The Parsifal Pursuit

by Michael McMenamin

  “Hohenstaufen?” Mattie asked.

  “Famous castle-builders,” Campbell replied. “Emperor Frederick I—Frederick Barbarossa—was a Hohenstaufen. He died en route to the third Crusade. He was the grandfather of Frederick the Great who was crowned in 1214. With all the military campaigns he conducted in Italy, he built quite a few castles there, as well as in Germany and Austria.”

  “And Cistercians?” Mattie asked.

  “Monks. Italian builders. Some say they were the forerunners of the Templars. Their designs were more advanced than those of contemporary builders. The Cistercians were famous for building remote monasteries in the mountains in an austere yet ornate Gothic style.”

  “I don‘t understand its shape,” Mattie said. “Why so narrow there at the end?”

  “It has four sides,” Campbell replied, “but the narrow end is dictated by the configuration of the mountain ridge. We can‘t see it from here but I‘ll wager the western side of the castle will have a sheer face with rusticated walls so that it appears to be rising out of the stone.”

  “Rusticated?” Mattie asked.

  “Rough-hewn,” Campbell replied. “It‘s a Hohenstaufen trademark.”

  It was not an arduous climb but both her knee and ankle hurt. Mattie was sweating and halfway up had wrapped a bandana around her neck to absorb the perspiration. She undid it now, mopped her brow and looked at the front gate with a sudden chill. On a spike extending up from the stone was a human skull, bleached white by fierce winter storms. It was an unexpected sign of human presence. Mattie flashed back to Egypt. A hostile presence.

  They followed the Professor around the front corner of the castle and there, exactly where he said it would be, was a small wooden door which appeared to be of a far more recent vintage than the castle itself, as was the brass lock halfway down the door on the right-hand side.

  “Look,” Campbell said. “This castle has been here for centuries, yet clearly someone has lived here recently.”

  “How recently?” Mattie asked.

  “Twenty years. Thirty years. It‘s difficult to determine.”

  “The door looks quite sturdy. How are we going to get in?”

  “Like this,” Sturm said, as he undid the flap on his holster, pulled his Luger out and fired three shots, splintering the door around the lock. Sturm reholstered the Luger, picked up his assault rifle and hammered it butt first at the door. The door gave way to a small dark antechamber, the fading sunlight from the open door the only illumination. Sturm turned on an electric torch which threw its light down the hall, motioning to one of his men to advance.

  Sturm turned to Mattie. “You and the Professor follow me. Frederick will stay here to cover the entrance to make certain we aren‘t taken by surprise from behind.”

  Mattie‘s eyes followed the light as Sturm walked down the hallway. She gasped when she saw it. “There, put the light higher,” she said, which Sturm did, revealing what Mattie had glimpsed. A transformer. The castle had been electrified! Below the transformer stacked in a circle against one another were ten Mannlicher rifles. They looked old and were covered in dust.

  Sturm saw them too and approached the transformer, grasped the lever and pushed it up. Nothing happened. “Take those stairs,” Sturm directed and Mattie went, pushing the door open so that the hall was dimly illuminated at both ends. Sturm followed Mattie up the stairs. They emerged into the castle courtyard which looked enormous, easily spanning over 200 yards in length. Professor Campbell stood beside her, his eyes squinting as they adjusted to the light. “Ah, just as I expected, the chapel is over there in the southwest corner. The stables will be along the eastern wall closer to the southeast tower than the northeast. The Great Hall will be along the wall connecting the two northern towers. Let‘s inspect it first before the light fades.”

  “Not so fast, Professor Campbell,” Sturm said. “We must first make certain the castle is secure and that none of the men who attacked us are lying in wait. Once we have done that, you can begin your search for the Spear.”

  “But that will take too long,” Campbell protested. “All the good light will be gone.”

  Sturm shrugged, indifferent.

  “Kurt is right, Professor,” Mattie said. “There are dangerous men who wish us ill. We must proceed cautiously,” she said, turning to Sturm. “How do you want us to handle this?”

  “Clockwise,” he said. “Search this tower first, then the chapel in the southwest corner. Leave the living quarters along the north wall for last.”

