Breathless: The Adventures of A Gymnast (Marci Book 1) Read online

  some place to sit. Although the train was filled to

  the brim, they spotted two adjacent seats at the rear'

  Unfortunately for them, the seats were inside a

  smoking compartment' Marci opened the door and

  entered the compartment with her brother close

  behind. A biting, pungent odor of smoke stung her

  nose, causing her to sneeze' The room was small

  and rectangular, about six feet by four feet' Inside

  was a small table with four swivel chairs. The chamber

  had a large glass window on each wall allowing

  for easy visibility in all directions. After the

  children's luggage was stored under their seats, the

  train let out a prolonged and airy shriek, then

  slowly pulled away from the station.

  In the room with them were two Frenchmen.

  Each was smoking a homemade cigarette over a

  friendly game of chess. The smoke irritated Marci’s

  nose. With the palm of her hand she rubbed her

  nose from side to side. Noticing Marci’s discomfort,

  Craig whispered to her

  "Let's get out of this smoke and get something

  to eat."

  Marci nodded in agreement. The dining car

  was located in the center of the train. It had large

  windows and wooden furniture with brass trimmings.

  Sixteen tables lined both sides of the car,

  with each table encompassed by two or four

  wooden chairs depending on table size. Craig and

  Marci sat near the entrance and ordered two slices

  of cheesecake with two cups of hot chocolate. Marci

  stared out the window and watched as the train

  snaked its way down the track. The engineer was

  driving faster than usual because the train had left

  Frankfurt about twenty minutes late. It was scheduled

  to follow the Rhine river due northwest stopping

  at Eltiville, Lahnstein and Andernach.

  Andernach the city where Craig and Marci's

  uncle lived, was the last stop on the Rhine.

  "Look" Marci shouted excitedly while pointing

  out the window. "A castle!... And there's another

  one!"

  Craig gazed out the window; in the distance,

  high atop a sloping hill, sat an imposing fortress.

  It was surrounded by a wall of gray brick, standing

  nine or ten feet high. As the train drew near,

  the vast and ancient castle came into sharper view.

  He could even see that its red brick was covered

  with a deep, dark film of soot. Adding to the details,

  a large stone gargoyle with a menacing expression

  crouched over the main entrance. Taken

  all together the sight looked mysterious and gothic.

  Craig then turned to his sister.

  "Wow! That's awesome!" he exclaimed.

  Although he had not realized it, the Rhine

  was dotted with many castles. Some were beautiful

  and elegant while others were unattractive and

  in disrepair.

  While staring out the window at the approaching

  castle, Marci heard a faint and vaguely

  familiar voice talking three tables away. The fellow

  speaking was tall and slim with piercing, steely,

  #ay eyes. His voice was eerily familia4, and his eyes

  reminded her of those belonging to the rude fellow

  she had met on the plane. He had an unkempt

  appearance, a ruddy complexion and black hair

  which was parted rakishly to one side.

  " Are you ready for a little business?" he said

  to his shorter, pudgier companion.

  "You bettcha Mr. Dawson," said the short

  man while cackling with laughter.

  "No one knows business like you do."

  At the mention of his name, Mr. Dawson became

  concerned. He raised his finger to his lips,

  demanding silence.

  "What are you trying to do? Ruin me?,, he

  barked.

  "I'm sorry," said the shorter man as he nervously

  ran his stubby fingers through his yellow,

  matted hair. "It won't happen again,

  "I know it won'!" said Dawson, shifting uncomfortably

  In his seat. As he spoke, from the corner of

  his eye, Dawson caught a glimpse of a little girl

  with black hair staring at him. He turned and stared

  back. Marci, the little girl looked away and whispered

  to her brother,

  "I've seen that guy somewhere before. Isn’t

  that the nasty guy I sat by on the plane?,,

  "What guy?" asked Craig looking from side

  to side.

  "Don't turn around. He’ll see!” whispered

  Marci, pondering. "Take a drink of water and look

  at him in the reflection of your glass. He’s the mean looking

  guy with black hair staring at us three tables

  behind you."

  Craig casually lifted his glass of water to spy

  on the man with black hair. He couldn’t tell if it

  was the same man because the fellow on board the

  plane hid behind a book for most of the flight. But

  to put his sister at ease, he responded.

  "I don't think you've ever met anyone like

  him before, Marci. That guy’s wicked.,,

  Marci nodded her head in agreement,

  "Yeah, totally wicked! But I'm certain it’s

  him."

  Being under the constant watch of a stranger

  made Marci feel a bit uncomfortable. To avoid his

  prying eyes, she turned to face the window and

  ate her cheesecake in silence. It was one of those

  self-conscious moments when the tension was so

  thick, it hovered like a dense fog in the air. Occasionally,

  Craig would take a drink of water, while

  simultaneously spying on Dawson through the re_

  flection of his glass. But when he did so, all he saw

  was Dawson's hardened face, glaring back at him.

