Silent Death

By Angelika Friedemann

Silent death elephant
There are no great discoveries and progress as long as there is still one unhappy child on earth.
Cruelty to animals is one of the most characteristic vices of a base and ignoble people. Alexander von Humboldt
The doctor Alina Cinar goes to Kenya for 18 months in order to boost her career, for which she herself accepts the separation from her partner. She quickly finds a new love there: elephants. She is immediately taken with the grey, good-natured giants. She spends more time with them than in the health centre. Trouble is inevitable. But she pushes it aside, covers it all up with arrogance and lies. When she is guilty of several offences in Germany as well as in Kenya, she lashes out verbally. Her fairy tales become more and more creepy. Downfall is fast approaching and many wonder, will she finally manage to face it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angelika Friedemann
• Release date: Apr 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215338971

Angelika Friedemann

Die Autorin: Wenn die Menschen nur über das sprächen, was sie begreifen, dann würde es sehr still auf der Welt sein. Albert Einstein Ich versuche, die Aufmerksamkeit der Leser zu fesseln, sie zu unterhalten und zu erfreuen, möglicherweise zu erregen oder tief zu bewegen.

Book preview

stiller Tod

Angelika Friedemann

Silent Death

Ndovu wawili wakisongana,

ziumiazo ni nyika.

When two elephants bump into each other, it is the grass that suffers.

Imprint

Copyright: © 2023. All rights to the work belong to Kevin Friedemann, Herrengasse 20, Meinisberg, ch,

The work including all contents is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Reprinting or reproduction (including excerpts) in any form (print, photocopy or other process) as well as storage, processing, duplication and distribution using electronic systems of any kind, in whole or in part, is prohibited without express written permission. All translation rights reserved.

Author: Angelika Friedemann [e-mail] Picture - Source: piqs.de

Chapter <><><>

Alina Cinar was excited, nervously pacing back and forth, adjusting one picture and straightening another, as she thought.

Stop it! laughed the owner of the gallery. You're making everyone nervous. It's going to be a huge success and you'll get the money for your elephants. It's Christmas soon and a lot of people are spendy, looking for the right Christmas present, even for themselves.

Horst, you are so confident - I am not. How often have you photographed these animals?

Sure, since I know about my subject matter. Do you think I would get involved otherwise? Dream dancer! I'm a businessman, I want to earn money, even if there's not much in it for me, because only a few pictures are sold. A small part of your pictures are different, completely different. Look, here are the mothers. No one has ever taken them like that, especially against such a background.

She laughed, twisting her long light brown hair at the top of her head. A gesture she always made when she was unsettled. There I was really lying in the mud, looking like the tembo afterwards.

Did you take a dust bath too? asked Karin, Horst's wife, laughing, handing her a mug of coffee, then to her husband.

Thank you! You wouldn't believe it, but I felt like it because my clothes were wet, dirty and stank terribly.

All three laughed and that also relieved their tension a little.

I like the two cops best. They fight and yet they are careful not to seriously injure themselves. People should learn from them, Horst untied her topknot.

Thank you! There is an African proverb. Where elephants fight, the grass gets hurt. With them it means something like, when people fight, other people get hurt. For example, in military conflicts, the civilian population suffers, or two people fight and a third person has to pay the price. That's often the children or women.

The glass door opened and Gabriele came in with a mountain of cardboard boxes. Horst von Mühlen hurried towards her, took them from her. Pizza! Had it three times this week. Thanks anyway! he was amused and again laughter rang out from everyone.

I'm hungry anyway. Let's eat before the big rush starts. Tomorrow evening, before the concert, I'll really enjoy it. The food there is supposed to be excellent. Maike told me they have an excellent rosé there. She immediately thought of you.

His wife quickly set the table in the back, then the four of them enjoyed themselves. The chat was not about the exhibition, but about everyday things, especially the Elphi, the Elbphilharmonie, which they wanted to visit tomorrow. In the evening, she would hear a concert there. Like almost every Hamburg resident, they were mighty proud of the building, which had finally been opened this year despite all the adversity. Alina was looking forward to seeing everything from the inside.

All that's missing now is who the money goes to, he drank water. Let's begin.

Horst, nobody knows them here.

