by Edna Dawes
“How long ago was that?” she asked anxiously.
‘Over half an hour. It is not possible to disturb the men while they are discussing all this with the climbers, but now and again, someone standing by the ambulance will overhear what is said and pass the news to us.”
Her further enquiries confirmed that the Mosskirch team was helping with the rescue, and her anxiety increased. Another half an hour passed before the small crowd buzzed with the news that the driver of the car was still alive, but only just. Ten minutes later they heard he was freed and a start was to be made on the descent. Kathryn’s teeth chattered with the cold. This experience was something new. Never before had someone she cared about been in danger. The men must know what they were doing or they would never be in the team, but to a girl who had not been brought up amongst mountains, the prospect of traversing those rocky giants in weather of this type seemed fraught with hazards.
The man beside her noticed her pale face and suggested she might like to wait in his car. “It may be several hours before they get down. With an injured man to carry they have to take it slowly. You will find it warmer and more comfortable inside,” he added kindly.
Kathryn looked at his lined face and at the antiquated car he pointed to and asked, “Why are you so interested in the rescue?” These days she was suspicious of anybody.
“My son is up there” he said simply.
“I’d love to wait in your car, thank you. My friend is with him.”
It was half past four before a shout went up and Kathryn looked to where her companion pointed and saw a sign of movement just below the cloud line. Things started happening quickly then. People went to their cars to bring out flasks and blankets ready for the rescue teams who had been on that mountain since nine o’clock. The medical team began preparing for their accident case, and not too long afterwards, a helicopter appeared through the gloom and set down near the ambulance.
By ten past five the weary climbers reached the bottom of the tree-covered lower slope, and handed over their burden to the waiting stretcher bearers. From her seat in the car, Kathryn could see Anton gratefully accepting a cup of soup from an elderly woman wrapped in shawls. The other men who clustered round him were also taking soup and warming their hands on the mugs as they drank. She recognized young Peter, and also the man she now knew as Herr Petz. Maria had told her on that first day that they were all in the Mosskirch team, but it came as a shock to see the other two standing with Anton as though they were innocent of any crime. How could they end a life last week, yet fight so hard to save one today? The answer to that came very soon.
A sturdy young man with a grin on his grimy face approached the car. His father jumped out and shook his hand heartily. Kathryn felt awkward and in the way at this private reunion so she slipped from the car and walked around outside the group of well-wishers clustered there. A mini-bus was waiting to take the team back to Mosskirch; the driver had walked across to them and was deep in conversation with Herr Petz. There seemed no relaxation from strain, for all the Mosskirch men wore grim expressions and the conversation appeared deadly serious.
She held back, not wishing to be seen by any of them, but was asked to stand aside because she was too near the helicopter which was about to take off. Through the clear sides she could see the blanket-wrapped figure strapped to the stretcher, his face turned towards her, deathly pale. It was Dr. Hallstein!
Chapter Eight
The journey back to Mosskirch was not the delight the outward one had been. Chilled to the bone, incredibly tired, and sick at heart, Kathryn huddled in a corner seat oblivious of the passengers on the little train. Anton had climbed into the mini-bus along with the others and all their equipment, and it had driven off long since. On her return to Sternsee station she had had a two-hour wait in the tiny waiting-room and by now it was quite dark. It took her fifteen minutes to walk from Mosskirch station to the Gasthaus. Inside, the welcome smell of cooking made her realize she was hungry and that it was dinnertime.
Robert was already at the table when she entered the Stube, but she was halted on her way across by the Braun family who all shook her hand and asked if she was all right today. At least, she guessed that was what they were saying, and quickly assured them she was. They seemed satisfied with her incomprehensible sentences and sat down again with happy nods.
Robert stood up as she approached, and said, “Good evening, Kathryn.”
“Hello, Robert.”
Something in her voice made him look closely at her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she said sitting down. “I’m just a little upset, that’s all.”
Maria brought her soup, but she found after two spoonfuls that she was not as hungry as she thought, and gave up. Robert saw this and carefully laid his spoon down.
“I know things have been a bit strained between us lately, Kathryn, but I could still be a friend in need, you know. Would it help to tell me what has upset you?”
She gave a wan smile. “After I have flung your offers of assistance back in your face?”
“We all do that sort of thing, at times. Especially when we are young and afraid.”
She played with her spoon handle. “I decided to make the trip to Sternsee before I left and found there was a mountain rescue going on near the village. At first, I was merely interested, but after a while I found myself caught up in the drama of it. The waiting crowds, ambulances, doctors talking into small transmitters to a disembodied voice, straining the eyes for a sight of rescuers appearing through grey cloud – it all became rather too real.”
“And Anton Reiter was up there risking his life and limb.” It was said with a slight touch of malice, but Kathryn knew how he felt.
