by T. M. Deans
Jada smiled and thanked him.
I said, “Spoken like a true Frenchman.”
“Mr. Alby. We need information about someone you knew doing the war.”
“Are you the police?”
“No not the police, nothing like that. We need to ask you about L’enfant Guerrier.”
“That was a legend.”
“Yes Gerard it was a legend. It was a true legend, and you knew him well because you both served and fought with Peppy in the resistance. And you also knew….”
I was about to speak of Peter.
Jada took my hand and said, “Tell him about you first.”
“The boy’s name was Johno Duval, and I believe I am that boy.”
“Mr. Slade you are correct in everything you said, except that you are L’enfant Guerrier. He died as a martyr in defiance of the German invasion. I was there the day he was slain. I witnessed his death with my own eyes. He was an inspiration to our cause. He was our Joan of Arc. He gave us courage and valor, and you are very wrong to come to me and tell me this. I will not listen to such talk of a fallen comrade. I must ask you to leave now.”
“Jada spoke, “Gerard, please listen. He did not say he was. He said he believed he was. You also were in the resistance with another man who was very dear to you. A man who died trying to save Johno, his mother and grandmother the same day that you believed Johno died. Peter was my uncle.”
Then she handed him the letter that he had written so many years ago. He only took a moment to recognize it.
He put the letter down and said, “But how can this be? I saw that he was shot and fell off the jetty. Peppy said that he cracked his head open. He didn’t make it.”
“That is true Gerard. I don’t know why he said that. Perhaps it’s what he thought, or maybe he told you that in case you were captured. I was near death and in a coma when we got to England. Until recently I knew nothing of the first eight years of my life.”
“Then if you would please take off your shirt.”
“Certainly.”
I showed him the scar from the bullet, and the one on my head under my hair.
“Mon Dieu. Mon Dieu. God how can this be?”
I wanted to say something, but all that came out was the name Marie Claude.
We both broke down and started crying. We put our arms around each other and Jada came to us and held us both. I could see her eyes were wet too.
When we had cried it out Gerard said, “You must stay here. We have so much to talk about”
Jada reminded me not to forget Boom-Boom.
I replied, “Gerard, we left Jada’s bodyguard outside. He is rather imposing. We thought it best to introduce ourselves first. I know he’ll be worried about us. May we bring him in?”
After the introductions were over between Boom-Boom and Gerard. I said it was true. We had much to talk about. We thanked Gerard for the invitation to stay with him, however, we thought he should know about the situation we were in. It could put him in harm’s way and we didn’t want that. It was best to speak of this first.
“Yes, but I have forgotten my manners. It approaches the dinner hour. Let me prepare something quickly as we talk.”
Jada put her hand on his arm and said, “Gerard there is much to tell. If you’ll permit me into your kitchen, Boom-Boom and I can put something together while he tells you.”
I explained the medium length short version, of the current Arab conflict as well as having briefly gone back into my former employment. I was careful to be sure he knew the seriousness of this life-and-death situation.
When I finished, he reflected for a moment and then said, “You’re worried about putting me in harm’s way. I thank you for your concern. When we were in the resistance together every day we were in harm’s way. At any moment we could’ve been killed, captured, or tortured. But that never stopped us from doing what we had to do. I was once a soldier of France and I would welcome the opportunity to be so once again. So, my young comrade in arms, whatever dangers are present we will face them again together.”
At that moment we looked up. Jada and Boom-Boom were standing in the doorway.
She said, “Bravo Sir Paladin. Well said. We welcome your sword to our crusade. Dinner is ready. I hope it meets your approval.” We all laughed.
And of course it did. Gerard and I were both very impressed by what they had put together on such short notice. There was a leak soup with ham, cold cuts, a salad, and of course from-age, with coffee. More for me to wonder about this panther like creature, capturing my soul. I use the words panther like because when she walked or moved, it was with a dignity, grace, and stealth that reminds me of the feline cat world.
After we finished eating, I suggested to Gerard that I try and start from the beginning, when I was brought to England. I decided I would hold nothing back and tell all. I could see no real reason not to. Boom-Boom asked if he could park our car in the garage to keep it out of sight. He and Jada then went about unpacking while I attempted to unravel the story of my life, at least the highlights to my old friend.
There was so much to tell. We talked late into the night. We continued to talk even after Jada had gone to our room and Boom-Boom had crashed on the couch, so as to be in a central area of defense. When neither of us could stay awake any longer, I crawled into bed with my woman. She rolled over on her side, laid her arm over me, and rested her head on my chest. God it was good to be loved by her.
The next morning Gerard and I woke before everyone else. We couldn’t wait to continue bringing our lives up to date with each other. We tried to stick with me conveying my story, from our separation to the present, but we couldn’t help bouncing back and forth.
Gerard thought it was incredible, after my experience in the Congo on the night of the raid that I would end up back there again. And even more incredible to find out that Jada and Albert had not died and their uncle was Peter. In addition, he was fascinated by my uncle Tio, George.
While telling my story, it dawned on me that all the main people in my life had been special, unique and gifted in their own way. I had been blessed by sharing in their lives.
