The Monocle

By Daniel Schorsch

Ever thought what it might be like to read people’s minds or see their mental images? Duncan MacGregor never did, until he bought an old monocle giving him that power. At once he's caught in events beyond his imagination: child abuse, potential murder, bank robbery, love, adoptions, and criminal investigations. Some minds are cesspools, others are beautiful. You don't know which until you're in.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Schorsch
• Release date: Aug 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301728565

Daniel Schorsch

About the AuthorDaniel Schorsch is a retired Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, Reactor Engineer, and Attorney. He lives with his wife, Ellen, a pianist, and music teacher, in Waynesboro, Virginia. He is the father of two adult children and has two grandsons. In his first career he was involved in the design and construction of the Navy's first two nuclear surface vessels; the guided missile cruiser, USS Long Beach, CGN-9, and the guided missile frigate, USS Bainbridge, DLG(N)25,CLG(N)25. His second career, as an attorney started at the age of 45. He later became a senior partner in his own firm before retiring.

Book preview

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Eight

Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty-One

Chapter Fifty-Two

Chapter Fifty-Three

Chapter Fifty-Four

Acknowledgments

Other Books by Daniel Schorsch

Prologue

On a beautiful sunny day in late May, 1841, Karl Theodor von Aesch, a wealthy Zurich banker, paid a visit to the jeweler and watchmaker, Peter Jacob Balsiger in the small town of Wohlen, Switzerland, ten miles west of Zurich. Von Aesch rode to Wohlen on horseback, accompanied by two servants. The chill was not yet gone from the air so Von Aesch had worn a woolen coat, and woolen pants tucked into his riding boots. On his head was a leather cap covering very thick, black hair. Bushy black eyebrows, a large black mustache and a neatly trimmed black beard made him look very stern, exactly the image he wanted to project. At five foot, six and 190 pounds he could be described as corpulent but no one would dare say it, at least not to him.

Balsiger, known to most as Peter Jacob, was a tall, thin man in his early sixties. His hair was white but still full. Sharp eyes peered over half glasses. His hands were those of a man who made his living using them. They were large and callused, but immaculately clean. He was clean shaven, unusual for the time. A straight nose and firm jaw line gave him a look of determination. Peter Jacob, a gentle man unless provoked, was noted for his skill and honesty, and was much sought after by the more affluent members of Zurich society.

Von Aesch, on a recent trip to Berlin, had seen a number of prominent men wearing ‘monocles;’ single lens eyepieces, fashionable in German society, and wanted to know if Balsiger could make him one. Von Aesch was a vane, imperious and caustic, individual, particularly with people he thought were below his class, which was how he felt about Balsiger. Balsiger was aware of this, but as a shopkeeper he wasn’t in a position to do anything about it.

As the banker entered the shop, the watchmaker’s dog, a small, scrappy, mixed breed, started nipping at his heels, barking and creating an unpleasant din. "Verwechseln Sie diese Köter! Holen Sie es weg von mir! Confound this mutt, Balsiger! Get it away from me!" Von Aesch roared in German. Balsiger called to the dog, picked it up, and placed it in another room.

It was with some apprehension that he returned and greeted von Aesch. Ah, Herr von Aesch, welcome to my humble shop. I am pleased to see you again. I apologize about the dog. Have you come about a watch, perhaps? Balsiger was standing next to his work table. It was a sturdy piece and held a variety of objects of different sizes: parts, tools, and works in progress. Behind it, and lining two walls of the shop, were shelves containing a lifetime of watchmaking and jewelry crafting bits and pieces, stored in bins, all carefully and clearly labeled. The wooden floor was clean and free of clutter.

Not this time, Balsiger. I’ve come about a monocle. Are you familiar with them? Von Aesch asked with his customary bluster.

"Ja, I have seen a few and repaired some. They’re not so complicated as a watch, but the quality and size of the glass is very important."

After some discussion about size, style, and other particulars, including, of course price, von Aesch decided to have Balsiger make a gold framed monocle, with a fine gold chain and non-magnifying lens. Balsiger agreed to have it ready in four months, explaining the time it would take to get the gold, the lens, and actually craft the monocle. It was agreed when the monocle was ready, Balsiger would send a message to von Aesch, who would return to inspect it and make final payment. Von Aesch wanted the watchmaker to bring the monocle to Zurich when it was finished, but when Balsiger advised the banker of the additional cost, von Aesch agreed to come for it himself.

