Chapter 274: Chapter 57: Christmas Supplies
「East Berlin. Koko Headquarters. Early November.」
As soon as Werner walked into his office, he saw two documents on his desk—one with a red cover marked "Top Secret," and the other a manila envelope with "Stasi Transfer Files" written on it.
He opened the red-covered document first.
It was an urgent directive concerning "Christmas Supplies."
The government was demanding Koko ensure there were enough "Western goods" on the market before December 25th—oranges, chocolate, coffee, high-end liquors, and electronics.
This was to prove that the suppression of the Prague Spring had not affected life in East Germany.
Werner sneered.
Then he opened the manila envelope. Inside was a thick stack of files—fifty-three political prisoner dossiers.
He browsed through them quickly.
Most were East German intellectuals and workers, but a few particular names caught his attention.
One of them was Jan Novak, a Czech economist.
The file stated that he had been arrested by the Soviet Army in Prague in August 1968, then transferred to the custody of the East German Stasi. His crime was "participating in the counter-revolutionary reform movement," and he had once served as an economic advisor to Dubcek’s reform team.
’So he was caught in Prague and then sent to East Germany.’
Werner continued to read.
There was also Catherine Schulz, an East German journalist arrested for writing an article sympathetic to the Prague Spring.
Werner remembered her—a woman in her thirties, very talented, but too idealistic.
’If these people stay in East Germany, it’s a dead end. Sending them to West Germany will at least save their lives.’
"Comrade Werner." His secretary knocked and entered. "Minister Gunter wants to see you."
Werner gathered the files and walked toward Gunter’s office.
Gunter sat behind a large desk, a cup of coffee in front of him.
"Sit." Gunter pointed to the chair across from him. "Seen the files?"
"I have." Werner sat down. "Fifty-three people."
"Correct." Gunter took a sip of coffee. "They’re a ’byproduct’ of the Stasi’s recent cleanup operation. These people have ideological problems, but not enough to warrant execution. Rather than let them take up prison space, it’s better to sell them to West Germany and earn some foreign currency."
He put down his coffee cup and looked at Werner. "That campaign in Prague cost us a lot of money—troop movements, material support, cleanup efforts. The government desperately needs foreign currency right now. Desperately."
"I understand," Werner said. "Based on the current market price in West Germany, how much can we get for these fifty-three people?"
"You’re the expert. You tell me." Gunter leaned back in his chair.
Werner calculated quickly in his head. "Ordinary political prisoners, fifty to one hundred thousand West German Marks each. High-value targets—like that Czech economist—can go for over two hundred thousand. If we handle this correctly, we could get a total of five to six million West German Marks."
"Six million?"
"But it will take time," Werner added. "The West Germans will need to assess the value of these people, negotiate, go through the procedures... it will take a few months at least."
"I’ll give you three months." Gunter stood up and walked to the window. "Before Christmas, I want to see at least three million West German Marks in our accounts. The rest can come later, but the first batch must be fast."
"Understood." Werner nodded.
"Also." Gunter turned around and took another file from his drawer. "You’ve also seen the Christmas task. It’s an order from the Politburo—Comrade Ublis wants to prove to the whole world that the standard of living in East Germany hasn’t declined, and that the people are still happy."
’Fucking hypocrites.’
Werner cursed inwardly, but his face remained calm. "I will do my best. But I’ll need a larger foreign currency quota and import permits."
"No problem." Gunter pushed the file toward Werner. "This is your special authorization. You can use Koko’s emergency foreign currency reserves to import any necessary goods from the West."
Werner took the file and glanced at it quickly.
A foreign currency quota of one million West German Marks.
"Also," Gunter continued, "the Christmas goods aren’t just for ordinary shops. You must also ensure that high-ranking officials and their families can buy the best things. This is a priority."
Werner nodded. "Understood. I’ll prioritize it."
"Good." Gunter walked back to his desk and sat down again. "Werner, your performance at Koko has always been excellent. Comrade Ublis was also very pleased with the Prague mission. Keep this up, and your future will be limitless."
"Thank you for your trust, Comrade Minister," Werner said.
**************
「West Berlin. A café. Mid-November.」
Werner sat at a window seat, a cup of steaming coffee in front of him.
Across from him sat a man in his forties, dressed in a well-fitting suit, his hair impeccably combed—the negotiator from the West German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Friedrich Weber.
"Mr. Werner, it’s a pleasure to see you again," Weber said with a smile. "I hear you’ve brought a big list this time?"
"Fifty-three people." Werner took a list from his briefcase and pushed it across to Weber. "Including intellectuals, skilled workers, journalists, and a Czech economist."
Weber picked up the list and scanned it carefully.
His expression gradually grew serious.
"Jan Novak..." He read the name aloud, then looked up at Werner. "Dubcek’s economic advisor? He’s in East Germany?"
"Arrested in Prague by the Soviet Army, then handed over to the East German Stasi," Werner said. "He’s now being held in Horner Schonehausen Prison in East Berlin."
Weber whistled. "This man is invaluable. The West German Government will be very interested."
"I know." Werner took a sip of coffee. "So the price won’t be cheap."
"How much?"
"Three hundred thousand West German Marks."
Weber frowned. "That’s too expensive. The highest price we’ve paid before was only two hundred thousand."
"That was before." Werner leaned back in his chair. "Novak has key economic data from the Czech reforms, as well as knowledge of the internal decision-making process during the Prague Spring. To the West German Government, that intelligence is worth far more than three hundred thousand."
Weber was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "Alright. I’ll need to report this to my superiors, but I don’t think it will be a problem. What about the others?"
"Ordinary political prisoners, eighty to one hundred thousand each," Werner said. "But I suggest you prioritize the high-value targets—Novak, Schulz, and the nuclear physicist named Hans Mueller."
"Understood." Weber put the list away. "I’ll arrange for an assessment as soon as possible. Mr. Werner, you always manage to surprise us."
"It’s my job," Werner said.
The two shook hands and parted ways.
Werner left the café and walked the streets of West Berlin.
’Novak alone could fetch three hundred thousand.’
’If the deals for the remaining fifty-two go smoothly, I can get at least five million.’
’That’s more than enough for the three million Gunter wants.’
But he knew it wouldn’t be that simple.
**************
「West Berlin. Margaret’s office. Late November.」
Werner pushed the door open and saw Margaret sitting behind her desk, on the phone.
When she saw Werner, she waved at him, gesturing for him to sit down first.
"Okay, that’s settled. Delivery in three days, and not a penny less." Margaret hung up, then stood and walked over to Werner.
"Werner, long time no see." She extended her hand.
Werner shook her hand—Margaret’s grip was firm, not at all like a woman’s.
"You look as busy as ever," Werner said with a smile.
"Of course, who isn’t busy this time of year?" Margaret sat down again and lit a long, slender ladies’ cigarette. "So, what do you need from me this time?"
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