Hooded Man (85 page)

Not bad, especially for a monumental conman like him.

Loewe began his walk back to the command centre he’d established. “With me!” he snapped, and the two magnificent Alsatians that went everywhere with him dutifully came to heel and trotted alongside. As he walked, Loewe came across various members of his staff, soldiers and military brains alike, nodding to each in turn. All wore the muted grey uniform of his legion, the Army of the New Order: its emblem a variation of the Mursunsydän symbol, overlapping squares in a very familiar shape.

God, not even he’d thought he could pull the trick off, managing to convince those few who still believed in the old doctrines that he was the guiding light of a new force – one which looked simultaneously to the past and the future – when in actuality he didn’t give a shit about their dogma. He wasn’t a neo-Nazi and never would be. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t
use
them to get what he wanted. After all, hadn’t his whole life been a tissue of lies and deception?

From an early age he’d discovered that you could get more by hiding things than coming right out with the truth.

(“Was that you who trailed that mud into the house, Achim?” “No Mütti, I swear. It was the dog.” His mother thrashed that animal to within an inch of its life, while it looked at him accusingly.)

In his teens Loewe found that the more he lied, the more women would fall at his feet. He dumped them when he’d had his fun, usually after he’d taken them for their money. That fun soon ended when he was drafted into the armed forces, though he’d pulled a fast one to make sure he was given light duties; the doctor at his medical taken in by his protestations about his bad back. He had to admit he’d learned a lot during his time in the military, however, like where the real money was. When he eventually left – without permission, naturally – he took a stash of weapons with him and sold them all on the black market. It was enough to fund his escape from Germany, and further operations in Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and further afield. His reputation, under an assumed name, as an international thief spread throughout the criminal underworld.

He’d stumbled into the world of terrorism quite by accident, after getting involved with a woman called Letty who’d introduced him to her cell: fighters against the injustices of the world.

“So what do
you
believe in?” he was asked, and he’d told them exactly what they wanted to hear. There was money to be made here, he could smell it. To prove himself, Loewe had to plant a device in the lobby of a certain office building with links to slave labour in the third world. He’d tried to convince them to blackmail the company, but they’d gone ahead and detonated the bomb instead. What a waste. Not of human life, but of an opportunity. And he really hated that.

Once he’d ingratiated himself with the people really pulling the strings, and had got bored with Letty in the bedroom, Loewe planted another device which took out the cell. Then he convinced the organisation that expansion was the key to taking over the world, and to do that they’d need money. “For the cause, you understand,” Loewe insisted – embarking on his schemes to blackmail other businesses, banks; even holding entire towns and cities to ransom. Sometimes he was paid, other times he wasn’t; then, he’d had to follow through, or the next time he’d have no leverage. It didn’t bother him.

Loewe amassed a small fortune in that time. He would have lived comfortably off the profits of his extortion for the rest of his life, had it not been for the small matter of that damned disease. What use was money then? You couldn’t buy yourself out of a bullet in the head, not when the monetary system had collapsed. He didn’t even count himself lucky that he was immune, just cursed whatever gods were up there for taking away his luxuries.

Once again, he’d had to think fast, and talk faster. Because he knew the place better than anywhere else, Loewe had returned home. And it was as he observed the situation there that a plan formed in his mind. It was obvious – and should have been all along – who the most organised groups belonged to in his country. They’d been biding their time, waiting for something like this to occur. But they’d also been waiting for a leader to emerge, someone to bring them all together under one flag, and finally under one roof. Someone like General Loewe, military hero – just check his (forged) records – and bringer of terror to the Motherland’s enemies.

He told his faithful followers, who’d soaked up his fake promises like sponges, that they should take up residence in the place that once raised Hitler to power. It had waited, just as they had, to be put to use again. Not as the home of a democratic parliament, but as
their
home,
their
headquarters from which to plan their next move. Indeed, hadn’t Hitler promised there would be a special place for the building in his Welthauptstadt Germania renovation of Berlin after his ‘assured’ victory in World War II: a key structure in his vision of a World Capital, a reward for services rendered? Now they would make good on that promise.

