CHAPTER ELEVEN A
New Life
Clause Brenner
had been ordered by members of the Bund in Argentina to arrange a marriage for Hans Van Furstenburge. The
most influential German in all Argentina
had conveyed the importance of the matter to him. This
man’s real name was never used. As
the most powerful German in Argentina
his word was never challenged, only followed. Tall
and gaunt with thinning black hair and piercing blue eyes, this man was
the Bund. Clause
had been approached as before. The
urgency of the matter demanded a meeting. Three
Bund officials met him at a safe house, opened a sealed envelope
and divulged its contents. The
Bund never made requests it only issued commands. There
would be no questions only compliance. Over the past few days, Clause
and Rolf had grown accustomed to one another. Indeed,
they looked forward to the hours they spent together. Theirs
was an easy relationship, comfortable and almost brotherly. The
men laughed easily in the company of the other. Clause and Rolf had spent
the afternoon discussing Germany and its history, one of his favorite
subjects. The two men had a
great deal in common. Both
were of Low German birth and understood and accepted their stations in
the Old World. They were
comfortable with German social order. Feeling
that Rolf was a man of character and honor, Clause decided to do all he could to help his new found friend. But
he wasn’t above using this man's presence in his home to persuade Hans
to do his bidding. It was late evening and Clause
and Hans were enjoying a brandy in the study. Clause
waited for an advantageous moment to discuss the matter of marriage with
Hans. But
first Clause would use the
occasion to discuss with Hans
his new houseguest, Rolf Gruber.
He had accepted Rolf's presence in his home largely because he felt the man had some
merit. Waiting until his
young friend had drank two brandies and was comfortable Clause asked Hans what his
intentions were regarding their houseguest, Rolf. Appreciative that Clause
had opened up his home to his friend Hans
was cautious. Pressing Hans,
he asked how long Rolf would
be staying. Knowing how to bait Hans
with these questions, Herr Brenner
felt that placing him in a defensive position would best serve his
purposes. Hans
felt uncomfortable by this line of questioning. The
young man had not yet thought through how he would broach the subject
with his host. Clause
continued pushing the issue of the length of Rolf’s
stay. Having no ready reply Von
Furstenburge stood up attempting to gain some time before
responding. Walking over to
the fireplace he collected his thoughts. He
began by thanking Clause for having raised the question and assuring Brenner
that he had hoped they would have had the discussion earlier. Hans
then told Clause that he would have done so earlier if Clause hadn’t been busy. He
was careful to position himself for advantage. Clause
listened closely and then suggested that this was a good time to discuss
the matter, assuring Hans that
he was no longer busy. Hans began by explaining how
he’d met Rolf while in the
military. He then spoke of
the man's courage and love for the Fatherland. Explaining
to Clause that Rolf had left Germany without proper papers, he conveniently left
out any comments regarding why he left. As
he briefly described Rolf’s
maritime experience of the past several years, Hans played for time. By now Clause knew he had the young man right where he wanted him. He
could see that Hans cared deeply for this man.
Herr Brenner interjected
that Rolf’s love of the
Fatherland was a fine thing. Stating
that he was positive Rolf was
a loyal German who served his country bravely, Clause
smiled. But he asked again,
“When is Rolf returning to
the sea?” Clause
was delighted when he saw the uncomfortable look on the young
man’s face. Hans
was now at a loss for words. Clause
asked another question. “Will
he be taking a ship out of Argentina
or some other means of transportation?” Now
in a delicate position, Hans
had promised his friend a job and a place to live.
Not liking the position in which he found himself, Hans
thanked his patron and his wife for having shown him great kindness. Hans
was greatly indebted to them. At
that moment he found himself in a very difficult situation. Hans
confessed to Clause that he
had overstepped his bounds in this matter of his friend Rolf. Herr Brenner feigned confusion. When Hans admitted that he had acted rashly Clause agreed. He
interjected that he could see by the bruises on Hans’ face and hands that he indeed had overstepped something. Herr
Brenner now had complete control. Once
again thrown off-balance, Hans
was only able to agree. He
then admitted that he’d offered the Sergeant a place to stay and a job
in a non-existent company, one that he said he was forming. Hans assured Clause that
he had done so out of concern for the Sergeant's condition. He
then apologized for having imposed upon the Brenner’s
hospitality. Remaining
silent for a short while Clause
pretended to be insulted. Finally
he responded to Hans. Clause chastised him for not having come to him before offering such
a proposal to Rolf. He
reminded Hans, in no uncertain terms, that no one had the right to offer the
hospitality of his home other than himself. At
that moment Herr Brenner knew that he had the young man. Clause
was firm with the young man. He
admonished Hans that he had
taken the action out of loyalty for an old friend in need and now he had
little choice but to honor it. Ending
the discussion by offering his approval of Hans’
motivation the matter appeared to be settled. With
a final stinging insult he told Hans that he must allow Rolf
to stay with the family, if only to protect Hans’
honor. Pouring another brandy Hans
was greatly relieved. The
Sergeant could now stay on at the Villa
and begin a new life. Herr
Brenner had shown him another kindness. Clause
asked Hans to join him on the
sofa. Telling Hans
that he would like to discuss another matter of great importance. Clause
walked across the room to the table and poured himself another brandy
from the crystal decanter. “As
you know every man reaches that time in life when he must think ahead to
his future. A man is given
only so many years to spend self-indulgently, in some cases even
irresponsibly. But there
comes a time when each man must plan for his future. He
must plan for the later years of his life.” Clause’s
words were sincere. “You,
my son, have served your country well and defended her with the best
years of your life. It’s
now time to think of your future and your duty to marry and produce a
new German generation.” Clause
had delivered the words as a loving father talking to his son. Hans
was not ready for such a discussion. He’d