  The search took the rest of the afternoon and early evening, but the castle was deserted. Not all of it was electrified, but metal conduits ran from the gasoline-powered generator they had found in the southeast tower, along the eastern wall, to the living quarters along the north wall. The generator‘s tank was bone dry and looked as if it had not been operational for decades.

  By the time they reached the Great Hall, the sun had dipped below the western wall, plunging the large, high-ceilinged room into gloom and shadows, making it impossible to work.

  “It‘s time to return to camp,” Sturm said. “We don‘t know where our enemies may be waiting and we don‘t want to meet them in the dark.”

  54.

  Mattie Was So Close

  Castle Lanz

  Thursday, 11 June 1931

  COCKRAN was hidden in the woods, barely 50 yards from the six tents of the Kaiser expedition‘s camp but he paid them no mind. His gaze and his field glasses looked up at the castle‘s southeast corner. On his way down, he had heard three gunshots, his heart lurching at the sound. If Sturm and the other man emerged and Mattie didn‘t, they were dead. And that would be just the beginning.

  The sun had dropped below the castle walls when he noticed movement. One man carrying an assault rifle came around the corner first, followed by Professor Campbell, and then,…yes! The golden red glow of Mattie‘s hair. She was alive. Finally, a tall blond-haired man stepped out from the castle, also holding an assault rifle. Cockran recognized him at once from the zeppelin at Lakehurst. The Kaiser‘s man, Kurt Von Sturm! The man looked around carefully in all directions. Cockran wondered briefly if the weapon meant Mattie was a prisoner.

  No, Mattie definitely wasn‘t a prisoner, he thought, as Sturm reholstered his weapon and he could see Mattie‘s smile and a laugh as she touched Sturm‘s arm. But what were those shots about? Cockran kept his binoculars on the group as they made their way down the slope to the base camp. Closer now, it was plain that Mattie did not believe herself to be in danger, talking animatedly with von Sturm and Campbell. No tension visible among the three of them.

  Cockran was not prepared for what came next, astonished when the group of four reached the tents and a new figure emerged to greet them.

  The blond hair, narrow face and long nose of Reinhard Tristan Hoch! Identical to the photograph Captain Weintraub had shown them. What in hell was going on? SS men mounted on horses. An attack by the SS when they landed that first day in the autogiros. And now, the man responsible for Harmony‘s kidnapping and the attacks on NBM‘s plants in Munich was here. Could this be the “business trip” Hoch‘s wife said had called him away so suddenly? In contrast to her easy manner with von Sturm, Mattie‘s body language with Hoch was entirely different. Stiff and reserved. Sturm was trusted. Hoch was not.

  An hour later, Cockran watched the servants light the candles on the table and serve wine with the first course. During that time, Cockran had been equally astonished to find himself entertained by Hoch from whose violin had come two of the four Brandenburg concertos. At dinner, Mattie certainly seemed to be having a good time, chatting amiably with von Sturm and Campbell and not showing the same reserve she had earlier upon first encountering Hoch on their return from the castle. After a while, Hoch and Campbell rose from the table and returned to their tents, leaving Mattie and von Sturm alone. If Mattie were concerned for her safety with von Sturm, she still was not showing it, laughing, once more touching his hand for emphasis
, and finally rising, slowly shaking her head, placing a hand briefly on von Sturm‘s shoulder. Nope, no fear there. In fact, it was clear to Cockran that she liked Sturm. He watched Mattie walk back to her tent. Then Sturm did the same, the light in his tent staying on, the others extinguished.

  In the twilight, Cockran observed Hoch exit from his tent and circle behind the other tents. He made his way down into the valley, carrying something but, in the darkness, Cockran could not make out what it was. A servant cleared the table and blew out the remaining candles. The only illumination on the scene below came from the glow in von Sturm‘s tent. Cockran decided that, once darkness fell, he would be able to make it unseen to Mattie‘s tent. It was the last one on the right, facing the lake, next to Campbell‘s.

  Cockran had a cold supper, washed down with half a thermos of water. He looked at his watch. Forty-five minutes more. Mattie was so close and time was moving so slowly.

