Nazi Magician: Inventor

by Ward Wagher

  “Thank you, Frau Becker. That was just what I needed.”

  “I’m not supposed to feed you lunch,” she replied, “but since you missed breakfast, I don’t suppose Herr Becker will have anything to complain about.”

  “Well, thank you again.”

  “Since there is not likely a line for the bathroom at this hour of the day, it is probably a good opportunity for you to get cleaned up.”

  “You are right,” he exclaimed as he stood up. “Thank you again for the late breakfast.”

  She simply smiled as he walked quickly from the room.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  November 27, 1939

  “Hello, Dieter,” Karl Helmholz said as he walked into the lab.

  “Hey, Karl. Wie gehts?

  “Not bad. Not bad at all.”

  “I am about to take my first cup of coffee for the morning. Will you join me?”

  “Of course,” Karl replied. “The coffee is excellent here. Marta cannot even buy it anymore in the stores.”

  “Rolf keeps us supplied with the good stuff. It is much better than that swill Ignatz had to purchase before.”

  They stepped over to the percolator where Dieter poured a cup for Karl and then one for him. They sipped their brew, and Dieter sighed in bliss.

  “This is what makes it worth getting up in the morning,” Dieter said.

  “Well, yes,” Karl agreed. “Even better when one stayed up too late the night before. So what have you got going today, Dieter?”

  “I have an idea for a new invention.”

  “Oh, ho! That is something to look forward to. What do you have in mind?”

  “I do not want to say as yet since I have not proven the concept. I just have one of those hunches.”

  “And your hunches have paid off in a big way for the Reich. Have you heard anything after the Führer’s visit?”

  Dieter shook his head. “Rolf was smiling a lot, but that was about it.”

  Karl laid his finger alongside his nose. “You didn’t hear it from me, but the Führer agreed to fund this operation fully. You impressed him.”

  “That’s good news, anyway. He impressed me.”

  “Our Führer is a great man. Unfortunately, a lot of people still don’t understand what he wants to do – that is to make Germany great.”

  “Well, he certainly got us in and out of Poland quickly enough.”

  Karl laughed. “That he did. The other thing I heard, and if you quote me, I’ll call you a liar.”

  “You’d probably do that anyway,” Dieter reposted.

  Karl laughed loudly. Dieter noticed that Jette looked up quickly from her desk, where she sorted Ignatz’s paperwork. Karl laid his arm on Dieter’s shoulder.

  “We received orders to outfit fifty magicians. They are headed west to the border with France.”

  “But we haven’t fully tested the equipment.”

  “We will test extensively,” Karl continued, “and send the improvements to the front.”

  “And we don’t know if the force field will stand up to heavy weapons.”

  “We do know. It stands up to any cannon we have in operation.”

  Dieter turned pale. “Gott im Himmel, Karl. What fool did you talk into wearing the force field when you tested it?”

  Karl laughed again. “We started small and tried larger and larger weapons.”

  “Yes, but did you not assume it would eventually fail?”

  “Take it easy, Dieter. We found a little Jew boy with the talent and had him wear the apparatus. If we eventually collapsed the force field, we would have only lost the equipment.”

  Dieter glanced over to where Jette sat open-mouthed. She had heard everything Karl said. He was embarrassed for her and disgusted with Karl. And he wasn’t sure what to do. He took another sip of coffee to conceal his confusion and anger.

  “Yes, well, I suppose I need to get busy. Ignatz doesn’t like it when he comes in and finds us standing around, talking.”

  “And I have plenty on my plate, today, Dieter. Thanks for the coffee.”

  Karl slapped Dieter on the back and then walked over to the door that separated the lab from the production facility. Dieter walked over to where Jette worked. She watched him as he moved toward her.

  “They need a test subject, so they use a Jew in case the machinery fails,” she said bitterly. “If it did fail, he was concerned about losing the equipment. What is wrong with the place, Dieter.”

  “I am surprised,” he replied. “I didn’t think Karl was like that. That was a terrible thing to do. I wonder what the boy was thinking.”

  “He was most likely terrified. But the Nazis don’t think we are human.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know what to say, Jette. Besides, I’d better get busy.”

  “Take me away from here, Dieter,” she pleaded.

  He looked sharply at her. “Where would we go, assuming we could even get away.”

  “We could go to America somehow. I don’t think we would be safe anywhere else.”

  “I don’t know how we could do that. I don’t have the money to pay the fare on a steamship, and I’m sure you don’t either.”

  “We can figure out a way.”

  “I need to think about that.”

  He glanced around the lab. The other members of the team were at work, and they all seemed to be out of hearing range. Since he usually talked to her several times a day, he didn’t think anyone would be suspicious. Besides, he suspected several members of the team had their doubts about the Nazis as well.

  Dieter walked back over to his bench and began laying out the components he would need to build his next invention. This was the first time she had suggested something like that, and they had talked a lot over the previous several weeks. He was flattered that she wanted him to take her away but wondered if it was because she liked him, or saw him as a useful tool. Or maybe a useful fool. And he was unsure of what he thought of the girl. She was quite a bit younger than him. He felt that he really liked her, but he was wary of what might happen.

