Book 3: “Death On Mt. Undenkhark!” Page 30
TRAVELOGUE
GELMUT: SORRY, GOPPO, NO UNTERMENSCHEN ALLOWED IN THE HALLOWED HALLS OF THE SUPERMEN
and
THE THINKER LETS THE TRIO PLAY WITH HIS TOYS
30 May 2015
Greetings again, most honored reader! Hmmm… things didn’t quite go the way little Goppo was hop-ing, did they? It’s as if Gelmut said, “Sorry, Goppo, but you do not really win the “The Deathmatch-Labyrinth-From-Hell-to-Survive Contest” after all. You see, you failed to read the fine print: Unter-menschen need not apply. Thank you for playing, and certainly enjoy your box of Rice-A-Roni, “The San Francisco Treat,” on your way to the Afterlife.
This little scene says boxloads about our most (un)beloved antagonists, Gelmut and Anasha. First (and probably foremost), it shows just how treach-erous the Nosferatu can be. They tortured our cap-tured heroes for months. Then, they dangled over their heads the possibility of freedom as they (no doubt) secretly watched the struggles for survival of their prisoners as they negotiated their way up and off of Mt. Uncienkhark. And what did Goppo finally win for his efforts and betraying his friend (a betrayal the vampires no doubt enjoyed to no end?)-deathl
Second, this scene underscores again the Nosfer-atu’s emphasis on racial purity, as well as their overtowering arrogance and racism. As I mentioned long ago in my series about the vampires ( HERE to be precise), the Nosferatu are the ultimate Master Race and only choose the most fitting specimens for inclusion into the club of vampires. What real hope did Goppo have of this, all diminutive 3′ 4″ of him, with his funny pointed ears, innocent childlike cherubic face, and wacky red hair? He’s the walking, breathing anathema of all that the Nosfer-atu hold dear. But then, as dark as it is, better true death than life as a vampire (which was no life at all anyhow).
Third, but lastly, this little incident, now that we know a little bit more about Anasha and Gelmut, also highlights the international character of the Nosferatu-members of the Nosferatu come from nearly every corner of the Wyrld! You no doubt noticed Gelmut’s speech impediment. That’s no speech impediment; that’s the remnants of his Bossiyan accent from his former life, an accent that centuries as a vampire have failed to eradicate. By the way, do you know what Gelmut was in his form-er life in the Duchy of Rossiya? He was a patent attorney. That explains much, doesn’t it? The per-fect superman, this Gelmut.
Meanwhile, miles away in a different area of the vast cave network known as the Uncierwyrld, the Thinker at last reveals the implications of his New Magic to the kids. Through the use of his mystical view orbs, his own diligence and intelligence-and without the benefit of soundl-he has somehow produced a machine very much like your own battle tank of the 20th century. Moreover, his charm campaign for the affection and allegiance of the Trio continues as he offers it to help the three find the lost Darya and Lucretius.
A couple of questions come to mind, however: do the Grocs really want his New Magic? And two, what are the implications of the Thinker drilling for his mystic fire liquid “mined from the Midnight Sea?” Doesn’t he know that the Midnight Sea is also the primary home of the Nosferatu? Gulp! This might be a job for our former patent-attorney-cum-vampire, Gelmut!
Please join me again next week, most honored reader, for answers! Until then, may your week be one filled to overflowing with-
Cognescentii blessings!
–The Traveller