On separate ways - Part 4

Back at Switzerland, David and Martha headed straight for the Grandhotel. First, they had to give M. Sprüngli a report on the conference; but David also longed to see Amelia again. While Martha waited for M. Sprüngli to call them in, David went to search for Amelia. But he couldn't find her anywhere in the hotel. Eventually, he asked Babette about Amelia.

"Oh, she hasn't been at the hotel for three days now, since you left for Paris." Babette replied. "Maybe she's sick and stayed home. You should phone her."

David nodded and dialed her number. But there was no response. "She's not home. Now I'm worried." That moment, M. Sprüngli called Martha and David into his office. He was about to ask them about the conference, but David asked him instead: "Uncle, do you know where Amelia is? It seems she has disappeared since I left for Paris."

"Amelia? She has quit. I received this letter two days ago." M. Sprüngli handed David a page. "She writes that she quit for personal reasons. I thought you'd finally come to your senses and talked to her?"

"You think that I'd dropped her as you have asked me to do? Never!" David looked over the letter. It was a print-out, but then he saw something. "This is not her signature. I know Amelia's handwriting and this is not hers. What are you playing here, uncle?"

"Do you think I forged this letter? Amelia missed her shifts since the day you left. I called at your flat and even went there - she wasn't present. Then I received the letter and everything became apparent."

"I believe you, uncle. But she hasn't written this letter. I know it. I have to find her." David insisted and rose from his seat.

"David! You must not go! You have to tell me about the conference now." M. Sprüngli ordered.

Now Martha interfered. "Don't you see that he loves Amelia? Please give him some time. He'll tell you what you want to know later." M. Sprüngli sat down and nodded.


Amelia Maus had taken shelter in a crack in the wall. Since she was transformed back into a mouse, Amelia had to fight for her survival again. Luckily, she could resort to the instincts she had developed earlier in her life when she was just a mouse. On the other hand, Amelia longed to be human again. Being a mouse again felt so alien to her. And the longer she remained a mouse, the more natural being a mouse would feel to her. In fact, Amelia was quickly accommodating to being a mouse again.
Until now, she had managed to survive for four days and still retained her human mind. Earlier this day, Amelia had watched David walking around in the hotel after returning from Paris, but she couldn't reach him before he was called into his uncle's office. If Amelia could make herself noticed by him and make him recognize her, he would surely call Martha and turn her back into a woman. Patiently, she waited until the door opened again.


David stepped out of the office. He was steaming with fury. He was convinced that his uncle had fired Amelia while he and Martha were in Paris. Maybe Amelia had left him a note at his flat? With quick steps, he headed to the exit, when suddenly, a brown mouse crossed his part.
"Great! Another one of these vermin!" David murmured. The mouse stopped and looked at him.
"What a stupid creature!" David raised his foot. The mouse didn't try to run away at all.
"You had your chance." David stomped down directly at the mouse.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Part 1: [link]
Part 2: [link]
Part 3: [link]

Part 5: [link]
Part 6: [link]
Part 7: [link]
Part 8: [link]

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