“As you wish.” The banker opened the ledger on the last page and scribbled at the bottom: Deposit of above-listed goods is acknowledged this day, 1.1.1945 by the Hoffgeitz Bank of Zurich. Signed: Armande Hoffgeitz, President. “We can’t just dump huge quantities of stones on the market-prices will collapse.”

“Take your time.” Klaus took the ledger and handed it to Tanya, who slipped it under her shirt, where it rested against her chest.

Armande asked, “When will I hear from you?”

“I will contact you from Argentina when it’s safe.” Klaus rolled down the window. “Felix!”

His driver hurried across the road.

“Tell your cousin to show Gunter how to drive that monster.” He pointed at the truck. “I don’t want him to lose control on the way downhill.”

“ Jawohl, Herr Obergruppenfuhrer!” Felix ran to the truck.

“What about him?” Armande put the papers back in a briefcase. “Will you take Felix to Argentina?”

“I offered. He’s loyal and obedient, but no longer valiant. He wants to go with his cousin back to Bavaria, till the fields, milk the cows. Fools’ dreams.”

Armande Hoffgeitz’s assistant climbed into the cabin of the truck. The engine roared, and the truck proceeded through the gate into Switzerland.

They got out of the Rolls Royce. It felt even colder than before. The banker rubbed his hands. “A U-Boat ride across the Atlantic is risky. Why don’t you come with me to Zurich?”

“It’s too close to Germany,” Klaus said. “I must be far away when the Reich surrenders. The Allies will hunt us down, put up show trials, and march us one by one to the gallows.”

Tanya clutched his arm.

“Good luck, my friend.” Armande Hoffgeitz got behind the wheel.

“ Auf Wiedersehen. ”

The Rolls Royce slid backward across the border, and Klaus led Tanya to the Mercedes.