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. 

The routine had been followed to perfection; doctor, vampire nurse, breakfast, cleaning ladies, guard saying “good day” and retreating into the living room and everyone disappearing at 9 o'clock sharp. 

At about eleven, Konrad heard some muffled talking in the living room but he didn't pay much attention as probably the guards were rotating. 

He heard a knock on his door and a bald man, dressed very informally peered his head in. 

“May I? 

“Ah, hello Heiko.” Konrad greeted the judge coldly. “Should you be here without my lawyers being present?” 

“I hope you'd allow me to have a private conversation with you, Konrad.” Heiko said nervously. “Before that griffin of a husband you have tears me to shreds,” he joked with Konrad's “nickname”. “For old times sake,” he added when Konrad didn't make any move to invite him to sit in the chair at the feet of the bed.

“Guntram is giving you a hard time?” Konrad smirked and his head pointed to the lone chair in the corner of the room. 

“Not really. He's only deciding which pot he's going to use when he cooks me alive.” Heiko said with a sufficiency he didn't feel at all. “You should have told him we went to school together.” 

“If I did, he would have shot you dead at the first chance he had,” Konrad answered. “Patience was never one of his virtues.” 

“And those lawyers you sent.... That Lacroix and his people...” 

“Guntram’s,” Konrad clarified dryly.

“I'll be very lucky if I can get any promotion in the future. It was all a mess from the beginning. That idiot of...”

“I understand,” Konrad quieted the man who looked at him anxiously. “It's business, as usual.” 

“The Americans...” 

“You got rid of all the other charges and honestly, the fine is acceptable.” Konrad said hurriedly. “We are in peace, Heiko.”  

“The fine has been paid. FINMA will lift tomorrow all the restrictions imposed on your institutions. Your people will be released tomorrow first thing in the morning and you today, but that's up to the doctor.” 

Konrad's soul nearly exploded in joy, but as usual his eyes betrayed nothing. “Doctors will be happy to send me home.”

“I did my best to clean your name and this is just an out of courts settlement that will be forgotten in a few months.” Heiko gulped nervously. “I had to fight very hard to keep your case under my jurisdiction.” 

“I understand your circumstances, Heiko and I appreciate you dismissed all those blatant lies the Americans were telling.” 

“I did my best to keep the investigation's results to my people but there was always someone telling lies to the press. Those yankee prosecutors were almost everyday pressing me for your extradition. I think they did it.” 

“Most probably. I'll find the source of the leak but rest assured I don't blame you at all for all what happened.”

“What happened in the infirmary...” 

“It's congenital. All my family from my mother's side had troubles with the heart. It would have happened with or without your intervention.” 

“Guntram...” 

“I'll speak with him.” Konrad offered his right hand to the man who vigorously shook it. “Am I free to go?” 

“Yes, of course. The prison had been notified and your lawyers too but Sunday is Sunday. I think I saw one of your bodyguards outside. A tall blond, Russian I think.” Heiko got Konrad's private mobile from out of his pocket. “I kept it in my safe box,” he said as he gave it back to Konrad. “I'm sorry about the memory card. I destroyed it inadvertently.” 

“It's a minor occurrence. Did it travel abroad?” Konrad took the mobile in his hand and it felt alien to him. 

“No, it never left our hands and then, accidents do happen.” 

“My people will speak with your people.” 

“Tell Ferdinand I'm sorry about this but I had no other way out. Rejecting the charges outright would have seemed quite suspicious.” 

“Ferdinand knows it. We all know each other since we were... eleven?” 

“Twelve.” Heiko said. 

“A lifetime,” shrugged Konrad. “Please extend my gratitude to this man, Peter Schmidt. He was quite professional.” 

“Of course I will.”

Once more alone in his room, Konrad wondered why Guntram had said nothing of the sort yesterday and who on earth had processed the transfers on a Sunday morning. It didn't make any sense. 

“Dr. Ehre signed your release papers, sir,” the nurse took him out of his reverie as she quickly removed the line from his left wrist and strongly pressed a gauze against the bleeding wound. “Would you like to stay for lunch?” she asked. “The doctor can't come in right now because he's in an emergency.”

