George Washington Werewolf (8 page)

“I have to get more wood,” he said to his son.

“Yes father.”

“But when I return it’s time for you to go to sleep.”

“Yes father,” Freddy nodded. And then he issued the command to charge as his father went outside.

Minutes later, out of the stillness of mid-winter came an unearthly cry, like the howl of a wolf, but something more. Freddy hurried to the window and looked out. He saw his father standing before the woodshed, his arms filled with logs, his eyes staring off into the forest. And then from the shadows it came. It was so fast his father still held the wood when he was attacked, and Friedrich watched as the beast knocked him down and proceeded to tear him apart. His father’s cries sounded like the soldiers who had been blown apart moments before by exploding cannon. Friedrich pressed his little face against the window, the thick glass making everything wavy outside, making the scene itself like something out of a dream (or nightmare). His father’s screaming went on as Friedrich was powerless to move, almost enraptured by what was happening. The beast was so powerful, its jaws ripped apart flesh with ease. In moments the snow was covered in a dark stain that looked black beneath the moonlight. And when it was over Friedrich uttered a single word, “Father…” as he wiped the glass with his hand. And then to his shock he saw the monster turn and face the house, the window, as if it could see him there watching. Immediately the boy took a breath and staggered backwards. Behind him was the whole Prussian Army, but Freddy’s eyes were fixed on the window. And a moment later he saw two eyes, like red coals peering in, and the young boy stood paralyzed, as though he had died and was turned to stone. Time was erased as this moment went on, as the beast tilted its head and gazed inside, at this boy, at the fire. And Friedrich Von Steuben stood there inert, his body shaking uncontrollably. It was a moment beyond thought, beyond hope when all one feels is fear. The werewolf’s nose pressed against the window now, its breath fogging up the glass. Any second now it will crash inside, and Friedrich closed his eyes as his last conscious act and waited. Minutes went by, perhaps an hour, when suddenly the boy opened his eyes as if released from a spell. There was nothing outside the window. The beast was gone. He turned and looked at the hearth. The fire had died, and he fell to the floor by the embers, curling into himself until morning.

At first light he saw the metal soldiers, some of them still in formation. And then he looked to his father’s chair. It was empty, his pipe in its bowl on the small table beside it.

“Father?” he said. “Father?”

He walked to his father’s room. The door was opened and the bed still made. And then he remembered the window and he went outside. An overcast morning, still very cold. There were footsteps in the snow of some kind of animal. And then he saw his father—his father’s remains, that is—in the snow by the woodshed, the blood dark red in the early morning light.

“So it had
happened
…” he said to himself, so quietly that not even God could hear.

The horse was black, its hide slick with sweat. Its rider had run him hard. And then she saw its rider. A young man, a soldier in the King’s Army. His body was strong, his face pleasing to the eye. But a look of sadness was there as well, as if he had seen things, terrible things in the span of this young life.

“If I may be so bold as to request some water for my horse… and for myself,” he said, still in the saddle.

And as she looked up at him their worlds seemed so far apart. Her world: the earth, the animals, milking cows, and churning butter. His world: the world of men and weapons and great conquering armies. And he seemed to float above her now like some young god of war.

“So, the
water
…” he said.

“Yes!”

“You are very kind.”

“And you are quite the gentleman, young sir.”

“Well, I’ve been accused of many things…” he smiled. “May I have your permission to dismount?”

“Ha,” she smiled. “Yes you may.”

Standing before her he seemed even more splendid, with his well-polished riding boots, his tight breeches, his tailored uniform, and she did her best, being a young maiden of virtue, to conceal her obvious delight.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” he said, taking off his hat and sweeping it in a grand gesture through the air. “I am Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Augustin Ludolf Gerhard Von Steuben, Captain and member of the General Staff of his Majesty Frederick the Great the King of All Prussia.”

“Hmm,” she said. “I’m Lil.”

“Lil?”

“It’s short for Lily.”

“Of course it is!” he smiled. “What a lovely name!”

“And yours…”

“Ha,” he laughed. “Could I have been more pompous?”

“I don’t know,” she replied. “I don’t know what that
means
… pompous.”

“So much the better if
none
of us knew!” he said. “Perhaps I should begin again. Allow me to introduce myself… I am
Freddy
.”

“
Freddy
. I’m delighted to meet you!”

“And I you, Lily.”

“Lil.”

“Yes, Lil. So are you making butter?” he motioned to the churn by her side.

“Yes, would you
like
some?”

“Well, I was hoping to get some water for myself and for my horse. We’ve had a long journey.”

“Yes, I’m sorry! There’s the trough for your animal, but as for
you
, would you be so kind as to be patient for a moment or two?”

“I am at your disposal, Lil,” and he executed a deep bow.

Several minutes passed, and then the young woman returned with a glass of ice cold water and handed it to him.

“Mmm, this is… delicious! From the river?”

“The
river?
” she looked shocked. “How do you know about the river?”

“It’s just through those trees,” he smiled.

He saw the puzzled look on her face. And what a lovely face it was. So unlike the girls of Brandenburg and Berlin, with their fancy dress, their painted faces, their city intrigues.

