Wizards: Calm Before the Storm
Chapter 5: Growing Tensions
Sunday, October 19th, 1997….
The days seemed to get more and more tense by the second.
A news report from the BBC was being played on the television about the crisis. It had a picture of an airport in Britain, with crowds of people waiting in the airport.
A male news reporter was giving the information about the events going on.
He said, "the government has taken control of both British airways and cross channel ferries. They say it's a temporary step to help move troops to Europe, thousands are stranded at Heathrow and Gatwick…."
The next image that BBC showed was a naval plane, flying around one of the oil rigs in the North Sea.
The news reporter continued, "Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced this morning that the Royal Navy is to safeguard the North Sea oil rigs, the MOD says its a prudent precautionary measure."
Albert and Elsa were currently watching the broadcast with very worried expressions.
….
Later that day, they were both out for a walk in the city center, when they came across a demonstration. A large crowd of people had gathered in front of city hall where a middle aged woman was standing on a podium with a microphone, above her was a banner which read, "Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament."
Both Albert and Elsa decided to see what the story was and walked over to the crowd of people to listen to what she had to say.
The woman looked at the crowd of people that had gathered to hear her speak about the situation.
She began to speak into the microphone, "this time, they are playing with at best the destruction of life as we know it, and at worst total annihilation. You cannot win a nuclear war!"
The crowd cheered for her words for a solid minute before she started to continue.
The peace speaker continued, "now just suppose the Russians win this war…. What exactly would they be winning? What would they have conquered? Well, I'll tell you: all major centers of population and industry would have been destroyed!"
A man from the crowd shouted, "industry, what industry? We've got no industry in West Berlin!"
The peace speaker then tried to speak a little louder to make herself heard, "yes, and if the money hadn't…. If the money hadn't…. If the money hadn't been spent on nuclear weapons, you would have built up an industry."
Another man in the crowd shouted up, "get back to fucking Russia or China were you belong!"
His wife agreed with him, "where's your red flag?"
The peace speaker just ignored them and continued with her speech, "we would have put money into welfare, we would have found alternative sources of energy. Industry."
Albert and Elsa seemed to agree with her words.
The peace speaker then continued with her speech, "Industry will have been destroyed. Oil refineries will have been destroyed, all our water will have been polluted, the soil will have been irradiated. Farmstock will be dead, diseased or dying. The Russians would have conquered a corpse of a country."
The situation sounded more dire by the moment.
Elsa then turned to face Albert, he saw that she was scared.
Albert whispered, "it'll be okay, I promise. Things have to get better. They just have to!"
But deep down, Albert felt that from this moment on, things would actually get worse.
A news report was going into detail about food supplies all over Europe, with the rumors of potential war going on.
The reporter gave a highlight on the situation, "there's been a run on tinned food, rice, sugar and other storable items, which is causing storages in some areas. A spokesman for the main supermarket chain has said that panic buying is unnecessary. Fuel storages are hindering in some areas, but overall there is no storage of stock."
….
In a local shopping center in West Berlin, Helga was doing a small spot of shopping. She was currently at the checkout, having her items scanned. When a tub of Ben and Jerry's cookie dough ice cream, she had brought for Brüno, since he had been behaving himself, was scanned, she saw that its pricing was €6.30.
She then said angrily, "€6.30? That's scandalous, that tub of ice cream was only €3.50 last week!"
The shop assistant who was serving said sourly, "well you can always shop somewhere else if you're not satisfied."
Klaus, who was buying some bread, had heard and it said, "honestly, there's a national emergency going and the only thing you people can think of is lining your pockets!"
The assistant shrugged and said, "hey, that's just how business works. Besides, nobody's forcing you to buy, so put it back in the freezer if you don't want it."
Helga then said angrily, "I do want it, but I'd rather starve first."
As Helga paid for the items, Brüno came running into the shop. He was red in the face and out of breath as he had run all the way from their house.
Helga saw him and asked, "Brüno, what are you doing here?"
Brüno looked at his mother and said, "they've started fighting, mum!"
Helga looked worried about this and asked, "who has?"
Brüno then said, "the Americans and the Russians, it's just being on the news. Dad says that you are to come home right away."
Helga went wide eyed! How had the situation gotten this bad so fast?!
The other people in the supermarket had heard what Brüno had said. They grabbed their shopping and began to rush outside to their cars, Helga grabbed her shopping bags and followed suit.
The shop assistant shouted, "come back, you haven't paid for it yet!"
Helga threw a wad of cash that hit the assistant in the face as she and Brüno ran!
….
In their apartment, Albert and Elsa were both watching the news on their television. Things were now starting to get worse
They watched as the reporter gave a detail.