always believed that he would remain a soldier and serve the Führer
never giving thought to a family or for that
matter, a future. When
Germany fell he had ceased to think of the future. “Hans,”
Herr Brenner continued,
“I’ve decided that it’s time for you to marry.” Clause
said the words with certainty. “You’ve
decided?” Hans
shouted angrily. “Yes. I
along with others.” Clause shouted back with frustration in his voice. Knowing
what Clause meant, Hans understood
it was the others, the Bund that had decided. His
patron was only the messenger. Understanding that once the Bund
made a decision it was irrevocable both men fell silent. Neither
wanted to proceed any further, but both knew they must. The
room was quiet. The only
sound that could be heard was the chiming of the antique grandfather
clock. Clause
was the first one to break the silence, cautioning Hans that the Bund felt very strongly about this matter. Turning
to Hans, Clause
warned him that should he resist, it would be bad for all concerned,
including he and Helga. These
were not idle words. Hans
understood the Bund would accept nothing less than absolute
compliance. Clause
now spoke in a calm, but stern voice. He
pleaded with the young man to listen to him. Once
again, duty to the Fatherland was the order of the day. After
all these years, nothing had changed. Even here in Argentina,
the German Nazi Party had its tentacles everywhere. There
was no escape, only total compliance. Herr Brenner
did his best to persuade, explaining to Hans
that he should view this marriage much as he did his decision to help
the Sergeant. Hans had rendered assistance to an old comrade out of responsibility
and respect for their past friendship. He
reminded Hans that he could have walked away, but instead chose to do the
honorable thing. Clause was quick to remind Hans that he owed much to the Nazi Party;
it was they who arranged his escape from Germany. The
Party came to Clause and proposed his stay there at the Villa. “I’ll do what is expected
of me,” Hans responded
mechanically, “but I must know more about my future bride. If
I am expected to marry someone I don't love, I’d hope that I would at
least like her. Is she
attractive, intelligent? Is the girl a bore?
Must I accept any cow offered to me?” Hans shouted defiantly. “No,
no,” Clause interrupted as
any caring father would. “I’ve
personally made this selection. Your future bride is both beautiful and
intelligent. She’s also
not a bore. Quite to the
contrary, she’s vivacious and full of life. You’ll
be well served by this marriage my young friend.” Clause
said knowingly. “Who is she?” Hans
asked cautiously. “The
daughter of Don Castillo.”
Clause
responded proudly. “An
Argentine, why not a German?” Hans
demanded, slightly disturbed. “After
all, don't you feel that my new bride should be one of our own?” The
words were meant to cut. Slightly
annoyed by the younger man's comments, Herr
Brenner had never anticipated such a reaction from Hans.
But he should’ve known
that this would be the response of this new generation of Germans. After
all he’d heard from them about Aryan supremacy. He
hadn’t believed they could possibly mean all the things they had said.
He wondered how anyone could
actually believe themselves so far above another Caucasian group or,
view others as cattle or less. Attempting
to restrain himself, Clause was
now angry. Asking Hans
what was meant by his last comment, Clause
wanted to be clear on his understanding. “What
I mean, Herr Brenner is that I should wed someone racially pure.” Knowing
how close Clause was to the girl, Hans’
arrogant comment was meant to wound. Slighted
and now angry, Clause could
barely contain himself. This
wasn’t some abstract or intellectual discussion. The
young man was insulting his precious Anna.
The thought of his surrogate
daughter being spoken of in this fashion caused his blood to boil. Once
again Clause restrained
himself. It would serve neither man
well for him to respond angrily. Now
wanting to torture Clause, Hans viewed him as a part of the Bund’s encroachment upon
his life. “This matter of
a mate is of great importance to me. I
feel that whoever this woman is, we must ensure that her background
meets with proper standards for racial purity.” His
comments were detached, almost scholarly. With
mock apprehension, Hans then outlined his concerns as they related to those of Spanish
stock. “Herr Brenner, are you aware that the Negroids occupied Spain for
almost eight hundred years?” Not
waiting for an answer, he launched into a diatribe against Moorish
cultural influence and racial inter-breeding.
Stating unequivocally that this had left the Spanish people
tainted. Hans
commented that the only exceptions were those Spaniards in the northern
part of the Iberian Peninsula. Before
he could finish, Clause cut
him off. “Hans,”
Clause interrupted, "you
have insulted me and my friends of many years. These
so-called half-breeds, as you put it, have been part of my life for the
past twenty years. When I
came to Argentina, without as much as a penny in my pocket, I moved around
from job to job. After
almost seven years, I was a poor man with nothing to show for my work. This
good man helped me, giving me work and paying me well. They
took me into their home and treated me as family, never once asking
about my racial background. Nor
did they ask about my social standing back in Germany.” Stopping,
Clause needed to regain his
composure. “When I was too
ill to work they gave me money and saw to the needs of my wife Helga.
They provided a doctor to
nurse me back to health at their own expense. And
you have the audacity to stand here in my home and call these fine
people Negroids.” Clause was now beside himself with anger. Helga,
hearing the commotion downstairs, hurried down to the study. “Clause,”
she called out, “what is the meaning of this?” Both
men were silent and appeared to be angry with one another, neither
wanted to respond to her. “Well,
what is the matter?” She
demanded a second time. Clause
was first to speak. “We’re
having a disagreement about marriage and the best choices a man could
make.” Clause
had stumbled over his words. “Hans
is this true?” She
scolded. “Yes, Frau
Brenner.” He said
respectfully. “Well, may I
please request that there be no more loud voices coming from this study.
Voices, which I might add
could raise the dead.” She
demanded in her most admonishing voice. Both
men were embarrassed as they shook their heads affirmatively. “Then
it’s settled. You may now
shake hands and join me for a night cap.” She
had offered her last words with the kind smile of a mother making peace
between her errant children. As the three sat uncomfortably
nursing their drinks, Helga
asked why they had been discussing marriage.
