The Eve of Abounding Wickedness

by Mark Spaid

  “Hello, can I help you folks,” an elderly lady said as she walked up to them holding a wicker basket filled with vegetables. The day could be entered into the chronometer but not the hour so even thogh they went through at night it was morning back in 1939.

  “No Ma’am, we were just passing through your yard. We’re sorry,” Captain Shellhause said.

  “Are you hungry? How about a turnip. It’s a great hand vegetable. A bit hard to digest and hard to chew but it is good for you and opens up your sinuses.”

  “No thank you, Ma’am but it’s nice of you to offer,” Tatiana said.

  “Oh, my, how beautiful you are. I’ve never seen a woman as gorgeous as you. How can you be so beautiful?” The woman asked Belinda as she walked around observing the Princess.

  “I was born beautiful and I work very hard at looking perfect,” Belinda said. Tatiana grinned and was glad that Jozette wasn’t there for her sake so she didn’t have to listen to another person, even in a different time period, tell Belinda how beautiful she was.

  “Well, you sure are. I thought my niece Charlotte was beautiful but against you, she’d pale by comparison.”

  “Thank you again,” Belinda said.

  “We’ll be on our way now,” Tatiana said and they moved quickly down the street.

  “We have a train to catch in an hour,” Little Wolf said.

  “Maybe,” Tatiana said. We don’t know what day it is.”

  “She’s right, we need a newspaper,” Tom said as he found a news stand and picked up the daily. “The nineteenth, we’re on schedule.”

  “Boy, that Sol knows what he’s doing,” Little Wolf remarked.

  “Our train leaves at midnight so, let’s make our way to the station,” Tom said. They arrived a half hour early and waited in the station. Belinda spent most of the time in the bathroom perfecting herself. The last call brought her out and they boarded. As the train left the station they relaxed and some of them slept but Tatiana and Little Wolf were awake planning strategy.

  “We’ll need to keep a wary eye on her,” Tatiana said.

  “I know but maybe somehow she can come in handy. Remember when we were on the fishing trawler in South America?”

  “Yes, I remember. Let’s hope for the best.”

  “The ship will take us to Cherbourg, France. From there we’ll have to use the train into Germany and then wing it,” Tatiana explained.

  “It’s still 1939 so, there aren’t many restrictions yet.”

  “That’s good, but your dark complexion won’t go over big.”

  “And, who do we have along to remedy that but the most beautiful woman in the world and the best make-up artist,” Little Wolf said grinning.

  “Oh, yes, she’s beautiful. Just ask her.”

  “I thought you liked Miss Belinda.”

  “I do, I adore her but her vanity can wear thin after a time.”

  “Yes, I suppose so.”

  “I’ve checked the price of train tickets in Germany and France in 1939 and we have plenty of money.”

  “Good, so we go to Indianapolis then straight to New York and board the ship in three days.”

  * * *

  “We didn’t even know she was gone,” Jozette said as she paced and fretted. Belinda was irritating, annoying and a pain in the neck sometimes but she was Jozette’s best friend and she worried about her constantly.

  “She must’ve hidden in the back of the hearse. There’s a storage compartment and I guess she was in there. Mario and Janet were lying down behind the seats and she must’ve been under them in the storage compartment. We didn’t see her. It was noisy and confusing and we had the lights off. Suddenly she went through with the rest and the portal shut down,” Dave said.

  “There was nothing we could do,” Sol added.

  “So, she’s with them now in 1939 in the middle of a dangerous mission?” Justin asked already knowing the obvious answer.

  “Yes,” Dave said. “Look, Justin they’ll take care of her.”

  “Why’d she do it?” Lexi asked.

  “Who knows what Lind’s thinking,” Jozette remarked. “She’d been listening for days about all kinds of ideas that we had and how we had to send a team back to fix the Time Frame. Maybe she thought she could help or she just wanted to be a part of it.” Jozette folded her arms and lowered her head.

