Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven

The next day, the young earl woke up at dawn, and the hallucinations from last night were still lingering in his mind, bothering him. In the morning he was supposed to leave the village of Weierst and set off for Katzburg. After visiting the two industrial towns of Petschani and Livazel, Franz originally planned to spend a day in Katzburg and then a few days in the capital of Transylvania.Finally, take the train to visit several provinces in central Hungary, which will be the last stop of his journey. Franz walked out of the hotel into the clearing, and with a small pair of binoculars he gazed at the castle with great emotion.The rising sun clearly reflected the outline of the castle on the Algal Heights.

At this moment, he was thinking: When he arrived in Katzburg, would he keep his promise?Report what happened to the Carpathian Castle to the municipal police? When the young count had promised to restore peace to the village, he was convinced that there were gangsters hiding in the castle, or at least a group of suspicious people, who did not want to be discovered and tried to prevent people from approaching the castle. But after careful consideration last night, he changed his mind and hesitated in his heart. It has been five years since Baron Rudolf, the last of the Baron de Golz family, disappeared.What happened to him, no one knows.Some say he died shortly after leaving Naples, is that true?What evidence?Baron de Golze is likely alive.If he was still alive, why didn't he return to the old castle left by his ancestors?Why didn't Olvanik, the only confidant and reliable person known to him, accompany him back here?Why wasn't this eccentric physicist choreographing and directing all these oddities to disturb the neighborhood?These are the questions that Franz had in mind.

If that was the case, what was the young earl to do?Is it right for him to interfere in the private affairs of the Baron de Golze?When Rozko found him, he was weighing the pros and cons, ruminating. He thought he should tell Rodzko what he thought. "My lord," Rodzko replied, "it's quite possible that the Baron de Golze is up to this trick. Hey? If it's true, we don't have to get involved. Let the cowards of Welster village think for themselves." Go. Let them do what they want, it's their business, we don't have to worry about it." "Alright," Franz agreed, "I've thought it over and over again, and you're right, Rozko."

"Say whatever you want." The veteran said simply. "The village chief Kurz and others know how to get rid of the so-called ghosts in the ancient castle at this time." "Actually, they only need to report to Katzburg, master." "We'll be on our way after lunch, Rozko." "Everything will be ready." "We'll make a detour to Mount Pleza before going down the valley of the Shire." "Why, master." "I want to take a closer look at that strange old Carpathian castle." "Why bother!" "It's just a whim, Rozko, it won't take half a day."

Rodzko was not happy with his master's decision, he didn't think it was necessary.Everything that could strongly stimulate the count to recall the past, he tried to avoid him as much as possible.But this time, he couldn't change his master's unwavering determination. Franz seemed to be under some irresistible temptation, and he felt that the castle was strongly attracting him.He didn't realize that this attraction might have come from hearing Lastila sing the melody of Stepano's lament in his dream. Is he really afraid that he is dreaming? ... It's hard to say!He remembered people saying they heard a voice in the hotel, and Nick Deckard had the audacity to ignore its warnings and recklessly offend it.Seeing the count's mood, one need not be surprised that he suddenly went to the Carpathian castle, and only stayed under the ancient city walls, determined to enter.

Franz, of course, decided not to reveal his intentions to the villagers.It is entirely possible that those people would unite with Rodzko and persuade him to give up the idea.He asked his followers not to mention it to outsiders.No one would suspect that he was indeed going to Katzburg when they saw him walking towards the Hirsch Valley.But he noticed that there was another road on the level ground, which led directly to the Pass of Volcan, along the Cape of Rediezato, and from there he could climb to the Plezza Mountain without passing through the village, so he also Will not be seen by Village Chief Kurz or anyone else.

At noon, Franz took the bill that Jonas handed him with a smile on his face. He asked for a little more, but he didn't mind. After paying the bill, he was ready to go on the road. Master Kurtz, the fair Milyuda, Helmud, Doctor Batak, Frick the Shepherd, and many other villagers came to see him off. The young ranger also came out of the room.It seems that he will be able to walk again soon--the old quarantine officer is complacent and takes all the credit for himself. "Congratulations, Nick Deckard," Franz said to him, "congratulations to you and your betrothed." "Thank you very much," replied the girl, her face glowing with happiness.