  One thing he liked about the new lab was that the SS had provided an abundance of equipment and materials for his projects. He no longer had to scrounge for used equipment that was of marginal quality. Now he could assemble a test machine and immediately determine whether it would work and not worry if it failed because of a dicky component.

  He wished he hadn’t talked to Karl this morning. Usually working on a new invention gave him a lot of satisfaction. Now he would spend the day worrying about Jette and worrying about what the Nazis were doing. It was disturbing.

  He looked up as Ignatz walked into the lab. As part of the move to the base, Ignatz had received an increase in his salary as well as a personal automobile. So he no longer rode the bus to the lab with the rest of the team. The little man waved to the team as he walked to his office and then later reappeared with his coffee cup. After filling it and doctoring it with sugar, he walked over to Dieter’s bench.

  “What are you working on today, Dieter?”

  “I have an idea that I am pursuing.”

  “A new invention, perhaps?”

  “Perhaps.”

  “What will this invention do?” the man was curious.

  “I really don’t want to say, Ignatz, in case it doesn’t work. If it does, you will be among the first to hear about it.”

  Ignatz grinned. “That is what I like to hear. Rolf has been asking when we would deliver something new.”

  “He hasn’t been around here for a while.”

  “No, I think he is responsible for several projects around the country. That is probably just as well. When he is here, he disturbs the general atmosphere, and people don’t get as much done.”

  “Disturbs?”

  “Well, I mean, he loves to spend time at your bench, Dieter, and talk with you. When you are talking, you aren’t inventing.”

  “Um, that may be true,” Dieter conceded.

  “And here I am t
aking up your valuable time,” Ignatz stated. “Let me get back to my office before the coffee gets cold.”

  Dieter watched the lab supervisor return to his office and then looked down at what he was building. Konrad had cut two dozen hollow glass tubes so that each was six centimeters in length. He had also constructed a wooden frame that would hold the tubes in a circle. Opening a cardboard box, he began removing each of the 48 light bulbs. The bulbs were each nested in a bayonet socket and had a length of wire attached. He thought they looked like indicator lights from a radio or something similar.

  He began attaching a light on each end of the glass tube and then screwed the wires to several terminal strips. He attached wires between the strips and then ran a single set back to his power supply. While there were commercial power supplies in the lab that were connected to the electrical service, he preferred to use his magical power generator. Over the past several weeks of hard work, he was able to modulate the output sufficiently so that he was not continually blowing bulbs and burning out equipment.

  Connecting all the pieces took most of the morning, and it was nearly lunchtime when he looked over at the man at the next bench.

  “Florian, could you come and observe?”

  “Of course.”

  Florian walked over and studied the apparatus. “What is this supposed to do?”

  “I’d rather have you observe for the record, and then we can talk about what I am attempting.”

  “Of course. Whenever you are ready, Dieter.”

  Dieter looked around the workbench and then picked up his coffee cup and set it in the center of the circular device. He flipped on the master switch to the power generator and then began twisting the rheostat to feed more power to the light bulbs.

  “Very well, Florian. Please confirm that all the bulbs are lit.”

  Florian bent over to study the device as the bulbs glowed slightly. “Uh, yes. Wait, no. You have one bulb not working.”

  “Where?”

  “Over here on the backside.”

  Dieter walked around to the other side of the bench and studied the device. “You’re right. That bulb is burned out.”

  He walked back to the front of the bench and cut the power. He pulled a spare bulb from the box and walked back around. He quickly performed the push-twist operation that popped the defective bulb from the socket. After replacing the lamp, he went back to the switch and powered things up again.

  “Um, Dieter, it’s still not working.”

  He powered down and walked around to study the equipment.

  “Here it is, Dieter, the wire is not connected to the terminal. It looks like it loosened when you twisted the screw.”

  “You’re right. These screw terminals drive me crazy.”

  He grabbed a screwdriver and reconnected the wire. “All right. Let’s try it again.”

  This time all of the lights gave a soft glow as he eased more power to it.

  “Florian, take a look at the coffee cup in the center. Do you see anything unusual?”

  “Nein.”

  “Very well. Watch carefully as I bring up the power.”

  Dieter carefully eased the rheostat up and watched for Florian’s reaction.

  “The cup seems to be flickering,” he said, “but I’m not sure because of the glow of the bulbs.”

  Dieter added more power.

  “It’s definitely flickering now,” Florian said. “I can occasionally see straight through it.”

  He brought the power as high as he thought he could without burning out the bulbs.

  “What do you see now, Florian?”

  “It has stopped flickering. There is a diagonal slash where I can see through the cup to the other side.”

  Dieter moved over to study the machine. “Well, that is not quite what I had in mind.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Ignatz said.

  Dieter turned to see the little man standing next to him. “Oh, I didn’t hear you come up, Sir. I guess what I’m trying for is invisibility.”

  Ignatz studied the partially transparent coffee cup and nodded. “It looks to me like you have made a good start. I am pleased.”

  “But it was supposed to work.”

  “But, it did work, Dieter. You simply have more development work to do. You are to be commended.”