The reporter said, "squadrons of American B-52 bombers began to arrive at U.S. bases in Turkey. In other news, in a statement released by the Pentagon in Washington, the United States has accused the Soviet Union of moving nuclear warheads into their new bases at Mashad in Northern Iran and along the Sino-Soviet border."
Albert mutters, "it's like they WANT to start a war!"
Elsa nodded in agreement.
The reporter then continued, "in response to today's news of the outbreak of hostiles between United States and Soviets navies, special sessions of both parliament in the United Kingdom and congress in the United States have passed an emergency powers act in both countries."
Albert and Elsa glanced at one another uneasily. This didn't sound promising.
The reporter then concluded, "Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bill Clinton are expected to address both the United Kingdom and the United States on the international crisis later this evening. Meanwhile, the West German government is optimistic that a peaceful negotiated settlement to the conflict is at hand, in the meantime, the public is urged to remain calm and to continue normally."
Elsa whispered, "I keep getting a bad, bad feeling about all of this."
Albert looked at Elsa and said, "I do to Elsa, I do to."
The couple hugged one another in order to comfort each other.
At the Hoffmann house, Stefan, Karl, Gunter and Ida were watching the news report about the growing hostilities between the United States and the Soviet Union. Stefan, Karl and Gunter had looks of deep worry on their faces, Ida on the other hand, had a look of disgust and scorn on her face.
The three men noticed this, and could instantly tell that the old witch didn't like the idea of peace being formed.
Their suspicions were confirmed when Ida said, "this would never have happened if the fuhrer was still here!"
All three men face-palmed.
Ida looked at them furiously and said, "what? It's true, it's because of peace that those communist bastards were able to spread their vile idea of communism throughout nearly the whole of Europe. Also, haven't you forgotten what those vile Russians did to many of our women during the Battle of Berlin?"
Stefan groaned and said, "it's in the past. Let. It. Go!"
Ida then shouted, "no, I will not, Stefan. It's because of people like you and Emilia that the filthy Russians were able to divide this country and build that accursed wall in Berlin."
Karl made a "she's loopy" gesture as Gunter said, "it was built by the East German government to keep its population from escaping into West Germany."
Ida pointed up and yelled, "poppycock! Their blasphemous wall hindered the progress of a better world!"
Karl then said, "a better world, you say, great grandmother? Well, then answer me this, what kind of better world involves the mass slaughtered of innocent Jews, homosexuals, black people and disabled?"
Ida said a truly horrendous thing.
"A damned good future!"
Stefan, Gunter and Karl gasped in shock and hatred. How could she say that!?
This just showed how deluded this old woman was. How utterly devoted to Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich she was. How she fully believed their evil ideology and their belief in a master race. How she fully believed in the Aryan race that Hitler always preached about.
Stefan and the others were utterly disgusted with Ida, now more than ever.
Karl yelled, "you bitch!"
Gunter growled, "how can people as awful as you still be around?!"
Stefan hissed, "you're disgusting, Ida."
Ida looked at her grandson in law and two great grandsons with a deeply offended look on her face and said, "I'm disgusting? How dare you call me that!"
Stefan growled, "we won't apologize for stating the truth."
Karl then stood up, "and let's not forget that you brought that sick fuck Oksar Dirlewanger into your house and even left him alone with gran."
Ida asked, "and so what if I did?"
Stefan said, "were you aware that the man was a fucking rapist and pedophile?"
Karl joined in with his father, "are you also aware of his actions during the Warsaw Uprising, which included impaling babies on bayonets?"
Ida remained silent, with a firm glare on her face.
Ida then said, "they deserved it."
Gunter growled, "guys, hold me back before I rip her heart out of her ass and shove it back down her throat!"
Ida stood up and said, mockingly, "go on ahead I dare you!"
Stefan and Karl quickly grabbed onto Gunter.
The two of them glared hatefully at Ida, who was giving them a smug look. The old hag clearly got a sick thrill out of antagonizing them with her devotion to Nazism, however, she soon crossed the line.
Ida smirked at them and said, "you know what Karl and Günter, you two and Elsa get your low intelligence from Emilia."
Both Karl and Günter went rigid as Stefan asked, "what did you just say about Emilia?"
Ida smirked and said, "I'm simply saying that Elsa, Karl and Günter got their low intelligence from their mother. Emilia certainly was stupid getting herself killed like that."
Emilia was the name of Stefan's late wife and Elsa, Karl and Günters mother. About 8 years ago on November 9, 1989, a large crowd of people attempted to tear down the Berlin Wall, which divided the city in two. Emilia had been among them.
Stefan had tried to convince her not to go, but Emilia was dead set on it, stating she wanted her three children to grow in united Germany as they had both done.
Tragically, however, both the border guards and the East German secret police, the Stasi, arrived at the scene. They then opened fire on the crowd, killing nearly everyone. Emilia was sadly among those massacred.
