a period of three years before her recent marriage to Daniel Courtland, then ambassador to Finland. She was highly regarded by both faculty and students alike for her ability to demystify computer- Mese She was active in campus politics, a staunch conservative when it was not popular, but her winning personality softened the negative reactions. It was rumored that she had several affairs while in residence but nothing of consequence or detrimental to her position. It was noted, however, that political events excepted, she was not known to frequent social occasions, living off campus in Evanston,
Illinois, an hour's drive from the university.
Her background is quite conformist for the times. She emigrated from Bavaria in the late forties as an infant, her parents deceased, and was brought up by relatives, Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Schneider, in Centralia in the county of Marion,
Illinois. Her records show that she was an outstanding student in high school, won a Merit Scholarship to the University of
Chicago, and upon completion of her bachelor's degree, master's, and doctorate, was offered a position on the faculty. She made frequent trips as an unpaid political consultant to
Washington, D.C." where she met Ambassador Courtland.
That's about it, Paris. Regards, Chicago.
"That's not 'about it," said Witkowski quietly as he read the bright green letters on the screen.
"She's a Sonnenkind."
"What the hell are you talking about, Stanley?"
"I thought the Sonnenkinder theory was discredited," said Karin softly, nearly inaudible.
"To most people," replied the colonel, "not to me, never has been. Look what's happening now."
"What's a Sonnen-whatever?"
"A concept, Drew. The premise was that before and after the war, the zealots of the Third Reich sent out selected children to chosen "Parents' throughout the world, whose mission was to raise the Kinder to positions of influence and power so as to pave the way for a Fourth Reich."
"That's fantasyland, it couldn't happen."
"Maybe it did after all," said Witkowski.
"Christ, the world's gone crazy!" exploded the embassy's chief of security.
"Hold it," said Joel Greenberg at the computer, overriding Witkowski's outburst.
"There's an addendum coming in from Chicago. Catch the movie." All heads turned to the screen and the bright green letters. Additional information re Janine Clunes.
While championing conservative causes, she violently opposed the Nazi march through Skokie, Illinois. She went on the parade's rostrum at her own peril and denounced the event as barbarism.
"What do you make of that, Stanley?" asked Drew.
"I'll tell you what I make of it," interrupted De Vries.
"What better way to support an ultimately horrible agenda than by denying it?
You could, be right, Colonel. The Sonnenkinder operation may be alive and well."
"Then tell me, how I can approach the ambassador? What the hell can I say? He's living with, sleeping with, a daughter of the Third Reich?"
"Let me handle this, Stanley," said Latham.
"I'm the coordinator, right?"
"Who are you going to lay it on, youngster?"
"Who else? A man we both appreciate. Wesley Sorenson."
"May God have mercy on his soul."
The telephone rang on Rowe's computer. He picked it up.
"STwo here, what is it? .. . Yes, sit, right away, sit." He turned to Witkowski.
"You're to go right up to medical, Colonel. Your 'prize' is awake and talking."
erhardt Kroeger, strapped in a straitjacket, was on the narrow bed, crouched against the wall, his body Gcurled up and pressed into the wood. He was alone in a room at the embassy's infirmary, his wounded legs bandaged underneath his medical pajamas, his eyes wide, glaring, roving everywhere but focused on nothing.
"Mein Vater war ein Verrdter," he whispered [email protected] "Mein Vater war ein Verrdter! .. . Mein Leben ist vorbei, alles vernicbtet!"
Two men watched him through a false mirror in an adjoining office-one, the embassy physician, the other, Colonel Witkowski.
"He's getting real squirrelly," said the chief of security.
"I don't understand German. What's he saying?" asked the doctor.
"Something about his father being filth, a traitor, and that his life is over, everything destroyed."
"What do you make of it?"
"Only what I hear. He's a basket case, carrying a ton of guilt that's driving him up the wall he can't climb."
"Then he's suicidal," concluded the doctor.
"He stays in the jacket."
"You're damn right," agreed the colonel.
"But I'm still going in and try to question him."
"Be careful, his blood pressure's almost out of sight. Which, I suppose, is natural, considering who he is-or was. When the mighty fall, they crash with a bang."
"You know who he is-was?"
"Sure. Most anybody who got through medical school would.
Especially the head sessions."
"Enlighten me, Doctor," said Witkowski, looking at the physician.
"He is, or was, a famous German surgeon-I haven't heard of him