you are representing me and my paper in Germany. I am a ninety percent stockholder in that newspaper and I expect them to give you all the help you need. While you are there, you are the acting manager. Is that understood?” Stated Jerry, in a gruff voice.
“Tell me Cameron, have you decided how you are going to get to Germany?” Asked Jerry as he slowly twisted his cigar in his yellow stained, stumpy fingers.
“I will probably fly nonstop to Cologne airport. Ingrid and Jennifer can join me in a week or two, once everything is settled at home.” Replied Cameron.
“I want you to get started as soon as possible, and please keep me informed at least twice a week of any new or exciting developments.” Stated Jerry as he stood up and extended his hand.
“It’s a deal. I promise you Jerry; we are going to get a great story and maybe even a book out of it? What do you think?” Replied Cameron as he walked out the room towards the outer office.
“I would be delighted with a book, but let’s first concentrate on this story. One thing at a time.” Replied Jerry as he bent over his desk and pressed the intercom.
“Miss Harris, would you please give Cameron his salary advance on the way out.” Asked Jerry to the still silent black box.
“Of course Mr. Kunstoff, I will be glad to.” Replied Gladys Harris, head administrative assistant to Jerry Kunstoff. Gladys was a short and squatty fifty something brunette. What she had lost in good looks, she made up in efficiency and discipline.
As Cameron walked out into the outer office, Gladys reached into her right-hand drawer and withdrew a large eight by eleven manila envelope. She handed Cameron two hundred one hundred dollar bills, a receipt to sign and a set of written instructions on how to apply for more spending money when needed. He silently counted the money and signed the receipt for her. He had never held that kind of cash in his hand at one time. At least money that he could have direct access to and spend on a project.
Cameron drove home thinking about the future, his family and what lay ahead of him in the next twelve months. He was so embroiled in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice the time and drove by the first exit to his house. He concentrated a little more and managed to hit the next one on the button.
His wife Ingrid had made him a wonderful spaghetti dinner and he could already smell the garlic bread as he walked in the house. Ingrid had cleaned the house, put flowers on the table and had a great smile on her face.
“Wie Gehts, schatzie?” (How are you sweetie?) She said in German.
“Gut und selbts?” (Fine and you) Replied Cameron, looking at her oddly and wondering why after all these years, she spoke German to him again.
“I guess we should start practicing German again, what do you think?” Answered back Ingrid in English this time.
The rest of the evening was spent discussing their travel plans, their daughter’s attitude and how best to lease their home. Inge had a very strong opinion about the Germans, and how they were treated after the war. She felt the Allies were unduly harsh with the German population. Whenever Cameron brought up the subject, there was a price to pay, and he was not up for it tonight.
Cameron wondered, “whether or not she had already notified her parents of their upcoming trip?”
“Ingrid? Have you spoken to your parents yet?” He asked Ingrid.
“Do you think this is the kind of news that one withholds from ones parent?” Replied Ingrid, her eyes smiling at Cameron.
“No, I guess not. I hoped to talk to your dad first and sort of feel him out about us staying with him, until we found a place.” Replied Cameron.
“Cameron was surprised by the fact that his wife had not inquired as to his exact duties in Germany. Normally she would have asked numerous questions, but her short notice left her occupied with a million things to do, and it probably slipped her mind,” he thought to himself. Maybe it was better this way, just ignore the whole thing and she might not get angry with him?
Cameron was successful in dodging the bullets, and actually managed to maintain a truce with both of the females in his life. His daughter was quieter now, but still prone to outbursts of hysterics, and his wife was actually looking forward to returning to her Vaterland (Homeland).
Cameron went about his business and within seventy-two hours he was all set to fly to Germany. His trip over was very uneventful, and the fact that he was flying first-class made it even more pleasurable. Lufthansa airlines had a sterling reputation and this trip was no exception. He arrived almost exactly eleven hours after leaving San Francisco International. Cologne (Köln) airport was one of the smaller airports in that part of Germany, but could on occasion be very convenient for the savvy traveler. Cameron had not wanted to disturb his father-in-law and rented a large BMW 740i sedan from the local Hertz counter. Traffic at that time of the day was very light and he managed to get on the northbound Autobahn 3 towards Aachen and the Dutch border. It took Cameron a few minutes to re-acquaint himself again with German driving style.
Drive as fast as you car will take you! No speed limit on the autobahn was something Cameron would have to master again. It was rather unnerving to be driving at one hundred-twenty mile an hour and have someone pass you at one hundred-fifty!
By the time he pulled alongside the city of Kerpen, he was doing just fine, and his BMW was humming along with the best of them. The distance from the airport to his father-in-laws house was around eighty miles, and he pulled in the driveway in less than fifty-minutes! Cameron found himself enjoying the excitement of the autobahn, however he always maintained a safe distance and did not drive too fast in inclement weather. Unlike most Germans who drove fast in any weather!
Cameron pulled up to the driveway and admired Dieter’s house. It was exactly as he had remembered it. Large, spacious and meticulously maintained.
“Hello.” Shouted Dieter Johannes from the upstairs window.
Cameron got out of his car and walked the three steps towards the front door. He waved to Dieter as he did so. Dieter’s home was built on a large corner lot near the woods. It was obvious that a rich man lived there. Compared to some the older homes in the neighborhood, it stood out and was in show room condition. His father-in-laws house was a beautiful modern two-story stone house. Dieter was a well-known architect and he had built his home to include a nice size office on the first floor. Dieter Johannes was a successful and well-respected architect in that part of northern Germany. Over the years he had come to specialize in restoring, building, remodeling old castles, churches, convents and hospitals for the Catholic church of Germany. His youngest son Peter and daughter Lizbet also worked in his office. They had both recently graduated from the university and hoped someday to take over the business.
Dieter opened the door and hugged Cameron so violently that he nearly passed out from the embrace. Dieter was by no means a large man, he stood five-foot ten and weighed a solid two hundred and ten pounds. However, even though he was in his late-seventies, he had the physique of a much younger man. He was built more like a fullback than an architect. Dieter had
