She winked at him and Frank
winced, because he had never seen such a friendly gesture
from her before.
winced, because he had never seen such a friendly gesture
from her before.
Orwell - 1984
The other meaning is the coming war,
the revenge, the bloodshed, the rage of battle. One also
knows the bloody moon as a warning to the enemy. It just
depends on the interpretation of the symbol. The founders
of the „Red Moon" groups thought, that this sign would just
look cool or interesting", said Baumer.
„l like the second meaning! Yes! ", hissed Frank.
Alfred looked at him with surprise, scraping with his fingers
over the wooden table.
„l_et us bring the blood moon upon our enemies! I will talk to
Wilden. If I join your so called rebellion, I fucking want to
make rebellion! ", grumbled Frank.
„We are rebels. . . ", returned Alf and stared at his aggressive
fellow.
"I hope it! I want to take lives! ", screamed Kohlhaas and
banged his fist on the table. „Revenge! Blood moon! "
Frank turned around and went to his room. He slammed the
door behind himself and up to the next morning, Baumer
didn't see him again.
97
Rebellion and Fresh Snow
It did not last long, until Ivas was covered with a thick
mantle of snow and it was bitterly cold. Frank and Alf could
only stay in the largest room of their house, where the old
wood fired oven was located.
This season was more than unpleasant and often both men
needed some blankets to warm theirselves. But at least, the
roof didn't have no more holes and it didn't snow into the
upper floor of the old building. This was better than nothing.
Today, Frank Kohlhaas made the decision to talk to
Thorsten Wilden. He wanted to become a real rebel and
promised himself to join the fight - but he still didn't know
how.
It was a grey winter morning and the few sources of light in
the inhabited houses of the village, had no real chance to
repel the twilight.
A resolute Frank trudged through the fresh snow of the last
night, toward the house of Thorsten Wilden. The young man
finally had enough of the monotonousness in this so called
rebel base.
„You want me? You can have me! ", he whispered to
himself.
After a while, Frank reached the house of the village boss
and knocked on the door. Agatha Wilden opened and Julia
could be seen behind her in the corridor. Kohlhaas gave
them a quiet „Hello! ". Then Wilden appeared on the stairs,
which led to the upper floor.
„Frank! Welcome! What can I do for you? ", asked the gray-
haired gentleman with sursprise. The village boss seemed
to be overslept and was still unshaved.
98
„We need to talk, Mr. Wilden! ", answered Frank with a
vacant expression, which neither Julia nor Agatha Wilden
had ever seen before. Kohlhaas scowled and crossed his
arms.
„Well, we go to my office! ", said the rebel leader.
„Okay! Let's go! ", muttered Frank and went up the stairs.
Then both men sat opposite to each other and Frank started
to talk, before Wilden could begin.
„This is not a holiday camp, you have said to me. Well!
Well! ", spoke Frank with an angry face. „This is a rebel
base, you have told me, Mr. Wilden! "
„lt is! ", returned the older gentleman, looking at his young
guest, who behaved queerly today.
„AII right! Then we shall start a rebellion! First, I would like to
learn to shoot! Assault rifle, machine gun, handguns. Is that
okay, Mr. Wilden? ", said Frank, somehow demanding.
J think you can! ", answered the village boss.
„Great, Mr. Wilden! I am ready now. I know that some of the
guys here talk about me after the slogan: We just feed that
Frank, but he is useless and does not join our great fight.
Well, here I am! Ready for combat! If there is a big fight
here at all, because I haven't noticed a fucking rebellion
yet! ", teased the young man.
„First and foremost, we develop self-sufficient structures.
The armed operation, concerning your liberation, has been
an exception. Otherwise, we plan no further things of that
character for the next time", explained Wilden.
„However! ", said Kohlhaas. „lf any special operations start,
then let me know it. I will join them. My life isn't important
and I will show you, that I have more guts, than most of
these farmers, who treat me with scorn. Thus, you let me
know, if there is some action, okay? Have a nice day and
greetings to Fraulein Julia, Mr. Wilden! "
99
Frank knocked on the table, smiled informally and left the
room. He ran down the stairs, murmured a "Tschuft! " to
Julia and closed the front door behind him. Thorsten Wilden,
his wife and his daugtherwere perturbed. This part of Frank
had been unknown to them yet. And Frank was surprised
about that side of his personality too.
"If I shall revolt, I have to learn to shoot, Alf! Where are your
weapons? ", Frank edged his unnerved friend.
"You make my nerves explode, Kohlhaas! What do you
want from me? ", screamed Alf. His roommate didn't stop his
urging and slowly became aggressive.
J go to Wilden! ", grumbled the young man.
„Okay, I have a gun. If you like, we can do some firing
practices in the forest", groaned Alf.
„AII right! What are you waiting for? ", answered Frank with a
grin.
Baumer went into the cellar and finally returned with a Glock
in his hand. Then the two men left the house.