“How do you know the details?”
“Maria has just told me. Herr Petz was with them. When the Sternsee team saw how difficult it was going to be they asked for help. The men from Mosskirch joined them halfway through the morning, but I gather it took them most of the day to get the chap down. You do know they are all safe?”
She nodded. “I saw them all drive off afterwards.”
“Then why the gloom?”
“Robert, the man they rescued was Dr. Hallstein.”
“Good lord! Maria just said he was a local man, that’s all.” He sucked in his lips. “Well, there goes one of your suspects.”
“Pardon?”
“You seemed to think he was behind this affair on Kapellerpass. If anything further happens, you can’t blame it on a dead man.”
“But he’s not dead – at least, he wasn’t when the helicopter flew him off to Innsbruck hospital. They didn’t think much of his chances, so I suppose he could well have died by now.” Robert whistled through his teeth. “It’s amazing what a man can live through. From the way Maria described it, I shouldn’t have thought the driver of that car stood a chance.”
Maria brought their meal and departed again with Kathryn’s nearly-full soup plate. Robert pushed the dish across the table. “Come on, you’d better get something inside you or you’ll feel worse,” he said warmly.
At last Kathryn smiled. “Are you trying your cheering-up technique again, Robert?”
He smiled back. “It worked very well the last time.”
“I know. It seems much longer than a week ago. So much has happened since I arrived.” She pushed the dish back to him.
‘Thanks.” He started serving himself. “I’m not going to get high-handed with you, but I’d just like to know what you are hoping to achieve by staying here. You are aware of my views on the subject, although I may have expressed myself rather crudely the other night – I apologize for that – but apart from your feelings for our worthy neighbor, do you really think you are getting anywhere with this other business? Now it has been established that you were not responsible for the man’s death, wouldn’t it be wiser to go home and leave the rest to people who are qualified to solve crimes?”
“Yes. Everything you say is quite right, Robe
rt, but you are mistaken in thinking Anton Reiter is the main reason for my apparent foolishness in refusing to return to England. It is a very long story, and one which I would prefer to keep to myself, but the essence of it is that this time I desperately want to stay the course. If I turn my back on Mosskirch I think it will be the end of my self-esteem. You are a very nice man, and I know you have my welfare at heart, but to slink back to Bournemouth would do it no good at all.”
‘O.K.,” he said shortly. “Consider the subject closed.”
For the remainder of the meal they discussed the sudden onset of winter weather until Robert surprised her by declaring that he had decided to move on from Mosskirch on Monday.
“That leaves me one more full day here,” he said. “I shall miss you, Robert. What brought about this decision?”
He made a face. “Need you ask?”
She felt acute dismay at what he was hinting. Could he feel that strongly about her after only a week? Yes, of course! If she could become infatuated with Anton in the same length of time, it must be possible. Words didn’t come readily to her and all she could do was wish Cupid had arranged things better.
“I thought I’d like to end with a splash, so I’ve hired a car for the day,” he said smoothing over the awkwardness. “I was hoping you’d agree to come for a drive with me. Would you, Kathryn?”
“Yes, I’d like to, Robert. I haven’t seen half the area around here yet, and if tomorrow is as cold as today, seeing it by car will be the most comfortable way. Thank you for asking me.”
She was glad of this chance to salve the hurt he must be feeling. Until Anton had come on the scene she had encouraged Robert quite openly, so it was not surprising he wanted to get away from living in such close proximity with her. Her acceptance pleased him so much they almost regained their previous close footing, but the pleasantness was jarred at the end of the meal. Robert slid his hand under her arm and said, “Let’s sit round the Ofen with a drink. I want to hear how your folk tale is progressing.”
“I’m sorry,” she told him quickly, “I have to see Anton this evening. It really is important, or I wouldn’t go.”
“I see. The ski-boy wins every time, doesn’t he!”
The derisory name annoyed her, but she didn’t show it. “I’ll see you later, perhaps. It depends how long this takes.”
It was almost nine o’clock when she slipped across the dark square in front of the Gasthaus and rang the bell on the door of the sports shop. A light appeared behind it, and her heart began to thump. Anton was surprised. He made no attempt to hide it on his face or in his voice.
“Kathryn! I had not expected to see you in Mosskirch still. Do you wish to come in?”
“It’s rather too cold to stand on the doorstep,” she said feebly, “and the matter is quite serious.”
He stood aside for her to walk through to the familiar lounge. She felt ready to sink through the floor. After their quarrel last night, she had an awful cheek to come here uninvited, and he made no secret of the fact he thought the same. Even so, she was unprepared for the cold, grim expression he wore when she turned to face him. Under the harsh glare of the overhead light the lines of his face were etched by worry and fatigue, dark patches under his eyes showing he had not slept much last night. How could she bother him with her news about Herr Petz when he was so obviously exhausted? She should never have come!
