“That little bitch tried to be in your bed Konrad! Then she ruined Karl's wedding just because he was going to be your successor!” Albert shouted. “My son had amphetamines in his body for a full weekend! He doesn't take them! He says she provided them to him as a natural supplement. You have seen the bottles!”
“It's the word of one against the other and it does not excuse your own son's idiocy. Were I to judge them as I would like, none of them would see the next morning, but it's Guntram's right to decide what to do with them.”
Konrad used such a cold voice that I had to grip the armrests to keep myself sat. “You already failed me in Rome, cousin, and Guntram suffered. Your son endangered his life. Get out of my sight before I take justice into my hands and forget the Code.”
“Konrad!” I shouted rising from my place because this would end badly for Albert or Armin. “This is unfair! I've forgiven Armin and Marie Amélie. Consider this matter as settled! Albert and Ferdinand are your friends since the crib! If they were against you, they would have hit long time ago and not through me!”
He looked at me for a long time, irked, really furious, but suddenly his anger cooled down and came toward me. “Please, my friend, stop now. They're your family, not Repin,” I whispered and my head was spinning around from the tension and the fight.
“Very well, Guntram,” Konrad said. “Albert, bring your son back the day after tomorrow. Guntram, go to bed now.”
I did as I was told because I knew he was one step from killing.
Chapter 26
December 20th, 2005
Zurich
The strong cold Guntram had caught forced him to remain in the house for several days. He felt miserable and preferred to remain in his studio, working on the stories. He already was sure that he would miss his own vernissage in Berlin because of his poor health. Wagemann had been very clear; absolute bed rest for two weeks and Friederich was the enforcer.
Guntram had apologised to Heindrik for stealing his weapon, but the Swedish had taken it very sporty, telling him that he had just been unaware but next time Guntram would not be so lucky and finally both had agreed that the boy would teach him how to do it when he was feeling better. “From now onwards, you're the Dachs just as Armin is the Strolch!”
Armin returned on the 20th and went directly to Guntram's bedroom to apologise, under Friederich stern gaze because Konrad had to leave the house to refrain himself from murdering his own blood.
“I was so stupid, Guntram. I thought she loved or at least liked me. When I fought with you I knew what I was doing, but it was as I couldn't stop myself. Before we arrived to the house, she gave me one of those pills, a
“rocket” and they're incredible when you make love with someone. You feel like you're going to explode in a million suns. I took it and she had one too because we both wanted to have a great time.”
“Why do you need such a thing? You're twenty!” Guntram asked bewildered. “I bet you can turn a lady mad in bed.”
“Of course I can, but she had been complaining for some weeks that I was so boring, like my uncle Konrad; that I was becoming like him.”
“To your information, Armin, your “uncle” is not boring in bed at all,” Guntram confided with a smile.
“I'm glad he's older than I because if he were twenty, I would be a corpse already. A happy one,” he chuckled, but stopped his laughter when he heard Friederich lightly cough.
“I've been in love with her since I was thirteen and when she agreed to date me I asked my father for his permission, I really did. I wanted to do the things right as I wanted her to be my wife!”
“What happened?”
“My father forbade me to do it and uncle Konrad too. They said that she was not worthy of my affections! I spoke with Aunt Gertrud and she allowed me to visit her daughter when Dr. von Kleist was not there, of course. I thought they were old fashioned, but now I know that it was because she had insinuated to uncle Konrad when she was sixteen and was in bed with one of the associates at seventeen, just to force the man to marry her! She had a video of it and blackmailed him to make it public! His wedding was cancelled and he killed himself a month later in a car accident.”
“Could it have been a misunderstanding?”
“No, my father is sure that this was organised by von Kleist! You saved my life and I will be eternally grateful to you, Guntram. I'm sorry for all the hideous things I told you.”
“Don't worry; calling me SpongeBob was not the worst. I was going to start to call you Patrick Star.”
“I'm glad you can hit like you do. It really stopped me.”