"Have a nice trip, Monsieur Count," said the forester. "Yes . . . I hope so!" replied Franz, his brow still darkened. "Mr. Count," Master Kurz reminded him, "please don't forget your promise to report what happened here when you arrive at Katzburg." "I'll remember, Mr. Colts. But in case I'm delayed, you know what to do to get rid of this disturbing neighbor. The castle won't let the good-natured village of Welster soon." The villagers panicked." "Easy to say..." the teacher muttered. "It's easy to do," Franz replied. "If you want, after forty-eight hours, no matter who is hiding in the castle, the gendarmerie can force them to submit."

"Except for this situation, it is very possible, if there is a devil inside." Shepherd Flick said. "So what," replied Franz, with a slight shrug. "Monsieur Count," said Doctor Batak, "you wouldn't say that if you had accompanied Nick Deckard and me to the castle!" "Doctor, I'd be surprised if my feet were glued to the ground as strangely as yours," Franz sneered. "Feet... yes, Monsieur Count, boots to be exact! You think I'm daydreaming..." "I didn't say anything, sir," replied Franz, "and I wouldn't take the trouble to explain to you something you find inconceivable. But it is certain that if the gendarmes go to the castle, their boots always obey. Discipline will never take root like you did."

Having said this to the doctor, he again accepted the salute of the innkeeper, saying that it was his great honor to receive the esteemed Count Franz de Derek, etc.After saying goodbye to the village chief Kurz, Nick Deck, Milyuda and the villagers gathered in the square, he gestured to Rodzko, and then the two strode towards the main road at the mountain pass. In less than an hour Franz, master and servant, had reached the right bank of the river, and then followed the river, climbing up the southern slope of the Rediezato. Rodzko complied with his master's intentions and made no further persuasion: it was useless to talk.It was his bounden duty as a soldier to obey orders, and if the young earl were in any danger, he would try to rescue him.