His growing legions had lapped it up, helping him to take the place from those who were already in residence – hopelessly outmatched amateurs playing at being soldiers. The skirmish had lasted less than five hours.

Now his forces owned not only the building, but most of Berlin. And he was working on the rest of Germany; already they had stretched into Hamburg, Magdeburg, Leipzig and Dresden. He might not be as big as the Tsar yet, but it was a start. As with the terrorism, it was all about expansion, which kept not only his troops occupied but also ensured a comfortable standard of living for him. It might not be about money anymore, but he had people at his beck and call. What’s more, he was safe, in a world where that word no longer had much meaning for most people. Loewe knew that any number of his men would willingly give their lives for him; were already doing so out there.

He descended the levels with his dogs, hands behind his back, heading towards the main control centre. Striding inside, he noted the maps on walls with dots on them, the table with a miniature landscape built on top: models of tanks, jeeps and soldiers covering it – everything Loewe imagined a command centre
should
look like, in fact. He, of all people, knew how important it was to look the part. Men in uniform were busying themselves, some on radios, others looking at the charts and discussing how their plans to take over the country and beyond were going. Because they weren’t a force the size of Russia’s, they couldn’t just invade a country outright. No, they had to play things a bit more subtly. At the moment his Army of the New Order had its fingers in a lot of pies, covert agents in every country you could think of. But Loewe wasn’t doing this to take over the world; rather to take out any other opposition before they came looking for
him
. It was all about security again. He’d made himself a target over here, and it was only a matter of time before the Tsar or another warlord came to challenge him. The only thing that had put them off so far was that Loewe talked a good battle, spreading rumours that they were much better armed and equipped then they actually were. That and the fact they were committed fanatics. Nobody would be stupid enough to go after the Nazis unless they absolutely had to, or were completely assured of a victory.

The men all stood to attention when they saw him, and he told them to be at ease. He walked through the area, pretending to be interested, peering at a few maps and nodding. Really, he just wanted to get to his office on the other side. It amused him when the men parted to let his dogs through, standing well back so that they wouldn’t even brush against the dangerous-looking creatures.

Loewe’s spacious office had been furnished to his specifications – lined on one side with books he would never read, on the other with a well stocked bar. A huge oak table had been positioned near the window, with a reclining leather chair behind it and an antique globe of the world not far away, which he would spin whenever he got bored. He had been inside only a few minutes, having just had time to sit down – the dogs taking up positions on either side of the desk – when there was a knock at the door. Loewe spread out papers in front of him and picked one up to study it, before shouting, “Enter!”

It was his second, young Schaefer, who dealt with the day-to-day running of the New Order. Behind those eyes, shielded by thick-rimmed glasses, was a frighteningly large intellect. Loewe was more than happy to let the man deal with organisational matters and supervise military operations, just as long as he was kept in the loop every step of the way. Which was what Schaefer was doing here now.

“I was just about to send for you,” Loewe lied. “I wanted an update on the situation in –”

“Sir, I come with grave news about –”

“Schaefer!” screamed Loewe, sitting bolt upright in his chair. He may only have been pretending to be their leader – and wasn’t really interested in an update on
anything
at the moment – but if there was one thing Loewe couldn’t stand it was being interrupted. “Never speak before I have finished, is that understood?”

Schaefer remained silent, until he realised Loewe was waiting for him to give his answer. “Yes, of course, sir. But I bring bad news about the campaign in England.”

Loewe raised an eyebrow.
England
: one of their oldest enemies. That is, Loewe didn’t give a shit about the country either way, but his men felt especially passionate about taking control of the isle, which was why they didn’t complain – not that they dared anyway – about his use of so many resources over there, when they still had much of Germany to secure. This
was
potentially serious.

“
You
bring bad news?” asked Loewe.

