unbalance caused by modifying such a large ecosystem?" The Crown Prince asked and Karl nodded.
"You have it exactly your Highness," He said, "Which is why we drained it slowly and closely monitored the impact. Once it was clear there was going to be no perceivable downside, we drained the rest of the sea overnight."
The Crown Prince nodded, "Truly an amazing feat of engineering and imagining."
"Well I cannot take credit for that."
"You made it happen, Reichsminister." The Crown Prince, "Dreams are smoke until there are men who can make them a reality."
Karl nodded at the compliment as they began speaking about other matters. Kido furrowed his brow as he looked at Karl, the boy is a danger to the Empire, he thought. At the end of the tea the Crown Prince and Princess along with the officials of the state left the room to participate in a talk about the Crown Prince's address. Karl stood, he wasn't required to attend the meeting and he had no desire to. He turned and made eye contact with Kido, "Arigatogozaimash." He said and Kido bowed respectfully as he watched Karl walk towards the door.
As Karl was passing through the doorway he stopped by Hans and Kido furrowed his brow as he watched Karl say something to Hans, "Wenn Sie wissen wollen, wer Sie getötet haben, kommen Sie zu meinem Zimmer nach diesem." He said and Hans clenched his jaw as Karl left the room. Hans was looking at the floor in front of him for a moment before he seemed to come to his senses and he cleared his throat, adjusted his uniform and walked into the room where the Crown Prince and Princess were sitting with Ambassador Reiss and Oberfuhrer Diels. Tagomi looked at Hans as he entered the room and stood behind him. Kido walked into the room and stood right by Hans.
"That is not a topic for the Crown Prince in this setting." Tagomi was saying with very restrained anger and Hans looked around letting out a slight breath of boredom.
"No, it's alright Trade Minister." The Crown Prince said, "But I would hear the reasons for your request from the man actually asking." He said and Diels looked at the Crown Prince.
"We have received reports of renewed efforts by the Resistance and are only concerned about your safety." Diels said as he flashed a quick look at Hans. Kido felt Hans tighten up beside him and heard Hans' breathing stop as he attempted to control himself. He looked sideways at Hans to see that Hans' hands were balled up and his prominent jaw was clenched tight as his face remained stony, but his eyes leaped in anger. Kido furrowed his brow slightly as the Crown Prince looked over.
"Chief Inspector," The Crown Prince said and Kido bowed, "You have seen these reports."
"Hai denka." Kido said and the Crown Prince nodded.
"Your concern is noted and appreciated Oberfuhrer Diels, but my Imperial Guard and the Kempeitai have my security as their primary concern." He said as he stood and everyone else in the room stood as well, "I am here to address the Pacific States as their monarch." He said, "Thank you." He said and Ambassador Reiss and Diels bowed then walked out of the room.
The Crown Prince and Princess walked into a waiting room and Hans breathed out and nodded at Kido, "If there is nothing else." He said and Kido nodded as he watched Hans leave the room quickly.
Hans was furious and he wasn't even attempting to hide it anymore. He walked into his office and slammed the door. He grabbed a lamp and threw it against the wall, "Ich kann nicht…dieser Mann ist ein Parasit!"
He poured himself a glass of whiskey and drank it quickly before he looked at the broken lamp and left the office quickly. He turned and he felt a bump in his body. He raised his eyebrows and looked down to see a Japanese woman in traditional kimono garb. The woman looked up at him with beautiful amber eyes and he felt his stomach do a slight flip.
"Sensei," She said as she bowed deeply, "Taihen moshiwakegozaimasen. Watashi o yurushitekudasai."
"Uh, it's fine, please." Hans said as he attempted to calm the obviously distraught woman.
"Oberfuhrer Axmann, is everything all right?" Tagomi asked as he and Kido walked by.
"I can't…I don't understand…tell her that everything is all right, I'm not angry." He said and Tagomi looked at Hans with interest as Kido relayed the message and Hans looked at the petite woman.
She smiled and bowed to him and Hans smiled in return as he watched her walk away gracefully with Tagomi who politely excused himself. Kido watched Hans for a moment then breathed in, "May I speak with you?" He asked and Hans looked at him for a moment then nodded and gestured to his office. Kido walked into the red-carpeted, hard-wood walled office. He immediately saw the broken lamp and he raised his eyebrows in interest slightly as Hans closed the door behind him. Hans' chestnut desk was to the right of the office and behind the desk were pictures of Hans with family as well as Reich officials and some displayed war medals.