„rm dying to know if you hit something! ", teased Alf his
friend on the way to the nearby forest behind the village, but
Frank just gazed at the ground. After they had waded
through the high snow for a while, Alf stopped.
„Do you see that knothole in the birch over there? ", he
asked Frank.
„Of course, give me the gun! ", answered Kohlhaas.
Without further thinking, the young man aimed for the tree,
which was about ten meters away from him.
„Bang! Bang! Bang! "
Alfred ran to the birch, after Frank had shot the magazine
empty. He was astonished. Most of the bullets had hit the
little knothole and large pieces of crust had been torn out.
„Not bad, boy! ", he remarked and waved the inexperienced
shooter nearer.
100
„How many times have you already shot in your life? "
„Never before! ", answered Kohlhaas and smiled.
„Your lately grown self-confidence seems to make even a
good shooter of you", murmured Alf.
Shortly afterwards, Kohlhaas shot three further magazines
empty. Then they had to stop, in order to waste not too
much ammunition. Baumer was quite impressed, that his
fellow had hit the target relative exactly.
„Wilden can organize an assault rifle and a machine gun for
you. Then you can practice with them", promised Alf. A little
later, they went back to their house again. Dusk was falling.
So strange and insignificant it was, at first sight - Alf s
compliment had filled the young Frank with pride. He smiled
confidently and looked already forward to the next firing
practices with the bigger war weapons, the real "Wummen".
Apparently, he had a talent for shooting. And that he had a
talent for something, he hadn't heard all too often in his life
before.
Frank spent the first two weeks of the cold and wet January,
the ugliest month the year, with numerous firing practices
and the reading of political and historical books, that Wilden
had given to him. Moreover with occasional works for the
community.
Meanwhile, he felt a little more accepted by the other
villagers, after he had signaled that he was ready to join the
fight.
Even Julia Wilden had smiled at him for the first time, when
he had asked her father for more ammunition for his
weapons at the door. He blustered into the thought of
becoming a rebel. Therefore, Kohlhaas shot during his firing
practices, in his mind, rather at hazy prison guards,
policemen or politicians, as at bottles or trees. Often he
grinned like a happy child, when the cold steel of a rifle slid
101
into his hand. His shooting results became better and better
and when he went to bed, after an arduous day, he often
mused about the blood moon and did not notice, how
malicious his smile had become.
Alfred observed him with scepticism. Frank appeared
calmly, and sometimes he just absently stared out the
window and bit on his lower lip, till it began to bleed.
Usually he did not even seem to notice it. The young man
was eager to learn the art of killing in all its facets. Often he
talked of nothing else but fighting during the dinner. He
philosophized about the possibilities of resistance, the
revolution and the counter-propaganda. Some ideas
appeared to Alf even ingeniously, others were just childish
and crazy. Something proceeded under Frank's skullcap,
was slowly bred like an evil child.
In these days, in which Frank only talked about assault
rifles, grenade launchers and methods of killing people,
Baumer thought, that Kohlhaas was screwy. Moreover,
Frank asked John Thorphy to buy a whole arsenal of
weapons for him.
„Maybe, your beloved war will find you sooner as you think,
my friend", told him Alf once. "We will have a bigger meeting
at the end of the month, then I can take you with me! "
„A Meeting? What meeting? To shovel some snow? ",
scoffed Frank.
„Fuck off! I can't hear your speeches about the revolution
anymore, Frank. Keep cool and find the way back to reality.
We will not start to run around like a horde of boozy apes to
shoot everybody. Do your firing practices or throw your knife
at trees or do something else! ", grumbled Baumer angrily.
Now, Frank became angry too and went to his undercooled
room. Most of all, he had liked to kick Alf in the face - or
someone else. Meanwhile, Kohlhaas was burning inside like
102
a torch. A stubborn hate had crept into his brain and he had
problems to suppress this feeling. So the young man just
brooded and escaped into a dreamworld full of rebellion and
revenge.
The former citizen 1-564398B-278843 dawdled away till the
end of the month and nervously waited for the meeting, Alf
had talked about. From now on, Baumer didn't tell Frank
any further details, concerning the gathering, and just
ignored him.
It was the last day of January 2029, and the restless young
man had got up early today. The meeting of the villagers
was set for 18. 00 o'clock, and Frank walked through the
cold house for hours, like a nervous tiger. He friendly smiled
at Baumer, again and again, full of expectation.
In the late afternoon, Frank and Alf finally left the house and
went to a brightly lit-up barn, where a few radiant heaters
had provisionally been stationed. Wilden was waiting for
them here, in the middle of a larger group of people.
Frank and Alf briefly welcomed the others and went to a
dark corner. Both crossed their arms before their chests and
looked at Wilden, who started his speech: . . Welcome, my
dear comrades! "
Kohlhaas nodded to Julia, who stood behind her father.