Stefan swore he began to see red as he growled at Ida, "don't you dare say another word about Emilia, or I swear to God, I'll let Gunter punch you in the face."
Ida, however, smiled nastily, "well why don't you Günter, punch me in the face, I fucking dare you. Punch me the face, PUNCH ME IN THE FUCKING FACE RIGHT NOW YOU PATHETIC LITTLE MAMAS BOY!"
Stefan and Karl glanced at one another and nodded.
They both let go of Günter.
The enraged man punched Ida square in the jaw!
She fell to the floor as a tooth flew right into the air!
Ida lay stunned on the ground for a good few minutes before she regained her senses. She then wiped something away from her mouth, when she looked at it, she saw that it was blood.
Günter stood with Stefan and Karl as they watched her.
Ida glared at her great grandson, who just stood there with his fist clenched tightly. Both Stefan and Karl glared hatefully at the old woman, normally punching old people was a serious offense. However, this particular old woman would surely be an exception.
At last, Ida found her voice.
She hissed out, "how dare you!"
Gunter then asked, "how dare I what, you fucking old witch?"
Ida screeched, "how dare you strike me!"
Günter growled, "I'll do it again if you keep running your mouth!"
Ida then asked, "why, because I told the truth about your mother?"
Günter suddenly punched her again!
Karl then angrily asked, "how on Earth could you insult your own granddaughter's great grandmother?"
Günter said, "believe it or not, very easily."
However instead of being enraged at Gunter's second punch, time Ida began to cackle like the insane witch she was. She looked up at Gunter with a mocking look on her face as she cackled.
This enraged him even further, and Stefan and Karl had to hold him back once again!
Ida, however, just looked at the three men mockingly as she continued to cackle insanely. Stefan, Karl and Gunter looked at her as if she had gone insane, although, judging from her cackling, there was a chance that she definitely had.
Kark whispered, "she seriously needs to be put into a looney bin."
They then began to watch as Ida got back on her feet, she balanced herself by grabbing the arm of the armchair that she had sat in. Although she was unsteady for a short bit, she soon regained her full balance. She then looked her grandson in law and her two great grandsons in the eye.
She hissed, "the day that you three die…. I'll be laughing…."
With that the evil old witch then left the room and headed up stairs to her room, leaving behind Stefan, Karl and Gunter in the sitting room.
Karl then said, "is it me or did you guys see great grandma Ida walk upstairs as if she wasn't hurt?"
Gunter and Stefan nodded as the latter said, "that bitch ain't human."
Upstairs in her room, Ida had just finished wiping the blood off of her nose and mouth. She then opened the doors to her wardrobe and walked into her secret lair.
She growled under her breath, "those impudent little slugs."
She then went over to her shelf where she grabbed her book of black magic. She then brought it over to the table where lay it down and opened it up, she then began to look for a certain spell which she could use to harm Stefan, Karl and Gunter.
She muttered, "let's see here…. Maybe I should turn them all into cockroaches for me to squish? Or fish to make into a stew?"
As she was looking through her book of spells, she suddenly fell to the ground clutching her head. Someone or something was sending a message through her head.
Ida then angrily said as she clutched her head, "who are you?"
A voice said, "someone who comes with a warning…."
Ida then demanded, "what's your fucking name you bastard?"
The voice replied, "my name is; shut the fuck up you dumbass witch."
Ida angrily replied, "you, you dare to insult me!?"
The voice growled, "damn straight."
Ida angrily said, "either you tell me your fucking name is, whoever you are, or I will gladly use my black magic on you, so help me God I will!"
The voice hissed, "God ain't gonna help you when I'M through with you."
Ida however angrily shouted, "I DEMAND YOU TELL ME YOUR FUCKING NAME NOW?"
The voice growled, "wouldn't you like to know…."
Ida replied, "STOP FUCKING AROUND AND TELL ME RIGHT NOW!"
Ida then felt a sharp pain in her head again!
Ida then felt a sharp pain in her head again!
She clutched her head and screamed in pain!
The voice came again, "you want to know my name witch?"
Despite her pain, Ida managed to angrily ask the voice, "yes I do, so stop being a coward and tell me?"
The voice growled in hatred, "I'm the Great Dragon, bitch."
Ida, however, just mockingly laughed, "bet you feel like the tough guy, hmm, Great Dragon? Torturing a poor sweet old lady?"
The Great Dragon hissed, "you're anything BUT sweet, Ida."
Ida went blank for a moment before asking, "how do you know my name?"
The Great Dragon said, "I know more than just that, bitch."
Ida asked, "like what, you overgrown lizard?"
The Great Dragon said, "did you hear of a group of your Nazi soldiers who disappeared in the Black Forest in 1942?"
Ida growled, "yes, I do! What of it?!"
The Great Dragon then said, "I'm the reason they were never seen again."
