Occupation

by Jeff L. Dawson

  Halfway through the flight, Nikoli, looking straight ahead, mentioned to Kirilli, "A boy or a girl my friend?" He spoke the words in a tone that only Kirilli could hear. His words would be drowned out by the noise of the thundering BMW engines racing them to their destination. There was no chance the guards would hear such a low voice. Kirilli pondered the thought for a few moments. He noticed the colonel wiping his head with the towel.

  “A boy, of course."

  Nikoli smiled with the answer. Yes, another boy he could train and teach. A boy it would be.

  Colonel Eckhardt unfastened his seat belt, and walked towards the back of the plane to get an aspirin for what he was thinking was a headache. Kirilli and Nikoli both noticed, as he passed by, the heavy sweat beads on his face and the glaze in his eyes. It must wait. Not yet, not yet. The colonel returned to his seat with the now soaked towel on his brow.

  The plane landed at Paderborn with no mishap. The pilot taxied down the runway and pulled up to a waiting truck and staff car. Over a dozen SS guards in their crisp black uniforms stood at attention. Generals Heidrick and Von DerGraff were the first to deboard with Colonel Eckhardt next. They stood by the staff car waiting for their cargo to be unloaded. A guard unshackled the men and moved them out of the plane. They were herded into a truck. As they passed by the officers, they overheard Heidrick talking to Eckhardt.

  "Are you ill, my friend? Should we drop you off at the infirmary? We don't want to infect Herr Himmler with a nasty virus or illness."

  "No, I'm fine. Appears I contracted a bad headache. Maybe too many beers last night. I'm fine. Let us proceed to Wewelsburg and present our prize to the Reichsfuehrer."

  The men loaded into the large Mercedes armor-plated car and sped off to the castle. Nikoli and Kirilli took their places in the transport truck. The moment they had waited for was coming. In the next two hours all of the plans and actions they had taken to date were coming to a head. They would be successful in convincing Herr Himmler to leave them alone or face the consequences. It could mean even taking Himmler's life if he couldn't be convinced they were unwanted guests and should leave town.

  The trip to the castle lasted about thirty minutes. None of the guards spoke a word. Their fingers were gripped tightly around the triggers of the machine pistols they held.

  They sensed they were getting very close to the target. The truck was moving a little slower and the road had smoothed out considerably. They couldn't see because the flap was pulled down and secured on the outside. The sound of large iron gates opening was very distinguishable as the truck came to a slow stop. They could hear words being exchanged outside. The driver re-engaged the gears and moved the truck forward. Nikoli and Kirilli noticed a change in the air. Their master race guards were acting nervous for no apparent reason. Many of the guards had heard stories of the rituals held in the castle, macabre rituals and meetings involving the occult. Only the most loyal followers of Himmler were allowed into this private circle. Rumors had swirled in the ranks, of great Nordic Aryan men coming back from the dead, to bless the Swastika and trample all who did not fall in line.

  One guard was overheard telling another, "The sooner we leave this place, the better off we all shall be."

  Yes, thought Nikoli, the sooner we leave the better we all shall be. A small smile crept across his face.

  Kirilli didn't understand the unwanted smile but knew Nikoli was preparing for the final chapter of the plan.

  The truck came to a stop and the tarp was opened. Again, the guards hurriedly exited the vehicle, pulling Nikoli and Kirilli with them. They were parked under a massive stone archway which led into a small door. The castle reminded Nikoli of Bezpieczenstwo but there was something different in the air; the castle was lifeless. The sound of birds was nowhere to be found. The castle emitted its own evil presence. It wasn't clean, it felt sterilized. The guards, who had only moments ago been so ready to shoot the cargo, were noticeably disturbed and ready to leave this place immediately. Six guards along with an officer came out of the old wood door and entered the foyer. The officer, a captain, motioned for the truck guards to leave. He would be taking custody of the prisoners. The guards quickly entered the truck. The driver turned it around and sped off.

  "Please, Mein Herren, follow me. Reichsfuehrer Himmler is waiting." Kirilli took a chance and spoke.

  "Herr Captain, where are Generals Heidrick, Von DerGraff, and Colonel Eckhardt?"

