Written by Britta Ventura, Sat 25/04/98 13:58
Chapter 5
Gerda waited for Gabriel downstairs. She had rented a car for him, but somehow she didn’t want to let him go to Munich. It didn’t seem right to her. The whole night she had gone through files, letters, books and papers about werewolves, the curse, von Glower and what had happened to Gabriel. Still she felt pity for the black wolf. His motives were understandable and not evil. Maybe it was ment to be. Maybe..... She heard Gabriel come down the stairs. They had to talk about it, she had to convince him in whatever way possible.
"Good morning" she smiled.
"Mhm..." he wasn’t in the mood for chit chat. This was the day where he would check out things for his plan to kill Friedrich. Then why didn’t he feel any satisfaction. Why the torment.
"Gabriel, I don’t think you should do it!"
"So, and why is that?" he practically leaped at her.
"Gabriel, you need his help. And he needs yours."
"Yeah, he needs my help! For what? A little hunting trip? His private little pleasures?"
"Stop it!" Gerda shouted "You know, why. He needs a friend. He wants to be yours. He can help you. Gabriel, he isn’t a monster. Not any more than you are. Did you ever see him hurt anyone?"
"It is not your business, Gerda. There is no other way to free me off the curse!"
"Oh, there sure is!" with a sudden move Gerda drew a pistol from beneath her desk and pointed it a Gabriel’s head "I could shoot YOU. That would free you, wouldn’t it?"
"No, Gerda! What are you doing?" Gabriel trembled. He started to back off, but two steps later the wall stopped him. He was caught.
"Are you afraid Gabriel? Why? Maybe you will come back to life remember?"
When Gabriel arrived at the university he was still slightly trembling. He drew a deep breath and started the long walk to the security section.
Doctor Bruns already awaited him.
"Hello, Mr. Knight. Good to see you."
"Good evening Doctor Bruns. Do you mind if I have a look around?"
"No certainly not. We have everything prepared. The cage is already on the truck back there."
"Thank you Doctor Bruns. I would like to check how you manage to hold him."
Near the truck several people stood around. Two of them were clearly officials. They tried to look very important. The other three seemed to be staffmembers.
The moment Gabriel came near the truck the two officials blocked his way.
"Herr Volkmer, Herr Reinsdorf this is okay. Mr. Knight is working with us. Please let him proceed." Doctor Bruns explained.
With a look of distrust the two men stepped aside.
Now Gabriel stood directly in front of the truck. He had to check the lock, so he would know how to manipulate it. He walked around to the back and climbed up to the cage. A heavy military coverall for vehicles covered the cage. Gabriel slowly lifted one corner of the cover and fingered for the lock. No, he would have to lift the cover a little more. Some light spilled into the cage. There, in the very corner sat Friedrich. Coiled up like a hunted animal. He had pulled his knees up to his chest, his arms around them and his head was resting on his knees. Gabriel stopped in his movements.
Where was that proud, slightly arrogant but so enjoyable man gone he had known so well. What he saw was a wreck. The wreck lifted his head. Gabriel wanted to turn away but he couldn’t. Again he saw them. Dark, sunken and pleading for help. Any help that would be offered.
"You know what you have to do Gabriel," Friedrich’s voice cracked "you are a Schattenjäger after all."
"I.... I think I know" Gabriel stammered.
It took them about two hours to drive to the place where the test was to be held. Gabriel sat in the front of the truck. He felt uneasy, he could hear Friedrich in the back, could feel his desperation.
In a small clearing of the Bavarian forest they stopped. Everyone got out and helped pulling away the coverall. Doctor Bruns started setting up his instruments. It was a perfect night for the first test. Only very few clouds were to be seen and the nearly full moon shone brightly. Doctor Bruns checked the lock again and then they waited.
Gabriel stood a little further away, fighting his own problems. The tension off his muscles was hardly bearable tonight. He stared at the cage, nothing happened. Somehow he had expected it. His nerves were starting to break down, the trembling grew worse. He hoped no one would notice it. But someone knew. This someone stood up and walked to the corner of his cage nearest to Gabriel and looked at him. Gabriel felt his muscles relax a little. The trembling didn’t seem so bad now.
The officials started to get restless "Doctor Bruns, this is ridiculous. Nothing will happen. We don’t have a full moon anyhow."
Only Gabriel could see the slight smile that curved the lips of von Glower’s mouth.
‘Off course nothing is going to happen. They transform at will’ Gabriel thought. His mind raced. His plan .... nothing would work out. ‘So it has come to what Gerda said. I have to talk with him. He will never freely change and run. I can’t shoot him while he is still human. Not in front of all these people.’ Gabriel nearly panicked.
He didn’t notice Doctor Bruns who turned to von Glower. But then he could hear something "..... lock open ....... run ........ now...."
Gabriel looked around. Everyone was bored and cold by now and no one was paying any attention to the cage whatsoever.
Then it all happened very quickly. Before Gabriel could yell out a warning he heard an inhuman roar and he saw the black wolf as he flung himself at he cage door.
