‘Yes, sir, and it’s all true.’
‘I don’t doubt it. But I do need to think about it.’
‘Our deal, sir?’ said Hans tentatively.
‘You’ve no need to worry. I’ll keep my side of the bargain. The
question is whether we can do anything with this. That’s what’ll
make it important or unimportant. Would you be prepared to sign
a statement?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Good man. You said you had ideas about how to make your
father go overseas?’
‘Yes, sir. It involves Herr Professor Wolff.’
‘I see. Tell me more.’
191
1ST_9780241206935_TheGoodLiar.indd 191
05/05/15 5:32 PM
Later, Hans was asked to leave, with an agreement to talk again
the next day in the principal’s office.
‘Do you believe him, Wolff ?’ asked Weber. ‘Might he have got this
wrong?’
‘He’s a very intelligent boy. Yes, I believe him. But we have some-
thing of an ethical problem.’
‘Yes?’
‘The boy is a minor. It is one thing denouncing your parents for
insulting the Führer when he comes on the radio. This is quite dif-
ferent. The consequences could be significant.’
‘I’m aware of that. But the difficulties may be surmountable.’
‘Do you have any corroboration for what he says?’
‘That’s something I’ll have to check. Frankly I doubt it. They may
have talked out of turn in front of little Hansi, but Taub and
Schröder are generally cautious individuals. Of course we know of
Taub’s visits to the house, but beyond that . . .’
‘You would not wish to see whether the boy can obtain further
information about Schröder and his father?’
‘I doubt he’d be able to. What he said would be sufficient to con-
demn both of them anyway, if we could prove it in a court of law.
Also, the time when we have room for manoeuvre for arrange-
ments like this may be limited. By this time next year . . .’
‘This is the unsupported testimony of a fourteen- year- old.’
‘I suppose so. If you put it like that. But it’s compelling and I suspect even more so when we get the detail down on paper. His age
doesn’t damage his credibility. What he said is entirely believable.
And there’s this. There’s a great deal of doubt about the Schröders.
They have bohemian connections. They make no effort to espouse
the right ideals. To be candid, my colleagues could welcome a con-
crete reason to edge Albert Schröder out of the picture. His business is a good one and can make a contribution to the war effort. The
wrong man’s in charge, though. Schröder is regarded as unreliable.
With good reason, it seems. And it’d be good to have Taub senior
out of our hair. There may be the possibility of a little latitude.’
192
1ST_9780241206935_TheGoodLiar.indd 192
05/05/15 5:32 PM
‘What do you mean, latitude?’
‘It may be more convenient to gloss over the fact of Hans’s age,
for instance.’
‘But when it comes to examination in court . . .’
‘Oh, there’s no question Hans would actually appear as a witness.
The state protects those who are public- minded enough to offer
confidential information. The presiding judge of the People’s Court will simply read the statement and hear my testimony.’
‘You would be prepared to omit relevant facts?’
‘Of course not. I simply don’t believe the boy’s age is particularly germane. More pertinent is his reliability, and we seem to have
established that. There are plenty of adults whose reports would be far less detailed and accurate. And if you and I have the choice of protecting the Reich or allowing known criminals to go scot free on questionable procedural grounds, then we surely have to err on the
side of justice. I’ll think about it overnight. Please have the boy available tomorrow.’
3
The next morning Hans was called from his first lesson by Herr
Professor Wolff and taken in a car to an anonymous office block he
did not recognize near the Ku’damm. It was exciting and at the
same time unnerving. He might easily be incarcerated in this grim
place. The Mercedes parked underneath the building and he was
escorted in the lift to an empty office on the fourth floor.
The office was panelled in walnut and had deep blue carpets.
Around a long polished conference table were twelve leather-
upholstered chairs. Hans walked around the table and counted
them twice. One long wall was dominated by a huge swastika flag.
He felt a frisson of pride.
Weber entered quickly with two other men. He was wearing a
black uniform so smart that Hans immediately coveted one. Weber
said, ‘ Heil, Hitler,’ and saluted. Hans did not know whether this was 193
1ST_9780241206935_TheGoodLiar.indd 193
05/05/15 5:32 PM
a trick or a test. He responded with an outstretched arm and a bold
‘ Heil, Hitler.’ This was so much better a feeling than when he had practised it in his bedroom, or saluted in class. This was for real, and he felt just slightly taller. The three men smiled, a little patronizingly he felt.
Weber was businesslike. ‘Now then, Herr Taub.’
It took Hans a moment to realize that Weber was referring to
him. He sat on one side of the table with the other two men and
invited Hans to sit on the other.
‘May I introduce two colleagues from the legal department, Herr
Engel and Herr Ziegler? As you’ve made a number of serious allega-
tions we are required to ensure complete accuracy in taking your
statement. We must at all costs avoid a miscarriage of justice. Legal counsel are present to confirm that this statement has been taken in accordance with the law of the Reich and is admissible in possible
future legal proceedings.’