Hans poured himself another drink, "Can I tempt you?"
"No," Kido said then he smiled and narrowed his eyes, "Thank you." He said and Hans nodded as he put the drink down and watched as Kido turned away from his desk to study the books he had on his wood bookcase on the other side of the office. Hans sipped his drink and leaned on his desk as he took a few breaths and attempted to lower his blood pressure but every time he thought about the incident he felt anger, "Oberfuhrer Diels does not speak for you I assume." Kido said as he continued to look at the books. Hans breathed out as he controlled himself.
"Oberfuhrer Diels is a competent officer of the Reich, however in this circumstance, he does not speak for me." Hans said and Kido looked at the young man. Hans was an intelligent, dangerous man who was very good at his job, but he was young and Kido knew the passion of young men.
Kido nodded, "Even with the appearance of the Reichsminister?" He asked as he narrowed his eyes slightly, "His presence would explain the recent Resistance activity." He said and Hans looked at Inspector Kido, he knew that Kido was angry at not being filled in as to Karl's visit.
"The Resistance did not know about Karl's presence here." Hans said as he raised his eyebrows.
"They do now." Kido said simply as he walked over to Hans, "Do you mind?" He asked as he gestured slightly to the medals behind Hans' desk.
Hans took another drink and nodded, "Please," He said and Kido walked by him as he picked his drink up and walked to the window, looking out, "You understand why we did not spread across channels that a Reichsminister would be attending this event. Forgive me Chief Inspector but the Resistance is much more active in the Pacific States then in the American Reich."
Kido bent low over a medal then breathed in, "Long Beach?" He asked as he looked at Hans, "You were there?"
Hans looked at him, "I was, towards the end. We landed at Virginia Beach and my unit, under Field Marshal Rommel punched through the Rockies. Eventually into California."
Kido nodded, "You were a sergeant?" He asked and Hans looked at him.
"At the time," He answered.
"You were sixteen." Kido said as he looked intently at Hans and Hans looked at him for a moment then he nodded.
"I was." He said as he drained the glass and put it down, still looking at Kido, "You were there?" He asked and Kido looked at him for a moment then looked back at the medal.
"I was." He said simply. Hans nodded and looked at him with a furrowed brow.
"It was a different city."
"It was a different world Oberfuhrer." Kido said as he smiled wanly and Hans looked at him.
"We will not change security, will we Chief Inspector?"
"No," Kido said as he looked at Hans.
Hans nodded and returned Kido's intense gaze, "Both of us are on the line now, Inspector." He said as he furrowed his brow, "So believe me when I say that all relevant facts are being made available to you."
Kido walked up to Hans and looked at him for a moment, "Until tomorrow Oberfuhrer." He said then nodded his head slightly and walked out of the room.
Hans watched him go for a moment then he furrowed his brow as he looked at the door. He walked out of his office and went up to his room. He closed the door and locked it as his eyes fixed on the tape that he'd picked up a couple nights ago.
Karl sat in his room as he looked at the file he'd been delivered. He'd read the whole thing already and he was waiting for Hans to come here. However, it had been an hour and a half and it was becoming very clear that Hans was not interested in finding out who he had killed. Karl's eyes kept flicking from the file to the phone and after a few moments he got up and dialed a number, "Hello?" A voice asked.
"John," Karl said then breathed out and the voice on the other end breathed in.
"I'm glad you called Karl." John said and Karl breathed in.
"I'm not." Karl said, "Listen John, I just found intelligence that Reinhard had Hans killed a high-ranking Japanese scientist."
"Do you have a name?" John asked.
"Takezo Nakamura," Karl said and he paused for a moment, "Listen John, he doesn't know why he kills these people, he doesn't know why he's even stationed here. He's not a danger to the Reich."
John was silent for a moment then he breathed in, "Thank you Karl." He said then the line went dead. Karl put the phone back and sat down heavily. He put his head in his hands feeling a deep shame for betraying his friend.
Hans stood with a drink in his hand as he watched a black and white film play in front of him. It was some sort of trial with Americans and British making opening remarks. He furrowed his brow as he looked closer at the people being prosecuted then his eyebrows shot up as he recognized Rudolf Hess, Alfred Jodl and Hermann Goering, "What the hell…" He said then the tape suddenly flashed to Goering dead on the floor of a cell, Hess dead in a cell, and Jodl hanging by his neck. Then the film panned to a fully built Washington D.C. with an American flag flying over it. Hans dropped the glass as the tape ran out and continued flipping. He immediately went to the phone and dialed a number, "Heinrich, get me everything we know about films labeled the Grasshopper Lies Heavy."