  One of the guards was about to drive the butt of his schmeisser machine pistol into Kirilli's gut, but the captain stopped him.

  "Don't worry my friends, they are waiting for us inside. It does appear that Colonel Eckhardt is a bit under the weather. I believe Himmler is calling for his personal doctor to have a look at him."

  This was not good news. If the doctor performed a thorough examine, he will uncover the puncture scars on his neck. Hopefully he and Nikoli would conclude the business at hand before the good doctor arrived.

  The men were led down the long sterile hallways. Nikoli noticed there were no portraits of any type hanging from the walls, rather, they were filled with the flags of the Swastika along with black flags donning the white double thunderbolts of the SS. He found himself missing the portraits that adorned the walls of Kirilli's castle. The only sounds were those of hobnailed boots as the captain and guards led them deep into the interior of the castle.

  The sounds of boots clicking against the hard stone floors echoed through the corridors, as the men were brought to a halt in front of a large, clean, oak desk. Behind the desk was an aide perhaps twenty-six years old, dressed in the typical black uniform of the SS. Directly above him was a portrait of a man in his late forties or early fifties in what seemed a preposterous pose. His left hand was perched on his hip as a bird would clasp a branch and his right arm was raised at a 45 degree angle. The uniform was a color he hadn't seen before; it was dirty brown. His hair was black and thinning with a ridiculously small mustache under the nose.

  The aide was in the middle of a very important discussion on the black phone. Nikoli was thinking how sweet the young corporal's blood would taste.

  "Ja, ja, ja. Versthehen. Heil Hitler,” and he dropped the receiver on its hanger.

  The captain approached the corporal, dropped a piece of paper on the desk and addressed him, "We have the prisoners Herr Himmler requested."

  The aide paid him no mind for a moment as he scribbled down a few notes from the phone conversation. He finished his notes, opened the lower left drawer and produced a document.

  "Herr Captain, sign the bottom line while I review the orders you have delivered." Like a machine, the captain grabbed a pen from the desk and applied his signature. "Herr Captain, your orders are in order," he signed his name verifying that the prisoners had been properly delivered. The captain was uneasy leaving the men unguarded with someone so young.

  "Corporal, are you sure you are capable of handling these two men? Would it not be wise if we assisted in helping deliver these men to the Reichsfuehrer?" The corporal cared not for the slight from the captain.

  "No sir, that won't be necessary. We have plenty of unseen guards to deal with the prisoners if they choose to be uncooperative."

  "Very well. Heil Hitler!"

  "Heil Hitler." The captain took his detail and returned to his regular duties in the castle.

  "Gentlemen, Herr Himmler has been anxiously awaiting your arrival. He has prepared many special activities for our enjoyment." The words he spoke were full of the typical German arrogance Nikoli and Kirilli had become accustomed to over the last six months.

  If the fool only knew why we were really here, mused Nikoli to himself.

  Nikoli took the lead, "Excuse me Corporal, but who is the man in the picture?" The corporal was stunned and infuriated by the question.

  "You fool! That is the leader of our nation. That is the man who is going to bring order to the rabble and scum of Europe. That is Adolf Hitler, you ignorant peasant!"

  Peasant? Pe
asant! The last man to call Nikoli a peasant had unwillingly become a member of the Romanov clan.

  "I apologize for not recognizing 'your' fuehrer, but I caution you, refer to me as a peasant and I assure you, you will not speak those words again." The corporal's right hand was moving down to unlatch the leather holder on the pistol carrier when Kirilli interrupted.

  "Excuse my friend, sir. It has been a long journey and I fear my friend is overly wrought from the traveling. It won't happen again." The man glanced at Kirilli and detected his sincere words.

  He let out a laugh. "The last thing you will worry about is a loose tongue, follow me."

  The corporal opened two double doors that led into another anteroom. There was a larger set of double doors leading apparently into another office. One could not help but notice all of the Swastika's and SS flags covering the walls. Two large SS guards were flanking the doors. He abruptly stopped, clicked his heels, saluted and yelled, "Heil Hitler!" The guards returned the salute.

