{"id":288,"date":"2016-12-25T22:49:02","date_gmt":"2016-12-25T22:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/?page_id=288"},"modified":"2016-12-25T22:49:02","modified_gmt":"2016-12-25T22:49:02","slug":"chapter-1-the-hotel-de-saxe-prepares-for-guests","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/chapters\/chapter-1-the-hotel-de-saxe-prepares-for-guests\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 1: The Hotel de Saxe prepares for guests"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Evening came early in winter to the little villages that lie in the foothills of the Zittau Mountains, where Germany meets its borders with Poland and Czechoslovakia. On Christmas Eve of 1937, snow had fallen heavily in the passes and on the mountains. The little villages it had turned into the perfect representations of dwellings from folktales of long ago. Those wealthy enough to own cars had solicitously shut them up in garages till the weather should turn \u2013 even the much lauded people\u2019s car, the manufacturing miracle of the Volkswagen, was jealously protected from the sharp bite of the winter weather. Once more the older formers of transport came into their own \u2013 horses and oxen were turned out to pull wagons and carriages for those who needed to be abroad.<\/p>\n

In contrast to the cold white world outside, the great stoves of the local homes ensured that inside was snug and cosy. Even the largest building in the village of Bad Bernsdorf, the famous Hotel de Saxe, glowed with inviting warmth and cheer.<\/p>\n

Of course, the maintenance of such heat as radiated from the great enamel stoves in all the public rooms could not be maintained without considerable labour. And Frau Gutrun Blauer, the owner of the Hotel de Saxe, looked up and pursed her lips as she saw that Fritzel, her only son, had brought up a pile of logs to supply the stove in the Saal that formed the reception and waiting area of the hotel, with comfortable cushioned wooden chairs as well as her own desk.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you doing that?\u201d she called to him crossly. \u201cYou should let Hans do that!\u201d<\/p>\n

Fritzel straightened, pushing his butter-coloured hair back from his forehead, and smiled at her. \u201cHans is chopping the wood,\u201d he told her. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve finished all the accounts \u2026 Johan has the casino in good order too.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sniffed, as though reluctant to acknowledge he had acted for the best. But as he turned to add the last of the logs to the firebox, she gave him a look of maternal pride.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should spend some time at your books,\u201d she said now. \u201cThere won\u2019t be much work this evening, Liebchen. Apart from the casino \u2026 \u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded as he came across to her and swung the book to look at the names of those already staying there.<\/p>\n

Mr Chetwyn Glyde and Party;
\nCount Vasily Dolgorukov;
\nFranz von Essen.<\/p>\n

Then there was the name Samantha Smith;\u00a0 the American woman who\u2019d come a week earlier.\u00a0 And \u2013 according to Frau Blauer \u2013 spent far too much time distracting Johan the dealer in the casino. \u00a0Apparently, she had told her son, with a dismissive sniff, she was Johan\u2019s cousin.<\/p>\n

Another guest staying was Ashton Sherman. He\u2019d been staying for the last few days and spent his time out skiing round the local area<\/p>\n

\u201cThere may be some more, Mutti,\u201d Fritzel said, still examining the register. \u201cThere\u2019s usually a few strays when the snow\u2019s this heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before he could say any more, the door from the Eingangshalle banged open and a tall, beautiful woman, swathed in furs and smelling of heavenly luxury in her scent, stalked into the room and across to the desk, ignoring Fritzel entirely.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is he?\u201d she demanded, speaking in English.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr Glyde is in the Salon, Madame Nolan,\u201d said Frau Blauer in the same language.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot him!\u201d she snapped. \u201cOlson! Where\u2019s Olson?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe he has taken Fraulein Glyde for a walk to see the village houses in the snow,\u201d said Fritzel.<\/p>\n

Nellie Nolan fixed him with a withering glare, then swept her furs about her body in a magnificent gesture that would have them open-mouthed in the fifty cent seats, and stalked off in the direction of the Salon.<\/p>\n

Fritzel and his mother exchanged speaking glances.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a temper!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Fritzel nodded, and then hesitated. \u201cYet don\u2019t you think, Mutti, sometimes \u2026 the way she says something in German \u2026 I would almost call it a local accent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps it\u2019s something she\u2019s picked up here,\u201d suggested his mother. \u201cActresses, they say, have to have a good ear \u2026 \u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps,\u201d agreed Fritzel, but he sounded unconvinced.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so jealous of that poor little girl,\u201d his mother went on. \u201cIt was kind of that Mr Olson to take her for a walk. It\u2019s a quiet life she lives here!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes but \u2026 \u201d Fritzel began and then stopped. The church bells were ringing loudly \u2013 a wild, uncontrolled ringing. Fritzel and his mother stood frozen for a moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cAvalanche!\u201d they said it together, and then Fritzel was racing for the door, grabbing the warm jacket and hat that hung on a peg beside it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful!\u201d his mother called. He paused only for the briefest nod, and then hurried away into the darkening evening.<\/p>\n

As Fritzel bolted from the inn a blonde short haired woman hurried into the lobby from the direction of the casino.\u00a0 \u201cIs everything all right?\u201d Samantha Smith asked anxiously in English, looking toward the \u00a0main doors.\u00a0 \u201cI heard a dreadful noise,\u201d she added in passable German, addressing Frau Blauer directly.<\/p>\n

