Night Angels(74)

Fengshan’s heart stopped. Eichmann would shoot people in front of a consulate! “Herr Eichmann!”

“Herr Consul General, I’ve made it clear. Your assistance to the Reich is no longer required. Cease visa issuance or bear the blood on your hands.”

Sweat ran down Fengshan’s forehead. If he obeyed Eichmann’s order, many people’s hope to leave Vienna would die; if he refused, many people would die on the street, in front of his consulate. Fengshan turned to the applicants, who appeared stupefied. And then in an instant, the crowd seemed to awaken; they covered their heads and scattered in all directions.

Eichmann lifted his rifle.

A black Adler, which Fengshan had not noticed before, pulled right in front of Eichmann; from inside stepped Captain Heine. He must have come directly from a bar or a party, his face pink with alcohol.

Eichmann lowered his rifle and raised his arm, giving a Heil Hitler salute. The sly smile had appeared.

“Hauptsturmführer Heine, where have you been? A party with some actresses? Where was it held? I didn’t get the invitation.”

Captain Heine took out a small bottle of cognac from his pocket and had a sip. “Obersturmführer Eichmann, it was a fine party. A pity I had to leave because it was reported an urgent matter has arisen in the consulate. And I, as the captain of the police in this district, am obliged to resolve the dispute.”

“Of course, except there is no dispute. You see, this is a government building in a prime location. But there have been some concerning noises that disturb the residents. I’m here to address their concerns, and I assure you that I’ll have this problem taken care of.”

“Well said, Obersturmführer Eichmann. I shall take this over and look into the issue myself. The first district is under my supervision.”

“Of course, Hauptsturmführer Heine, I trust you will solve this problem promptly and wisely. Surely, it is on everyone’s mind to keep distance from foreigners who intend to sabotage our Führer’s order.” Eichmann’s eyes were hard and calculating.

His friend looked as though he were utterly bored at a disappointing opera. “Obersturmführer Eichmann, have you had too much drink?”

“Well, well, well. Auf Wiedersehen, Hauptsturmführer Heine.” Eichmann, carrying his rifle, slid into his car and drove away.

“That clown.” Captain Heine passed his bottle.

Fengshan gulped down the drink. The cold alcohol raced down his hot throat; a bolt of fire seized him. If it weren’t for Captain Heine, there would have been carnage.





CHAPTER 49


GRACE


Captain Heine added some security staff, gave them instructions, and left, but the consulate staff continued to whisper about Eichmann’s visit. Anxious, I came into Fengshan’s office. The chaos in front of the consulate had made me nauseated. I didn’t feel well, a throbbing pain sitting in my stomach.

“What happened? Why was Eichmann here?”

Fengshan closed the door behind me. “He demanded that I cease issuing visas. I refused. You need to sit, Grace. You look pale.”

I rubbed my stomach. I was getting closer to three months in, which was reassuring but frightening. I had lost two pregnancies at this stage. “But why?”

“Eichmann made it clear that Jews are prohibited from leaving Vienna.”

“I don’t understand. But you’ll keep issuing visas, won’t you?”

“Of course. I’ve talked about this with Captain Heine. He’ll increase the security and take care of the bureaucracy.”

“The staff says that Eichmann will cancel the consulate’s lease or confiscate the building.” If the consulate building was seized, then Fengshan would be left without an office. Without an office, there would be no consulate.

“Captain Heine promised to look into it. He’s aware that the government has claimed all Jews’ properties as their own, but he insists that by legal terms, they have an obligation to honor the contract since it concerns a consulate, not an ordinary business enterprise.”

That was good to hear.

“Heine assured me that he would wield his influence at the city’s planning division to honor our lease. He doesn’t believe Eichmann has power over that division.”

As a diplomat, Fengshan would be safe, but I was still worried. “What if Eichmann orders your arrest for defying the government’s order?”

“Now you’re overly anxious. I’m a diplomat from China, protected by diplomatic immunity. They don’t have the authority to issue an arrest warrant.”

“But Eichmann managed to report the alleged bribery to the ambassador. He could do that again and force the ambassador to pressure you.”

Fengshan raised his eyebrows. “Captain Heine would like me to keep this private, since this is premature, but he vows to have Eichmann reassigned to Prague. He thinks he’ll succeed. Does this calm your nerves, Grace? We have Captain Heine on our side.”

I felt better after talking to Fengshan, but when I left his office, walking through the empty lobby—the applicants had all dispersed after the threatened shooting—anxiety possessed me again. I had grown used to the sight of the bearded Viennese and their quiet manners, and now the entire lobby was eerily silent.

Could we rely on Captain Heine to protect us? Was he strong enough? The violence of Vienna was endless and unpredictable. There was simply no structure, no safety, no reliance on law and authority anymore.