Chapter 17 Black Dog - 1

"Sir, there's a man out there who wants to speak to you," the steward said to David Setioniaz. It can be noticed that when the housekeeper said "one person", his tone was a bit hesitant.It was July 16, 1950, and Setiniaz was preparing to celebrate two major events in his life: his twenty-seventh birthday and—and more importantly—his wedding, two Both are scheduled to take place on this day.It was nine o'clock in the morning, and he had just dressed.He had just arrived at his father-in-law's house in Park Avenue, New York, the night before, and two weeks earlier he had done his studies with flying colors and received a Ph.D. from Harvard Business School.

"His name?" "The man won't give his name," said the butler. "Then ask him to wait." The phone rang, probably for the hundredth time.It was his future brother-in-law, Christopher Page, and the sixteen-year-old was very excited, partly because the marriage of one of his two sisters was the first marriage in the family, and partly because of the fact that : David's grandmother Suzanne Setienaz is returning to her hometown in Provence, France after attending her grandson's wedding, and Christopher will be with her tomorrow morning. "Yes," David replied on the phone. "My grandma does have a swimming pool. You can go horseback riding there, too. You're welcome. You didn't bother me at all. See you later, Chris." There were a few more phone calls, and a few more Looking for him, his father-in-law's house is as busy as a beehive.Finally, Setiniaz put on his ridiculously garish coat and went downstairs, where it was set up like a flower show.Another servant reminded him that "the unnamed man" might be in the library, where he had been at least fifteen minutes earlier.Setiniaz was now entangled again, this time by the bridesmaids and ushers who were holding him back.When he finally entered the library, he thought at first that it was empty.Then he sensed someone in the room, and felt the man's intent gaze, and immediately recognized him as the boy from Mauthausen.

"Obviously, I have come here at a very inopportune time, please forgive me," said Reb Klimrod in a soft voice. Susan Setiniaz liked to say that her only grandson was gifted, kind, courteous, warm and sincere, and treated friends as sincerely as family members.With all that, he's an ideal grandson, except for two things: he's almost entirely lacking a sense of humor, and he lacks the drive to go all the way to great success.For the latter, the boss doesn't know much about competition.David has received or will receive a sizeable fortune from their father, mother, and parents' parents, and Diana Page is expected to bring a dowry of $10 million or more, which lacks a sense of humour. One point has been very frustrating for the old lady.

"I called Boston," Reber said. "Your grandmother gave me the number. They told me I could find you here, but didn't say anything. I was going to go, but a That young lady made me wait for you. I'm so sorry." Setiniaz was very surprised, in fact it was more than surprised, he was simply dumbfounded.Mauthausen, Linz, and the war—five years had passed, and now a young man he barely knew had reappeared out of the blue. "I didn't know you were in New York," he managed to find a word to say. "Didn't even know you were in America." "I've just arrived and I'm just here to say thank you for everything you've done for me in the past. Now I'm leaving. Please allow me to send you my very best wishes for your happiness."

He was wearing a blue shirt, faded denim sailor pants, and sandals.The hair is cut short, and strangely there is a band of pale skin on the forehead.Although he seems to have grown taller, his overall body is still so thin and slender, like a telegraph pole.However, there was something intimidating about him. "Anyway," said Reb Klimrod, "you can give me some information after all. Your superior, whom I only knew as George Taras, would you like to tell me where?" Where can I find him?" "He's not at Harvard right now, so he's not at Harvard for the summer, but he's probably gone to his home in Maine. I'll give you his address and phone number." Writing the address was the same as when calling Leiber, and he replied with a smile: "No need. I will remember it, thank you."

He took three steps to the door. "Wait a minute," Setiniaz said hastily. "Don't go that way. When my grandmother told me you had visited her, I regretted that she didn't think to ask for your address." "I didn't have a place to live at all at the time." "And in New York?" "still none." "Is there anything I can do for you?" "No, really. But I want to thank you again." "Maybe I can lend it to you..." Setiniaz felt embarrassed. Reber shook his head.His eyes were smiling. "I'm leaving New York for my honeymoon," Setiniaz said, "about two weeks or so. Then I may go to Boston to live with my mother for a while. But starting September 1, I'll be on Madison Avenue. Willock and Cobb Law Firm at Willock and Cobb. If you had been in New York at the time, I would have been more than happy to meet you, and I mean it. Would you come?"

Reber nodded, that look of joy still dancing in his eyes.One of his hands was resting on the brass doorknob, but just then, the door swung open.Setiniaz saw that it was his future sister-in-law. She and Leiber were standing face to face, almost touching each other. "This is Reb Michel Klimrod, my Austrian friend. This is my future sister-in-law, Aestivation Page." "We've already met," Xia Mian said, looking into Leiber's eyes. "This young lady literally locked me in here, so I couldn't escape," said Reber, looking at her just as intently. Their hands held together, and even Setniaz realized that something unusual had just happened.