“Forgive me,” he said. “Many years ago as a small boy I used to live right here, in this very house that you live in now.”

“What?
Really?
”

“Yes. I was eight years old the last time I saw
any
of this…”

For a moment Lil was speechless.

“I left for the city shortly after my eighth birthday, to Magdeburg to live with my Uncle, to be trained in the military arts.”

“I have heard of Magdeburg. Is it a great and beautiful city?”

“It is a city, like all cities…”

“Hmm?”

“It is overcrowded with everything, I’m afraid. That’s why I wanted to come back
here
, to see if it was still the same.”

“Well,
is
it?”

“Yes, mostly… but with some surprises.”

At this she smiled softly.

“So Lil, how long have you lived here, in these woods?”

“We came here ten years ago. This house was in great disrepair, having been abandoned.”

“But you’ve fixed it up so nicely. It looks better than it did.”

“It’s my father. He’s a carpenter. He’s in the forest right now cutting wood.”

“And your mother?”

“She died of fever last winter.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you.”

At that, two small boys appeared chasing each other, holding sticks and making the sounds of musket fire.

“These are my two horrible brothers,” Lil explained. “Caspar and Karlheinz, but we call him Karl…”

And upon seeing the young officer in uniform the two boys snapped to attention and brought their little hands to their foreheads in salute.

“Dismissed…” Freddy said.

“Why don’t you go off and play some more?” Lil said, eager to be alone again with the handsome young officer. And at her urging the boys ran off. “Would you like some more water?”

“Uh, no thank you.”

“May I ask what you are doing here, young sir?”

“Yes, forgive me. I… I came to see
this!
” he said. “Your house which used to be my own, like I said. I am on a two week furlough and… I’ve often thought about this place, about when I lived here. I assure you I mean no harm. My plan was to come here, see the house, then stay in town for a few days at the Inn. I hope I haven’t been too much of a bother.”

“No, of course not! It has been my pleasure!”

“Can I ask you something though, Lil?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“These woods, do you… do you
like
living so close to them, in the
middle
of them in fact? So far away from… well, civilization?”

“Why
yes
,” she laughed. “What an odd question.”

“Forgive me, I…”

“No, it’s all right. So, can I ask
you
something, Baron?”

“Freddy.”

“Yes, Freddy… Now I am asking this on behalf of my father, so you won’t think me untoward…”

“No, I… I would
never
think that.”

“Good, I’m glad. So I would like to invite you…”

“On behalf of your father…”

“On behalf of my father, to join us for supper tonight…”

“It… It would be my
honor
.” Freddy bowed gallantly.

“I am so pleased,” Lil said. “Then I will see you back here at six o’clock… after I’ve had the chance to tell my father all about you.”

“Well
that
shouldn’t take too long.”

“You are too modest,” she said. “You’re title alone…”

“Hmm… Forgive me, I…”

“I’m
teasing
,” she smiled.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!” And she reached out and shook his hand. “Until this evening then?”

“Until this evening.”

At dinner that night Lil’s father couldn’t have been more pleased. To have a Captain in Frederick the Great’s Army right there in his home!

“So my daughter tells me that you are on the General Staff of King Frederick…”

“Yes, I am.”

“So have you… I mean, surely you must have…”

“Met the King? Yes, many times. I discuss with him military strategy and tactics.”

“
Do
you? At such a young age…”

“I am
twenty
, sir.”

“Ah, when
you
say it, it sounds very old… My daughter however is
still
only sixteen.”

“Daddy, please…”

“What? Is it my fault that I love my daughter? That I’m protective? And that I’m
proud
of her?”

“But, I don’t do
anything
, Daddy. I…”

“On the contrary,” said Freddy. “You make the most delicious butter that I’ve ever tasted!”

“Really?”

“Not in Berlin or Magdeburg have I tasted any as sweet.”

“We hope you will dine with us each night,” her father said, “for the extent of your stay here.”

“Nothing, sir, would give me greater pleasure.”

“Good. So it’s settled.”

And suddenly more seemed to be going on than just plans for dinner.

That night after everyone had gone to bed, Lil stood outside with Freddy beneath the waxing moon.

“I love the summer nights,” she said. “Especially in the moonlight. Everything so bright, like daytime.”

“The moon will be
full
in three days,” Freddy said.

“Oh I so wish that you will stay until then.”

“But I used to live here, you remember? I’ve seen it before.”

“But not…”

She was going to say, “But not with me,” but decorum held her tongue. And as if sensing this, Freddy reached over and gently touched her hand.

“Yes,” he said. “In fact, I want nothing more than to spend every minute with you as long as my stay allows.”

“Me too,” she smiled.

And in the thrall of this burgeoning romance the days flew by. And by the third day, as was the custom, Friedrich had proposed and Lil had accepted. Her father planned a celebratory dinner at the house that evening, Friedrich arriving in full dress uniform, his saber at his side. But all this was interrupted when Caspar came home in tears.

“What happened?” his father asked. “Where’s Karl?”

“He… we were climbing trees and he fell!”

“In the woods?”

“Yes, I… I think he broke his leg! I’m so sorry, Papa!”

And at that moment, Friedrich’s heart leapt into his throat and he had trouble breathing.

“How far?” his father asked.