3' Chapter
Shortly thereafter, the tailgate also opened and machine-gun blasts reached Lee's car, thigh,hip, and left shoulder blade;
he barely managed to drag himself to the back side of the 'car and again returned fire
striking one of the two men who fell lifelessly to the asphalt.
The tailgate closed again and left the block.
Amanda, after calling the station, joined Lee outside who meanwhile had pulled himself to his feet and leaned against the car panting from
his exertion and bruising, after which he fell back to the ground. Amanda, after checking that the man on the ground was dead, went over to
Lee, knelt by his side lifted his head slightly enough to place it on his legs.They remained there on the ground waiting for the
rescue and Billy.
Minutes that seemed like an eternity to her.
"Oh Lee, Lee, honey, hang in there help is on the way."
"I..I..you know I almost saw this coming!"
"Sssh don't talk, you'll see everything will be fine!"
" You want the truth? I was more scared in this minute than in three days in Germany...I feel faint Amanda! hold me please."
She held him close, took his hands and caressed them...closed her eyes and lost consciousness.
"Damn, when is help coming!!!"
He stood there on the side of the road with his man badly wounded..poor "Vette" riddled with bullets... his eyes became glazed over and
began to cry, they were cheek to cheek and she caressed and kissed him
" Please Lee, don't leave me."
He heard the ambulance sirens coming and behind it department cars.
"Hurry, please hurry!"
They loaded Lee into the ambulance.
"Amanda what happened? Do you want to come with me while you tell me? "No, I'm going with Lee, I'll see you later at the hospital!"
" okay, go, go ahead."
Schumann House
"He woke up early, went down to the kitchen and found his mother sitting at the kitchen table; on the table the coffee bowls already empty, a sign that his
father had already had breakfast.
His mother stood with her elbows on the table and covered her face with her hands. He approached her and kissed her on the head.
"Good morning mother, what's going on?"
She detached her hands and showed her bright eyes.
"Come with me, your father has already gone.
She led him to the office door, which was usually locked, pulled a set of keys from her pocket and opened the door.
" Mother!!! but can we?"
"Come!"
She reached the desk, behind the chair, above the fireplace, a picture with Grandpa Hulrick's portrait. Margaret put a hand under the
top of the desk and the picture shifted, slipped the key into the keyhole and pulled out a bag and handed it to her son.
"What is it mother, why are you crying?"
""Your father told me that ... a little while ago a commando in America reached Stetson
to kill him."
"But ... how is he?"
""We don't know, surely he was wounded, they said,
they saw the ambulance running fast to the hospital."
"yeah ok..but what does that have to do with this?"
"Quick, open that file and you will understand."
He opened it. read:
May, 9- 1953 Stetson Michael Liam
" But, mother it's my birthday, but you mean that...!!!"
Parents
Father Stetson Matthew Davis
Mother Hamilton jennifer
"I don't understand-why am I here then?"
"Your parents were here in Berlin visiting Matthew's
Matthew's half-brother, Robert when your mother, who was nine months pregnant, had a minor accident (obviously caused by MfS) and
was hospitalized, she gave birth but they told her that the baby was stillborn, suffocated by the umbilical cord, but that was not the case, you were
just fine. It was a real abduction (They showed them a stillborn baby a few hours before) and they entrusted you to us.
We had been married for several years already and could not have children, they had to give continuity to your father's career.
Forgive me Micháel but after what you said last night, I couldn't help but tell you, you can't hurt your brother."
" Well apparently others have already taken care of that."
You have to understand that it was imposed on us by the "system" but what I can tell you is that we loved you from day one"
He took the camera and began to photograph the documents, in absolute silence, after which he closed the folder and placed it to his
mother
"Thank you mother, thank you for telling me.
Don't worry, I will still love you, I know it has been difficult for you and from what I saw and heard from dad last night, I can understand the
burden he has carried for all these years."
" Please don't tell your father that you know,
you could get into trouble, big trouble, and be careful how you move."
" Yes mother. you put everything back, the way it was before, father will not notice. As for me, I have to contact my brother, always
assuming he's still alive, it's only fair he should know; I'll print the papers in the lab,
at the 'public university in West Berlin. I have to go there today and I will send it to him. Thank you
I am going now.
