Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II (Operation Kinderspion)

by Adam Gidwitz

“What?” Max asked the kobold. “Ask him if he has ever visited Munich,” Berg repeated. “What are you doing?” asked Stein cautiously. “Are you trying…to help him?” Berg looked very upset. With himself. He didn’t answer. Stein turned to Max. “I don’t know what Berg is up to…but at this point, what do you have to lose?” Which was exactly what Max had been thinking. Dr. Brown was over at the long table. The general had stood up and was shaking Dr. Brown’s hand. The Old Wet was waiting his turn. They were all studiously ignoring Winston Churchill, who was glancing at a golden pocket watch. Quite loudly, Max said, “Excuse me, Dr. Brown.” Dr. Brown appeared to freeze. Then slowly, oh so slowly, he turned to face the boy he’d just dismissed. He said, with menacing innocence, “Yes?” Speaking deliberately and very clearly, Max said, “Have you ever visited Munich, Dr. Brown?” The doctor furrowed his otherwise perfectly smooth brow. “Certainly,” he said. The room had become very quiet. Berg said to Max, “When was the last time?” So Max said to Dr. Brown, “When was the last time?” Dr. Brown looked uncertainly at Max’s team and then at the general and the Old Wet. “It was 1936. October.” Berg said, “Did he have any of those huge pretzels?” “Uh, what?” “Okay, forget that one. Did he meet any other doctors there?” So Max said: “Did you meet any other doctors in Munich?” Dr. Brown snapped, “What is the meaning of these questions?” “Any Nazi doctors?” Berg added. “Any Nazi doctors?” repeated...