"They beat them first. Then they hacked them. I neglected to tell you the whole story. You were too young in those days to hear the whole story," said Konrad Blutsturz, gently stroking her blond hair. "But why do you wish to kill all Jews, when only a handful committed that heinous deed?"
"To carry on, of course. Just because we lost the war doesn't mean we give up. You didn't give up. No matter what they did to you, you didn't give up."
"I am after one man," said Konrad Blutsturz, flexing his steel claw.
"What about after that? I mean, we'll have this wonderful organization and all these guns and bombs and soldiers. We have to do something with them. We just have to."
"After Smith . . ." Konrad Blutsturz said. "After Smith we will discuss this. You are so young and trusting, Ilsa. That is what I like about you." And he gave her a squeeze that just happened to crush one breast. Ilsa didn't seem to notice. In fact, she smiled.
Boyce Barlow took a last swig of breakfast, and crushing it, threw the Coors can into a ditch.
"Paugh!" he said. "That's good."
"You gonna call Hair Fairer now, Boyce? Are you?" asked Luke.
"Yeah. There's a pay phone up the road. I'll walk."
Boyce Barlow got the secretary at Fortress Purity on the second ring. He winced slightly at the sound of her voice. It was so thickly Germanic it bothered him. "Yes?" the secretary said.
"Put me though to Hair Fairer," Boyce said.
The line clicked and the dry voice of Konrad Blutsturz came on.
"Hair Fairer? It's Boyce."
"They have moved Ferris D'Orr to a safe house, as I anticipated," Konrad Blutsturz said without preamble. "The news media have discovered the location. It is in Baltimore."
"Where's that?"
"In Maryland."
"Never heard of it."
"Get in your truck and drive north. Go through Washington, D.C."
"I've heard of that one."
"Good. Keep going through Washington and you will see the signs saying Baltimore. The address is 445 Lafayette Street. Ferris D'Orr is in the penthouse, the top floor."
"Sounds simple enough," said Boyce Barlow.
"It is simple. That is why I am trusting this important task to you."
"On our way, then."
"Don't forget the nebulizer."
"I won't."
"And throw away your wallets. Just in case."
"Just in case of what?"
"Capture," said honrad Blutsturz.
"Shoot, Hair Fairer, there's three of us. I got a twelve-gauge shotgun and Luke and Bud got good mailorder rifles. Who's gonna capture us? We got just about everybody outgunned."
"D'Orr will be protected. Go in shooting if you have to, but do not shoot him and do not get captured. If you are captured, say nothing. Tell the others to do the same. Keep your mouths shut like the proud Aryans that you are and we will take care of you. Now, do as I say. Get rid of everything in your wallets."
"The money too?"
"No, not the money. Just your personal papers."
"Good. I figger we might need the money for gas."
"Call me as soon as you have succeeded," said Konrad Blutsturz.
Boyce Barlow trudged back to his truck, which was parked behind a massive stand of magnolia trees.
"Hair Fairer says we gotta get rid of our personal papers," he told Luke and Bud.
"Why?" Bud and Luke asked in unison.
"In case we get captured, he said."
Boyce got behind the wheel of the truck and turned the ignition.
"Who's gonna try and capture us?" Luke said, climbing in beside him while Bud vaulted into the truck bed. "You got a double-barreled shotgun."
"I tried tellin' the man that, but you know how he is-extra cautious."
They dug out their wallets, tore their Social Security cards and the papers to tiny bits and, as Boyce Barlow set the pickup in motion, released them, piece by piece, down the highway, where they joined the lightly falling snow.
At Fortress Purity, Herr Fuhrer Kanrad Blutsturz hung up the phone and turned to Ilsa.
"They are trying again."
"Think they'll get it right this time?"
"No, I do not."
Ilsa's face pouted. "Then why send them?"
"Because they might. If they do, it will save us more exertion. If they do not, then the White Aryan League falls entirely into our hands, Ilsa."
"Oooh, good thinking."