Читать книгу 'Das Haus' the House and the Son of the Rabbi - Sean Ryan Stuart - Страница 10
ОглавлениеCameron pulled up to the driveway and admired Dieter’s house. It was exactly as he had remembered it. Large, spacious and meticulously maintained.
“Hello.” Shouted Dieter Johannes from the upstairs window.
Cameron got out of his car and walked the three steps towards the front door. He waved to Dieter as he did so. Dieter’s home was built on a large corner lot near the woods. It was obvious that a rich man lived there. Compared to some the older homes in the neighborhood, it stood out and was in show room condition. His father-in-laws house was a beautiful modern two-story stone house. Dieter was a well-known architect and he had built his home to include a nice size office on the first floor. Dieter Johannes was a successful and well-respected architect in that part of northern Germany. Over the years he had come to specialize in restoring, building, remodeling old castles, churches, convents and hospitals for the Catholic church of Germany. His youngest son Peter and daughter Lizbet also worked in his office. They had both recently graduated from the university and hoped someday to take over the business.
Dieter opened the door and hugged Cameron so violently that he nearly passed out from the embrace. Dieter was by no means a large man, he stood five-foot ten and weighed a solid two hundred and ten pounds. However, even though he was in his late-seventies, he had the physique of a much younger man. He was built more like a fullback than an architect. Dieter had played soccer his whole life and had the legs of a weight lifter.
Cameron exhaled and stated, “Wow, Dieter! Please don’t kill me, I just got here.”
“I am sorry Cameron, I was so happy to see you again!” Exclaimed a joyous Dieter.
“How are my daughter and grandchild?” Stated Dieter without missing a beat.
“Just fine and they will be here in a few weeks. Ingrid and Jennifer will be flying out as soon as we lease our home in Dixon. Meanwhile, if you don’t mind, I will be your guest until they arrive and we get ourselves situated here.” Replied Cameron.
“Ja naturlich.” (Yes, of course) Replied Dieter in German.
“I am sorry Cameron, do you still speak German?” Asked an inquisitive Dieter.
“Klar! Dieter.” (Of course! Dieter) Replied Cameron in a matter of what tone.
“It’s like riding a bicycle, once you get the hang of it, you will never forget how to pedal.” Continued Cameron, trying to use the occasion to regain his composure and breath.
Just then an ebullient and lovely Kate walked in. Kate was a statuesque six-foot tall brunette. Although in her late-seventies, she still was a beautiful if introverted woman. Kate was a few years older than her husband, and never let him forget it. Dieter had married her during WWII and they had produced five beautiful children. Kate was a very talented chemist and worked for a giant German industrial concern in the field of toxic research. Although way past retirement age, she loved her work and still worked two days a week. Kate greeted Cameron in a friendly manner, but did not seem to be as happy as Dieter to see him. Cameron had always wondered why Kate was not as forthcoming as the rest of the family. He assumed that it was merely a reflection of her personality and left it at that.
Dieter showed him his guest room and made him at ease. Cameron unpacked and lay down on the bed. It did not take long for him to pass out on his extremely comfortable bed. His long trip and strenuous drive had exhausted him. He quickly fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, fourteen hours later, Cameron woke up to the smell of good German coffee and freshly baked bread. Cameron quickly showered and walked downstairs to the warm and friendly kitchen.
“Guten Tag.” (Good morning) said Cameron. He was almost immediately answered with a chorus of “Guten Tag, Cameron.”
“Well, I slept like a dead person. I was so tired, I did not even have a dream last night.” replied Cameron, as he sat down to the table.
Kate had made several loaves of fresh bread, and everyone was greedily wolfing down the delicious bread and coffee. Cameron stared across the table and saw that only two of the kids were still there. Both Peter and Lizbet were eagerly eating their breakfast. They greeted Cameron, but seemed more interested in finishing their meal. Cameron enthusiastically joined them and quickly finished his meal. After breakfast, Dieter invited Cameron into his office and happily exclaimed, “I hope you don’t mind if I get involved in your business, but I knew that Ingrid would feel more comfortable in her own house, and I started looking around for you?”
Cameron asked? “What do you mean?”
