Chapter 10
At 10.00 p.m. Friedrich and Gabriel sat in the Jeep on their way to Munich. Friedrich had been right, it was very dark this night. Gabriel peered out of the window and tried to look at their surroundings but he couldn't make out anything except the snow.
After some time they had reached the outskirts of Munich and were driving through the Perlacher Forst.
Friedrich stopped the car near a small building. 'Übungsschießstand' it said on a sign.
"What's this?" Gabriel asked.
"It's a shooting-range" Friedrich told him.
"Oh, how convenient," they got out of the car.
"Now, we will have to walk straight ahead from here to the north. We will meet the Perlacher-Forst-Strasse. It is crossed by the Mangfallstrasse. If we loose each other make sure to come back here immediately. We will meet again at the car."
"Okay."
They hurried through the night, it was freezing cold. For the first time Gabriel was glad they wouldn't go as wolves. He was sure to have frozen paws within seconds.
It took them only a few minutes to get to the Mangfallstrasse. They kept close to the hedges that grew near the pavements.
Suddenly Friedrich jumped over a small fence. Only seconds later Gabriel could hear the aggressive barking of an apparently large dog quickly coming nearer. He froze. Then he saw it. It was running towards them, showing his teeth and growling. Gabriel turned around but Friedrich was nowhere to be seen. Then abruptly the dog stopped, sniffed the air. His next bark was much more friendly and it ran towards a big tree. Out from behind it stepped Friedrich and the large dog jumped at him and licked him.
"Hallo Athan. Na du Rumtreiber!"
Gabriel's chin dropped, his heart still was beating up to his throat.
"Sorry Gabriel. I should have warned you." Friedrich said while he was playing around with the guard-dog.
"Athan and I are old friends. This is my favorite shortcut and I used it many times. Our first meeting wasn't a very happy one but then we became good pals."
He stroke the dog one more time and turned again to the garden of his estate. "Come, let's go"
Gabriel still didn't trust the enormous dog and hurried to follow his friend. Shortly afterwards Friedrich mentioned him to be very quiet. They had reached the surrounding fence of Friedrich's property. Two people were to be seen near the front door talking and one man was checking the garden with a guard-dog. It looked more difficult than expected.
Gabriel could see Friedrich's tension. "I could distract them." Gabriel suggested.
"No wait. We will come back some other time."
"But I could change and..."
"No, Gabriel!"
Friedrich turned to leave, Gabriel started after him. He would show Friedrich. It shouldn't be too difficult what he had in mind. He let his form change.
Friedrich felt Gabriel's change before he even turned back to him. He could see the yellow eyes sparkle in the darkness. "No, Gabriel don't! Stay here!" Friedrich hissed.
But Gabriel already leapt into Friedrich's garden. He let out a long, strong howl. Immediately the guards turned around and charged him.
"There, the wolf. Get him!" Gabriel heard them shout. He shot around and headed for the front gate. The guards ran after him, they aimed their pistols at the wolf but he was too fast for them.
Friedrich stared in horror at Gabriel's attempt to distract the guards. Gabriel had succeeded so far but did he know where he was running? The last Friedrich saw of Gabriel, was now vanishing behind the surrounding hedges. His garden was quiet and deserted now. He would take the chance Gabriel had given him with his actions and check the house. A little annoyed he picked up Gabriel's clothes, that were scattered around were Gabriel had changed and carefully climbed over the fence. He sneaked to the back door.
Gabriel ran down the last meters of the Mangfallstraße. Too late he noticed that he was running in the wrong direction, instead to the Perlacher Forst he had turned north into the city. Too late to turn around now. He would have to try to find a way back later on. Loud footsteps followed him and he heard a car being started. In front of him a little park opened and he ran across the snowy center. Paths were leading around on each side. Further to the north lay a big building. It reminded him of something, if he only knew of what. He slowed down a bit, to check for his pursuers. They were right behind him and gaining again. Gabriel changed his track and ran towards that big building. It was good fun, he could sense their confusion, tension and curiosity. He felt good and strong. He would outrun them easily, but first he wanted to have some fun.