“No, thank you,” Konrad answered laconically. 

“I'll bring your clothes now,” she quickly walked towards the built-in closet and returned with his trousers, shirt, underwear, leaving them on the bed. She made a second trip to the closet and carefully brought his shoes and jacket. “Anything else, sir?” she asked. 

“No, thank you,” Konrad's gaze was fixed on the clothes. Even if he had behaved in front of the judge with his usual cold arrogance, Konrad felt overwhelmed and clueless about his next move.  

He had forgotten how to be free. All the things that he once had taken for granted had been given back to him and he didn't know what to do with them. He could have chosen another shirt or shoes but he didn't feel capable of doing it. His mind told him he was free again but his body couldn't react to the news. 

He felt lost without the imposed routine. Freedom was an exhilarating and terrifying thing at the same time. He could do everything he wanted but he didn't know what to do first. Reality was coming down on him like an avalanche of thoughts and information. 

'I understand now why Guntram couldn't think clearly when he escaped Repin.' 

Konrad left the bed and dressed quickly. His fingers tried to lace his tie but the knot looked unbalanced and he decided to put it away. It was Sunday after all. 

A soft knock on the door forced him to come to terms to his new reality. He said “come in” but didn't move from his spot.  

“Good morning, my duke.” Alexei slightly bowed his head. 

“Antonov. It's nice to see you again.” 

“I came as soon as Lavrov phoned me this morning.” 

“Lavrov?” Konrad frowned upon hearing the man’s name. “What does he have to do with this?” 

“I don't know. He just got a message that the bail had been paid. The bank notified the judge.” Alexei told his tale innocently. 

“What is he up this time?” 

“I don't know.” Alexei replied quickly. “I really don't. The Griffin should ask the new Hochmeister. The honorary, that is. We can speak in the car.”

“Yes, we should. Indeed we should,” Konrad fixed his eyes on Alexei but the Russian looked as innocent as a newborn. Like always. “Let's keep this to ourselves, shall we, Antonov? I want to surprise Guntram and the children.” 

* * *

“So, what are all of you up to this time?” Konrad asked the minute the car left the clinic's underground parking. 

“I'm the new Magnus Commendator but my resignation will be on your desk tomorrow morning.” Alexei said evenly. 

“Nonsense. You're perfect for the position as I said to Goran.” 

“I was fired two weeks before all this happened, sir. The new Hochmeister named me again.”

“I assume the new Hochmeister is Guntram but nobody tells me anything these days,” seethed Konrad, mentally taking note of strangling Goran for firing Alexei without telling him. 'Once more these two are fighting like children.' 

“Yes, the Consort is the new Hochmeister and he's doing a very good job, considering all the open fronts at the time. All of the Komturen support him. Well, those who are still alive.” 

“Any casualties?” Konrad asked casually. 

“Sort of,” admitted Alexei. “It was more of an execution.” 

“Who?” 

“Barashi. I opposed to it but Bregovic had been after his throat for a long time. The... Hochmeister nearly fired him for that. Their views can't be more opposite.” 

“What did Barashi do this time?” Konrad asked tiredly. “And why Bregovic dared to lay a hand on him without consulting with me first?”  

“Bregovic is the new Summus Marescalus. He gave the order when he found out that Barashi had been smuggling Muslims into England through Calais, taking advantage that Lahon was busy in the South. That was too much for the Serbs and they acted upon it. I couldn't stop them. Guntram found it out once it was done. He was most upset with Bregovic and Mihailovic. Both are relieved from their duties, though it has not been made public.” 

“I'll have a word with Bregovic,” Konrad growled. “When did it happen?” 

