The crumbling rock shifted beneath his feet. The recent snow had melted and in so doing created a steady flood of water, moving swiftly and everything in its path loosened. The nature of the water and the recent bulldozing for more parking in the area, had caused the shift of the small stream and hence, water was pushing where it had never before.

He didn't like it. He felt small, loose stones jettisoning beneath his feet. He not meant to find himself here and he had so much yet to do. This would be the first time. He had never disposed of a body before, but she had become unruly and instead of letting her go, he just decided he could finish what he started. At first it all seemed to go so well, she was, in fact agreeable, but after some time, she wanted to get going and he was not ready.

 Now he was in a bit of a jam. He had to pitch her lifeless body over this cliff and do it with some anonymity.

Now Sari was really worried. She had the worst imagination and when the hair stood up on her neck, her mind went crazy. Why did she imagine this kind of stuff about Hans? What the hell was her problem anyway?  As she had rushed away, she dropped her mail at the post nearly across the square. She dawdled just long enough and glanced back at Cafe Tomeselli, just in time to see Hans and Anna going into the cafe. She could only imagine, but why imagine something like this in a short split second. Why, what had Hans ever really done to her? Maybe it had something to do with the way he would stare at her, the way he looked on the road to the Grossglockner, on the bus in Prague, she didn't really understand her apprehension. What was it? 

Her mind in deep concentration, she did not see Kurt looking at her from across the street. She was in another place entirely mentally and was unprepared for him to be the one calling out her name. Startled she looked in his direction.

"Oh Kurt! It's you! How are you?" she said.

"Did I startle you? I mean, Hello! It is just that you looked different, like you were really focused." He looked a bit disheveled.

"Ha, really, well, I guess I was. I was thinking about something and it got the better of me, I am afraid. I was a million miles away...” she answered. 

"Do you have time to go to Cafe Tomeselli's with me? You look like you are headed somewhere in a hurry."

"Ah, now that is funny." They were now walking down the street side by side in the opposite direction to the cafe in question. " I am really in the mood for something else, how about a beer instead? We could just go over the river to that place on the corner, I love the upstairs dining room and we could sit by the window."

He knew the place well, it was secluded and quiet. "Sure, I am up for that now. I have some time. We could head that way.What is funny, by the way about Tomeselli's?"

"Oh, I just saw someone there and turned them down for a coffee, it would be very odd to go there now, with you." she laughed.

"Well, you are right. Besides, if we did go there then, we would have to talk to whomever that was, and I would really, really like to just sit with you and talk." he said.

She smiled and nodded to him. They came to the restaurant and made their way up the stairs. They ordered some bread and cheese, with a couple of steins, and sat there a few minutes gazing through the window's lace at the Salzach River below. The bridge they had just crossed was filled with pedestrians and cars; the end of the day was working its way forward too.

Finally, he had the courage to break the silence. "Sari, I am always so happy to see you. I guess you might find that odd for a man like me to say that to you. We don't really know each other, and really every time I see you that seems to matter less and less. I do want to get to know you. I enjoy talking to you; I think you are quite brilliant. I like the way you conduct yourself with the others and well; you do not seem to be like all the other students. The other day on the Grossglockner, I was really mesmerized again by your laugh, I cannot believe how much fun we had there."

"Kurt, I am very flattered. I find myself thinking very much the same about you. I feel like I want to tell you my life story, but there is really not much too tell." Liar, she thought to herself. How can you keep piling on the layers with this guy, when you want to be honest with him about who you are and why you are here? " Well, do you want to ask me anything about anything?" She fumbled for something to say that would allow her to preserve the truth, yet not reveal anything.

Instead of talking, Kurt looked at her deeply and sighed. He wanted to tell her about Inge, about why they were together, but he could not bring himself to risk losing her. She was too good, and probably would not understand. What was he saying, he had nothing to explain to anyone it was a man's world after all, and he made no promises to her, yet something deep inside of him, felt guilty. And well he should feel so, he was cheating, not physically yet, but he felt he was doing something wrong.

It did not take much convincing to Sari to let her know that something was bothering him. He had been silent, deep in thought too long. Suddenly she started to speak, and simultaneously, so did he. Suddenly, they were both laughing.

"Speechless then speaking! Ah, Sari, I am just a crazy guy who is supposed to be a teacher, but you know I like you. I mean I want to be with you,” he said.

