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It was 1948 He was living in his log cabin in Montana Although he had access through Swiss bank accounts to vast auiding tourists through Glacier National Park One client, a businessazine in his cabin Schroeder did all the cleanup work hies That's when he discovered what had happened to Lazlo Kovacs since the night the Wilhelm Gustloff went to the bottom
The azine article described a coarian refugee His corporation was bringing an innovative array of consunetic properties,him a millionaire in the process Schroeder sraph of the reclusive inventor, but the Kovacs genius cah on every item
It was the , so one day he packed a bag and took the train to Detroit He found the Janos lab in an unhborhood where the lab was
He watched the front door fro hus was eventually rewarded A Cadillac li in front, it went around to an alley in the back It took off before he could see who got in the car He followed the car to the exclusive Grosse Pointe section of Detroit, where many auto executives lived He lost the liate of a walled estate
The next afternoon, he was at the lab again He parked where he had a clear view of the back alley When the liot out of his car and walked over to the alley The chauffeur, as holding the door open, glanced at hinored
A lanced in Schroeder's direction, started to get in the car, then he looked again A wide grin came to his face To the puzzlement of the limo driver, his wealthy ereat hug
"After all these years What in God's na here?" Kovacs said
"I thought you ht like to take a ride in the snow," Schroeder said with a grin
Kovacs responded with a look of mock horror "Not if you are at the wheel"
"You're looking well, old friend"
"Yes, you too Different, however I wasn't sure at first But it's the same old Karl"
"I shouldn't have come here," Schroeder said
"Please, ain I have so much to thank you for"
"Knowing that you are well and prosperous is thanks enough Now I o"
"We must talk first," Kovacs said He told his driver to wait, and led the way back into the lab "There is no one here," he said