Garden of Beasts

“After we’re dead.”
    Keitel said nothing but Ernst felt the doctor-professor’s head turn uncertainly toward him.
    “I am joking, my friend,” the colonel said. “I am joking. Now, let me tell you some marvelous news about our new navy.”

Chapter Thirteen
    The greened bronze of Hitler, standing tall above fallen but noble troops, in November 1923 Square, was impressive but it was located in a neighborhood very different from the others Paul Schumann had seen in Berlin. Papers blew in the dusty wind and there was a sour smell of garbage in the air. Hawkers sold cheap merchandise and fruit, and an artist at a rickety cart would draw your portrait for a few pfennigs. Aging unlicensed prostitutes and young pimps lounged in doorways. Men missing limbs and rigged with bizarre leather and metal prosthetic braces limped or wheeled up and down the sidewalks, begging. One had a sign pinned to his chest: I gave my legs for my country. What can you give me?
    It was as if he’d stepped through the curtain behind which Hitler had swept all the trash and undesirables of Berlin.
    Paul walked through a rusty iron gate and sat facing the statue of Hitler on one of the benches, a half dozen of which were occupied.
    He noticed a bronze plaque and read it, learning that the monument was dedicated to the Beer Hall Putsch, in the fall of 1923, when, according to the turgid prose set in metal, the noble visionaries of National Socialism heroically took on the corrupt Weimar state and tried to wrestthe country out of the hands of the stabbers-in-the-back (the German language, Paul knew, was very keen on combining as many words as possible into one).
    He soon grew bored with the lengthy, breathless accolades for Hitler and Göring and sat back, wiped his face. The sun was lowering but it was still bright and mercilessly hot. He’d been sitting for only a minute or two when Reggie Morgan crossed the street, stepped through the gate and joined Paul.
    “You found the place all right, I see.” Again speaking his flawless German. He laughed, nodding at the statue, and lowered his voice. “Glorious, hmm? The truth is a bunch of drunks tried to take over Munich and got swatted like flies. At the first gunshot Hitler dove to the ground and he only survived because he pulled a body of a ‘comrade’ on top of him.” Then he looked Paul over. “You look different. Your hair. Clothes.” Then he focused on the sticking plaster. “What happened to you?”
    He explained about the fight with the Stormtroopers.
    Morgan frowned. “Was it about Dresden Alley? Were they looking for you?”
    “No. They were beating these people who ran a bookshop. I didn’t want to get involved but I couldn’t let them die. I’ve changed clothes. My hair too. But I’ll need to steer clear of Brownshirts.”
    Morgan nodded. “I don’t think there’s a huge danger. They won’t go to the SS or Gestapo about the matter—they prefer to mete out revenge by themselves. But the ones you tangled with will stay close to Rosenthaler Street. They never go far afield. You’re not hurt otherwise? Your shooting hand is all right?”
    “Yes, it’s fine.”
    “Good. But be careful, Paul. They’d have shot you forthat. No questions asked, no arrest. They’d have executed you on the spot.”
    Paul lowered his voice. “What did your contact at the information ministry find about Ernst?”
    Morgan frowned. “Something odd is going on. He said there are hushed meetings all over Wilhelm Street. Usually it’s half deserted on a Saturday but the SS and SD are everywhere. He’s going to need more time. We’re to call him in an hour or so.” He looked at his watch. “But for now, our man with the rifle is up the street. He closed his shop today because we are coming in. But he lives nearby. He’s waiting for us. I’ll call him now.” He rose and looked around. Of the divey bars and restaurants here, only one, the Edelweiss Café, advertised a public telephone.
    “I’ll be back in a moment.”
    As Morgan crossed the street, Paul’s eyes followed him and he saw one of the disabled veterans ease close to the patio of the restaurant, begging for a handout. A burly waiter stepped to the railing and shooed him away.
    A middle-aged man, who’d been sitting several benches away, rose and sat next to Paul. He offered a grimace, which revealed dusky teeth, and grumbled, “Did you see that? A crime how some people treat heroes.”
    “Yes, it is.” What should