Once inside the house Friedrich quickly checked the most important places. Günther, his butler, must have been here after the police had searched the place. It was clear that they had checked all the rooms but everything was tidy and in its place. Then he went straight to the fireside in his living-room and reached inside, there was the stone behind which the switch for the secret floor-panel lay. With satisfaction he noticed the faint click coming from upstairs. He went to his bedroom and lifted the right bottom corner of the Persian-carpet. Beneath it lay the secret floor-Panel, which covered his safe. No, the police had obviously not found this spot. Friedrich took out a wooden box and some pieces of jewelry. But most important was the signet-ring of his family. The black wolf. He got some clothes out of his closet and hurried downstairs again. With regret he took a look at his other belongings. What a pity to loose them but it wasn't the first time he had to leave in a hurry. He dropped the so far collected items on the table and went to the garage that was in the basement. Good, his jaguar was still there. Just as he turned to go upstairs he spotted something from the corner of his eye. A smile widened on his face. Now it would be a shame to leave something like that behind.
Gabriel had reached the big building. 'Sportstadion von 1860' it said on a sign. But there was no chance to get inside. He still heard the running footsteps behind him. Pausing he looked for alternatives. He turned a little to the west and circled the building. A broad road ran right across of him. The amount of cars on this road was pretty large for this time of the night and he had to cross it. He leaped forward. Screeching tires, blowing horns and loud swearing were the results. Darting from left to right he somehow managed to get across. Suddenly yet another hindrance was in his way. A small river, called the 'Auer Mühlbach' sluggishly ran down to the Isar. Gabriel tried to stop, using all four paws but he only came to a skidding halt right down at the bank of the river. The water was freezing cold.
'Do wolves swim?' crossed his mind. Very carefully he let his left front paw into the black water. No, no way was he going to go into the ice-cold water. Suddenly he heard a loud, sharp gun shot behind him and somewhere near him he saw a splash. In panic, he jumped. Dark, freezing water closed over his head. Kicking water he tried to get his head above.
After some failed attempts he managed to stay afloat and eventually reached the other side.
Quietly, without lights, the dark green Jaguar left the estate of the Mangfallstrasse 5. It turned to the left and went straight to the Perlacher Forst. At the end of the road the headlights were switched on and it gained speed. It took Friedrich longer than expected to reach the shooting-range, but he had to drive very carefully for his Jaguar nearly touched the road with its exhaust pipe. It was clearly overloaded.
When he reached his Jeep, Gabriel was nowhere to be seen. Friedrich left his car and closed his eyes. But as hard as he tried, even with his acute senses, he was unable to pick up any sign of Gabriel. He felt the shock raising up in him. Quickly he got his handy from the Jeep and called Gerde at the restaurant.
Grace answered the phone. Friedrich explained the situation to her and asked for Gerde's help. To his surprise, Gracie wanted to come too. In the meantime all he could do was wait. There was no use in running off alone.
Gabriel panted hard as he reached the other bank of the 'Auer Mühlbach'. He was dripping, frozen to the bone and could hardly control the shivering of his body.
Out of unknown instinct his whole body started to shake. Starting at the head and down to the tip of his tail. When he was finished, immediately his thick fur coat was keeping the body temperature from escaping and he felt life coming back into his limbs.
'Now I know why dogs shake' Gabriel thought and tried to figure out where he was. He surely had lost his way but judging by the noises following him, clearly not his pursuers.
Coming from the west was a strong scent of a great variety of different animals. He nearly had reached the zoo. Only a few hundred meters through some allotments and he would be there. Maybe there was a chance to hide somewhere in the zoo.
Gerde and Gracie had taken a taxi and urged the driver to hurry. They met Friedrich at the shooting-range, waiting at the two cars. After he had paid the driver, Gracie grabbed him by the arm.
"Friedrich what happened. Why didn't you stop Gabriel?"
"I couldn't. He wouldn't listen. I suppose he ran of in the wrong direction. We had agreed, that in case we were separated we would meet here again, but obviously he couldn't make it. We will have to find him fast. A loose wolf or a naked man is not likely to be accepted here in Munich. So in either case the police or worse will be after him. I want you and Gerde to take the Jeep and follow me. I will run as a wolf. Only that way do we have a chance of tracking him down.