Clause was the first to
reply. “My dear, our young
friend has decided to marry.” Clause said the words without passion. “What?”
Helga asked in a surprised
tone. “Yes, our Hans
has decided to ask Doña Castillo
to become his wife.” Clause
was enjoying this goading of Hans.
“Is that not true, Hans?” Clause smiled as he directed the question to Hans. “Yes,
that is true.” Hans
replied somewhat hesitantly. Helga
rose from her chair, her eyes tearing. “Clause, why wasn’t I told of this sooner?” She
demanded. “My dear Helga,
I only just heard of the boy's intentions this very hour.” He
said, lying to her. She
walked over to where Hans was seated and placed her arms around his shoulders. “Hans,”
she said, “I am so happy for you. I
know that Don Castillo
will accept your offer. Although,
Anna has many potential
suitors, none are as handsome as you.” Herr
Brenner and I will speak of your intentions to the Don. That
is, if you don't object?” She
asked shyly. “No, no, I
would consider it an honor if you would intercede on my behalf.” Hans
responded warmly. “Then it
is done. Herr
Brenner and I will call upon the Don tomorrow to make your
intentions known.” She
said, smiling broadly. “It’s late.” She
said, standing up from her chair. “It’s
time that I go upstairs and leave you gentlemen to finish your
brandy.” Walking over to Hans,
she kissed him tenderly on the cheek.
As she turned to walk away, she stopped. “Hans,” she called out, “I’m very happy that you’ve chosen
our little Anna. We’ve
practically raised her and know that she is a very fine young lady.
She has all the qualities a gentleman could ask for in a wife. And
she will be very fortunate to have such a fine, handsome young man for
her husband. You will treat
her well, won't you Hans?” She
pleaded in a gentle motherly voice. “Yes,
of course.” He responded,
touched by Frau Brenner’s concern and knowing she meant all that she’d
said. After she had departed the
room both men felt foolish for having said the things they had. Few
words were exchanged, only a very quick good night. Hans was aware that he had hurt Clause.
On one level, it was quite unintentional. He
had only expressed what all good Germans knew. A
part of him felt badly, for he had grown to respect Herr
Brenner. The more
controlled and educated side of him knew that he must find out all there
was to know about his future bride. Clause,
on the other hand, was deeply hurt by this talk of Negroid blood. His
precious Anna was like his own daughter. Unable
to bare thinking of her being hurt, he would find a way to make this
point perfectly clear to his young Nazi friend. It was early the next morning
when Hans left the Villa. He hadn't
bothered to wake anyone to tell them where he was going. This
was deliberate on his part. After
last night’s angry exchange with Herr
Brenner, he felt the less that Clause
knew about his activities of the day, the better.
Thinking about his future bride, Hans
hadn’t slept well. He had
decided to visit the local German Club in order to seek out information
about the Castillo family. As he lay awake the night
before, Hans remembered a
certain Frau Miller he had met
upon his arrival in the district. Seeking
her out, today, he would ask for her very efficient assistance. He
recalled that she was the club secretary, but Frau
Miller also had another very important expertise. An
anthropologist by education, she served the Reich
as an expert on Aryan Purity. In
this capacity, Frau Miller’s
knowledge of European history and culture served her well. Arriving early at the German
Club, the boy at the desk was still reading his morning newspaper when
Hans entered the lobby. “Is Frau
Miller here?” He asked
forcefully. The startled
young man responded by saying the staff didn't arrive for another
half-hour. Thanking the boy,
Hans walked into the reading room. The
Club was much like the Englishmen’s private club. The
chief difference was that the German Club allowed members of both sexes.
The Germans considered
themselves more enlightened in these matters than their English cousins.
The two story wooden
structure had been built some seventy-five years earlier by a prominent
English family which had long since returned to England. The
Club building was a large white rambling affair. The
front of the structure boasted a long ornate veranda that opened onto an
expansive grassy area. A
sizable portion of the original grassy area had been converted for the
parking of autos. The Club’s cavernous tall
ceiling room interiors were beautifully appointed. The
highly polished hardwood floors were immaculately kept and covered with
large Oriental rugs. Each
room was fitted with several powerful ceiling fans which helped to
circulate the hot summer air. The
downstairs area housed the tea room, smoking rooms, reading rooms, and a
great dining room. The
kitchen and pantry areas were located at the back of the building,
ensuring the noise and commotion of the kitchen staff was kept to a
minimum. Also, on the first
floor was a large hall that was able to seat over two hundred guests. It
was used for entertainment and Bund
gatherings. The upstairs
portion of the building housed an assortment of meeting rooms and staff
offices. This section of the
Club was closely guarded and off-limits to most members. The
Party claimed this as its domain. When Frau Miller entered the dark wood paneled reading room, Hans
was browsing through a magazine. “Herr
Von Furstenburge, it’s good to see you again.” She
offered efficiently. Standing
up respectfully from his chair, Hans
clicked his heels and bowed slightly to her.
Reaching out his hand to shake hers, he said formally. “Good
morning, Frau Miller.” As
Party Secretary, she seldom had personal calls.
The job left little room for social niceties. “To what do we
owe this honor, Herr Von Furstenburge?” She
inquired suspiciously. Frau
Miller’s business-like manner left her delivery with all the charm
of a King Cobra. Some saw
her as curt and cold. Hans
viewed her as deadly efficient. Waiting
to get to the business at hand, Hans
invited her to join him for morning coffee on the veranda. Accepting
without response, she followed Hans
outside. Once seated, a
polite and rather nervous young man served them coffee and left quickly.
The boy knew better than to remain close by when Party business
was being discussed. Knowing
too much could prove deadly. As the two sat drinking their
coffee, Hans explained his
pending marriage and his concerns regarding the Castillo
family pedigree. Frau Miller was quick to understand his dilemma.
