Behavior Report 34

Dearest Love,

Humiliation is a powerful weapon wielded by those with authority. Case in point, when I stand up from the bathwater, refreshed and excited that the poison has been washed away, I am greeted with laughter. The two Kraut soldiers stand in the doorway, rifles in hand, and grins on their faces.

The taller of the two uses his rifle to point at my clothes on the floor and says, “Zee dienen clamotton dem mogonen man an.”

I believe he tells me to get dressed, so I step out, dripping water everywhere. The air feels warm. I look for a towel and find nothing.

“Seek ba isle in,” he adds with an annoyed tone. The tip of his rifle points to the clothes and then to me in sharp movements.

I pull up the pants with ease and then struggle with the shirt. It’s as if every droplet of water is like a spot of glue sticking to the fabric. The soldiers move to the opposite side of me and use their rifles to push me toward the door. We walk through the large room with the piano and then into the hallway with my room at the end. I study as much as I can, looking for some clue that will lead me to Earl. The doors are all closed except for mine. I hear no voices behind them.

The soldiers herd me into my room and close and lock the door. My room feels entirely different from my new fresh perspective. A pungent, vile odor, like that of a rotting animal, radiates from a yellow outline of my body on the sheetless mattress. I walk over to the window, open it, and take in some fresh air.

The vast verdant canopy that I first found when I was well enough to sit up in bed extends even further than I imagined. I try to tell myself that this isn’t the Cauchemar Forest, but massive tree trunks exposed between small openings within the leaves argue against me.

“It’s what you think it is,” a voice says from behind. I turn and find Lieutenant Talbott sitting on the bed. “All of this is what you think it is.”

“What did Earl say about the Alter Man? That he lives on a mountain? Something like that, right?” I look around the room. “This place … this room … that hallway … all of it is not just someone’s house. This is a mansion … wait … there were paintings in the hall.”

“Houses can’t have paintings?”

“No. They were royalty. They were dressed like kings and queens. Is this some sort of castle?”

“Lean out the window. Maybe you can figure that out.”

I lean as far out as I comfortable can to look around. “This place is built on a sheer cliff that must drop several thousand feet. My room appears to be part of the outermost wall. I can’t see any other walls or windows or any other part of this place.”

“I guess that means we aren’t going to escape by climbing out the window,” Lieutenant Talbott says. “Any chance you could jump out and maybe catch a branch or land on a tree below?”

“No. I couldn’t even climb down. The surface is absolutely straight, almost like someone cut it with a …” An epiphany strikes before I can finish. I turn around and see all my things still stacked up against the wall, including my rifle and sword. “They didn’t take my things!” I check my rifle, but the clip and chamber are empty. I dig through my clothes, find my bandolier, and open every pocket. “They took all of my ammunition.”

“Yes, but they didn’t take your sword.”

I place my rifle back in the same spot and then pick up my sword. Whether it is the strength I gained from my bath in the river water or the sword’s power, I feel some sort of indescribable energy from the handle that roots into my hands and arms. I make a few swiping gestures and hear a ringing noise from the steel. It’s the same sound I remember when I used the sword to slice through the rock monsters and fight other creatures.

Lieutenant Talbott smiles broadly and says, “That’s more powerful than your rifle. It’s quieter too. The best thing is that you can sneak around this place and take out some Krauts without alerting others.”

“Is that the plan?”

“What else would it be? Do you want to find out what that doctor is going to do to you?”

“No.”

“Probably best to wait until dark. I can summon the others to provide support.”

“I really wish you guys were still all he—”

Loud footsteps in the hallway interrupt me. They are sharp and direct and instantly let me know that it is the older woman coming. But then I hear another set, clunkier and thicker, hidden underneath the clip clops of the woman’s heels.

“Hide the sword,” Lieutenant Talbott says.

I look around the room for a hiding place. “Where?”

“Under the mattress!”

 He fades into nothingness from his spot on the bed. I lift the mattress and set the sword upon several wooden slats that span from side to side on the bedframe. The footsteps grow louder, closer, and I quietly set the mattress back and go over to the window right before the door locks clicks. Squealing hinges announce the older woman’s entrance. She’s followed by one of the Kraut soldiers who points his rifle at me.

“Hello,” the older woman says.

Their presence sends me into a feeling of intense anger. My soul wishes them harm, but the soldier’s rifle quells it. I could never get to him in time.

“I learned that you were awake,” the older woman continues.

“I am.”

“Are you comfortable?”

“Sure.”

“Have you eaten anything?”

“No.”

“I will see to it that we bring you some food.”

“I’m not hungry,” I say, furrowing my brow. “Who are you?”

She doesn’t respond immediately and instead locks eyes with me. A smile slowly expands across her face. Her smile was not the kind that warmed a person like a friendly handshake at church. The further she stretched the smile, the thinner her lips became until they were only a line expanding to show yellow, sharp teeth. Eventually, after what feels like several minutes, she says, “My name is Madame Teuflisch,” through her uncomfortable smile.

“Teuflisch?”

“Yes.”

“That’s an interesting name. And how do you fit into all of this, Madam Teuflisch?”

“Most call me M’am or Madam.” She pauses to gauge my reaction and then continues. “This is my home that I’ve converted into a hospital and rest stop for traveling soldiers. I care for all.” She speaks through her teeth as she continues to hold her smile.  

