Lion, Tiger, Bear | 311 He exhaled all the air in his lungs. I wish I hadnt been. Long-range railway guns now make sense, and Gustav is the biggest in the world, a twenty-six mile range. A perfect atomic testing ground, the Russian Frontno foreign press, no mention of secret weapons by Stalin for propaganda and morale reasons. Its no wonder the Reds threaten their own soldiers with death if theycretreat from the Germans, they now have true weapons of mass destruction. Thermobaric air-fuel rockets as well? Yes, with coal dust in them, said Shafer. Theyre throwing everything at Ivan, especially the experimental weapons. Hitler underestimated Stalins resolve. Bea added: So thats why Adolph rashly declared war on America, he thinks hes invincible. Geer said: Soon he may well be, but its still not enough. The new weapons are complex, expensive, and time-consuming to build. The Russians keep coming with more men, artillery, planes, and tanks every day, an endless supply. Europe could become uninhabitable one day from nuclear fallout radiation. I am to guess you three understand that peculiar horror. So its a matter of time versus production, eh? Well, atomic weapons or no, the Allies will only want an unconditional surrender of Germany, said Bernie. Shafer slapped the table in fury. They can call it whatever they want, a-a big victory-with, parades and fireworks and fountains, a glorious Go/Z-given jubilee with roses and fat cherubs, but the war will just simply end as he just said, an agreed armistice under the table with the typical dirty deals for war criminals, bankers, and madmen. It has always been that way. Stalin will probably get Poland and eastern Czechoslovakia, maybe more. How do you two know all this? asked Bernie suspiciously. Our sources are reliable, theyve proven themselves over and over. Youre not the only ones with intelligence training and access to iiber-classified material. Our entire team has had exposure over many years abroad as Order of the Black Sun members, an elite secret group within the Thule Society itself, snapped Geer. Plus Ernst and I are German Secret Service…at your shitting service. In the SS, everyone is a spy to one degree or another, thats why we gifted Ahnenerbe speak so many languages. Or didnt you know that, Herr Big Shot? Bernie shook a fist. For a gifted scientist, youre a real knuckle-dragging Easy, Bern, easy, soothed Alice.