The phone rang in the Stasi offices.
"This is Karl Gëiser, to whom am I speaking?"
Karl, it's Klaus. You must put Schumann Micháel under observation; I saw him last night, he seems to be acting strangely."
"Well I'll report it right away, thank you! I know he's your friend and it's cost you a lot.We'll watch out for him" He hung up.
Karl picked up the phone again.
"President, I'm sending men to the Schumann house-we're bugging, we need to check on the son, he seems to have attitudes
suspicious."
" Go ahead, and stay glued to him; I want to know where he goes, what he does, who he meets; restrict his every movement and exit from the country,
check his mail. From immediate effect. If he does anything suspicious, lead him to me."
"Yes, sir."
He hung up
"Klaus???
"Here I am."
" Go ahead, I am entrusting you and your men with total control over him. You have the president's approval. effective immediately."
" Yes Karl!"
Micháel was already in West Berlin at the university and after printing the file he put it in a reinforced envelope and then in a
white envelope, he entrusted it to Glenda with instructions to send it from Austria.
Glenda had been his research partner and girlfriend for some years.
They had met at that same university
when, with her father's consent, she wanted to take a second degree in physics and chemistry, since the university in East Berlin did not give
some courses of his interest.
Glenda was a beautiful, shy girl of Austrian descent who had to move to Berlin because of her father's work needs.
There she knew no one and within a few weeks of 'starting the courses she had managed to bond only with him.Since then a
solid bond that, from friendship later became love.
"Now go, dear.I know there will be no problem for you.If I do it from here, I'm a dead man. Come on hide it under your
blouse.And thank you. It's very, very important."
" Don't worry, I will be in Lienz ,at my mother's in a few hours and it will be the first thing I do as soon as I arrive! You know I love you Micka, be
careful, please!"
They kissed each other after which she went out.
A few hours later arrived in Lienz mailed the package by priority mail, following the instructions, destination IFF Washington
(To be delivered strictly to Mr. Lee Stetson).
Meanwhile at the university men from the Mfs had arrived and began bugging the laboratory, taking advantage of her
lunch break.
At the Schumann home, too, Margaret was expected to go out on errands and, trained technicians broke in by bugging
everywhere, including the bathroom and garden.
Everyone was proceeding with the utmost discretion until Helmut arrived home and found the men at work
"What are you doing here? Klaus, what is this all about?
"I'm sorry Oberst Schumann, directives from above. It will take a couple of days and then you will be watched, day and night, every room,
garden included. Your son is having suspicious attitudes, he is being monitored. I would beg you not to mention this to him,
you would risk being put on trial."
"But what has he done?"
" He is paying special attention to the American, and you know what that means! He must not find out anything, for the sake of all of us, now
you are requested to destroy all evidence, before something serious happens...do I make myself clear?"
"Olaf, has Olaf said anything to you?"
"No, Olaf had nothing to do with it."
" So it was you, you betrayed him?"
" Careful, what is this a threat?"
" No, but I'm just saying, if it was you you should be ashamed, Micháel has always been your friend and he doesn't deserve this! What do you want to
do to him?"
" Should he continue to have strange attitudes he will be brought before the. council and demoted and maybe even imprisoned. You know
that the people are in turmoil and we certainly don't need another scandal. Convince him to let it go, considering then, that, by
by now perhaps, the American, will be dead! Well here we are done. Watch what you're doing."
He walked away.
"Damn it!"
Washington, near Galilee.
For about an 'hour he had been out of surgery and was in intensive care.
The bullets had been removed; fortunately they had not hit any vital organs, but he had lost a lot of blood.
The doctor came out of the operating room and joined Amanda and Billy in the waiting room
"Ma'am, Melrose..here I am."
Amanda, who was about to doze off from exhaustion, sprang to her feet with a snap.
" Doctor tell me, how are you?"
The doctor smiled at her.
"Everything went well, he's stable now, that man definitely has more life than a cat, besides having a strength I can't explain.
