“Elle,” she scolded, and moved as if to swat Eleanor's hand away. Instead their hands clasped and became entwined.
“What?”
“Tempting as that sounds, this is our final stop before we leave the ship and take the coach to Prague for our last two nights. I was just kidding about topping Vienna. I didn't mean to put any pressure on you! Besides, Nuremberg might not be a major city, but it would be a shame to skip the sights. Oh, like Albrecht Dürer's house—”
Eleanor's eyes crinkled. “Who?”
“The famous German Renaissance artist.” Jeanie shook her head as if it were obvious.
“I'll just have to take your word for that,” Eleanor teased.
“Fine. Maybe he's a little obscure. But there's St. Lawrence's Church, and St. Sebaldus' Church, and the Church of our Lady—”
“And the Nazi rally grounds, and don't forget the Palace of Justice where the war crimes trials took place.”
“Oh.” Jeanie's face fell.
“I'm sorry Jeanie. I know for most people this is just a little city in Bavaria with Gothic churches and Christmas markets, but as a Jew, the history here is less charming.”
Jeanie squeezed Eleanor's fingers where they rested against her shoulder. “And as a history teacher, I probably should have thought of that without you having to point it out. I'm sorry.”
“No need to be. Not everyone feels that way about it. My sister Miriam would find it completely fascinating. In fact, she'll probably kill me for not taking pictures of it all for her. But I just wanted to explain my lack of enthusiasm for this particular destination. If there are things you want to see without me, it's fine. In fact, I'll give you my camera and you can get the shots for Miriam.”
Jeanie sat silently for a moment, then straightened up with a grin. “Buy your sister some postcards, because I have a better idea. Hold on a minute.” She went inside and emerged a minute later with her tablet in hand. “Have you ever heard of urban exploration?”
Eleanor frowned at the unfamiliar term. “I don't think so.”
“Basically, people go and look for abandoned places, like hotels and hospitals, or amusement parks, or mansions—and then go inside to explore and take photographs.”
“So...trespassing?”
“No! Er…not always. Maybe. Technically.” Jeanie handed Eleanor the tablet. “But it's really about finding and documenting places that have been forgotten.”
“Why would anyone want to wander around ramshackle old buildings?”
“Because they're amazing! It's like claiming your own piece of the past. How could that not be appealing? Here, look for yourself.”
Eleanor squinted at the image on the screen, and saw what appeared to be a manor house or castle, with two stone pillars leading to an overgrown garden. “Okay?”
“Isn't it awesome? That's an abandoned castle right here in Germany. It used to be a private residence, then a hotel for a while, but it's been empty for years. If you flip through the pictures, you'll see it still has furniture inside and everything!”
“Fine, I’ll give. You're right. This is pretty amazing.” Despite her usual risk aversion, Eleanor interest was piqued as she looked through the hauntingly beautiful pictures. She could almost feel herself walking down the cobweb-encrusted halls, and it was deliciously thrilling. “This is nearby?”
“Probably…”
Eleanor frowned at Jeanie's vague reply. “What do you mean by that? Do you or don't you know how to get there?”
“Well, it's definitely in Germany…”
“Germany's a fairly large country, Jeanie.”
Jeanie shot her a look. “I know that. It's just that the serious urban explorers are notoriously secretive, and the one who runs this website is no exception. They never tell you exactly where the places are because they don't want a bunch of people going in and destroying them.”
Eleanor nodded. “I guess that makes sense.”
“But this particular guy likes puzzles even more than he likes secrets. He hides clues in different places around his website, and if you figure it all out correctly, you end up with GPS coordinates that will get you within a mile or two of where you need to be.”
“And you've figured out all the clues?” Eleanor asked, impressed.
“No, I'm terrible at these things, but I have really good luck—”
“Yeah, I've noticed that.” Eleanor chuckled.