“Seven days ago but before that, the Serbs behaved relatively well. The Komturen are shocked with Barashi's execution but they side with the Hochmeister. They prefer a more diplomatic and quiet approach to the situation with some minorities in the South of France. The Hochmeister also allowed Di Mattei to continue to bring Christian people from Syria and Africa along with some Shia refugees. Bregovic didn't take well the news that Barashi had his own agenda on the move by getting some Sunni in. It's not only the missing payments but the kind of people that got into the continent. We're still trying to find out who has bribed him first. We don't think it was a mistake.”

Konrad huffed upset. Finally, the Serbs had provoked the schism he had been fearing all along. His mind couldn't picture the image of Guntram in the middle of such a war. 

“Guntram's vision of the problem was very similar to mine,” Alexei said quietly. “And his solutions were a hundred times better than what the Serbs proposed. With Lahon's people and some from Gorgazali and Di Mattei’s, we cleaned the land in less than a month. We believe that the invasion is stopped for the time being and they will need some more time to regroup and relaunch any offensive against us.” 

“Guntram did this?” 

“There's nothing like a little dirty-war.” Alexei said with a nervous smile as the car stopped in the last light before taking the highway. “Quick and economical. Nothing laid to waste. The Komturen I spoke with are very happy with the results. Bregovic and his people don't think along these lines and want to take things a step further. But today is Sunday and you should see your family and speak about this tomorrow. I'll speak with the Komturen tonight, if you allow it, sir.” 

“Do it,” Konrad ordered coldly and fixed his gaze upon the countryside landscape. 

'I'll never understand Guntram, that's for sure. Maybe I can trick myself into believing that I know him, but in one instant, he turns everything upside down. One day he looks like a defenseless flower and on the next, he's leading an army worth of Charlemagne. One might think he's living on the other end of the galaxy but he's listening to each word you say. Ferdinand was right when he told me “the lad knows everything but he chooses not to act upon it.”' 

'Repin never stood a chance against him.' Konrad suddenly realized. 

'There's nothing more calculated than Guntram's good vibes.' 

'Yet he has always been loyal to me and I'm sure of his love.' 

'He would kill for me. He did it once and I'm still comparing him with his uncle. I'm a total jerk.' 

The car stopped in front of the majestic iron gate and Konrad looked how the guards ran to open it at the sight of Alexei's car while one took his mobile out to announce his arrival to the house. Tired, Konrad didn't bother to tell the man to keep his arrival secret. The engine started again and the sight of the large trees flanking the road eased Konrad's nerves a bit. The sun rays bathed the leaves, falling down on the road as they played like kaleidoscopic shadows. Alexei slowed down as he entered in the courtyard and the castle looked small in Konrad's weary eyes. 

One of the youngest butlers dashed to open his door and Konrad descended from the car, only to be greeted by Dieter. 

“Welcome home, your Excellency,” the man bowed his head gravely. 

“Thank you,” Konrad replied distractedly as a thousand thoughts rushed through his mind. “The Vicomte is home?” he asked. 

“The Vicomte took the princes to the pond after church. He will return for lunch at one, your Grace.”  

“Ah. Where's Mr. Elsässer?” Konrad asked a bit surprised that his old mentor wasn't there. The service was over and probably he would be reading in his office. 'He can't be still mad at me.' 

Taken aback, Dieter paled and didn't know what to say. Konrad gave him the look and the man mumbled “he's not here now,” miserably. 

“Why don't we go and meet the boys at the pond?” Alexei interfered. “They are going to be very happy to see you, sir.” 

“That's a good idea. Are you coming along, Antonov?” Konrad replied as Alexei nodded vigorously, glad that his superior had forgotten all about his earlier question. Guntram should tell him and not the butler. 

Both men walked down the path in silence, Alexei respecting his superior's urgent need to come to terms with everything that was going through his mind. So far, the duke had taken relatively well the news that Guntram had his “job” and that somehow, Lavrov was involved in his release. The rest, would be up to Guntram to break the news to his husband. Alexei knew it wasn't his place to interfere with family business but felt apprehensive about the outcome once the Duke would find out how much he had lost in a few weeks. 

Faster than a ray of light a small bundle jumped on top of the Duke and Alexei nearly draw his gun before he saw Kurt being lifted by the Duke to have the child nested against his chest. The blond head was quickly buried in the man's shoulder as he caressed its locks and squeezed the child with all his strength. 