"You just said that a lone wolf in Munich would be hunted at any rate", Gerde interfered.
"I know, but I have a little more experience, don't you think?"
"So where do you want to look for him? I mean, did you see were he was running to?"
"No, I didn't but ..." Friedrich cocked his head ever so slightly.
Gabriel raced through the allotments, leaving a trace of destroyed hedges, little fences and flowerbeds.
When he reached the zoo, he tried to find his way to the wolves which were kept there. That would be the best spot to hide. From time to time he recognized a bend of a path or a certain animal cage.
The creatures that were kept inside panicked at the sight and smell of the large wolf passing by.
It took him quite some time to find the wolf-reserve. The minute he reached it, the wolves inside started getting restless and the first fearful howls started echoing through the night. They crouched all in one corner, not allowing the big werewolf to get any closer. Gabriel felt desperate. If he couldn't hide within the wolves pack his pursuers could spot him immediately.
Carefully he started tiptoeing over to the pack. Their howls grew louder and even more fearful. It was no use. Frustrated he sat down and joined their howls.
"Oh no!" Friedrich closed his eyes and shook his head. "To the zoo Gerde. Drive to the zoo. He is there."
"How do you know," Grace inquired.
"I can hear them. The wolves are afraid of him. Quickly. Go! I will follow you!"
Gerde grabbed Gracie's arm and pulled her inside the Jeep.
"But Friedrich will ..." Grace protested.
"Don't worry, leave him."
Gerde started the car. Just as she was starting to do drive off the parking lot, they saw a large black shadow flying past them behind the trees. Gerde sped the car up to follow Friedrich.
Gabriel could hear his enemies before they emerged from behind the other cages and reserves.
He tried to hide but there were too little bushes and trees. He jumped the fence and started running north again.
A little to the left he could see the big bridge spanning the Isar. Suddenly flashlights hit him. They had found him, the sound of their cars grew louder. The cold winter wind carried his hunters shouts over to him. He swung around and turned towards the bridge.
He even thought about changing his form again, but as a human he was to slow and he remembered Friedrich's captivity all to well.
When he reached the bridge he had again gained a little lead over the ones following him. Right behind the bridge lay one of the biggest main roads. He would have to cross several lanes to escape. A little further to the north-west he spotted some trees. There had to be a park or something alike. Maybe there he could change and hide.
Without even looking he ran forward, but before he could reach the other side of the road he heard screeching tires and suddenly felt himself being hurled upwards and a fierce stabbing pain washed over him. He crash-landed on his right side and tried to crawl the rest of the way. While doing so he let out a series of painful and fearful cries. If only Friedrich could hear him.
Gerde kept a close look outside as she drove right up to the zoo. From time to time she could spot Friedrich's wolf form on the left side.
Suddenly the wolf stopped and seemed to listen. Then a long and distracted howl escaped him. He jumped forward again and tried to run as fast as possible. Gerde could see the black fur turn even darker with sweat.
Friedrich led them past the zoo and to the main 'undesstrasse' through Munich. Here he stopped. Sniffing the air and ground carefully he crossed the road avoiding the upcoming cars.
At the other side he turned around to look at Gerde and Gracie before he carried on to a bigger parking lot the north.
Gabriel very slowly crawled over to the trees he had spotted earlier on. 'Flaucher Park Parking lot' said a sign at the entrance of the little park.
He continued until he reached a little secluded corner near some trash-cans. He couldn't keep the wolf form up any longer. The pain was growing worse and life was oozing out of him. He could feel his consciousness slipping away. Through half closed eyes, he spotted a dark, animal-like shadow quickly coming nearer. At first he was scared, but when it came closer he recognized the black wolf and a wave of relieve washed over him.
The wolf sat by his side, watching as Gabriel's form changed. Immediately Gabriel felt the cell regeneration kick in and the pain turned to a numb feeling echoing through his body.
He pushed himself up to see a car turning into the parking-lot. His first urge was to run but the black wolf still sat calmly at his side. Then he could make out the car. It was Friedrich's Jeep and Gerde and Gracie were sitting inside. Gerde brought the car to a skidding halt and Gracie jumped out. Only hen did she see the black wolf. She stopped and eyed him carefully. The wolf smelled her fear and began to retreat. Gracie moved slowly, her eyes still on the black wolf, over to Gabriel. His wounds looked severe but he smiled at her and managed to sit up a little straighter.