“Well in this case, even though you're not supposed to tell anyone if you figure out the clues, someone let it slip in the online comment section that castle is near Nuremberg. And I just happened to get lucky and see it before they deleted the post. Unfortunately, I'm still missing the actual coordinates, but…”
Eleanor's pulse ticked up as her enthusiasm grew. “I'm very good at puzzles…”
Jeanie grinned mischievously. “I was hoping you'd say that!”
They went inside and Eleanor grabbed a notepad from next to the phone and tucked a pencil behind her ear, then returned her attention to the page on Jeanie's tablet, her thoughts already deep into the first set of clues. Jeanie settled in beside her on the sofa and watched silently as she worked, smiling encouragement. Though it was far from anything she'd expected to do that morning, as Eleanor solved the puzzles one by one, she couldn't help but think how she and Jeanie made the perfect team.
Chapter 22
Eleanor studied the final photograph on the web page, then let out a victory whoop. “That's it!” Pride bubbled up inside as she pointed to the spot on the screen where the final clue had been hidden. “There's a repeating pattern here. Do you see it?” She enlarged the picture as Jeanie squinted in confusion. “I'm sure it's there. I can check it again, though.”
“No, I trust you. We really have all the coordinates now?”
“Yes, and I just entered them into a mapping program and it looks like it's about an hour's drive from here. So that sounds right, don't you think?”
“It's gotta be!” Jeanie bounced excitedly on the edge of the sofa. “The concierge called a few minutes ago to say that our rental car is ready, and he was able to find most of the supplies that the website recommended. Flashlights, water bottles, a blanket, some rope—”
Eleanor felt her cheeks tingle. “You know, I was fine with asking for all of it, right up to the rope. Then it just started to sound kinky. You should have seen the look he gave me. Then he muttered something about the interesting sounds coming from this room at night. I think the walls are thinner than they look.”
“Oops.” Jeanie snickered into her hand. “That was probably my fault.”
“Hmm, you think?” Eleanor winked, enjoying the sudden rush of color her teasing brought to Jeanie's cheeks. “I just hope we don't need anything else before the end of the trip because I'm not sure I can look him in the eye again.” Eleanor handed the tablet back to Jeanie and picked up her satchel, glancing around one last time. “Okay, I think we're ready!”
Jeanie squealed, clapping her hands. “We're really doing this!”
“We really are!” Eleanor's voice betrayed the same surprise that she felt inside. “I can't believe I'm going along with this crazy idea of yours.”
“You're okay with it, though? No anxiety or anything? Because we don't have to go.”
As she reflected on the question, the genuine concern on Jeanie's face enveloped Eleanor like a warm embrace. The truth was, she felt great, every bit as thrilled with their upcoming adventure as Jeanie was, and without even a hint of the anxiousness that usually was buzzing just below the surface even on her best days. On impulse, she drew Jeanie close and kissed her lips. “Honestly? I feel like I'm fifteen again, getting ready to sneak out of the house to go clubbing after curfew.”
“That's good?” Jeanie remained hesitant.
“Jeanie, you have no idea. I didn't think I'd ever feel like that again. I doubt that I would've, if I hadn't met you.” As she spoke, Eleanor grabbed up her shoes and shoved them onto her feet without so much as a tho
ught given to what she was doing or how.
The rental car was waiting at the top of the gangway as they disembarked, a late model Mercedes that struck Eleanor as a bit more extravagant than was necessary, though she reminded herself that in Germany it might be seen as less of a luxury car than in the states. She didn't want to make Jeanie uncomfortable with the money she'd spent, though the other woman seemed to consumed by her excitement to pay much attention to what they were driving. The supplies they'd requested were already packed for them in the trunk. As soon as Eleanor plugged the coordinates into the GPS on the dashboard and settled herself into the driver's seat, they were on their way.
The city streets of Nuremberg gave way to narrow roads that wound through thick forest. Every so often they came upon a village seemingly ripped from the pages of the Brothers Grimm, where narrow cobblestone streets were lined with timber-framed buildings and street lamps of wrought iron. Then back they'd go into the forest, driving across babbling streams via stone bridges that almost certainly housed trolls underneath. Everything they passed felt like it belonged in a fairytale.