Then he smiled and the young woman smiled back.
. . Tm glad that all of you have come to Ivas. I welcome our
guests from France and all the others, who visit our village
today. "
Kohlhaas' expectation rose to the immeasurable. He gave
Julia a volatile look again.
She winked at him and Frank
winced, because he had never seen such a friendly gesture
from her before. Her father continued: . . Tm sure you all
know, what is our topic today. Tve bought this village some
years ago, anyhow, some of the houses, in order to create a
103
retreat for all, who have pure hearts and want to fight
against the global system of enslavement. Since then, we
have achieved a lot and this former ghost town has been
made to a halfway habitable place again. We have our
peace here - so far.
However, I have the impression, that many of us meanwhile
enjoy this calm life so much that they have forgotten, what
the true sense of this base is. The sense is to have also a
place for a free life, for those, who still know, what freedom
really is, but Ivas is more than that. It is a place of
resistance against the World Government.
The last months have been calm, we have behaved calmly.
We have renovated our village and have secured our
subsistence, what is essential before you start a great fight.
This phase is finished now, and the question remaines, how
we can bring back freedom to our brothers and sisters in our
old homelands. The fight must begin now! "
A short applause from the about 100 persons in the large
barn followed. Frank was staring into space with blank
expression.
„Most of you, who are here today, live in Ivas. Others are
from the outside. Andrej is here, from the "Russian Patriotic
Section", Robert and William from the organization „Free
Britain", moreover our friends from Belgium, better from
Flanders. Further, Baptiste and Hugo from France. And also
comrades from Scandinavia have visited us.
Apart from this, I don't want to forget Soheil and Nirvan, the
rebels from Iran, because they probably have the longest
way behind themselves.
Unfortunately, our comrades from the Spanish „Citadel
Group" had not been allowed to leave their country, and I
hope they are fine. Well, I think that I haven't forgotton any
other guests from outside! ", said the village boss.
104
„Now I want to give a lecture on our actual topic: Today we
talk about March the 1 st , 2029, when the World Government
will celebrate the "Festival of the new World". This
worldwide event, which takes place in Kiev this year, here in
the sector . . Eastern Europe", is also celebrated in Paris, in
"Central Europe". For that reason, the new governor of
. . Central Europe", Leon-Jack Wechsler, will come to the
former capital of France, in order to open the ceremonies
and military parades.
The international media will report about this event, whereby
the ceremonies in New York and Paris will be the politically
most important ones, and will get the greatest attention. "
. . That much is clear! ", whispered Alf quietly.
. . Since the official takeover in the year 2018, the
celebrations of the "Festival of the new World" have always
been an enormous spectacle, that even excelled the soccer
world championships and the Olympics! ", said Wilden.
. . Even if the media have hushed it up in the last months,
France is a country, which stands close to big chaos. The
introduction of the "additional water consumption tax" in the
last year has annoyed millions of people.
Furthermore, the poverty of the masses is still becoming
worse, as everywhere in "Central Europe". Meanwhile, the
conflicts between the Moslem Algerians and the other
immigrants, who have the majority in all big French cities,
and the native population, has achieved an explosive
extent. If the GCF occupation troops wouldn't press the lid
on the cooking pot with outermost force, France would fall to
pieces tomorrow", explained the rebel leader, while the two
Frenchmen nodded approvingly.
. . Already in the last year, there have been social and racial
riots in Paris and Marseille with almost 1000 deads. The
police and the GCF have finally shot down the people
without mercy. We all know the pictures", said Wilden.
105
„Anyhow, it has still become worse this year, as I have
already expected it. More monitoring, more unemployed
people, more homeless people, more crime and more war in
the streets, as everywhere . . Central Europe", where the so
called philanthropists give us their political benedictions! "
„He talks about politics again. . . ", groaned Frank.
. . What will we do now? What will we do on 01. March 2029,
when probably between one and two million spectators
come to Paris? ", asked Wilden the others.
„lf the media and so many people are there, why don't we
make any spectacular actions? With transparencies for
example. . . ", suggested a villager.
„We plan a lot of such things, and we don't need any foreign
assistance for these simple campaigns. We have enough
men in France for actions like that! ", explained one of the
Frenchmen and shook his head.
. . Perhaps, we should join the crowd and. . . ", said a young
man.
. . Wait! ", interrupted him Frank suddenly. „We kill that Leon-
Jack Wechsler! Than we would set an example! "
Wilden and the others turned their heads toward the dark
corner, from where the bold proposal had come. Frank
stared back and kept a straight face.
. . Forget about that, boy! Around Wechsler is a security zone
of two kilometers, full of GCF soldiers, agents and cops! ",
said a man and looked disdainfully at Frank.
„No more nonsens! Just shut up! ", hissed Alf nervously.