"Jawohl." Heinrich said and Hans hung up the phone and went back to his film reel and replayed the film once more.
The next morning Hans got up and he put on a dark suit and a long brown coat. He spent time putting on a brown wig and making it seem completely natural then he put hair over his light eyebrows to make it look darker and he put brown glass lenses in his eyes. He put a hat on and walked out of his room. He went to Karl's room and knocked and Karl opened it, "Can I help you?" He asked.
"Well, the disguise works," Hans said and Karl's eyebrows shot up.
"Wow," He said as Hans stepped into his room.
"I wanted to tell you that I'll be in the crowd throughout the event." Hans said as Karl looked at him.
"Is this real hair?" He asked as he touched the wig.
"Listen very closely please," Hans said intently and Karl looked at him and nodded, "If anything happens Karl, anything." He said as he raised his eyebrows, "There will be a window of a few moments where you need to get out and get to the Embassy, do you understand me."
"Hans what are you telling me?"
"I don't think anything will happen, do not get me wrong but I am…" Hans said then swallowed, "We need to have a plan for your escape, for your safety if something should happen. Trust no one but myself and Heinrich, do you understand?" Hans asked and Karl looked at him for a moment with a furrowed brow.
"You're scared."
"I am…I am not comfortable with your security." Hans said, "And there is a real danger in this event." Hans said then he looked at Karl and smiled, "Perhaps I am…perhaps I am overreacting."
"Of course you are," Karl said with a smile as he put a hand on Hans' shoulder, "It's your job."
Hans looked at his friend and smiled wanly, "Ja."
"Viel Gluck." Karl said and Hans nodded then left the room. Karl shut the door and furrowed his brow. He could see the fear and worry in Hans' face and it worried him to see it.
Hans walked out front of the Embassy to see the security team was already at work setting up a perimeter with the Kempeitai, "Sir." Heinrich said as he saluted Hans.
"No saluting Heinrich," Hans said as he looked around as his men surrounded him, "Alright gentlemen, you know what to do, set up a security perimeter and make it foolproof. Have your team sweep the buildings Bill. Anything else?"
"Sir," Bill said, "Diels' man Muller wants to come along on the sweep."
Hans breathed out, "Fine, bring him along and keep a close eye on him, ja." He said and Bill nodded. They all disbanded and Hans turned to Heinrich as they left, "I told the Reichsminister the plan. If anything happens Heinrich, you don't look at what, you don't stop, you grab Reichsminister Rommel and you get him into the embassy, ja? You use whatever means necessary." He said as he raised his eyebrows, "Do you understand, you do whatever you have to do."
"Jawohl," Heinrich said and they both turned to watch the crowd begin trickling into the public viewing area, "Sir, where are the Imperial Guards?"
"They are always with the royal family. Their presence will be the first indicator of the Crown Prince and Princess' arrival." Hans said as he nodded and stood slightly protected from view behind a pillar, "Alright Heinrich, do your job and hopefully we all make it out of this event unscathed." He said as he shook Heinrich's hand. Heinrich nodded then grabbed Hans roughly and guided him to the injection point.
"Next time have your papers readily available!" Heinrich said then threw him bodily into the crowd.
Hans straightened his coat up and clenched his jaw as he took a step towards Heinrich but an older member of the crowd grabbed Hans' arm, "It's not worth it son." He said as he looked at Hans closely and Hans breathed out and looked at the older man and nodded.
"Thank you." He said in a flawless American accent.
The man patted his back and Hans walked in amongst the public and joined the crowd seamlessly. Kido, from his post facing the crowd was attempting to see where Hans was. His eyes swept the crowd intensely but he couldn't tell where Hans was at all. Hans could see Kido scanning the crowd and he smiled slightly as he studied everyone near him intently. Suddenly he saw the arrival and posting of the Imperial Guard and all of the VIPs sat in preparation for the speech. Tagomi walked up to the microphone and addressed the crowd, "It is now my distinct pleasure to introduce you to your Crown Prince." He said and the Crown Prince walked out to applause.