After about an hour, a voice from the GPS alerted them that they would soon be approaching their destination on the right. Eleanor slowed the car, then pulled over into a narrow space off the side of the road. She opened the door cautiously and looked around. There was no house in sight, and no clue that they were even close. “Jeanie, does this look right?”
Jeanie joined her outside the car and shrugged. “I guess so.”
“What do you mean, you guess so?” Eleanor frowned. “Is this usually how it is?”
Jeanie pursed her lips as she considered. “I'm not sure. I've never actually made it this far.”
Eleanor's eyebrows shot up in alarm. “You mean, you've never done this before?” She felt her muscles tense, preparing for the familiar weight of anxiety to descend, but to her amazement, it never came. Despite being in the middle of nowhere in a foreign country with no idea where she was going, Eleanor remained remarkably calm and clear headed. “Okay. So let's figure out what to do next.”
Slowly, Eleanor turned in a circle where she stood, scanning the surrounding area. Through the brush, she spotted what appeared to be a stone pillar. “Jeanie, look at that.”
“It's like the one in the picture!” Jeanie walked closer and pushed aside the overgrown vegetation. “And here's a second one. I think this is it,” she said, motioning for Eleanor to come closer.
Eleanor's heart raced with excitement as she surveyed the gravel path beyond the two pillars, which appeared to have marked the entrance to a carriageway at some time in the distant past. It was heavily covered in weeds and low hanging branches, but still appeared passable, and Eleanor had little doubt that the abandoned castle lay at the other end. “Let's grab the supplies before we go.”
When they'd made it several yards up the path, Jeanie took her by the hand. “I dreamed of doing this, you know. But I never would've made it this far on my own. Too many details!”
“Whereas I can manage details just fine.” Eleanor squeezed Jeanie's hand as they continued to walk. “It's coming up with the idea in the first place that I can't do. Even if I had been aware of this type of thing, it would never have occurred to me to do it. We're the perfect team.” At the sound of her earlier thoughts spoken out loud, her usual nervousness, strikingly absent on their adventure so far, returned with a flutter. Had she risked too much by revealing feelings that might not be returned? But as Jeanie snuggled close to her, Eleanor's body relaxed.
“We really are. I like that you can take charge and turn my crazy ideas into reality.”
They continued contentedly along the path, and it wasn't until their destination came into sight that Eleanor's nerves began to fail her. The old mansion was a sprawling stone castle with a massive peaked roof line dotted with towers and turrets. Far from being derelict, it appeared to be in pristine condition. Seemingly hundreds of windows gleamed in the mid-afternoon sun, and the way the light reflected from the heavy lead glass made it appear like lights were on inside. “You're sure this place is abandoned?” As she said it, Eleanor's flesh began to crawl and she could have sworn someone was watching them.
“Positive. You saw the pictures yourself. Those were only posted a month ago.” Jeanie's words soothed her nerves somewhat, as the building from the photos was clearly uninhabitable.
Ahead of them were the two pillars they'd seen in the photographs, marking the entrance to a lush green lawn and formal garden. A chill ran along Eleanor's spine. “If that's the case, who mowed the grass?” The garden beds were overgrown, but the lawn, which had been little more than a jungle of weeds in the photos, was cropped to within an inch or two of the ground.
“Just because it's abandoned doesn't mean it's completely forgotten,” Jeanie reasoned. “Maybe there's a caretaker who mows once or twice a year.”
Eleanor was stunned at Jeanie's nonchalance. “Or maybe the owner's come back and is calling the police as we speak. I feel like someone else is here.”
Jeanie laughed. “What on earth would they call the police on us for, walking on the grass?”
“Jeanie, I'm serious. What if someone's here?” Just then, a rustling noise from nearby bushes made her jump several inches off the ground and set her heart racing. “What was that?” She flinched at the panic in her voice. Calm down. She repeated the order to herself silently half a dozen times. Jeanie was right, they'd done nothing illegal. She'd come this far, and there was no way she was going to give into her panic now without a fight.
