A Distant Hope

by Ellin Carsta

  Please, Robert, you are the only one who can save me! Come and help me, I implore you!

  In profound solidarity,

  Your sister-in-law Vera

  Robert dropped into his chair and tried to clear his head. Elisabeth and Georg! He could hardly believe it. He’d never have imagined his brother could do such a thing. It struck him that he’d only thought of his brother; Elisabeth’s betrayal didn’t really surprise him. He just wouldn’t have guessed that his brother would do it. The letter was still in his hand; he looked at it again without actually reading it. Elisabeth and Georg—the people closest to him—had betrayed him.

  But that wasn’t all. What did Vera say? That they were making an attempt on her life? Was that only the suspicions of an angry, betrayed woman, or could he believe that his own brother was capable of such a thing? No, it couldn’t be. Maybe Vera’s claim was intended to underscore the seriousness of her situation and pressure him to do something about it.

  He put down the letter. But what should he do? What could he do? He was in Africa, and home was thousands of miles away. It was harvest time—he couldn’t just drop everything and go back with Luise. That simply wouldn’t work. He rubbed his tired eyes as thoughts tumbled in his head. What was it Georg had said on their day together during his last visit? That he was looking for meaning in his life? Damn that son of a bitch! Robert had scarcely turned his back and Georg betrayed him two seconds later. He balled up the letter and threw it angrily into the corner just as Luise came into the room.

  “What’s happened?” she asked when she saw the grim look on her father’s face.

  “We’re taking the next ship back to Hamburg.” He stood up. “Take only what you need most. We’re going to bring your sister and your mother back here immediately. We won’t be spending Christmas there.”

  “What?” Luise was stunned.

  “Pack your things and don’t ask questions,” he snapped, and stormed out of the room.

  Luise watched him in bewilderment. She’d never seen him act like that. What had happened? Her eyes fell on the crumpled paper he’d thrown as she came in. She picked it up, smoothed it on the tabletop, and began to read. After just a few lines, she was horrified and jerked her hand up to her mouth so she wouldn’t scream. Now she definitely had to sit down.

  It took a while for her to comprehend what this letter from her aunt meant. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she momentarily closed her eyes. She got up from her chair and slowly went upstairs. As she passed her father’s room, she knocked on the doorjamb, though the door was open. He was packing his suitcase.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it, Luise. And I can’t tell you what’s happened.”

  She held out the crumpled letter toward him. “I already know. I read Aunt Vera’s letter.”

  Robert hesitated for a moment before he went back to packing. “So you know. Well, I can’t change that, though I wish you hadn’t read that letter.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Now go to your room and pack. Malambuku will find the next ship.”

  “I don’t want to go with you, Father.”

  Robert looked daggers at her. “We both know I’ve heard those words before, and they came from your mother’s mouth. And we know where that’s led. So you are coming, and I’m not going to discuss it.”

  “I don’t want to be there when you two meet.” Luise began crying bitter tears.

  Robert had been exasperated, but the sight of her moved him. He laid down his shirt, went over, and took her in her arms. “I’m so, so sorry that you have to go through this.”

  “I don’t want to go to Hamburg for a whole month and watch my parents fighting. Please, Father, let me stay here! I’m old enough. Malambuku is here and will take care of me if there’s any trouble.”

  Robert sat back on the bed, undermined. “I feel like everything’s slipping away from me. If you don’t come with me now, the family will be torn apart once and for all.”

  “It already was, a long time ago,” Luise said bitterly.

  “Yes, that’s true.” It looked as if Robert would burst into tears any second, but he pulled himself together. “I do understand why you don’t want to come,” he conceded. “But I’ve definitely got to go.”

  “Of course. I’ll be here when you come back.”

  “Even if I travel as fast as possible, I won’t be here for your birthday, Luise.”

  “That’s all right.” She nodded at him.

  He put his hands to his face. “I’m miserable. I’m sorry you have to see me in this state.”

  “I hate Mother for what she’s done to you.” Luise bit her lip.

  Robert dropped his hands. “I will get this settled.”

  “What will you do when you get to Hamburg?”

  “If you weren’t my daughter, I’d say I’d go to the villa and beat the hell out of my brother.” He snorted. “But because you’re my daughter, I’ll say I will talk to your mother and bring her and Martha back to Cameroon.”

  “And then?”

  “And then what?”

  “What will happen? It certainly wasn’t easy when she was here before. Do you think it’s going to be any better after all that’s happened?”

  “No.” Robert shook his head. “It won’t. But I have to do something.”

  Luise hesitated before asking her next question. “Do you think Aunt Vera’s right about Uncle Georg and Mother trying to poison her?”

  “No, I don’t. Vera must be exaggerating. No, Luise. Your mother may not have been the woman I wanted for your mother and my wife, but she would never make an attempt on anyone’s life.”

  His answer was a relief to Luise.

  “I’ll take care of the harvest while you’re away.”

  Something struck Robert when she said that. “Yes, do that. But don’t send anything to Hamburg.”

  “No?”

  “No. If there’s the slightest bit of truth in what Vera claims, I won’t be working with Georg from now on.”

