“Are they still talking,” asked Agatha.
“Shush,” said Bella and Sarah at the same time. Both had their ears to the crack under the door. They could barely hear the heated discussion downstairs. As head of Bremerhaven’s auction house, Herr Finkham had called a meeting to discuss war.
“The British and the Russians have signed a pact.” Even though she was on the second floor, Agatha could hear Herr Finkham’s booming voice addressing the meeting in the living room.
“They have encircled Germany,” shouted one voice.
“They have stopped our railroad,” shouted another.
“The money to be made, connecting Berlin to Baghdad,” said a raised voice.
“The Ottoman Empire would have been aligned with Imperial Germany,” added another.
“The riches of the Orient would have been ours,” shouted another man.
The voices quieted. Agatha could only hear mumbling. Then a ringing voice that could only be Herr Finkham said, “Russia is weak now. She may strengthen or she may blunder into war and Britain will run to her side. Either way, war is inevitable. Germany should attack now before Russia becomes stronger or Britain is moved to act.”
Both Sarah and Bella fell away from the door. “War,” Sarah breathed. “War,” echoed Bella. His eyes big, dreamy. He was fifteen, almost the age of a soldier.