Beneath the Dover Sky (54 page)

“Can it be climbed?”

“It can. One day we shall do it. For now it’s good to gaze at it and to think of God and give thanks.”

She leaned into him and took his hand. “Only you would do this. Only you would bring me here. I didn’t want to come to Africa even though I acted as if I did. I didn’t want another ‘Ben Whitecross and God’ adventure that involved airplanes and skies and dangers known and unknown. But now I’m so grateful. This is a spot of extraordinary beauty. And truth be known, I feel much safer here than I did back in Europe and England.”

“Really? Why do you say that?”

“That Hitler fellow taking over as chancellor of Germany. Dad’s in a flap about it and his old friend Baron von Isenburg joining the Nazi Party. Mum is terrified and wants Catherine and Albrecht to get out of Germany with Sean and Angelika before something happens.”

“What’s going to happen?”

“I don’t know, really, but everyone is expecting something to blow up. I hate all the rumors and gossip. Nasty memories of when I was young and the Great War started: you disappearing to the Western Front, Folkestone being bombed, and Mr. Seabrooke getting killed. I feel much safer here among the lions and gorillas and snakes actually.”

Ben laughed. “I’m glad to hear it. I must thank Herr Hitler for his part in making Kenya so amenable to you. Half my battle’s won because he’s created such a threatening environment in Europe.”

“Don’t joke, Ben Whitecross. The Europe situation leaves me with an ugly feeling.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Don’t worry, Vic. Nothing in the world is going to happen. Europe and Germany and Britain will sort themselves out like they always do. We already had our world war and
no one wants another. So while the great leaders of the great nations huff and puff and move pieces about on the checkerboard, you’ll be here serving God and gazing at Kilimanjaro every morning and evening. Think of the sunrises and sunsets on that peak. Think of how it will bless Ramsay and Tim to live in a magical world with magical beasts far from the English rains and fogs.”

She smiled. “When you put it that way it fills me with peace. I never thought Africa could do that.”

21

May, 1933

Germany

Ten-year-old Sean Hartmann locked his fingers around Albrecht’s hand. “I don’t feel comfortable with you going to Berlin, Papa. I feel like Herr Hitler is watching you whenever you set foot out of Tubingen.”

“I am not so important, son. No one is wasting time putting binoculars on me, I assure you. But I promise to watch what I say at the university. There will be no politics, no rants, no roars.”

“You roar like a lion at the dinner table.”

“The dinner table is a German man’s pulpit, podium, and lecture hall. But there the roaring stays. What I do at the table, I will not do at the university. Don’t fret. Instead pray and, of course, while I’m away you must take care of your mother and baby sister. Especially your sister. She is almost three and gets into everything. And she wanders off! Angelika will go out the door and walk all the way to Berlin to see the tigers at the zoo if you let her.”

Sean laughed. “I won’t let her, Papa. I’ll watch her like a hawk.”

“That’s my knight. What color is your horse today?”

“Still dapple gray.”

“A good color. Ride well. Make sure the sword is large enough. Nothing less than a two-handed broadsword will do.”

“That’s what I have. Don’t be afraid for your family, Papa.”

A cable arrived for Albrecht as he kissed Catherine and Angelika goodbye. He placed it in his coat pocket and pulled it out to read as the cab darted in and out of traffic on its way to the train station.

ALBRECHT

WHETHER YOU READ THIS OR NOT ONCE YOU SEE IT IS FROM ME I DO NOT KNOW. I IMPLORE YOU TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY AT HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY. BERLIN IS BERLIN AND NOW THAT HITLER HAS COMPLETE POWER ARRESTS AND DEPORTATIONS OCCUR DAILY. THIS INCLUDES ACADEMICS SUCH AS YOURSELF. THEY KNOW WHO YOU ARE. THE GESTAPO WILL MOST CERTAINLY ATTEND EACH OF YOUR GUEST LECTURES. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY EXCUSE TO REPORT YOU. THINK OF YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN. STAY WITH TOPICS LIKE THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD AND THE VIRTUES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT I REMAIN YOUR FRIEND AND GUARDIAN. HEIL HITLER.

GERARD

On the train to Berlin, Albrecht opened a newspaper that summed up and praised the events of the twenty-third of March, the day the
Reichstag
passed the Enabling Act. It gave Hitler and his Nazi Party broad, sweeping powers. “All for the good,” the paper crowed. “Look at how well off the nation is six weeks after the fact.”

“So Goebbels, minister of propaganda,” murmured Albrecht so other passengers couldn’t hear him, “tell me why dictatorship is better than democracy.”

The article didn’t immediately weigh in on why a strong man at the top was the best form of government. Instead it printed parts of
Hitler’s speech on the day the Act was passed and he became absolute ruler of Germany:

By its decision to carry out the political and moral cleansing of our public life, the Government is creating and securing the conditions for a really deep and inner religious life. The advantages for the individual that may be derived from compromises with atheistic organizations do not compare in any way with the consequences that are visible in the destruction of our common religious and ethical values.

My Government will treat all other denominations with objective and impartial justice. It cannot, however, tolerate allowing membership of a certain denomination or of a certain race being used as a release from all common legal obligations, or as a blank check for behavior that is difficult to punish, or for the toleration of crimes.

My Government will be concerned for the sincere cooperation between Church and State.

