Free The Empire of Time by David Wingrove

alluding, of course, to his concept of the
Herrenvolk
, the chosen race not of God but of the evolutionary universe itself.
    Seydlitz reaches out and takes a cigarette from the pack and, striking a match, lights up. He takes a long draw on it, exhaling the smoke in a long, satisfied breath before continuing.
    ‘“The Germans,” I said. “The
Volk
.”
    ‘It was clearly what he wanted to hear. He stared once more, searching my eyes, and then he nodded. His hand made a small gesture of acceptance. I had him.’
    Seydlitz’s hand makes the gesture. He looks away, grinning now, clearly pleased with himself, then faces the camera again. Smoke from the cigarette trails up between his fingers.
    ‘“On the evening of October sixth,” I said, “the first snows will fall. General Guderian will see it and notify you. But long before then conditions will have made your advance difficult, and by the second of December, the advance will falter outside Moscow. Some of the Fifty-Eighth Division will reach the outskirts, but they will fall back.”
    ‘I looked from Hitler to Goering. This much was reiteration, but I could see how much it impressed them.
    ‘“Then,” I said, “on the sixth of December the Russians will counter-attack. On the seventh the Japanese will attack the US naval base at Pearl Harbor. These two events will determine the whole course of the war.”’
    Seydlitz draws on the cigarette. His eyes slip to the side as he remembers.
    ‘Hitler was watching me very closely by this stage, glaring at me, his whole will opposed to what I was saying. I could see from the tension in his body that he would have liked to have struck me or flown into a rage. Only he believed me. It was frustration that made him clench his fists. What I’d shown him could not be disbelieved. There was no way of knowing – of anticipating – such things.
    ‘“Your machine,” Hitler said, stepping closer. “What it sees … is it fixed?”
    ‘“No,” I said. “It can be altered.”
    ‘With that, his whole expression changed. A smile came to his lips. It transformed the intensity of his stare into something almost demonic
.
    ‘He fixed me with that stare. “And
you
can change it?”’
    Seydlitz looks down at the cigarette thoughtfully.
    ‘“I know how to act,” I said. “How to influence the outcome of events.”
    ‘Hitler seemed pleased. “You’ve done this?” he asked.
    ‘“Yes,” I said.’
    Only it’s a lie. Seydlitz doesn’t know for certain how to change events. None of us do, when it comes right down to it. But he can try. He is there to try.
    He leans in closer, relishing his role as narrator:
    ‘“We have made plans,” I told him. “Changes of emphasis. Innovations. Tactical variations. Things that will have their effect
.”
    ‘Hitler stared back at me, his suspicion momentarily naked. Then he smiled. “And what is your role in this, Herr Seydlitz?”
    ‘I laughed. The time for modesty was past. They understand few things, these early men, but they understand them well. Greed. Power. The survival of the strong.
    ‘“I want to govern Russia,” I said. “I want the German Ukraine. In return I will help bring you victory. I will advise you …”’
    Seydlitz pauses, remembering something:
    ‘
I saw how Goering looked at me, then away. That’s one man I’ll have to deal with in the not-so-distant future. But Hitler …
    ‘He stood there, looking at me pensively, and then he smiled – a smile of recognition and understanding. “And when the snows come?”
    ‘I met his eyes. “This time we shall be ready for them.
”’
20
    ‘Well?’ Hecht asks. ‘You’ve seen his body language. What do you think?’
    I tear my gaze away from the shining image of the Tree and meet Hecht’s eyes.
    ‘I think he’s enjoying himself. He seemed relaxed. Confident. Why? Do you still have doubts?’
    ‘No …’
    But Freisler does
, I finish for him in my head.
    ‘He’s doing well,’ I say. ‘Much