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The general <strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>ed his head.<br />
'Mr. Baynes, whom I have met,' Mr. Tagomisaid, 'and enterta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> my home, declares himself<br />
a Swede. Yet perusal persuades one that he is <strong>in</strong> fact a <strong>high</strong>ly placed Ger<strong>man</strong> of some sort. I say<br />
this because — '<br />
'Please cont<strong>in</strong>ue.'<br />
'Thank you. General, his agitation regard<strong>in</strong>g this meet<strong>in</strong>g causes me to <strong>in</strong>fer a connection with<br />
<strong>the</strong> political upheavals <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Reich.' Mr. Tagomi did not mention ano<strong>the</strong>r fact: his awareness of <strong>the</strong><br />
general's failure to appear at <strong>the</strong> time anticipated.<br />
The general said, 'Sir, now you are fish<strong>in</strong>g. Not <strong>in</strong>form<strong>in</strong>g.' His gray eyes tw<strong>in</strong>kled <strong>in</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>rly<br />
<strong>man</strong>ner. No malice, <strong>the</strong>re.<br />
Mr. Tagomi accepted <strong>the</strong> rebuke. 'Sir, is my presence <strong>in</strong> this meet<strong>in</strong>g merely a formality to baffle<br />
<strong>the</strong> Nazi snoops?'<br />
'Naturally,' <strong>the</strong> general said, 'we are <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a certa<strong>in</strong> fiction. Mr. Baynes is<br />
representative for Tor-Am <strong>in</strong>dustries of Stockholm, purely bus<strong>in</strong>ess<strong>man</strong>. And I am Sh<strong>in</strong>jiro<br />
Yatabe.'<br />
Mr. Tagomi thought, And I am Tagomi. That part is so.<br />
'No doubt <strong>the</strong> Nazis have scrut<strong>in</strong>ized Mr. Baynes' com<strong>in</strong>gs and go<strong>in</strong>gs,' <strong>the</strong> general said. He<br />
rested his hands on his knees, sitt<strong>in</strong>g bolt upright . . . as if, Mr. Tagomi thought, he were sniff<strong>in</strong>g<br />
far-off beef tea odor. 'But to demolish <strong>the</strong> fiction <strong>the</strong>y must resort to legalities. That is <strong>the</strong> genu<strong>in</strong>e<br />
purpose; not to deceive, but to require <strong>the</strong> formalities <strong>in</strong> case of exposure. You see for <strong>in</strong>stance that<br />
to apprehend Mr. Baynes <strong>the</strong>y must do more than merely shoot him down . . . which <strong>the</strong>y could do,<br />
were he to travel as — well, travel without this verbal umbrella.'<br />
'I see,' Mr. Tagomi said. Sounds like a game, he decided. But <strong>the</strong>y know <strong>the</strong> Nazi mentality. So I<br />
suppose it is of use.<br />
The desk <strong>in</strong>tercom buzzed. Mr. Ramsey's voice. 'Sir, Mr. Baynes is here. Shall I send him on <strong>in</strong>?'<br />
'Yes!' Mr. Tagomi cried.<br />
The door opened and Mr. Baynes, sleekly dressed, his clo<strong>the</strong>s all quite pressed and masterfully<br />
tailored, his features composed, appeared.<br />
General Tedeki rose to face him. Mr. Tagomi also rose. All three men bowed.<br />
'Sir,' Mr. Baynes said to <strong>the</strong> general, 'I am Capta<strong>in</strong> R. Wegener of <strong>the</strong> Reichs Naval Counter-<br />
Intelligence. As understood, I represent no one but myself and certa<strong>in</strong> private unnamed <strong>in</strong>dividuals,<br />
no departments or bureaus of <strong>the</strong> Reich Government of any sort.'<br />
The general said, 'Herr Wegener, I understand that you <strong>in</strong> no way officially allege representation<br />
of any branch of <strong>the</strong> Reich Government. I am here as an unofficial private party who by virtue of<br />
former position with <strong>the</strong> Imperial Army can be said to have access to circles <strong>in</strong> Tokyo who desire to<br />
hear whatever you have to say.'<br />
Weird discourse, Mr. Tagomi thought. But not unpleasant. Certa<strong>in</strong> near-musical quality to it.<br />
Refresh<strong>in</strong>g relief, <strong>in</strong> fact.<br />
They sat down.<br />
'Without preamble,' Mr. Baynes said, 'I would like to <strong>in</strong>form you and those you have access to<br />
that <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>in</strong> advance stage <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Reich a program called Lowenzahn. Dandelion.'<br />
'Yes,' <strong>the</strong> general said, nodd<strong>in</strong>g as if he had heard this before; but, Mr. Tagomi thought, he<br />
seemed quite eager for Mr. Baynes to go on.<br />
'Dandelion,' Mr. Baynes said, 'consists of an <strong>in</strong>cident on <strong>the</strong> border between <strong>the</strong> Rocky Mounta<strong>in</strong><br />
States and <strong>the</strong> United States.'<br />
The general nodded, smil<strong>in</strong>g slightly.