Balsiger started work on the monocle almost at once, riding to Zurich to purchase the gold and to order a very fine lens. The lens was to be made to exact specifications, including diameter, thickness and clarity. Balsiger also specified that the lens should have a v-shaped edge to fit snugly into the frame.

Once the lens was ready, Balsiger began to craft the frame from heavy gold, repeatedly testing the fit as the work progressed. The frame was simple, without any external engraving, but varying in thickness from the lens groove to the outer rim. Balsiger also fashioned an ingenious catch that would allow Von Aesch to open the frame if he ever wanted to change the lens. The catch also served as an attachment point for the chain and as a small surface by which the monocle could be handled or held.

He paid particular attention to the groove that would secure the lens in the frame. At first the lens was loose in the frame, but with patience, Balsiger was able to make the fit tighter and tighter. When he had gotten the fit as close as he thought he could, he found to his dismay that the groove was still a too wide, allowing slight movement. He checked the dimensions very carefully but could find no discrepancy. With some effort he was able to narrow the groove a little more, but the lens still didn’t fit tightly.

Balsiger repeated the process and narrowed the groove as much as he possibly could but still the lens felt loose. The discrepancy wasn’t much but Balsiger was not satisfied. After careful consideration, he thought of a way to correct the problem. He would craft a filler, using very thin strips of walnut, placed radially. These would be fitted to form a special ring around the edge of the lens, and would be glued to the lens on one side only.

Accordingly, he found a piece of walnut from which he carved the strips he would need. To make the fit as tight as possible, so there would be no movement of the lens within the frame, Balsinger shaved each walnut strip, one by one, until the lens fitted snuggly.

When he was satisfied, he turned his attention to what glue he would use. Peter Jacob had heard of glue made from natural rubber but had never tried it himself. He experimented until he found a combination of animal hide glue, rubber and pitch that would form a good bond between the lens and the glass, and which would last a very long time. Satisfied with his work, Balsiger very carefully engraved his name and the year on the inside of the groove, where it would be covered by the lens.

Once the monocle was finished, Peter Jacob sent a message to von Aesch telling him the eyepiece was ready. When the banker appeared at the shop several days later, Balsiger handed the monocle to him for inspection. As von Aesch was looking at it, Balsiger showed him how he could change lenses if he wanted to.

It was then that Von Aesch noticed the little wooden filler ring on one side. Using the filler ring as an excuse, he pretended that the monocle was unsatisfactory, trying to force Balsiger to accept a lower price. A confrontation ensued with von Aesch accusing Balsiger of providing inferior goods, not in accordance with their agreement, and insisting on a substantial reduction in price.

The watchmaker replied, saying the small wooden filler did not detract from the functioning of the monocle or its appearance, and insisted the agreed price be paid. As the argument continued, the dog made an appearance, again barking and snapping at von Aesch’s heels. In a fit of rage, von Aesch kicked the dog against the workbench. Balsiger, trying to protect the dog, reached across his workbench but wasn’t in time to save the animal from impact. The poor dog struck the side of the bench with a heavy thud and fell to the floor in a heap, bleeding from its mouth. In his effort, Balsiger inadvertently knocked the monocle and other things from the bench onto the floor. The monocle landed in a spreading pool of blood.

Balsiger, beside himself, told von Aesch the monocle was no longer for sale, and refunded the deposit. Then he grabbed a hammer from his workbench and ordered von Aesch from the store. Once von Aesch was gone, Balsiger went to the dog, lifted it, and, cradled in his arms, carried it upstairs to his living quarters, where he and his wife tried save it. Their efforts were unsuccessful. In the meantime, the monocle lay in the dog’s blood.

After a while, heavy at heart, Balsiger returned to the shop to clean the floor and pick up the pieces. He found the blood covered monocle and cleaned it as best he could. Unknown to the watchmaker, some of the dog’s blood remained in the small crevices where the cleaning rag could not reach. Balsiger placed the monocle in a small black velvet bag, which he put at the back of a shelf behind a bin of watch parts.