Ids gave a wide-eyed look at that revelation.
Ida then shrieked in rage, "you- you dare."
The Great Dragon then mockingly asked, "I dare what?"
Ida yelled, "you dare defy the power and defile the majesty of brave German soldiers?!"
The Great Dragon said, "without a doubt, you sadistic harpy."
Ida was livid and yelled, "sadistic harpy, you're the sadistic one. Murdering those brave soldiers."
The Great Dragon rebutted, "they were cowardly, child killing cockroaches!"
Ida was livid at the Great Dragon's answer, "cowardly child killing cockroaches. How dare you."
The Great Dragon angrily replied, "oh yes I dare, especially their leader."
Ida knew what the Great Dragon was going to say, "don't you dare!"
The Great Dragon said, "Oh I do dare and Hitler was the worst of them. He started the bloodiest war in the history of your people, which resulted in the deaths of millions of children and ruined people's lives!"
Ida screeched in pure anger! She couldn't believe his words!
She yelled, "you pitiful creature! How dare you?!"
The Great Dragon however growled back at her, "what, it's true, but you can't accept it."
Ida then demanded, "who told these fucking lies?"
The Great Dragon growled, "I told nothing but the truth!"
Ida shrieked, "THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED, I DEMAND WHO TOLD YOU THESE LIES?"
The Great Dragon yelled, "NO-ONE! THIS IS THE TRUTH, YOU DENSE BITCH!"
Ida was about to spit her curse at the Great Dragon when she suddenly remembered his name. She knew that she had heard of it somewhere before, but just where? Suddenly, she remembered where she had heard it. She had once caught Elsa reading one of those Age of Myth books written by Mila Wagner.
Ida had always deemed the book series to be an insult to the Führer, which was why she took them from Elsa and burned them all. She told Elsa that if she was caught reading them again, then she would beat her within an inch of her worthless hide. Stefan, however, had heard the whole thing and swore to Ida if she did that, then he would kill her, slowly and painfully. Ida had been forced to back off and much to her disgust, Stefan had brought Elsa a brand new set of the Age of Myth books.
They were even signed by Mila herself.
Ida growled, "that bitch, Mila. You've been speaking with her and her dirty family, haven't you?!"
The Great Dragon scowled in anger at Ida's remarks. Albert, Klaus, Mila and Anna were in no way dirty, they were some of the kindest and most honest humans whom he had ever met. To hear this evil old witch call them a dirty family was something that he wouldn't stand for.
The Great Dragon then demanded, "dirty, how are they dirty you old witch?"
Ida yelled, "they constantly bad mouth the Nazi regime!"
The Great Dragon angrily replied, "you mean they told the truth?"
Ida screeched like a whiny vulture.
The Great Dragon then warned her, "heed my warning witch. If you dare to hurt Albert or his family, I will come for you and I will punish you very severely. That's not an empty threat, that's a promise!"
Ida growled, "and what could you possibly punish me with?!"
Ida then began to clutch her head in pain again, clearly the Great Dragons power exceeded her own. Although the Great Dragon did not want to do this to hear, he felt that he had no choice.
He growled, "I could make your head explode like a grape if I wanted."
Ida clutched her head in pain, the Great Dragon clearly wasn't joking.
The Great Dragon then finished, this is your one and only chance Ida, do not waste it!"
He ended the pain for a moment, so she could answer.
Ida then spoke as she breathed heavily, "alright I promised that I'll leave them alone."
The Great Dragon growled, "good."
Ida had a hateful scowl etched onto her face as she felt the lingering headache from the Great Dragon.
She was determined to track him down and slay him for what he did to those "noble soldiers."
Yes, she would track him down to his evil lair and once she was there, leave some poisoned meat for him and once he was dead, the soldiers and their commanding officers' deaths would be avenged!
There was one tiny flaw in her plan though…. The Great Dragon could hear her thoughts.
He said to himself, "you think that I'm going to be fooled by poisoned meat my dear, it's been done before…."
To him, Ida's plan was the dumbest thing he had heard all day.
….
Later that night, what had originally been a small protest had turned into a full scale riot, all over West Berlin. People were throwing bricks into shop windows and fights were breaking out. Armored riot police were called in to help regain control of the crowds, armored vehicles with water hoses were also called in to help regain control.
It was pure and utter chaos across the land!
In their house, Klaus and Mila were both in bed trying to sleep. However, due to the noise, they were both unable to, no matter how much they tried. They both lay there, listening to the chaos raging in the city.
Mila turned to her husband and asked, "you okay love?"
Klaus replied to his wife's question, "it's so noisy."
Mila nodded and said, "I hope Albert and Elsa are doing alright during all of this."
Klaus looked at her and said, "I sure hope so too."
The two of them then shared a gentle hug.
….
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