Amanda on the Danube: The Sounds of Music (5 page)

“Why didn't you tell your parents about the violin?” Leah wrinkled her brow. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because the boy who gave it to me asked me to keep it safe and not tell anyone about it.”

“What! What boy?” Leah demanded.

“A boy I saw in Nuremberg. I think he was on this boat when we first got here. He might have been hiding in the storage room. He plays so beautifully but is poor and injured. I felt sorry for him.” Amanda looked down at the instrument case on her lap. “I don't know why Sebastian wants the violin, but I have a feeling it's very valuable.”

“Well, we simply cannot keep it here, Amanda. It
is too dangerous. Can't you see that? We have to tell our parents.”

“No! We can't do that. They will turn it in and the boy won't get it back.”

“Here we go again. You always get involved with other people's problems. Always!”

“I'm sorry, Leah. Can we just leave it until we get to Vienna? He said he would meet me there to collect it.”

Leah groaned. “I'm exhausted. Let's just go to bed.”

Amanda gently placed the violin case back in the drawer and arranged her underwear over it. She couldn't help but think, ‘How did the person who broke in the room overlook it?'

Waiting in line for breakfast the next morning, Klaus approached the girls. “I hear you had a bit of trouble last night.”

“It was nothing. Probably just a prank.” Amanda piled strawberries on her waffles.

“Be careful who you make friends with.” The old man ran his hand over his beard and winked. “I think I'll have some of those waffles as well.”

Amanda had an uneasy feeling. ‘Klaus seems friendly and easy going, but something doesn't feel
right. Perhaps Leah is right in wondering if Sebastian is really his nephew.'

Michael came to their table with a broad grin. “I do hope you had a pleasant sleep last night, in spite of everything. We have decided not to mention the mishap to the other passengers so as not to alarm them.” In a louder voice, he said, “I am conducting an informal walking tour of Passau this morning. Would you folks like to join me?”

“That sounds great,” said Amanda. “When are you leaving?”

“We are meeting right outside the boat at ten o'clock. Unfortunately, it is raining, so dress warmly.”

Back in the room Amanda put on her new purple waterproof jacket and pulled the hood up over her head. “This should be fun.”

“Yeah, sure,” Leah retorted. “Tell me, how did Klaus know someone had broken into our room, when Michael said he hadn't told anyone?”

Amanda shrugged. She had that same uncomfortable feeling again.

They joined Michael outside the boat just as Klaus appeared.

“This is an interesting old town right on the border of Germany and Austria,” Klaus reported. “I believe it is over two thousand years old. In 1792
Mozart came here as a musical prodigy at six years old, to play a recital on the grand organ before the bishop. The cheap old bishop was so impressed he paid him a single ducat—about two dollars.” Klaus chuckled.

“I'll provide the history if you don't mind, Mr. Schmidt.” Michael smiled at the older man.

Michael led the small group through the historical part of town, pointing out the bishop's palace on the hill, historical buildings, statues and churches. He had interesting stories to share, but Amanda had trouble concentrating. She kept looking behind her. Everywhere the tour group went she felt someone watching her.

The group entered a courtyard filled with shrubs and flowers. They stopped in front of a sculpture of a slender monk holding a large cross. Michael began to tell a story about the figure when Amanda thought she heard voices in the flower garden to her left. She slipped away from the group and snuck into the garden. Behind a large rhododendron bush, she spotted Klaus and Sebastian in a heated discussion.

“I'm sorry, but I looked everywhere and couldn't find it. I had to leave when I heard someone coming. I didn't want to get caught,” said the frightened boy.

“Can't you do anything right? I provide you with a key and a time they would be out. And you bring
me nothing. It has to be in their room somewhere.” Klaus scowled and lifted his hand.

Sebastian ducked to avoid the blow.

The older man's face went red as he grabbed the boy by his collar and shook him. “You must find it and get it to me before we arrive in Vienna.”

Amanda shivered as a chill ran up her spine. Klaus no longer resembled Santa Claus. She rushed back to the group just as Michael finished his story about the ill-fated monk.

“Where did you go?” asked Leah.

“I'll tell you later,” replied Amanda. She looked back at the garden but saw no one. “It looks like we have frenemies on the boat.”

“What do you mean, frenemies?” Leah scrunched up her nose.

“You know, people who are nice and pretend to be your friends, but are really your enemies.”

“You do say the most daft things sometimes.”

Amanda pulled her hood tighter as the rain became heavier.

L
ike who?” Leah raised her eyebrows. “Who do you think is a…frenemy?”

“Like, Klaus—perhaps.”

“Klaus? He's so kind and jolly.”

“Yes, but he just—”

“Are you talking about me?” Klaus came up from behind and rested his hands on the girls' shoulders. “I hope it was not anything bad.”

“Of course not!” exclaimed Amanda. Both girls faked a smile.

Klaus chuckled. “Well, that's good. I wanted to tell you there is a nice little print shop you might find interesting. It has been operated by the same family for many generations. It is just around the corner. I believe my wife is there now.” Klaus pointed the way and left them.

“I think you might be wrong about Klaus,” said Leah.

Amanda murmured, “Hmmm. I don't think so.”