Peter Jacob passed on a few years later and his wife closed the shop, selling its contents to a watchmaker from Zurich. In the process of cleaning out the shop, the small velvet bag was accidently pushed off the back of the shelf, falling to the floor where it eventually was buried under dirt and debris. It lay there, covered and forgotten, for a long time even after the old building was finally torn down. The lot where the shop once stood remained unimproved and the monocle remained unnoticed where it had fallen for many years.

One day, a poor boy kicking around in the dirt, found the remnants of the velvet bag and the monocle, now black with dirt and grime. The boy ran home to show his father who thought it was a piece of junk and threw it in a box with other junk he was collecting to sell for what he could get.

From there, the monocle passed through a number of hands before finally coming to rest in 1903 at Westminster Antiques Shoppe, in London, England. Very careful examination and restoration at that time revealed the monocle’s original beauty and origins. Thereafter, the monocle was sold several times, always to purchasers made curious by a sudden, unexpected glint of light that attracted their attention. Over the next hundred years, the proprietors of Westminster Antiques Shoppe were able to piece together certain characteristics of the monocle that became conditions of sale.

Chapter One

Duncan MacGregor was walking along N. Jefferson St., lost in thought about an upcoming trial, when a sudden sparkle of light caught his eye. He stopped and turned, trying to find the source. In front of him was a very small, very old store front. He didn’t remember having seen it before. ‘Where did that come from?’ he wondered. ‘I’ve walked past here dozens of times. How come I didn’t notice it before?’ He walked over to the store window and peered in. On the other side of the glass he saw a single tray of old jewelry, but there was no gleam of light and he wasn’t able to see any details through the dark and dirty window. ‘Oh well,’ he thought as he turned to walk away. Again, something sparkled, rousing his curiosity. He turned back to the window peering through it more closely, but he could make out no details within. As he peered through the window, there, again, he saw the glint of something. On the spur of the moment, Duncan walked to the door and tried the knob. The door opened and inside he saw a very small shop. ‘Funny,’ he thought. ‘I couldn’t see any life from outside but it looks like this place is open.’

Duncan, now 39, was a retired Major in the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, of her Majesty’s Royal Regiment of Scotland. He was a handsome man, descended from Scottish highlanders. When dressed in his kilt, he was truly eye-catching and very imposing. People would often stop and stare in admiration. His deep-set eyes were compelling; dark brown, bright with the light of intelligence, set beneath a high brow, crowned with a full head of light brown hair cut in military fashion. The line of his jaw gave him a determined appearance, but his features were apt to change quickly as circumstances around him changed. He was quick to smile and had a way of engaging people who found it easy to like him. At a trim 6’2" and well-muscled, he was good looking, although a once-broken nose and a scar over his right eye added an appearance of toughness. There was a slight air of self-confident cockiness in his stride.

It was early May and the weather was warm. Duncan was wearing a wine, blue, and green Tattersall check, long sleeved shirt with two buttons open at the top, exposing some of his chest hair. His slacks were tan. It was apparent to even a casual observer, that he was a quite rugged individual.

Once in the shop, he saw it was very narrow, wide enough for a person to stand in front of the sole display case and another person to stand behind it. It was eight feet wide, maybe. Nothing was on display, the display case standing empty. The cream colored walls were bare and there was no one behind the counter. ‘How do they stay in business?’ he wondered.

As he stood there, an old man came through a door in the back and approached him. Good afternoon, he said. How may I help you? Duncan was surprised at the man’s appearance; tall and thin, with a full head of gray hair, neatly combed. His nose was straight but not sharp. Because of the lack of light, Duncan couldn’t make out the color of his eyes, but the face was kindly. There was a small, very neatly trimmed mustache over a firm mouth and a small, perfectly trimmed goatee on the man’s chin. Duncan was surprised again by the man’s dress: a three piece gray suit, a high collar white shirt, and an ancient, but expensive neck tie. While the clothes were impeccable, they portrayed an image of substantial age, a very elegant portrayal, quite out of place in the dingy shop with almost nothing to sell. ‘Very strange,’ Duncan thought.

I saw a sparkle from something in the tray by the window I think, and it made me curious.

Yes, sir, that must be the monocle. It’s the only thing in the shop at the moment that would do that. Would you like to see it?

A monocle? Yes, I would like to see it, Duncan said on the spur of the moment.

