Free Hammer of Angels: A Novel of Shadowstorm by G. T. Almasi

falls silent and huddles next to Mayor Karl.
    Miriam says, “Herr Bürgermeister, you see that you and your … secretary, are unharmed?”
    Mayor Karl calmly answers, “I see you are runaway slaves, and you shall be dealt with accordingly.”
    â€œWe have no desire to hurt you,
mein Herr,
” Miriam says. “We only want your help to restore Germany’s faith in herself and her place on the world stage.”
    â€œAnd how,” he replies, “would you have me do that?”
    If the mayor had flatly refused to help us, we would have switched to plan B, where we try to exchange him for the Circle members caught in last night’s roundup. But he has not refused, not yet anyway. So Miriam proceeds with our original plan to turn Mayor Karl to an agent in place, working for us from inside the German bureaucracy.
    Miriam holds her hand out to Brando, who gives her a slip of paper. Then she leans forward to the round little man and says, “We would have you help us by releasing the people on this list for lack of evidence.”
    Karl takes the small sheet of paper from Miriam and sits back to read through it. After a minute he looks at his girlfriend, then back to the sheet of paper. “What about Isabel?”
    â€œShe will be returned to you tomorrow morning, after our friends have returned to us.”
    â€œI cannot vouch for the physical condition of your friends,” Karl says. “The Gestapo has had them for hours.”
    â€œAll the more reason for a prompt decision on your part,
mein Herr
.”
    â€œI want your word that you will not harm Isabel.”
    Miriam’s face turns red. She stands up and roars. “You don’t get my word on ANYTHING,
Teutsch!
” Miriam seethes for a few moments. “Your cooperation will be rewarded by Isabel’s safe return. I want my people back, and I don’t want a battalion of troops following them.”
    â€œReleasing your people is one thing, but I have no authority over the army.” Karl spreads his hands. “Besides, how would that appear? I am a civilian. I cannot directly meddle in military affairs if you expect me to be useful to you.”
    Miriam suspiciously regards Karl’s face. “Are you saying you will join us?”
    Karl the Bürgermeister rubs his nose and glances at me. “Let’s say I hope to avoid further encounters like this one.”
    CORE MIS-ANGEL-128
    Date: January 4, 1981
    To: Director Chanez, Extreme Operations Division
    From: Task Force Zion
    Subject: Bürgermeister Karl Brun, Classification Level 14.
    Dear Sir,
    Attached please find a copy of my task force’s complete file on Herr Karl Brun, mayor of York. I will summarize their contents for your convenience.
    No one in Brun’s immediate or extended family has ever owned slaves, nor do they socialize with slave-owning families. The man is extremely discreet about his views on this topic, unlike his fellow officials, who are quite vocal in their support for slavery. When pressed for his thoughts on slavery, the mayor becomes evasive and changes the subject.
    We believe Herr Brun is secretly sympathetic to the German abolitionist cause and has the potential to be an asset in place for Operation ANGEL.
    Sincerely,
    Special Agent Barney Frank, CIA

10
    Next morning, Wednesday, February 4[3], 1981, 3:30 A.M. GMT
    Circle of Zion camp, Yorkshire, Province of Great Britain, GG
    Alix
    I sit up in my sleeping bag. My breathing is rushed, and my face is slick with sweat despite the chilly air. I turn on my starlight vision and inspect the tent I share with my partner.
    Brando is asleep next to me. I almost made a real boneheaded move when we first pitched camp here last week. I was about to zip our sleeping bags together before I remembered I’m not all snuggly with this Patrick. It’s like that the first time we do most anything. I’m so used to doing it all with Trick.
    It’s worse now