  "I bring the prisoners Nikoli Romanov and Kirilli Boirarsky for Reichsfuehrer Himmler."

  One of the guards examined the men quickly, then disappeared through one of the doors. He returned within a few moments. "Herr Reichsfuehrer Himmler will see you now."

  Nikoli and Kirilli smiled at each other. This is the moment they had planned for. This was the moment they had worked so hard to achieve over the last six months. The man whom they had made a target was waiting for them behind those massive doors. The man, who would be convinced to leave Southern Poland or join his comrades, was waiting for them.

  "Very good," replied Kirilli.

  The aide was taken back a bit by such a brash comment. Did this peasant not know what fate awaited him and his partner? Did they believe they would leave these premises alive? What fools they are. It will be fun making them talk in the special room that has been prepared for them.

  Nikoli did not wait for any more pleasantries as the corporal mulled over Kirilli's comments. He grabbed hold of the door handle and pushed the massive oak doors open. He was expecting to be greeted by a man worthy of his own tactical planning and cunning, someone who was large in stature and physical appearance, a worthy opponent. Instead, he found a man of less than daunting characteristics. The man was perhaps in his early fifties with rapidly balding short hair. He wore the spectacles of a local librarian. He could have been no taller than 1.75 meters at best and weighed maybe eighty kilos. He reminded Nikoli of a farmer at a costume party in his black SS uniform.

  "Where is Herr Himmler?" yelled Nikoli. "Where is this so called Reichsfuehrer?" The answer he received was from the butt of a rifle smashing into his right kidney.

  "Silence, dog," yelled one of the guards. "Keep your tongue quiet until the Reichsfuehrer permits you to speak." The butt of the rifle was again thrust into Nikoli as he lay on the floor regaining his breath. Kirilli came in behind the guard to help Nikoli to his feet.

  "Not yet Nikoli, not yet. We have been patient far too long to let victory slip from our fingers," he whispered as he helped his partner up.

  The guard yelled again. "Silence!"

  A bit of laughter was heard to their left. Seated in splendor and donning the arrogant look only men of the SS could generate, were Generals Heidrick, Von DerGraff and Colonel Eckhardt, who did not look well at all.

  "Greetings gentlemen," Heidrick started. "I trust you had a good flight? We men of the Third Reich want our guests to be comfortable and well-tended to. I apologize for the overzealousness of Fritz. You know how the young ones are always trying to impress their superiors?"

  Indeed, both of the men were aware of those traits. How many times had Stephan or Yakov tried to outdo Dmitri or Roman?

  "Corporal Gunther, you are dismissed. I don't think our friends will be giving us any more trouble knowing you are just outside the door."

  Corporal Fritz Gunther saluted and yelled the words that were becoming very annoying and trite to both of the captured vampires, “Heil Hitler." He turned and walked out of the room pulling the doors behind him.

  "I am Reichsfuehrer Heinrich Himmler," said the bespectacled man. "I have been appointed by our new leader, Adolf Hitler, to implement his plans for the Third Reich, of cleansing of humans deemed sub-human and unworthy to find a place in the new order. I have also been placed in charge of searching for our true Aryan roots and the wellspring we were conceived from. It is apparent by the reports I have received that neither of you men will have a place in the new order. It has also been relayed by General Heidrick that you have refused to provide any useful information under normal interrogation techniques, or to cooperate in exposing those who follow your lead. I assure you, you will tell me everything I need to know about finding and eliminating the partisan bands operating in and around Southern Poland. You are wasting valuable resources of the Third Reich."

  Nikoli was stunned at the fluency and coldness of this small man's words. His eyes and tone were monotonous and icy. There was no inflection with the words he spoke. The words were as sterile as the halls they had passed.

  "My dear friends," spoke Heidrick, "I assure you the methods Herr Reichsfuehrer has in store for you will make the methods we used in Krakow appear like child's play. Granted, you two will never leave this castle alive, so I urge you to tell us what we must know now. I promise, I shall make your death swift and painless compared to the alternative in store for the two of you."

