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It took a little longer for me to get ready enough to face whatever Von Zimmer had in store. I think I stood in the shower with the hot water pounding down on me for more than twenty minutes. It felt safe and warm in the shower cubicle. I didn’t want to deal with the reality of my life. I didn’t want to travel to some frozen wasteland and watch other Runners stab each other, or worse, be stabbed myself. I wanted to curl up in a little ball and stay in the shower and have that lovely warm water wash over me.
Olga had other ideas for me, though. She physically yanked me out of the shower and smacked my wet bottom. She left her mark on pink flesh in the shape of a red hand print. She’d also put clothes on the bed for me again. The outfit was perfectly co-ordinated. There were also enough layers for me to strip off should the need arise. Olga was a woman of many talents and few words.
I tugged on my thermal underwear, jeans, black top that looked like it should be worn on the ski slopes, and thick black jersey. The outfit was completed by a really thick coat that looked like it would keep me warm in Antarctica, as well as gloves and a beanie to keep my head and hands warm. At least I wasn’t going to freeze to death. I hoped.
Olga led me down a warren of corridors. The castle really was a fucking maze. If I wasn’t going to get lost again and end up in some or other weird lab in the basement I was going to need a map.
The suitcase that Olga had packed for me was waiting at the bottom of the broad marble stairs leading down into the double storey hallway, along with everyone else’s luggage.
Fucking hell.
That hallway was spectacular. A little on the kitsch and overly opulent side for my taste, but nonetheless spectacular.
Von Zimmer stood in the middle of the entrance hallway, checking his watch, while Sunil and Doctor Mannheim chatted in low voices a few paces away from him. Apprehension seemed to drip off them like sweat. I wondered if I could run back to my shower and hide before Von Zimmer noticed me standing on the stairs looking down at him.
“Ah! Finally,” he said, looking up at me. Impatience was stamped on his scowling face.
“You missed breakfast Fräulein, but I packed some food for you,” the Doctor said with a smile and held up a brown paper bag.
“I told you it was unnecessary. There will be food on the plane,” Sunil said, shaking his head.
“Of course it is necessary. She will be hungry and it will be some time before we eat on the journey. She needs to keep up her strength and there will not be these pastries on the plane,” the Doctor said.
“Thank you,” I said as I reached the bottom of the stairs and took the paper bag from him. I was starving. I opened the bag and smelt sweet heaven.
“Good German pastries. You will not find anything as good anywhere else in the world,” Mannheim said, nodding his head.
“What are these?” I asked inhaling their scent again. “They smell divine.”
“The one is a Bienenstich, it is my favourite. There is also a Berliner and a Buchtel and as it is almost Christmas I also included a Dominostein and some Lebkuchen. They should be sufficient to fill your empty belly,” Mannheim said with a chuckle and patted his flat stomach. He was clearly very pleased with his selection of goodies. As was I. My stomach grumbled as I stuck my hand in and claimed the first of the delectable goodies. I salivated and then an explosion of happiness took place in my mouth.
“If you do not mind, we have a plane to catch and a very tight schedule to keep. You have delayed us enough.” Von Zimmer turned and marched towards the equally ornate double doors of the castle.
It took two men in German army fatigues to open them, one on each side of the doors. They groaned as they put their backs into pushing the thick wood so that they would have it open in time for Von Zimmer to stride through without having to stop and wait for them.
Mannheim shrugged and followed his boss.
Sunil sighed and looked at me with an expression I couldn’t read. I think I saw concern, but I wasn’t sure.
“Come on,” he said as he turned and walked away. “The boss is already in a bad mood and it’s a long trip in a confined space. I’d rather not piss him off even more.”
“What about the bags?” I asked as I trudged behind him.
“The luggage is not what you need to worry about,” he said.
“What do I need to worry about?” I asked as I hurried to catch up to him.
“Surviving the next forty eight hours,” he said, wearing a frown. His voice was laced with apprehension.
My stomach sank and my knees quivered.
I was about to ask him what the fuck was about to happen but the rotors from a black helicopter, with T2 painted close to the rotors, started up and made too much noise for me to ask anything. I looked back at the castle and thought about the safety behind those impenetrable walls.
“Don’t even think about it,” Sunil said as he shoved me forward towards the waiting military chopper and the impatient Graff Von Zimmer.