After all this wasn’t the first time she’d been approached
for assistance on such matters. These
marriages to Spaniards were becoming an all too familiar occurrence for
her liking. She would have
preferred that Germans remain pure.
However, there was a shortage of pure blood, and Germans would
have to make the best of it. For
her part, Frau Miller was
dedicated to ensuring that no Jews or other undesirables be allowed to
marry into a good German family. Passion
for German racial purity became her religion.
Her god was Adolf Hitler
and Frau Miller’s patron saint was Herr
Himmler, the SS chief. To
her credit, she’d been an outstanding student at university in Berlin. During the years
of the Reich, Frau Miller was assigned to the Justice Ministry's special section
for racial purity, conducting racial purity background searches.
These studies had legal implications of cases brought before the
court. During this time, she
handled hundreds of racial cases involving the legal disposition of
genetic impurity. “Frau
Miller,” Hans began,
“how long would it take you to conduct a thorough study of the Castillo family history?” Pondering
the question, she thought for a very long time before responding.
As Hans watched her, he
was taken by her appearance. Quite
beautiful, she appeared to be in her early thirties.
But like so many professional women, she made an obvious attempt
to appear scholarly. It was
her practice to wear drab gray and brown suits with plain white blouses
buttoned at the top. There
she sat, every inch the bureaucrat.
Black shoes, black leather watch band, and black purse, Frau Miller was the very image of efficiency.
Fine blonde hair pulled back close to her head, Frau
Miller fashioned the strands into a tight bun at the back of her
head. Wearing small, black,
horn-rimmed glasses obscured her lovely blue eyes.
Using little or no makeup made her appear matronly.
The look was decidedly masculine.
More machine-like than human, her appearance excluded the
possibility of relationships with males. Finally, she began her long,
detailed commentary regarding the importance of a complete family
history, one which involved the development of a complete family tree.
The lecture lasted twenty minutes.
It was her practice in these cases to go back at least ten
generations. Outlining the
most efficient methodology for the study of the Castillo family background, it also included a complete evaluation
of the family history back to the middle ages.
The family history would include such criteria as land grants,
property holdings, and migration patterns reaching back to the
pre-Moorish conquest of Spain. This
was important due to its confirming the family’s relationship to the
Germanic tribes that invaded the Roman provinces around the Fourth
Century A.D. Linkage to
German tribes was proof of racial purity.
Speaking for over an hour, she was finally interrupted by Hans.
“Frau Miller, how
long would such a study take?” He
asked cautiously, not wanting to offend her.
“A minimum of nine months.” She
responded curtly. “Very
well,” Hans replied coldly, “please proceed with your study.” Taking
the tone of a German officer with her, he was simply issuing an order.
“As to the matter of my fee, it will be ten thousand Pesos.” Her voice was
firm, offering no room for negotiation.
“Very well, you will receive payment in full, upon
completion.” Wanting to
put this transaction behind him, Hans
responded without emotion. Rising
from the table, they shook hands. As
they began to leave, Frau Miller turned toward him and stared straight into his eyes.
“Colonel Von Furstenburge, you can rest assured that there will be no stone
left unturned in my investigation. I
will ensure that your future bride's family is pure.
If not,” she hesitated, searching for diplomatic language, “I
will, of course, have to provide my findings to the proper authorities.
The final decision will be theirs.” Both
knew to whom Frau Miller
referred and exactly what she meant.
After all, it was her duty. Someone
had to control cross breeding. The
Aryan genetic pool in Argentina
had to be kept as pristine as possible.
There could be no undesirables allowed to taint the new German
race. The next few days were spent
by Hans Von Furstenburge
learning all he could about the cost of land and buildings.
If he was to marry, he needed to become a responsible husband.
Deciding that the import/export business had some merit, he had
only to learn what his new country needed and pursue it.
Hans spent many hours
at the German Club talking to older and more experienced businessmen. He
found that many were involved in agriculture.
A few were active in the manufacturing of machine products and
even less in import and export. Sure
that Argentina had a great need for industrialization, Hans felt this
would help her modernize and join the world of the future. Clause
contacted the Don by telephone the next morning.
The Don was happy to hear from Herr
Brenner of Hans' feeling
about the marriage. Neither
man was aware of the study that Hans had initiated.
Arrangements were made to formally introduce the two young people
that weekend. It was decided
that their introduction would take place during a dinner party at the estancia
of the Don. It was a warm summer night
when the Brenner’s and Hans arrived at the estancia of Don Alejandro
Castillo. The household
had been preparing the entire day for the dinner party.
The large dining room had been readied and all of the antique
furnishings polished. The
three hundred-year-old antique silverware and extravagant china had been
cleaned and polished for just this occasion.
Dozens of fresh red and yellow roses were placed in the large
brass urn at the entry to the foyer. The household staff was preparing
an excellent fare of filet mignon and wild rice.
The piece de resistance would be magnificent
custard with wine sauce. The
cellars were searched for the finest Rosé Wine and champagne.
All had been made ready far in advance of the arrival of the
guests. José, the valet,
would wear a tuxedo for the occasion and all of the servers would wear
white waistcoats. A trio of
musicians had been hired for the evening.
They would play the romantic Argentine ballads of the Gaucho. When the Brenners and Hans arrived
at the estancia, they were greeted by the Don, himself.
Standing at the top of the steps in the front of the estancia,
with arms wide open to greet Herr Brenner with an abrasso, the Don waited as they
reached the top landing. Moving
forward, the Don gave Uncle a great hug.
“Uncle,” he said with genuine fondness, “it has been too
long.” He then bowed
slightly and took Frau Brenner's
extended hand into his own, kissing it as he smiled broadly.
“You look wonderful my dear.” He
offered playfully. Hans moved forward and offered his hand.
“So this is the fine young man you have told me so much
about.” The Don
offered, patting Hans on the
forearm. Ushering the three
into the large foyer, he shouted commandingly.
“José!
