The Mistery of Belicena Villca group , because the best ones have not been chosen but the most servile to Professor Ernst Schaeffer . What do you say to all this Kurt ?
– After the incident I had today , I could not comment impartially about Professor Schaeffer , but I admit that there is something abnormal about all this – I said reflecting on what Oskar entrusted to me .
– If I had any doubt --he continued-- this dissipated earlier , when he argued with you . He did not reject you for any professional reason , but because something in you , something spiritual could make the mission fail . And that something is for him extremely hateful . I don ' t like this madness at all . Do you think I should resign from the group ?
– I already don ' t know how to distinguish the good from the bad --I said sadly-- but I see a good reason for you to continue on the mission to Tibet : you are the only sane person of that group and someone must tell things as they are upon return from the trip !
Oskar laughed at my answer . – I think I ' ll take your advice --he said-- but you will be the one I keep up to date with everything that happens . I was flattered by Oskar ' s confidence .
– One other thing Kurt --he continued-- . I know you will let today go and soon you will forget it , because that is your generous character , but this time it will be me who advises : talk to your Tutor and tell him everything that happened today ! Incredible things are said about the spiritual powers of Rudolph Hess ; nobody better than him to analyze the unspeakable attitude of Ernst Schaeffer . Promise me you ' ll at least think about it .
– I ' ll think about it , I ' ll think about it --I said , surprised by Oskar ' s suggestion-- . I promise you , although I will only see the taufpate in a month , for graduation .
We said goodbye and an hour later , I boarded the train to Berlin immersed in somber musings . Chapter XI The end-of-school ceremony was held together with other schools , in a great festival , with massive parades of the Hitler Youth , culminating in the Berlin Stadium . There the staff of the Third Reich , headed by the Führer , established direct contact with the youth through speeches and proclamations .
Dad had come from Egypt especially to attend graduation , being invited by Rudolph Hess to attend a party which would be celebrated that night at the Chancellery . This would be , in my opinion , the expected opportunity to clear up many unknowns .
At 10 o ' clock in the evening we climbed the marble stairs of the Chancellery . Dad , elegantly dressed in jaquet , and I , in the uniform of the Hitlerjugend , we were not out of tune with the large crowd that already filled the great Hall of the Eagle , forming different murmuring groups of voices and laughs . We crossed the room to the gigantic carved marble fireplace , looking for Rudolph Hess , while on our heads a spider of colossal dimensions poured out torrents of light , softly muffled by thousands of Baccarat crystal pieces . I had never seen so many distinguished and important people gathered . All the leaders of the New Germany were there , Dr . Goebbels , Marshal Goering , Reichsführer Himmler , Julius Streicher ,... In a secluded corner we distinguished a group formed by Rosenberg , Rudolph Hess and Adolf Hitler . Dad , fearing to interrupt a reserved conversation , pointed out to me to wait a few steps away , while we drank a glass of champagne that solicitous waiters had brought us .
After a moment , Rudolph Hess noticed us , and after exchanging a word with the Führer , he approached smiling . – How are you Reinaldo , Kurt ? --he said-- . Come that I will introduce you to the Führer . It was the first time I had seen Adolf Hitler up close , a rare honor for a foreign student , and although I came prepared knowing that the Führer would be at the party , it hadn ' t occurred to me that we ' d be introduced . – Adolf : the Baron Reinaldo von Sübermann --said Rudolph . The Führer greeted Dad by shaking his hand effusively but without pronouncing a word . – Mein patekind Kurt von Sübermann --Rudolph continued-- . Brand new NAPOLA graduate , pilot and polyglot soldier , future Ostenführer of the Waffen SS . I couldn ' t help but blush at the eulogistic presentation of the Taufpate Hess . The Führer stretched out his hand , while he nailed me an icy gaze in the eyes . I felt an electric current run down my spine while at the same time a kind of stomach emptiness tickled at the level of the navel . It was a sensation of an instant , but one of terrible effect . That look , and the contact of
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