He was lucky, no vital organs were hit although the bullet to his scapula grazed his left lung.
He should wake up in a few hours, If you want to follow the infirmary will take you to him."
"Thank you Doctor, thank you very much!"
In a rush of emotion she embraced him and he, moved, reciprocated the embrace and smiled at her
"Go to him now!"
"Oh yes, excuse me!"
"It's okay, I did my part, but he put his own into it, and a lot."
Amanda left the waiting room and, following the nurse, reached the ICU room, put on scrubs and socks es entered
She sat down next to him and gently, took his hand between hers.
Despite the two blows to his face, still clearly visible, she found him gorgeous. After about half an hour, Lee's hand moved between
hers, but she did not notice. Lee weakly opened his eyes and saw her, but he did not disturb her; he had such a drawn-out expression but also
so incredibly sweet, and he decided to stay and contemplate her a little longer.
Amanda was staring at the crucifix above the bed; she was definitely not a fervent churchgoer but at that moment she was entrusting
to the Man on the cross every prayer imaginable.
Suddenly a coughing fit awakened her,
lowered her gaze to him, who, having finished coughing, gave her one of his sly smiles.
"Lee!!!"
" I was wondering how long it would take you to notice I was awake!"
" But...are you kidding me? You mean you were already awake and staring at me?"
" Yes, and I was wondering if, the fact that I'm still here, depends on the surgeon, the one up there, or on your prayers!" More bouts of
coughs followed by grimaces of pain.
" Lee!!! Are you okay?"
" Yes, I'm sorry to have worried you.
But tell me did you see what happened?"
"Yes I was on the landing when I heard the first shot, I looked out and saw the whole scene...oh! It was so terrible!"
"And tell me did Dotty and the boys see it too?"
" No fortunately they were not in the house, but they have been here before and were very worried about you. The neighbors reported what had
happened!"
" Yeah!!! the neighbors, never mind their own business huh?!" Immediately new coughing fits, even more insistent. The doctor entered.
" I'd say we've chatted enough for today...now you need to rest Mr.Stetson! you've had it rough huh?
He is becoming a regular now!!!
I hope in time she has learned to manage patience too!!! When they saw you come in some of the nurses put their
their hands in their hair."
" I promise you I will be good!"
"We hope so! Well, now say your goodbyes, visiting time is over," he walked out.
"I recommend you Lee, be good, see you in the morning."
" I don't want you to leave." Immediately more coughing after which he began to pant.
"Don't worry now it will pass, breathe uff uff."
After a few seconds he calmed down and the values on the monitor began to stabilize again.
" That's it, good boy, I'm going now,
bye."
She kissed him gently and slowly the hands parted.
Lee relaxed. He still had his right arm slightly raised in greeting and as Amanda was about to reach the exit he
sent a kiss with her mouth.
"hello my love, rest now."
She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Melrose outside the room called two guards to him.
" No one who is not strictly authorized is to pass, before entering he must be searched and told the password.
these are the authorized people- he posed them the list with photos of the authorized doctors and nurses- and I swear I will smash your
your heads personally if anything happens to them. do we understand each other?"
"Yes, sir."
A week had now passed and his condition had definitely improved.
He began to sit at the coffee table, hopping on his healthy leg,.
He still couldn't walk on crutches because of his shoulder blade injury, which still bothered him!
That day Amanda showed up with a white envelope in her hand. she placed her overcoat and the envelope on the small sofa, joined him, got kissed and sat next to him as he was eating lunch.
" Good morning honey...uh it looks good...is it good?"
" Yes I must say the service amazed me, I think they changed the cook."
"You look in a good mood today!"
" Yes come on every day I am getting better and better ; Today I even managed to put my leg on the ground."
"Good"
" Any news at home? Dotty and the kids all right?"
"Yes, Jaime brought home an A in the first science test and an A in chemistry."
" Gosh, wonderful, give him my compliments..in fact maybe I'll call him later and tell him personally...as they say..he who well
begins is half the work!
Excuse me for asking Amanda, but..what is that envelope?"
" Ah! they left it on your desk in the office, It arrived yesterday from Austria by priority mail."