Take the coats of our guests.” Frau Brenner
was always honored to be invited to the home of Don Castillo. As she stood
in the foyer, her mind returned to that day, many years ago, when as
poor immigrants, she and Clause
were first invited to the home of their patron.
She never forgot the Don’s kindness and genuine
affection for her husband and herself.
Frau Brenner remembered how she had taken on the challenge of
redecorating the estancia after the Don's wife died.
It had been a difficult period for him.
He fell into a state of deep depression that had lasted some
three years. Clause
and Helga had taken it upon themselves to give the Don a reason
for living. Helga not only personally supervised the redecorating, but also the
daily care of baby Anna.
Clause had ensured the Don's
involvement by insisting that he approve even the smallest details of
construction. In this way, Don
Alejandro had little time
to grieve. “Come let us sit in the
parlor and sip some Sherry.” The
Don commanded as he walked ahead of them.
The three followed the Don into the parlor.
Clause was ready for a
fine glass of sherry. “Please
sit, sit, my friends.” He
invited, in a warm and cheerful tone of voice.
As they seated themselves, the Don explained that the
yellow colored sherry that they were about to drink had come from the Andalusia
region of Spain. It was a
fine sweet Sherry from the vineyards of the noble Dolmec
family. As they drank, he
waited for a critique. All
agreed that the Don was correct, it was excellent.
As the Don and the Brenners
talked about the old days and how they’d become friends, Hans
couldn't help, but notice how comfortable the occasion was.
It was clear to him that this was a family affair, quite unlike
the dinners he was accustomed to. There
was little of the formality that was exercised at the German gatherings
he attended. Finding himself
enjoying the bantering of the two men, he sat quietly watching as the
three laughed at the silliest of matters.
Hans wondered to
himself if his older years would be spent in this way, surrounded by the
closeness of friends. The evening moved quickly.
Hans finally gained
enough courage to enter into the conversation.
His questions about the past were welcomed warmly by all.
The three were more than happy to offer their recollections of an
Argentina that had long since
vanished. As the four argued
about commerce and the politics of the country, the conversation became
more heated. It was clear
that the old friends did not share the same political views.
Periodically, Frau Brenner would intercede on the Don's behalf, taking his
side on one issue or another. These
disagreements were taken light heartedly and always ended in laughter.
Yet there was no escaping the liberal views of the Don.
He appeared to welcome ideas which most of the members of his
social class found threatening. The
Don was a hopeless idealist.
The beliefs of Don Alejandro
Castillo were well known to the Argentine people.
Choosing to editorialize his left leaning beliefs in his many
newspapers, the Don’s positions on education for the under
classes, free medical care for the poor, and the most damning of all,
the attacks on the Military Junta were a constant theme.
These were dangerous positions to claim as your own, no matter
how wealthy you were. The Don
was treading on very dangerous ground.
As the economic conditions in Argentina
continued to worsen, so did the violence.
The poor and out of work factory workers became allies.
In many cities, riots had taken place.
And here the Communists had found fertile soil.
The students and the professors were slowly organizing others
into a potent force in opposition to the Junta.
With such a formidable force growing, the Junta began to
take notice. Men such as the
Don, who at first had only been a mild irritation, had now begun
to worry the Generals. The Don's
editorials, which had once been viewed by the ruling elite as a
nuisance, now had become a personal affront.
The slow undoing of the Don had begun. In the midst of another
lighthearted debate, a voice came from the foyer.
“Papa.” The
sweet voice of a young woman called out.
Hans turned toward the
foyer to catch a glimpse of this young girl.
As she entered the parlor they all stood to greet her.
Anna stood in the doorway. Hans
was instantly taken by her radiant and stunning beauty.
As she smiled, Hans was reminded of a fairy tale princess.
Even her father had forgotten just how beautiful his daughter had
become. How different she
now looked standing there in the entryway.
Her beauty was usually camouflaged by her normal attire of black
riding dresses and boots. Blonde
hair piled high on her head; Anna
was crowned with a small but elegant diamond tiara.
She wore a full-length, white, satin evening gown.
The plunging neckline revealed her voluptuousness.
Anna Castillo’s
long neck was adorned with a diamond necklace which had been her
mother’s. Frau
Brenner was the first to break the silence of the moment.
Walking over to Anna,
she hugged her tightly, whispering something in her ear.
Calling to her across the room, Anna’s
father demanded gently that she join their guests.
An exuberant Uncle swept the Don aside and was soon
holding the girl above his head. “Anna,
my little girl, when did you become such a beautiful young woman?” He
asked in a loud booming voice. They
both began to laugh. As he
placed her gently back on the earth, her eyes met Hans’.
Both were startled by what they felt.
Suddenly, they were the only two people in the room. Walking over to her, Hans
stood as tall and erect as possible.
Bowing slightly, he clicked his heels and reached out his hand to
Anna.
He took her gloved hand in his and kissed it lightly.
“A pleasure Señorita
Castillo.” He
offered in a deep, low voice. Blushing,
Anna had never experienced
such a chivalrous gesture. Stepping
back from Anna, Hans allowed Don Castillo
to walked around him and join his daughter.
The Don took her arm in his and they walked into the
parlor. When all were seated
both Hans and Anna
were conspicuously quiet. The
others quickly became engrossed in a conversation over some past
experience of little importance. Anna and Hans offered
little to the conversation; instead they admired one another from afar. She found Hans extremely handsome with a commanding presence about him.
Anna watched him making
mental notes to herself. Memorizing
every contour of his face and color of his hair and eyes, she couldn't
help but take notice of his well-built frame and his manner of dress.
The white dinner jacket and black bow tie flattered Hans’
golden tanned skin. He was
obviously a man who took pride in himself and his appearance.
She noticed no jewelry other than a strange watch, of a type she
had never seen before. There
were a thousand questions Anna
wanted to ask about him. Where
he was from? Why had he come
to Argentina? What he did
for a living? But she knew
to ask would be considered impolite.
