On November 2, Baron Matthias Thyssen passed away. Everyone mourns the death of the philanthropist and painter. His wife, Carin, still remembers what happened at the last banquet held at his residence on the outskirts of Berlin. On that occasion, among his closest guests were Prince and Princess Ornish; Frist von Seeckt, multimillionaire industrialist and owner of United Steel; Ernst Schacht, eminent banker, considered the sorcerer of German finance; psychic Stephanie Criswell, elegant and sensual nightlife lady Diana Criswell and Doctor Hermann Strasser and his wife.
Thyssen was bald, with plump cheeks and slanted eyes that gave rise to occasional teasing that went on behind the bellicose Baron's back. His wife was worried about how he would react if he found out....
That evening the meal was rather simple, but hearty: pea soup, pork, potatoes and vegetables, and for dessert apple pie. After dinner, the guests retired to the salon where they exchanged artistic impressions and psychic perception, quickly moving on to economic problems. At that moment the ladies went to the garden, while Matthias and the closest gentlemen went to the library. There Matthias came clean:
-My life completely fell apart. I went back to the barter system. I'm trading my artwork to support my family. The noble title is of no use to me. Unfortunately I already sold my shares I had in United Steel.
-I wasn't aware of that. Calm down, let me see how you can access a loan. Ernst answers
Matthias' countenance is that of a teenager on the verge of suicide, but his face has suddenly reddened...
-I don't care anymore, he says to his friends.
-Calm down. That's bad for your health. Remember that your blood pressure went up recently. Everything can be solved. Hermann replies.
To which Frist adds:
-Let's ask Stephanie for help.
They all look at each other's faces in amazement... In the end, they finally dared to come up with the crazy idea.
-Of course, the ladies have to be present. Frist replies.
The gentlemen discreetly leave the library. They would all meet outside the old 18th century mansion, in a secret room named Julius, after Matthias' great-grandfather. Julius used it to communicate with his deceased wife. The ladies would arrive later...
All settled on the beautiful mahogany chairs, inherited from Julius, they lit the candles to illuminate the cozy but gloomy room. Stephanie delivered a persuasive 10-minute speech; then she concentrated and commented:
-I see a dead man, a treasure and a mask
Immediately a cold breeze brushes the bodies of the attendants, blows out the candles and shakes the curtains. Then they hear...knock, knock, knock.
Carin turns pale with fear, she remembers Matthias' eccentric great-grandfather, who nobody knows where he is buried. In her head she hears a voice saying....:
-To get my coffin and my gifts 10 people have to be gathered, otherwise something unusual can happen....Remember the curse....
Carin thinks about Julius...and comments that to the attendees but, no one considers that warning.
Carin insists:
-Diana is missing.
To which Stephanie replies:
-Don't worry. She is very entertained with Count Kahr.
Knock...knock...knock....
The sound is heard louder... it came from the floor. It was as if someone was desperately knocking with the intention of being attended...
-What was that? Quick, light the candles! Carin dared to whisper.
The knocking did not stop, so they all got up from their seats and went to where the sound was. They stop there. They think it is the floorboards creaking. They hear again...
Knock...knock...knock....
-There is no doubt about it. The wood must be lifted off the floor. The sound is louder here. Matthias answered with unexpected courage.
The men set out to lift the wood. After half an hour of work they find a pit...The ladies start to scream but Stephanie calms them down:
-Be calm, let's go on to see what's there.
The knights continue with the work. A golden coffin appears. At that Matthias is astonished and says:
-It seems that what they detail about Julius is true. He loved eccentricities, exploring the unknown and playing the mystery... Let's open the coffin carefully, maybe we will find some clue...
When they open it, a coffin of fine mahogany wood appears, inlaid with emeralds, Julius' favorite...They open the coffin. Surprise! There is another coffin and on top of it is a mask of gold and precious stones. No one had noticed that since they opened the first urn the noises had stopped. All eyes are on the mask. Suddenly a fragrance comes out of it...
-It is the unmistakable sandalwood perfume that Julius used, in ceremonies, to communicate with his dead wife, Matthias explains.
Carin turns pale, her legs tremble and she gives the last cry before fainting:
-I warned you.
Dr. Hermann immediately attends to her. He revives her. Carin sits up and looks him in the face. In her heart she senses that something wicked might happen:
-I don't want to do this anymore. We don't know what we're up against.
Matthias tries to persuade her but, Carin, desperately runs out of the enclosure, without looking back. The Baron decides to continue the exploration.
Stephanie's heart begins to race...and she silently thinks to herself
-They got the mask. Now I see something I haven't seen before....
At that moment Frist takes a close look at the mask and hears
-knock, knock, knock
He decides to open the sarcophagus and...
-The dead man is here, but he is a mummy. Let's get it out. He affirms excitedly...
Everyone helps and at the precise moment they are about to place it on the floor... the mummy gets up, starts to walk and The mummy gets up, starts walking and falls a few meters ahead, leaving a written paper behind. Matthias' face is on fire as if announcing a sudden and unexpected end... He holds his right hand to his chest. He feels intense pain but still manages to articulate his last words:
-Oh God the curse is fulfilled! It was my turn. I didn't believe. Julius warned Carin and we didn't listen. I have no more time. Check the paper the mummy left behind. The place where the treasure is is written there. Go get it, it's for everyone here and for my family. And please give Julius a Christian burial in my family's pantheon.
At that moment Prince Ornish and his wife, who had been silent all the time, looked at each other's faces and decided to speak to those present.
-Matthias confessed to us, a week before the banquet, that he had heard noises in this place. His only thought was to give his great-grandfather a Christian burial. He also warned us that there was a curse... one of the people present at the opening of the sarcophagus would die if the requirements were not met. Carin warned us and no one listened. We never thought it would come true. Please, with today's events, I recommend that we all honor Matthias' last words.
The coffin, the coffin... María del Carmen Sánchez Copyright © 2022
October 18, 2022
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