Irrelevant, because it has to be named. The authorities check this very meticulously because you have to present the certificates. Otherwise, anyone can come along and say it's non-profit. Otherwise you have to pay tax on the income, even if you are currently living in Kenya, and I generally have to report it to the tax office. One interested party also wants to know what happens to the donations. Without that, nobody spends that much money on a photo. So where do the funds go?

So because of me. She gave him four place names and the KWS.

Thank you! I'll report it to the tax authorities. You'll have to provide proof. I'll put the board up.

She looked attentively at the visitors. It was a constant coming and going. But she was more interested in whether her photos were bought. She needed a lot of money. But that was not the only thing. She wanted to know if her pictures were good, if she had the right look. Yes, she wanted to see the recognition and admiration of the viewers. That was still missing from the visitors. At the last second, she put her hands down because she was about to twist her hair together. With long hair she looked even more beautiful, younger, more feminine, not so severe. Horst nodded at her, disappeared to the back with a couple. She was especially grateful to him for allowing her this presentation. If he hadn't been her mother's brother-in-law, there would never have been this exhibition.

A man strolled towards her favourite painting, stopped in front of it, looked at it for a long time, tilting his head once to the right, then to the left. She, on the other hand, only had eyes for him. Her heart beat faster and everything else was forgotten when their eyes met. It was one of those magical moments, as she called it. The entire environment was blanked out, she saw only her counterpart, as if one were alone in the world with him, she had once called it. It was a good thing that the person never knew that in such rare moments, which lasted only seconds, she forgot everything around her, there was only this stranger. This had already happened to her three times and, in retrospect, she found it beautiful in spite of everything, even if a little crazy. The man in question had probably only looked at her because he sensed someone staring at him stupidly.

This recording is unforgettable, she was addressed, landing in the present.

Beautiful or bad?

The older man looked at her without understanding.

I mean unforgettably beautiful, very impressive or unforgettably awful?

Now he laughed. Well, of course. I'm a biologist, it used to be better, I've never seen pictures like that, at least a few of them. Beautiful. I will buy the picture because it shows what we humans have to protect so that our grandchildren can still enjoy their beauty. Joy is never found in animals in the zoo, but only in the wild.

Thank you, sir ...

Schneider. Professor Doktor Max Schneider.

From the local zoo?

You know me?

Your books. Very interesting and instructive.

Thank you! May I know your name?

Alina Cinar, the photographer and doctor, she held out her hand to him.

Very pleasant to even meet you in person. You have an eye for the tembo. I was in Tanzania and Botswana for three years, saw them almost daily. Only I never noticed such pictures because I probably lacked the certain perspective for it. How does a doctor get such an eye for wildlife?

I love elephants and am currently working in Kenya. In the course of the time I have spent there so far, I have noticed the fascination that these silent giants have for me. I love their caring nature, the loving way the cows treat the little ones. You can't help but want to protect them. If there is a little time, we teach the villagers to live with the elephants, not against them. However, we need a lot of money for this, as fences have to be built and put in place, and other deterrent measures have to be agreed with the KWS. In some cases we compensate them for the loss of crops and so on. So I hope to sell some of the photos ... She interrupted herself, looking at the black-haired young woman. Yes, they have something, especially with the way they are presented.

Alina was pleased with the compliment. The lady seemed to have good taste.

What percentage goes to the villages, the rangers?

Irritated, she looked at the white-haired man. All natural, she said indignantly. It's all written on the front, she smiled. The guy wanted to know exactly.

The lady came closer, laughed, turned to her companion, pointed to a photo. Look at this. The ndovu are marching behind each other like ducks. I have to laugh every time I see photos like this. There are countless of them with all kinds of animals. Ostriches, ducks, cattle, sheep, goats, zebus, even zebras and wildebeests. Funny, that's why they are photographed so often. A little too expensive for that at 350 euros, she chortled. The man who had fascinated her so much said something to her, gave her a kiss on the cheek, as it seemed, held her around the waist. Immediately all the butterflies had disappeared from her. Karin von Mühlen hurried towards the couple. Excuse me a moment, please, Professor Schneider. I have to mediate a little.

Unfortunately, some people are not very considerate, they talk the way they want to. Even if the lady is right, one should be a bit more diplomatic about it. Leave, although there is nothing to arbitrate, since we have freedom of speech. Frau Doktor Bucher never became abusive, she merely expressed her point of view. She was right about that, by the way.

