Free Stealing the Future by Max Hertzberg

about this stuff I’m working on.”
    “Yeah, the Minister’s secretary phoned. She told me to go and see the British.”
    “That’s odd,” Erika was surprised. “How did it go?”
    “Oh, same as with the Russian—he didn’t have much to say. I wasn’t really sure why I was there. But the British liaison officer and I did have a chat about economics, well, to be honest, I had a bit of a rant and he was polite enough to listen to me. He compared what we’re doing with something called ‘Hertzka’.”
    “Yes, that makes sense—but it was a someone, not a something. He wrote about an economic utopia. It’s an old book. He outlined ten principles, including free association, profit sharing and democratic control. A bit like the small workers’ co-ops that are being set up here. He had a fetish for transparent economic information—accounts, trade movement, stuff like that. Terribly patriarchal and imperialist though.”
    I looked at Erika in surprise, maybe she was the one who should be talking to Major Tom, it certainly sounded like she knew more about economic history than I did.
    “The thing is, after this chat about economics he said something strange, I can’t work it out. Something about the Russians, the Stasi and the Westgermans being behind the problems in Silesia. He didn’t drop much more than a hint, then he changed the topic before I could ask him more about it.”
    “Do you think he knows anything, or is he just playing games?” Erika was looking out the window. The clouds were breaking up now, and the rain was easing off. “I’ve been thinking more, about Maier. Maybe you and Klaus were right. Maybe there is something fishy about the whole thing. Do you still feel the same way?”
    “Yeah, you could say that. I mean, first of all I get sent down to West Silesia, then the Minister seems to want to distract me and keep me off the case. Now we’ve got some British officer dropping hints about the situation down there, talking about an international conspiracy. Now if I thought the Minister had someone working on it, that’d be fine, I’d get back to my usual work. But why is he trying to put me off? I mean setting Frau Demnitz on me, and this liaison stuff, it doesn’t make sense to ask me to do it: I can’t speak Russian, and my English is nearly as bad. Klaus speaks both languages, and both you and Laura are way more diplomatic and clear than I’ll ever be—any of you would do the job far better than I can.”
    “Did the British guy have anything else to say?”
    “Not much, just that hint about the Russians and the Westgermans. I guess he might have been joking.”
    “Not really a joking matter. But a scary thought nevertheless—something to think about. Which reminds me, I was thinking of going to the big demonstration this afternoon—there might be a link to where they found Maier’s body. Bit of a long shot, but it might help to clear things up in my mind. You fancy joining me?”
    “Yes, you’re right about the possibility of a link. I got a message from the Saxon police yesterday.” I told her about the scrap of paper with Fremdiswalde’s prints on them. “No idea who this Chris Fremdiswalde is, but I think it might be to do with this demo.”
    “When did you get this message? Didn’t you think to tell us?”
    “We agreed we weren’t going to do anything about all of this, so I just put it to one side and forgot about it.”
    Erika pulled a face. “Right that’s settled, I’m definitely going to the Alex this afternoon. You coming with me?” Erika had her legs crossed, one foot tapping the air. Excitement, if I knew her at all.
    “Mmm, love to, but I’m going with someone else…”
    I must have blushed or stuttered, because Erika was straight in there.
    “Really? Who’re you meeting?”
    “Oh, nobody, really. Sort of got a date.”
    “A date? Great! That should take your mind off things. Who is it? Where are you meeting her?” Erika’s eyes were