Frankenstein Theory (19 page)

Before Elizabeth had a chance to respond, I marched into the room, head held high, and announced, “Ladies, the time has arrived for me to unveil my most recent work.” I stopped before them and nodded gently before continuing. “As you both know, I have been working nonstop for the university. What you don’t know is the nature of that project. It is time for that work to be unveiled.”

I offered a slight bow and gestured for the door. “If you two would kindly join me, I will lead you to the laboratory.”

Elizabeth and Mother exchanged concerned glances.

“
My dear boy, in all my years of living in this home, I have never once stepped foot in your father’s laboratory.”

“
Don’t you think it time to toss that tradition in the rubbish, Mother?” Again, I gestured for the door. “I will explain everything on the way.”

Both women stood and cautiously made their way across the room. Once we were in the hall, I began. “For the university in Ingolstadt, I was sent a man who was very near death. The department of medicine was lost for the means to save this patient and thought maybe the Baron’s work might be the thing to cast aside the Grim Reaper. I brought this man into the laboratory under the cover of night and have been working diligently, over the last few weeks, to save him.”

I led us into the study and through the connecting passage. Before I opened the great metal door to the laboratory, I turned to them. Shadows danced across their faces, almost obscuring the look of fear and amazement.

“
I’ve succeeded,” I whispered. “Where an entire department of brilliant minds failed, I managed to save this gentle man.”

Elizabeth snapped, “And what is so important about this one man that would drag you away from me night and day?”

Without so much as a word, I opened the door. The sound of music spilled through the crack to delight the ears of anyone within range of hearing. I smiled and said softly, “That, my love.”

Mother gasped. “That is Bach. Johann Christian; Keyboard Sonata Opus 5. Number One.” She clutched her hand to her breast. “Oh, my goodness…I’ve never heard Bach played with such expressive phrasing.” Mother looked to me, her eyes on fire with a passion I’d never before witnessed. “Victor, what have you done, and to whom have you done it?”

I pressed the door open until it was stopped by the stone wall. “Follow me, ladies.” As my right foot came down on the first stair, I turned back with a warning. “Do be very cautious; the stairs can be treacherous.”

When we arrived on the floor of the laboratory, I cleared my throat and called out. “Johann, I have someone very much interested in meeting you.”

His fingers ceased their balletic dance over the keys. My creation stood and, with a dramatic flair, turned. When Johann’s gaze befell Elizabeth, the breath was stolen from his lungs. Immediately, he stepped forward, took her hand in his, and kissed the flesh of her knuckles. “It is my pleasure, madam.”

“
Did you know J.C. Bach?” Mother asked.

Johann turned to Mother and repeated the chivalric gesture with her hand. “I am afraid I never had the chance to meet Herr Bach. I have, however, studied under the tutelage of his brother, Carl Philipp.”

I made the formal introduction before Mother could dive into a litany of questions regarding the Bach family. “Mother. Elizabeth. This is Johann Grimm. He arrived in my lab unconscious and unresponsive. It was thought that the man, and his incredible talents, were lost. With the help of Father’s notes, I managed to save Johann.”

Johann turned and bowed to me. “And I am forever grateful to you, Victor.”

Mother insisted Johann’s attention return to her. “Would you please play us another piece?”

“
I would be honored.” Johann made his way to the piano. “What would you lovely ladies like to hear?”

Johann delighted in performing for Elizabeth. With every bit of praise, every pop and crack of applause, the man rose higher and higher to the occasion. Any second, Johann Grimm would ascend to the heavens and claim the status of angel.

As he drew the short piece of music to a conclusion, he glanced my way. I was certain the delight etched on his face was founded in pure malice.

ACT FOUR

A Curtain Rises. A Star Shines.

T W E N T Y-T W O

Over the next few weeks, I took it upon myself to further educate Johann in the subtleties of society and eloquence. His indoctrination into the Geneva bourgeoisie required some doing—speech, movement, philosophy, art, finances. The biggest challenge to face us was instructing the man on the ways of courtship. His return to society would, at some point, require him to seduce and woo the fairer sex.

Much to my surprise, Johann excelled at every turn. On the rare occasion he stumbled, a quick hour or two at the piano would have him tuned and refocused on the task at hand.

Both Elizabeth and Mother had taken a keen interest in Johann—primarily for his prowess on the keys. Every so often, however, I would have sworn there was some other motivating factor behind the eyes of my wife. While in the presence of Herr Grimm, Elizabeth’s smile was brighter, and her eyes filled with a universe of stars.

His great moment of introduction came by happenstance. The symphony had arranged for a pianist who’d studied under the great Joseph Haydn to appear for a concert to raise funds for the hall. When the pianist took ill, word spread fast that Maestro Giersbergen was desperate for a replacement. It took little convincing—and the promise of a significant donation—to get Johann in as the replacement.

“
Isn’t this exhilarating, Victor? The very man you saved from death’s cold grasp is about to make his debut as a concert pianist.” Elizabeth’s voice was electric with nervous energy. “You must be so proud to have made this happen.”

I leaned in and kissed her rosy cheek. “My love, I am but doing my part to serve the artistic community of Geneva.”

I’d layered the lies so profoundly, I was no longer certain of the truth. There was one certainty that could not be denied.

Desire.

The moment Johann no longer needed my guidance, I felt my soul empty of its purpose. That which I’d created was no longer my own. Even Igor had slipped the bonds of my employment. He never even returned to inform me he’d dispatched the colleague who
knew too much
.

