Chongo held his breath as much as possible through the interview with the old man. When he did breath it was totally through his mouth although that didn't stop the smell from permeating into his nostrils. To him hospitals were worse than Chem labs with all the disinfectant and other wonderful odors to be had.

The questioning had been a little rough on Drecker and Chongo due to the fact that the old man had been tranquilized. Chongo also had to phrase the questions in such a way as to avoid giving away the ball game to the doctors and nurses buzzing about the area. Drecker might not know the effects of radiation poisoning but they certainly would. Chongo wished he could speed things up. Chongo was pretty certain that the old man had not receive a significant dose of radiation, but to be on the safe side he intended to inform the general when he made his next report. If the old man had been heavily dosed Chongo hoped they could do something for him.

Drecker got directions to the spot and radioed in for a unit to secure the area until they got there. Chongo wished he could think of something to discuss with Drecker. The silence was disturbing to him but nothing was appropriate. There might as well have been a rain cloud in the car with them.


Otto was on his way back to the cabin after another afternoon spent with Ursula . She was definitely a dangerous femme fatale and he was enjoying every minute with her. AS he rounded the bend his eyes widened to dinner plates when he saw the two police cars on the side of the road about a half-mile or so from where he'd buried the bodies of the primates they'd used. He'd not wanted to bury them so close but with no help and fearing contamination he'd done the best he could. The grave had been wide and shallow. He wished now that he'd had more time to camouflage the sight but it was too late now. The alarm bells were going off in his head and he knew it was time to clean the cabin and move to a new safe house. Otto had already selected several other sites throughout Chicago, they'd be okay for a while.   Unfortunately this would jeopardize the mission. Once the police figured out that the chimps had either died from or been suffering severe radiation poisoning and not the bullet to the back of the head that he'd had to administer to the few still breathing the American security forces would tighten so much that he doubted they'd be able to fart without it shrieking like an opera singer being chased by a mouse.

Otto reached the cabin and didn't bother to stop the engine of the car. He, Bruno and Martin         thoroughly cleaned out the cabin as well as they could and hit the road quickly. Brehmer had gone into town to see his American girlfriend. It pissed Otto off but they needed the pilot desperately. Things might not have hit the frying pan officially between the Americans and Germany but most Americans would not be willing to work for three foreigners in a job that threatened their own country. Help was at a premium.

As soon as they reached the edge of town they headed for the small store that Brehmer did most of his shopping in so as to maximize his time with Katherine. Brehmer was there still chatting her up as they pulled up to the curb. Otto left Martin in the car and headed in to collect Brehmer. As soon as Katherine saw Otto approaching she left the counter to do some chores around the store, leaving them in semi-privacy to talk.


"Wally come on, we have to go!" Otto said through his teeth.
"What's the matter?", you look like you've seen a ghost.
"They're onto us! We have to get out of here and head for the safe house on the old wharfs."
"I don't mean to argue with you but what could they have found to scare you so?" Brehmer asked him.
"They found the dead apes!" Otto replied.
From behind them came the crash of ceramic plates on the floor. Brehmer looked across the shelves into the very frightened and confused face of Katherine. He might have been able to convince her that she had misheard Otto, but Otto was suddenly so furious that he broke down into German. "Got En Himmel!" Otto shouted waving his arms, "why has this got to be so damned difficult?" He then drew his luger and pointed it at Katherine.
"Alright Fraulein, you've heard too much. I hope you really like lover boy here because you're coming with us."
Brehmer made as if to protest but Otto gave him a look that froze his blood. At least Katherine would be safe with him around which was much better than dead on the storeroom floor. Brehmer took her by the hand firmly and led her out to the car. As he climbed in beside her he whispered "Katherine, I'm so sorry!"