Written by Guy, Fri Sep 4 10:49:41 US/Pacific 1998
Chapter 3
Munich, Bavaria, February 12, late afternoon
The call came shortly after 5:30 p.m.: "All passengers to Munich, arrival in 15 minutes."
Father Karel opened his eyes and looked around him with astonishment. At first he neither knew where he was nor what the call was about. Slowly, he remembered it all: the catacombs, the diary, Chartres and now Munich. The monk checked his watch Very good, the old man thought, he would be able to reach Rittersberg by 8:00 p.m. Father closed his eyes once again, wishing to rest until the train reaches Munich. However, the growing excitement kept him awake.
The 13:00 p.m. train from Chartres was now entering to Munich's station. The old monk got off the train.
-"I won't stop by the monastery", he thought, "but I shall call them in order to speak with Father Helmut. After all, we had both found the diary."
Father Karel went to a telephone booth, grabbed the receiver and dialled the number of the monastery. Few seconds afterwards, a gentle voice replied.
-"Monastery of the Revellation, Father Luka speaking."
-"Hello Brother Luka, it is I, Karel."
-"Brother Karel? Is that you?"
-"Yes", the monk simply replied. "I'd like to speak with Brother Helmut, please. It's quite urgent."
-"Well Brother Karel, I am sorry to inform you that Brother Helmut is no longer among us. He died last night, heart attack I'm afraid. We found his body lying down on the floor. However, strangely enough, the poor man's arm was broken, probably because he had fallen from his bed."
The monk closed his eyes. Because of the immense shock that he felt, he couldn't say a word.
-"Brother Karel? Are you still there?"
-"Yes I am", the old man replied. "It's a real shock. Brother Helmut was such a healthy man. Are you sure it was a heart attack?"
-"What do you mean by that?" Father Luka asked. "Of course we are sure it was", he then quickly added, "what else could it be."
-"It all sounds very mysterious", Father Karel explained.
After a while, Father Luka said.
-"The Reverent Father Hoegner would like to speak with you."
The monk didn't have enough time to react that he'd already heard the familiar voice.
-"Brother Karel, Father Hoegner speaking. Are you still there?"
-"Of course Reverent Father, where else could I be?"
-"I understand Father Luka told you about Helmut. Such a great loss. He shouldn't have told you about it by phone. Why don't you come to the monastery? Brother Helmut and you were close-friends. You should pay him your respect."
-"I don't have much time Reverent Father. Pray tell me how he died?"
-"I thought Luka had explained it to you", Father Hoegner sounded puzzled.
-"Well, the circumstances appear to be rather obscure don't you think?"
-"Not necessarily", the Reverent Father replied. "He was subjected to a heart attack, fell off his bed and broke his arm."
-"I saw him before my depart. He was in a very good shape. Moreover, Brother Helmut was very young. If I'm not mistaken he was only 29 years old.
-"Well", Father Hoegner mumbled, "it can strike at any age, even young and apparently healthy men."
-"Still, I doubt it. Perhaps we should call a doctor or the police. I know it's against the monastery's regulations, but..."
-"Why don't you come here Karel, so we can discuss on the matter?"
-"I've already told you, Reverent Father, I can't. But I'll be back tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."
-"Where are you?" Father Hoegner asked.
-"I'm in Munich", the monk answered.
-"Give me the address", the Reverent Father suggested, "so we can pick you up. Then my driver can take you to wherever you want."
-"I am sorry Reverent Father but I am in a real hurry."
It was then that Father Karel finally realized what was happening. The Reverent Father was trying to persuade him to stop by the monastery at any price. The monk quickly checked his watch. He noticed he had been speaking for about ten minutes, far enough to track his call down. The monk hung up the phone and then left the booth.
Reverent Father Hoegner replaced the receiver back and then turned to Father Luka.
-"I'm sorry, Reverent Father", Luka whispered, "I've made a terrible mistake."
Hoegner looked at him for a while and then, with furious anger, he slapped the trembling monk.
-"You idiot!" The Reverent Father yelled. "If you hadn't told him about Helmut's death, perhaps he would have come to the monastery. Now we have to find him, you imbecile!"
-"I know, I know", Father Luka cried.
Disgusted from the monk's childish reaction, Hoegner ordered him: "Get out of here. I don't want you to be messing around anymore."