I asked Gerard what he remembered about the poisoning of the wine. I told him I knew I was there but I couldn’t remember the details. We had decided that it was only right that he continue to call me Johno, and I was fine with that.
He answered, “Peppy had organized that attack to give me my revenge on the Frenchman who was a neighbor and a friend of my family. He had betrayed us to Gestapo in their purge of Jews. My whole family was murdered because of that man. Peppy, Peter, you Vincent and myself were the main players. Thanks to your help we killed him and some other German soldiers.
We were all silent for several moments. Jada was sitting next to him on the couch. She reached over and took his hand. She was always so sensitive to other people’s feelings.
I asked Gerard, “What about the apples?”
“The apples. Johno, that was all your show. You where the star in that one.”
He went on to explain how it had happened.
He told us in no uncertain terms, that he was joining us until the problem with the Arabs were put to rest. I know we both felt as if we had found a long-lost brother, and we had. But I had to ask him again because of the danger, if he was sure he wanted to be part of this.
“Johno. We fought in that war together. Above and beyond the everyday dangers of being in the resistance, you put your life on the line for me so I could have my revenge on the pig in the wine cellar. And though you don’t remember, I was one of Peppy soldiers who helped free you from your German captives, so we could get you, your mother and grandmother to England. I put my life on the line then. Do you think I would do any less now? You need not speak of this again.”
“Gerard, thank you. Acta non-verba”
“Johno. Viva la France. You remembered.”
His face took on a sad expression. He looked over to Jada and recalled that was the day that her
uncle Peter died. I knew she had been waiting to ask about this. In her ever-dignified manner, she was waiting for him to explain.
“Please tell us all exactly what happened.”
When he came to the end of it, I thought that he had finished speaking.
I went over to Jada, took her hand and said, “I’m so sorry. Then it is true. I’ve had a hand in the death of your father, mother and your uncle. How can you ever forgive me?”
Gerard said, “No Johno. You see it was me. He gave his life saving me. I was standing in front of him. When the Germans opened fire, he shoved me out of the way he took the bullets that surely would’ve been mine. Then on his knees he continued to return fire till the rest of us were able to take cover.
Jada turned to Boom-Boom and said something in their native tongue.
Boom-Boom replied something back to her, and then Jada told us, “Boom-Boom has something to say.”
He had been sitting. He rose up, towering over us. “I never met Peter Muanda but I am certain now that he was a great warrior and loved by the men he fought beside. If he gave his life to protect his friends, then if need be, I his son will do the same.”
Gerard and I looked at each other and went over to him. We both said it our own ways that we would not want that to ever happen. We thanked him for being here with us.
Boom-Boom had a lot of questions about his father. Gerard was thrilled to be able to talk to Peter’s son. I looked at Jada and she nodded. We excused ourselves and went to lie down in the guest room.
Jada put her arms around me. She kissed me.
“I know what you’re going to say to me my love. You cannot be blamed for my uncle’s death. We have already talked about it. Boom-Boom, Albert and I put no blame on you, or on Gerard.”
“And for your parent’s death? How can I ever make that up to you?”
“By always loving me, and never leaving me. I’m sorry I did not tell you about Boom-Boom sooner. It was his place, in his time to speak of it. When my uncle Peter left the Congo and went to France to make a better life for himself, his lover was Boom-Boom’s mother. It was both of their hopes, that after he had become established, he would send for her. As Albert and I have told you, our family has always been fairly well off, so it wasn’t a question of Peter just finding a laborers job. He wanted to start a business, make a good life for his wife in France. Their dream was coming true when the Germans started making sounds of war, which Europe knew only too well. My uncle Peter returned to the Congo to see his family and his lover. It was on that trip, when she became pregnant with Boom-Boom. She begged him to either stay or to take her back to France with him. He had to return to the business he had started, and would not hear of her going with him with the possibility of war with Germany. The rest is history except as you know, we never knew of Peter’s death until Gerard wrote. Though I believe my family had already felt the loss before then.”
We resurfaced from our guest room just before lunchtime. Jada insisted on doing the cooking with Boom-Boom’s help, to give Gerard and me plenty of time to talk. I asked Gerard what he thought about all of these coincidences coming together.
He replied, “I don’t know Johno. I can’t begin to tell you what it’s like to the see you again and then to know that Boom-Boom is the son of Peter. You’re both sitting here in my living room, with Peter’s beautiful niece. I can tell you this; my mind is working in overdrive to absorb everything you’re telling me.”
Not only were Gerard and I filling in the spaces in our lives since the last time we had seen each other, but we were also trying to come up with some reason why the Arabs were so determined to take me alive. If they had wanted me dead it certainly would have been much easier for them. They had several chances. I guess I should be grateful. I supposed I should be hopeful that they don’t become discouraged and try to kill me before I find out what this is all about.
“Gerard, what can you tell me about when I was captured and brought to The Butcher?”
“Butcher, what butcher? What do you mean?”
“Joseph Mengele, the one who committed all the horrible experiments at the death camps.”
Gerard practically fell out of his chair.