  After what seemed a long time, Craig broke the silence.

  " Are you finished eating? Do you want to go

  back to the smoke house?"

  From the corner of her eye Marci caught a

  glimpse of the angry-looking Dawson and his

  friend.

  “yeah, let’s go,” she said, thinking that it was a wise decision.

  When Craig and Marci arrived back at the compartment, the

  chess game had ended and the air had cleared. The two men who once

  had filled the compartment with smoke, now slept. Marci then sat next to

  her brother while he gave her a bit of advice.

  “That guy’s trouble,” he said referring to the fellow it the restaurant.

  He continued in a tone surprisingly reminiscent of their father.

  “Do me a favor and stay away from him.

  There’s no telling what he’s up to.”

  Marci nodded, “yeah you can say that again.”

  Craig slouched further into his seat and

  yawned, “I’m kinda tired' I'm going to take a nap. Stay Close O.K?”

  “Sure, I'll stay close,” she said turning aside

  and whispering. ”At least for a little while”

  Marci sat beside her brother for fifteen or twenty

  minutes longer. She couldn’t help but wonder

  what had happened to him. In times past he

  was never afraid of mean people like that. It was

  only last year that he was an adventurous teenager

  who would have gla
dly thumbed his nose at such

  a fellow, mocking and ridiculing him to scorn. But

  now unfortunately, he seemed more like an adult-

  - hesitant cautious, and no fun.

  "What a shame," she thought to herself. The

  poor fellow started with so much promise.”

  Before leaving, Marci waited for the telltale

  sign that he was sound asleep. It came like music

  to her ears; with his mouth slightly open he began

  to snore. Sensing that the opportunity was right,

  she rose and sneaked out of the compartment.

  Where was she going? Nowhere in particular. It was

  her first time on a train and she wanted to explore

  without supervision. Why did she have to sneak

  away? Because it was more exciting to sneak away

  than to leave with permission.

  Chapter 4

  The Chase

  Beginning her journey in the last car the little

  gymnast slowly walked forward. With a swish and

  a thud, the doors separating the various compartments

  opened and closed. Passing from car to car

  Marci encountered numerous cultures from

  throughout the world. From the romantic speech

  of Italy, to the beautiful fashions of Egypt; she even

  met a woman from India who gave her a tasty bit

  of home-made chocolate.

  "Is this your first time visiting Germany?"

  asked the woman.

  "Yeah," said Marci greedily eyeing the small

  bag of chocolate the stranger held in her hands'

  "Is this your ... chocolate - I mean your first

  time here?," Marci added with a little embarrassment.

  "No," said the woman, beginning to laugh.

  "My chocolate and I have been here many times.

  My husband studies at the university.” Then, noticing

  Marci's intent gaze upon the candy she

  added, "Would you like some? I made it myself.”

  "You did? I'd love some,” Marci replied enthusiastically.

  Reaching into her bag the woman withdrew

  a chunk of chocolate and handed it to Marci, who

  received it with a smile and began nibbling.

  "So your husband’s in school?” Marci said,

  with a hint of sorrow in her voice, between bites of

  chocolate.

  "Yes, he likes the academic life,” said the

  woman. "But I can't wait until he’s finished so we

  can settle down and stop traveling so much. He’s

  always traveling for research. How about you? It

  sounds like you don't like school much.,,

  "Well, I usually don’t, but sometimes I do. I

  guess it just depends on what kind of mood I’m

  in," Marci stammered. "But hey, I better get a move

  on before my brother wakes up. Thanks for the

  chocolate," she added before parting.

  "It's nothing, I'm glad I could share it with

  you. Have a nice trip. Bye by"," said the woman as

  she waved.

  Up to this point her encounter with the passengers

  and tour of the train was a pleasant experience.

  With candy in hand, Marci moved on, slowly

  eating the chocolate as she journeyed. Everything

  was going quite well - that is until she reached car

  ten.

  In the tenth car there was an uneasy silence.

  The wide-eyed expressions on the faces of its passengers,

  combined with numerous hushed voices

  and whispered conversations, foretold fear. Taking

  note of their timid expressions, Marci exercised

  caution and walked carefully down the aisle. In

  order not to raise any undue attention to herself,

  she made her movements smooth and silent, like

  those of a cat. She felt as if the hair on the back of

  her neck would stand on end. Further down the

  aisle she noticed two Asian women huddled together

  and trembling. With faint and barely audible

  sounds, they spoke.

  "I can't... believe anyone could be so ... in_

  considerate," the first woman said.

  The other woman added, “He treated us like

  ... dirt!"

