Chapter 42
Egypt, Mid-twentieth century
Shortly before the Second World War came to an end, a four-star “Generaloberst” in Hitler’s Nazi army abandoned his position and escaped to Egypt, carrying with him some Nazi gold and other riches, including a red pearl that had belonged to Der Führer. The general changed his name and lived in a small town. The only person close to him was his Egyptian servant, a scrawny man with no spouse or children.
As the general’s death neared, in 1970, he told the servant he could keep all of his remaining possessions except one. The General said he had done terrible things during the war and had lived these last years in an attempt to correct some of that. But his last act was one the servant had to see was carried out. The general had had a special coffin