. . Well, but throwing leaflets at the soldiers during the parade,
or stick out the tongue at the governor, is just pathetic! ",
returned Frank. „l will kill this son of a bitch! Who comes
with me? "
Now Wilden intervened, because many visitors became
angry: „We should be realistic. There is no place here for
macho behaviour, boy! "
106
„l'm not joking! Absolutely not! ", screamed Frank. „l know
that it is dangerous, but I don't fear death. Thus, who wants
to follow me? Let us kill this motherfucker! "
„Enough, Kohlhaas! ", yelled Wilden.
„Who are you, young man, that you have such a big mouth?
You are hardly a few days here and you already play the big
gorilla! ", insulted him a young woman from the other corner
of the room.
. . That's right! You are that crazy guy from the holo cell. And
there, your brain has been damaged! ", shouted someone in
Frank's direction.
„We don't need your show, boy! ", it came from the side.
„Now, shut up! This is just embarrassing! ", railed Alf and
nudged Frank.
„l am Frank Kohlhaas! I say it now, in front of all of you,
although I don't know the most of you very well. I will go to
Paris to kill this fucking Wechsler, if you give me the
weapons and the equipment. Maybe I die! So what? I just
give a shit on that!
I swear, by my honour and my name, the good name of my
father and my sister, who were murdered by people like this
bastard Wechsler. If I change my opinion tomorrow, then I
beg you, to shoot me, because then I have no right to life
anymore! ", screamed Kohlhaas.
Baumer sighed and held his head. Others looked
disbelievingly at Frank. Nevertheless, some of the villagers
seemed to be fascinated by the young fanatic. Julia Wilden
belonged to the latter group, as Kohlhaas hoped.
„The guy is crazy! ", Frank heard someone say.
Wilden tried to interrupt Frank's lecture: . . Well, I would like
to tell you a little more about the political situation. Frank,
just shut up now! "
But the young man had not finished yet: „l have to say
something to you glorious rebels! And you shall listen to my
107
words: I WILL KILL LEON-JACK WECHSLER! Or the cops
will kill me! I mean it. If necessary, I will go all alone. It
would only be nice, if one of you brave warriors could give
me a map of Paris. If I should have changed my opinion
tomorrow, then you have to kill me! I ask you again: Who
comes with me? "
A loud mutter went through the barn. Alf looked
embarrassingly at the ground and tried to explain his
neighbor that Frank could also be "normal".
It took some minutes for Wilden to restore silence.
Meanwhile, the young man had gone back to his corner
again and seemed to have calmed down.
„Mannomann! ", hummed Baumer. . . Everyone here reputes
you as a total crank now. Killing Leon-Jack Wechsler? Such
an imbecility! "
Alf s friend didn't answer and just looked at him with cold
eyes, then he grinned grimly. For the rest of the meeting,
which lasted not much longer anymore, Frank behaved
calmly, giving a black look to everyone, who seemed to
doubt about his fanatical resoluteness.
The two Frenchmen, Baptiste and Hugo, who obviously
belonged to a patriotic group from Northern France, briefly
explained, what they had planned for the day of the festival.
They were sure that the masses in the capital of former
France would be dissatisfied and rebellious enough, to go
on the barricades. Some Islamic groups from Paris had also
agreed to a temporary pact with the organization of the two
Frenchmen, although both sides actually were sworn
enemies. But on this particular day, they would fight against
a common opponent, the World Government, and so they
had put their differences aside this time. However, they just
postponed their fight for the supremacy in former France. It
was not improbable that the new governor of . . Central
Europe" was awaited by the hate and the displeasure of big
108
parts of the population, but whether they would dare it, to
carry their discontent on the streets, was another question.
Leon-Jack Wechsler and the whole World Government were
internally hated by many people, but the powerful had an
enormous might, which the masses feared with good
reason.
The police force and the monitoring functioned. The GCF
troops, which mostly consisted of mercenaries from
overseas, who had no closer relationship to France or
Europe and therefore shot at the native population without
hesitation, if they received the order to do this, were
numerous. Furthermore, they had deadly weapons,
particularly to strike down large crowds.
Soldiers of French origin mostly served in countries far
away and not in their homeland. So they also had no
connection to the people they had to control. Like that were
the rules of the New World Order.
GCF soldiers of German origin preferentially served in this
time as occupying forces in the Near East or in Africa, while
old Germany was occupied by GCF soldiers from Africa,
Asia and other regions. And so it was everywhere.
When the meeting came to an end and the visitors left the
large barn, Frank was examined by many of them. Alfred
Baumer was still confused. His fellow seemed to stand
close to insanity. Julia Wilden finally came to him and
tapped the young Kohlhaas on the shoulder.
„Hey, Frank! ", she said quietly. The rebel turned around and
stared at her.
„What the hell was that? You know that your idea is just
madness! What is wrong with you, Frank? ", she asked
quizzically.
„rm all right, Fraulein! ", answered Frank harshly.
