by T. M. Deans
For a fleeting moment I felt his pain, before my eyes fell on Jada.
“I’m sorry, Gerard.”
“It probably turned out for the best. I will call her and ask if she can help us. I will not give her any names but she will no doubt want to hear a brief explanation of the situation.”
“All right Gerard, but you must tell her that there is danger being near me.”
The next day Gerard explained his talk with Lilia. They are always ready to help each other. She was also very professionally intrigued. Lilia owned a lavish retreat south of Paris. She suggested we meet there. It was very private. In addition to the ample grounds it was first built on, she had bought any homes that were nearby and had them removed. Therefore it really was very secluded. And yes he had explained that there was a possibility of danger.
“Good work. Thank you. We’ve already been here too long. At first light we should leave.”
55
THE CHTEAU
When the four of us arrived at Lilia’s retreat, I was amazed. It was much more like a small castle that had been well cared for. I was extremely impressed. We drove over a small moat to the front portals where the caretaker, who introduced himself as Marcel, met us. He then led us to a very large center room beautifully appointed with antiques. As we entered Lilia rose to greet us. She was a slender, attractive, dark-haired woman in her late fifties. I could see why Gerard had been attracted to her. She first gave Gerard a very warm embrace, with a kiss.
Then turned to Jada took her hand, and said, “My God Gerard, you didn’t tell me you were bringing a goddess here. I’m not sure how one is supposed to prepare for entertaining a divine creature, but I would’ve tried. And this magnifi cent man, you make Hercules pale by comparison. No pun intended.
“You must be none other than my Gerard’s comrade in arms, and a soldier of France. I welcome you all to my home. I took the liberty of thinking you would probably be hungry, so I’ve had some lunch prepared. Shall we adjourn to the dining room?”
Later I told Gerard, I thought she had a good sense of humor. She had a way of making people comfortable around her.
After lunch Lilia said, “Your rooms have been prepared. If you would like to unpack and rest, then perhaps Johno and I could have a preliminary conversation. Tomorrow we will start hypnosis.”
Lilia was a highly regarded professional. I trusted Gerard and Gerard trusted Lilia, so I had to put my faith in her. I decided to hold nothing back. I told her there were three main episodes in my life that I wanted to know about. I wanted to know what had happened to Marie Claude, what happened to me when I was captured, and why the Arabs were relentlessly chasing me. I told her I have no secrets from my three friends and if she did not mind, I was fine with them being present when we talked.
She said she was okay with that. However, tomorrow when she hypnotized me, she would prefer if only Gerard joined us as a colleague. I agreed to that.
“Lilia, I must say again, this could be dangerous for you.”
“Jack thank you again for your concern, but due to the nature of my profession I have been involved shall we say, with some very dangerous clients. There is something else as well that I would like to share with you. My family because of their wealth was able to flee before the invasion. Families like Gerard’s and so many more gave their blood.” She didn’t finish her sentence. She hesitated and ended by saying, “There’s nothing that I would not do for Gerard.”
When I told her about my confinement in The Butcher’s clinic, she was utterly astonished.
I went back in time in an effort to explain how I had come to be in the resistance.
I told her my real name was Johno Duval. My father and uncle had fought in the war. My uncle had left France to live in Algeria. He could still be alive. I was looking for him, when I was kidnapped in Cape Town. My father Edmond Duval died in….”
Lily bolted upright from her chair, “What did you say? What was your father’s name?”
“Duval, Edmond Duval. Why?”
Gerard said, “What is it Lilia? What’s wrong?”
She put her hand to her forehead, and sat back down. Jada and Boom-Boom had puzzled looks on their faces. We all did.
“What is wrong? Certainly nothing. Just the most incredible coincidence imaginable. She went to the fireplace. There was a cord for ringing the butler in this case Marcel. She hesitated, thought better of it, and said, “I’ll be right back. Please don’t move.”
We were all very curious as to what was going on. After about ten minutes she returned with Marcel in tow.
“Please everyone. Forgive me for my strange behavior. I wanted Marcel to hear what you just said. Would you tell us again who your father and uncle were?”
“My father was Edmond Duval. My uncle was Pierre Duval and I had an aunt whose name was Françoise Duval. I was born Johno Duval. Why?”
“Johno Duval, I would like you to meet your uncle Pierre Duval.”
We were all floored, but none more so than I was. Lilia explained she had left the room to tell Marcel what she had just found out. It was his decision to reveal his real name.
“You see, Pierre worked for my family before the war. He helped some of my family members to escape from German persecution, at a risk to his own life. Then after the surrender, we helped him financially to leave France and start a life in Algeria. When that failed, we helped him and his son return to France with new identification and to start a life here again. Gerard I’m sorry I never told you this but you see it really was Marcel’s secret.”
“But of course, Lilia my darling. Had I known, I believe I would’ve pieced together the connection. Anyway it matters not.”
We decided for reasons of discretion I would continue to call my uncle by the name Marcel. There was so much to tell and to find out. He told me his son lived nearby, and he would have him come to meet me. Then suddenly I had a strange thought.