I don’t believe a word. “That’s … generous of you.”

“You were brought, quite injured, with a wound to your head.”

“Oh.”  

“You were luckily found and brought here.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve gotten better.”

“I see.” My mind races with different thoughts on what to say next, but they all share similar paths and questions. “Is it common in France to point a gun at their patients? Better yet, lock them to their beds?” I nod toward the shackles on the floor at the foot of the bed.

Madam Teuflisch’s smile constricts ever so slightly before it expands again. She says, “You took quite a blow Mr. Kaplan, and, in your sickness, you attempted to get out of your bed several times. Those were merely precautions for your safety.

“My soldier here is a little eager to protect me. Others that have been given the bath have had a different reaction than you. Some become angry and attack my nurse or me. You are not a prisoner and soon will learn that you will have great freedom to move about my home.”

“Wonderful,” I respond immediately. “So, when you leave, you will not lock my door?”

“In due time.”

“So, I’m not free.”

“Soon.”

“Tell me, I was with some people, another soldier, and some friends. Where are they?”

My question sends a small shockwave through Madam Teuflisch. She stands straighter. One of her eyebrows raise. The moment lasts all of a second and then her body returns back to its original, mechanical, and cold position. “They are all well and in my care.”

“I want to see them.”

“You will,” she says quickly and then pauses. “In time.”

“In time,” I repeat. “Everything is in due time?”

“They were all brought in like you. You are the first to be healed.” Unlike her previous statements, these words run out quickly from her mouth like a flowing river of lies. The hint of Kraut is gone, and she speaks fluidly. The change makes me think, ‘Are the others not okay? Did they only take me?’

“Are they chained up like me?” I say.

Madam Teuflisch’s fists clench. Her smile contracts to a single line. Muscles in her jowls begin to roll as if she’s chewing on taffy. Her presence, although thin, is palpable. She stares at me, grimacing. Just when her stare begins to feel uncomfortable, her hands open, and she relaxes. “The others are not chained like you.”

“Are they nearby?”

“Yes. And you will see them—”

“In time,” I interrupt with a smile.

Her eyes pierce through me.

I clear my throat and say the first words that come to mind. “Where are we?”

“My home.”

“Is it a mansion?”

“It is a castle.”

“A castle?” I say with interest. “How does a German gal like you have a castle in France?”

“This has been with my family for generations.”

“Generations? Were you part of the French royalty?”

“No. One does not need to be royalty to have a castle.” She sighs and says, “Why do you not believe me?”

“Because things don’t add up. You say you’ve owned this French castle for generations and, yet you have a thick German accent. You also say that you are caring for the wounded, but I was shackled to a bed and locked in my room. I’ve never seen a hospital do that.” I give her a moment to respond, but she says nothing. All my anger collects into my lungs to form the next sentence. “Lastly, I find it strange that your care includes a doctor who needs healthy patients to conduct … what did he say … experiments.”

My admission hits her like a wave. She takes a step back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says, unconvincingly.

“I heard it all, this morning. I was awake. You can stop the charade.”

“The medication you were on is capable of producing hallucinations. Whatever you think you heard is likely a dream that felt real.”

“Stop. Just stop. I know about everything. I know that he’s the Alter Man.”

Madam Teuflisch takes a deep breath, holds it, and then says, “Alter Man?”

“Yes. Alter Man.”

The Kraut soldier smiles and looks at Madam Teuflisch as if I just said a punchline to a joke that only they know about. She does not return the look and instead begins to grimace once again.

She says, “You know nothing, Mr. Kaplan, and you have no power. We will conduct our experiment on you, and you will become my greatest success whether you want to or not. There is but one of you and several hundred of us.” She thinks for a moment and then says, “You talk as if you are strong and yet, you are nothing but a coward. Whenever you have come up against any danger, you’ve cowered and let someone else do the work.”

“What?” I say, genuinely confused.

“I’ve read your letters to your wife and little boy.”

I feel my heart stop. I look at my pack and wonder if she took my letters. I feel as naked and humiliated as I was in the bath.

“I believe you call my second in command, the Unforgiveable Monster.”

“Savage,” I say.

“Savage. The Unforgiveable Savage. That is quite an interesting name. Is it because he slaughtered your entire platoon?”

I want to jump across the room and squeeze her neck. Only the Kraut’s rifle keeps me at bay. All sorts of words form in my mouth, but none leave because they would do no good.

“That’s his specialty,” she continues. “He’s an amazing leader and will bring great triumph to my plans. I can only hope that when the doctor performs his experiment upon you that you are successful. Then everything we’ve worked for will come together and no amount of tanks or guns or airplanes will be able to stop us.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“You have nothing,” Madam Teuflisch says, quickly.

She gestures to the soldier to leave, and they move to the door.

Before she exits, she turns and says, “You should think about what you should have done differently to keep your friends alive.” She smiles her sinister grin. “You have time. The doctor will see you soon.”

She closes the door and then opens it wide enough to peer through it.

“Oh. I should also let you know one more thing.”

“What?” I say more as a statement than a question.

“I introduced myself as Madam Teuflisch, but some call me … the Alter Man.”

Before I can react, she closes and locks the door.