The Journal of Doctor Arbeau Part Two

By Ross D. Clay

This is the Part Two of the Journal of Doctor Arbeau, and with a thrilling conclusion!

The Journal here is a recent discovery and is very mysterious.

Set during the time of World War Two with the German occupation of France.

The location is a small quait beautiful island off the coast France.

The Germans have control of the island, and Dr. Arbeau is trapped  with his family.

How will Dr. Arbeau escape with his family?

But as you will read in Part one the Doctor and his family meet a stranger that changes their lives.

and develops on to Part Two here and will have you on the edge of your seat, and the ending will bring a tear to your eye.

Order now and get ready for real page turner, for you will not be able to put this down!

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ross D. Clay
• Release date: Mar 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215644386

Ross D. Clay

Mr. Ross D. Clay is season professional in the Entertainment Industry for some 40 years. He brings his expriences and passions as well has his love for fur bearing critters to his writtings. The story, 'The Toe Mittens Christmas'  will bring you good tidings and joy for years to come. Happy Holidays to you all!

Book preview

Ross D. Clay

From the Writer:

Translated and edited, with additional material: the recent discovery of the mysterious journal of  Dr Arbeau.

As in Part One, the names and the locations have been changed

to protect the privacy of said individuals and locations herein.

This is a work of fiction.

Or is it?

22 June 1940

The island has been alive with a lot of hustle and bustle. The German soldiers and their German engineers have been working around the clock to prepare for the arrival of their Commander Manfred Steiger. The streets from the dock have been decorated with German flags. Almost all the locals on the island have left. Our house here has been painted white and the shutters were left their blue colour. It does look nice. But we want to live in a house, not a hospital, which is what it looks like now! The radio bunker is finished. The little garrison house is finished and the entire island is now wired for transmitting and receiving radio in both long wave and short wave.

We have been told that the Commander will be prompt for this evening dinner and he is looking forward to my wife's menu. Christina is very nervous about the whole affair. Marianne and I will just keep her in the kitchen and busy. We are to feed some ten people with the Commander. The Germans brought us some of their food, but none of it was fresh   from the island. Most of it was in tins and there was some Kirschwasser and Schnaps of some kind.

Marianne, the brilliant alchemist, is making beautiful things out of  thin air as she does often! We also were told that, after dinner, there will be a formal reception at the Commander's new home that he commandeered! The home belonged to a merchant who used it as a summer home and for holidays here on the Island. It is the largest house here and is really a chateau. The merchant, whom I met only once, had a distillery business in  Normandy. He made all kinds of good things, but he was known for his Calvados. The war changed all that. I heard that he went to the Caribbean to continue operations there. He was very wealthy. We here on the Island will miss him for he often assisted many of the islanders with jobs and finances.

With the reception of the Commander being here, there will be a detail of soldiers at the house protecting the Commander. We are  not feeding them. Damn them. I have managed to sneak away to the basement, tend to the lobsters and write here. We will not go to the Commander's reception. Thankfully, we will stay here and tend to our hospital quarters. I will be taking mental notes as this evening progresses and by God, I will get Marianne and Christina to safety!

25 June 1940

The Devil himself is coming to our door this evening.

This morning at 8 am, a small group of German soldiers came to the house to put up banners and search the house again. We welcomed them in and my wife gave them coffee and, thanks to that, they didn't search the house.

I requested them not to put up the banners for it would make the house more of a target, now that Allied reconnaissance planes have been spotted over the area. The young sergeant in charge used our phone to call his superior for permission. He was praised for good thinking in not putting up the banners! We were thankful.

My Marianne and Christina worked all day in the kitchen. I assisted by selecting some thirty or so lobsters, and shelling them all. That is the extent of my culinary knowledge. Marianne made a variation of a Newburgh, calling it 'Breton Lobster'. We actually managed to find some fresh cream on the Island. One of last few farmers had it on hand. He was so glad we bought it with French francs! We also bought fresh potatoes and carrots from him. This is one of the many reasons why  we love our Island so – because we all support each other in the life here!

At 6 pm a small group of soldiers came to search the house. Just infuriating! They then remained to guard the house. My wife gave them sliced fresh bread spread with meat from several of their own tins.  Christina followed, serving them hot coffee. At 7:30 pm, we were more than ready for the Commander. All was quiet in the house. The guards were at their stations. I stood at the kitchen door, waiting.

Looking at my pocket watch, at precisely 7:55 pm a military vehicle leading the procession came in to lro the driveway. It was followed by a  Mercedes touring car and all drove up to the front of the house! Behind the touring car was a small military truck with armed German soldiers at the ready. Those soldiers quickly disembarked from their truck and made a double line facing each other, from our front door to the Mercedes  touring car. They were all wearing swords. An order was given and they drew their swords to form an arch for the Commander to walk through in formal procession! I thought, how ridiculous just for a bite of a lobster!

I was told to stand back and take my place by the kitchen door so as to make  way for 'His Excellency, the Lord of the Sea'. The  doors  were  opened by the soldiers and standing in our doorway dressed in a spotless white wool trench coat and a bright white German uniform, and boots with  a mirror shine. Here he was, Commander Manfred Steiger embodying Satan himself,  thought.

He sported a blonde beard with immaculate blonde hair and piercing blue eyes; he was small in stature, and had a Mannheim scar! Commander Manfred Steiger: the highest-ranking submarine captain in the German Navy. He was just under the Supreme Admiral, the leader of the German Navy. The Commander stood for a moment, taking in the room, the table prepared for him and his guests and then he narrowed his eyes on me! The Devil has a way of looking that will singe most souls. But not mine, for I have seen the Devil and Death too often and I have no fear of those that wish to intimidate a mere mortal! In  a  booming  voice,  the  Commander  said,  'Ah,  good  Doctor  Jean-Louis Arbeau. I am so honoured to be in your home and for you to  honour us!' I smiled and played along knowing this was going to be a long evening.

I offered to take