„However, you will not really try this? ", she returned.
„Of course I will try it! Do you think, Tm a twaddler?
the revenge, the bloodshed, the rage of battle. One also
knows the bloody moon as a warning to the enemy. It just
depends on the interpretation of the symbol. The founders
of the „Red Moon" groups thought, that this sign would just
look cool or interesting", said Baumer.
„l like the second meaning! Yes! ", hissed Frank.
Alfred looked at him with surprise, scraping with his fingers
over the wooden table.
„l_et us bring the blood moon upon our enemies! I will talk to
Wilden. If I join your so called rebellion, I fucking want to
make rebellion! ", grumbled Frank.
„We are rebels. . . ", returned Alf and stared at his aggressive
fellow.
"I hope it! I want to take lives! ", screamed Kohlhaas and
banged his fist on the table. „Revenge! Blood moon! "
Frank turned around and went to his room. He slammed the
door behind himself and up to the next morning, Baumer
didn't see him again.
97
Rebellion and Fresh Snow
It did not last long, until Ivas was covered with a thick
mantle of snow and it was bitterly cold. Frank and Alf could
only stay in the largest room of their house, where the old
wood fired oven was located.
This season was more than unpleasant and often both men
needed some blankets to warm theirselves. But at least, the
roof didn't have no more holes and it didn't snow into the
upper floor of the old building. This was better than nothing.
Today, Frank Kohlhaas made the decision to talk to
Thorsten Wilden. He wanted to become a real rebel and
promised himself to join the fight - but he still didn't know
how.
It was a grey winter morning and the few sources of light in
the inhabited houses of the village, had no real chance to
repel the twilight.
A resolute Frank trudged through the fresh snow of the last
night, toward the house of Thorsten Wilden. The young man
finally had enough of the monotonousness in this so called
rebel base.
„You want me? You can have me! ", he whispered to
himself.
After a while, Frank reached the house of the village boss
and knocked on the door. Agatha Wilden opened and Julia
could be seen behind her in the corridor. Kohlhaas gave
them a quiet „Hello! ". Then Wilden appeared on the stairs,
which led to the upper floor.
„Frank! Welcome! What can I do for you? ", asked the gray-
haired gentleman with sursprise. The village boss seemed
to be overslept and was still unshaved.
98
„We need to talk, Mr. Wilden! ", answered Frank with a
vacant expression, which neither Julia nor Agatha Wilden
had ever seen before. Kohlhaas scowled and crossed his
arms.
„Well, we go to my office! ", said the rebel leader.
„Okay! Let's go! ", muttered Frank and went up the stairs.
Then both men sat opposite to each other and Frank started
to talk, before Wilden could begin.
„This is not a holiday camp, you have said to me. Well!
Well! ", spoke Frank with an angry face. „This is a rebel
base, you have told me, Mr. Wilden! "
„lt is! ", returned the older gentleman, looking at his young
guest, who behaved queerly today.
„AII right! Then we shall start a rebellion! First, I would like to
learn to shoot! Assault rifle, machine gun, handguns. Is that
okay, Mr. Wilden? ", said Frank, somehow demanding.
J think you can! ", answered the village boss.
„Great, Mr. Wilden! I am ready now. I know that some of the
guys here talk about me after the slogan: We just feed that
Frank, but he is useless and does not join our great fight.
Well, here I am! Ready for combat! If there is a big fight
here at all, because I haven't noticed a fucking rebellion
yet! ", teased the young man.
„First and foremost, we develop self-sufficient structures.
The armed operation, concerning your liberation, has been
an exception. Otherwise, we plan no further things of that
character for the next time", explained Wilden.
„However! ", said Kohlhaas. „lf any special operations start,
then let me know it. I will join them. My life isn't important
and I will show you, that I have more guts, than most of
these farmers, who treat me with scorn. Thus, you let me
know, if there is some action, okay? Have a nice day and
greetings to Fraulein Julia, Mr. Wilden! "
99
Frank knocked on the table, smiled informally and left the
room. He ran down the stairs, murmured a "Tschuft! " to
Julia and closed the front door behind him. Thorsten Wilden,
his wife and his daugtherwere perturbed. This part of Frank
had been unknown to them yet. And Frank was surprised
about that side of his personality too.
"If I shall revolt, I have to learn to shoot, Alf! Where are your
weapons? ", Frank edged his unnerved friend.
"You make my nerves explode, Kohlhaas! What do you
want from me? ", screamed Alf. His roommate didn't stop his
urging and slowly became aggressive.
J go to Wilden! ", grumbled the young man.
„Okay, I have a gun. If you like, we can do some firing
practices in the forest", groaned Alf.
„AII right! What are you waiting for? ", answered Frank with a
grin.
Baumer went into the cellar and finally returned with a Glock
in his hand. Then the two men left the house.