  "Like dirt? Don’t fool yourself. He treated us

  much worse than that,” responded the first. “I’ve

  never seen anyone so mean. First he pushed us out

  of his way and then looked at us like we purposely

  tried to block his path.,,

  Overhearing their concern, and noticing how

  nervous the women seemed, Marci continued her

  exploration with great care. Towards the end of the

  car was a smoking compartment. A misty cloud of

  smoke partially obscured the windows. From the

  nervous fidgeting of those sitting nearby, Marci

  knew that this compartment housed the culprit. A

  peek inside revealed nothing unusual, just two men

  smoking cigars. For a moment the men appeared

  to be totally enveloped in searching for castles.

  They blew clouds of smoke into the air and stared

  along the mountainous banks of the Rhine.

  With their backs to the door, the men were

  unaware that they were being observed. They

  spoke English in low tones. Curious and unable to

  hear their conversation Marci pressed her ear

  against the glass door. The lean fellow with black

  hair spoke first.

  "How is it going for you? Did you get many?”

  The other fellow chuckled while he displayed a

  wallet crammed with Deutsche Marks and commented,

  "It’s like taking candy from a baby. I mean,

  this train is so crowded you can’t help bumping

  into people and lifting wallets. All those guys carry

  cash. Rob, this is your best scheme yet!” At the mention

  of his name, Rob shifted uncomfortably in his

  seat .In his line of business, names, like secrets, were

  never to be spoken out loud. His partner in crime,

  noticing his unease, spoke again, reassuringly.

  "What? Relax. There’s no one in the room

  with us," he grinned, showing his yellow and white

  teeth. "Besides, Germany is a long ways from Philadelphia."

  "Oh just be quiet and hand me that!” Rob

  scolded taking no comfort from his partner’s excuses.

  Marci watched in disbelief as the fellow she

  now knew as Rob was given a thick green k up_

  sack. The bag looked identical to the one she saw

  while on board the plane.

  "Give me your wallets”, snapped Rob. His

  partner opened his jacket revealing sixteen wallets

  hidden in numerous inside pockets. Wallets in

  hand, Rob carefully took the paper money from

  each and stuffed it into the army green knapsack.

  Finally the empty wallets were pushed out a small

  window onto the tracks below. The wallets fell one

  by one to the ground. Marci became concerned. It

  was obvious to her that these men were thieves,

  and that her very knowledge of their existence put

  her in danger. However, an important question remained.

  Were these the men in the restaurant? They

  looked similar, but she wanted to be certain.

  Throughout their entire conversation they

  had kept their backs to her. All she could see was

  the color of their hair. One had sandy brown hair

  and th
e other black. But a description of their hair

  was not enough. She needed more clues to make

  sure. To discover their identities, Marci concentrated

  as hard as she could on their reflections in

  the window. In the reflection she saw a pair of thin

  cruel lips distorted in a permanent scowl and then

  two pale gray eyes stared back at her. She shuddered

  at the revelation. Her suspicions were right.

  lt was them. It was Dawson the wicked, and his

  pudgy associate. Marci's reflexes took over and

  quickly pushed her away from the glass door. She

  had seen enough. It was now time to return to the

  safety of her compartment. There would be plenty

  of time to tell the conductor what she had seen --

  late{, once she was safe. As Marci withdrew, she

  noticed that Rob's eyes seemed to shift to her. She

  held still and waited for his eyes to shift again. But

  they didn't.

  His cold eyes remained firmly fixed upon her

  in a threatening stare. Rob leaned over suspiciously

  and whispered something to his partner. When

  Marci saw the two men whispering, she knew that

  she was discovered. Slowly, she backed away from

  the compartment. From the corner of her eye, Marci

  saw Rob and his partner rise to their feet. Both pretended

  they hadn't seen the little girl spying on

  them and slowly walked to the door, as if going for

  a leisurely walk.

  "That's the girl who was spying on us in the

  restaurant. She heard everything, including my

  name. We've got to get her," she heard Rob say.

  Marci walked briskly down the aisle and exited

  car ten. she looked over her shoulder to see if

  the evil men followed. They did. Not only did they

  follow, but they gained upon her. Increasing her

  speed, Marci attempted to lose them by jogging.

  But with all masquerades aside the criminals increased

  their pace also. They were so close that she

  could hear their plodding footsteps and heavy

  breathing.

  In car fifteen she saw her best opportunity

  to escape from the grasp of the thieves. An old man,

  crouching over a pile of luggage' blocked the aisle

  at its center. When Marci saw the old man blocking

  the aisle, she smiled' and began a full out sprint

  heading directly for him' Then at the last possible

  moment she placed' her hands firmly on his shoulders

  and vaulted over his head' It was a clean take

  off and a solid landing' just like she had practiced