The door swung open and a cloud started sliding in front of the moon. Everyone suddenly rushed around grabbing for guns and flashlights. But Gabriel could see the wolf. He started after it. He could smell it. The wolf raced through the woods, like a rabbit he was darting from left to right. Gabriel could feel the burning of his own blood as he ran after the wolf.
Suddenly the wolf stopped. It looked directly at Gabriel. He could hear the other people running of far away. Yellow eyes glistened in the darkness. ‘Go back’ they seemed to say. With that the wolf shot around and off he was.
Gabriel slowly turned back to the clearing. He felt numb. How could it all happen. How did the cage door open? Even before seeing him, Gabriel smelled Doctor Bruns. His fear, near terror was omnipresent, it was like a vile stench. He must have opened the door.
Doctor Bruns stepped out from behind a nearby tree.
"Please Mr. Knight, wait."
"Doctor Bruns, you let him out!" Gabriel wanted to confront him with what he thought he knew.
"How..... how did you know?" Doctor Bruns face clearly became a few shades paler.
"I know, that should suffice." Strong anger aroused in Gabriel.
"Please Mr. Knight, come. I will try to explain it to you."
When they reached the clearing, the truck had already gone. They were alone.
"I sent the others back to the university." Doctor Bruns unlocked his car.
They started down the road. Gabriel sat in silence beside Doctor Bruns. About after an hour Doctor Bruns stopped his car at the side of the road.
"Why did you did you do it?" Gabriel shot a warning glance.
"I think I felt guilty. We had to run all these tests, we had to hurt him in the process. If you had seen it. Every day it was getting worse. The tests they wanted became more brutal and useless by the day. I am sure in the end it was planned to kill and dissect him. I watched him suffer. He is a human being after all."
"How can you say he is a human being. You saw what happened."
"Yes, but is it worse compared to what other people do? Killing, terror, war and so called science? Is it worse than what we were doing to him? What could I have done?"
"Maybe you could have held him secure. Kept him in your laboratory."
"Oh Mr. Knight. And then? Should I send him to the zoo? Put him on ice like an old fish?"
"No of course not." Gabriel tried to understand, but Doctor Bruns continued.
"I tried to find a way to set him free. This was the only possibility, so I opened the lock and told him to run. Thank God no one was fast enough to shoot him."
Doctor Bruns started his car again. Gabriel felt lost. All his hopes were gone. No chance left for him.
They arrived in Munich by 2 a.m.. Doctor Bruns brought Gabriel to his car and thanked him again for his silence.
Gabriel took it easy this time on his long way home. At least a thousand thought crossed his mind. He reflected on the night that was about to pass. The coldness and the darkness. His fear someone might discover his own problems. The sudden change as Friedrich got a little closer. The shock when he escaped.
But what confused him the most, were his own feelings as he raced after the wolf. The one side wanted to shout out "Run Friedrich, run!" and the other side wanted to see the wolf dead. It reminded him of his dreams. Suddenly he felt a stab of sorrow. It would have to be like this as a hunted animal. Never to be safe, always someone after you. He felt sympathy for his... yes, his friend Friedrich. For the first time, he thought of their first evening together when they had just met.
Now he was certain, he had to talk to Friedrich. Maybe they could find a way. Maybe he could help him.
Sudden emptiness overwhelmed Gabriel. He let his head sink on the steering wheel. Friedrich was gone. And surely gone for good.
He parked in front of the castle entrance. Much to his misery he saw another car parked there. ’Oh no, not another visitor again’ he thought ‘I need some peace and quiet now’.
As he entered, he could already hear laughter and the distinct sound of wineglasses coming from the main living-room. Gerda was clearly having a good time. He would have to throw the guest out. But first he needed something to drink. In the kitchen he found half a bottle of Gin. After a big gulp he prepared himself for the unwanted guest.
Harder than wanted he pulled the door open "I’m sorry but I would like you to go now...." his voice trailed off.
The bottle slipped from his hand and shattered on the ground.
The guest sitting close to Gerda facing her, slowly turned around and a warm welcoming smile crossed his face.
Gerda got up "Oh no, not again Gabriel. Why is it that every time you get confused, you throw around with your drinks?" and as she walked passed Gabriel she whispered "You never told me that your friend is such a ...’Wolf-charming’!"
"Gabriel it is really good to see you again." Friedrich stood up and crossed the room to Gabriel. But just before he reached him, unsure, his smile faltered.
Gabriel suddenly felt an unknown belonging. He felt home and secure. At home with his .... pack. It felt good....he couldn’t help it. He was glad Friedrich was alive.
They would surely find a way.
Gabriel stretched out both hands. "Welcome back Friedrich. Welcome back."
Friedrich stared at Gabriel’s outstretched hands, not believing what he saw. This was more than he ever had hoped for.
Would his biggest dream actually come true? With an expression of gratitude and friendship he reached for Gabriel’s hands.
"Come, let us sit down." Gabriel took a step towards the couch "You must tell me everything. I want to know all about you and your life."
