The Replacement 1.5

“I tell you the sewer is full of bodies of people dressed for traveling and it looks like they drowned in there.” Ezra said to Lazlo.

“That is why the sewer is clogged.” Sasha reiterated, “The sewer is packed with people, suitcases, and clothes.”

“Quieter, please, whisper.” Lazlo said to Sasha. “Someone might overhear us.”

“The bodies rotting in the sewer will soon make a very serious health risk and everyone will soon be in danger of disease,” Dr. Szalabo, the other neighbor who came with Lazlo said, “What are we to do about this? We must notify the authorities quickly.”

Whispering Ezra said, “Yes, we all know that the authorities must be notified but why are they there?”

“And so many,” Sasha whispered.

“And who are they?” Lazlo asked.

“I thought this is something we should report directly to the regent.” Ezra whispered.

There was a knock at the door, “It is Ela with lunch.”

“I’ll get it.” Lazlo jumped up and opened the door for Ela who brought in a tray of victuals and a glass of lemonade.

Ela wore all black and was veiled because of Adam and set the tray on the coffee table. “Do you need anything else?”

“No, thank you Ela, this will be fine for us.” Ezra said.

“Ela have you heard any strange gossips at all?” Sasha asked her.

“Strange gossips,” Ela looked startled, “Like what kind, about what?”

“Oh just anything out of the ordinary,” With nonchalance Dr. Szalabo smiled and said.

“I shall ask Eva and Zsa Zsa but I don’t hear much of anything at all, even more strange is that people I thought would come to see me now that I am a widow have not.” Ela said and looked directly at Dr. Szalabo and Lazlo.

A bluster of apologies ensued from Lazlo and Dr. Szalabo and they said the whole family would come over to offer their condolences and they offered their condolences, that they had not been respectful because of their preoccupation with the war and the times.

“So there is no gossip of any kind, my dear?” Dr. Szalabo asked Ela again.

“No but perhaps just like you the women are mulling the war and not talking but Sza Sza cannot reach the grocer and Rabbi Goldstein has not come by in over a week and that is not like him. So I wait.” Ela said dejectedly.

“Ela,” Dr. Szalabo said, “I am concerned about the rise in the water of the sewer as a health concern and could you be so kind as to let the other women of the neighborhood know that precautions as to cleanliness must be strictly observed until the sewers return to normal. It is nothing to panic about but it would be wise if the women in the neighborhood maintained cleanliness more than usual and all drinking water should be boiled.”

“Yes, I can do that, right away.” Ela responded.

“Remember, nothing to be alarmed about, just precautions while the sewer is full. We must remain calm but vigilant against disease.” Dr. Szalabo said, “And again I apologize for not being concerned with your recent loss and it was because of the state of the world that my behavior was poor.”

“Apology accepted Doctor, now I will get to this right away, I must put on some walking shoes.” Ela exclaimed.

“Again, I apologize and offer my condolences Ela and remember calm, no panic.” Lazlo said.
“Yes, calmly,” Ela said, “I’ve got to get to it before someone is sick, if you will excuse me.” Ela ran out the door before everyone else could say anything and closed it behind her.

“Now that you bring that up Doctor Szalabo, Sasha and I let the water drain into the yard from the access ‘T’,” Ezra said.

“A deep hole that the water can drain into will make it much safer and perhaps we should all do that. I will go tell Ela and be right back.” Dr Szalabo said and left the room.

“He is single,” Lazlo observed, “But we must decide on a course of action and quickly.”

There was a knock at the door, “It is Zsa Zsa.”

“Come in Zsa Zsa.” Ezra said and she entered. “What is this about boiling the water?”

“Just as a precaution and we have decided to dig a hole in the yard for the house sewage to drain into,” Ezra replied.

“I will put the boys to it. They will love it.” Zsa Zsa said.

“Good, but not too close to the ‘T’ they will need to make a trench to the hole after they dig the hole.” Ezra said.

“Is there anything else?” Zsa Zsa asked.

“Where is my dress uniform and Ephrayim’s?” Ezra asked Zsa Zsa.