“Well, as you can imagine there are not many homes for sale in our village. There is actually only one house on the main street for sale. Das Haus is near the northern part of the village and has over three acres of land for sale. The house itself is fairly new by Niedergeyer standards, it’s only one hundred-ten years old. However, it was heavily damaged in the last war, and it also has a very interesting history.” Stated a smiling Dieter, as he looked at Cameron.
“Well Dieter, it sounds like a good idea, but I cannot possibly decide to buy anything without Ingrid being here? That would be tantamount to committing suicide.” Replied Cameron, as he slowly put his index finger to his forehead and pretended to pull the trigger.
“Yes, I know what you mean, but the owners want to sell immediately due to health reasons, and the property might not be for sale by the time Ingrid gets here. We have to act quickly. Why don’t you call her after we go and visit the property today?” Asked Dieter.
“As a matter of fact, if you guys don’t buy it, I might just buy myself.” Said Dieter, as he stood up.
“OK, I don’t have a problem with that, but I know Ingrid. I doubt if she will agree to buy anything without being here, but I can try. After all, we are not planning on staying more than a year or two, and I don’t know whether or not we should buy a house.” Replied a somewhat skeptical Cameron.
“Ja, OK Cameron. Let me call them and make an appointment for later on this afternoon. You guys can decide after you have seen the house.” Stated Dieter as he picked up the phone.
“OK, everything is set for this afternoon at three. I think you will like it, although it will take some work to make it ready for you.” Answered Dieter as he put the phone down and stared at Cameron.
“What do you mean work? Asked a curious Cameron.
“The house was damaged during the war, and it needs some modernization. A new roof, heating system, three new bathrooms, kitchen, insulation throughout, painting, windows, a new entry way, landscaping, but other than that, it’s a great bargain!” Replied Dieter with a smile.
“OK, but that sounds like a whole bunch of work? Don’t you think?” Asked Cameron, his mind racing to imagine the condition of the house.
“No, are you kidding? This property is the only one on the main street, and it has a beautiful view of the hills behind the house. It has over twenty fruit trees and a cellar. They only want one hundred and fifty thousand dollars! Can you believe that? If we don’t act soon it will be gone, and you will be sorry. Don’t worry, I will help you get it in shape, and for another sixty or eighty thousand, you will have a home worth five or six hundred thousand dollars, maybe even more? I am confident we can get all the work done in less than three months.” Stated a confident Dieter.
“Well, since you put it that way. I guess, I will have to accept your recommendation and speak with Ingrid.” Cameron thanked Dieter and called his wife Ingrid.
After an extensive conversation with Ingrid, he finally got the approval to make a deposit on the home, but she insisted on having the final remodeling and decorating choices. Cameron was amazed at the fact that she had agreed. Usually, Ingrid was very set in her ways and not so easily convinced to do things without extensive research and investigation. Later that afternoon Dieter drove Cameron to Das Haus. As Dieter slowly drove up the main street of Niedergeyer, Cameron could not help but wonder about the history of this very ancient village. The village could trace its roots to the Roman era around 100 A.D. The Romans had installed a large brick and pottery factory in the village. The VII Roman Legion built a fort in the village and it remained there for several hundred years. They had even imported grapes and grew them for wine. As a matter of fact one could still see the wild vines growing in the woods today.
The village consisted of many very old “Fachwerk” style homes (massive oak beams for framing and filled in with mud, straw and twigs. One Catholic church, five pubs, a bakery, grocery store and butcher shop, and not much else. Many of the homes had large metal numbers affixed to the front of their doors showing when they were built. Cameron was amazed at the dates, 1472, 1561, 1611, 1727 etc. It seemed as if the average age of a home was around the sixteenth century. The church was actually built around the tenth century and there was one building still standing that was even older. He could not help but notice the numerous bullet holes and shell fragments which still adorned many of the homes.
Dieter and Cameron finally drove past the last curve on the main street and he immediately noticed Das Haus.
It was an imposing structure. Three stories high, plus an attic for good measure. It had that typical late nineteenth century style. It was called the, “Luetische” (Liege, Belgium) style. It somewhat resembled a Victorian home, but it had an ornate three-dimensional carved front of poured cement. The facade of the house, which paralleled the main street, had been severely damaged by large caliber machine gun fire (probably .50 Caliber) and mortars. Many of the ornate cement animal head carvings had been shot away or damaged. The sides of the house were made of bricks; they also bore many scars of war and conquest. Cameron could immediately see how this home had been an important fortress. It was the tallest building in the village, and was at the junction of three roads leading away from the village. From the attic, one could see 360 degrees in all directions. It would have been a great observation point for an artillery observation post, he thought to himself.