After walking for another two hours, the two stopped to rest for a while. The Hill River in Wallasia keeps turning slightly to the right, and here it snaps back again.On the other side, about 4 kilometers away, the round peak of the Algal Heights is entrenched on the top of Pleza Mountain.It is time to abandon the river and climb the mountain here, because Franz wants to go over the mountain pass to the old castle. Obviously, with such a turn, it is possible not to pass through Weierster Village, but it doubles the distance between the castle and the village.It should still be broad daylight when Franz and Rodzko climbed to the top.The count still had time to look at the castle from the outside.In the evening, go down the hill again and take the road to the village of Welster, so that you will be sure not to be seen.Franz intended to spend the night in Livatzell, at the confluence of the two Sier rivers, and the next day to Katzburg. They rested for half an hour.Franz was immersed in the memory of the past again.The thought that Baron de Golze might be hiding in the castle made him agitated.But he said nothing. Rodzko had a hard time refraining from saying: "It's useless to go far, master!... Don't go to that cursed castle, go back!" The two continued to advance along the valley floor.They had to go through a wood first, and there wasn't a path through the woods.In places the ground had been washed out with deep gullies, for the River Shire sometimes overflowed during the monsoons, and the river roared and swamped the surrounding land, turning it into a bog.In this way, walking is more difficult, so a little more time is delayed on the road.It took them a whole hour, and at five o'clock they were back on the main road at the Pass of Vulcan. They did not come across the dense thorny forest on the right slope of Mount Pleza.At that time, Nick Deckard had only to hack a path with an axe.They ran into a different kind of trouble.The hillside is covered with boulders rolled down during landslides, and one has to be careful when walking through them.The ground is undulating, with deep faults and crumbling boulders standing up like icicles in the Alps.The huge rocks that have been washed down from the top of the mountain by mudslides in the past are piled up in such a disorderly manner.Looking around, a real sea of ​​stones is creepy. Under these conditions, it would take a full hour to climb the steep slope with great difficulty.To be honest, the steepness of the road in the Carpathian castle is enough to defend against foreign invasion.Rodzko may have presented a completely insurmountable obstacle, but never found it. They made their way through rocky piles and potholes until they reached the front summit of the Orgal Heights.From here the outline of the castle could be seen more clearly, standing alone in the gloomy wasteland.For years, fear has kept nearby villagers away. The reader should be reminded that Franz and Rodzko approach the castle around the northern wall of the castle.Nick Dyke and Dr. Batak followed the left side of Mount Pleza, left the Niad Rapids and the pass road on the right, and reached the wall on the east side of the old castle.These two directions just form a large sharp angle, and the tip of the angle is the top of the main tower.The northern wall cannot be climbed, because there is neither a hidden door nor a drawbridge, only a high wall that rises and falls with the terrain. It didn't matter if there were no roads at all, because the count didn't intend to enter the castle. It was half-past seven when Franz Dederek and Rodzko climbed to the edge of the Orgal Heights.The ancient building unfolded before their eyes like a beast hiding in the shadows, blending in with the old colors of the rocks on the Plezza Hill.On the left, the city wall turns sharply, and at the corner stands a turret.The earth platform of the turret is surrounded by guardrails crowned with crenelated battlements. The famous beech tree on the top of the turret has its teeth and claws, and its branches are twisted, which shows that there are often violent southwest winds at this height. Shepherd Frick did not look at germanium.According to the legend, the old castle of Baron de Golz's family really only has a lifespan of three years. Franz silently stared at the building complex centered on the solid tower.It was like a Magyar fortress, with vast, echoing halls, intricate corridors, and buried inner citadels hidden beneath the jumble of buildings.Baron Rudolf, the last generation of the de Golz family, could not have been a better place to live than this ancient mansion.He just hid inside, let the world forget, no one knows the truth.The young count felt more and more that Baron Rudolf de Golz must be living in seclusion here, in this lonely castle. But no one was seen in the castle tower.Not a plume of smoke escaped from the chimneys, not a sound was heard from the shuttered windows, there was nothing—not even a bird cry—nothing to break the secrecy of the gloomy castle. For a moment Franz gazed greedily at the castle.Back then, it was full of festive laughter and the banging of weapons.He was silent, but his thoughts were full of thoughts, and he was immersed in the past. Rozko retreated to the side, and the count was meditating, without saying a word, so as not to disturb the master.But as the sun dipped behind the Pleza and the valley of the Shire began to cast shadows, he spoke. "Master," he said, "it's getting dark . . . it's almost eight o'clock." Franz did not seem to hear him. "It's time to go," Rodzko advised him again, "if we want to reach Livatzell before the hotel closes." "Rodsko...just a little longer...yes...just a little longer...we'll go," said Franz. "Master, we have to walk for an hour to reach the road at the mountain pass. It will be dark by then, and no one will be able to see us when we cross the road." "Wait a little longer," said Franz, "and we'll go down to the village." The young count had stood motionless since reaching the summit of the Algal Heights. "Master, don't forget that it's dangerous to cross the rocky hills after dark... In the morning, we walked so hard... Please forgive me for being long-winded..." "Yes... let's go... Rozko... I'll listen to you..." Franz stood firmly in front of the castle, and seemed to have a premonition in his heart.Could it be that he was also like Dr. Batak, whose feet were firmly grabbed by the corner of the castle? ……no!He could move his legs freely, without any restraints... He could walk up and down on the high ground if he wanted, and nothing could stop him from circling around the base of the wall freely and around the castle. Maybe that's what he's trying to do? Rozko also expected it, and decided to persuade him again: "Let's go, master?..." "Okay... okay..." Franz agreed. But he still didn't move. It was already dark on the Algal Heights.The shadows of the mountains spread to the south, engulfing the entire castle, and only an erratic shadow was faintly visible.Soon, if no light shone through the narrow windows of the tower, nothing could be seen. "Master... let's go!" Rozko kept begging. Franz was going to go with him at last.Suddenly, a vague figure appeared on top of the tower where the legendary beech grew... Franz stopped and watched, and it became clearer and clearer. It was a woman with long hair hanging loose, her hands stretched forward, and she was wearing a white robe. Wasn't this the very dress in which Franz last saw Lastira in the last scene of "Orlando"? right!She was Lastira, standing silently on the top of the turret, stretching out her arms to the young count, looking at him with deep eyes, eagerly... "It's her! . . . It's her! . . . " he cried. He lunged, and if Rodzko hadn't caught him just in time, he would have rolled into the ditch under the wall. Rastila suddenly disappeared.Just a minute before and after... What does it matter!Even for a second Franz recognized him, and he cried: "She...she...is still alive!"