“They are both in the attic, why do you need them?” Her tone was a question of not asking why he needed the uniform but if he needed them.

“Yes, I will need it as soon as possible as I wish to approach the sewer department with authority and I want Ephrayim and Sasha with me, dear.” Ezra said.

“Eva and I will get everything as soon as I put the boys to the hole and trench?” Zsa Zsa inferred.

“Yes dear, that would be the best way.” Ezra smiled. Dr. Szalabo returned to the study as Zsa Zsa left and closed the door.

“Ela is off on the errand and is there anything else that we need to discuss,” Doctor Szalabo said as he took a seat and reached for a plate of the victuals.

“The boys will dig the holes soon and then I will dress in my uniform. The question is how many of us should go to approach Regent Hrothy and should we leave as soon as possible?” Ezra said to the doctor and the other two men.

“I would think as soon as possible because this is a medical emergency and a threat to the health of everyone in the city. But since you will be in uniform –“

“and Ephrayim.”

“- And Ephrayim.” Doctor Szalabo continued, “I know a retired General two streets away who will give our petition added weight. We can take my car. It will hold all of us and I could leave to get him right now and then be back.”

“I will go with you.” Lazlo offered.

“Yes Lazlo but perhaps Sasha should come as well since he actually saw this.” Doctor Szalabo said.

“I must put on my suit.” Sasha said.

“Good Sasha, I shall go and get my car ready and then return.” Doctor Szalabo said.

“I need my best suit as well.” Lazlo said.
There was a knock at the door, “It is Ephrayim.”

“Come in please,” Ezra answered.

Eprhayim entered and asked, “What’s this all about?” Then he closed the door and stood waiting for their answers.

“Remain calm,” Sasah said.

“I am calm.” Ephrayim answered.

“The sewer is full of dead bodies,” Doctor Szalabo said, “We are taking this to the regent and we would like you to volunteer to come with us.”

“Eva and Zsa Zsa are readying our uniforms Captain,” Ezra said.

“Yes Major,” Ephrayim replied, “Do we have time to eat first?”

“Good idea,” Doctor Szalabo said, “I think I would like you two armed, agreed.”

“Agreed,” Ezra and Ephrayim replied as they ate.

“I have a pistol,” Lazlo said.

“Bring it and you should all tell your wives that what we go to do may put us on errands for the regent and we might not return right away.” Doctor Szalabo said. “Are you sure you want to go Lazlo?”

“I will go for this.” Lazlo answered.

“It is settled then?” Doctor Szalabo looked each man in the eye.

“It is settled.” Each man responded in turn.

“I am finished and will go home to dress and prepare the car.” Doctor Szalabo said and rose.

“I will leave with you.” Lazlo said as he rose.

“I must dress quickly.” Sasha said and he rose and walked with the other three to the door of the study. Ephrayim sat there and stuffed his face with food as much as he could and as fast as he could. He just nodded to the others.

Ezra joined him and they stuffed themselves. They drank a lot of cool tea.

There was a knock at the door. ”It is Zsa Zsa. We have found your uniforms and have them ready.”

Ezra swallowed took a sip to clear his throat and then said, “Are you ready Ephr?”

“Let’s get dressed.” Ephrayim responded and he stood up.

“Coming dear,” Ezra said with a smile as he walked to the door.

The Doctor, Lazlo, and Sasha parked the car out in front of a very stately mansion. They exited the car and walked up the path to the front door. They knocked and a butler opened the door.

“Doctor Szalabo, good day to you sir, how may I be of assistance to you?” The butler said.

“We are citizens of the neighborhood with a problem which requires the general’s immediate attention.” Doctor Szalabo said to the butler.

“The general is in conference at the moment but should be free soon if you would care to wait in the foyer.” The butler replied.

“Yes, we will wait and please inform the general the matter has some urgency.” Doctor Szalabo informed the butler.
“I will inform him, please enter and make your selves comfortable.” The butler opened the door and allowed them entry and when they were entered, “Please be seated sirs.” The butler then walked back into the house after they took seats.

