1682

"That is so sad, Carl. Covid I imagine." "He came here from Switzerland with his wife and Mom. They were all hospitalized. Frida, that's John's wife, seems to be improving." I have noticed, the last few minutes, Stella's eyes darting back and forth, as though she needs to be vigilant. And now I can see why. "Caspar", she growls, and gets up, eyeing a young man in a black hoody who has been surveiling us from the next table. He gets up and tries to leave. Stella runs after him. He tries to flee, but before he can make it to the door she has him in a full nelson and now she is frogmarching him back to our table... Instinctively I have just procured an extra chair for our unexpected visitor where Stella dumps him like a sack of potatoes. "Don't try to get aaway, this time, Caspar", she says, her hand firmly on his shoulder. "You are now under the power of the Millionth Council." Then to us she says, "Friends, let it be my great pleasure to introduce to you the step-father of my twin sibling. Nothing could be more prepostrous. The kid looks barely twenty. And he is actually a beautiful boy, with straight chestnut hair combed back and big doe like eyes adorning a rather thin but unblemished face. "Nice to meet you, Caspar", says Carl, who is seated nearest to him, and extends to him his hand. Caspar merely looks up at him, uncomprehendingly, both his arms hanging limp at his side. "He isn't going to have much to say right now", says Stella. "He is under our power and likely will remain pretty quiet. but the young Jesus did instruct me that he would be delivering him into our hands today...