Destroyer 024 by Kings Curse

Author:Kings Curse
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

The spectacular failure at the Museum of Natural History was outlined in detail to a senior vice-president of a

computer company branch office, Paris, Rue St. Germain.

Monsieur Jean Louis Raispal deJuin, vice-president for corporate development of

international data and research, nodded with all the feigned interest his finely etched

patrician face could muster. Uncle Carl, from the German side of the family, had

always been rather peculiar and one had to be patient with him. Jean Louis reacted

instinctively with the politeness beaten into him by his governess and ordered by his

mother, who had always said one could not

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choose one's family, but one could certainly choose one's manners.

So Jean Louis listened on about all sorts of mayhem and two formidable Americans,

except one was an Oriental, and all the while his mind worked at an adjustment he would

make in a research team that was stymied by a computer problem.

Occasionally he glanced out at Rue St. Germain with its bookshops and restaurants. He

had always considered his university days his happiest, arid since his work was entirely

cerebral and could be done anywhere, the firm had allowed him to select the office site

and furnishings, which were largely Napoleonic period combined with Chinese. The ornate

gilded forms mixed so well. Robust, mother had called them.

Uncle Carl sat on a chair, ignoring the center extended portion of the seat, which allowed men to sit

sideways so that their sword pommels could hang conveniently across their laps. Uncle Carl sweated like a

stuffed red sausage this fine autumnal day, and Jean Louis wished he would suggest a walk, perhaps in the

direction of Invalides, where Napoleon was buried, along with all those who had directed la belle France in one

disastrous war after another. Uncle Carl liked those things. Even though he often railed about things

European and often trailed off into some South American nonsense. This was surprising because Uncle Carl

was an ardent Nazi, and it had taken. awesome family pull to get him off unindicted by the War Crimes

panels. Fortunately Cousin Geoffrey was a lieutenant general on Field Marshal

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Montgomery's staff and Uncle Bill was in the American OSS.

Jean Louis deJuin had been a teenager at the time, during the German occupation of Paris, and even

though Cousin Michel was on the most wanted list as a leader in the Maquis resistance movement, Jean Louis'

family had lived quite well during the occupation, by some order from within the German general staff.

As mother had said, one did not choose one's family, and Jean Louis had thought little about it until now,

when Uncle Carl said those strange words.

"So now it is up to you, Jean Louis Raispal deJuin."

"What is up to me, dear Uncle?" asked Jean Louis.

"Our hopes, our fortunes, our honor, and our very survival."

"Ah well, very good," said Jean Louis. "Would you care for coffee?"

"Have you been listening?"

"Yes, but of course," said Jean Louis. "Terrible happenings. Life can be so cruel.'

"Willingham is gone now."

"The pale fellow who worked in the museum?"

"He was the foremost priest," said Uncle Carl.

"Of what?" asked Jean Louis.

Uncle Carl's face burst crimson. He slammed a large fat fist down on the pressed leather

of an eighteenth century desk.

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