The Great Altruist (12 page)

           
“But you are still imprisoned in the idea of the hundred-thousand-man army - those old men who led Germany to its downfall so many years ago.”

           
“I just don’t want my Fuhrer to get caught in a larger war. There is too much to contend with.”

           
“And what would you have me do?” Hitler responded. His temper began to rise.

           
“Fuhrer, your advisors are wrong. Keitel wants war at any cost. The radicals in the party are miscalculating our odds. Please, consider my suggestions to reorganize the advisory leadership. The anarchy in the military will only get worse and the fate of the Wehrmacht will be too grim to imagine.”

           
Hitler stepped back and said nothing as he weighed Beck’s words.

           
Beck continued speaking carefully. “If we risk a long war, and we lose, the consequences will be worse than Versailles.”

           
Hitler spun around in a rage. “I won’t let that happen! We’ve worked too hard to show the British they can’t demean us any longer!”

           
“Yes, Fuhrer,” he said. “What of the meeting I suggested?”

           
“You’d have me play the diplomat?” Hitler sneered.

           
“Of course not. As I said last year, we must lay the political ground work first. I can think of no better way than to meet with Chamberlain himself. The British Prime Minister wants to avoid war. Let him argue with the Czechs for you, Fuhrer. Meanwhile, you can prepare the military if he fails.”

           
“That won’t stop me,” Hitler replied.

           
“Nor should it, Fuhrer. We just need more time.”

           
Hitler looked down at the floor then turned around and went to a window. He stared at the ground below for some time before facing Beck, who remained at attention.
  
“You may go, Ludwig.”

           
The Fuhrer’s tone was decisive and Ludwig did not risk angering him. He immediately left Hitler alone and said nothing to anyone as he returned to his office.

           
Before Ludwig Beck was far from his meeting with Hitler, the young Polish girl who inhabited his mind disappeared, restored to the naked shell left behind in a grassy clearing in western Canada. Once in the comfort of her own skin, Jadzia took a deep breath and stretched her limbs in all directions, excited to be in a youthful body that was not sluggish and aged like the German officer's.

           
Genesis returned to the clearing a few seconds later. “I think we have our mark,” she said. “He is already against the war; he just needs a little coaxing.”

           
“Yes,” Jadzia replied, “but he still favors war. If he has his way, war will only be delayed. That’s not what we’re going for.”

           
“You have to remember something: the longer the war takes to start, the more time the other nations have to prepare. If the war begins late enough, it may not be nearly as destructive. Remember, war is already going on in China. We’re trying to prevent it from going global.”

           
“I suppose you’re right. What do we do now?”

           
“Well,” Genesis said, “Ludwig Beck has a friend in the head of the Wehrmacht, the German army. History says that Beck tried to convince the other
Generals
to resign so Hitler would abandon his plans. That may be the best time for us to intervene.
”

           
“But if they don’t resign as before, then the Munich Agreement will still occur.”

           
“Yes,” Genesis said. “We need to make sure the British don’t appease Hitler this time. Would you like to rest before we go?”

           
“No, I’ll be fine. We can rest when the war never happened.”

           
In a magnificent display of blue light, the two women vanished.

           
An instant later, Jadzia was back in the body of Ludwig Beck. He was seated in his chair at a desk when she assumed control of him. She stood up and walked around, acclimating to the old man’s body again. Less than ten seconds later, Genesis appeared.

           
“This isn’t so bad, I suppose,” Jadzia said as she stumbled around the room desperately trying to walk like a man. “Of course, I prefer my own body - even if it doesn’t have clothes.”

           
“I would think you’d be getting used to it by now,” said Genesis.

           
“Being naked or in a man’s body?”

           
“Both.” Jadzia finally found her stride and walked around the office a few times, practicing her gait.

           
Genesis stood on Beck’s desk, gently sipping some tea from his cup. “So here’s the plan,” she began. “Von Brauchitsch isn’t far off. We’re still a couple of weeks away from the Munich meeting, but we need someone who will side with us. Hitler is giving a speech to the Generals later today where he hopes to prove that Beck is wrong.”

           
“What day is it, August 10?”

           
“It is. Remember: if we fail, Beck will resign a week from now and the only way he’ll be able to regain favor with Hitler is by calling the summit to Munich. If that happens, we’ll need to get to Chamberlain somehow.”

           
“He’s too weak-minded,” Jadzia answered. “And if we use his mind, I can’t suddenly contradict him entirely, can I?”