  “But the firm needs our beans,” Luise argued.

  “Yes. But partnerships are based on trust and honesty. If this is true, Georg won’t get one single, wretched bean from us again.”

  “But who will we sell to?”

  “I’ll see to that,” declared Robert, who was starting to think ahead. “Karl has the Vienna business. We can ship to him directly. And if he’d prefer to stay out of it, I’ll find new clients. Believe me, Luise, we’ll be fine. But if Georg has done this, I’ll see to it that he’s ruined.”

  Luise saw a transformation in her father. Though he’d just been shocked and was desperately disappointed, his growing rage gave him strength to make plans, even if they were designed to harm his brother.

  Robert finished packing, and they went downstairs.

  Malambuku had just come through the door and looked at them expectantly. “Where to, sango?”

  “I must go to Hamburg, Malambuku. Luise will be staying here. Promise me you’ll watch out for her.”

  “Promise to protect nyango like a daughter.”

  “Thank you, Malambuku.”

  “Hamza will sleep in house until sango return so nyango is never alone.”

  Robert looked at him. “Excellent idea, Malambuku. What do you say, Luise? Let’s have Hamza sleep here. I’d be pleased.”

  “Why, yes, that sounds fine,” she replied, feeling a little overwhelmed. Hamza with her night and day? She didn’t know what to think. But she’d have been lying if she’d said she wasn’t excited at the thought.

  “When’s the next ship, Malambuku?”

  “Today, sango,” Malambuku stated. “Not the ship that takes the beans. Smaller.”

  “Can I still make it?”

  “By horse, yes, if not, no.”

  Robert turned to Luise. Their goodbye came sooner than expected. He hugged his daughter tightly.

  “You know the ropes. There’s money enough upstairs where I sho
wed you. If you’ve trouble making a decision, ask Malambuku for advice.”

  “Yes, Father, I’ll manage.”

  He kissed her on the forehead. “I’m so sorry I can’t be here for your birthday.”

  “If you don’t leave this very minute, you will be!” She gave him a big hug. “Take care of yourself!”

  “You, too.” Robert hugged her back. Malambuku had ordered a horse while they were saying their goodbyes; the suitcase was already tied onto it, and Robert rushed off.

  Luise had tears in her eyes as she waved goodbye. She asked herself what she would do if he didn’t return, if something were to happen to him. She’d be all alone. She brushed the thought aside. Father would come back—she could rely on that. But the anxiety wasn’t completely dispelled.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Vienna, Mid-November 1889

  Karl scanned the full shelves in his warehouse happily. It wasn’t filled to capacity, but Georg’s latest shipment would last a good while. And more was expected in two weeks. Karl hoped Robert could ship enough to fill his warehouse so stock wouldn’t get as low as it had last year before the next harvest.

  He’d been working until near exhaustion recently, hoping to drive Florentinus and their affair out of his head. There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t wonder whether he ought to write to Florentinus and try to explain why he’d said those terrible things and how sorry he was. But Karl knew that would be a mistake. Things were fine the way they were; any rapprochement would have been accompanied by a danger that Karl wanted to avoid at all costs.

  It had proved hard to be a better husband to Therese and forge a life befitting a real man. He still had to summon images in his mind in bed at night so he could perform, but he justified it by telling himself it served a greater purpose. He could feel how pleased Therese was that he was more attentive to her, and he showed her as often as possible how desirable he found her. Yes, everything was as it should be.

  He just mustn’t dwell on Florentinus anymore. When they met again—unavoidable, given their family ties—time would have healed his wounded feelings. But Karl knew that this wouldn’t apply equally to his love. He loved that man as he’d never loved anyone before, or would again. It was a cruel fate that the two people he’d give his life for were, of all people, brother and sister.

  Karl heard a customer come in and speak with Felix. Karl recognized the man’s voice but couldn’t place it, so he put down the bag he was packing and went out front.

  “I still find the taste slightly bitter. Is there something else I could try?”

  “Good day,” Karl greeted the customer, preempting Felix’s answer.

  The customer seemed to think for a minute before his face registered recognition. “Good day.”

  “I’ll take it from here, thank you, Felix. If you could just finish the sorting back there.” He turned to the customer. “How nice to see you here as a customer, Doctor.”

  “I had no idea this was your company, Herr Hansen. It is Hansen, isn’t it?”

  “Quite right.”

  “You’re looking better. Is it going well?”

  “Yes, thank you. Fortunately I haven’t had another attack, and my heartbeat is calm and regular.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “Did I hear you have a question about the beans?”

  “Yes, indeed. When I have hot chocolate in a café, it’s sweet and not at all bitter. But when my housekeeper makes it at home, it has a kind of bitter aftertaste. Can you tell me what might cause that?”

  Karl breathed an inward sigh of relief. For a brief moment he feared the doctor had come for another reason. Maybe, he thought, the doctor had suspected something about his relationship with Florentinus and was now, armed with this knowledge or at least a suspicion, going to confront them with the fact that they both were liable to prosecution.

  “Yes, I’ve had the same experience,” Karl said. “It’s very possible that your housekeeper is roasting the beans too much. It’s best to roast them slowly on a low heat.”

