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To repay a wartime debt, a master smuggler ventures out into the open. The customs agent's eyes go wide when he reads the passport. It is Kek Huuygens, the notorious smuggler who has grown rich making border guards look like fools. Today he is returning from Switzerland, a box of chocolates packed in his briefcase. The guard confiscates the chocolates, which he is certain must contain diamonds, but he lets Huuygens keep the wrapper as proof of his purchase. Huuygens resists the urge to show more smile, for the wrapper contains a priceless piece of sheet music, written in Bach's own hand. He has beaten them once again. He is toasting his triumph when a call comes through from Lisbon: an old friend from the war, when Huuygens waged guerilla warfare against the Nazis. The call leads to a peculiar reunion, and a chance for a coup that will remind every border agent in Europe why he curses the name Kek Huuygens. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The time is 1954. Hek Huuygens is known as a successful smuggler.
He gets a call from an old acquaintance from his days in the Resistance. A man and his wife need the services of a first rate smuggler.
15 years ago, SS Officer, Col. Wilhelm Gruber murdered Kek's family in reprisal for Kek's killing a German soldier. Since Kek was on the run, his girlfriend stayed behind. Gruber added to Kek's hatred when he married the girlfriend.
Kek has wanted revenge for a long time and now plots his course of action. With the help of two Resistance associates, he meets with Gruber, Kek, had changed his name so Gruber doesn't recognize him. Then he finds that Gruber wants to smuggle a large quantity of valuable art out of Lisbon.
This plot based story show more is interesting from its time in history and how much the world has changed in the last 50 years. There isn't much suspense but provides a quick read.
The story was nominated for an Edgar Award for best short story in 1967,
15 years ago, show less
He gets a call from an old acquaintance from his days in the Resistance. A man and his wife need the services of a first rate smuggler.
15 years ago, SS Officer, Col. Wilhelm Gruber murdered Kek's family in reprisal for Kek's killing a German soldier. Since Kek was on the run, his girlfriend stayed behind. Gruber added to Kek's hatred when he married the girlfriend.
Kek has wanted revenge for a long time and now plots his course of action. With the help of two Resistance associates, he meets with Gruber, Kek, had changed his name so Gruber doesn't recognize him. Then he finds that Gruber wants to smuggle a large quantity of valuable art out of Lisbon.
This plot based story show more is interesting from its time in history and how much the world has changed in the last 50 years. There isn't much suspense but provides a quick read.
The story was nominated for an Edgar Award for best short story in 1967,
15 years ago, show less
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Author Information
68+ Works 740 Members
Awards and Honors
Awards
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Series
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Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1966 (in "Argosy" magazine) (in "Argosy" magazine)
- People/Characters
- Kek Huuygens; Wilhelm Gruber; Michael Morell; Andre
- Important places
- Orly Airport, Paris, France; Lisbon, Portugal
- Important events
- World War II
- Dedication
- This book is affectionately dedicated to my brother- and sister-in-law
Dr. And Mrs. Morris Abrams - Quotations
- "...fifteen years later ...What had not faded, but instead had grown in intensity with each return of memory, was his consuming hatred of Wilhelm Gruber."
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Someday you might be right," he said, and turned toward the apartment with a growing feeling of anticipation that surprised even himself.
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- Reviews
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- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 3
