Written by Britta Ventura, Sat 25/04/98 13:58
Chapter 4
In the early morning Doctor Bruns had walked down to the security section only to find yet another representative of the minister in his small office.
"Good morning Doctor Bruns. My name is Herr Volkmer. How are your tests working out? The minister urges you to speed it up a little."
"I assure you, we are doing the best we can Herr Volkmer." Doctor Bruns felt irritated.
"If that is so Doctor Bruns, it won’t be a problem for you, to run these little extra tests we have for you, will it?" with that Herr Volkmer handed him a folder.
"Good day to you and call us as soon as you have the new results." Herr Volkmer turned on his heels and walked out.
Doctor Bruns sat down and studied the folder. They really had some further tests here. Somehow they seemed to remember Doctor Bruns of the inquisition.
Nonetheless Doctor Bruns went to the laboratory. He ordered his staffmembers to prepare the subject for further examination.
This was done quite easily. They would let a nerve gas into the chamber to quiet him down and then strap him onto the examination table.
Doctor Bruns turned to the dressing room to change into his surgical gown. When he returned everything was prepared.
He took the folder, following tests would have to be finished today:
During all of the experiments Doctor Bruns kept a close eye at his subject. It rarely showed any reaction, but Doctor Bruns was sure it was mere self-control. He could see the pain and agony. And the longer they worked on their subject the more guilt he felt.
By the end of day it looked closer to death than ever. It didn’t even touch its food. They were just about to clear up the room, when one of his assistants started joking around, why not try and kill it and wait if it comes back to life again.
In that moment a single idea grew in the head of Doctor Bruns.
Gabriel had taken a long walk far out in the woods around Rittersberg. He had to make a plan how to kill Friedrich. It would be best to do so during the tests with Doctor Bruns at night. He wasn’t sure if the idea of the full moon was that good but they had little other choice. Gabriel could feel his blood burn stronger every day, so he suspected it wasn’t so absurd after all.
Maybe he could manipulate the lock of the cage, so that Friedrich could flee and Gabriel could shoot him in the attempt.
It sounded simple. They surely would bring some guns with anaesthetic arrows with them, so all he would have to do was swap the arrows with poisoned ones. He just had to create a strong poison. The first thing he would do, when he arrived at the castle, was to call Doctor Bruns to ask him if he could join them on the three nights out.
The day was setting and Gabriel hurried home. While he walked along the snow-covered paths he felt the air tingle at his bare face. Everything smelled fresh and somehow alive. He heard the snow beneath his boots. Pausing he looked down. I wonder how it would feel to walk without the boots, he thought. Without spending another thought he took his hiking-boots off.
Slowly and gently he took a few steps. It was freezing cold. It felt good. His steps quickened, his heart started pounding faster and faster. The surrounding flew past him.
Suddenly he stood in front of Schloss Ritter. Gerda looked out of a window down at Gabriel and his bare feet.
"Don’t you say a fucking word!" he hissed.
Later he sat in his study and called Doctor Bruns. It only took him several minutes to convince Doctor Bruns to take him out to the tests.
Now all he had to do was to find a strong poison, surely the books here could help him. He would also take a normal gun with him, so he could shoot Friedrich for good when he would be down from the poison, just to be sure.
Time went by and it was already way past midnight when Gabriel went to bed.
He felt feverish, the urge to go outside and hunt was growing stronger every day. But knowing he could end it all in a day or two made him feel a little better. Sleep came easily tonight.
It was dark, the wind was more like a storm. His lungs were burning. He paused for a second, just to check. Nothing, but he knew they were there. Somewhere....he couldn’t hear them. He couldn’t .... smell them. His left foot ached. He must have stepped onto something sharp. There he saw a movement. Panicking he started to run again, trashing into trees and branches, stumbling over roots and stones. He couldn’t see a damn thing. Why not? Why couldn’t he help himself? Suddenly he heard a voice "Run Gabriel, run!"
"I can’t!" he screamed in agony.
He heard laughter from around him. Voices "Now we have him. Let’s get him! He isn’t worth living."
"No!" Gabriel tried to duck. ‘Is your legacy any less of a curse or blessing then mine? Don’t confuse yourself with the ideas of good and evil’, where did he remember that from?
"Help me, please" ....... "Gabriel stop screaming!" Gerda was shaking him "Gabriel, it was just a dream!"
If you have any comments, you can email Britta Ventura at BuAVentura@compuserve.com.
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