The old man walked to the window and reached into the tray. When he returned, he handed a gold framed monocle to Duncan. A thin gold chain hung from an eyelet fashioned into a corner of the frame. Duncan examined it closely, looking for imperfections in the gold work and the glass but could find none.

The shopkeeper, watching Duncan inspect the eyeglass, said, It’s almost as fine as the day it was made in 1841. The frame and chain are heavy gold, 18K by modern standards, and the glass is without defect. I am almost certain you could not find a similar piece today, outside of a museum, and maybe not even in a museum. It was crafted by Peter Jacob Balsiger of Wohlen, Switzerland.

You sound very certain of that. May I ask how you know?

Herr Balsiger engraved his name and date on the inside of the frame. We are certain that it is authentic.

Duncan raised the monocle to his eye, and turned to the window. That’s surprising, he said aloud. I could hardly see through the window without the monocle, but now it’s like there was no window pane there.

Yes, sir, the shopkeeper said, it seems to add clarity to vision when it’s used. It also enhances color images and lends them a three dimensional affect. Are you considering purchasing it?

I don’t know. I think it must be frightfully expensive.

On the contrary, sir, I’m prepared to let you have it at a very reasonable price: $35.00, tax included, but before you agree, there are some things you should know. Call them conditions of sale. I will explain if you are interested in purchasing the piece. Would the price I’ve quoted be suitable? I’m afraid I really can’t go any lower.

$35.00 dollars? Are you serious? How do you stay in business?

Oh, no need to worry about that, sir. We’ve been in business, since 1533 and really do quite well.

You couldn’t have been here, since 1533. That’s not possible.

Oh, I’m sorry, sir, if I’ve confused you. The business was established in London, in 1533, not here. We’ve only recently opened the shop here. I do apologize if it looks somewhat decrepit. Oh, yes, and about the price, sir, I’m quite serious. This is a very special piece, as you will find out if you make the purchase. It has been a very long time since anyone expressed any interest in it.

Really? How long?

Well, let me see. It came into our possession at the turn of the last century, 1903 to be exact. The last person to show any interest in it did so just before World War II. The interested individual did not purchase it. The war was coming and he had no place to put it for safekeeping.

I’m finding this whole experience quite out of the ordinary. I’m sure you know what I mean, Duncan said.

Yes, sir, I do, which is why I’m willing to part with this extraordinary piece for the sum quoted. I take it you’re interested, sir?

I’m very interested, but I’m curious about the conditions of sale you said you have to explain.

"Yes, of course. First, you must agree the monocle will be yours and only yours. You must agree not to sell it or give it away. Second, you must keep the monocle near you at all times. It is not necessary to wear it continuously, but it must remain in the same room with you. I’m sure you will find that particular requirement very strange. It was this condition that dissuaded the last prospective buyer. I assure you, it is necessary, but I really can’t say more about it.

You may allow others to look through it if you choose, but not before they agree to keep secret whatever occurs during its use. You, of course, must agree also."

I looked through the monocle before I agreed to any conditions. But now you say I must agree not to let others look through it. I don’t think I see the distinction.

Yes, sir. You see, you are a prospective buyer. I have to let you look through it, but no one else.

I’m not sure I understand, said Duncan.

I am sorry sir, but I really can’t say more about it. You will come to understand if you make the purchase. I can assure you this condition will not pose an inconvenience to you. Returning to the conditions, sir, there is a great responsibility that comes with ownership of the piece and you must promise to be always mindful of that responsibility and do nothing that might be considered irresponsible when using it.

I must do nothing that might be considered irresponsible, you say? What would be considered irresponsible then, may I ask?

That, sir, is left entirely to your discretion. There are no firm rules I can recite. I think in time, you’ll come to know what I mean. Are these terms agreeable to you?

Yes, I think they are. May I ask another question, though? How will you even know if I violate these conditions? What happens if I violate any of these conditions, even if it is unintentional? In both cases, sir, the monocle will disappear and you will never see it again. You will be out your $35.00. But I must advise you, if that happens you will suffer a sense of great personal loss. Try not to let that happen, sir.

The monocle will disappear? You mean like vanish into thin air?

Yes, sir, that is precisely what I mean.

I find that hard to believe. How do you know this?

By experience, sir, it’s happened before, a number of times. Beyond that, I really can’t say.