As soon as Father Luka left the room, the Reverent Father picked up the receiver and dialled a short number. The reply came almost at once.
-"Yes, Reverent Father?"
-"Have you tracked his call down?" He simply asked.
-"Of course. Karel fell right into the trap: talking and talking..."
-"Yes", Hoegner smiled, "that was the easy part. From where was he calling?"
-"From Koning Strasse. It's where the railway station is loacted."
-"I know. Helmut told our men that Father Karel had gone to Chartres. We should have caught him at the station instead of sending our two golden boyes to Chartres."
-"I don't think so, it's good to have them there. Watching the place around."
-"I must agree with you", the Reverent Father remarked and then he added, "if I'm not mistaken, you live in Munich. Why don't YOU go after him?"
-"You underestimate me Father", the man's voice replied sarcastically, "I've already sent my best man on the case. He'll catch him in no time, don't you worry."
-"I don't. Your man must find the diary. Father Karel has it on him. I'm quite sure about that. After all, I've known the man for more than 30 years."
-"I hope so. Next time don't let anyone wander around the catacombs. I don't think the Great Master will tolerate such a mistake again."
-"You haven't told him about that, have you?" Hoegner asked, gained by the fear.
-"I had to, Reverent Father. It was my duty. Would you like to know what he said about it?"
-"I'm not so sure..."
-"He said: tell Hoegner that there are many potential Reverent Fathers."
The mysterious man started to laugh and then he hung up the phone, leaving behind him a rather shocked Hoegner, still holding the receiver.
After he had left the phone booth, Father Karel walked along Koning Strasse. Few minutes later, he entered a large department store in Yung Strasse. The monk made his way quickly to the clothes section. He picked up a white sweater, a pair of blue jeans, a black coat and a green Bavarian hat as well. The old man paid for his purchases.
-"Would you mind if I change off my clothes right away?"
-"Not at all", the cashier smiled. "It was the first time that he saw a monk buying ordinary clothes."
Father Karel thanked him and entered the cabin-room. He wore on the clothes and left the cabin, abandoning his brown tunic behind.
Comfortable and more relaxed, the monk wandered around Yung Strasse. Soon he found what he was looking for: a post office. Father Karel entered it, bought a large envelope and some stamps as well.
-"Could I borrow your pen, please?" He asked the clerk.
Father Karel wrote down the address of the Schattenjager, put the diary in the envelope, thanked the clerk and left the building. "I won't sent it from here", he thought, "since the people who might chase me could track my way down to the post office."
After twenty minutes of wandering around Munich, the monk came by a red mailbox in Friedrich Strasse. He put the envelope in it, quite proud of himself. "Now, I've done everything I could. However, the most difficult part is still to come."
The old man checked his watch: 6:45 p.m.
"I have to leave this city as soon as possible. Calling on a cab is out of the question. My "enemies" might be connected to the taxi's radio system."
The monk then looked at the mountains that surrounded the city.
"Yes", he smiled, "I shall climb up the mountains, cross the woods and reach Rittersberg on foot, and thus they won't be able to track me down."
Saying that, Father Karel entered a small shop and bought a map of the region.
The "Nächstenliebe" inn, Polach, February 12, 1998, 11:35 p.m.
It was growing dark and the air of the Bavarian village was chill when the old monk appeared at the inn's door.
-"Look", the innkeeper's wife whispered, "an old man has just arrived."
The innkeeper's name was Hugo. He was 35 years old and had been the owner of the inn since his father's death in 1988. Hugo liked living in Polach. During the winter they had few customers lodging in the inn. However, in the summer, his business flourished.
-"What can I do for you, sir?" Hugo asked the visitor.
-"I would like to have a room for tonight", Father Karel answered. "I know it's pretty late, but I've travelled a long way."
-"Don't worry about that, sir", the innkeeper smiled, "many of our guests arrive by night. I have a nice cosy room, waiting just for you. If you don't mind", Hugo pointed at a large notebook, "write down your name and address here, and then I'll be glad to show you the way to your room."
-"By all means", the monk simply replied, picking up the notebook.
-"Well", Hugo continued while consulting the registration book, "Herr Berger, please, follow me."
Now that the formalities were over, the monk followed the innkeeper, showing him the way to his room.
-"Herr Berger, I've noticed you come from Shäyen. Where is it?"