In the end, she would do what all ladies of her class did, ask
another woman, Helga.
“Anna,” her father
interrupted, “why are you so quiet?
Normally we can't get a word in edgewise during these dinners.
Are you ill, my dear?” He
asked playfully. Anna blushed and her beauty again struck Hans. “No, father.” She
replied respectfully. “Well
then, at least tell us about your favorite subject, your beautiful
horses.” The Don
pressed her to engage in conversation with a smile. As Anna
began discussing the joy of riding, Hans
noticed how animated she was. He
watched her move from one technical point on equestrian riding to
another. She was much like a
little girl, very uninhibited. Hans caught himself getting lost in her child-like stories.
As she spoke, Anna’s face lit up the room. She
was alive and vibrant. At
that moment, Hans Von Furstenburge
fell in love. Anna touched him deep down inside his soul.
Lost in this beautiful young woman, he’d finally found his
future. It was to be in the
arms of this young Spanish woman. There
was something warm and wonderful about her innocence.
Having lost his years ago, Hans
clung to it. Untouched
by the ugliness of the world she was still fresh and new. Anna was about to tell one
more story when the Don interrupted.
“Hans, you’ve been
most quiet this evening. Perhaps
you would like to tell us something about yourself?” The
Don asked, genuinely interested.
“Yes, Herr Von
Furstenburge, please tell us about yourself.” Anna asked playfully. He
was surprised by the question. He
hadn't thought about how he would present himself.
“I'm afraid my life has been quite dull, actually.” He
said with humility. “There
isn't much to tell. I was a
soldier and led what is commonly known as a soldier’s life.” He
thought that he had answered the question diplomatically.
“Oh, and what is that?” Anna
asked, wanting to know more. “It’s
quite a boring life.” Hans
responded honestly. “If I
were to try to describe my training that would only cause all of you to
fall asleep. To discuss the
war would be impolite to some. So
let me say only that I spent many years learning a trade which is of
very little value in this beautiful country.” Hans was quite happy with his witty reply.
“Are you sure that you weren’t in the diplomatic corps?” Don
Alejandro quipped.
Everyone laughed at the joke.
Even Hans found the
remark humorous. Before Hans could begin again, José
was at the doorway. “Dinner
is served.” He reported in
his very best formal manner. Asking
all to join him in the dining room, the Don took Anna's
arm in his. Walking into the
dining room, each found their place cards.
After they were seated, José
asked the Don if drinks should be served.
The Don requested José to bring the champagne. When
the champagne arrived the Don proposed a toast.
“To our very good friends and to our new young friend.
May your lives be full of joy and happiness.” The
Don had meant every word of the toast. The dinner party was lively
and the conversation light and happy.
The Brenners were very
much a part of the entertainment. Clause’s continual teasing of Helga
brought much enjoyment to the other guests.
As Hans watched the
couple, he felt the warmth and genuine love they shared.
The Don was the perfect host, knowing exactly when to ask
the right questions and tease his guests.
The dinner went quickly. After
coffee was served all agreed that the chef had done a superb job on the
filet mignon. It was the Don who
suggested that Anna show Hans around the estancia.
“Yes,” Herr Brenner
agreed, “the night is young and the moon is full.
It’s a perfect night for a moonlight walk.
Don't you think Hans?” The Don
asked playfully. “Yes, Don
Alejandro.” Hans responded respectfully. The
two young people eagerly left the dining room looking forward to some
time alone. Both felt a bit
uncomfortable as they walked out into the moonlit night.
Hans offered his arm to
Anna and she quickly accepted.
Once outside the summer night was beautiful.
The sky was black with a wonderful backdrop of twinkling stars.
The moon was bright, making the stroll that much more romantic.
Anna looked beautifully pale in the moonlight.
She felt protected by this tall muscular man.
His strong arm made her feel warm inside, protecting her against
a bit of a chill in the air. As
they walked through the rose garden the wind blew softly, rustling the
delicate petals. They had been quiet for a long
time. Walking along the path
toward the stables, Anna
explained how Uncle had changed the estancia after her mother
suddenly died of leukemia. Anna
was just a baby when the extensive renovation took place.
Losing the love of his life had changed the Don.
He was no longer the happy lively man he had once been.
For a while, the Don became a recluse.
It was Uncle who slowly brought him out of his protective shell
by arranging many construction projects on the estancia.
There was the building of the water fountains, the reflection
pool, and the high walls. Insisting
that the walls must be erected to secure the family's protection, Uncle
began the courtyard construction and that of the stables.
Later, they planted trees on the estate grounds.
Having no choice, Don Alejandro
became involved in the ongoing panic of construction about the estancia.
At first, the Don resisted the changes.
But after a while, he accepted Uncle's prodding.
Soon, the Don was active in all areas of planning and
construction, bringing him out of his depression.
Clause spent several years working closely with the Don.
Uncle expanded the orchards, vineyards, and fields.
Roads were built throughout the estancia to accommodate
both ranching and farming needs. Storage
buildings were constructed and cisterns erected.
So effective were Uncle's ideas that the estancia became
largely self-sufficient and very profitable.
Soon, neighboring estancia owners were visiting the Don
to learn how to improve their own lands. The gauchos were
encouraged to learn various masonry trades.
It was Uncle who did the teaching, and what a taskmaster he was.
By the fifth year of his employment, the estancia supported
over one hundred gauchos and other workers.
Where the Don had once dedicated his life to his beloved
wife, he now gave his every waking moment to his new mistress, his estancia,
Casa Castillo. It was
also in this fifth year that the Don made a gift of one thousand hectares
of land to Uncle. Recounting
to Hans how her father had waited until the Brenner's anniversary party to make the announcement, Anna believed
it was one of her father's finest moments.
The Don invited guests from all over the district to
celebrate the pressing of the grapes in his new winery.