  “The heat. Yes, that’s possible. She’s always in a hurry when roasting the beans.”

  “And that ruins the beans. The roasting process takes time. Tell your housekeeper to have a little more patience. And let me know if it still tastes bitter the next time you come.”

  “Many thanks for your advice, Herr Hansen. I would like a quarter pound, please.”

  “With pleasure.”

  Karl adjusted the weight on the scales and poured the beans into a bowl on the other. Not until he heard the weighted side move up did he stop pouring.

  The doctor looked pleased, paid for his purchase, and picked up the paper bag.

  “I will let you know if this works,” he promised. “Goodbye—and stay healthy, Herr Hansen.”

  “And a very fine day to you, Doctor . . .”

  “Sulzbach,” he reminded him. “Doctor Ludwig Sulzbach.”

  “I’ll not forget your name next time, I promise.”

  Dr. Sulzbach left the store, and Karl stared at the door, lost in thought. He must stop his constant worrying and anxiety over every encounter or harmless remark. Seeing the doctor again was the proof. Karl vowed to work day by day to rid himself of the fears and doubts he was disposed to. He knew he could manage to do that much. The door opened again, and a pleasant-looking woman entered. He greeted her politely, and she asked for cocoa beans to make her own chocolate, just as Dr. Sulzbach had.

  “I want very badly to learn the secret,” she said.

  “What do you mean?” He became anxious again.

  “Your wife’s secret.” She pointed a finger at Karl. “I’ve seen you together several times. You deliver the cocoa, and your wife makes them into the most delicious chocolate in all of Vienna.” She smiled. “They’re the same beans. Eventually I am going to find out what’s in it, why your wife’s chocolate tastes so good.”

  Karl returned her smile. “Well, you won’t get anything from me.” He pretended to lock his mouth with a key.

  They chatted until the lady took her bag and left. Karl shook his head at himself. Once again, he’d recoiled in horror just because somebody used the word secret. This must stop! Once and for all! After closing the office for the night, he looked in on the café to see if Therese was working late, as she’d been doing every evening in recent weeks. Renovating the space next door had paid off but demanded its tribute. Therese was working even more, and a question that hadn’t concerned Karl before was now foremost in his mind: What would happen when she became pregnant?

  He rapped on the window. “Therese! It’s me!”

  She was wiping the tables and looked up when she heard his knock. A smile brightened her face, and she let her husband in.

  “Good evening.” He gave her a kiss. “You look exhausted, my little sunshine.”

  “I am. But happy.” She turned around and swept her hand around the room. “Just a bit more to do, then everything’s the way I want it.”

  “Can I help?”

  “No, it won’t take long. But if you want to wait, we could go home together.”

  “You’re probably the only woman in the world who works harder than her husband.”

  Therese laughed. “No, my dear. Not by a long shot. It’s that men have a remarkable ability to not see the work their wives do—except you.”

  “You sound like those Englishwomen talking about women’s rights.”

  “To tell the truth, I’ve read about them,” Therese acknowledged. “They’re demanding that women get the right to vote, did you know that?”

  “I’ve heard about it,” Karl replied. “But honestly, I don’t think their struggle stands a chance.”

  Therese became serious. “So you’re against it?”

  “No, I didn’t say that. If every woman were as clever as you, it would be a crime not to let her vote. Clever minds are needed. You might not want to hear this, Therese, but very few women are like you. If I think about my sisters-in
-law, for example . . .”

  “What about them?”

  “Well, how shall I put it: things like work and responsibility are completely foreign to them.”

  “Doesn’t sound like I’d like them.” She looked around. “But we can discuss that some other time,” she declared. “Or we’ll never get out of here.” She picked up her rag and went back to wiping the tables.

  “Speaking of my family, I wanted to ask you something.”

  “Yes?”

  “I got a letter from my brother Georg with the last shipment, and he tells me that Robert and Luise will likely be in Hamburg for Christmas. What do you think: Should we seize the opportunity to go there for the holidays so you can meet my family?”

  “I’d hoped we could go to my parents’ like last year. It was the first time I truly enjoyed Christmas there.”

  Karl shuddered at the thought of meeting Florentinus there. The atmosphere certainly wouldn’t be as jolly as the previous year’s was for him. “But you haven’t met anybody in my family.”

  “You’re right.” Therese moved on to the next table. “Though I think we should take into account that the café brings in the most money before and after the holidays, and I’d have to close it for such a long time.”

  “You don’t want to meet my family, do you?”

  “Not so.” She turned around, gave him a quick look, and hurriedly wiped the next table. “Well, maybe I’m a little afraid they wouldn’t like me.”

  Karl walked over and laid his hand on her back. “How could you even think such a thing?”

  She sighed and straightened up. “I think your family might be just as stuffy and conservative as mine. That I just won’t fit in.”

  He took her in his arms. “Just like me, my little sunshine. And that’s why we’re such a good match.” He kissed her tenderly and took the cloth out of her hand. “Tomorrow’s another day, and now we’re going home. Agreed?”

  “Agreed.”

  She took his arm and leaned her head against it.