The
Baron brought everyone to attention by tapping his spoon against the goblet
that was in front of him on the finely set table.
"It
is with great relish that I make this announcement to all of you. About the
time you came through the doors of Schnienstaffen
castle this evening, our great enemy Leon Rex was being booked into the
American Federal Prison in Ohio,"
said the Baron.
This
brought loud and boisterous applause.
"We
have some special guests with us this evening who have
helped us in this our enterprise Annuit Coeptus, which, of course, is just a part of
the much larger Novus Ordo Seclorum.
Now that this latest bump-in-the-road has been passed, we sense the
nearness of our success. Let us drink to our success, our enterprise!" he
said as he held up his wineglass.
The
crowd did likewise and said in unison, "Our enterprise!"
"And now to my left-and always to my left
symbolically-my prize, my treasure, my niece Roxanne Elyevea
Von Rothchild!"
Roxanne's
reception by the crowd was an even more thunderous applause, a matter that did
not go unnoticed by Trihexus.
"Let
us toast them in the success of their endeavors." The Baron once again led
the group in a toast.
After
a number of other distinguished guests were recognized and toasted, the Baron
decided to mention Akbar. "You all know who Akbar is. Most of us have seen him in action, and there is
hardly a contender who could compete with his exploits. His seat is at the far
end of this table and empty at this moment. But we will honor him anyway for
what he is about to do. You might find it interesting to know that today, the
very day our enemy was incarcerated in Ohio, that Mr. Ahmad Akbar was
also incarcerated within the same prison walls. Oh, do not fret over this news.
He was sent there to finish the job!"
This
announcement struck the emotional dead center of the crowd gathered at the
castle that night. They stood to their feet and gave the most thunderous
applause of the evening. For nearly a full minute they clapped and cheered as
the Baron raised his goblet time and time again. Roxanne, wearing long black
velvet gloves, held up the black rose with the scarlet ribbon tied to the stem.
She handed it to her uncle during the crescendo of applause. This brought on an
even louder thunder of approval.
Finally
the Baron waved at them to cease, and the room began to quiet down. The Baron
then looked down at the black rose he had set across his plate and picked it up
with his other hand. He intended to explain its symbolism to the group gathered
before him. This was his moment of triumph, his moment of victory. It was the
moment when he could relish the defeat of the mightiest enemy that the world of
darkness had seen since the days of the Nazarene.
Also, today was the day in which he could introduce his friends and associates
to the two people he thought would lead them into the long hoped for society: a
Godless paradise. Trihexus, he was certain, would be the Ipsissmus,
veritable Antichrist and ruler
of the world; and Roxanne would rule with him at his side. There was no greater
moment for the old dog.
But
as he raised his wineglass one more time, black rose in hand, he stopped and
stared straight ahead. He turned white as a ghost, and then he dropped his
goblet. It shattered over the scarlet tablecloth that covered the oaken table,
and he slowly pointed directly in front of him to the place that had been
reserved for Akbar.
Sitting
there in Akbar's place was Leon Arnion
Rex.
There
was an audible gasp. Several people stood to their feet, shocked at what they
were seeing. Many of them looked from Rex to the Baron and back again,
wondering which of them would act first. Rex was quietly sitting there dressed
in his familiar attire, a thin dark blue windbreaker and royal blue necktie.
"It...
it is but an apparition. That's all," said the Baron. "It's just an
apparition. Just stay still, and it will be gone
shortly. It is another trick of our enemy!"
Then
all eyes moved to Rex, and those closest to him withdrew quickly.
"I
am no apparition, Baron. I am here," said Rex in the most perfect, fluid
German.
Roxanne
quickly jumped to her feet and started to say something to Rex, but her uncle
grabbed her by the arm without taking his eyes off Rex. "No, wait!"
he instructed her. But as the Baron released her arm and began to question Rex,
she started to walk slowly around the tables to her left.
"How
did you manage to escape from prison?"
"Escape? I didn't escape."