Using the occasion to honor the Brenners
on their anniversary, the Don brought the party to a quiet
hush. While making the
announcement of the gift, Anna
remembered how Uncle and Auntie were completely taken by surprise.
Uncle was holding Helga
in his arms when the Don opened the envelope with the recorded
deed. Reading the document
aloud to thunderous applause, never had the district seen such a
magnanimous gesture. Anna
remembered tears filling Uncle's eyes. Hans
now understood why Herr Brenner
loved this family. This was
the bonding between two men that lasts a lifetime.
Clearly this was an act of honor.
Few men of the Don's class would have been so generous.
To give the land freely to Clause,
with its symbols of power and position, recognized his deeds and
abilities. It was rare in
this world to give of one's self to another.
It was even more rare to bestow upon someone a new station in
life; a station that guaranteed the respect and admiration of others. Arriving at the stables, Anna
asked Hans if he would like to see her most prized possession, her beloved
black stallion, Hercules. He
smiled and agreed as they walked into the dark stables.
Placing his hands on her hips, he turned her toward him.
Pulling her close to him, their mouths met in a deep, passionate
kiss. Holding each other
there in the darkness for what seemed like an eternity, they were alone
in a world of their own. Hans
could feel her entire being. He
was lost in the very feel of her. For
the first time in his life, he gave himself up to another human being.
With no walls between them, he shuddered at the feelings he was
experiencing. He ran his
fingers through her hair and then gripped the golden strands tightly and
forced his mouth down hard onto hers.
His lips were everywhere at once, kissing her neck and face.
His hungry mouth found her’s again and again.
Both were greedy for each other.
Anna ached inside with a lust that she had never felt before.
Anna felt as if she
were on fire with desire. She
wanted this man to dominate her. Anna
gave way to his strong, muscled arms, leaning into his chest.
Straining to bring her closer to him, suddenly, Hans lifted her body off of the ground and into his arms.
Anna felt as if she
could not get close enough to him. She
wanted all of him. Kissing
him even harder, Anna wanted to bring him closer to her.
Lost in the moment she bit his lip hard. Anna
could taste the salty blood in her mouth.
He was breathing heavily and she wanted to hear him moan for her.
She wanted to make him want her the way she longed for him. Suddenly, there were voices
calling to them from outside the stables.
Hans quickly put her
down. Anna
unruffled her gown and lightly smoothed her hair back.
Quickly walking to the light switch, she turned on the stable
light. An embarrassed Hans
began wiping his face with a handkerchief.
Anna took it from him
and wiped the last of the red lipstick from his face.
Just as she was about to finish, the Don and Uncle entered
the stables. Both men looked
at one another and laughed. Soon
all four were laughing. “Was
there a problem with the light switch my dear?” The Don asked
jokingly. “Yes father.” Anna responded, appearing somewhat embarrassed. Hans
was now blushing and looking uncomfortable.
“From the looks of you two, it must have been quite warm in
here.” Uncle commented
with mock sincerity. “Perhaps
we should return to the main house before the problem with the heat
becomes troublesome.” The Don
offered, as he and Uncle walked out of the stables laughing. Soon after returning to the
main house, the Brenners and Hans left for the evening. It
had been a successful dinner party.
Believing this marriage to be a suitable one for his daughter, Don
Castillo was impressed with
the young German. Hans had won him over and Anna
was in love. The next several days raced
by. Finally, Hans
came calling. That day, Anna
and Hans went riding together. They
rode for hours enjoying each other’s company.
Both laughed easily when together.
The two were a good match. Comfortable
with Hans, Anna found him
charming, as well as handsome. For
his part, Hans was quite
smitten with the golden haired beauty. Over the next several months, Hans
became a frequent visitor to the estancia.
The Don and he played chess regularly.
An excellent player, Hans easily
defeated his future father-in-law. Their
many hours together brought them closer.
On occasion, he accompanied the Don on his rounds of the
estate. Hans
learned a great deal about the estate.
He was taken by its size and beauty.
During one of the trips around the estancia, Don Alejandro
made a point of telling Hans
that one day it would all be his. The
young German’s future was assured. Whenever possible, Hans spent time with Anna.
He looked forward to their days riding together. Hans was happy for the first time in his life.
Enjoying the sharing and bantering, Hans
was in love. This
beautiful young woman brought him simple joy.
The war and its demons were now behind him; Hans
Von Furstenburge was finally at peace with himself.
In love and growing into his new life, several months had passed
since Hans last spoke to Frau Miller. By now, he
was very much in love with Anna
and looking forward to her becoming his wife.
He wanted to spend the rest of his life with this wonderful young
woman. Hans enjoyed each day spent in her company.
In time, he forgot all about his earlier misgivings about Anna’s
lineage. Unfortunately, reality came calling.
It was late in the afternoon when he received a telephone call
from Frau Miller requesting a
meeting to discuss her research. The
small voice inside told him to end the research and pay Frau
Miller’s fee. Knowing
the dye had been cast; Hans
would have to hear her report. He
knew that it would go to others. The
situation was out of his hands. With
the day of reckoning at hand, Hans
agreed to meet her the following morning to discuss the matter. It was a bright sunny
Argentine morning as Hans made
his way to the German Club. As
he drove along the deserted road, Hans
felt as if he had betrayed the woman he loved.
Before falling in love with her, his rationale was obvious.
But now that he had come to know her as a person, it wasn’t as
easy. He’d also come to
like her father a great deal. During
the time they’d spent together, a bond of friendship and respect had
developed. If Anna
should ever find out he had her family investigated, she might never
want to see him again, and this troubled him.
When he arrived at the German Club there were very few autos
parked outside. As Hans exited the auto, he felt anxious.
Hans Von Furstenburge
wanted this woman in his life and the Bund could be damned.
He no longer cared what her heritage was.