"From Austria? May I see it?"
" Why don't you finish eating first?"
" If it says Priority Mail it could be something important, please!"
"All right..you're always the same...you and patience certainly don't get along."
He stood up, took the envelope and handed it to her.
"It comes from Lienz. Strange, I don't know anyone there."
He opened it, helping himself to the knife.
Inside another envelope, yellow of reinforced type, he pulled it out.
In front again the wording for Lee Stetson at IFF, he turned it over.
mitt: M.L.S.
"Who the hell is she? Do you know if they ran it through the department?"
" Yes they ran it under the scanners, They said there are only written papers."
He opened the envelope and took out the three sheets.
One written in pen and two others printed;
he looked at the printouts:
Waldfiriede Hospital. Berlin
On 9/5/1953 at 9:30 a.m.
Stetson Michael LIam was born
mother Hamilton Jennifer
father Stetson Matthew Davis
Good condition
He is entrusted under the order of Gen. O.Berger
to Schumann Helmut
and Rönen Margaret.
He will take the name Micháel Schumann.
" No, he is not!"
" What is it Lee?"
he handed her the paper "see for yourself."
She took the second sheet of paper
same wording
Waldfiriede Hospital. Berlin
On 9/5/1953 at 9:30 a.m.
Stetson Michael LIam was born
mother Hamilton Jennifer
father Stetson Matthew Davis
time of death 09.30 ( choked by umbilical cord) Useless resuscitation attempt
(p.s. Document given to parents by Dr. Von Neumann
signed by Gen.O.Berger.)
Dated 10/5/1953.
Lee whitened and began to sweat.
"Lee!!! Do you feel sick?" Lee swallowed.
" Amanda you have to do me a favor, go home and get me the diary, the one we found in the old cellar, I have to check if it
it says anything, please go now!"
" But didn't you already read it?"
" I never managed to finish it, please go now!"
" Do you want me to take a look at it tonight?"
" No, it's something I have to do. now go."
" Yes but first I will help you get back into bed, I don't like the way you are right now! I'm afraid you might collapse and hurt yourself!"
"Yes, maybe you're right..here stay this way...Ouch take it easy...wait, wait, let me sit down for a minute! Listen, call someone,
I feel faint! Amanda quick I'm sick."
"Ok Stay here, stop, can you do it?"- Rang the doorbell twice.
"Put the papers away Amanda, put them there, in my drawer, please." He obeyed.
Two nurses, the doctor and also the two guards who were outside arrived immediately."
" What's going on?"
" Help me put him in the bed, he had a fainting spell, alone I can't"
"Come on guys, that's it, easy, get the cardiogram machine, saturimeter and blood tests now!"
" Let's see the wounds I don't want to have missed any stitches. Tell me, did you by any chance have any severe shock from emotion?"
Lee and Amanda looked at each other's faces.
" No doctor!"
" Well ma'am I have to ask you to leave, I have to visit the patient."
" Go ahead Amanda," he said panting.
"Yes, I'll see you later."
"Doctor I feel like throwing up"
He placed the bedpan on him and after he gave of his stomach he closed his eyes and threw himself backwards, devastated.
Before he lost consciousness he whispered " I ..I have a fra-tell"
The Doctor looked at him, then looked in the direction of the door, from where Amanda had just come out..
"No emotions eh!!! You're not getting it right!"
I need to talk to Melrose.
Maggy, Loren give him an anti-vomiting drip and some minerals.
Don't worry, I think he'll sleep for a while... He's exhausted!"
He left the room, went to his office and picked up the receiver.
"Billy hi this is Alan."
"Hi...what a good wind..don't tell me there's trouble in the hospital with Stetson!"
"It's not what you think but we need to talk"
"Tell me everything!"
" Just now ...e then ... so before he lost consciousness..he said..."
"Are you sure.? but what does it mean ..Lee never had a brother!!!.He must have said it deliriously!"
"you have to know that my older brother was such good friends with Matthew and Jennifer and in 53 when they went to Robert's in Berlin Jennifer
was expecting, no one knew, she hid her pregnancies well. One day GDR agents ambushed him and she, who was
by then at the end of her pregnancy suffered a minor accident and arrived at the hospital and gave birth...unfortunately the baby was born dead...from what we
we know."