My struggle against materialistic ideology and for the erection of a true people’s community serves as much the interests of the German nation as of our Christian faith.

The national Government, seeing in Christianity the unshakable foundation of the moral and ethical life of our people, attaches utmost importance to the cultivation and maintenance of the friendliest relations with the Holy See.

The rights of the churches will not be curtailed; their position in relation to the State will not be changed.

Why, Herr Hitler
, Albrecht thought as he folded the newspaper and put it away, “
you have become a theologian
.” He watched the trees and fields and towns slide past.
We must meet and write a book together on the German Jesus. What would he look like, I wonder? Would he wear a swastika or a cross?

Humboldt University, Berlin

Albrecht always liked walking up to Humboldt University by crossing the large plaza to its front and taking in the stately buildings and columns and statues. But something had changed. He’d expected to see the Nazi flags with the swastika draped over government buildings around Berlin. He didn’t expect to see them flying from flagstaffs on the university campus. Nor did he expect to see students wearing swastika armbands or faculty members giving one another the stiff-armed Nazi salute. With a tightness in his stomach, he made his way to the office of the head of the Faculty of Theology.

“Dr. Mueller,” Albrecht said as he bowed his head and offered his hand, “it is good to see you again.”

“Ah, Professor Hartmann.” The large man, a head taller than Albrecht and twice as heavy, pushed himself away from his desk and rose to grip Albrecht’s hand. “I’m glad you arrived safely. How are you?”

“I’m very well, Herr Doktor. How is your wife?”

“Splendid. I trust your wife and children are in good health?”

“They are, thank you.” Albrecht set down his briefcase and unwound the red scarf from his neck. “I was surprised to see the university had become so…politicized.”

“Hmm? Oh, you mean the flags. There is a cultural event tonight. Goebbels is giving a talk as well. The student body is quite excited about it. So is the faculty, truth be told.”

“But these are Nazis, Dr. Mueller. They are not in support of free thought or free speech.”

“They are our legal government, professor.”

“Why the armbands? Why the Nazi salute?”

Dr. Mueller smiled. “You have been around students long enough to know how quickly they jump on bandwagons and rally around causes.”

“And their teachers?”

“The salute is Roman in origin. Jacques-Louis David’s
Oath of the Horatii
inspired it, I suppose, based on what he knew of Ancient Rome. No doubt that is why the Italians are so comfortable with it.”

“Excuse me, Herr Doktor, but few faculty members should be comfortable with that salute. Many of them have read Hitler’s
Mein Kampf
. You have read it. You told me when it came out that it was the worst thought the German mind could produce.”

Dr. Mueller’s face grew rigid. “I never said that.”

“I have it in a letter.”

“Then I ask you to destroy that letter. I was in error when I wrote it.”

“Dr. Mueller—”

“Professor Hartmann, the Nazi Party is our legal government. Adolph Hitler is our greatly esteemed leader. There will be cultural events at universities across the nation tonight that are inspired by good Nazi ideology and theology. I trust you will linger long enough after your evening lecture to take part in ours. Now, let me escort you to the lecture hall where you will be giving your first talk at the top of the hour. Heil, Hitler!”

“Hitler is a high school dropout, Herr Doktor. He has always despised deeper thought and intellectuals. And his stormtroopers are even worse. How many of them have had a university education? They scorn us.”

“Heil, Hitler!”

Albrecht retorted, “Hail, Caesar!”

“What!”

Albrecht hesitated and then responded in full. “Hail, Caesar, we who are about to die salute you.”

Mueller’s eyes almost spat fire.

Albrecht smiled. “Merely an academic exercise, Herr Doktor.
Ave Caesar, morituri te salutamus
. Weren’t you just talking to me about Ancient Rome?”

Mueller brushed past Albrecht on his way to the door and into the corridor. He marched ahead of his guest to the lecture hall. When they arrived, Mueller took Albrecht’s arm. Dozens of students were already seated and waiting. Two men in black leather coats sat at the back.

“You see the police are here, Albrecht. The
Gestapo
,” Mueller warned in a low voice nodding slightly toward the back row of seats. “Be careful what you say, professor, or you will find yourself arrested and taken
somewhere far away. We’ve already lost several members of our teaching staff. Play the Nazi game, and you will weather the storm. If you remain ramrod straight and self-righteous, the winds of change will surely break you. I shall meet you for supper. Heil, Hitler.”

“Jewish professors, Herr Doktor? Jewish colleagues? Are they the ones the Nazis have purged from among you?”

“Heil, Hitler.”

“Friends like Mandelbaum in chemistry and Goldstein in physics? And you let them? You did nothing?”

“I say again, ‘Heil, Hitler.’ ”

Albrecht could not resist. “Hail, Mary.”

Mueller stared at him in shock.

Albrecht continued. “
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death
.”

Mueller snapped his head away. “We will skip the formal meal with the faculty. You can see yourself out after your last lecture this evening. Don’t expect any visits from the other professors. Associating with you puts us all at risk.” He turned and walked quickly from the room.

A spirit rose in Albrecht he refused to quell. He greeted the students as he arranged his notes at the podium by saying, “You know, I am going to change my lecture altogether. I have a sudden inspiration to forgo my scheduled talk on the historical Jesus and to examine the “Mary Prayer,” which I’m sure you are all well acquainted with. ‘
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen
.’ ”