  “Well, Little Wolf and Tatiana will watch her closely and so will Tom and Captain Shellhause,” Andy posed.

  “I know but will she get in the way of what they’re trying to do?” Jozette wondered.

  “If I know Belinda, she’ll find a way to help like no one but Belinda can,” Lexi said.

  * * *

  “She’ll be okay, Jess,” Darcy said as she put her arm around her friend.

  “I don’t know; she doesn’t have the skills that Miss Tatiana or Miss Jozette have.”

  “Why did she do it?” Mallory asked.

  “She thinks she’s inferior to everyone else.” Jessica said and they all looked at her and she chuckled. “Okay, in one way she has no match. We’ve all seen that but she feels left out when she sees nearly everyone else doing heroic things. She doesn’t know what anyone is talking about when they discuss science and she feels stupid. She thinks my dad’s disappointed that she isn’t more like some of the other wives.”

  “Mr. Justin adores your mom. Anyone can see that,” Dixie said.

  “I know and I’ve told her that many times but she still feels inadequate.”

  “So, she snuck along and went through the portal to prove her womanhood?” Melanie asked.

  “I wouldn’t put it exactly like that but yes, I guess that’s kind of what she did,” Jessica said.

  “Mom told us what she did on that boat in South America. I wouldn’t doubt her resolve or courage,” Mallory offered.

  “Neither do I but does she know when to be brave and not just foolish,” Jessica said. That ended the conversation and they went to sleep along with the adults.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “Cherbourg, France. Looks like a nice place,” Belinda said as they stood by the railing while the ship came into port.

  “Let’s get our things and find the train station,” Tatiana said and they moved quickly. They’d procured items while in New York and put them in one suitcase. Belinda had purchased the things she needed to make Little Wolf white again. Money was a problem since currency from 2020 would draw suspicion and maybe the police. They’d found a pawn shop in Bloomington that had a wide assortment of old currency. Before they went through the portal, Little Wolf and Tatiana had paid the shop a visit after hours and “acquired” what they needed. Belinda and Little Wolf found a deserted alley in the heart of the city where she made him into one of them for lack of a better expression.

  “How do you feel, Little Wolf, I mean being white?” Tom asked.

  “Like an oppressor.” Tom said nothing. “Sorry, Tom, I didn’t mean anything by that remark.”

  “No, you’re not off by much.”

  “Let’s get going to the station,” Tatiana said and they moved quickly through town. They boarded the train and sat back as it pulled away. They could rest and relax as they went through France.

  “We’ll be on here for several hours,” Little Wolf said. After a two-hour nap Little Wolf and Tatiana began talking about what to do next.

  “When we get to Strasbourg, we need to get some German marks so we can blend in and get what we need,” Tatiana said.

  “Are you nervous about crossing into Germany?”

  “Well, aren’t you,” Tatiana said with a grin and Little Wolf nodded and chuckled.

  “We’re talking about Nazi Germany and yes, that scares me.”

  “We’ll move straight across southern Germany and stop in Munich for a time. Captain Shellhause speaks German and mine’s passable; maybe we can find out what’s happening these days in Germany.”

  “What do you mean what’s happening? The Nazis are strengthening their death
grip on the whole country.”

  “I know that but I’m curious if there’s any talk of resistance,” Tatiana said.

  “Resistance? I doubt it after taking over the Rhineland, Austria and Czechoslovakia. Hitler and the Nazis are at an all-time high in popularity.”

  “Perhaps no resistance but it doesn’t hurt to ask.”

  “Do you speak French?” Tom asked Captain Shellhause.

  “A little.”

  “German?”

  “Yes, I’m fluent in German. I took three years in college.”

  “So, I’ll just stand around and look stupid.”

  “I wouldn’t say stand around,” Captain Shellhause said chuckling.

  “Oh, that’s funny, Captain. I see we’re getting in the right mood to go into Nazi Germany.”

  “I hope.”

  “We’ll also need weapons but I doubt if we can take them over the border,” Tom said.

