apocalypse watch | Page 9

Jodelle person, and why should Jean-Pierre know anything at all about him?”

“Forgive me, Henri,” interrupted the actor.

“Not that I mind, but I'd like to know why Monsieur Latham saw fit to use you as a means to reach me.” . “I knew you were friends.” The American answered for himself.

“In fact, several weeks ago, when I mentioned to Henri that I was unable to get tickets to your play, you were kind enough to leave a pair at the box office for me.”

"Ah, yes, I remember.. .. Your name seemed somehow familiar, but with everything that's happened, I didn't make the connection.

“Two in the name of Latham I do recall.”

“You were wonderful, sit-”

“You're very kind,” interrupted Jean-Pierre, dismissing the compliment and studying the U.S. intelligence officer, then looking at Bressard.

“Therefore,” he continued, “I may assume that you and Henri are acquainted.”

“More officially than socially,” said Bressard.

“I believe we've dined only once together; actually it was an extension of a conference that was largely unresolved.”

“Between your two governments,” Giselle observed aloud.

“Yes,” agreed Bressard.

“And what do you and Monsieur Latham confer about, Henri?”

pressed the wife.

“If,l may ask.”

“Of course you may, my dear,” replied Bressard.

“Generally speaking, sensitive situations, events that are taking place or have taken place in the past that might harm or embarrass our respective governments.”

“Tonight falls into that category?”

"Drew must answer that, Giselle, I cannot, and I'm as eager as you are to learn. He roused me out of bed over an hour ago insisting that for both our sakes I bring him to you immediately.

When I asked him why, he made it clear that only Jean-Pierre could permit me to have the inforination-information that pertained to the events of tonight."

“Which is why you suggested we speak privately, is that correct, Monsieur Latham?” asked Villier.

“It is, sir.”

“Then your arrival here tonight, this terrible night, falls under the blanket of official business, nest-ce pas?”

“I'm afraid it does,” said the American.

“Even considering the lateness of the hour and the tragedy we alluded to?”

“Again, yes,” said Latham.

“Every hour is vital to us. Especially to me, if you want to be specific.”

“I do care to be specific, monsieur.”

“All right, I'll speak plainly. My brother's a case officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. He was sent out under cover into the Hausruck mountains in Austria. It was a survey operation involving a spreading neo-Nazi organization, and he hasn't been heard from in six weeks.”

“I can understand your concern, Drew,” interrupted Henri Bressard, “but what has it to do with this evening this terrible night, as Jean-Pierre called it?”

The American looked at Villier in silence; the actor spoke.

“The deranged old man who killed himself in the theater was my father,” he said quietly, “my natural father. Years ago, in the war, he was a Resistance fighter. The Nazis found him and broke him, drove him mad.”

Giselle gasped; her hand shot to her left, gripping her husband's arm.

“They're back,” said Latham, “growing in numbers and influence beyond anything anyone wants to believe or talk about.”

“Say there's even a granule of truth in what you say,” pressed Bressard.

“What has it to do with the Quai d'Orsay? You said 'for both our sakes.” How, my friend?"

“You'll get a full briefing tomorrow at our embassy. I insisted on that two hours ago, and Washington agreed. Until then I can tell you only-and it's all I really know that the money trail through Switzerland to Austria and the growing Nazi movement is secretly funneled from people here in France. Who, we don't know, but it's immense, millions upon millions of dollars. To fanatics who are rebuilding Toe party-Hitler's party in exile-but still in Germany, hidden in Germany.”

“Which, if you're correct, means there's'another organization here, is that what you're saying?” asked Bressard.

“Jodelle's traitor”" whispered an astonished Jean-Pierre Villier, leaning forward in the chair.

“The French general!”

“Or what he created,” said Latham.

“For God's sake, what are you two talking about?” exclaimed the actor's wife.

"A newly discovered father,

the Resistance, Nazis, millions of dollars to fanatics in the mountains! It all sounds crazy-foul"

“Why don't you start at the beginning, Drew Latham,” said the actor softly.

“Perhaps I might. fill in with things I knew nothing about before tonight.”

ccording to the records in our possession,“ began Latham, ”in June of 1946 a repatriated member of Athe French Resistance, alternately using the names of jean Froisant and Pierre Jodelle, appeared repeatedly at our embassy in various simple disguises and always at night. He claimed he was being silenced by the Paris courts regarding his knowledge of the treasonous activities of a leader of the Resistance. The traitor supposedly was a French general under privileged house arrest accorded by the German High Command to your general officers who remained in France. The judgment of the OSI investigators was negative, the determination being that Froisant/ Jodelle was mentally unbalanced, as were