Kurt of the Brotherhood
Prologue – Kurt of Bavaria
Kurt really did not want to leave his home in Bavaria and travel all the way across the Atlantic to America. It was also becoming clearer and clearer by the minute that he did not have a choice in the matter. He stood at the door way, listening as his parents talked in hushed tones to the strange man that was going to take him away from everything he had ever known, everything he had ever loved. He was still hoping against hope for a miracle, that something extraordinary would happen that would allow him to stay. So far, the miracle had not been forthcoming, and time for it to occur was rapidly running out. He sighed, pulled at the huge overcoat that disguised his true form in an absent-minded manner, and leaned it closer to try to listen in to what his parents were actually saying.
It was no use, they were using hushed tones, but they seemed resigned. The trouble had all started about six weeks ago, when that tall, blue, red-haired woman had come into his home and into his life, telling him that she was his mother. There had been lots of discussion, loads of paper work, and two blood tests, and almost before Kurt knew what was happening, it had been confirmed that yes, she was indeed his biological mother. Kurt had always known that he was adopted, and had never really minded, although sometimes, during one of his rare rows with his parents, he had dreamed that his real parents would come along and take him away to live a life of luxury elsewhere. His brothers and sisters – also adopted – had confided in him that they had felt the same way. Still, now that some version of that playful fantasy seemed like it might be coming true, Kurt found that all he really wanted to do was to stay with his mother and father and his siblings, and live out his entire life in Bavaria. Fantasies could be fun, but only if they remained fantasies; reality could never match the fantasy inside his head.
There had been a court case, but Kurt had not been able to attend, due to his being blue and furry, and largely unable to participate in wider society because of this. The blue woman had argued that, since Kurt was her son, he should spend time with her. Kurt's parents had argued that, since they had raised Kurt from infancy, he should be able to stay with them. There had been lots of shouting, apparently, but eventually, a compromise was reached – Kurt would go with the blue woman and spend a few months with her in America. After this time, if he so chose, he would be allowed to return home to Bavaria, and, again, if he so chose, he would have the right never to see the blue woman again. Kurt did not like the decision, and not least because he had had so little input in it. That was the trouble with being sixteen; you knew your own mind, and what was best for yourself, but others, older, and convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were wiser, seemed convinced that you did not know your own mind about anything important. It was frustrating.
And so now there was that strange, old man, talking quietly with his parents about him leaving them behind for the new land across the ocean. And the miracle that he had longed to happen, the miracle that would have allowed him to stay, had not happened, and Kurt knew that he could not put off meeting with the man much longer. His parents had said that he had wanted to say goodbye to his siblings, and this had been the truth, but that had been over and done with far too quickly for Kurt's liking, with Kurt promising them that he would bring back all sort of American memorabilia for them by the time he was scheduled to return, a week before Christmas. The whole time that Kurt had been talking to them, he had been trying to hold back tears, trying to act like his normal, playful self.
He still felt like crying as he slowly opened the door, and took a step forward, feeling more nervous than he had ever felt before.
The old man turned around and smiled at him, "Ah Kurt," he said, his tone not unfriendly, "are you ready to go on your journey?"
No, thought Kurt, no I'm not, I'm not ready and I'll never be ready, and I don't want to go. Kurt merely sighed, looked down at the floor, and nodded once. Then he looked up quickly, a last minute hope suddenly occurring to him, "I cannot travel by plane," he said, "I look so strange, I could not get through all of the security, not when I look the way that I do."
The old man gave him a sympathetic smile, "Do not worry about that, Kurt," he said, "I have a surprise for you waiting outside." Then he beckoned Kurt to follow him, and Kurt could see no other option but to follow the old man to the new land, and away from everything that he had ever known.