“Marcel, the old Duval family Château, is this it by chance?”
“Why yes Johno. In fact you were born in this very room. During the war the Germans occupied it, and by the time they were driven out it became quite dilapidated. Madame bought it for back taxes and put millions into its restoration.”
I told Marcel about meeting Madame Bouchard, how I had sent her to Tahiti, and how she had seen my father’s face in mine. Perhaps Marcel might find a likeness as well if I were to shave the beard I’ve been growing. I told him I thought she would be very pleased to see him when she got back from Tahiti.
After dinner Gerard proposed a toast, “I would like to make a toast to long lost family and friends coming together again under the most unusual circumstances.” Then he added, “Johno, yours is an amazing story. You should really write a book about it.”
“I’m sorry Gerard my friend, but I’m afraid, writing is not my forte. Besides I don’t believe I need any more notoriety.”
“Yes that’s true. But if you ever become comfortable with the notion, I’m well acquainted with the pen.”
“Well my friends, this has been a wonderful day. I for one shall retire for the evening. Please make yourselves at home. Let us not forget that there is still the problem with the Arabs. Shall we start work tomorrow Johno, after breakfast?”
“Yes Lilia, and thank you again for everything”
“Gerard darling, if you’d care to come with me we can discuss how we will approach tomorrow’s session with Johno.” They walked off arm in arm. I hoped that their professional discussion would end in a romantic interlude.
Lilia led him upstairs to her bedroom saying, “I do wish to discuss Johno with you. I was also hoping that you would like to sleep with me tonight.”
“Yes Lilia, I would like that very much. As to Johno, I believe that his life is the most extraordinary chain of events, all completely intertwined. Each event is connected and leading with a clear passage to the next.
“For years he has had guilt feelings about the woman and the two children he couldn’
t save in the night raid. Then he is kidnapped and finds out they’re still alive. The young girl who is now an incredibly beautiful woman is in love with him and they are going to be married. At the same time it leads him to me, and then to Peppy and Peter. Now he finds Marcel, his uncle. And that’s just a small part of it. I really don’t know where this is all leading, but I’m positive it is all heading to some specific place with a specific meaning. My sense tells me it will be soon.
“I think you should try first to find out the Arabs’ interest in him, then his captivity with The Butcher, and last Marie Claude. He’s very sensitive and emotional about what happened to her.”
“Yes, I agree it’s almost like he’s being guided by some spirit to a destination he must find or return to. I am excited to get started with him. But tonight I am excited to get started with you”
The next morning Marcel joined us at breakfast. He told us that in addition to him wanting me to meet his son, Lilia and he thought it wise that his son and several of his friends should come to the Château as soon as possible. They were all paramilitary and it would be comforting having them on hand.
After breakfast, Lilia expressed her wish that Gerard and I should get started. She apologized that she only wanted Gerard to take part. It was of paramount importance that I did not have any distractions. We adjourned into her office. I was directed to a very comfortable couch. Gerard seated himself near Lilia but out of my view. He armed himself with pad and pencil so that he could take notes or pass a note to Lilia. Then we began. This was very unlike the other time I had undergone hypnosis. I was with an old friend and a new one. I was calm and hoping that we could find some answers. There was a big difference being with Lilia and Gerard, than being hypnotized by Ralph so a nonexistent “Company” could analyze who I was.
When it was over Lilia asked me how I felt. I said I was okay and asked if she had come up with anything interesting.
“Johno, as far as the Arabs are concerned, I found nothing that would indicate the reason for their interest in you. In fact, you seem to not have any recollection of any contact at all with Arabs until recently. Your captivity with the Nazi doctor, on the other hand, was quite remarkable. That a small boy could endure such an ordeal with such a monster as The Butcher, is in itself a feat of courage and fortitude. There was no indication from the time you were captured, and taken to him until the time you escaped, that he had done any physical experiments on you that had a lasting effect. I will make a full report for you on this subject.
“As to the death of Marie Claude, you refused to speak of it. You were adamant about not wanting to open your mind to what happened that day. Johno with your permission I would like to do another session tomorrow.”
“Yes of course Lilia. Thank you very much. I do appreciate everything you are doing for me.”
“Well then should we all retire to the main living area and find the others?”
Jada was already there, reading a book when we entered. I went over and sat down next to her. She took my hand in hers, reached over, and kissed me. She asked how the session went.
I was about to reply when Marcel walked into the room followed by six Arabs all holding guns. He had a very dejected look.
He stammered, “I am so sorry Madame. They were already in the Château. I could do nothing.”
One of the Arabs said, “Silence,” and shoved him down into a chair.
Lilia rose up like an enraged female grizzly bear protecting her cubs and her antiques.
“How dare you enter my home like this? Who do you think you are?”
Gerard was standing close to her. He put his hand on her arm and whispered to her in French to go slowly. It seemed to calm her and she regained her composure.
Jada was still sitting close to me. I had my 9 mm holstered on my hip and a backup in the small of my back under my belt. My hand was on her knee and I squeezed it. I looked at her and she told me with her eyes she was unarmed. Her hand slipped behind me and removed the backup pistol. Even with both of us armed, it would have been a bloodbath. We would have been taken down for sure, along with everyone else.