„rm dying to know if you hit something! ", teased Alf his
friend on the way to the nearby forest behind the village, but
Frank just gazed at the ground. After they had waded
through the high snow for a while, Alf stopped.
„Do you see that knothole in the birch over there? ", he
asked Frank.
„Of course, give me the gun! ", answered Kohlhaas.
Without further thinking, the young man aimed for the tree,
which was about ten meters away from him.
„Bang! Bang! Bang! "
Alfred ran to the birch, after Frank had shot the magazine
empty. He was astonished. Most of the bullets had hit the
little knothole and large pieces of crust had been torn out.
„Not bad, boy! ", he remarked and waved the inexperienced
shooter nearer.
100
„How many times have you already shot in your life? "
„Never before! ", answered Kohlhaas and smiled.
„Your lately grown self-confidence seems to make even a
good shooter of you", murmured Alf.
Shortly afterwards, Kohlhaas shot three further magazines
empty. Then they had to stop, in order to waste not too
much ammunition. Baumer was quite impressed, that his
fellow had hit the target relative exactly.
„Wilden can organize an assault rifle and a machine gun for
you. Then you can practice with them", promised Alf. A little
later, they went back to their house again. Dusk was falling.
So strange and insignificant it was, at first sight - Alf s
compliment had filled the young Frank with pride. He smiled
confidently and looked already forward to the next firing
practices with the bigger war weapons, the real "Wummen".
Apparently, he had a talent for shooting. And that he had a
talent for something, he hadn't heard all too often in his life
before.
Frank spent the first two weeks of the cold and wet January,
the ugliest month the year, with numerous firing practices
and the reading of political and historical books, that Wilden
had given to him. Moreover with occasional works for the
community.
Meanwhile, he felt a little more accepted by the other
villagers, after he had signaled that he was ready to join the
fight.
Even Julia Wilden had smiled at him for the first time, when
he had asked her father for more ammunition for his
weapons at the door. He blustered into the thought of
becoming a rebel. Therefore, Kohlhaas shot during his firing
practices, in his mind, rather at hazy prison guards,
policemen or politicians, as at bottles or trees. Often he
grinned like a happy child, when the cold steel of a rifle slid
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into his hand. His shooting results became better and better
and when he went to bed, after an arduous day, he often
mused about the blood moon and did not notice, how
malicious his smile had become.
Alfred observed him with scepticism. Frank appeared
calmly, and sometimes he just absently stared out the
window and bit on his lower lip, till it began to bleed.
Usually he did not even seem to notice it. The young man
was eager to learn the art of killing in all its facets. Often he
talked of nothing else but fighting during the dinner. He
philosophized about the possibilities of resistance, the
revolution and the counter-propaganda. Some ideas
appeared to Alf even ingeniously, others were just childish
and crazy. Something proceeded under Frank's skullcap,
was slowly bred like an evil child.
In these days, in which Frank only talked about assault
rifles, grenade launchers and methods of killing people,
Baumer thought, that Kohlhaas was screwy. Moreover,
Frank asked John Thorphy to buy a whole arsenal of
weapons for him.
„Maybe, your beloved war will find you sooner as you think,
my friend", told him Alf once. "We will have a bigger meeting
at the end of the month, then I can take you with me! "
„A Meeting? What meeting? To shovel some snow? ",
scoffed Frank.
„Fuck off! I can't hear your speeches about the revolution
anymore, Frank. Keep cool and find the way back to reality.
We will not start to run around like a horde of boozy apes to
shoot everybody. Do your firing practices or throw your knife
at trees or do something else! ", grumbled Baumer angrily.
Now, Frank became angry too and went to his undercooled
room. Most of all, he had liked to kick Alf in the face - or
someone else. Meanwhile, Kohlhaas was burning inside like
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a torch. A stubborn hate had crept into his brain and he had
problems to suppress this feeling. So the young man just
brooded and escaped into a dreamworld full of rebellion and
revenge.
The former citizen 1-564398B-278843 dawdled away till the
end of the month and nervously waited for the meeting, Alf
had talked about. From now on, Baumer didn't tell Frank
any further details, concerning the gathering, and just
ignored him.
It was the last day of January 2029, and the restless young
man had got up early today. The meeting of the villagers
was set for 18. 00 o'clock, and Frank walked through the
cold house for hours, like a nervous tiger. He friendly smiled
at Baumer, again and again, full of expectation.
In the late afternoon, Frank and Alf finally left the house and
went to a brightly lit-up barn, where a few radiant heaters
had provisionally been stationed. Wilden was waiting for
them here, in the middle of a larger group of people.
Frank and Alf briefly welcomed the others and went to a
dark corner. Both crossed their arms before their chests and
looked at Wilden, who started his speech: . . Welcome, my
dear comrades! "
Kohlhaas nodded to Julia, who stood behind her father.
Then he smiled and the young woman smiled back.
