Story So Far:
Missed Connection - Part I
Missed Connection - Part II
Have
you ever been to a new place that seemed oddly familiar? An uncanny feeling
that you had been there before but still couldn’t remember when. My brain was still very wooly. The drug had
clearly not worn off. But in the very dimly and flickeringly lit room, as I
slowly cast my eyes around to acquit myself with my surroundings, as I saw
every new thing, it seemed I have always known it would be there. It is
difficult to explain, it is almost like a cloth being pulled over from a
collection of your childhood toys. Until the cloth is removed you don’t know
what is underneath, but as progressively the cloth is pulled back what is slowly
revealed you know intimately.
The
statue of Buddha on the right side of the big hall, just by the side of the big
wooden crucifix hanging on the wall, wasn’t it always so? The small wooden
table where a few candles flickered disturbed by the draft as I entered, a
blazing fireside on the other side with the seating area, the stairway on the
far side from where I stood. Why did
this place look so familiar? Why?
As
my eyes slowly got accustomed to the dark, my heart froze.
There
were a number of people in the room. Standing silently, without word, without
movement.
The
door behind me closed and I felt Alexendra go past me and melt into the
crowd. I couldn’t see any faces only
dark outlines.
On
some invisible command, they seemed to start moving toward me all at once. I
estimated that there were perhaps twelve to fifteen people. Slowly, noiseless
moving toward me.
A
few hands reached out toward me as I broke into a cold sweat. It was perhaps
the most terrifying moment of my adult life.
“Otto.” A disembodied voice seemed to come out from
the group. “You are here. Finally”.
As
the hands touched me I realized one of them was Alexendra’s. She moved to my left side and put her hand
around my waist. Another man took hold of my right elbow. Slowly they propelled towards the stairs.
“We
knew you would come”. Suddenly they whole crowd noiselessly fell behind me as
Alexndra and the man on my right slowly took me up the stairs.
I
stammered, “Wha..What is the meaning of this?”
“You
will see.”
On
top of the stairs there was a small landing that led to a corridor that ran perpendicular
to it. One both sides there appeared to be rooms, but only one of the doors was
open and some light came out. I was taken toward that.
The
party including Alexendra stopped near the door and pushed me inside.
This
room was better lit but still with candles. Thankfully there were many of them.
Inside the room was a big bed. Again that strange feeling that I was in a place
that was very familiar. Was I going mad? Was this some crazy dream?
I
moved forward slowly toward the bed. In it lay a lady, almost in her forties.
Clearly ill.
And
then I saw her face. Beautiful, pale and tear streaked. I screamed
in a voice that was not mine. “Mein Gott!
Helen!”
I
can never explain how or why. I just knew that I was looking at Helen Schnee. Wife of SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Schnee.
No.
I was looking at the face of my wife!
2 comments:
Hello Jim - Redefining Oblivion wishes you a Very Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Purposeful 2012, and beyond.
Wonderful read! Did not know you write so well :) Please keep sharing more of such stories
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