Sir Montague Smith
2 januari 1936 – Damrak Square, Amsterdam, Netherlands
It was a cold day in januari. Normally Karel would spend such a day in one of the many café’s in the city, drinking coffee and perhaps a few glasses of jenever [1]. However, instead of being in one of those heated café’s he was standing very exposed at a very cold square in a very cold city. He tightened the skarf around his neck in an effort to shield himself a bit better from the bitter cold. The skarf was a gift from Elsa and he was very grateful for it, even if the skarf was as red as Elsa’s political opinions. She just couldn’t leave an opportunity to ‘convert’ him go to waste. After waiting in the cold for a while Karel was approached by two men walking towards him.
“Ah, mister Van Doorn, we finally meet.”
There could be no mistake the man was British, dressed in a neat tweed suit as one would expect from a British upperclass gentleman. The most distinguising feature however was his brisk grey moustace. The mystery caller, was accompanied by a grim looking, muscular man in his late 40s. A bodyguard of some kind?
“I apologize for making you wait in the cold all this while. Unfortunately we had to make sure you weren’t being followed. Ah, but where are my manners, let me introduce myself. My name is Montague Smith, Sir Laurence Montague Smith to be exact. The gentleman accompanying me is Mr. Costers.”
The man introduced ar Mr. Costers gave a short greeting in Dutch, revealing a undenyable Flemish accent. A Brit and a Belgian in Amsterdam, an odd pair for sure. What would this Montague Smith fellow want with him? Only one way to find out.
“Mr. Montague, Mr. Costers, as much as I wish to listen to your story, I suggest we do it inside. I know an excellent café nearby. They serve the best coffee of the city.”
“Well, I personally prefer a good cup of tea, but coffee will do.”
The three men entered one of the café’s near the Damsquare. Through the window the Palace at the Dam was clearly visible.
“Magnificent view isn’t it Mr. Van Doorn, the Palace. Did you know the Palace was once the Cityhall of this city? From 1665 until 1806 to be exact. However it wasn’t until 1813 that it became a proper palace, when Stadholder Willem VI became King Willem I of the Netherlands.”
The interiour of the Palace at the Dam. The rich interiour was meant to represent Amsterdams dominance over the World Trade at the time it was built.
Karel was becoming impatient. He hoped to get some answers, not receive a lecture on the history of his city. However, the old man across him seemed quite fond of his historylesson.
“You probably know Willem didn’t became King on his own accord. He was made a King at the Congress of Vienna, when diplomats and dignitaries from across Europe redrew the map after the Napoleonic wars. Talleyrand, Castlereagh, Metternich, the most famed diplomats of history tried to build a new world and prevent war between their nations to prevent another series of wars like those that had just passed. They also tried to channel the energies of the French revolution into a direction where it couldn’t do any damage, using the threat of revolution as a pretext for reshaping Europe. Alas, their dream of a stable and peaceful Europe didn’t come true.”
“This is all fascinating, but what does it have to do with me?”, Karel was losing his patience now. Sir Montague only smiled in reaction. Mr. Costers looked a bit grimmer than he looked before, he probably didn’t like it when someone was rude around the good sir.
“Every story is worth being listened to, my impatient friend, but I will get to the point. I am told you have caused quite a stirr with your investigation on the Shell-scandal. Might I ask how you found out about Mr. Colijns questionable behaviour?”
Karel saw no reason not to answer the man, most of the scandal had been swept under the carpet already, with some minor officials being fired. Therefor he quickly summarized how he came in the possesion of the information. Originally he was o write a story on the conversion of the Anglo-Dutch company Royal Dutch Shell to the fully Dutch Koninklijke Olie [2]. He found it odd that all possesions and installations in the formerly British colonies and protectorates of Northern Borneo and the Persian Gulf fell into the hands of the new company, even while the new owners of those territories might have been incligned to keep those valuable assets for themselves. When he started to investigate the facts more clearly, he found out that in several cases armed personnel seized the installations days before Britain fell to the revolutionaries. Also, such a well prepared strike would have to be prepared months in advance, long before the crisis in Britain came even close to being revolutionary. Such an act against a friendly nation was unheard off. Karel had tried to find out who could order such an operation and came to the conclusion only Prime Minister and former Shell-CEO Colijn could have the knowledge and recources to set up the operation.
The Shell facilities at Tarakan, Dutch East Indies.
While telling his story Sir Montague Smith listened intently to his every word, as if to find some clue for a puzzle. Even after Karel had finished his story the old man remained lost in thought. A minute or so later he finally spoke.
“As I thought, another case of a powerful man knowing something he shouldn’t. Unfortunately this wasn’t the only case. Mr. Van Doorn, you have uncovered a small piece of a puzzle I am trying to resolve for some time now. You see, ever since the fall of Paris in 1918 many remarkable turn of events have taken place. I am a military man, I can assure you the British strategy after Paris has been atrocious at best, almost as if people wanted us to lose. After the Peace with ‘Honour’ Britain tried to regain it’s power in the face of a new and hostile world.”
“People wanted Britain to lose? I can see Germany or the other Central powers profiting, but wouldn’t the fall of Britain hurt more people than it would help?”
“Well, many people and nations have profited from our fall. Germany is now the most powerful nation in the world, finally having its place under the sun, Japan now is the most powerful nation in Asia, South-Africa, Australasia and Ireland are now fully independent. Even the French have profited in some way, as the Commune is feared and respected in a way the Third Republic never was. Also, many groups within nations profited. The Red Scare that followed the fall of Old Blighty and France gave room to people as Huey Long in the USA, Petr Wrangel in Russia and the French Nationalists in Algeria to claim to be the defenders of the people. It also inspired Syndicalists around the world. As you can see, many people are trying to build a new world as we speak.”
Building a new world, channeling revolutionary energies, it all sounded so familiar. That’s it! The old man’s story about the Congress of Vienna. Powerful man reshaping Europe, perhaps even the world.
Sir Montague Smith smiled at him,
“Judging from the look on your face you have put one and one together.”
“I know what you are trying to say, but such a plot… It sounds just so…”
“Unreal, sir? I agree with you, this whole story sound just too insane to be true, however I assure you…”
Sir Montague Smith’s words where cut short by the sharp sound of a gunshot and the sound of breaking glass. Karel was too stunned to act, he might even have been hit if it wasn’t for the mysterious Mr. Costers pulling him under the table. There Karel, now white as a sheet, looked into the moustacioud face of Sir Montague.
“You believe me now Mr. Van Doorn?”
“I guess I have no choice but to believe you now. People don’t kill eachother simply for telling horribly unbelievable lies.”
“I am sorry Mr. Van Doorn. I really thought I had shaken off those men. I am afraid that it would be best for you to leave this country for a while.”
Outside all hell had broken loose, as Karel heard the screams of panic and pain. A shooting in the heart of Amsterdam, one where people got hurt even, was not something that happened every day. Mr. Costers was now outside, trying to find out if their assailant was gone. Going abroad didn't sound too bad at the moment...
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[1] a kind of liquor, also known as Dutch gin
[2] Koninklijke Aardolie (Royal Petroil). The name with which Royal Dutch Shell uses the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.
This update was a bit long IMO as I am trying to set the scene for Karels search for the truth behind the mysterious and sudden fall of Britain to revolution. I hope everyone can bear with it
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I don't expect anyone being too surprised that the next part of the mystery will take abroad. I will post some clues in a few days that might or might not reveal some of Karels future travels.