Without purpose or focus, the very act of venturing into my laboratory brought about feelings of visceral pain. Emptiness did not suit the soul of a Frankenstein. We were, by nature, creators…masters and curators of the scientific arts. I so desperately yearned for the act and art of creation.

The more refined Johann became, the more restless I grew.

A wave of applause pulled me out of my illogical reverie. From the wings of the stage, Johann stepped. Dressed in dashing black, he very much looked the part of a master musician. He crossed to down center and took a deep bow.

He stood and offered a most humble smile. The women in attendance swooned at the sight of his beauty. It was a thing of grace that fortune blessed Johann with a quickly growing head of hair. Although the man’s teeth would not be blessed by a natural return to beauty, a simple pair of false teeth did the trick. For all intent and purpose, his visage was perfect.

Elizabeth sat up straight in her seat and clasped her hands in her lap.

With a dramatic flair to shame the great David Garrick himself, Johann seated himself before the gleaming black pianoforte.

Silence overtook the hall.

Johann teased the audience with a single note, played with such a delicate touch, he could have ended the night there and managed to fund the symphony for years to come. Instead, he continued on. Note by note, a beautifully tragic melody spilled out of the instrument. All thought of science and need washed from my system. All that existed was music…sweet, transfixing music.

I managed to pull myself out of the moment to glance at Elizabeth…she was utterly lost in the pageantry of chordal progressions, point and counter-point. I reached over to take her hand and she refused…completely unaware of my overture
–
nay, existence. I swallowed my pride and returned my attention to the concert.

As the last note of the sonata faded into the void, the audience leapt to their feet in a thunderous ovation that threatened to peel back the paint of every fresco in the hall. Johann stood, marched back to center stage, and took another, deeper bow.

Roses danced in the air before the man and fell at his feet. Pleas for “more” rattled the rafters. Johann bowed again. When he stood, he addressed the audience.

“
Dearest ladies and most kind gentlemen. It is with such great honor and pleasure that I have been given this moment to help raise funds, so that this glorious symphony might continue on. I would like to humbly ask your permission to perform an original piece I have composed for this very occasion.”

Johann’s speech was impeccable. Not a soul in the audience would dare venture a guess that the man before them was, only recently, a corpse. The thought brought about the slightest bit of joy to my jealous heart.

Elizabeth’s hands came to her mouth to suppress a sigh. She was, beyond doubt, enthralled. So oblivious was she to my existence, at that moment, I could have walked away without being missed.

Johann returned to the piano and caressed a miraculous melody from the keys. I had to fight against purest desire to keep from falling for the composition.

I stared out over the audience. Not a soul moved or made the slightest sound.

Geneva, and its symphony, had a new darling.

xXx

When the concert concluded, the audience filed out to the lobby, in hopes of being graced by the appearance of Herr Grimm. Hushed whispers shuddered through the crowd like a wave of rumors. From the far side of the lobby, a chorus of shouts rose.

Johann had appeared.

Elizabeth tugged at my sleeve, hoping to move us toward the guest of honor.

“
My darling,” I spoke into my wife’s ear. “The man lives in our…”

She halted my proclamation. “It’s not the same, Victor. I want to be
seen
with him in public.”

I managed to free my trapped arm, and Elizabeth shot into the crowd like a hound retrieving a downed pheasant.

I spun on my heels and made to exit the hall when I spotted Igor near the exit. I should have been enraged by the sight of him, but seeing the only man who truly understood my work was like a breath of much-needed air.

“
I had no idea you enjoyed the symphony, Mr. Fishka,” I said over the din of elation.

Igor looked up to me, popped his goggles from his eyes, and offered a great grin. “Doctor Frankenstein. So good to see you out and about.”

“
It’s good to know you are still among the living, Igor. I’d assumed you gone. Tell me…what brings you here?” I asked.

“
How could I miss your crowning achievement?”

“
You mean
his
crowning achievement?”

Igor shook his head vigorously. “Oh no, sir. This is your moment. That man owes you his life.”

“
Although I appreciate the sentiment, Mr. Fishka, I’m fairly certain Johann wouldn’t see it that way.”

“
Good thing we know the truth, then. Eh, Doctor Frankenstein?”

I nodded and patted Igor on the back with an intentionally rigorous gusto. “Indeed, good sir.”

“
So what have you now? Are you planning any more experiments? I don’t suppose you could use a master electrician again, could you? There’s not much work around Geneva for my type at the moment.”

“
Unfortunately, Igor, I’m doing nothing of interest at the moment.”

Igor glanced at the crowd surrounding Johann. “Too bad, sir. It seems your work is a masterful success.”

I cast a glance to Johann and nodded. “That it is, Mr. Fishka. That is it.”

Igor placed his hand on my forearm and gave it a squeeze. “By the way, that problem I had…it has been dispatched.” He gave me an awkward wink. “If you do decide to dwell in those dark shadows of reanimation once again, do not hesitate to call upon my particular skills. I can most always be found at Lionshead with my face buried in a pint or two.”

“
You have my word, Igor.”

Without so much as a nod goodbye, Igor pressed into the crowd and slipped through the exit. The darkness of night engulfed the little man, and I was left to my thoughts—of growing frustration, jealousy, and doubt.

“
Victor,” Elizabeth’s voice shook me back to the reality of the moment. “Look who I found.”

On Elizabeth’s arm clung Johann, a victorious smile slicing across his lips. Upon first blush, it was easy to assume the celebratory expression was given life by the masterful performance. Knowing the parties involved as I did, it was safe to assume the wash of joy had far more meaning and depth than a job well done.