“Easy, little one,” Alexei said in Russian to the boy clinging from Konrad's neck.  “Your father might be tired.” 

“It's all right,” Konrad mumbled and Alexei walked away to give him some privacy while he hugged his child. 

“Are you back?” was the little boy's muffled question. “Are you leaving?” 

“No, I'm not,” answered Konrad, controlling his desire to cry the best as he could. He furiously bit his lips to suffocate the need to shout all the despair and fear he had accumulated over the weeks. He would never make a show out of himself in front of one of his boys. Konrad had learned that from his father as the memory of him weeping at his brother's funeral still haunted him. He wouldn't do that to his boys. 

“What are you doing here, all alone?” Konrad asked to keep his emotions under control. “Where is your father?” 

“Papa is a fool. He sent me for leaves for the frogs and first; those are toads and second, they eat mosquito larvae.” Kurt denounced Guntram's tactics to keep him busy and out of trouble with his older brothers. “Karl too because he reads a lot but learns nothing. He's always on papa's side.” 

Konrad blinked a few times as he digested all the words his smallest child had told him. 'From being almost silent to this? What happened?' 

“I was giving them bread when I was your age,” Konrad put the boy on the floor. 

“I know that but toads don't eat bread. Some birds do. They want insects not cereals.” 

“Where did you learn all that?” Konrad asked in shock and just when the little boy was going to answer he saw Alexei shaking his head behind Konrad's back. 

“Books I read now and then.” He replied instead of the “Friederich taught me,” he would have normally used. “I'm going to a new school and finally papa put me in a real one. There's no plasticine or crayons in this one. I got a real uniform like Karl and Klaus and not an apron for babies.” 

“We say Klaus and Karl,” Konrad weakly protested that the youngest had destroyed “the succession line” without a single regret. 

“Why? A goes before L in the alphabet. Friederich taught me that.” 

“Why don't we meet your brothers?” Alexei said quickly in Russian and the boy smiled at hearing again the sounds of the language he liked so much. Kurt giggled and simply ran away from the men. 

“At least he has taken well the news about the school,” mumbled Konrad as he watched the little boy running down the path much faster than he could do nowadays. 

“The duke should consider to add some Russian lessons to his curricula,” Alexei suggested. 

“Yes, if Guntram agreed to the new school and to advance Kurt to the second class, he will be more receptive to that.”

“There's no way we can catch him, sir.” Alexei commented. “I wouldn't try my luck.” 

“Neither will I,” replied Konrad. “It's not too far away from here.” 

Seeing his youngest dashing towards his brothers could only mean trouble for Guntram. He had had enough with the morning brawl before church and was only counting the seconds before his father would pass by the house and take the boys to the Tram-Museum after he had taken pity of his son's over exhausted looks last night.  

“You can't have lunch with such dirty hands, Kurt.” Guntram stopped the four year old before he would jump on him. 

“It was your idea to send me for leaves.” 

“What did we say about talking back to your elders?” Guntram asked coldly as both older boys left what they were doing at the pond to look at their little brother. 

“You're in trouble again Kurt,” Karl told him. “Like always.” 

“Let him be!” Klaus shut his twin up. “Just because you're Mr. Perfect....” 

“Mr. Prissy!” Kurt called his brother, laughing at his face, his important news completely forgotten in the eve of the upcoming siblings’ battle. 

Guntram was quick enough as to catch Karl by the collar before he would jump on the small one. “Enough Kurt!” he shouted him. “Apologize to your brother!” 

“Why? Klaus calls him like that,” he opened his big eyes, effectively turning Guntram's anger towards his oldest brother. “Karl is prissy.” 

“I never said something like that!” Klaus lied as his twin brother made his big eyes to start crying, just to get his brothers into more trouble than they already were.

“Will you all stop it?” Guntram seethed in that particular tone that brought the biggest disasters upon the children's heads. “It's Sunday and I want peace and I will have it with or without your cooperation.” 

