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I believe I've got you, Macke thought triumphantly.
There was a thunderous crash as a bomb landed in a building they had just passed. They turned to see flames already licking up beyond the smashed windows of a bakery. Wagner said: "Christ, that was close."
They came to a school, a low brick building in an asphalt yard. "In there, I think," said Macke.
The three men walked up a short flight of stone steps to the entrance. The door was not locked. They went in.
They were at one end of a broad corridor. At its far end was a large door that probably led to the school hall. "Straight ahead," said Macke.
He drew his gun, a 9 mm Luger pistol.
Werner was not armed.
There was a crash, a thud, and the roar of an explosion, all terrifyingly close. All the windows in the corridor smashed, and shards of glass rained on the tiled floor. A bomb must have landed in the playground.
Werner shouted: "Clear out, everyone! The building is about to collapse."
There was no danger of the building collapsing, Macke could see. This was Werner's ruse for giving the alarm to the pianist.
Werner broke into a run, but instead of heading back the way they had come he went on down the corridor toward the hall.
To warn his friends, Macke thought.
Wagner drew his gun, but Macke said: "No! Don't shoot!"
Werner reached the end of the corridor and flung open the door to the hall. "Run, everyone!" he yelled. Then he fell silent and stood still.
Inside the hall Macke's colleague Mann, the electrical engineer, was tapping out nonsense on a suitcase radio.
Beside him stood Schneider and Richter, both holding drawn guns.
Macke smiled triumphantly. Werner had fallen straight into his trap.
Wagner walked forward and put his gun to Werner's head.
Macke said: "You're under arrest, you subhuman Bolshevik."
Werner acted fast. He jerked his head away from Wagner's gun, seized Wagner's arm, and pulled him into the hall. For a moment Wagner shielded Werner from the guns in the hall. Then he thrust Wagner away from him, causing Wagner to stumble and fall. In the next moment he stepped out of the hall and slammed the door.
For a few seconds it was just Macke and Werner in the corridor.
Werner walked toward Macke.
Macke pointed his Luger. "Stop, or I'll shoot."
"No, you won't." Werner came closer. "You need to interrogate me, and find out who the others are."
Macke pointed his gun at Werner's legs. "I can interrogate you with a bullet in your knee," he said, and he fired.
The shot missed.
Werner lunged and knocked Macke's gun hand aside. Macke dropped the weapon. As he stooped to retrieve it, Werner ran past.
Macke picked up the gun.
Werner reached the school door. Macke took careful aim at his legs and fired.
His first three shots missed, and Werner went through the door.