She turned around, called out not very loudly: Karin! She stopped just in front of the couple. Alina hurried to her, took her by the arm. Let them babble, she murmured to her, followed up louder. It's unnecessary to try to lecture such stupid, dirty rednecks. They are the ones with no brains, who come from the gutter, seem to have lost their way or want to beg for something. You can tell what pathetic whores they are by the way they walk. Embarrassing!

I hate people who have zero decency.

Come on, we're above that. They're just whores. I just met Professor Schneider.

I have read all his books. Fascinating.

Someone at their back cleared their throat. They turned around, faced the man who had so upset them at first. He was staring at them.

Alina took Karin's arm, wanting to get away before something inappropriate slipped out.

He turned to Karin. Dominik Bucher, Mrs von Mühlen, I wanted to apologise for my companion. She always blurts out what she thinks, sees. Certainly wasn't meant in a bad way, just provable facts.

You either have manners or you don't. It's good. This exhibition is probably not right for this ... eh woman. Alina, let's go.

I would like to buy one of the paintings.

No, all of them are not for sale. My recordings certainly don't go to such nu... people who don't know anything about anything. Do they create for you that you can afford?, Alina brusquely, leaving him standing. At her back she heard the woman say. Herr von Mühlen, well, I shouldn't have said that, but it's true. You know me, that I never keep my opinions to myself. One part is good, but two thirds are shots that everyone has seen hundreds of times. You don't pay that much money for that, even if you declare them as a good cause.

Doctor Cla...

Sina, we're leaving. Horst, I'm thinking of taking legal action against your would-be photographer, because as a professor I can't afford to be so insulted by a little doctor we refused to hire because she's too bad. No one calls me a whore, harlot. This was my last visit to your gallery today. Our friends will also avoid it in the future. We can buy pictures elsewhere without being insulted like that, even by your wife, by the way.

She didn't hear what Horst replied, but he took the three people to the back. What did that mean?

She strolled back to the professor, who was looking at a herd romping around a waterhole. He looked at her briefly. The burlap gives the pictures a touch more of Africa. The very small one in front certainly had difficulties getting out.

However. Mother and two aunts had to give plenty of assistance. We already thought we would have to intervene. The hole descends very abruptly in three places. Several times we helped out with boards because even adult animals of all species lost their bearings, ran back and forth excitedly, stirred up the muddy ground even more. I live close by and sometimes hear their cries and sounds. If a large herd comes, the wooden floor in the station shakes.

Yes, I know that from Botswana. My wife used to say afterwards, when our grandchildren were romping, a herd of elephants is on the way.

Shortly afterwards he said goodbye, but without having bought the painting. Dösbaddel!

So the next three hours dragged on. She explained, chatted, laughed and was happy when one of her enlarged photographs was sold.

Horst came to her, pulled her aside. There are only the all-world photos left. If we had more of good pictures, some of them might go. I could at least persuade some buyers to leave the artworks still hanging, as we deliver them on Monday, otherwise it would be a bit bare and not attractive enough. No one would come in anymore.

An older man approached her, handed her a business card and asked her to come to his office on Monday at 11.00 a.m. because he would like to talk to her about a business idea. With Some of your photographs are very expressive and unusual. We could enter into a cooperation that would also be worthwhile for you, he said goodbye, walked to Horst, always keeping his eyes on the pictures. He spoke to Horst, laughing. She looked at him, puzzled.

Her parents and her brother with his girlfriend appeared. What is it with you and the Ahrends? asked Arvid, her brother, as he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

With whom? she looked at him irritated.

Publisher Ahrends. The man you were just talking to.

She only now looked at the business card. Indeed! He asked me to come to his office the day after tomorrow.

Now you'll make it big, Arvid sneered.

She punched him lightly in the side. Go ahead and blaspheme. Still, almost all the photos are sold.

I knew that. I like the pictures too, but especially my big sister, he gave a kiss. Jasmine stepped up to them. I wanted to buy the painting with the two bulls and now it's gone, she complained.

You have me, her brother took his friend in his arms, but she broke free. Be serious for once. The picture expressed all the beauty of the animals and would have fitted well in the dining room.