-"It's a small village located in the northern part of the country", Father Karel lied, hoping God would forgive him this little sin.
-"I see. Have you ever been to Polach before?"
-"No, never. This is my first visit. I must say, that even by night, the village looks simply beautiful."
-"You're right. We are all proud of our beloved Polach."
-"You should be."
The two men reached the room number twelve. The innkeeper unlocked the door and turned on the lights.
-"As you can see, Herr Berger, the room is simple but has all modern facilities: a radiator over there, a bathroom on your left and a TV on the table by the bed. I'm afraid we don't have too many channels. There is no telephone in the room. If you need to call someone, you'll have to go to the reception room. If you want to take a bath, I suggest you to do it right now, because the boiler is still on and hot. That's about all."
-"Thank you very much", the monk said.
-"Oh yes, breakfast is from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m."
-"I see."
-"Anything else you'd like to know?" The innkeeper asked.
-"No, that would be fine, thank you."
-"Have a good night then", Hugo smiled and then left the room.
Finally alone, Father Karel sat on the bed, extremely exhausted.
-"I've made it", he mumbled, "I've escaped from Munich. I'll go to Rittersberg first thing in the morning."
He checked on his map and noticed that Rittersberg was only twenty km away. Father Karel put the map in his coat's right pocket and entered the bathroom. He turned on the tap and washed his face with hot water. Suddenly, he stood still, some frightening thoughts crossing his mind. "What if the monastery has spies here?" He then considered the envelope he had sent to the Schattenjager. "How stupid I was", he thought, "I didn't put any note in the envelope. Perhaps the Schattenjager wouldn't know what this diary is about. I should write a few words in case something happens to me. Then I'll hide it somewhere safe.
Saying that, the monk exited the bathroom. He opened the nighstand's drawer and retrieved some black papers, bearing the name and address of the inn, and a pen as well. He sat by the table and wrote something down for several minutes. Afterwards, Father Karel opened the room's door and entered the corridor. "I'll ask the innkeeper to put it in a safe. There must be one somewhere in the inn." When the monk arrived to the reception room, no one was there. It seemed as if the innkeeper had gone to his room. Father Karel checked his watch: 0:20 a.m. "Well", he thought, "it's pretty late. I have to find another place to hide it.
As he was climbing the stairs leading back to his room, the monk heard a suspicious noise coming from the reception room. Without even looking behind, Father Karel entered the corridor. He had to get rid of the note- hide it somewhere. The monk looked around and his gaze fell on the room number 11. He approached the door and listened carefully. He could here the sound of the television. Someone was in there. Father Karel knelt and slid the piece of paper under the door. Afterwards, he quickly unlocked his room and entered it. The monk strained his ears but couldn't hear a thing. Obviously, nobody was there. "I am just getting a little paranoiac", he thought.
Father Karel put off his clothes and placed them on the chair next to the table. He listened once again, but no noise came from the corridor. Relaxed, the monk made his way to the bathroom. "I'll take the note back from my neighbour's room tomorrow". He turned on the water and entered the bathtub. Father Karel closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of the water. Unfortunately, he couldn't see the dark figure that slipped into the room.
Suddenly a strong hand grabbed his neck and another one covered his mouth.
-"Spare me the usual nonsense and let's ger right to business", the aggressor said.
The monk nodded and the dark figure removed her hand from his mouth.
-"Now that we understand each other", the man continued, "tell me where is the diary?"
-"I don't have it anymore", Father Karel answered.
-"Where is it then?"
-"I left it in Chartres", the old man lied.
-"That's a good start", the aggressor smiled, "and where did you hide in Chartres?"
-"You'll have to discover it by yourself."
The aggressor pulled out a knife.
-"I'm sure you don't wish to die."
-"Don't pretend to be more stupid than you really are", Father Karel remarked, "I know you'll kill me, whether I tell you the answer or not."
-"You are right, but I can make it more painful."
-"Then do it."
-"You know what, I don't wish to waste my time with you."
Saying that he put his hand on the monk's mouth once again.
-"We'll find the diary", the aggressor whispered to his victim's ear. "I'll look around the room very carefully, and if indeed I don't find it here, I'll tell my friends to look for it in Chartres. You, dear old man, won't be messing around any longer. The Order has elaborated some other plans just for you..."
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