Collecting himself before entering the Club, he walked up the
stairs and passed the desk clerk. There
in the entryway stood Frau Miller.
In her usual manner, she stood waiting impatiently.
Efficient, her hair pulled back and spectacles resting on the
bridge of her nose, Frau Miller was every bit the bureaucrat.
The freshly pressed gray suit she wore was a testament to her
professionalism. With her
blouse buttoned to the top, and her square toed, highly polished black
shoes, Frau Miller was ready
for her meeting with Hans. After a stiff, uncomfortable
greeting they walked outside and sat at a small table under the portico.
Breaking the ice, Hans spoke of the pleasant weather.
Commenting on Germany’s weather at this time of the year, Frau
Miller said little else. Before
beginning the ordeal, the young waiter arrived to take their order.
After ordering coffee, Frau
Miller immediately pulled a large manila envelope from her valise.
She opened the envelope and removed two written reports.
Frau Miller handed Hans
one of the reports and kept the other.
Before beginning her long dissertation, she searched through a
pile of papers. “The
family is quite wealthy.” She
said, giving him an accusing look. Hans
was made uncomfortable by her steely stare.
“Yes, yes.” Hans said curtly, annoyed by her inference.
Frau Miller began with
an explanation of the Castillo
family's financial holdings and social standing.
“What does this have to do with the family's racial purity?” Hans asked defensively. Frau
Miller was now obviously insulted by his arrogance.
After all, she took great pride in her ability to ferret out
every last detail of a person’s racial purity.
After a long silence, Frau
Miller collected her thoughts and began again.
“It would appear that the family lineage extends directly back
to the Visigoth period in the 470's.” She
went on to explain that these were a West German people who invaded
Spain in the fourth century A.D., while it was a declining province of
the crumbling Roman Empire. Frau
Miller commented that the historical facts surrounding these peoples
were sketchy from the invasion period to the time of the Moorish
conquest of 710 A.D. “What
our research does tell us is that the first notable Visigoth King, Recceswinth,
issued a most sophisticated code of laws in 654 A.D.
These laws were the first of their kind in Spain after the
departure of the Roman legions. Clearly,
these were a sophisticated people with a lengthy tradition rooted in the
Hispano-Roman culture. The
laws clearly suggest a superior Germanic influence.” She
offered arrogantly. She
continued to drone on about various kings and wars that Hans
had no interest in. He grew
frustrated, and waited anxiously for Frau
Miller to come to the point about Anna’s
lineage. If he hadn’t been
so hopelessly in love with the girl, he might have been more interested
in the history lesson that Frau
Miller was providing him with, but love is impatient. Finally he heard something
that caught his ear. “The
great Germanic Christian power that was to arise and save Spain
was Castile.
Originally set up as a county by the Kings of Asturias,
Castile was to rid Spain
of the Moors. This is the
house from which Don Alejandro
Castillo derives his surname. Our
research shows that the original progenitor of his line is none other
than, Count Rodrigo, the very
one commissioned to establish the County of Castile.
He died there in 873 A.D. To
conclude, the Castillo name can be traced back to racially acceptable Germanic
roots, and the Spanish kingdoms in the Asturias
are considered untainted by Negroid blood.
On this point, it is important to remember that in the eighth and
ninth centuries, the Negroids were stopped in three geographically zones
of Spain, the western,
central, and eastern. What
this means to you, Herr Von
Furstenburge, is your future bride to be is not tainted by Negroid
blood. In fact, she is of
Germanic origins. The
families of Navarre and Castile
secured the lineage. It
would appear that the family remained in the northern part of Spain,
in the vicinity of Pamplona,
well out of Moorish reach.” Hans was relieved. “We’ve also traced the
family estates well into the fourteen hundreds.
The family then joined the Conquistadors who left Spain for the New World during the colonial period of the 1520's.
Our research has found the name Castillo
to be prominent in the archives of the Roman Catholic Church in Latin
America. These Castillos
are a part of the Argentine Estanciero Class.
This class comprises over two hundred or so families, ultimately
forming an oligarchy. With a
well defined autocratic tradition these Estanciero have achieved
social primacy through holding the wealth of Argentina
for generations. Herr Von Furstenburge, so far I have provided you with conclusive
evidence regarding the Castillo
family’s racial purity, geographic acceptability, social status, and
wealth. To this point, we
haven’t discussed physical and medical racial attributes. The final
part of my research dealt with those attributes.
Doña Castillo’s
fair hair and eyes bone structure and skull shape fall well within
Germanic norms. Let me show
you this photograph of Señorita Castillo.”
Frau Miller offered smugly.
Producing a second envelope, she removed a photograph of Anna.
“How did you get this photograph?” Hans
demanded angrily. Frau Miller smiled slyly, explaining how she’d met Anna,
quite by accident, in the country while bird watching.
“She’s quite friendly, you know.” Frau
Miller said arrogantly. “Your
dear Anna was even kind enough to pose for these photographs.” Frau
Miller said, as she laughed to herself.
“Well then,” she continued, “please note the skull shape.
It is definitely, dolichocephalic or long-headed.
This proves scientifically that your bride is of Germanic stock.
If her head was brachycephalic or round-headed, she would be of
Celtic or Gallo-Roman origin. In
our studies, we find anthropological evidence most helpful in
determining racial purity.” Frau
Miller offered smugly. My
work is done, Herr Von
Furstenburge.” Frau
Miller offered coldly, as she stood up quickly and began gathering
together her documents. “I
shall leave you now. I wish
you and your future German bride a wonderful life.” Frau
Miller said curtly. This
woman was as cold as she was efficient. Yes, he was proud of his Aryan
blood and proud of the accomplishments of his race.
But he was unnerved by the tone of Frau
Miller’s report. He
thought back to all of the racial cleansing that Germany had ordered in
Europe during the war and began to question the sanity of it all.
09/25/2015 07:49 AM |