'Das Haus' the House and the Son of the Rabbi. Sean Ryan Stuart
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“What do you mean?”
“Well, as you can imagine there are not many homes for sale in our village. There is actually only one house on the main street for sale. Das Haus is near the northern part of the village and has over three acres of land for sale. The house itself is fairly new by Niedergeyer standards, it’s only one hundred-ten years old. However, it was heavily damaged in the last war, and it also has a very interesting history.” Stated a smiling Dieter, as he looked at Cameron.
“Well Dieter, it sounds like a good idea, but I cannot possibly decide to buy anything without Ingrid being here? That would be tantamount to committing suicide.” Replied Cameron, as he slowly put his index finger to his forehead and pretended to pull the trigger.
“Yes, I know what you mean, but the owners want to sell immediately due to health reasons, and the property might not be for sale by the time Ingrid gets here. We have to act quickly. Why don’t you call her after we go and visit the property today?” Asked Dieter.
“As a matter of fact, if you guys don’t buy it, I might just buy myself.” Said Dieter, as he stood up.
“OK, I don’t have a problem with that, but I know Ingrid. I doubt if she will agree to buy anything without being here, but I can try. After all, we are not planning on staying more than a year or two, and I don’t know whether or not we should buy a house.” Replied a somewhat skeptical Cameron.
“Ja, OK Cameron. Let me call them and make an appointment for later on this afternoon. You guys can decide after you have seen the house.” Stated Dieter as he picked up the phone.
“OK, everything is set for this afternoon at three. I think you will like it, although it will take some work to make it ready for you.” Answered Dieter as he put the phone down and stared at Cameron.
“What do you mean work? Asked a curious Cameron.
“The house was damaged during the war, and it needs some modernization. A new roof, heating system, three new bathrooms, kitchen, insulation throughout, painting, windows, a new entry way, landscaping, but other than that, it’s a great bargain!” Replied Dieter with a smile.
“OK, but that sounds like a whole bunch of work? Don’t you think?” Asked Cameron, his mind racing to imagine the condition of the house.
“No, are you kidding? This property is the only one on the main street, and it has a beautiful view of the hills behind the house. It has over twenty fruit trees and a cellar. They only want one hundred and fifty thousand dollars! Can you believe that? If we don’t act soon it will be gone, and you will be sorry. Don’t worry, I will help you get it in shape, and for another sixty or eighty thousand, you will have a home worth five or six hundred thousand dollars, maybe even more? I am confident we can get all the work done in less than three months.” Stated a confident Dieter.
“Well, since you put it that way. I guess, I will have to accept your recommendation and speak with Ingrid.” Cameron thanked Dieter and called his wife Ingrid.
After an extensive conversation with Ingrid, he finally got the approval to make a deposit on the home, but she insisted on having the final remodeling and decorating choices. Cameron was amazed at the fact that she had agreed. Usually, Ingrid was very set in her ways and not so easily convinced to do things without extensive research and investigation. Later that afternoon Dieter drove Cameron to Das Haus. As Dieter slowly drove up the main street of Niedergeyer, Cameron could not help but wonder about the history of this very ancient village. The village could trace its roots to the Roman era around 100 A.D. The Romans had installed a large brick and pottery factory in the village. The VII Roman Legion built a fort in the village and it remained there for several hundred years. They had even imported grapes and grew them for wine. As a matter of fact one could still see the wild vines growing in the woods today.
The village consisted of many very old “Fachwerk” style homes (massive oak beams for framing and filled in with mud, straw and twigs. One Catholic church, five pubs, a bakery, grocery store and butcher shop, and not much else. Many of the homes had large metal numbers affixed to the front of their doors showing when they were built. Cameron was amazed at the dates, 1472, 1561, 1611, 1727 etc. It seemed as if the average age of a home was around the sixteenth century. The church was actually built around the tenth century and there was one building still standing that was even older. He could not help but notice the numerous bullet holes and shell fragments which still adorned many of the homes.
Dieter and Cameron finally drove past the last curve on the main street and he immediately noticed Das Haus.
It was an imposing structure. Three stories high, plus an attic for good measure. It had that typical late nineteenth century style. It was called the, “Luetische” (Liege, Belgium) style. It somewhat resembled a Victorian home, but it had an ornate three-dimensional carved front of poured cement. The facade of the house, which paralleled the main street, had been severely damaged by large caliber machine gun fire (probably .50 Caliber) and mortars. Many of the ornate cement animal head carvings had been shot away or damaged. The sides of the house were made of bricks; they also bore many scars of war and conquest. Cameron could immediately see how this home had been an important fortress. It was the tallest building in the village, and was at the junction of three roads leading away from the village. From the attic, one could see 360 degrees in all directions. It would have been a great observation point for an artillery observation post, he thought to himself.
Cameron looked at the structure and was immediately struck by an immediate feeling of sadness and terror. He could not understand this strange emotion, but it bothered him. As his eyes moved across the impressive building, his view became fixated on the bottom floor, where large windows faced the main street. He suddenly thought he saw the face of a young man; with sad eyes staring at him through the bottom left front window. The boy’s eyes had a haunting quality about them and it unnerved him. As suddenly as he had seen him, the boy vanished without a trace. Cameron was about to ask Dieter about the boy, when Dieter unexpectedly slammed on his brakes and parked on the main street across from Das Haus. Before Cameron could utter another word, Dieter was already out of the car and walking across the street.
They went around the large brick wall, which separated the courtyard from the sidewalk. Dieter knocked on the old and wellworn door. No one answered. Dieter tried again, and after two or three minutes, the door slowly creaked open. An extremely old and pale looking gentleman looked up at them. He could not have been more than five-foot two and weighed a maximum of one hundred and ten pounds. His hands were trembling and he had the look of a man who was already dead, but did not know it yet.
“Ja, what can I do for you.” He stammered.
“Ah, hello Herr Johannes, I am glad to see you. This must be your son-in-law.” He said, as he extended his scrawny white hands.
Cameron stepped forward and shook his hand, but made it a point to take it easy on the old man. The hand was withered, pale and trembling. The old man, Herr Jacobi, was of slight build, bald and smelled like a rotten piece of Brie. His odor was so repugnant that it was physically uncomfortable to be near him. Cameron had never in his life smelled a more vile and disgusting individual. Herr Jacobi, for some unknown reason, was unable to look Cameron in the eye. As if he was somewhat aware of his body odor, and could not do anything about it.
Dieter stepped around Cameron and also shook the old man’s hand. Dieter led the way in the darkened musty hallway and Cameron followed behind. Cameron had a difficult time seeing in this somewhat somber environment. It reminded Cameron of a black and white vampire movie. There were no visible lights, and the only means of illumination was a small shaft of light pushing through the dirty and stained glass window above the door.
Herr Jacobi slowly walked through the house; showing them every room. Cameron was somewhat amazed at the condition Herr Jacobi was living in. There was garbage, broken furniture, unopened boxes, junk, filth and stacks of old magazines throughout the house etc. Cameron had never seen a more disgusting and soiled abode in his life. Cameron thought to himself, I am glad Ingrid is not here, she would never buy this rattrap.
Dieter