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It was as Feder was descending to his seat that Halstead rose from his, and the man in the corporal’s uniform spoke a moment after Harrer the chairman opened the floor to free discussion. “I sincerely appreciate the efforts you have put into your ideas, Herr Feder, but I must say that I disagree with the soundness of them.” The room became deathly quiet, save for the rustle of clothing on wood as all attendees turned towards the stranger in the back of the room. Halstead looked the astonished men in the eyes as he continued. “Interest slavery is not our problem at the moment. If a man wishes to earn a living with his capital instead of labor, then so be it, as long as he puts that capital to use for the German worker. Every dog shall have his day, and the usurers will get their due once their usefulness is over. “No, our problems at the moment are the enemies of the German people, the foreign enemies. Germany has been stabbed in the back by the November criminals. She was on the verge of victory, and she was betrayed! No, what we need more than anything else at the moment is strong leadership, a strong central power that can unite the German people. What we need is a strong führer, a man who can unite the German workers in Germany, in Austria, in the Sudetenland, in Switzerland, and in those territories that the Allies will be stealing from us soon enough!” Halstead’s voice was growing stronger with each passing sentence, and rang out unchallenged by the men who sat riveted in their seats. “What we need to do first and foremost is unite the workers of Germany under one banner and establish a Reich, a third Reich, that will last a thousand years! Then, Herr Feder, and only then, should we dispose of those who would hold the German worker under the thumb of interest slavery!” Halstead continued to stare hard at each and every man, then reached for his coat and slowly headed for the exit, slowly enough to allow Drexler to catch up with him in the doorway and thrust a pamphlet into his waiting palm. “We could use a man like you,” the paste-white, spectacled man whispered to the departing visitor with a bony hand on one muscular shoulder. “I don’t appreciate your attack of poor Feder, but, yes, we could use a man like you.” Halstead allowed a small smile to creep to his lips. “Where do I join?” he whispered back in German. |