“Well?” the Feldwebel asked.

‘“The Omphalos Stone, from Zeus’ temple at Delphi, was reputed to be the navel of the world,’” Hasso read. ‘“It was the center and the beginning, according to the ancient Greeks, and also a joining place between this world and others. Brought to Berlin in 1893 by Herr Doktor Professor Maximilian Eugen von Heydekampf, it has rested here ever since. Professor von Heydekampf’s unfortunate disappearance during an imperial reception here two years later has never been completely explained.’”

“Ha!” Edelsheim said. “What do you want to bet some pretty girl disappeared about the same time?”

“Wouldn’t be surprised.” But Hasso’s eyes went back to the card. “‘And also a joining place between this world and others.’ I’ll tell you, Karl, this world doesn’t look so good right now.”

“So plunk your ass down on the rock and see what happens,” the sergeant advised. “How could you be worse off, no matter where you end up?”

The shooting picked up again. Someone not far away started screaming on a high, shrill note, like a saw biting into a nail. The shriek went on and on. That was no sham. That was a desperately hurt man, one who would die soon – but not soon enough to suit him.

“Good question,” Hasso said. “Another world or this same old fucked – up place? Here goes nothing.” The patched seat of his field – gray pants came down on the navelstone.

Sergeant Edelsheim turned his head to jeer at the captain while he was on the rock. The whole goddamn country was on the rocks now. That was pretty funny, when you –

“What the – ?”

One instant, Captain Pemsel was there. The next, he was gone, as if by trick photography in the movies. He might never have been in the museum with Edelsheim.

“Der Herr Gott im Himmel” Sudden mad hope surged through the sergeant. If there was a way out, any way out… What he’d told Pemsel was true for himself, too. Wherever he went, how could he be worse off?