At any other time, the men might have remarked on the opulence of the foyer, for it was a grand foyer capable of holding maybe fifty people. There were magazines, which the men tried to read but all their thoughts were on what was discovered this morning.

After about twenty minutes, the butler returned. “The general is in conference but asks doctor Szalabo how important is this matter?”

“Please convey to the general the request we make is of the utmost importance concerning a real threat to the neighborhood and the city. His advice and a plan of action are required at his earliest possible convenience.” Doctor Szalabo reported.

“Is it dire?” The butler asked.

Doctor Szalabo looked at the butler for a moment, “The situation has dire possibilities which might result in fruition without the general’s immediate focus; secrecy is required to prevent public panic. The general will want the Sergeant Major to come forward for this.”

“The Sergeant Major,” The butler gawked for a moment? “Follow me he is in his drawing room.” The butler waited for them to rise and then turned to lead the way through the truly great house. On the way, they stopped at a maid and the butler said to the men, “Please excuse me for a moment.”

Doctor Szalabo nodded at the butler and held up his hand as signal to the other men to wait. The butler approached the maid and whispered in her ear. She curtsied and left.

“Follow me to the drawing room.” The butler said and the men nodded in reply. They fell in behind the butler as he walked. Sasha counted and it was no less than one hundred and twenty paces to the drawing room. The butler stopped before two great doors and opened them first the left and then the right door. He stood to the side and said, “You may enter.”

As the men stood shoulder to shoulder they easily passed through the two great doors even with the butler standing inside the doorway once they stepped into the room the butler called out, “Doctor Szalabo and his two guests to see the general on a matter of urgency. I have taken the liberty to call for the Sergeant Major.”

“Very well, send them in to me.” An elderly man said with his back to the doors. He sat at an easel before the large glass windows. He began to put his paints away. “Please see to refreshments and come in gentlemen.” He reached for his cane and stood. He was old and hunched over, probably eighty Sasha guessed with a bald pate. His eyes were very sharp as the three approached.

When they were two steps away Doctor Szalabo said to the general, “It is good to see you in such fine health general but for what we must discuss, due to its urgent and very nasty contents I would ask you as your physician to sit please.”
The general grumbled something inaudible to Sasha and Lazlo.

“I know you do not need my coddling, may I introduce Lazlo Hersza and Sasha Soczeshre to General Von Gzorgsre.”

“Yes, yes pleased to meet you, now what is this matter of such importance?” the general asked flustered.

“It is of the highest importance and secrecy, a true threat and I thought you would want to wait until the Sergeant Major was here general. You will want to give him orders, I am certain.” Doctor Szalabo said.

“Perhaps we should gather around the desk then after all.” There was a knock at the door and it opened, “Refreshments,” the butler said and entered with a rolling cart. “Shall I take the refreshments over by the desk general?”

“Yes, yes thank you and where is the Sergeant Major.” The general said to the butler.

“He should arrive any moment general.” The butler replied.

“Once he is here please guard the door and see to it we are not disturbed for any reason.” The general said to the butler. “Put the lads at the windows please.”

“Yes general, I already have them in position.” The butler replied.

“Excellent. Gentlemen let’s move to the desk.” The general turned and took half steps but he took them quickly for a man his age. He was not wobbly at all like Sasha thought he would be. As he passed the cart, “Please feel free to help your selves.” He took a cup of tea and two small cakes. “Melanya’s cakes are the best.” He set the saucer in front of his chair. Then he seated himself behind the great desk, no doubt one of many great desks in the house.

“We must get to this.” Sasha said declining the cakes.

“Patience, help yourself Sasha,” Doctor Szalabo counseled as he took a juice and two cakes, “Melanya’s cakes are delicious and it might be very long until we get another chance to eat anything.”

“But…very well.” Sasha took some things and sat in the chair on the right in front of the desk, “Please excuse me general I acted rash.”

“That is fine son, it only reveals that why you are here is important but we shall have small talk until my Sergeant arrives.” The general smiled then took a bite of one of Melanya’s cakes, “Oh that woman can cook.”

“Beats field rations doesn’t it?” Doctor Szalabo took a bite of cake.

