A Fork in the Road, Part 2
Hanau, Rhineland Province, Holy Roman Empire - April 24, 2011, 3:00 PM
Annie walked through Johan’s house. Her teams combed the house, installing listening devices and removing anything which might make Johann realize it was actually his own house. The last of her teams left through the front door, and Agent Kirova walked in.
“Are we good?” Annie asked.
“Listening devices are a go,” Agent Kirova said.
Annie knocked on a bathroom door. “Hey, Angie, it’s me.”
“I’m about done,” Angelalt said, “It’s unlocked.”
Annie opened the door and looked inside, where Angelalt had finished putting on a wig of red hair like Angela’s.
“Why can’t you just wash your hair?” Annie said. “I mean, you dyed it blond.”
“This is easier,” Angelalt said, “What do you think?”
“Red looks good on you,” Annie said.
Angelalt looked in the mirror. “So other me had the right idea, then?”
“Looks like it,” Annie said.
“Thanks,” Angelalt said.
“They’re arriving,” Annie said, helping her into one of Angela’s extra trench coats.
“Alright,” Angelalt said.
Down the street, an X-Division van rounded the corner and slowed down as it approached Johan’s house. Inside, Angela checked the unconscious Johann’s vitals. The van stopped, and Anders opened the door. He and Angela rolled Johann’s gurney out and onto the front lawn, where Annie greeted them.
“Afternoon, Angie,” she said, “And brother. We appreciate your help in this.”
“Hello, Annie,” Anders said.
“Hey, Annie,” Angela said.
Angelalt joined them on the lawn.
“Hi, me,” Angela said, “I button my coat.”
“No you don’t,” Angelalt said.
“Yes I do,” Angela said.
“It’s not buttoned up now,” Angelalt said.
“To remind you, it was my grandfather’s,” Angela said, “He died wearing it like this. Good thing you didn’t get your hands on it.”
“So where do you want us?” Anders said.
“We've got audio surveillance in the vehicle,” Angelalt said, pointing to the van.
“Of course you do,” Angela said.
“Yeah, we’ll be fine,” Anders said, “Good luck.”
“Thanks,” Annie said.
As Johann was wheeled inside and Angelalt and Annie walked in after him, Angela and Anders got back in the van.
“Showtime,” Angelalt said.
Gas station, Rhineland Province
At a busy suburban gas station, business proceeded as usual. Noreen stopped her minivan, exited her vehicle, and took out solar panels to recharge the car. Her young daughter, Megan, hopped out of the minivan.
“Can I do the windows?” she asked.
“I would love it if you would,” Noreen said, handing her a wiper.
Together, they cleaned the minivan’s window.
“Well done, Megan,” Noreen said, “That is beautiful work. You want a snack?”
“I want chips,” Megan said.
From a picnic bench on the other side of the gas station, Johan sat and sipped a cup of tea, watching them.
Walter’s lab, Strasburg, the Reich
Walter sat in front of numerous speakers, all blaring Mozart’s
Requiem at full volume. He lay back with his eyes closed. Anna walked into the lab and immediately covered her ears, cursing at the top of her lungs.
“WALTER!” she shouted. “WALTER!”
She made her way to the speakers and unplugged them. Walter opened his eyes and gasped.
“DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LOUD THAT IS?!” Anna shouted.
“A man may soothe his soul,” Walter said.
“Walter, you found that soothing?” Anna said.
“Do you have any idea what it cost Mozart to create that movement?” Walter said.
“Certainly not his life,” Anna said, “Alright, Walter, what’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing,” Walter said, “My nerves are a bit raw. I haven’t been sleeping well. The machine is acting too slowly, and in the meantime I have to deal with HIM!”
“I checked your meds, and the counts are way off,” Anna said, “You've been overdoing it.”
“I've been experimenting,” Walter said, “Again.”
“Damnit,” Anna said, “Look, Walter, it’s fine. I’ll help you get back on track. But if there is something else going on, you need to tell me.”
“I just need to rest,” Walter said, walking out, “Perhaps I’ll go lie down.”
Johan’s house - 3:05 PM
Johann inspected the neatly organized shelves in the living room and study.
