e all die nadel's signals. i don't know if he still does. not that it would make any difference to die nadel. nothing impresses that man. you know something? he looks at everybody the same way-as if he's figuring out how hell kill you if you make a wrong move."

"i'm glad i didn't have to train him."

"he learned quickly, i'll give him that. worked at it twenty-four hours a day, then when he'd mastered it, he wouldn't give me a good-morning. it takes him all his time to remember to salute canaris. he always signs off 'regards to willi' that's how much he cares about rank."

they finished their cigarettes, dropped them on the floor, and trod them out. then the older man picked up the stubs and pocketed them, because smoking was not really permitted in the dugout. the radios were still quiet.

"yes, he won't use his code name," the older man went on. "von braun gave it to him, and he's never liked it. he's never liked von braun either. do you remember the time-no, it was before you joined us... braun told nadel to go to the airfield in farnborough, kent. the message came back: 'there is no airfield in farnborough, kent. there is one at farnborough, hampshire. fortunately the luftwaffe's geography is better than yours, you cunt.' just like that."

"i suppose it's understandable. when we make mistakes we put their lives on the line."

the older man frowned. he was the one who delivered such judgments, and he did not like his audience to weigh in with opinions of its own. "perhaps," he said grudgingly.

"but why doesn't he like his code name?"

"he says it has a meaning, and a code word with a meaning can give a man away. von braun wouldn't listen."

"a meaning? the needle? what does it mean?"

but at that moment the old-timer's radio chirped, and he returned quickly to his station, so the explanation never came.