Gerde had also gotten out of the car and stared in fascination. She watched every move of the wolf and took a close look at his eyes. Yes, she could recognize his eyes. The wolf retreated even further and moved behind the Jeep out of their sight. Gerde guessed Friedrich preferred to change in private and turned to Grace and Gabriel.
Suddenly another car raced onto the parking lot. Pebbles and sand flew as it came to an abrupt halt. A man, seemingly one of the guards of Friedrich's house, jumped out. The moment he got out he pulled his pistol and charged Gabriel and the two women.
"Freeze!" He shouted and took a quick and careful look around. Gracie tried to calm the man down.
"Okay, okay. We won't move. But what do you want. This man is injured and we are trying to help him." She slowly raised her hands. She could see sweat glistening on the man's forehead.
Gabriel's senses picked up a very low pitched dangerous growl from behind the Jeep. He hoped Friedrich had enough sense to stay where he was. Slowly he tried to see where the wolf was hiding. His small moves were fatal, without another word of warning the guard started shooting at them. Gerde screamed in fear, Gracie threw herself flat on the ground and Gabriel stared in horror. A sharp stab hit his left shoulder and something pushed him on his back. But in the second he was falling he could see a dark shadow flying towards the guard. After that the shooting abruptly stopped and he could hear the nasty sound of breaking bones. He raised his head to find Gracie and Gerde staring at the horror scenario. The black wolf was still holding the guards neck between his jaws. No blood was to be seen but Friedrich had clearly crushed the man's spine with his powerful fangs.
It took them all some seconds to recover. The black wolf let go off his victim and stared in the direction of the three humans who were sitting and lying on the ground some meters away from him. Then he turned and ran off.
Gabriel stumbled to his feet and leaned heavily on the hood of the Jeep.
Gracie quickly got up and rushed over to him checking his shoulder. It had already stopped bleeding.
Still sitting on the ground, Gerde stared stricken at the spot where the black wolf had dropped the corpse. It's eyes were staring blindly at the nights sky and the mouth was opened wide for a silent scream. Memories passed before Gerde's inner eye, memories of a time of happiness and joy. She thought of Friedrich's warm and firm body, the passion and tenderness. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed.
Gabriel could feel Gerde's confusion, for him it also had been the first time to see his friend in action, but he, as a werewolf himself, understood the motives. Friedrich had saved their lives, didn't the others know that?
"Let's go, we have to find him," he urged Gerde and Gracie to get going.
"What?" Gracie stared at him in disbelief. "Are you crazy? Didn't you see what he just did? I mean he simply killed that man."
"If he wouldn't have done so, we would all be dead now!"
"Nonsense. You moved, he fired. I don't think he would have killed us."
"Oh, so I was only some target practice?" Gabriel asked, clutching his shoulder. He had sensed the guard's primal intention. And that was to kill them, without mercy.
"Can't you see what he did to Gerde?" Gracie was still fuming.
"You are nuts. You know that?" Gabriel shouted at them. "You both knew what he is, you knew what might happen. You, Gracie were the one to understand him, she" he pointed at Gerde "even fell in love with him and now you don't have the guts to face it!"
Gerde raised herself up and walked over to Grace and Gabriel.
"Grace, he's right. We should at least try to find him before anything else happens."
Her face looked ashen as she climbed behind the steering wheel. Only now Gracie noticed that Gabriel was shivering. She took a closer look at him and in spite of their situation she had to suppress a smile. Due to the mutation into a wolf and back, Gabriel was naked now and the temperature around them was far away from being comfortable. She fetched her long coat from the back seat and Gabriel thankfully wrapped himself up in it.
As he climbed into the Jeep he suggested to drive to the Perlacher Forst, where they had met Friedrich.
The black wolf paced steadily in direction of the Perlacher Forst. Only from time to time he had to avoid people walking down a road or a passing car.