The bushes shook again, and this time the sound was accompanied by the emergence of a white whiskered chin, followed shortly thereafter by the rest of a very plump goat. As a second goat followed, Eleanor broke out in a fit of laughter. “They just about scared me to death. Naughty goats!”
“Actually, Elle, I think they were being naughty. Just look at the satisfied expressions on their faces. Clearly they were getting up to something in there.”
“Jeanie, they're goats.”
“So? Where do you think baby goats come from?” Jeanie's eyes twinkled with mischief. She set down the bag of supplies she'd been carrying and popped open the top button of her top. “Tell you what, come over here and I'll explain all about it.”
Jeanie's low, sultry voice sent a shock of desire through Eleanor's body. “What, out here?” She swallowed hard and furtively looked around, still not convinced they were alone. “Maybe we should check inside, just to make sure no one else is here first.”
The promise of exploring the castle proved a powerful enough distraction that Jeanie was instantly persuaded. She picked up the bag and slung it over her shoulder again, walking toward the grand front entrance without further argument. She left her button undone, and Eleanor wasn't about to complain about that.
“Do you think we can just go in the front door?” Eleanor eyed the solid slab of wood that hung on massive iron hinges.
“We can try.” Jeanie turned the knob and gave the door a shove with her shoulder, but it didn't budge. “There's gotta be another way.”
Eleanor's pulse quickened. “We won't have to break in, will we?”
“Absolutely not!” Jeanie shook her head vehemently. “The first rule for urban explorers is you don't break in. You look for an unlocked door or an open window. We know someone got in recently, so we'll just keep looking. Speaking of pictures, though…” Jeanie reached into one of the roomy pockets of her pants and pulled out her phone.
Eleanor watched in amusement, pausing for the first time since they'd left the ship to fully appreciate Jeanie's outfit. She wore khaki cargo pants and some sort of fishing vest over her partially buttoned white shirt, with a dark brown hat on her head that made her look for all the world like a female Indiana Jones. Only Jeanie would have just the right costume for exploring an abandoned castle. Affection surged through her, and she grinned. The broad smile was still plastered on her face as Jeanie looped an arm around her waist and snapped a
picture of the two of them.
“Oh, that's a good one!” Jeanie grinned as she looked at the screen.
“It's not half bad. Miriam would love a copy to post on her wall.”
“I'll text it to you and you can send it to her.”
Eleanor checked her own phone. “No good. I don't have any bars. You can send it later.”
Jeanie tapped on her screen. “Never mind that. I'll just share it with her directly. Is this her?” She turned the phone and Eleanor nodded when she saw that Jeanie had located the correct profile for Miriam on her favorite social media hangout. “Okay, done!”
“She'll love that.” Eleanor squinted as the sun glinted off a single window on the first floor that appeared out of alignment with the rest. “Jeanie, look there! I think we found the way in.”
Climbing through the open window wasn't nearly as difficult as Eleanor had feared, and in no time both women stood in a hall of weathered gray stone, with matching staircases spiraling upward in graceful arcs on either side. The landing above was brightly painted in red and gold, the walls covered in a bold plaid wallpaper to match which, though peeling in places, managed to retain most of its former elegance. Eleanor's breath caught in her chest as she took it all in, and it felt to her like time was standing still.
“Race you to the top!” Jeanie took off with a laugh toward the staircase closest to her, and after a moment of hesitation, Eleanor raced up the one on the other side, taking them two steps at a time. They arrived breathless at the top at almost exactly the same moment. “I won!” Jeanie declared.
“Oh no, you didn't!” Eleanor's competitive spirit flickered and grew to a full flame. “It was a tie, at the very least.”
“You want to go again?”
“No, I don't think so,” Eleanor replied between panting breaths. One time up those stairs at full speed was really more than sufficient.
“Fine. Then how about hide and seek?”
“What, are we twelve?” Eleanor teased, but the playful spark behind Jeanie's eyes was already sending heat throughout her body and making her heart pound harder than any race.
Waltzing on the Danube Page 18