  “Yeah, you’re right there. I researched things before we left. The border guards in Germany were sticklers about keeping weapons out of Germany.”

  “How’re we going to get weapons in Germany?” Tom asked.

  “It won’t be easy for sure but we’re going to have to find a way.”

  “Were there pawn shops in Nazi Germany?” Belinda asked. She’d been listening to Tom and Captain Shellhause.

  “I’m sure there were, especially in the larger cities,” Tom said.

  “Are we going to stop in any large cities?” Belinda asked.

  “Yes, we are, in Munich,” Captain Shellhause replied.

  “Well, there you are; the problem’s solved,” Belinda said.

  “It’s not quite that simple but I have to say your suggestion puts us on the right track,” Tom said.

  “Maybe I can use my German to sweet talk them out of a weapon or two,” Captain Shellhause said.

  “Guns were outlawed in Nazi Germany,” Tom offered.

  “I know that but a pawn shop is a pawn shop and just about everything is under the table and if not illegal at least off kilter, even in 1939,” Captain Shellhause remarked.

  “I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Belinda said.

  “I’m not sure we do either,” Tom said. They laughed at that as the train ride continued. It took twenty hours to cross France, that included many stops, some for extended periods. They got out in Paris to stretch their legs.

  “Aren’t we going to go downtown?” Belinda asked.

  “Why?” Tatiana asked.

  “To see the stores, this is Paris and they have the finest fashions in the world. I’ve always dreamed of going to Paris.”

  “Miss Belinda this isn’t exactly a shopping trip,” Little Wolf said. “We’re trying to remain inconspicuous even in France and in Germany we’ll have to play things very close to the vest,” Little Wolf explained.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I guess that was silly of me.”

  “Forget it, Lind. If we get out of this and do what we need to do, I think our next group vacation should be to Europe and especially Paris,” Tatiana posed and Belinda’s eyes lit up like a small child who’d been promised a trip to Disneyland. Little Wolf glanced at Tatiana and grinned. They rode for several hours with a few stops where they found food and drink then settled in for the last thirty miles in France. Around five in the evening they pulled into Strasbourg. They got out and looked across to Germany.

  “Let’s get our things and make the crossing,” Tom said and they set out on foot with the rest of the passengers who were braving a trip to Germany in 1939..

  “Where are we going to find transportation?” Belinda asked.

  “Not sure yet,” Tatiana said.

  “Should we hop a freight train?” Captain Shellhause asked.

  “It’d be risky,” Little Wolf said.

  “What about borrowing a vehicle,” Tatiana suggested.

  “I don’t know, if were arrested they could hold us for weeks then we’d miss our window,” Captain Shellhause said.

  “Yeah, that’s not good,” Tom added.

  “Can we take the passenger train to where we’re going?” Belinda asked.

  “That’s’ touchy as well. They watched the trains very close,” Tatiana said.

  “So, do we just stand here or do we walk all the way. It’s clear across Germany, isn’t it? I heard you guys talking about it once,” Belinda said.

  “Yes, it’s clear across Germany so, we have to do something,” Tom said.

  “Alright, why don’t we go to the freight yard. There must be a train going to Munich,” Little Wolf said. “Going hobo may be our best bet.” There were no other suggestions so they took off and found the rear of the yard that had trains coming and going. They saw a train hopper looking for a box car. Captain Shellhause stopped him and they spoke in German then the man took off.

  “That train over there, 353, is leaving for Munich in half an hour.”

  “There are plenty of open cars,” Tom said.

  “He said they’re pretty lax about security here but in Munich we’d need to get off before we arrive,” Captain Shellhause said.

  “You mean before we stop?” Tom asked. Tatiana looked at Little Wolf and they both glanced at Belinda. She noticed and gritted her teeth.

  “I can jump too so don’t think I’m a helpless baby that’ll hold you up.”

  “We don’t think that,” Tatiana said.

  “Yes, you do and I don’t blame you but I came here to help and I won’t slow you down.”