  55.

  A Last Night Cap

  Castle Lanz

  Thursday, 11 June 1931

  DINNER had been pleasant for Mattie in sharp contrast to the long silences of the night before. Their Austrian chef had prepared a feast, freshly caught fish grilled over an open flame, accompanied by wild morel mushrooms and a sauce made with shallots and the rest of the morels, the wine a Chianti Classico. Hoch‘s music had been pleasing, as always, and he was still acting like he wanted a date with Mattie. Professor Campbell had talked eagerly about how he would prioritize their search of the castle; and where he expected to find the sacred lance.

  After Campbell and Hoch excused themselves, Mattie had politely declined Sturm‘s invitation to join him for a night cap in his tent. That train had left the station, never to return.

  Mattie walked back to her tent, undressed, slipped on her robe and headed down to the lake to wash up before retiring for the night. On her way back, Sturm‘s tent was the only one lit. She felt a twinge of guilt. She was not experienced at letting down gently men who loved her but whom she did not love or would not allow herself to love. More importantly, she had to prove something to herself. She stopped at Sturm‘s tent.

  “Your night cap offer still open?” Mattie asked.

  Sturm was on his cot, shirtless, staring up at the tent‘s canvas ceiling. He gave her a small smile and sat up, the gold curls on his chest reflected in the lantern‘s light. He poured two fingers of scotch in a glass and gave it to her. “You have forgiven me for last night?”

  “No, I haven‘t,” Mattie said in a level voice. “But I accepted your apology and I believe you when you say it was out of character for you. Let‘s leave it at that.” She took a sip, then softened. “I also accept that you were concerned for my safety,” Actually, Mattie thought, it was much more. He was in love with her and she wasn‘t able to reciprocate. How much control did she really have over her body after three glasses of wine? She was about to find out.

  Sturm shook his head. “I‘m not entirely certain why I did it.” he said. “But I‘ve never forced myself on a woman before in my life.”

  Mattie smiled. “You didn‘t. I‘m a big girl and I know how to take care of myself. I know where men are, well…, vulnerable, and if I had wanted you to stop, believe me you would have been well and truly ‘stopped‘.” Then she laughed and took another sip, savoring the warm glow it produced. “If you don‘t believe me, just ask Mussolini sometime how I convinced him making love on his desk was a bad idea. I will say your tenderness last night suffered in comparison to the night before. But if I hadn‘t wanted to make love, we wouldn‘t have.”

  “Thank you,” Sturm replied. “I have been bothered all day by my inability last night to control my anger. I take pride in my self-control.”

  Mattie smiled again and sat down on the cot beside him, taking his hand in hers. She took pride in her self-control as well but it had failed her last night. That was why she was here now. “Look, you helped me understand I would have been responsible if any of the Austrians you left in my care had been harmed because I hadn‘t done what you asked. I also know we lost Willi because of me. I feel a lot worse about that than I do about last night. So, no hard feelings, okay?”

  “Hard feelings? I‘m not certain I understand,” Sturm said.

  “An American expression. Here, let me show you what I mean,” Mattie said, as she put her hand on his chest, leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. Sturm pulled her toward him and returned the kiss. He turned the lantern off. This was why she had come, she reminded herself, as she felt her body begin to react as strongly it had the last two nights. To test herself and take control of her body. But she knew it wouldn‘t be easy and she sighed when she felt one hand on her breast.

  What is it with me and risk-taking, she thought, as she gently grabbed his other hand snaking deep beneath her robe and across her taut belly and stopped it before it could go further.

  “See?” she said with a smile. “I could have done this last night if I had wanted to, but I didn‘t. Now, it‘s different. I‘ve made up my mind. He can be so stubborn at times but then so can I. The thing is I love Cockran too much to give him up without a fight. You may be right, there even may be an innocent explanation for how that woman saw his birthmark. But I don‘t care if there isn‘t. Being seduced by that English bitch doesn‘t mean he loves her. You‘ve helped me see that, but I wish I had seen it two days ago. I didn‘t mean to lead you on, and I‘m sorry if I did. I don‘t regret the time we spent together. I see things more clearly now, thanks to you. You are a dear man and I would like us to remain friends.”