. . Tm glad that all of you have come to Ivas. I welcome our
guests from France and all the others, who visit our village
today. "
Kohlhaas' expectation rose to the immeasurable. He gave
Julia a volatile look again.
She winked at him and Frank
winced, because he had never seen such a friendly gesture
from her before. Her father continued: . . Tm sure you all
know, what is our topic today. Tve bought this village some
years ago, anyhow, some of the houses, in order to create a
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retreat for all, who have pure hearts and want to fight
against the global system of enslavement. Since then, we
have achieved a lot and this former ghost town has been
made to a halfway habitable place again. We have our
peace here - so far.
However, I have the impression, that many of us meanwhile
enjoy this calm life so much that they have forgotten, what
the true sense of this base is. The sense is to have also a
place for a free life, for those, who still know, what freedom
really is, but Ivas is more than that. It is a place of
resistance against the World Government.
The last months have been calm, we have behaved calmly.
We have renovated our village and have secured our
subsistence, what is essential before you start a great fight.
This phase is finished now, and the question remaines, how
we can bring back freedom to our brothers and sisters in our
old homelands. The fight must begin now! "
A short applause from the about 100 persons in the large
barn followed. Frank was staring into space with blank
expression.
„Most of you, who are here today, live in Ivas. Others are
from the outside. Andrej is here, from the "Russian Patriotic
Section", Robert and William from the organization „Free
Britain", moreover our friends from Belgium, better from
Flanders. Further, Baptiste and Hugo from France. And also
comrades from Scandinavia have visited us.
Apart from this, I don't want to forget Soheil and Nirvan, the
rebels from Iran, because they probably have the longest
way behind themselves.
Unfortunately, our comrades from the Spanish „Citadel
Group" had not been allowed to leave their country, and I
hope they are fine. Well, I think that I haven't forgotton any
other guests from outside! ", said the village boss.
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„Now I want to give a lecture on our actual topic: Today we
talk about March the 1 st , 2029, when the World Government
will celebrate the "Festival of the new World". This
worldwide event, which takes place in Kiev this year, here in
the sector . . Eastern Europe", is also celebrated in Paris, in
"Central Europe". For that reason, the new governor of
. . Central Europe", Leon-Jack Wechsler, will come to the
former capital of France, in order to open the ceremonies
and military parades.
The international media will report about this event, whereby
the ceremonies in New York and Paris will be the politically
most important ones, and will get the greatest attention. "
. . That much is clear! ", whispered Alf quietly.
. . Since the official takeover in the year 2018, the
celebrations of the "Festival of the new World" have always
been an enormous spectacle, that even excelled the soccer
world championships and the Olympics! ", said Wilden.
. . Even if the media have hushed it up in the last months,
France is a country, which stands close to big chaos. The
introduction of the "additional water consumption tax" in the
last year has annoyed millions of people.
Furthermore, the poverty of the masses is still becoming
worse, as everywhere in "Central Europe". Meanwhile, the
conflicts between the Moslem Algerians and the other
immigrants, who have the majority in all big French cities,
and the native population, has achieved an explosive
extent. If the GCF occupation troops wouldn't press the lid
on the cooking pot with outermost force, France would fall to
pieces tomorrow", explained the rebel leader, while the two
Frenchmen nodded approvingly.
. . Already in the last year, there have been social and racial
riots in Paris and Marseille with almost 1000 deads. The
police and the GCF have finally shot down the people
without mercy. We all know the pictures", said Wilden.
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„Anyhow, it has still become worse this year, as I have
already expected it. More monitoring, more unemployed
people, more homeless people, more crime and more war in
the streets, as everywhere . . Central Europe", where the so
called philanthropists give us their political benedictions! "
„He talks about politics again. . . ", groaned Frank.
. . What will we do now? What will we do on 01. March 2029,
when probably between one and two million spectators
come to Paris? ", asked Wilden the others.
„lf the media and so many people are there, why don't we
make any spectacular actions? With transparencies for
example. . . ", suggested a villager.
„We plan a lot of such things, and we don't need any foreign
assistance for these simple campaigns. We have enough
men in France for actions like that! ", explained one of the
Frenchmen and shook his head.
. . Perhaps, we should join the crowd and. . . ", said a young
man.
. . Wait! ", interrupted him Frank suddenly. „We kill that Leon-
Jack Wechsler! Than we would set an example! "
Wilden and the others turned their heads toward the dark
corner, from where the bold proposal had come. Frank
stared back and kept a straight face.
. . Forget about that, boy! Around Wechsler is a security zone
of two kilometers, full of GCF soldiers, agents and cops! ",
said a man and looked disdainfully at Frank.
„No more nonsens! Just shut up! ", hissed Alf nervously.