Cameron looked at the structure and was immediately struck by an immediate feeling of sadness and terror. He could not understand this strange emotion, but it bothered him. As his eyes moved across the impressive building, his view became fixated on the bottom floor, where large windows faced the main street. He suddenly thought he saw the face of a young man; with sad eyes staring at him through the bottom left front window. The boy’s eyes had a haunting quality about them and it unnerved him. As suddenly as he had seen him, the boy vanished without a trace. Cameron was about to ask Dieter about the boy, when Dieter unexpectedly slammed on his brakes and parked on the main street across from Das Haus. Before Cameron could utter another word, Dieter was already out of the car and walking across the street.
They went around the large brick wall, which separated the courtyard from the sidewalk. Dieter knocked on the old and wellworn door. No one answered. Dieter tried again, and after two or three minutes, the door slowly creaked open. An extremely old and pale looking gentleman looked up at them. He could not have been more than five-foot two and weighed a maximum of one hundred and ten pounds. His hands were trembling and he had the look of a man who was already dead, but did not know it yet.
“Ja, what can I do for you.” He stammered.
“Ah, hello Herr Johannes, I am glad to see you. This must be your son-in-law.” He said, as he extended his scrawny white hands.
Cameron stepped forward and shook his hand, but made it a point to take it easy on the old man. The hand was withered, pale and trembling. The old man, Herr Jacobi, was of slight build, bald and smelled like a rotten piece of Brie. His odor was so repugnant that it was physically uncomfortable to be near him. Cameron had never in his life smelled a more vile and disgusting individual. Herr Jacobi, for some unknown reason, was unable to look Cameron in the eye. As if he was somewhat aware of his body odor, and could not do anything about it.
Dieter stepped around Cameron and also shook the old man’s hand. Dieter led the way in the darkened musty hallway and Cameron followed behind. Cameron had a difficult time seeing in this somewhat somber environment. It reminded Cameron of a black and white vampire movie. There were no visible lights, and the only means of illumination was a small shaft of light pushing through the dirty and stained glass window above the door.
Herr Jacobi slowly walked through the house; showing them every room. Cameron was somewhat amazed at the condition Herr Jacobi was living in. There was garbage, broken furniture, unopened boxes, junk, filth and stacks of old magazines throughout the house etc. Cameron had never seen a more disgusting and soiled abode in his life. Cameron thought to himself, I am glad Ingrid is not here, she would never buy this rattrap.
Dieter stopped and looked at Cameron.
“I know what you are thinking, but don’t worry, I guarantee that we will have this home in a good condition by the time Ingrid comes here. Many skilled workers owe me favors, and I will pull a few strings.” Stated Dieter, in off-handed sort of way.
“OK, I will take your word for it.” Replied Cameron, as both men walked out of the house. Cameron was still haunted by the face of the small boy in the window, he stopped Dieter in the middle of the street and asked him.
“Dieter, who was that small boy, I saw in the window when we first drove up to the house?” Asked a curious Cameron.
“I think your imagination got the best of you my friend. And don’t listen to any of those old wives tales about ghosts and evil spirits.” Replied Dieter, as he walked over to his car, and got in. Cameron decided to drop the subject, maybe the sunlight played tricks or he was just imagining.
Both men had inspected Das Haus and left after an hour of thorough investigation. Dieter was convinced that he could restore this ancient home into a beautiful and cozy residence for his daughter. As they drove back to his house, Dieter told Cameron about his remodeling plans for Das Haus. Cameron on the other hand was not as sure that this was such a good idea, but was willing to give Dieter the opportunity to prove him wrong. After all Dieter had restored hundreds of old buildings in worst condition than Das Haus.
Cameron’s mind now shifted to his current work assignment and hoped it would not be challenging as the restoration of Das Haus.
For the rest of the day, his thoughts were solely on his assignment and his first day at work. The excitement he felt was comparable to the first day of school. That sour queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach. No matter how hard he tried, that feeling would not go away. He hoped that his new colleagues were forthcoming and not to upset that an American would be their new boss.