“You were a bit out of yourself and me also. I shouldn't have used a knife at you.”
“Guntram, I was stoned and didn't kill you by sheer luck. Amundsen and Hartick had to jump on me to control me when they got there. I was absolutely crazy with that thing. I hit Marie Amélie and perhaps would have killed her when she called me impotent. It was a great luck the men arrived. I never hit a woman in my life and then, I did it with her.”
“I didn't know that,” Guntram said astonished.
“I was furious that she had suggested to fuck with you too. She laughed at me and said that perhaps with a second man, she would feel something because with me, it was like doing it with a dildo.”
“Look Armin, forget about this. Be nice and work hard and your uncle will forgive you too. I'm sorry that you were not loved back. Perhaps one day, you'll find a nice girl who copes with you.”
“Uncle Konrad is a lucky bastard for having you.”
“Uncle Konrad will skin you alive if he hears you saying such a thing,” Guntram smiled and offered his hand. “Friends?”
“Of course, my father adores you,” Armin shook hands with Guntram.
“Do you know where Marie Amélie is?” Guntram asked, but Friederich rose from his chair and only said: “I think it's time for you to leave, young Lintorff. The Duke will see you at dinner,” Abashed, Armin left the room with his head bent.
“Why can't I ask this?” Guntram nearly shouted.
“Because this woman has no relationship to you, child. She's away and her name will never be mentioned again in this house. I'm very pleased with your behaviour and attitude during this unfortunate incident. You followed our Lord's teachings and I believe your father would be proud of you. You should rest now.”
Guntram did his best to comply with the order because he wanted to be able to attend the Christmas Market organised by Pater Bruno and Clara von Ribbentrop, if only for a few hours.
At tea time, Friederich woke him up and told him to get dressed because they would drive together to the Church where it was celebrated. “Most of the people you already know from the Foundation. The one in charge is Gertrud von Kleist, so do your best to stay away from her Guntram. The Duke has granted his permission for you to go -and it's your right because you were helping Mme. von Ribbentrop more than anyone -but fears she might be unpleasant to you after her daughter's incident.”
“I understand, Friederich. I'll stay in a corner. I only wanted to see one of those Christmas markets.”
“You should see one in Vienna or in Munich, child. Perhaps, next year if your health allows it. Remain inside as it's very cold to be in the gardens.”
“Yes, Clara already told me she has a job for me, as children entertainer. I have to take pencils and paper and a good provision of Christmas motives,” Guntram said with a grin.
“Good, stay where she tells you.”
Alexei's offered to drive them in his BMW, but Guntram wondered why another Audi was following them all the time. “Simple precaution, child,” was Friederich explanation and he refused to further extend it and started to tell a story about how Albert von Sachsen Coburg had brought the German tradition of Christmas trees and giving toys for the children to England.
The Church's garden and interior yard were decorated with many tables full with traditional wooden toys, pastries, Christmas decoration and different kinds
of wooden nutcrackers. Upon his arrival, Guntram was caught by Monika van der Leyden, the Duke's private secretary who introduced him to her Aunt Sophia zu Löwenstein, the old prince's wife.
“You're the father of Johannes,” the old princess said with a playful light dangling from her eyes.
“Fortunately, he's behaving well, but we can't say the same from Oskar.”
“I'm not married, princess. I'm afraid this is a mistake,” Guntram said very nervous and the smile of the old woman broadened, while Monika was doing her best to keep he aristocratic poise.
“Claudia brought him home last Easter and she keeps it in her room. Her mother was not so sure about how convenient it could be, but then, Maria cried that she wanted to have Oskar too and we couldn't refuse it any longer. The condition was that they should remain high.”
Guntram looked desperately at Monika, but she returned him one of her cold looks as if the boy were a complete simpleton who couldn't remember something so simple. “I don't know any Johannes but Dr. von Kleist's son.”
“You created two entities like Johannes and Oskar and you have forgotten them? The girls will be most disappointed!” the princess shouted in false shock.