“Yes, it certainly does. Now these two live in the neighborhood?” The general asked the doctor.

“Yes, Lazlo lives next door to the east and Sasha is across from him in the Schwartz house. The Schwartzes are dressing in full uniform and will be ready to depart once your plan of action is determined general.”

“Oh my, good soldiers, perhaps I should call to be dressed?” The general asked the doctor.

“Perhaps you should.” A special knock at the door occurred and then the Sergeant Major entered. He closed the door behind him.

“Before you report, have the dress uniform of the day readied, Sergeant Major and call forth the command platoon, armed.” The general said.

The Sergeant Major saluted, reopened the door and presumably spoke to the butler. He closed the door and then marched without a sound to the desk and stood to the right of the chair, “Sir, the area is secure, a runner has been sent to notify the command, and your uniform is readied as soon as you wish to dress.”

“Very good Sergeant Major, we have a matter of importance to which we must attend so pull up a chair.” The sergeant major retrieved a chair from the wall and set it to the right of the general and he sat in it looking at the Doctor, Lazlo, and Sasha.

“Very well, Doctor what is this important matter?” The general asked the doctor.

“Sir, you are calm?” Doctor Szalabo asked.

“Yes, don’t coddle me surgeon.”

“The sewer in our neighborhood is full of the dead bodies of people with suitcases. The sewer is clogged with the bodies of the dead and a grave health risk rises by the moment from disease. We do not know how so many bodies were able to clog the sewer or why they are there and it is because of this threat we have come to you to seek an immediate plan of action to this danger to the health of the neighborhood and perhaps why there are people with luggage in the sewer.”

“You have seen this yourself?” The general asked the doctor.

“I brought Sasha as a witness for himself and Major Ezra Schwartz. They were the ones to discover this when they tried to unclog the drains in the neighborhood.”

“Is this true?” The general looked at Sasha.

“Yes it is true general and we have kept it secret to prevent panic. We are the only ones who know besides the Schwartz brothers.”

“So how was it Sasha you saw this?” The general’s eye were sharp as he peered into Sasha and Sasha knew that however old he might be the general was now fully alert.
“General, the drains were clogged so we used a snake on the lines and we removed roots. Rather than call a plumber because that did not cause the drains to flow, we went out to the street and were about to crawl into the sewer with our snake. We looked in the manhole and saw the bodies, Ezra Schwartz and I. We quickly put the manhole back before anyone could see. Doctor Szalabo and Lazlo who live across the street must have been watching because they immediately came over to the house.” The general continued to stare at Sasha evaluating him after a few moments. After his evaluation he said to the Sergeant Major,

“Are our drains clogged Sergeant Major?”

“Sir, not that I have heard but I can set a detail to check the sewer out in front of the house.”

“Yes, do that.” The general sat back in his chair and put a hand to his chin, he was thinking. While he did so the Sergeant Major walked to the door and opened it. He talked to someone unseen. Then he closed the door and walked back to the desk.

“A detail is at it sir.”

“What? Oh yes, how long until my command arrives?” The general asked the Sergeant Major. There was a knock at the door.

“That is the first sir.”

“This must remain secret at this stage so we will wait for my command platoon to arrive.” The general addressed the Doctor, Lazlo, and Sasha. He then turned to the Sergeant Major, “Sergeant Major, I will be dressed and if we have enough men set them to checking all the sewer man holes within a kilometer to determine the nature of this catastrophe. Have these gentlemen brief the command while I dress and get it rolling.” The Sergeant Major left towards the door immediately.

“If you gentlemen will excuse me, continue your refreshments and answer any questions my command platoon might have.”

The three men stood as the general raised from his chair, “Thank you sir.” Doctor Szalabo said.

“No Doctor Szalabo, thank you, retirement was killing this unit. Now we might die for a good cause, I think.”

“Yes general,” Doctor Szalabo said as he stood at attention. The general walked off at full steps to the door and briskly. Sasha had not thought he could do that. The man forgot his cane.

Part 1.1
Part 1.2
Part 1.3
Part 1.4
Part 1.5
Part 1.6
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