. . Well, but throwing leaflets at the soldiers during the parade,
or stick out the tongue at the governor, is just pathetic! ",
returned Frank. „l will kill this son of a bitch! Who comes
with me? "
Now Wilden intervened, because many visitors became
angry: „We should be realistic. There is no place here for
macho behaviour, boy! "
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„l'm not joking! Absolutely not! ", screamed Frank. „l know
that it is dangerous, but I don't fear death. Thus, who wants
to follow me? Let us kill this motherfucker! "
„Enough, Kohlhaas! ", yelled Wilden.
„Who are you, young man, that you have such a big mouth?
You are hardly a few days here and you already play the big
gorilla! ", insulted him a young woman from the other corner
of the room.
. . That's right! You are that crazy guy from the holo cell. And
there, your brain has been damaged! ", shouted someone in
Frank's direction.
„We don't need your show, boy! ", it came from the side.
„Now, shut up! This is just embarrassing! ", railed Alf and
nudged Frank.
„l am Frank Kohlhaas! I say it now, in front of all of you,
although I don't know the most of you very well. I will go to
Paris to kill this fucking Wechsler, if you give me the
weapons and the equipment. Maybe I die! So what? I just
give a shit on that!
I swear, by my honour and my name, the good name of my
father and my sister, who were murdered by people like this
bastard Wechsler. If I change my opinion tomorrow, then I
beg you, to shoot me, because then I have no right to life
anymore! ", screamed Kohlhaas.
Baumer sighed and held his head. Others looked
disbelievingly at Frank. Nevertheless, some of the villagers
seemed to be fascinated by the young fanatic. Julia Wilden
belonged to the latter group, as Kohlhaas hoped.
„The guy is crazy! ", Frank heard someone say.
Wilden tried to interrupt Frank's lecture: . . Well, I would like
to tell you a little more about the political situation. Frank,
just shut up now! "
But the young man had not finished yet: „l have to say
something to you glorious rebels! And you shall listen to my
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words: I WILL KILL LEON-JACK WECHSLER! Or the cops
will kill me! I mean it. If necessary, I will go all alone. It
would only be nice, if one of you brave warriors could give
me a map of Paris. If I should have changed my opinion
tomorrow, then you have to kill me! I ask you again: Who
comes with me? "
A loud mutter went through the barn. Alf looked
embarrassingly at the ground and tried to explain his
neighbor that Frank could also be "normal".
It took some minutes for Wilden to restore silence.
Meanwhile, the young man had gone back to his corner
again and seemed to have calmed down.
„Mannomann! ", hummed Baumer. . . Everyone here reputes
you as a total crank now. Killing Leon-Jack Wechsler? Such
an imbecility! "
Alf s friend didn't answer and just looked at him with cold
eyes, then he grinned grimly. For the rest of the meeting,
which lasted not much longer anymore, Frank behaved
calmly, giving a black look to everyone, who seemed to
doubt about his fanatical resoluteness.
The two Frenchmen, Baptiste and Hugo, who obviously
belonged to a patriotic group from Northern France, briefly
explained, what they had planned for the day of the festival.
They were sure that the masses in the capital of former
France would be dissatisfied and rebellious enough, to go
on the barricades. Some Islamic groups from Paris had also
agreed to a temporary pact with the organization of the two
Frenchmen, although both sides actually were sworn
enemies. But on this particular day, they would fight against
a common opponent, the World Government, and so they
had put their differences aside this time. However, they just
postponed their fight for the supremacy in former France. It
was not improbable that the new governor of . . Central
Europe" was awaited by the hate and the displeasure of big
108
parts of the population, but whether they would dare it, to
carry their discontent on the streets, was another question.
Leon-Jack Wechsler and the whole World Government were
internally hated by many people, but the powerful had an
enormous might, which the masses feared with good
reason.
The police force and the monitoring functioned. The GCF
troops, which mostly consisted of mercenaries from
overseas, who had no closer relationship to France or
Europe and therefore shot at the native population without
hesitation, if they received the order to do this, were
numerous. Furthermore, they had deadly weapons,
particularly to strike down large crowds.
Soldiers of French origin mostly served in countries far
away and not in their homeland. So they also had no
connection to the people they had to control. Like that were
the rules of the New World Order.
GCF soldiers of German origin preferentially served in this
time as occupying forces in the Near East or in Africa, while
old Germany was occupied by GCF soldiers from Africa,
Asia and other regions. And so it was everywhere.
When the meeting came to an end and the visitors left the
large barn, Frank was examined by many of them. Alfred
Baumer was still confused. His fellow seemed to stand
close to insanity. Julia Wilden finally came to him and
tapped the young Kohlhaas on the shoulder.
„Hey, Frank! ", she said quietly. The rebel turned around and
stared at her.
„What the hell was that? You know that your idea is just
madness! What is wrong with you, Frank? ", she asked
quizzically.
„rm all right, Fraulein! ", answered Frank harshly.
„However, you will not really try this? ", she returned.
„Of course I will try it! Do you think, Tm a twaddler?