" Gee, I didn't know that story Do you think that...che might instead be alive?
" I wouldn't rule it out at this point!"
" Well thank you, I will talk to Lee."
"No ,wait, he's in no condition to deal with something like that right now. Why don't you talk to Amanda about it?"
" Yeah, good advice! I'll call her now, thank you so much for telling me!"
He hung up!
He dialed Amanda's nr.then hung up... "no, I can't, not like this!"
I will talk to her tomorrow.
The next morning Amanda returned to him.
He entered the room.
"Good morning Lee, I'm arr..."
"Sshhh...let him sleep...it hasn't been an easy night."
"What do you mean?"
"He's been sick all night, we're afraid he's been poisoned, we took him back for a pelo-Toxins, in large quantities"
"Oh my God! but who could have done it?
" We have already stopped the chef's assistant.
is a woman of German origin, we found a vial in her lab coat pocket; now she has already been taken away for questioning."
" But...How is she now?"
" Fortunately, we intervened in time.Her parameters are good now, she should wake up before long...I'm going to go around and ..I
recommend ...he needs to take it easy."
As predicted by the doctor, 10 minutes later he woke up.
"A-manda,"
"Are you done giving me scares?"
"What happened?"
"They poisoned you!"
"Who?"
"A German woman, chef's assistant."
"Good thing I said it was good! Did you bring the agenda?"
"Yes, but the doctor told me not to cause you strong emotions."
" Ah now I'm fine! he made to rise but a severe headache and ringing in his ears made him falter. immediately the monitor started
blinking and as he gasped , the room filled with nursing doctors. The pressure plummeted dizzily within seconds.
" Out ma'am. Oxygen, defibrillator, quick... "one, two, three, discharge away."
"nothing."
"Adrenaline" one two three discharge"
shortly after coughing strokes .. here we go"
Ok assisted ventilation, keep these parameters..." Dear Stetson..I have never in my life seen anyone clinging to the
life as you do."
Entered Melrose hurriedly.." Alan inject him this is the Antidote, without it he would die within 24 hours"
" Well, good job Melrose."
Two hours later, free of tubes and oxygen he awoke.
"That's enough though eh Lee!"
"Well actually, at least here I thought I was
I was safe!"
" I guess we'll have to talk, the two of us."
" Leave us alone, please."
" Ok Billy, but don't tire him out too much, he needs to rest he had a bad night"
" Yes I am there quietly"
"If you need me I'll be right outside"
They all came out.
"Open the drawer Billy"
"I already know everything, Lee, "
" Do me a favor, Billy, read the letter."
"Hi Lee, it's Michael, your brother.
I just found out a few days ago that I am.
To deliver these documents to you I took a crazy risk, both me and my girlfriend Glenda. Life is very difficult here,
lately.We are always under control.
I am afraid for me, for my foster parents and also for you, you are in the crosshairs they want to kill you after your "visit" to Dresden.
I would love for you to come and take me away but I know it would be very dangerous for you to come here. However, if you decide to come contact
Glenda my girlfriend. I will leave you her number.
Through her we will be able to find each other, assuming the bosses don't decide to recruit me.
The guys at the university in West Berlin are organizing, I hope soon we can change the lives of all the people in
East, Already other countries are changing...we will make it. Mr. and Mrs. Schumann have been very good to me all these years, they were
forced by the system to take me with them.
I hope to be able to meet you.
Your brother Michael."
"Please call Amanda. She brought me an agenda left to me by my parents, I need to see it right away, absolutely!"
"Okay, wait!... He opened the door " Amanda can you come please."
He entered
"Lee!!! How are you?"
"I'm fine now. Amanda,can I have the agenda please!"
She pulled it out of her purse
" Here it is! Go to the last page."
Lee rolled his eyes.
" So you read it?"
"Sorry, I just wanted to help you!"
" Yes I know, I knew you would, don't worry, with you I have no secrets, thank you!"
"He opened the Agenda to the last page."
