Smart Moves Read Free Page B

birth, in spite of my opposition since childhood to Nazism, is suspect.”
    “Nobody’s going to accuse Albert Einstein of …”
    “Ah, but they will, and they do,” he said sadly. “In these times one’s reputation loses importance. And I am considered by many to be a relic. Relativity has been questioned, attacked, refuted by those who would believe that the universe is a madhouse, but God’s universe is not a madhouse, only this planet. I’ve made great mistakes in my life. I’ve assumed that the order of the universe can be seen also in human politics but it cannot. There is no order or logic to politics and so I have committed to causes which alter, change, betray. Now I would like to be left alone to work. I will be sixty-three years old next week. My heart is weak. My fingers do not always obey my commands on the violin and my legs and arms too often betray me when I sail my small boat. I think I can help this country against the horror of Nazism and someone is trying to destroy my reputation to keep me from doing this. I would like you to find these people, expose them, stop them.”
    “If I can,” I said confidently.
    “There is more,” he added, watching me closely. “Fahre.”
    I thought he was saying something in English but his accent was getting in the way again so I repeated. “Fahre.”
    “A radical Nazi group which has put a price on my head,” Einstein explained. “I am a Jew. I am a Zionist. I am anti-Nazi and have some reputation. There are madmen who would like to collect the five thousand dollars my head would bring.”
    “The guys across the street are keeping an eye on you,” I said.
    Einstein rose and clasped his hands. He gave me a pleased smile.
    “I usually wait till after lunch for my single cigar, but …” he said and reached for a cigar box, which he opened. He removed a cigar, offered me one which I refused, and lit up, obviously enjoying it. “They named a cigar for me several years ago, a terrible cigar. I’m glad you noticed the men across the street. Dr. Walker has never noticed them.”
    “At least two there right now,” I said. “One was looking through the window. Light hit his binoculars. Another guy behind. Both well dressed.”
    “Unlike us,” Einstein said, pacing as he smoked, clopping as he paced.
    “If they were these Fahre people, they wouldn’t set up camp,” I said, “they’d come in firing. How long have they been there?”
    “Since Professor May suddenly had to accept a visiting professorship in North Carolina,” Einstein said. “That was a few weeks ago. However, they may be protecting me, or gathering evidence against me, or possibly both.”
    “So, you just stay around here while I try to find out who …”
    I stopped because he was nodding his head as he puffed away. “I have accepted an engagement in New York City, a charity event to raise money for refugees. This will be at the Waldorf Hotel on Sunday. I will play the violin and Mr. Paul Robeson will sing. It is, I understand, Easter Sunday.”
    “And someone might be around to stop you,” I said.
    He shrugged, stopped pacing, and looked at me. “The event has been publicized,” he said. “I cannot back out of it and do not want to. I do not want those Nazis to think they can make me a prisoner in my house.”
    “OK,” I sighed, standing up, “it’s easy enough. I find an assassination squad of lunatic Nazis, put them out of commission while I also figure out who is trying to set you up as a traitor and stop them. All of this without telling the FBI. Is that it?”
    Einstein was standing still now. He looked out the window, seemed to have forgotten I was there, and then turned. “Yes,” he said. “That is accurate.”
    “I’d better get started then,” I said, not knowing where to.
    Einstein, cigar still in hand, went to the desk, opened the middle drawer, found some papers, and brought then to me. “These,” he said, “are letters threatening me with exposure