“He needs to feel in control,” he remarked, “Messy spaces bother him. He's highly intelligent. Probably self-taught.”
He looked at action figures displayed on the shelf and then at a stack of packages in the kitchen.
“And he's... fascinated by the brain,” he said, “India. China. Malaya.”
“Yeah, he ordered a lot of parts online from overseas for schematics he designed,” Angelalt said.
Johann unrolled a blueprint. “What is this for?”
“We don’t know,” Annie said.
“He needs to divert himself from his misery, so he builds things to occupy his time,” Johann said.
In the van, as they listened to Johann’s comments, Agent Kirova turned to Angela and Anders.
“You hate being out here, don't you?” she said.
“Why do you say that?” Angela said.
“Because it would drive her and Annie crazy,” Agent Kirova said.
“I’m fine with it,” Angela said.
“So am I,” Anders said.
In the house, Johann opened the fridge and took out a box.
“Uh, egg hatching lights,” he said, “My dad used to work on a farm. We had chickens. I don't know what he'd be using this for."
“Does anything else stand out to you?” Angelalt said.
“Uh, he's deeply unhappy,” Johann said, “He grew up feeling deprived, and other kids had things and he didn't. He's trying to make up for it now, but he can’t. Dinner's important to him. He hunts during the day. He blends into his surroundings.”
Gas station
“I have to go to the bathroom,” Megan said.
“Okay, come straight back,” Noreen said, “Alright?”
“I will,” Megan said.
“And don't touch anything you don't have to,” Noreen said.
“Okay,” Megan said.
Johan silently watched Megan enter the restroom. He got up from his seat.
Johan’s house
Johann walked into Johan’s workshop, where several tools, various equipment, and a few photo albums were scattered around the area. He quickly noticed a yellow chair.
“What?” Angelalt said.
“The chair,” Johann said, “Uh, we had a set of chairs like that in the house I grew up in. That's just crazy. It's exactly the same. I loved that chair.”
“Well,” Annie said.
Johann noticed a collage of pictures of happy people taking up one of the walls.
“Oh, my,” he said.
“What do you think?” Angelalt said.
“There's too many of them,” Johann said, “They're strangers to him. Uh, he doesn't know them.”
“Why have them displayed?” Annie said.
“Oh, because he's jealous of them,” Johann said, “Because he hates they have happy lives. That's what he looks for. He takes them when they're happy. His feelings are all that matter. He wants to feel better.”
Gas station
Megan left the restroom and went back to the minivan, but Noreen was missing.
“Mom?” she said. “Mom?!”
Johan’s house
Johann pulled a picture off the wall, his face shocked.
“How could he have this?” he said.
“Do you know that man?” Angelalt said.
“He's my father,” Johann said.
“Scheiße,” Annie cursed.
“I thought you got everything!” Angelalt whispered.
“Apparently not!” Annie said.
“What is this?!” Johann demanded. “Is this a joke?”
“No, Professor, this is not a joke,” Angelalt said.
“Of course it’s not,” Annie said, “The Athanatoi does not pull pranks.”
“No, no, of course not,” Johann said, “What the frak is going on here? Why do you have a picture of my father?”
“Just calm down,” Angelalt said.
Annie tapped her earpiece. “Frak, it’s bad, he’s cursing now.”
“And the same damn chair from my childhood?” Johann said.
“You don't understand, it’s classified!” Angelalt said.
In the van, Angela and Anders took off their headsets.
“Alright, it’s over,” Angela said.
“Don’t,” Agent Kirova said.
“Try to stop us,” Anders said.
They ran toward the house, while Johann stormed out the front door, Angelalt and Annie running behind him.
“Professor, wait!” Annie shouted.
“I’m finished here!” Johann said.
He stopped when he saw Angela. He looked back at Angelalt and then again at Angela. Then the lawn darkened, and he looked up to see a zeppelin flying overhead, waving the flag of the Holy Roman Empire.
“I thought you got the flights redirected, Olga!” Annie said.
“That was your job!” Agent Kirova said.
“Oh, great, this is a disaster,” Angelalt said.
“I was about to say that!” Angela said.
“Not helping!” both of them said.
“Where the frak am I?!” Johann demanded.