Jasmine, you get it, Alina mediated. I'll have it raised again for you. How big do you want it? Oh, do you have a dining room? she enquired maliciously.

Ours, of course, Arvid replied.

She would talk him out of this nonsense. However, she was angry that none of her many friends had come, although her mother had sent invitations to all of them. No one now saw her great works of art, bought any. Even Piet, her ex-boyfriend, had not turned up, which annoyed her the most. She tried to reach him, but he didn't answer. He hadn't answered the phone all week, hadn't answered when she rang.

It still turned out to be a nice evening, as Doctor Burkhard Cinar invited everyone to dinner. Horst, on the other hand, quickly disappeared after receiving a phone call. He threw a 50-euro note on the table, grumbled at them: You all just used me for your lying charade. There will be repercussions because I will report this, report it to the office, you frauds. Then he hurried away.

Alina had been dumbfounded but pissed off, then laughed artificially. The stress! Karin chimed in and no one spoke about it again.

Chapter <><><>

Alina walked alone through the wide hall, stepped onto the viewing platform, looked out over her hometown. She was still quite overwhelmed by what she had seen. The plaza between the brick base and the glass new building of the Elbphilharmonie was overpopulated, she found. She would have liked to enjoy it alone without the constant murmur of voices. She glanced briefly at her family, who were having a coffee before the concert, and strolled on. Piet was still not there. What was that crap about? About halfway along the long side, the plaza opens up on both sides in an arc up to eight metres high, two large sections of the façade allow a view of the city centre and the harbour, she read. She wanted to walk completely around the Elbphilharmonie once, because she didn't know when she would get back here. The building had accompanied her all these years and now she wanted to see it finished. From the entrance area of the building on the east side, an 82-metre-long curved escalator leads upwards through the warehouse. The ride takes visitors directly to the panorama window on the 6th floor, which offered her a view of the harbour. There was also the entrance to the one where they had dined exquisitely earlier. From there they had taken a second, shorter escalator to the plaza on the 8th floor. On the walls, she had marvelled at the approximately 8,000 sequins that sparkled in the light. Now she strolled along the outside, enjoying the smell of the water and the view of her Hamburg. A quiet melancholy spread through her when she thought that she would have to leave again in just a few days.

Ms Cinar, meeting you, a coincidence. Moin!, she was addressed by Dominik Bucher.

Alina stared at the man in surprise. Moin!

Are you looking at our Elphi for the first time?

Yes, but actually I'm about to attend the concert. So you'll excuse me, she replied curtly, although the butterflies were fluttering a little in her stomach.

So do I. May I therefore escort you back?

Because of me, since I'm expected. She was flattered that he gave her his attention right away. His wife, or whatever the bimbo was, didn't seem to be here.

It's only normal that not everyone likes my photos. However, they have all been sold and several have been commissioned. The demand is enormous.

She did not say that she disliked the photos in general, only that the photo said little to her, expressed little. An animal photograph of the kind one finds innumerable. No reason to insult people right away. Are you often in Africa?

Yes! she replied curtly, as he could have saved his praise for this person. Now he would surely notice how great she looked, admire her dress.

Why elephants?

Just so!

Very talkative, he stated matter-of-factly. I'll say goodbye. Have a nice evening.

Alina had to smile when she saw the look on his face. He had beautiful eyes and long eyelashes. That must have made every woman jealous.

Elephants fascinate me because they are so connected to families, very loving, caring, considerate of children. Could humans also learn something from that.

Will you also answer my question if you are often in Africa?

"I've been living there for a long time and I'm going back to Kenya soon. He had taken the bait, was completely fascinated by her, really gone, totally in love. In a moment, the butterflies fluttered excitedly when she thought of the more to come.

Oh, and where to there?

Near Nakuru. I run the Afya health station there with a big hospital.

He laughed. You run waaass?

Darling, there you are. I thought you were still in the bathroom, washing yourself, this black-haired woman hurried towards him, eyeing Alina and hanging onto his arm. Moin, sorry, but we have to, she smiled at Alina. She turned to him. It's that doctor with the pictures, isn't it? Never mind. Come on, we were going to have another glass of champagne. I'm thirsty after sex, my wild bull, she pulled at him.

Alina quickly said goodbye, seething with anger that he dared to dump her like that. Slowly, also to cool herself down, she walked to the table with her family. She heard