It only took him fifteen minutes to reach the secluded clearing where the dark green car was parked. The form of the wolf changed. Friedrich steadied himself against the drivers door and took a deep breath. The taste of iron from his victims blood was still in his mouth and the sound of breaking bones hung around him like a deafening thunder. It hadn't been his first killing, even not the first in defense but until now no one had been there to watch it happen. The feeling of guilt aroused in him, shame and frustration. He had seen their horrified expressions, sensed their shock and fear.
The cold night wind made him shiver. He opened his car to fetch himself something to dress.
Just as he had begun to climb into a pair of trousers, a car with turned out lights slowly came driving down the uneven path to the parking lot. Friedrich could make out the outlines of his Jeep. He quickly pulled on a jumper and walked half way over to the Jeep.
It stopped. After a short while the rear door opened and Gabriel, still wrapped up in Grace's coat, climbed out. Friedrich could see Gerde and Gracie sitting in the front. Gerde didn't even look in his direction. It hurt but he knew why.
Gabriel had reached him. "I'm glad we found you Friedrich. Listen, thank you very much, you saved our lives back there." It sounded hollow, he wasn't a man of great words, but his eyes showed that he really meant what he said.
"He was going to kill you. I had to do something. I'm sorry he's dead though."
"What? He shot me, you know." Gabriel pulled down the coat from his left shoulder, but only a dark red bruise was left where the shot wound had been. Gabriel stared in disbelief. "Cool," escaped him.
"Let me get you something to dress Gabriel." Friedrich turned to his car.
"Hey wait a minute!" Gabriel rushed after him. "I mean is it always like this. One gets wounded and it just heals of like this?"
"It depends. I was burned, remember? But if anything happens to your heart or brain, you're done!" Friedrich pulled Gabriel's clothes from the car and handed them to him.
He looked over to the Jeep again but nothing had moved.
"Come on, let's go home." Gabriel had finished dressing and walked to the Jaguar.
"No I don't think I should come with you. I have all that I need here with me an the best thing is that I leave for France right now."
Gabriel stared at him. "Friedrich do you know what!? Deep in your heart you are a coward. All right you can kill, you are good to have around and you are a great friend, but when it comes down to real feelings you are immediately retreating. You know, just once I would like you to let out what you are really feeling. I know you can get vicious, you have sex, you laugh but that's only the outside. I want to see what lies beyond. Right now you are afraid to face Gerde, am I not right?"
Without another word Gabriel climbed into the Jaguar. Friedrich swallowed heard and got behind the steering wheel. Neither of the two men spoke, their journey was a very quiet and solemn one.
Later on their way to Rittersberg Gabriel couldn't hold it back any longer. "Friedrich, say what is it that you have in the back of this car. I mean, we are practically touching the road."
"Only my most valuable possessions." Friedrich smiled a little and Gabriel tried to think of something that could be relatively small very heavy. Gold bars was the only thing coming to his mind.
A few meters behind them Gerde and Gracie were sitting in silence in the Jeep. Gracie watched her friend beside her. Gerde seemed to be lost in thought, her eyes were glued to the rear lights of the car in front of them. Slowly the night was losing it's horror and overwhelming darkness. The first pink color showed up at the horizon. Gracie had a look at her watch. It was already past 6.00 a.m.
She felt the urge to comfort Gerde, so she put on a little smile and turned to her. "Hey, come on. It isn't all that bad."
But Gerde's face turned even more to stone.
"You know Gerde, I'm sure it will all work out somehow. Maybe, he just isn't the right guy for you. And if he's the right one you will know." The moment the words had left her mouth, Gracie knew how stupid they were.
"Gerde, I do know what you are going through. I for myself have nearly the same problem. I am in love with someone who doesn't even notice I exist. And that for many years. But I don't want to give up. Friedrich really likes you and has never treated you badly."
"'Likes'" is the word for it." Gerde answered. "I thought, I loved him and I would have waited if he would really love me back someday, but I don't think that I can cope with situations like the one tonight. It just isn't supposed to be. He will leave and after a while I will eventually forget him. It's as simple as that."
"Don't you want to give him a chance? Gabriel was right, you know. We all knew what he is and now we are playing the shocked ones. That isn't fair."
Gracie could see Gerde's eyes filling with tears so she decided to talk to her again later.