  Sturm smiled and for a moment, Mattie thought he was going to laugh. Instead, he shook his head. “Yes, I would like us to be friends, Mattie” and then he did laugh. “This is the first time a woman has ever said that to me. I‘m the one who usually says those lines.”

  “I can well imagine why,” Mattie said as she rose from his cot. “I love Cockran. I really do. You‘re both alike in some ways. In others, you‘re not. Maybe in another life we could have been together.” She ran her hand softly over his face. “Just not in this one.”

  Mattie headed back to her tent, happy with her decision, whatever the outcome. Alone tonight, her nightmares might return, but she didn‘t care. She had always enjoyed an evening of jazz more than the symphony anyway.

  56.

  Screams in the Night

  Castle Lanz

  Thursday, 11 June 1931

  COCKRAN could wait no longer. He had to see Mattie. The camp appeared deserted, the tables cleared and all tents dark, save for a lantern illuminating the interior of Sturm‘s tent. He saw a shadow move down towards the lake some 50 yards away from the tent, but he could not make out who it was in the darkness. A few minutes after that, he saw another shadowy figure enter Sturm‘s tent. Moments later, the lantern was extinguished and Cockran looked at his watch. He climbed down the incline to the ground cover. He decided that he would wait until the lone sentry guarding the western approach had passed.

  Ten minutes later, Cockran was near their tents, crouched low, waiting for the sentry to pass. Then, Cockran moved forward, commando knife in his hand, to the rear of Mattie‘s tent.

  “Mattie? Are you there?” There was no response. He tried again, to no effect.

  Placing his knife along the corner seam of the tent, he sliced it open, pushed the flap in and entered the tent. He saw nothing but an empty cot. Where could she be? Had she been the one he saw walking down to the lake? Or entering Sturm‘s tent? He gave her another few minutes and then moved on to Professor Campbell‘s tent where he aroused Campbell from his slumber, the academic opening the rear flap of his tent for Cockran to slip through.

  In hushed tones, Cockran told Campbell all he had learned from Joey Thomas, including the danger he and Mattie were in once von Sturm and his men had secured the Spear of Destiny.

  “We have aircraft in the next valley to fly you to safety. You must talk to Mattie as soon as you can tomorrow and arrange to make it over the ridge.
Your lives depend on it.”

  “Nay, laddie, I cannot do it. We‘re too close now. We‘ve come too far!”

  “But this man Hoch is a Nazi. A killer.”

  “Aye, he‘s no gentleman, that‘s for sure. But I‘ll take my chances. I‘ve seen more bloodshed than I ever knew I could withstand.” He paused, as if carefully considering his words. “I saw a man beheaded in Egypt, you know.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “I don‘t know about Nazis but there are other men trying to stop us from finding the Spear. Religious zealots, I think. They attacked both of us on the train to Geneva.”

  “You mean you and Mattie? On the Orient Express?”

  “Exactly. Shot at her and missed on the train. Did the same at a villa in Egypt. Shot all the servants and then cut our host‘s head off with a sword in front of us. We narrowly escaped and made our way back to Alexandria. We slept that night on the zeppelin. That‘s when Mattie‘s screams started, her screams in the night. I expect we‘ll hear them tonight as well.”

  “Even more reason to get you both out of here. But she‘s not in her tent. Where is she?”

  “I don‘t know. Last I saw her, she and von Sturm were talking at the table, finishing their wine. They always dine together. If the light‘s still on in his tent, she might be there. They‘re always the last ones to turn in for the night.” Campbell paused. “I trust Herr von Sturm. He‘s an honorable man. He‘s kept me and Mattie safe from harm‘s way more than once.”

  “That‘s not what our information says,” Cockran said. He talked for a while longer, but he couldn‘t persuade the older man. So be it. He owed Campbell nothing. But Mattie was a different story. He wasn‘t going to trust Sturm with the safety of the woman he loved.

  Cockran decided there was nothing to do but return to Mattie‘s tent and wait.