The girls found the print shop and soon forgot
about Klaus. Elvira, the owner, explained how they did their own printing with a two-hundred-year-old Gutenberg printing press. They also made their own paper.

Fascinated, Amanda picked up a notebook. “I could use this as a journal.”

“What would you write about? I would never have anything to put in it,” said Leah.

“I can write about my holidays with you, for starts,” replied Amanda.

Leah snorted. “No one would believe it. They would think you made it up.”

“That's the thing about journals, they are not for anyone to read. They're just for the author.” Amanda ran her hand over the rough handmade paper. “You must admit, our holidays haven't been boring.”

“True, but occasionally there has been more excitement than necessary.” Leah grinned.

Amanda was happy Leah was no longer mad at her, at least for the time being.

“Oh, look at this cute carrier bag with music notes and Mozart's signature. I think I'll get that too. It will be perfect for my shopping.” Amanda paid for her items and thanked Elvira for the information.

“
Auf Wiedersehen
,” said the friendly storekeeper.

The rain stopped as they walked down the narrow cobblestone street and rounded a corner. Leah
tripped over something.

“Ouch!”

“Who said that?” Amanda looked around and noticed a body lying in a doorway. She gasped. “Oh my, it's a person.”

“I didn't see your leg sticking out. Sorry,” said Leah.

A young boy with curly hair sat up and rubbed his leg.

Leah jumped back. “Is it…Sebastian?”

“No, it isn't.” Amanda recognized the boy who gave her the violin to look after. She crouched down beside him. “Are you OK?”

“I am fine,
danke.
” He brushed his hair from his face and forced a smile.

Amanda noticed the dirty, blood-stained bandage still on his thumb and nodded at it.

“You have to get a clean bandage or you'll get an infection. Come with us to the boat and the doctor there will look at it.”

“I cannot go on the boat.” The young boy's face turned white.

“Don't worry, we'll get you on the boat and no one will know.”

“We will?” Leah's eyes grew wide.

“Yes. Leah, give me your lipstick from your purse.” She took off her raincoat. “Here put this on.
It's a little big but it's OK.”

Amanda applied lipstick to the boy's lips and rubbed a bit on his cheeks, giving them a rosy glow. She pulled the hood up over his head and tugged out a few stands of curly hair to frame his face. She rolled up the coat sleeves.

“There, you look like a sweet little girl.” Amanda grabbed his hand. “Come with us and you will be fine.”

The young boy reluctantly let Amanda lead him.

“What is your name by the way?”

“It is David.”

“Great. For today it will be Davina.”

“Amanda, you are bonkers. Totally bonkers.” Leah rolled her eyes. She took hold of his other hand. “Davina, it looks like you are coming with us.”

Three girls boarded the boat and immediately went to the First Aid station. The young man attending explained the doctor wasn't in, but he was a certified nurse from Turkey and could tend to the injured thumb.

“My name is Tabeeb.” He removed the dirty bandage. “This looks bad. It is good you came to see me now. Infection has started to set in, but we will clean it up and apply medicine. It will be fine.” He dabbed
the ugly cut with a cloth. “How did you come by this injury?”

David's eyes grew wide with fear.

Amanda jumped in. “He—I mean, she doesn't speak much English. She caught it on a nail a couple of days ago. I think she's afraid of doctors, so she didn't come here right away.”

“Nothing to be afraid of, my dear.” Tabeeb put on a fresh bandage and patted David's head. “Keep it clean. Here are a couple more bandages. Come back if it gets worse.” The young man gave them a warm smile. Amanda thought he was quite nice and very handsome.

They left the First Aid station just as the boat pulled away from the dock.

“
O nein
!” exclaimed David. “What am I to do? I cannot be seen on this boat.” David looked around like a caged animal.

“You can stay in our room. No one will need to know.” Amanda grabbed David's hand. “Come quickly.”

Leah followed, shaking her head.

A
manda.” Leah tugged at her friend's sleeve and hissed, “What do you think you are doing?”

“Don't worry. It'll be OK.” Amanda looked over her shoulder. “I think I hear someone coming. Quick, let's hide in here.” She pulled David with her into an open doorway. Leah followed.

Seconds later, footsteps clomped past and up the stairs.

Amanda let out her breath. “That was close.” She looked around the dimly lit room. “I wonder what they use this room for.”

Clang!

“Blimey, I tripped over something—again.” Leah held up a round, shiny object. “This time, it wasn't a foot. Looks like a cymbal.”

Amanda's eyes grew accustomed to the dim light. She noticed violins, accordions, drums, saxophones and clarinets strewn around like dead bodies. “This must be where they store instruments for the entertainment.”

“It is,” said David as he stroked a violin.

“Have you played on this boat?” asked Amanda.

“Yes, before I was told I wasn't allowed on the boat.”

“Why?”

He shook his head. “I don't know.”

Amanda narrowed her eyes. “And how did you hurt your thumb?”

“Err, shouldn't we be getting out of here before we get caught?” asked Leah. She looked both ways down the hall. “The coast is clear.”

They worked their way back up to the room without being seen.

“All right! We are here.” Leah crossed her arms and leaned back, clicking their door closed behind her. “Now what?”