Legal proceedings. Hans had, he supposed, understood that this
was an inevitable consequence of the information he had given to
Weber the previous day. But to hear it said out loud made it all the more concrete. The kernel of a qualm germinated in his stomach
but was easily quelled. That bastard Schröder was after all planning to betray the Fatherland. And so what if the family would be humiliated and ruined? They deserved all they got.
‘Do you understand?’ asked Weber.
‘Yes, sir,’ said Hans.
Patiently and kindly, they took him through what he had told
Weber the previous day. Hans had an excellent memory and was
able to recall more or less word for word what he had said. He stuck closely to the same script, venturing the odd extra detail but avoiding wholesale additions even when invited to provide more
information by Weber or his two lawyers. The three men each had
a copy of what seemed to be an identical document in front of
them, which they checked carefully at each stage.
Engel pressed him on the circumstances of his hearing what his
father and Schröder had said.
‘For the first part I was in the room,’ he said. ‘They simply forgot 194
1ST_9780241206935_TheGoodLiar.indd 194
05/05/15 5:32 PM
I was there. Herr Schröder was so keen to begin the discussion. I
went away then and returned later. That’s when I listened outside
the door.’
‘You would say that you heard the conversation clearly?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘And there were no other persons in the room? You could recog-
nize the two speakers quite clearly?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Engel pursed his thin lips. ‘So you are quoting the direct words of these two individuals?’
‘Yes.’
‘I want to ask you about your father’s response to what Herr
Schröder had to say,’ said Ziegler, the friendlier of the two. ‘Your father is a socialist, I understand.’
‘He calls himself a liberal, sir. I don’t know a lot about politics, but I think that means he is on the left?’
‘Indeed.’ Ziegler smiled at him. ‘Now, would you say your father
was happy with what Herr Schröder proposed?’
Weber looked sideways at Ziegler and cast a warning glance in
Hans’s direction.
‘No, not happy, sir. Not really. Of course I couldn’t see their faces.’
‘If I may interrupt for a moment, Herr Doktor Ziegler,’ said
Weber. ‘I’ve noted Hans’s impression that his father seemed shocked at the boldness of Herr Schröder’s statements. I believe you said,
Hans, if I’ve written it down correctly, that “whatever my father’s personal views he would not be disloyal to his country at a time of national crisis”. Do I have that correct?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘I ask,’ persisted Ziegler, ‘because it appears that for some reason Herr Schröder had the impression that your father would be passing his information on to third parties. Do you have any idea why
that might be the case?’
‘None at all, sir.’
‘Very well.’ Ziegler smiled again, and their business was all but
done.
Weber gathered together the three copies of the document they
195
1ST_9780241206935_TheGoodLiar.indd 195
05/05/15 5:32 PM
had been perusing and neatened the edges. It seemed to Hans a
rather feminine gesture.
‘This is a statement I had prepared for your signature, Hans. Read
it carefully. It is a legal document. Then, if you’re happy, please sign each copy.’
Hans took a moment or two to pretend to read the document. In
truth the adrenalin burst had robbed him of the ability to concen-
trate. Casually, he signed the three copies.
‘Well then,’ said Weber, addressing Engel and Ziegler, ‘you gen-
tlemen may wish to begin the process. I need to discuss some
practical details with Herr Taub.’
The two lawyers filed from the room.
‘Three days,’ said Weber. ‘That’s all I can guarantee you. There’s
a chance the process of drawing up warrants may take longer if I
drag my heels but three days is the maximum on which you can
count. You’ll need to be gone by then. After that it’ll be as if our agreement never existed. In the meantime, if your parents are
arrested for reasons outside the bounds of our agreement, the same
applies. Do you understand?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘I’ve spoken with Herr Professor Wolff. Later today he will do as
we discussed.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘And your parents will need exit visas. They’ll have to obtain them through Herr Professor Wolff. I’ll brief him what to say. I can do
nothing about foreign entry visas. I’m assuming your father has
contacts abroad who can supply whatever is required . . .’
‘I suppose so, sir.’
Weber’s mood lightened somewhat. ‘Then all that remains is our
written contract.’ He took a single sheet from his pocket and looked at it for a moment before handing it to Hans to sign. Hans did so
without reading it.
Weber said, ‘London, that’s where you think your father will head?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘You’d be prepared to serve the Reich while there?’
‘Of course.’
196
1ST_9780241206935_TheGoodLiar.indd 196
05/05/15 5:32 PM
‘There’s always a requirement to keep tabs on annoying little
communities of dissenters abroad. You may well be contacted by
one of our fellows.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘I’d like to make one thing clear. I view your father as a traitor.