"Gabriel, that would take longer than you can imagine." For the first time Friedrich felt the satisfaction of being able to absolutely open himself to somebody he trusted.
He could bring his life and feelings, his joy and sadness out in the open.
"Well I suppose we do have the time, Friedrich. After all we are kind of immortal, aren’t we?"
The laughter broke the tension between them.
They sat for hours talking, laughing and joining each others stories. As the sun started spilling into the room, the fire in the fireside had burned out, the wine bottles emptied, Friedrich had barely finished his life story of the first century.
Gerda stepped into the room "I can’t believe it, don’t tell me you have been up all night. Don’t you two need any sleep?"
Friedrich and Gabriel grinned at each other.
"No, we don’t need that much sleep" Friedrich turned to Gerda "but some coffee and breakfast would be very much appreciated."
As they sat at the kitchen table, Friedrich regarded Gabriel with a very serious look "We have to do something about you, Gabriel. You have to learn how to live and behave as a wolf."
Gabriel felt uneasy. This was a subject he hoped to avoid, but Friedrich was right, he couldn’t just ignore it.
"I think it would be best to leave Schloss Ritter and go somewhere more secluded. Maybe my hunting lodge at Alfdorf would be best. There I can show you what to do and help you with your first steps." Friedrich continued.
Sudden anger and fear filled Gabriel. He jumped up from the table. "I don’t want you to pry into my life and personality." He stared at Friedrich. He tried to build himself up to his full height and tried to compose himself. Then he noticed Friedrich’s eyes. They were a clear order from a leader to his inferior. Gabriel turned and stormed out of the kitchen.
Gerda looked worried "He hasn’t been himself lately" she tried to excuse Gabriel.
"I know" Friedrich looked at her "I remember what it felt like. It will get better, don’t worry. I will not let anything happen to him nor will I drop him. Please Gerda, get Gabriel some clothes ready for about two to three weeks and put them into my car."
Gerda gave Friedrich a questioning look.
"I will take Gabriel with me, he might get dangerous in the next few days and I will be the only one to calm him down. He is very strong." Friedrich stood up and went after Gabriel. He found him outside, sitting on a snow-covered rock. Gabriel hardly heard the soft steps behind him. "Gabriel, do you feel better now?"
Gabriel shot up from the rock and whirled around to find Friedrich standing right in front of him. He took a deep breath "Yes, I suppose so. I’m sorry, I think I’m still not used to the thought of being a monster now. I always thought I was the one to hunt monsters down and not be one myself."
"Gabriel, you are no monster, nor am I myself. We only have different abilities than other people." Friedrich started walking towards a path leading into the woods. "Come, Gabriel. Let me tell you some more about us." He saw Gabriel’s uncertain look. "Don’t worry. Nothing is going to happen to you right now. We will just take a walk." He carried on down the path. Before Friedrich vanished around the first bend, Gabriel set to follow him.
They walked the first meters in silence and Gabriel tried to stay focused on the nature surrounding them.
"I would like you to understand the nature of our being. We are not so much different from other people. Like some of them are able to wiggle their ears or some aren’t afraid of heights, we are able to transform at will into a wolf. Of course that is not the only thing we can do, but it is essentially it. With the wolf form come other abilities you will learn to use and cherish. It doesn’t automatically make us evil creatures, or loose monsters. You and I were born to live a different life than others and by doing so we are able to help and change our world." Friedrich turned to Gabriel "I know you have a thousand questions on your mind. Let me assure you that they will be answered in time. You are afraid what is going to happen to you and if you will still be the same person as before. Don’t let such things trouble your mind, it won’t change your inner self or character. That, you can only do yourself and you shouldn’t!"
Gabriel let Friedrich’s speech sink into him, maybe he was right somehow, but it still worried him a lot. Tonight would be the night of all nights. He didn’t want it.
Friedrich could sense Gabriel’s hesitation and continued "For you the gift will be, if well trained and kept in check, an unbelievable asset to you as a Schattenjäger. Just imagine the way you will be able to think yourself into your prey, animal or human, you can track them down, hide in the dark, just think of the possibilities. I will help you and guide you, but soon you will be able to run on your own."
"Friedrich, I don’t want to run at night. I am not like you, I only know it is wrong!"
"Gabriel! Gabriel" Friedrich took him by the shoulders and stopped him "you mustn’t try to shut that part out of your life. It will harm you, it can make you evil if you don’t control it. All the pressure building up inside of you will eventually turn you insane."
They had reached the castle again, Gabriel felt a little calmer being at home but Friedrich didn’t walk towards the entrance, instead he turned to his Jeep. "Come, it is already late and we have to leave for Alfdorf."
"No! No, I don’t want to go. This is not my life anymore. You won’t make me do it" Gabriel stopped in mid-sentence, he wasn’t sure; did he just hear a deep and angry growl or had it been a hallucination? Friedrich’s stare was very intense. Gabriel felt like a scolded child and walked over to the Jeep.
If you have any comments, you can email Britta Ventura at BuAVentura@compuserve.com.
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