"Dear Lee, in conclusion I would like to tell you something, we would have loved to give you a little brother, to keep you company in the days of
our absences; we almost succeeded you know, but in May '53, while we were in Berlin at Uncle Clayton's, Mom had
an accident, taken to the hospital she gave birth but your brother Michael (Michael Liam) didn't make it, he died. If you were to go to
Berlin you can find him at Dorotheenstadt cemetery in the newborn area, put a flower and say a prayer from
us.
We have to go now.
A hug, Dad."
His eyes became glazed.Lee blinked to chase back the tears, had a tremendous knot in his throat but managed to take
the word.
"I have to go to him Billy."
" No way, Lee. do you see yourself? They've already tried 2 times to kill you. Aside from the fact that put the way you are you wouldn't be in the condition
even to go on vacation let alone go to Berlin!!! No!
"No Billy, not now, in a few days, as soon as I get better.
I can't leave him there, If they find out he knows, who knows what they would do to him, i which maybe they are already doing to him."
" I can set our informants in motion, we have very good agents there, well placed incognito. I could get information
on the current state of things.
You're not going there!"
" Yes, I am. If you don't grant me permission, it will mean I will quit, but I will go!"
" 'Ah, try to reason Lee!'"
" I've made up my mind Billy and you won't be able to change my mind."
" Ah. I give up, Amanda, I'm going, you talk to him! We'll talk when you come to your senses. Now, in the heat of the moment, you can't reason, bye."
He left, sad and disconsolate, although he was convinced that he too, in his place, would have done the same thing.
" I need to talk to Schröder."
Lee picked up the diary again.
"Lee!!!"
" Go now Amanda, please, I need to be alone."
" Are you sure?"
"Yes. give me a few hours, please!"
" Alright, see you in the afternoon."
She kissed him and left the room.
She opened the diary and, in silence, picked up from the page where she had left off a few years earlier.
October 10, 89
West Berlin. university.
Micháel was working in the lab with his inseparable colleague Glenda when Klaus walked in.
"Good morning my friend!"
"Good morning to you, to what do I owe your visit?"
" Glenda, can you leave us alone, we need to talk!"
"Sure Klaus, I'll be right out..see you later Micka"
"So Klaus what do you have to tell me that's so important?"
"It's not really a social call. I need a courtesy from you ..you have always attended this university, these friends
for work and during lunch break ..I need you to tell me what is being said, the moods ..in a nutshell I need
a report on any enemies of the system, If they are planning insurrections or if, even if they are just talking bad about us.
Do you really know what is happening? The trains from Hungary, the opening of the borders, etc.
etc."
"So you want me to spy on my friends and colleagues, right? Apart from the fact that they know who they are and in front of me certain things they don't
say, I don't think it's nice what you're asking!"
" Doesn't it seem nice to you??? - Said Klaus raising his voice - Do you realize what you are saying? Why do you think you are being given
permission to pass the checkpoint Charlie, do you think? You are one of ours, and you are an important link bridge. thanks to you,
we can know if malfeasance is taking place.
I'm telling you now and I won't tell you again ..I know they are plotting against us..You have to bring us pictures, leaflets and names of the enemies of the
DDR. If you don't, it may be that you will be denied the chance to put your nose back out ..and not only that ! So wake up my friend. O
you are with us or you are against us !"
" I didn't know we were at this point !"
" We are, you are under scrutiny Micháel, and already for quite some time, if you care to know, and some expressions and dialogues we didn't like."
"So you are spying on me eh?"
" I preferred to be the one to tell you, in honor of our friendship. You have always been the good one..
Don't get involved or there will be trouble, for you
and your family members."
"My family members? leave them alone..they have nothing to do with it..."
"They have nothing to do with it..in what? ..what do you mean?
" Nothing!!!" He paled.
"My friend I think you've dragged your feet a little too much.Now come with me! We need to talk!
" Aren't we already doing that!"
" Not with me!!! ..Otto, Stefen give me a hand!!!
" No, what do you want to do? I haven't done anything."
"Exactly!!! You haven't done anything for us at all! Let's take him to the president ... so you can clear your head."