The connection between Nefertiti's head and the marshal's baton
What is the connection between Nefertiti's head and Hitler's marshal's baton?
Spring 1945
Prague, Czech Republic
Roy couldn't believe his eyes for a moment, remaining speechless and gaping as he gazed at the ceiling and walls of the luxurious office. The retired general seemed perfectly cooperative and calm outside, while his companions, Mitcham and Herb, ransacked the house, searching for any loot or memorabilia they could sell. New York …He suddenly remembered that he wasn't inside a museum and that he too had to quickly search the room before the others arrived…
He found a gold pen and an excellent German “Luger” pistol… a reasonable haul, although he had hoped to find more valuable things in a house like this… He was about to leave the room when he noticed that wooden box carelessly lying on a side table. He opened it and found a fine, beautiful gold dagger and… a marshal's baton! For the second time, he could not believe his eyes, but he came to his senses when he heard the commotion of his companions. He snatched the baton and hid it inside his jacket, then quickly went out to join them.
The American skillfully concealed the cane and never told anyone about it. He wasn't like that naive "Herb" who recounted the story of the golden lighter he took from the Gestapo officer's corpse, which alerted the major, who then ordered it handed over. No... this cane would remain a secret until it reached the States...
Autumn 1948
New York
Hans Schulmann gazed at the cane, a mixture of conflicting feelings stirring within him. On one hand, it represented everything racist and hateful towards his race and religion; indeed, its owner was a war criminal awaiting his turn at the Nuremberg trials. On the other hand, it would bring him a substantial profit when he sold it to King Farouk, a king who greatly admired all things German: weapons, personal belongings, antiques…
This piece is closely related to all of this. Acquiring it at the Spinkx auction wasn't easy; the competition was fierce, as he'd anticipated. The world, in its madness, had suddenly forgotten the Nazis' crimes and become obsessed with all things Nazi-related. Now, forget all this sentimentality—it doesn't suit him—the piece represents a considerable gain, and he's a businessman. The matter is settled, and he must prepare to travel to Cairo early to deliver it to the King himself.
Summer 1952
Alexandria Port
He peered out from behind his sunglasses at the view of the seaside promenade and the palace beyond. Finally, he was alone for the first time in four days, having been reassured of the safety of his family, especially the little prince... he meant the king! Yes, yes, he had to remember this now... he didn't want to remember the past and all that it contained; rather, he had to look forward to the future now... beautiful in theory, but why couldn't he look away from the palace, which now seemed so small?
Against his will, he began to relive his life: how he returned to his homeland after his father's passing and the warm welcome he received in this very place; how the nation celebrated his marriage; his resistance against both the British and the Israelis; and how his army was on the verge of victory were it not for the ceasefire... especially after he enlisted German army generals as military advisors... Yes, those people were truly great. He always believed that the sophistication of any nation could be judged by its artistic output, such as stamps, coins, and artifacts in general. For some reason, he began listing the German antiques he "owned"—his subconscious always resorted to this tactic when work pressures became too much: to take refuge in the idea of his valuable collections and forget his problems. Among the things he remembered was that marshal's baton.
It was truly one of the most magnificent things he had ever seen, far more beautiful than the one the British had given him when they granted him an honorary rank in the English army! Von Brausch's cane is significant for German history, and there is no doubt that the Germans will one day claim it… perhaps they will manage—I mean, they will manage—to exchange it and others for the head of Queen Nefertiti. He prayed to God to grant General Naguib success in his mission, to protect him from his comrades and from the communists, and to bring him safely to Capri… He suddenly realized that Alexandria had vanished before his eyes, and he didn't know if this was due to the speed of the "Protected One" (a nickname for the Egyptian car) or because his eyes were filled with tears.
End of Chapter Three
Moheb Rizkalla
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