All of the bickering boys went silent and looked contrite on the surface while Guntram gave them the look. 

“You haven't lost your touch, kitten,” Konrad said from behind Guntram's back and did his best to keep his balance as the boys jumped on him. 

Still not believing his eyes, Guntram looked at Konrad in shock, rooted on his spot. Only the reassuring smile from Alexei told him that everything was fine and he was finally able to come forward.

“I'm glad Johannes isn't here,” Konrad joked with his boys. “You nearly knocked me to the ground. That dog would have knocked me senseless.”  

“Marcus and Sven took him to the garage, He's getting a bath.” Klaus said as he held from his father's tight and Kurt did his best to get noticed and be picked up again. 

Without thinking, Konrad gathered the little child in his arms and walked towards the shocked Guntram. “I'm back, my love,” he said quietly.

“Yes,” was all what Guntram could say, looking at Konrad in the eyes.

“Carrying weights isn't a good idea at the moment, sir.” Alexei interfered softly and took the child from the duke's arms. “Let's leave your parents alone and show me your new dog,” he told the boys. “And let's check if everything is ready for lunch.” Easily, he herded the overexcited boys back to the castle while Konrad and Guntram could only look at each other in the eyes. 

“When?” Guntram asked, still not trusting his own voice. 

“Today but I thought you could tell me more. The bail was paid.” 

“I didn't know that,” he answered dismayed. 

“Will you not give me a kiss? I've been waiting for that for a long time.” Konrad asked shyly.

Konrad needed to reaffirm his feet to the ground when Guntram's body collided with his, wildly locking his lips with his, kissing him as if he were the last man on earth. He could feel Guntram's hands clinging to his neck and the salty tears that rolled across his cheek while he was kissed. All the emotions Konrad had been tenaciously battling to keep buried surfaced and he felt an acute pain on his throat, strangling him. Seeking for relief from his hell of bottled up pain, Konrad opened his mouth to take a breath but Guntram's tongue invaded his mouth. Lost for words, he let his love kiss him with the fierceness of deprivation. Konrad had not even began to imagine all what Guntram had been under and the guilt over his earlier thoughts clung to his heart. 

'I was so selfish too.' 

Despaired, Konrad softly pushed Guntram aside. “We both have the same pillbox now, Maus,” he said softly. 

“I'm sorry,” Guntram said embarrassed and put a little distance between them.  

“Don't you ever apologize for kissing me,” Konrad's fingers caught a tear rolling down Guntram's cheeks and he kissed him again, this time with all the softness he could. “I missed you,” 

“I thought I was dying without you,” Guntram replied. 

“You still kiss me like our first time.” 

“I still love you like the first time I saw you.” 

“No, you liar,” Konrad replied with a warm smile. “You wanted to hit me with your book.” 

“I still do,” Guntram replicated Konrad's smile. “Just to kiss it better.” This time, he kissed Konrad with great care, knowing that he was just recovering from a delicate surgery. The kiss was soft, delicate and Konrad felt once more part of something bigger than himself; cherished as never before.  

“We must return home,” Konrad said. “Friederich will think this is highly inappropriate and will blame me.” 

Guntram had to turn his eyes from Konrad's. “Friederich... isn't here,” he whispered unable to tell the truth. 

“Where is he?” 

“Away with his family. We'll talk later, once the boys go away with my father after lunch,” 

“Let them here. I want to see them too. No business today. Leave it for Monday.” 

“There are some things that we need to speak about in private,” Guntram insisted so quietly that Konrad had to make an effort to hear him. 

“Antonov told me something and I'm not mad at you. The Serbs will hear me and they will hear it from Goran tomorrow.” 

“It's not that,” mumbled Guntram miserably.

“I have to phone Aunt Elisabetta and Cecilia too. Their men return home tomorrow. The judge said they will be released tomorrow.” 

“That's something we have to talk about too.” Guntram's facial expression turned dark. “Let the lawyers do their job.”

“You're right, Maus. I want to be with the boys now.”