Samantha Smith was dressed in a nice but plain blue sweater and matching dark blue woolen slacks.\u00a0 Unlike Miss Nolan her makeup was restrained, and her manner far more hesitant.\u00a0 \u201cIs there anything that needs to be done?\u201d she asked the Frau deferentially.<\/p>\n

\u201cNein, Fraulein,\u201d said Frau Blauer. \u201cThe men will look after things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without saying so, her tone implied that it was clearly no job for a woman.<\/p>\n

Before she could say any more, the door swung open again.<\/p>\n

\u201cHell\u2019s bells!\u201d came the intonated drawl as a man, dressed in a full waxed coat, hat and all the accoutrements of winter exclaimed as he stepped through the door. \u201cWhat in all that\u2019s godly\u2019s name is that racket?!\u201d A Texan drawl, no less. At least Jack was quick to remove his hat once inside the place and on noting the presence of a woman.<\/p>\n

\u201cBegging your pardon, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he nodded with a smile that slowly dawned and began to warm his features. \u201cBut you have the most interesting weather around these parts. And what IS that noise?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s been an avalanche,\u201d said Frau Blauer, acquiring a welcoming smile at the prospect of a paying guest arriving \u2013 and an American too!<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my!\u201d Samantha exclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAvalanches are common of course,\u201d continued Frau Blauer, \u201cbut if there\u2019s a prospect of the main road or the railway line being blocked, the men of the village will go out to help. You may have passed my son as you came in.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, how may I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack considered the door with a worried look, before popping his hat smartly back on his head again. \u201cMan\u2019s work it is, right enough. I\u2019ll be needing a room and some of that fancy spiced wine you people are so good at. And a room with a good, deep hot bath. Fancy I\u2019ll be needing it after this. Jack Alder\u2019s the name, figuring you\u2019ll need that at the very least. I\u2019ll be back once I\u2019ve helped out some. Bags were supposed to be along shortly, but I\u2019m guessing they\u2019re gonna wait a while now.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a beaming smile for Miss Smith too, a tip of the hat before the American started to take his leave to help out in the snow.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Alder!\u201d the blonde called in an American accent as he moved toward the front door.\u00a0 \u201cIf there\u2019s anyone hurt\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 She took a step forward.\u00a0 \u201cPlease\u2026\u00a0 I\u2019m a nurse.\u00a0 If anyone is injured\u2026\u00a0 Maybe I should go also,\u201d she stated, pointedly ignoring Frau Blauer in favour of the Texan.\u00a0 \u201cI can get my coat\u2026\u201d she added anxiously.<\/p>\n

Frau Blauer gave Miss Smith a very hard look but said nothing.<\/p>\n

The door opened again andin came a tall dark haired man with a faintly sneering expression, accompanied by an ethereally fair and beautiful girl, with wide cornflower blue eyes and a look of delicacy.\u00a0 Frau Blauer greeted them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHerr Olson. Fraulein Glyde.\u201d Her voice noticeably warmed as she said the girl\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard the bells,\u201d the girl said a little breathlessly.\u00a0 \u201cThat means there\u2019s been an avalanche, doesn\u2019t it? Was anyone hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need to get into a fever fit over it,\u201d said the man addressed as Olson. \u201cThere\u2019s avalanches all the time round these parts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Glyde ignored him. \u201cWas anyone hurt?\u201d she repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know as yet,\u201d said Frau Blauer. \u201cBut my Fritzel he is gone to help \u2013 ja, and all the strong boys and men from the village. All will be well!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see?\u201d said Olson. \u201cYou should go up to your room and rest, Miranda. You wouldn\u2019t want to upset your father.\u201d<\/p>\n

At this, Miranda Glyde turned away from the desk. The nervous excitement that had animated her dropped away \u2013 she drooped like a delicate flower.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess not,\u201d she said dully, and turned to make her way towards the main staircase. As she did so, she seemed to notice Samantha and Jack for the first time and gave them a shy, hesitant smile.<\/p>\n

Samantha hesitated, then gave Miranda a small friendly nod.\u00a0 The glance she gave Olsen was a bit more frosty.\u00a0 Then she turned back to Jack Alder for his response to her query.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell Miss, I\u2019m sure they\u2019d be grateful of any help offered, but p\u2019raps waiting down in the village might be best so you don\u2019t get cold in the snow?\u201d The Texan suggested with a smile that would melt the \u00a0coldest of hearts, reassuring and glad at the same time. Jack\u2019s gaze drifted sharply up to the new arrivals, that same emotion displayed upon his features. \u201cSir. Miss.\u201d A hat dip greeted both of the new arrivals too. \u201cIf y\u2019all will excuse me, I\u2019ll go see if I can lend a hand.\u201d And without further ado he headed out the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are a nurse,\u201d said Frau Blauer to Samantha, \u201cyou could travel out on one of the wagons that will be going out to collect passengers.\u201d Her tone was grudging, as if she doubted that a reputable nurse would be quite so fond of a casino.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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Evening came early in winter to the little villages that lie in the foothills of the Zittau Mountains, where Germany meets its borders with Poland and Czechoslovakia. On Christmas Eve of 1937, snow had fallen heavily in the passes and on the mountains. The little villages it had turned into the perfect representations of dwellings […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1024,"featured_media":0,"parent":286,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P8192c-4E","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/288"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=288"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":291,"href":"https:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/288\/revisions\/291"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pbem.online\/sites\/MurderAtChristmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}