A number of times you say? If it disappears into thin air, how does it come into your possession again? I’m assuming it does otherwise it would not be here.

Your assumption is correct, sir. It does comeback into our possession, but we don’t know how.

This is all very strange, very strange, indeed. Can you be more specific about this ‘great personal loss’ you mentioned?’ Is there anything else I need to know?

No, sir, I am unable to be more specific about the personal loss. I think it would be unique to the individual who has the monocle at the time. I’m sorry. I should, however, tell you a little bit more about the ‘responsibility’ issue. You will find it to be very complex, depending on circumstances. Please don’t underestimate the nature of it. Oh, yes, one more thing. The sale is final. There can be no returns.

Duncan stood there, thinking, while the old man waited very patiently. When he reached a decision, he put his hand in his pocket and took out some cash. He counted out $35.00, which he laid on the counter. For $35.00, how can I go wrong?

Very good, sir, others have said the same thing. I’ll just be a minute writing out a receipt for you. The old man reached under the counter of the display case for a pad of receipts and wrote one on a preprinted form. I will have to ask for your name and ask you to place your initials on the receipt where I indicate. Is that agreeable?

Yes. My name is Duncan Brian MacGregor.

Westminster Antiques Shoppe

Purveyors to the King

Established 1533

London, England

Sold: One gold framed monocle, w/gold chain, 1841

Peter Jacob Balsiger, Wohlen, Switzerland $35.00

Paid in full, all taxes included. Sale Final.

All conditions of sale and ownership were explained to and acknowledged by the Buyer, Duncan Brian MacGregor, D.B.M

Signed: Arthur Wingate

Authorized agent May21, 2013

May I ask who set the conditions you told me about, or how they came about?

I’m sorry, sir. I am not permitted to discuss that

But you know the answers to my questions, I think?

Yes, sir, does that change your decision to purchase it, sir?

No, I don’t think so. I’ll take it anyway.

Very good, sir, thank you. Do you wish me to wrap it, sir?

No, thank you. I’ll take it the way it is.

Thank you for coming in, sir. Good day.

Chapter Two

With the monocle in his hand, Duncan left the shop and started back to the Conference Center Hotel where he was staying. He wasn’t sure whether or not to experiment with it on the street or wait until he was in the hotel lobby. Exercising some self-restraint, he chose to wait. The hotel was just a short walk. It was now late afternoon and he was getting hungry, but he was undecided about what he would do for dinner. First, he was curious about the monocle. ‘I’ll try it indoors first, I guess. I really don’t know what to expect, if anything. This is really strange,’ he thought.

As he walked into the lobby, he looked around for a chair where he would have a view of the reception desk and the front entrance. The lobby was large and had a number of chair and sofa groupings to accommodate waiting guests or those just wishing to relax. Warm, wood paneling covered the walls and columns, small tables were placed near the seating groups and a huge arrangement of cut flowers stood on a table in the center of the space. As Duncan looked around he noticed an unoccupied chair grouping that would suit him. ‘This should be a good place to see what I got for $35.00,’ he thought. ‘Maybe I’ll just try it on a variety of objects.’

Once seated, he looked at the monocle more carefully. He had no trouble fitting it to his left eye and he was able to look around without having it pop out. The clarity was remarkable he discovered, looking at the entrance. It was mostly glass doors of one sort or another. Next, he swiveled around to look at the lobby itself without focusing on any individual. ‘Good lord, he thought, it changes everything. The colors are different, well not different just more …. More what? More vivid, more muted, more varied, all at the same time. How is that possible? The depth perception is greater.’

Taking the monocle from his eye, he looked around the lobby and saw a bellman standing by the reception desk. Raising the monocle to his eye again he focused on the bellman. That’s when a very curious thing happened. He heard a voice in his head saying, Look at that asshole with the monocle. I wonder what he thinks he’s doing. Duncan looked away from the bellman and the voice stopped abruptly, confusing him. He took another careful look at the monocle, glancing at the bellman before putting the glass back to his eye. The minute he focused on the bellman, he heard the same belligerent voice in his head. What’s he looking at me for?

Duncan looked away and the voice stopped. He took the monocle off. ‘Good lord, am I reading his thoughts? No! No way! Not possible! That can’t be!’ He was incredulous. Again, he looked around the lobby. Sitting across from him, but a little distance away, was a very