  Kirilli glanced at Colonel Eckhardt. He was starting to moan a little louder. It was obvious the bacteria was slowly heating up his brain. Based on the description Nikoli had provided on how the bacteria reacted, it was only a matter of minutes before it took on its true deadly form. In order to divert attention away from Colonel Eckhardt he posed a question, "Herr Himmler, what do you know of the occult, if I may be so bold as to ask?"

  Himmler relished the question. He would be able to dazzle these country folk of his finds, and the theories that he was convinced were the only truths allowed. "Herr Boirarsky, I have sent search parties to the farthest corners of deepest India and Africa collecting relics of our forefathers. I have poured over the manuscripts of Stonehenge and the Druid rituals. We are all connected. When one considers...”

  A knock at the door interrupted the soliloquy of his research and findings. He was very annoyed with the distraction. "Yes, what is it?" he loudly shouted.

  "Corporal Gunther, Herr Reichsfuehrer. The doctor is here for Colonel Eckhardt."

  "Fine, show him in. It appears the colonel's condition is worsening."

  The doctor was hastily escorted into the room. "Doctor, please tend to the colonel. It appears he has contracted a very nasty virus or illness of some type from the South of Poland."

  "Jawohl, Herr Reichsfuehrer."

  "Now where was I?" pondered Himmler. "Yes, the writings of the Druids illuminated much about the current world situation. They knew that true power could be achieved when all of their members stood in a tight circle and prayed to their Gods in unison. The holding of hands, the fully cloaked bodies, and the display of large fires would bring the Gods to them and show them..."

  "Mein Gott! Make it stop, make it stop," yelled Colonel Eckhardt. "Stop the pain doctor, stop it now! I can endure no more." Eckhardt bolted up from his chair holding his head with both hands.

  "Doctor," cried Himmler. "Sedate him immediately."

  "Herr Reichsfuehrer, I have already injected him with 25mg of morphine. Any more will kill him."

  "I don't care what you have to do, shut him up immediately! I am trying to educate these illiterate peasants."

  "Jawohl." The doctor reached into his bag for another syringe and dose of morphine. Before he could fill the syringe with more morphine, the hands of Eckhardt were around his neck.

  "Help me! Help me!" Eckhardt was violently shaking the doctor as his words cried out. The doctor couldn't help but look at Eckhart’s face. The pain coming from his voice was none he had ever heard in the hospitals or on the battlefields. Eckhart’s wor
ds were escalating above what normal vocal chords could sustain.

  "Colonel, let go immediately or I won't be able to help you." The doctor's words were strained as the colonel's grip tightened. Eckhardt released his grasp as quickly as he had applied it to the doctor. His hands were now holding both sides of his head as if he was trying to squeeze something out of his skull.

  The doctor stood up, approached Eckhardt and told him, "Let me see your eyes, Colonel. Open your eyes so I can...”

  The bacteria had run its course. Eckhardt would never utter another word. The command of opening the eyes was obeyed. The eyelids slowly opened until they were in the back of his head. What once had been eyeballs was a collection of congealed goo. The eyeballs had completely liquefied. The material slowly started sliding down his face in small globulets.

  "Mein Gott!" cried the doctor. "What demon disease has he contracted?" Himmler and Heidrick moved in cautiously for a closer look.

  "It appears to be a new chemical weapon, Heidrick," snapped Himmler. "I have seen no reports of such a weapon. I suggest when you return to Warsaw you look into this matter with the utmost urgency."

  Eckhart’s hands never left his head. They were slowly pushing his skull inwards. "Herr Himmler, look...”

  Himmler and Heidrick stared on in horror, bewilderment, and fascination, as a gray mass started pouring out of the colonel's ears, nose, eyes, and mouth.

  "Herr Himmler, it is brain matter. I have never seen a disease progress like this. And look, it is steaming as if it was coming out of an oven."

  Nikoli and Kirilli were standing behind the men of the "master race," smiling. It might have taken a bit longer for the bacteria to take hold of the once proud Colonel Eckhardt, perhaps his physical stature, or the nature of the Aryan physiology had restrained the bacteria from properly maturing. Still, the results were as Nikoli had described, very effective and thorough. Nikoli could not restrain himself from adding to the chaos with a bit of his own laughter.