Sari laughing had suddenly turned soberingly silent again; she had wanted to say something similar to him, but less revealing. Now it had been said, and all that was left for her to do was agree or not.

"I have enjoyed being with you very much, I am just a student here and I know that must be against some kind of protocol, but I think we are both feeling something and I am pretty certain what I want. I want you to want me." Well, that was it. The floodgates were opened with a flow of words that now could not be taken back.

They looked at each other and started to move toward each other, though a small table separated them, as they sat opposite each other on heart shaped carved chairs. He stood and went to her, she sat there, and he touched her face, lifting her chin and kissed her lightly.

"Let me get the check, then we can out of here." he said.

He never moved as fast as he had at that moment, and thinking still, where to go? What really are they doing? Was Inge in the apartment, should he get the car, all he knew was he had her just where he had dreamed he wanted her and he had not planned it well.

She was recovering from the swiftness of what happened, wondering how they would keep it from the school, if they would get in trouble, if there was something wrong here, where in fact were they adjourning to now? All of a sudden, she really didn't care. Hurriedly they made their way down the narrow stairs that spilled into the street. Careening around a corner, there in the midst of the powdery snow, they found themselves near the side of the Hohensalzburg, the Festung. The fortress of Salzburg was almost 900 years old, and yet still functioning. It had housed artist studios even at one point after the war, but more recently a museum and restaurants were put together there. Kurt knew a friend who had a studio there yet, it was very small, and quite rustic, but he knew where the key was if she was not home. He knew that she would not mind if he borrowed it for a while.

Her father had been a famous sculptor, a friend of Picasso, and she had often told stories about her life up there at the festung as a child. He was a very old friend of hers, and she would understand, besides, she hated Inge.

They made their way to the top and walked in, sloshed through to the door of the studio, panting like two children in a race. Sari had been pretty breathless up the path and he swore he was going to stop smoking. He was mad at himself that he could think of nothing better, and she didn't ask or offer any suggestions. In a way, he really respected her for that. She had done nothing but follow him.  

He took the key from its hiding place, and she said nothing. She was observant and watched him do it, and he was wondering what she thought about that, but not really. They walked in, he slammed the door, and they literally fell into each other. He knew where the bed was and it was still there. He made his way to it, and they were stripping enroute.

A moment later, they stopped, looked at each other and smiled their commitment. It was as it was meant to be. No second-guessing and no fear. Just two people attracted beyond a point of no return, and any roadblocks were cast somewhat recklessly aside, at least for today, this afternoon.

Each had made their respective conquest, and now the sun had set. The trouble was it was getting very late, dark and cold. Kurt had to make a decision. Should they leave, get on to their respective places, and see each other tomorrow or risk it all and spend the night, showing up at school in the same clothes, and well, a bit worse for the wear.

Finally Sari spoke. "I think I should be running along now. I am sure that hike down is going to be just awesome in the dark."

"We will be fine, together. When we reach the bottom, we can have dinner and then I will walk you home."

Dinner sounded very good, but the hike down awaited. "Let's see if going down is quicker than going up, what am I saying, we made record time on the way up!" She laughed.

Kurt could not help himself, he was laughing and beaming, he took her into his arms a last time there. They shared a long kiss which seemed peaceful. They left the studio and without incident found their way down. He took her to a small bistro nearby and said it was a wonderful place for goulash.

She made it all such an adventure. She did not complain, or whine about anything. Instead, she smiled and laughed and continued to engage him until he thought he wanted to spend the night with her, and go right back up to the festung.

Back at her student house, he left her at the door. It was very hard for him to leave her. She seemed to be more able to handle the parting than he. He wondered more than ever, what kind of woman was this? This was not what he was used to.  When she turned and left she did not look back. He had to remember that. It did not feel quite right, he wanted her to look back, preferably with all the continued yearning he was feeling.

She closed the door and made it up the small stairs to her room. In the dark stairwell, she was nearly skipping and could not wait to go to sleep, and continue this dream she was most likely in.

Cathy and Margot greeted her, and took one look and started laughing. They knew all about this guy and now they wanted the total details. It was nice to live in a student house, away from students you actually went to school with! 

 Copyright 2011 by SheilaTGTG55

See Intrigue and the Grossglockner Part One here:

 http://open.salon.com/blog/sheilatgtg55/2011/02/17/intrigue_and_the_grossglockner_-_part_one