'What is that?' I asked.
He laughed. That I keep a secret. Just as you keep secret the metal. But now, perhaps, we talk about business, eh? We can help each other. You are a smart man. Jorgensen is a fool. He take my pieces of metal. But he does not pay me. He only threatens. I could have help him. But no! He is the great herr direktor. And I am just the best skytter in Norway. Now, you are clever. We can work together and when we find this man-'
'How will you find him?' I asked.
'Oh, I have ways of doing things. I will find him all right. Now, what do you say?'
I hesitated. The man was no fool. But what was it he knew that I didn't? And as I hesitated I heard the door of Dahler's cabin open behind me.
'So you will double-cross your master?' Dahler's voice was no longer slurred. It purred.
Lovaas jumped to his feet. 'Herr Dahler?' His voice was startled. Then angrily: 'Why are you here? What is the little game, eh?'
'You are surprised to see me?' Dahler gripped the table for support. 'Why are you so surprised? Am I not permitted to visit my own country?' His voice was suddenly violent. 'Who are you to decide whether I shall come here to Bovaagen Hval or not? Answer me! What did you do in the war, eh? I will tell you. You were a collaborator. You went where there was money. You worked for the Germans. You captained one of their-'
'This is enough, herr Dahler,' Lovaas roared. 'Everyone in Norway knows how you sell the secret of the new marine engine — how you arrange the guard up at Finse. Whilst you flee to England, I was working for my country — underground.' Lovaas suddenly sat down. He was breathing heavily. 'But I did not come here to throw words at you, herr Dahler. I come here to talk to Mr Gansert.'
I glanced up at Dahler. His face was white. He looked utterly exhausted. But there was a strange gleam in his eyes. 'Yes, I am sorry.' His voice was quieter, almost apologetic. 'I talk too quickly4 am upset.' He sank down on to the settee beside me. 'So Jorgensen has not paid you, eh?' He laughed softly. The sound was cold, almost gleeful. 'And you like money, do you not, Lovaas?' He leaned quickly forward. 'I wonder if you realise what there is in this for the man who knows where the metals are to be found? I will tell you, Lovaas. There is a fortune. Jorgensen has gone to Bergen with your samples of ore. From there he will fly to Oslo. By tomorrow his experts will be examining those samples. In a day, two days perhaps, he will know. You have realised that. And so you are here to discover what there is in this for you. Is not that right?'