           
“You could, but it’s always easier to use a mind that is already leaning in the direction you need to push. If Munich happens, we’ll have to get to everyone involved - Chamberlain, Daladier, even Mussolini if we have to. To do that, you’ll be switching minds back and forth and I don’t know how well that will work. Hopefully, we won’t need to go down that road.”

           
There came a knock at the door. Genesis ducked into a drawer in the desk and Jadzia answered the door.

           
“Herr Beck,” von Brauchitsch said. “You called?”

           
“Yes,” ‘Beck’ answered. “Thank you for responding, Walther. Please, come in.”

Walther von Brauchitsch entered the room and promptly sat in the chair in front of Beck’s desk. Jadzia circled the desk and sat, forcing the old man’s body to smile as she did so. “I think you know the reason I asked you to come here,” she said.

           
“Yes, I think I do,” Walther affirmed. “I’m just not sure what you would like me to do about the current situation.”

           
“We’re in the same position, Walther. The Fuhrer is going to choose war, no matter what we do it seems, but we need to stave off its culmination as long as we can.”

           
“What do you think I can do?”

           
“You’re Chief of the German Army, for God’s sake! You don’t think that position carries influence?”

           
“It might, Ludwig. But it also carries with it a responsibility - to do as the Fuhrer demands.”

           
Jadzia rolled Beck’s eyes. “You know better than anyone that the fall of Austria and Czechoslovakia will only provoke the British and French to hit us with everything they’ve got. And they will not hit the SS, Walther, but the Wehrmacht - your men.”

           
“Yes, and I’ve made known my position against the annexation clear, even to the Fuhrer himself. Beyond that, what can I do?”

           
‘Beck’ leaned across the desk and paused before responding. A moment later, Jadzia said: “I’ve already spoken with the General Staff regarding the facts. I’ve asked them to resign if Hitler proceeds with invasion. If the military stands as one against war, the Fuhrer will get the message - and be forced to accept our position. From what I can gather, the General Staff is on the fence; they need a gentle nudge. You can provide that.”

           
“I think you overestimate my ability to persuade.”

           
“Perhaps,” Jadzia said. “But they know I’m right, Walther. They just need another voice.”

           
Von Brauchitsch shifted his weight in his seat. His stoic expression was etched as in stone, but emotion began to show. He covered his mouth with his hand to cover the change in countenance. After an uncomfortable moment of silence, he said: “The SS has too much control. I fear they wish to take over the Wehrmacht, and this worries me. But the Fuhrer...” he paused. “I’m afraid I cannot take sides in this debate.”

           
Jadzia slouched in the realization that von Brauchitsch was going to need harder persuasion. Then Jadzia remembered a detail from the history books that might prove useful. “Does this have something to do with your wife?”

           
Walther’s expression changed immediately to fury, as he jumped to his feet and leaned over the desk, inches from Beck’s face. “How do you know about that?” he demanded, pounding the surface of the desk.

           
Jadzia remained calm. “It doesn’t matter how I know, Walther. But I suppose I can see why taking action might make you feel as though you are betraying the Fuhrer.”

           
“How is what you’re asking not an act of betrayal?” Walther shouted. “What you’re suggesting is nothing less than a putsch!”

           
“Not at all. I
want
Hitler to stay in power,” she forced the words out of Beck’s mouth. “I just believe that war at this time is a bad idea. And I meant no disrespect to Charlotte, your wife. Personally, I find her more agreeable than Elizabeth, if you don’t mind my saying so.”

           
Walther stood erect and then stepped back, nodding in approval of Beck’s sentiment.

           
“From what I’ve heard, your wife is an ardent supporter of the party,” Jadzia said, no longer trying to win over Walther’s support with logic but with delicate pandering. “And I find it remarkable that the Fuhrer, so steadfast against divorce,
encouraged
you as he did. He clearly has great respect for you.
”

           
Walther’s blood settled and his stoicism returned. Jadzia stood and humbly leaned forward. “As do I, old friend,” she said. “If the Fuhrer values your input so much, why not use it to prevent calamity for Germany? A war is a bad idea; we both know that. Help me convince the officers to stand together with us, and resign if Hitler chooses to go alone.”

           
The Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht Heer listened cautiously; the gears of his mind turned and worked out the solution Ludwig Beck presented. He sat motionless and stared at his contemporary, until finally he stood and said: “I’ll make you a deal, Ludwig: I myself won't do anything, but I won't stop anyone else from acting. I have too much personally riding on this issue and cannot take the position you want. However, should you be successful in your endeavors, you will find no enemy in me.”