TS 3 Chapter 17

Chapter 17

August 17^th, 2014 

Veiled tears, fighting to fall from Konrad's eyes were the last thing Guntram wanted to see. He would have preferred a thousand times to have Konrad openly crying than doing his best to keep his emotions in check. Self restraining never brought anything good to them; Konrad would withdraw to himself and become silent. A silence Guntram feared. 

Carefully and feeling full of doubts, Guntram placed his head on Konrad's shoulder and took his hand within his. He hoped that his presence would be enough deterrence to prevent Konrad from falling into the dark abyss of cold fury he well knew. 

“Why didn't you tell me before?” Konrad whispered furiously.  

“You were very sick and then... I couldn’t do it,” Guntram admitted with a broken voice. “I didn't want to make you... sad.” 

“Didn't you think that I had the right to know?” 

“I did but I thought it was for the best.” 

“I didn't attend his funeral, Guntram. Friederich was like my father.” 

“The judge didn't allow it when it happened and then, you couldn't have come. He's resting next to your father, just as you wanted.” 

“He died while I was in prison. I failed him.” 

“No, you didn't! It was a set up...” 

“Please.” Konrad put his right hand on Guntram's lips to silence him. “I want to see him now.” He rose from the bed and walked towards the door. “Alone if you don't mind,” he added before he closed the door behind him. 

*  * * 

TS 3 Chapter 16

Chapter 16

August 17^th, 2014. Sunday 

Zurich

The summer was nearly at its end but Konrad was utterly fed up with the view of the glistening water and boats. He had seen nothing else for the past weeks since his heart attack. Each time he rose his eyes from a book or a newspaper smuggled by the “Bulle”, the boats would be there; gently rocking.

Despite Konrad had been staying in the hospital for almost a month, he still couldn't find any logic to the sanitary staff habits. He would be woken up at six in the morning to get an army of nurses and young doctors asking how he felt and extracting blood; getting his room cleaned up to the walls and being given breakfast. At eight, all of them would disappear, not to return until seven p.m and repeat the same ritual. He should consider himself blessed if one of the doctors would deem necessary to perform any further tests on him so his boredom wouldn't be so overwhelming. 

On working days, Guntram would visit him for an hour or two. He would be nice and lovable as always but keep his mouth closed regarding anything that wasn't family, the weather or the books Konrad was reading. Ferdinand had once called Guntram “a Calvinist of the worst kind” and now Konrad was beginning to understand how close to the truth his friend had been. Guntram had promised to obey the prison's regulations regarding communications and he wouldn't falter for a single moment in his determination to keep him out of trouble. 

'Nothing surprising here. He didn't speak to me for two years.' 

On Sundays, they had agreed that Guntram would take the children to the service and then, somewhere else like the zoo or a museum. Sundays were the most boring day of the week. 

TS 3 Chapter 15

Chapter 15

July 30^th, 2014 

London 

Dima's pouting face was enough proof to Constantin that his henchman was about to explode. Flying to London had been a bad idea. The city had changed so much in the past seven years that the Russian couldn't recognize it any more. 

Constantin had had enough of the countryside quietness and needed to see some action. He took the plane and flew to London with Kostya. The two-year-old watched everything wide eyed; the tall buildings and all the people walking down the elegant streets briskly. 

According to Constantin's original plan, his new house in Knightsbridge, with its interior yard would be a lovely place for his child to play in while he visited art galleries. Constantin had brought the nanny along so he could escape to a gallery or to a theatre in the evening. 

But the loud music and boisterous laughs from the mansions at both sides of his home, had forced him to change his mind. The finding of some female lingerie along with champagne bottles scattered in his own yard had killed all Constantin’s hopes of letting the child play there. 

Young people from the Middle East celebrating the end of Ramadan -along with a roaring Lamborghini under his window- was the final straw to break Constantin's nerves. Rap music was something he hated with passion and seeing his baby covering his ears while he cried because of the noise, was too much for his patience. 

Just when he was going to take justice into his hands, a well aimed watermelon flew from one of his windows to smash itself against the shiny, golden car windshield. A furious Dima ran over him and began to shout in Arab with the wild youths and their call-girls right in the middle of the street. The only word Constantin could understand was “haya” as Dima reminded them of their Islamic duties. 

The roaring cars’ noise came to a halt but the indoors party remained. 

TS 3 Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Guntram de Lisle's diary

July 22^nd, 2014 

I started the day very early. At 4.00 a.m. to be precise. I was never an early bird, but this was simply ridiculous. At 5:30 a.m. I took the plane to Rome and at 9:00, I was in San Capistrano, ready for the stupid second photo shooting. How top models do this every day is beyond me. I have a growing respect for them. 

Once more, the nice journalist, Mariana Paschi was there like in Zurich, and she quickly chose where she wanted to make the photos; the living room, the corridor, the stairs and under some of the pictures in Konrad's collection. We spoke about art and that was it. She and her photographer left at twelve, just as agreed.

I gathered my papers and the special package I had to deliver in Bari. I couldn't trust anybody with it. Maybe one of my father's men, but something inside me told me to go by myself. After all, I nearly destroyed the cup last night. It was the most stupid accident. I had Enrico's copy of the cup and I took it to the cabinet where the original was kept. I took the copy out of its box and compared it with the original. Both were identical. I felt a bit bad about “cheating” the Order with the copy but I'm more and more doubtful about our abilities and commitment to our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

I took the original and closed my eyes because once more, its shiny nature was giving me the creeps. This is no ordinary glass. I carefully placed the cup inside its velvet layered wooden box and did my best to cover it well, so no harm would befall upon it. I closed the lid and placed the box on top of one of the benches. I closed the tabernacle again, I knelt down in front of the real chalice with the forms and turned around to pick up the box. 

It fell from my hands. 

The box was slippery as butter. 

I closed my eyes and swore because I was sure the crystal wouldn't have survived the fall. I know my left hand is generally useless and I hardly use it, but this time there was no cause for the accident. I had gripped it well. 

I opened the box, expecting to find the chalice in shards but it was perfect. Not a single scratch on it. Without thinking it, I mumbled “Thank you, God,” and pressed the closed again box against my chest. 

I don't know how to describe it and probably it was the product of my stress and imagination but the thing felt warm. Warm as hot. A kind of warm that comforts you and suddenly, I knew I had to take it to Bari by myself. The warmth also gave me strength to continue with all the tasks that laid in front of me. 

“You're not happy here too,” I said to the cup and bit my lips because speaking with things leads to you know what. I had enough with Russia. I walked to the bench in front of Friederich's tombstone and sat there for a long time. 

“I wish you were still here and tell me what you think,” I said to Friederich and in a way, it didn't feel strange to be speaking with someone gone. “I'm doing my best to get Konrad home.” I said. “I only wish that you were here to see him back.” 

In that precise moment, I knew we were going to be fine. Don't ask me why because I don't know and there's still a lot to do before I have him back, but I just knew it.