“I’m sorry. You can’t be feeling much like company,” she blurted out. “My mother always says I never think before I act, and she is right. After the gruelling day you have spent, no doubt you feel like going to bed. I’ll leave.”
He didn’t move as she neared him. “Kathryn, sit down, please. I know you would not have visited me unless you felt it essential. Is there some service I can do for you?” He was oh-so-polite and frosty that her courage returned with a touch of temper.
“Yes, there is, Will you please pour me a glass of that apricot brandy, get yourself a drink, then sit down and relax. There are a lot of things I want to discuss with you, and I can’t do it with you standing there like a haughty, stiff-mannered Austrian aristocrat.”
It was easier than she had imagined! A couple of minutes was all that was needed for her message to get through to him, then he gave a soft delighted laugh.
“I do not know how many Austrian aristocrats you have met, but if I behaved as one, I apologize. Since you are plainly in a fighting mood, I will do as you ask. I am too tired to put up a defence tonight.”
“And may I switch off that overhead light?” she asked. “The table-lamps are easier on the eyes.”
“Of course,” he said over his shoulder. “If you wish to discuss many things it is best to be comfortable.”
Once the drinks were on the table and he had settled in the usual armchair, she said, “I’m sorry about Dr. Hallstein. Is there any further news?”
The greyness descended on his face again. “He is still alive. I telephoned ten minutes ago. How did you know?”
“I was there this afternoon.”
“You were there! I did not see you.”
“I know.”
He leant forward. “Why did you not come and speak with me?”
“It was the wrong time. You were weary and cold, and the helpers were busily giving out soup. I would have been in the way. Besides, you were with the rest of the team.”
“I should have been pleased to know you were there. How did you return to Mosskirch?”
“On the train.”
“Alone? That was very foolish.”
He had given her the very opening she needed. “No. I knew I was safe. The man I have to fear was in the mini-bus with you.”
“Peter? I told you last night he would not harm you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t mean Peter. I saw the man who has been hunting me at the Gasthaus last night, and recognized him. He is Herr Petz.”
“Niemals!” he exploded. “No, you are wrong, Kathryn. Herr Petz is one of my oldest friends. He climbed with my father for many years and I regard him and his family as my own. It is impossible.”
“I knew you would be upset, but it was definitely Herr Petz who followed me yesterday. Once I knew who he was, the whole thing fell into place. Anton, this must be a shock for you, but when I explain you’ll see it is the only answer to all this mystery.”
He sat motionless while she explained her theory, starting with her car crash and bringing in all the incidents which led back to connections with the Petz family.
“Why he killed the man on Kapellerpass I don’t know, but it’s quite obvious that Herr Petz was the figure that I saw coming from the rocks last Saturday afternoon.”
Anton finished his drink in one gulp and set the glass down on the table with a definite rap.
“I am trying to put aside all personal feelings, you understand, but you have overlooked the one thing which surely disproves your accusation, Kathryn. If Herr Petz is trying to kill you, why did he not do so when you were unconscious in your car? There was the perfect opportunity to make sure you would never identify him, and no one would say you had not died from injury in the crash.”
It was unarguable; the one positive truth in a muddle of uncertainties.
“You see, Kathryn, that I am being reasonable? That your idea must be wrong?”
“Yes,” she said in defeat, “I am bound to agree with you, but why did he run after me on Karlstein – because he did do that? I saw him clearly.”
“Perhaps he wished to speak with you.”
“No. When I first turned, he hid behind some trees. Then, when the Brauns appeared on the scene and escorted me to the post bus, he vanished. It hardly suggests he wanted a chat.”
Anton rubbed his temples with his fingers. “Tell me what happened on Karlstein. I have not yet heard all the details.”
“You would have heard them last night if you hadn’t flown off the handle as you did.”
“If that is another slang expression, I do not understand it. Y
ou will have to use simple words tonight. My head is too tired to manage difficult English.”
She let it go. A sly dig becomes ineffective if it has to be repeated in simple terms. Instead, she told him all she thought was relevant about her flight from the “chamois spot”, as she called it, and how she spotted Herr Petz talking to Dr. Hallstein last night. On sudden impulse she added how she had wanted to get in touch with him, but couldn’t reach the telephone without unlocking her bedroom door.
“I sat up half the night waiting to see my door handle turn. I thought I had solved everything,” she finished.
He put his head in his hands. “So eine Schweinerei! I do not like what is happening in Mosskirch. And now I am to be pulled in. It makes me very angry.”
“I don’t understand you. How are you ‘pulled in’?”
“Dr. Hallstein drove across Sternpass because he had received a telephone call last night to say I had been injured in an accident at the village of Umtal which is beyond the Sternpass.”
“How do you know?” she asked in astonishment.