Werner showed up to work the next morning, just as he'd promised himself too. Dr. Ziegler was still bent over his desk like a crippled leaf and his expression was as sour, if not more so, than the day before. "You came, even though I didn't tell you to." He said as a greeting.
"I thought you might have changed your mind, doctor. I didn't want to keep you waiting in case you had." Werner's polite and honest answer made Dr. Ziegler sigh and shrug.
"You're good for doing that Werner. Most men wouldn't have showed up. But I don't think I need your help. I'm just sorting things and waiting for answers from Germany." He sighed deeply. "I wish I was back there...I'm as free as a doctor can be here, but I don't have everything I need...I can't do much right now. The other things I wanted to try will still take a while to install...I have nothing to do." He sunk back into his sullen state. "I apologize for being in such a terrible mood."
"Nothing to worry about Dr. Ziegler." Werner was about to leave when he stopped and turned back to the german doctor. Nikolai's words had resurfaced in his mind: Ziegler probably asks him things all the time...that's why he's pretending to use Wojciechowski for his experiments...He knew that what he said next might get him punished, maybe even killed, but Nikolai's words had sparked an idea in his mind. "What if we continued the research that Wojciechowski started before he was arrested?"
"What?" Dr. Ziegler said in surprise.
"What if we continued working on a cure for cancer, Doctor." Werner repeated.
"With what? I don't know anything about cancer-." He scoffed. But then he realized what Werner meant. Werner was proposing they work with Wojciechowski. "Are you asking me to work with the pole?"
"Yes."
"I would never!"
"You already do, Doctor." Werner said calmly. He knew he'd have to drop the line, otherwise Ziegler would surely report him. He prayed that Nikolai's suspicions were right. Dr. Ziegler narrowed his eyes at Werner; but he could tell that his young assistant really did know about the times he'd asked Wojciechowski for answers. How, he couldn't be sure, but the boy knew.
"I'm going to report you for wanting to work with spies." Dr. Ziegler spit bitterly. He didn't want to admit to having asked Wojciechowski things, not until there wasn't another way out. Werner just smiled.
"I don't think you will, Dr. Ziegler." They looked at each other for a few seconds. Both of them had things to hold over the other mans head. Werner wanted to work with the enemy, and Ziegler already had.
Werner opened the door to the office. He was pretty sure that the doctor would want time to think. "I won't keep you from your work any longer. Should I come back after lunch, or do you need me first tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow morning is fine." Dr. Ziegler spluttered. Werner nodded and dissapeared around the door. Dr. Ziegler was left staring at the place his assistant had stood last.
Werner closed the door and forced himself to walk down the hallway to the exit in his usual pace. He was surprised that he'd done what he just did and he was a bit angry at himself for leaving so soon. He hadn't even tried to convince the doctor of what he was proposing. He wasn't sure if that made him more or less believable. A man doesn't need to convince the other of anything if both already know he's right.
The doctor lit a cigar, opening the only window in his office so that some of the smoke might escape the room. He leaned back in the chair, ignoring the folders in his table, and thought about Werners proposal.
His assitant was obviously keen on finding a cure for cancer. The reason must be personal, someone in his family had to have it or have already died from it.
For Ziegler, finding the cure could only mean good things. He'd be the man who's name stood under the find, not Wojciechowskis or Werners. He'd be celebrated and aknowlaged as a great doctor. And in case Germany lost the war and the horrors of Auschwitz were uncovered, he could hold up the document and show that he'd done good. Who could be so angry at the man who'd cured cancer?
But if they were caught he'd be shot, no doubt about it. All three of them would be shot...but then again he could show them the picture of the Lagerführer, and he could bring him down too with them...or request to see the Lagerführer, show him the picture and beg him not to say anything or he'd let the others know about the Lagerführers past...that wasn't a bad idea...maybe they'd be let off the hook and only Wojciechowski would be shot...
He thoughtfully puffed on the cigar. A cure for cancer.
Werner hurried over to where Nikolai was on duty. He needed to tell Nikolai what he'd said, just in case the doctor ratted him out. If he was going to be shot he wanted someone to tell Marie. It wouldn't be polite to not show up to Christmas dinner without an apology.
He found Nikolai supervising a few workers. "Can I talk to you for a second?" He said breathlessly. Nikolai nodded. Werner pulled him to the side, but he still whispered. Some of the SS-Officers seemed to have acute feline senses, he needed to make sure nobody overheard them. He filled Nikolai in on what he'd said.
"Are you crazy?" Nikolai hissed.
"You said we have to stay in Auschwitz! You said we couldn't bust him out!" Werner said to his defense.
"I didn't mean that you should ask the doctor!"
"Well how else could he work on it here?"
"I don't know...and what's done is done...let's hope I was right about him asking Wojciechowski things. Then you might have a chance." Nikolai said slowly. "You're crazy, Werner." The Russian couldn't comprehend how Werner could have been so careless. What he'd done almost certainly would get him reported.
"I know."
"May I ask who you know who has cancer?" He said timidly. Werner was about to lie, but then he decided to be honest, well, at least partly honest.
"I do." Werner said. "I have cancer."