Hans moved amongst the crowd continuously as the Crown Prince began his speech and he studied their body language and their movements. He suddenly saw something that caused his breath to catch in his throat. Across the crowd a man with brown hair and thick framed glasses was pulling some type of firearm from his coat. Hans began to move through the crowd towards him, pulling his own weapon discreetly as he struggled to move through the crowd. As he focused on the man and his movements two loud shots rang out. Hans ducked instinctively and raised his weapon as he looked around the crowd in shock. He saw Kido rush up on stage where the Crown Prince was lying and then he saw Heinrich getting Karl out of there as though it were all in slow motion. Suddenly he heard yelling around him and something hit him on his left side with such force that he fell to the ground, the air knocked out of him as he gave a slight oof upon impacting the pavement. He got up quickly, his heart beat drowning out all other noises around him. He could see Kempeitai men closing in and he immediately took off running as quickly as he could. Those edgy, inexperienced young men had just watched their God get shot in front of their eyes and he was an armed man in disguise, they would kill him before he had any chance to explain.
The Kempeitai chased him, but Hans had the man he'd seen in his sight and he was pursuing the guy ruthlessly. Eventually the Kempeitai lost him amid the frenzied crowds of San Francisco just as Hans caught up with the man, grabbed his arm and swung him into an alley wall behind a dumpster. Hans gripped the man's shirt and pulled his gun, holding it under the man's chin. The man was breathing heavily as he looked at Hans, "You…your name!" He said and the man breathed in shakily.
"Who the hell are you?" He asked and Hans shook him as he gritted his teeth.
"Considering you're the one who had a firearm in the vicinity of the Crown Prince I'd answer the questions! Your name." He growled.
"Frank…Frank Frink." He said and Hans furrowed his brow.
"Why the gun Mr. Frink?" He asked and Frank breathed out.
"I didn't fire it."
"Do you know who shot the Prince?" Hans asked as he shook Frank and he felt a drop of water as the grey clouds began to release their water, "Do you? Are you involved?"
"No, no!" Frank said, "I was going to shoot him, the Japanese, they ruined my life! But I…I couldn't do this." He said and Hans looked at him intensely for a moment then he breathed out and ripped his hat and wig off, removed the colored lenses and took off the fake eyebrows as he holstered his weapon. Frank looked at him for a moment, "You're a fucking Nazi?"
"Yes and you're a Jew Mr. Frink." Hans said, putting an emphasis on his last name as he looked at his side to see that it was covered in blood. He put his right hand over it, attempting to apply pressure, "A Jew who should run away and dispose of that weapon." He said as he looked at Frank. Frank furrowed his brow and looked at Hans for a moment.
"You're hurt." He said and Hans looked at him.
"Do not mistake my kindness for acceptance of you or your people." Hans said as he looked him over for a moment. He breathed out and shook his head, "Leave, before I change my mind." He said and Frank turned and ran off. Hans leaned on the alley and looked at his blood-soaked shirt and coat. He breathed out and furrowed his brow, he couldn't feel the pain but that would come soon, for now he was completely screwed, "Okay, I can't go to the hospitals because they will report the injury to the Kempeitai who will arrest me validating the rumor that a Nazi agent attempted to kill a Japanese royal which will be an act of war. I can't go back to the Embassy because there is no way I'll get in without being stopped and then, once again a Nazi agent will have committed an act of war." Hans said then he clenched his fist and slammed it into the alley wall, "Fuck! Fuck!" He yelled as he breathed out, "Okay, alright." He said as he closed his eyes for a moment.
He opened them and turned his blue eyes up to the sky as he breathed out and sadness marred his handsome features. He nodded as he kept his right arm across his stomach, "Es ist die Zeit." He said softly and nodded as he pushed off against the wall. He walked purposefully towards a phone booth and inserted some coins, dialing a number.
"Hallo, Reichs-Botschaft." A female voice.
"Das ist Oberführer Axmann, sagen Hauptsturmführer Heinrich Kant dass ich den Angriff selbst untersuche." He said and the woman was silent for a moment and he could hear a pen scratching, "Tell no one else and explain to him that I will not be able to be reached for a few weeks."
"Ist das alles Herr?" She asked and Hans leaned heavily on the phone box as he closed his eyes tightly and grimaced.
"Ja, ja das ist alles." He said then hung up the phone. He breathed out and stepped out of the phone box and looked around at the people walking through the rain. He was beginning to feel light-headed from the blood loss and he knew it was only a matter of time before he could no longer move because of the pain and blood loss. He dialed another number on the phone, "Das ist Hans Axemann und ich brauche eine Adresse." He said.