  And Ignatz returned to his office, humming the obscure little tune as he often did when he was happy.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  November 28, 1939

  “Hey Dieter,” Rolf exclaimed as he walked into the lab. “How are things on the research end.”

  “Well enough, I suppose,” Dieter replied. “I have been keeping busy.”

  “What are you working on?” He leaned over to look into the apparatus. “Boah! That cup is partially invisible.”

  “That’s the problem.”

  “I would think that you would want it invisible.”

  “I do. That’s the problem. I haven’t been able to get it to work entirely.”

  “This is amazing. I am constantly surprised at the things you come up with.”

  Dieter shrugged. “These ideas just seem to pop into my mind.”

  “Do you think you will be able to make our magicians invisible?”

  “That is my hope. It’s not working well, so far.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot.” Rolf reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring with two keys on it. “This is for you.”

  Dieter looked at the major’s twinkling eyes and decided that Rolf didn’t almost forget. The SS man had a flair for the dramatic and was now on stage.”

  “A couple of keys, Rolf?” Dieter decided to play along. The other man tended to pout when people didn’t play along with his little surprises. “What is it I can do with a couple of keys?”

  “What do you think these keys go with?”

  “Keys are keys, Rolf. I have no idea.”

  Rolf stepped over closer and threw his arm around Dieter. “Well, we will just have to show you. Come along, my boy, I will proceed to demonstrate my enormous skills in procurement.”

  “I have no idea what you are talking about, but I need to take a break.”

  “Precisely.”

  Rolf guided Dieter to the lab entrance and then down the short hallway to the main doors. The other lab workers grinned at him as they walked past. They enjoyed Rolf’s little presentations, too.

  Dieter looked at Rolf as they stepped outside of the building. “I hope this will not take too long, Rolf. It’s cold out here.”

  “Just a bit of a nip in the air, my friend. Now, what do you suppose these keys fit?”

  Dieter glanced around. Several automobiles were parked nearby, including Ignatz’s Opel Kadett and Rolf’s Horch touring car. Parked in the center, directly in front of the door, was a funny looking little round car.

  “Is that a KdF Wagen?” Dieter asked.

  “Indeed, it is.”

  “Did you get a new car, Rolf?”

  The SS man snorted. “Hardly, Dieter. Now, take the keys and see if they will open the door to the KdF Wagen.”

  Dieter shrugged. He was getting cold and more disinclined to play games with Rolf. The major could be insufferable at times. He walked over and put the key in the lock. It turned easily, and he pulled the door open.

  “Climb in, Dieter,” Rolf instructed.

  Now confused, Dieter climbed in.

  “This car is new, Rolf. Whose is it?”

  “Why, it’s yours!”

  “What are you talking about? I cannot afford an automobile.”

  “We are providing a car for you to drive back and forth to work. You may find yourself working at odd hours when the bus won’t be running. So this makes good sense. Plus, you can drive it for personal use. You do know how to drive, do you not?”

  “Of course, Rolf, but I don’t know what to say.”

  The SS man laughed. “Say, ‘thanks.’”

  “Thanks, Rolf. You have me almost speechless.”

/>   “That alone is probably worth it. And by the way, you may have access to the base auto pool for fuel, and they will service the car. If you must travel, you will be given funds to buy fuel along the way.”

  Dieter was now shivering. “Could we go back inside?”

  “Of course,” Rolf laughed. “We can’t have our most important scientist catching a cold, or worse.”

  Dieter was in a daze as he walked back into the warmth of the lab. He had never dreamed he would be able to afford an automobile. And now one was provided. Not only could he drive himself to work each day, but he could also travel around Frankfort or even out into the countryside. He couldn’t imagine a German having the freedom to do such. And to have it provided to him!

  Rolf continued to grin as he followed Dieter into the lab. The inventor’s dazed confusion was evident to everyone. He stopped in front of his workbench and simply stared. An automobile? What would his coworkers here in the lab think? He now wished he had developed some close friendships so he could share this with them. But, he was afraid Florian, Ludwig, and Konrad would be jealous. He looked up to see Ignatz standing at the door of his office, grinning at him. Well, somebody else knew about this and was pleased.

  “I suppose I should leave you to your work,” Rolf said. “Enjoy your day, Dieter.”

  Dieter shook himself to awareness. “Thanks again, Rolf.”

  A few moments after the SS man had left, Florian slipped over next to Dieter.

  “What was that all about?”

  “The SS is providing an automobile for me to drive.”

  “Are you joking? No, of course, you aren’t. That is amazing.”

  “I didn’t know what to say.”

  “You did tell him thanks, though. I heard you.”

  “That seems an inadequate expression.”

  “What kind of automobile?” Florian asked.

  “A KdF Wagen.”

  “I have heard good things about those. You will have to give me a ride sometime.”

  “Of course, I would be happy to.”

  His morning conversation with Karl Helmholz forgotten, Dieter cheerfully went back to work on his new invention. He tried various configurations by adding or subtracting light tubes. He also tried raising or lowering alternate tubes and then tried various combinations of the tubes. It seemed that all his efforts merely shifted around the areas of transparency in his cup.