The tall more distinguished looking Arab I guessed was the leader. As Jada and I were having our silent conversation, he was issuing orders to his men to carefully frisk us.
I was about to say couch under my breath, when I could feel her slipping the pistol behind the cushion and removing her hand. Two Arabs stood over us and motioned me to stand. I raised my hands up and they removed my 9 mm. They had me turn around and patted me down. Then it was Jada’s turn.
“Well it seems that you have me. The question is, why do you want me? Tell me that and I will cooperate with you.”
The tall Arab exclaimed, “You will cooperate. Of that I am sure. Is it possible that you really do not know why we have gone to such great lengths to catch you?”
“I have been curious, but I really don’t know. Honest Injun.”
“Honest what?”
“Nothing”
“We should have had you in Cape Town. That bitch assassin let you go. I will deal with her later. Then you charmed this one and her brother in the Congo. That will also be taken care of. In addition, let us not forget Timbuktu. You are very impressive, but as the saying goes, ‘If you want something done right you should do it yourself.’ So here I am.”
“Thank you I do appreciate the compliment. Actually it was not the bitch that lost me in the airplane. It was the short guy. Sorry I did not get his name. The woman really had no choice but to come with me or die. So you should not blame her.”
The Arab leader turned to the fat Arab in the background. “Give him the injection now.”
Lilia reared up again and shouted, “Do not touch that man.”
The short, fat Arab who produced a syringe as his weapon interrupted. “Excuse me. It’s an honor to meet the famous Lilia Brisac and also Gerard Alby.” He seemed to be in awe of Lilia. “I also am a psychiatrist and….”
Lilia cut him off in mid-sentence with what appeared to be venom dripping from her fangs. She yelled, “You call yourself a doctor? You come in here with them holding guns, threatening us, trying to kill that man, why?”
“But we do not want to kill him we only want to find out what the Dr….”
The tall Arab said something to the Arab psychiatrist. It must have been, “Silence fool.”
Lilia shouted, “The doctor, Doctor Joseph Mengele, The Butcher. That is what this is all about? Are you crazy? Have you lost your minds? You think that because of what happened to him as a child he will be able to help you make child warriors for your holy wars? You know nothing.”
The Arab leader shouted, “That is exactly what we intend to do. We will take him, and if he resists, kill you all.”
I had to buy time. We still had one ace in the hole.
“Stop! I will go with you, but you have to let them go”
“Why should I let two Jews and her live?”
“For two reasons. First you may not be aware of this, but I have no recollection of the first eight years of my life. Ironically, we just started our first session right before you got here. I suppose that’s why you brought your own psychiatrist with you. Do you really think he is as good as she is?”
“We know all about your childhood and more. We will have from you what we need. I promise you. And the second reason?”
I was running out of resources. I motioned for Jada to get up.
“The second reason is that I am no good to you dead.” I whipped the 380 pistol out from behind me and pressed it against my heart.
Jada screamed, “No!”
The Arab cried, “You won’t!”
“Why not. You will kill my friends anyway. You’ll probably want to give me a lobotomy at some point. So why not?”
Another Mexican standoff, and I was the Mexican. I had to stall until some kind of opportunity presented itself.
The Arab was about to say something, when from two sides seven Anglos poured into
the room all holding weapons, two of them held machine guns. Marcel’s son had arrived with friends to save us. When I looked at Marcel’s face, I could see that it was not so. The Arabs focused their attention on the new threat. For the moment we seemed to be forgotten. I stopped pointing the pistol at my heart and moved it down to my side between the cushions. I motioned for my friends to try and slip out. Gerard took Lilia by the elbow and tried to lead her away. Jada just shook her head no, and moved closer to the men.
The probable leader of the white boys yelled, “Halt” in a very Germanic accent.
The Arab yelled, “Put down your weapons. Who are you?”
The German replied, “We most certainly will not. We have you outmanned and outgunned. You will put your weapons down now.”
The German was correct. There were seven of them, all armed, with two machine guns. The Arabs were only six with only semi-automatic pistols and the pump shotgun they had taken from Marcel. Actually they were only five, because the shrink who was unarmed was slowly backing up. He seemed to be melting into the floor. Now this was really a Mexican standoff, without any Mexicans.
When it was apparent no one was going to put his weapons down, the German with the possible intention of defusing the situation said to the Arab, “Before we have unnecessary bloodshed, why do you not tell me what it is you want here, and I will do the same.”
The Arab said, “We want him,” and pointed to me. “He has cost us a lot of money and trouble. We will take him with us.”
I chimed in, “Because of my childhood adventures, they believe I can help them create little mini warriors for their holy wars.” Then in my best imitation of a German accent, I said, “You vill allow me to introduce myself.”
The German replied. “That L’enfant Guerrier, Johno Duval, Jack Slade, will not be necessary! I am well acquainted with who you are and have been for many years.”
He looked back at the Arab and shrugged his shoulders as if to say, well obviously you have to be eliminated as well.