“Poor Oskar, he's so nice with his blue coat and red rain hat!”
“And Johannes has such a nice white tail!”
“Almost makes you consider vegetarianism,” Monika laughed, unable to keep with the joke and Guntram looked at them dumbfounded. “Johannes is the duck you draw for Claudia zu Löwenstein and Oskar is a teddy bear you created for Maria, her youngest sister. Both live now with my cousin Adolf's family. Shame on you for abandoning your creations!” Guntram had to laugh utterly relieved that he wasn't accused of fathering people.
“I've heard that Clara plans to make you work today,” the princess said affably. “My husband has already seen your work and I wondered if you would be so kind as to visit us, let's say, after the holidays and show us more.
Tita and Elisabetta have spoken very highly of you.”
“I've seen several of his watercolours, Aunt Sophia, and they're very nice. When is your exhibition in Berlin, Guntram?”
“It starts from the 8th onwards. The vernissage is earlier, on January the 3rd, but it's only for the press and collectors. I will not attend it because the doctor forbids me to fly for a few months after going to London.”
“Vernissages are very boring, my dear. Always the same people and cheese,” Sophia commented. “You miss nothing.”
“I become nervous with so much unknown people around,” Guntram confessed.
“I also, but with the years you forget they're there. Come with me, I'll introduce you to some people before Clara chains you to a table and makes money out of you.”
One hour later of meeting several people more, Guntram was very glad to sit next to a young and attractive Colombian woman, Cecilia Riganti in a table with papers and pencils and a line of seven children ready to ask for something. Realising that he will never be able to finish all the requests, he preferred to sit the oldest ones and make them draw by themselves while he painted something for the younger ones so they could colour them.
“You keep them all busy and quiet. Do you want to work for us?” Cecilia laughed, speaking in Spanish much to Guntram's surprise.
“Do you work in a school?”
“No, I'm Mme Gertrud von Lintorff's secretary at the Foundation. I overlook the bookkeeping.”
“Must be hard with all those numbers.”
“It's all right. There are fourteen of us to check what the other is doing. We present our results to Dr. von Kleist. Would you like something to drink? It's very cold and you had nothing since you arrived,” she offered when she noticed how pale and tired the young man was. 'Did Ferdinand not tell me he's seriously ill? Something related to the heart?'
“I don't want to leave the children alone.”
“I'll go for it. Tea?”
“Yes, please, Ms. Riganti.”
Cecilia went to the large table to pick a porcelain cup and some tea, when Gertrud von Kleist approached her. “Cecilia, be a dear and see if the Weissmanns are leaving. I would like to have a word with…” Gertrud feigned to be lost for a second.
“Margarette Weissmann about her donation for the project in El Salvador?” Cecilia supplied.
“Exactly, thank you, dear.”
“Ah, I was going to bring a cup of tea to Guntram de Lisle. I'll ask one of the waiters to do it.”
“No, no, don't waste your time, catch her before she runs to MSF or some other charity on the TV. I'll take care of Guntram. Which tea are you using?”
“Darjeeling, I suppose.”
“All right, now run. That woman is worth several million and I don't want another third world country orphan to steal them from me.”
'No wonder, Ferdinand says she's a witch.' “Yes, of course Madame von Lintorff,” Cecilia answered curtly and left the room, leaving the tea on top of the table.
'Time to get rid of the little pest.' Gertrud discreetly got three small white pills, saccharine size and threw them into another teacup, adding two spoons of honey to change the bitter taste and took an apple-cinnamon flavour tea bag before adding hot water to it. She carefully stirred so everything would be well mixed. She took the cup in her delicate hands and walked to the other side of the room where Friederich Elssäser was speaking with Pater Bruno. 'If I give it to him, he might suspect. I need someone else.'
“Aunt Gertrud!” A young girl pulled unceremoniously her dress. “It's me, Claudia zu Löwenstein!”
“Yes, dear. How are you? You've grown so much.”
“Thank you, Aunt. I'm in the third class now.”