I’m allowing him to go because you and I have a bargain. I’m a man
of my word. If it were up to me I would personally wring your
father’s neck. But there it is. We have our deal. You’ve been a very brave and a very clever little German, and you’ve served your country. It will be noted. Goodbye and good luck.’
In the car on the way back to his school Hans replayed the con-
versation and savoured each drop of sarcasm in Weber’s words.
Well, fuck you too, he thought, and smiled.
4
His father was working on an article when the rap on the door came
that evening. Hans went quickly to the window and glanced down
to the street. He could see no cars but now fully expected Weber to have reneged on the deal. His father scrabbled at the table, struggling in his panic to pick up the papers that lay before him and
seemed to stick to the surface. Renate opened the door to the main
bedroom, where Konrad thrust everything under the bed. Hans
was sure both his parents knew this was a futile action, a gesture
and no more.
Hans watched his father compose himself and go to the door.
‘Ah, Herr Professor Wolff,’ he said, surprised.
‘Herr Taub.’
‘Do come in.’
Wolff entered, stamping his shoes clear of wet snow on the door-
mat and handing his overcoat to Hans’s mother. He peered around
the small apartment, his curiosity evident even as he attempted to
conceal it. Hans did not know what Herr Professor Wolff might
expect of the lair of two liberal intellectuals. A mire of squalor and filth denoting their depravity, a coterie of revolutionaries trading 197
1ST_9780241206935_TheGoodLiar.indd 197
05/05/15 5:32 PM
polemics, a cache of weapons and explosives? What he would have
seen was a perfectly normal apartment consisting of a bathroom,
two small bedrooms and a larger single living area comprising
lounge, dining area and small kitchen, clean and tidy, perhaps a little worn and old, as the Taubs had not prospered since Hitler became
Chancellor.
It was peculiar to see his headmaster here. Wolff seemed a fas-
tidious man, entirely at home in the familiar environs of his study, where he could find security in his carefully arranged books and the neatly aligned pen and pencils on the blotter on his desk. Here, he appeared nervous, his eyes flicking to and fro and his fingers moving swiftly, interlocking then parting, twirling and bending, to no obvious purpose.
‘Is it about school?’ asked Hans’s father. ‘Is Hans in trouble?’
‘Pardon?’ said Wolff, an expression of perplexity coming to his
face. He was not cut out for this, thought Hans. But his unease
might serve a purpose. ‘Ah, no, nothing like that at all.’
Konrad and Renate Taub waited for a moment.
‘Then?’ asked Konrad.
‘Ah yes. If it were convenient, it would be helpful, I think, to have a private word.’ Wolff glanced at Hans.
‘Without Hans?’ asked Renate.
‘Indeed.’
‘We do not keep secrets from our son,’ said Konrad. ‘Whatever
/>
you have to say you may say in front of him.’
‘I rather think . . .’
‘It’s all right, Father,’ said Hans. ‘I’ll read in my room.’
He went to his tiny bedroom, which overlooked the snow- covered
courtyard, and left his book unopened on his bed. He listened at the door. Wolff was attempting to speak quietly but he was so accustomed to making bombastic pronouncements that it took little
effort to hear what he was saying. Hans’s parents’ responses were
more difficult to discern.
‘Herr Taub,’ said Wolff, ‘we can agree on one thing at least,
namely that we disagree wildly on almost every topic. I find your
198
1ST_9780241206935_TheGoodLiar.indd 198
05/05/15 5:32 PM
views anathema and I am sure you regard mine with equal distaste.
But I do acknowledge that, however misguided, you believe in your
country. I am here, therefore, on an errand of mercy. I see in your son the makings of a fine young man. But I fear that owing to
your views your son’s future will be destroyed.’
Konrad Taub replied inaudibly.
‘No no no,’ said Wolff. ‘I am not here to proselytize or try to convince you of the error of your ways. Things are much too far along
the road for that. I am here for a specific and very practical purpose.
And you should know that this is at considerable personal risk. You need to understand that we live in a very different world today from even five years ago.’
There was silence. Hans strained to hear whether his parents
spoke. But it seemed that this pause was for dramatic effect, before Wolff continued to declaim.
‘Whatever our differences, I am here to tell you that you are in
severe and immediate personal danger. As you know, I am heavily
involved in Party matters. I have it on the highest authority that a warrant has been issued for your arrest.’
Hans could well imagine his parents’ shocked expressions.
‘The reasons will be as clear to you as they are to me. I have been informed discreetly. The consequences are obvious. You will be
tried for sedition, with a predictable outcome. Hans’s future will be uncertain. If he is fortunate he will be fostered or adopted. But I rather doubt that will happen. After all, he will be the son of two traitors.’
Wolff spoke without emotion. ‘There can be no mistake. No
doubt at all,’ he was now saying dismissively, as if talking to a particularly stupid pupil. ‘I am certain of my facts. The nation at such times of crisis needs to know precisely who its enemies are.’
The Good Liar Page 24