  “Fair enough,” Little Wolf said and it was settled. They hopped on and sat in the corner of a box car. It was filled with crates so they had places to hide if they needed. The train pulled away and they breathed a sigh of relief. They weren’t afraid so much as leery of leaving dead bodies behind. They knew they’d have to fight their way through Germany to get to their destination and kill the four Nazi Time Travelers but they hoped to avoid leaving a trail of evidence to follow.

  “It’s about five hours to Munich, I suggest we get some sleep,” Tatiana said and no one argued as they slept and finally received some rest.

  “Hey, I see the railyard ahead about two miles away,” Tom said and they moved to the door. The train had slowed to about ten miles an hour.

  “Okay, I’ll go first, Little Wolf said and jumped then rolled and came up like an acrobat…no surprise.

  “Me,” Belinda said and ran past everyone and jumped.

  “Lind, wait…” Tatiana said too late as Belinda was rolling down the hill while Little Wolf chased after her. They all looked expecting the worst but she popped up smiling and waving at everyone in the car.

  “Impressive,” Captain Shellhause said as he jumped and Tom and Tatiana followed. No one was hurt…a couple of scrapes but that was all.

  “We were going to help you,” Miss Belinda,” Little Wolf said.

  “I know, that’s why I jumped. I told you, I won’t be a burden. I don’t know what I can do but give me a chance.”

  “That sounds good to me,” Tom said and they moved away from the railyard and down a side street.

  “A reminder to all, not that anyone needs it, but we’re in Nazi Germany now and it’s dangerous by definition. Any authority figure can stop us for no reason and even shoot us on the spot,” Tatiana said.

  “We need to keep a very low profile,” Little Wolf said as they followed him and Tatiana. They ducked down alleys and side streets to avoid people at all costs. It was getting dark and they found an abandoned building in the industrial district. They were on the seedy side of town and they saw a few denizens of poverty row so they were cautious and did nothing to bring attention to themselves. They were on the second floor and there was one stairway. It appeared to be a factory at one time. There were tables a few chairs and some empty wooden crates. Some of the windows were broken but it was a large room and was habitable for one night. Little Wolf stood by a window watching for any signs of danger. Tatiana was their leader but he was their guardian. He could se
nse and see danger better than anyone and he always appointed himself as the watcher. Four young kids went by pushing and shoving each other followed by an old woman pulling a wagon full of cans and bottles. A man and woman slithered by entwined like two snakes mating and he had no doubt that’s where they were headed. A wino stumbled by holding a brown paper bag and Little Wolf chuckled. Some things transcend language and even international boundaries and boozing was one of those. Things seemed calm then three men in their twenties walked by and were looking intently at the second floor where Little Wolf was standing. He thought they might’ve seen all of them enter the building and he also thought their appetites might’ve been whetted for money, jewelry…and whatever else they had in mind. He knew he couldn’t let his guard down tonight. Not that he would’ve anyway.

  “What’re we going to eat?” Belinda asked. Tatiana looked at Tom who smiled and shook his head.

  “We’re not exactly driving a food truck, Lind,” Tatiana said.

  “But I’m hungry.”

  “Here, Ms. Fanelli, I rat-holed this cinnamon bun from the train station,” Captain Shellhause said and handed it to her.

  “Thanks.” She started to open it then noticed they were all looking at her and stopped.

  “What’s wrong, Lind?” Tatiana asked.

  “We all ate at the same time today so you guys are all hungry too.”

  “I’m fine,” Tom said.

  “I can wait,” Captain Shellhause said.

  “No, Tom, you’re not fine and Captain Shellhause, you can’t wait any more than any of us. I did it again…I put myself before everyone else. We’re all hungry but I was the only one whining about it. Here, Captain Shellhause,” She handed back the roll. “If I was ten years old then okay, giving me the only food we had would be fine. But I’m not ten years old, I’m an adult and I need to start acting like one.”

  “Lind you need your energy, like we all do,” Tatiana said.