“Er, actually...” Schaefer dragged in a second man, this one not familiar to Loewe; after a while all the uniformed people blurred into one. “Mayer here was the messenger who brought the news.” Schafer pushed the other man into the room, closing the door behind them. “Tell the General what you told me,” he ordered.

“Sir, I...”

Loewe rose, and his dogs raised their heads. “What is it, man? Spit it out, for God’s sake!”

Mayer was looking nervously from Loewe to the Alsatians.

“I said
spit it out!
” Loewe snapped. The dogs began to growl.

“I-it’s about the Widow’s venture.”

“The venture we have been
funding
, sir,” clarified Schaefer, adjusting his glasses. That word took on a different meaning in this day and age, from the one Loewe had been used to at any rate, but it amounted to the same thing. They’d been supplying the woman with vehicles and equipment in order to cause the maximum amount of trouble. Something had obviously gone very wrong, though, by the look of Mayer.
He’s practically shitting himself
, thought Loewe.

“The venture
you
convinced us to fund, Schaefer,” Loewe reminded him, then addressed Mayer again. “Go on.”

“T-there was an attack yesterday,” Mayer informed him.

“The Widow lost a number of men,” Schaefer added, “but also, regrettably, several jeeps and motorcycles, not to mention guns, ammunition –”

“
Our
jeeps, motorcycles, guns and ammunition,” Loewe reminded him. “Who was responsible for this attack?”

Schaefer prodded Mayer in the back to get him to answer. “Hood,” said the man, his voice breaking. “It was Hood, sir.”

Hood. Yes, Loewe had heard the tales just like everyone else, about a man who dressed like a folk take and fought using a bow and arrow. Loewe almost had to admire the conman’s audacity; it would be like him donning a toothbrush moustache and insisting they all called him the Führer. But that man had also, it was said, depleted the Tsar’s forces – another reason why they hadn’t attacked the New Order yet. In any event, if this Hood character was tackling the Widow, then reports were correct and he was doing just as they were, spreading out across his own country. It was a dangerous thing, because it meant that at some point their paths would cross. Someone like Hood, who had managed to convince his followers he was on some kind of damned crusade against evil, might get the bright idea of coming after them in Germany.

“How did it happen?” Loewe asked through gritted teeth.

“He and his Rangers were lying in wait, hidden in a convoy the Widow’s men were raiding.”

Loewe slammed his fist down on the desk, which hurt, making him madder. “The silly bitch! We give her all those weapons and she loses them to a bunch of fucking comic book characters.” He walked round the front of the desk and his dogs rose again. Loewe tapped his lips for a moment, trying to look thoughtful. He already knew what had to be done. Picking up a large silver letter opener that had been resting on the wood, he touched the tip, testing its sharpness. “Mayer, have you ever heard the saying about messengers and bad news?”

“Please, sir.” Mayer held up his shaking hands.

“You’re a member of the Army of the New Order, man! For Heaven’s sake act like it!”

Mayer attempted to show a little backbone, but there was still a quiver in his voice when he said, “It wasn’t my fault. I was not even there, sir. Please don’t –”

“Don’t what?”

Mayer looked at Schaefer, then back again at Loewe. “Don’t kill me.”

Loewe laughed; it was all part of the act. “Oh, I’m not going to kill you. Why would I do that? I wish you to deliver a message to the Widow.”

Mayer let out a relieved breath.

“However, I would like the message to be of a very specific nature. Do you think you can manage that?”

Mayer nodded, almost smiling.

“Good.” He clicked his fingers. The Alsatians bared their teeth, and Mayer’s eyes widened.

“But you said –”

“I said
I’m
not going to kill you. And I’m not,” replied Loewe. He snapped his fingers a second time and the dogs were across the room in seconds, leaping at Mayer. The first jumped up on its back legs, slamming Mayer in the chest with its paws and causing him to stumble backwards. The second took hold of his arm, clamping its teeth around the wrist and shaking it violently. Mayer’s scream was loud and piercing.