“My God. You mean the Gestapo had sent you to him?”
“You didn’t know? Peppy didn’t tell you?”
“No he never did. He only told us that you had been transferred near to Paris. Knowing Peppy he must’ve had his reasons.”
“It wasn’t Gestapo, Gerard. It was SS. Mengele had pulled some strings to keep me from hanging. I don’t know why. I thought you might know.”
By the end of the day we had come to realize that George was the Colonel who had debriefed Gerard in England. It was another strange twist of fate for us to try to fathom. I tried not to tell Gerard any more than necessary about the Company, not that I didn’t trust him but more for his own protection. The less he knew the safer he would remain. I did regale him with the two loves of my life and Lana of course. Jada knew everything there was to know about them, so there was no secret there.
“Now Gerard there is this incredible woman in the kitchen making us dinner. She tells me that she loves me and wants to spend the rest of our lives together. I have asked her to marry me.”
“And what could possibly be wrong with that?”
“Only that I’m putting her in danger every day she’s with me. Other than that, not a thing wrong. I don’t have a very good track record with the women that I’ve loved in my life. I wouldn’t want to disappoint her.”
“Johno as your friend and a psychiatrist, it’s my learned opinion that you need not worry. All you have to do is completely open your heart to her. Besides the obvious crossing of your paths, I am of the opinion that the two of you are bonded in some strange way. That is a beautiful thing.”
“Tell me my good doctor, do you believe in past lives and reincarnation and all that sort of thing?”
“As a professional in France I would probably say no to a patient, but as one who considers himself a freethinker, in private yes, somewhat. There is so much evidence it would be difficult to completely dismiss the theory. What about you Johno, what do you think?”
“I can’t answer that. With my loss of memory for the first eight years of my life, it’s too confusing. There are too many déjà vu s, dreams and such. But I also would not totally dismiss the possibility. When I was growing up, my stepfather bought me a Colt 45 Army revolver. I remember the first time I held it. It seemed like I had always had one. The same was true when I started collecting swords and foils. The saber seemed like an extension of my arm. Later I became the captain of the fencing team in high school, and there is the horse of course. From the first time Frank sat me on one, I knew we had always been partners, and it would be a lifelong passion. So Gerard, unless you’re going to tell me when we were in the resistance, I carried around a Colt 45 and a saber on my hip while we charged the German lines on horseback, I will continue to wonder why they seemed so familiar to me.”
He laughed and replied, “To my best recollection you never did that.”
After supper I was ready to ask him about Peppy and Marie Claude. I knew out of delicacy, he was waiting for me to ask.
I merely said, “Tell me about Peppy and Marie Claude. What happened to them?” Jada started to excuse herself.
I said, No baby, there is nothing I wish to keep from you.”
I motioned to Boom-Boom to remain seated. She nodded, sat down next to me, and slipped her arm through mine.
“Johno they both loved you like their own son. After the firefight in Portugal, Peppy wanted to disband our group. He said he could not lead us anymore. His new mission would be to hunt down turncoats who had betrayed the resistance and France. He told us to join other groups and to do what we could to help. I heard accounts of reprisals but I could not be sure it was Peppy.”
“That is all I can tell you about him. I made my way to England to join the Americans, and that is where I met yo
ur colonel. We all loved Marie Claude. When she was killed it was a terrible blow to all of us. To Peppy and you, it was the worst. It seemed to change you both. It was as if all you wanted to do was kill Germans. It did not matter if you lived or died. You killed the German officer who took her life, and wounded his lieutenant. But only you were there. You told only Peppy exactly what happened. He would not allow it to be spoken of again. I’m sorry Johno. I truly am. But that is all I can tell you. None of us knew more than that.”
He put his hands in his face and started to cry. I went over to where he was sitting, knelt down and put my arms around him. Then my tears came. Jada came to us and once again took us in her arms. Boom-Boom stood over us with one great hand on each of Gerard’s and my shoulders.
There was much and more to speak of. By the end of our third day together, there was still no light shed on why I was being pursued. I told Gerard I needed to know exactly what had happened to Marie Claude. I felt that this was of key importance in my life even though I didn’t know why. Gerard explained that probably the best way to remember what happened to Marie Claude, was to use hypnosis. I told him I had two sessions in the past, but nothing really was divulged. He replied that possibly I was not ready to remember then. I might be now. Perhaps a hypnotist could find the answer as to why I was being hunted. He told us that he had a very close and trusted friend who probably could help. She was certainly one of the best, if not the best, hypnotists in France.
“What is your relationship to her Gerard?”
He sighed, “We were colleagues, then lovers. Now we remain close friends. She comes from a very old wealthy Jewish French family. Before the German invasion her family recognized the warning signs. Most of her family left while they still could. When the Germans were defeated, they returned to France and resumed their lives. Lilia went back to her studies and became the professional she is today. We fell in love and wanted to marry, and though I was an up-and-coming psychiatrist, who if I may say so eventually became somewhat renowned, Lilia’s parents would not hear of it. They insisted on her marrying someone of equal financial wealth, which she did eventually. Sadly she never found the happiness she deserved.”