“Impossible! You look like a young lady. I thought you were in the fifth class!”
“No, Aunt, that's my sister Katherine.”
“Could you make me a favour, I'm in a hurry and Pater Bruno is still speaking and does not look like he's going to stop any time soon. Could you give this cup of tea to the old gentleman with him and tell him its the tea Cecilia prepared for Guntram but she had to leave?”
“Yes, Aunt Gertrud,” the girl answered, happy to be useful, especially to Guntram who had been so nice to her. She held the teacup and the dish with great care as she didn't want to spill the tea and be called clumsy and walked toward Pater Bruno very slowly and lightly treading.
“Pater Bruno?”
“Yes, Claudia?” The priest interrupted his conversation with Friederich and another man.
“This tea is for Guntram.”
“I'm not Guntram, Claudia,” he answered and the girl just froze, clutching the teacup stronger than before.
“Perhaps she doesn't know where he is. Last time I saw him, he was drawing in one of the tables,”
Friederich said.
“Miss Cecilia said it was for him, but she had to leave.”
“All right, I'll take you to him.”
“It's too far away, I'm afraid I will drop it,” Claudia confessed, embarrassed.
“Oh, don't worry, I'll carry it for you and then you can give it to him,” Friederich said kindly.
“Thank you very much, sir,” she said, enthusiastically passing the cup to him and almost spilling the hot liquid on the man.
Guntram was glad to see Claudia again and thanked her for the tea as he confirmed the story that Cecilia Riganti had gone for it. He only took two sips to avoid offending the little girl, because he hated honey in the tea, and continued to work for the smallest ones, now helped by Friederich who could understand them much better than him.
Some thirty minutes later Guntram felt his head turning around and an acute oppression in his chest.
First he tried to dismiss it, but the dizziness was overpowering. “Friederich, I don't feel well at all, can you excuse me and we drive home?” He had some difficulties to pronounce the words and the man saw how pale Guntram was. He offered his apologies quickly and had to help Guntram to stand up. “Too much punch, child?” he joked
to release his nerves because he felt something was very wrong with Guntram. “No, I attacked several of these macaroons. I'll pass dinner tonight.”
“Can you walk to the car?” Friederich asked when he had to steady the faltering boy.
“That sentence is for the pub, not for the Church,” Guntram smiled weakly and wondered how the lights could have diminished so much in so little time.
“Are you all right, Guntram?” Adolf zu Löwenstein asked when they passed by his side on their way to the entrance door.
“Just dizzy, nothing to worry about.”
“I'll help you to your car, Guntram, you don't look well,” Adolf said when he noticed how pale the youth was and how he needed to lean himself against the wall for support.
“Thank you, Adolf.”
Guntram managed to leave the room on his own but he nearly collapsed on the foyer. Adolf was quick enough as to catch him and Friederich dashed for Alexei. “Did you take your pills?” asked zu Löwenstein, “you look exactly as my father did the first time he had a heart attack.”
“I have no pain or any numbness. Must be something I ate.”
“Did you drink champagne or something? It's bad for the heart medications.”
“No, nothing, just some tea and macaroons. Perhaps those.”
Alexei arrived almost running and unceremoniously checked Guntram's pulse and cursed softly in Russian. “It's very fast and erratic. To the hospital with you!”
“It's not so bad. I just…” and Guntram couldn't say more as he collapsed in the Russian's arms.
“I'll call an ambulance!”
“No time. Can you drive us to the Hirschbaum Klinik? It's ten minutes from here.”
“Of course, give me your car's keys. Mine is parked away. Is it a heart attack?”
“I don't think so, not yet. His pulse is very bad. He was doing just fine!”
“Father told me the last week was very stressful for him,” Adolf said while he opened the car's back door so Alexei could get inside with Guntram and Friederich took the passenger's side.
“If it's that, it would have affected him much before,” Alexei mumbled and decided to control the hypertension before it could cause real damage. “Mr. Elssäser, do you have his pills? Give me one orange that looks like hard jelly.”
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