The Perfectionist

Chapter Sixteen

When the doctor had gone into the mess hall, he was astonished to see that the monks he was so concerned about earlier were all assembled there. No one had sat on the chairs (the table itself was bare), but were crowded around in two or three groups, conversing with each other in low yet troubled voices. Brother Wolfgang, who had just then arrived from his sojourn, was struck dumb when one of his brothers told him, in a solemn, slightly deploring voice, about Dieter's act the previous evening; so flummoxed was he, that he could not bring himself to even enquire 'how?' or 'why?'. The moment they saw the doctor at the threshold, they rushed to him and surrounded him on all sides, showering down on him loud and frantic questions.
''Please, I beg of you!'' he returned, overwhelmed, ''No, no one is dead, sir. No, no one can see him, I forbid it; only a few can ask after him at his door. Yes, he is recovering, no need to worry on that matter. One at a time!''
The abbot hushed all present, and then spoke, quite frustrated himself:
''Why can we not see him, doctor?''
''Well, it will be a huge disturbance to his tranquility and mental well-being, the former already being scarce and the latter in a sad, sorry state.''
''What could you mean?'' the abbot asked, and the monks inclined their heads in perfect concentration.
''The lad's shell-shocked, gentlemen. He awoke in the small hours in hysterics, raving about those he vanquished in the war and about how he wished he was dead, and right before he fell asleep once again he was completely delirious. And due to the lack of symptoms, I do not think this is because of morphine.''
''The lad's mad!'' two or three monks exclaimed in horror.
''Yes, but,'' one monk interjected, ''It was the same with our dear Brother Johann, you all remember... The youths have a hard time of it, but they ameliorate eventually.''
''Brother Johann did not thrust a knife through his stomach!'' the abbot snapped.
''Yes, and it was not at all the case with Brother Karl. You remember, Karl, how you laughed wholeheartedly at the war and all its memories?'' another monk put in.
''Yes, and I still laugh!''
''Compose yourselves, all of you!'' cried the doctor, ''I'll tell you now, i've seen this a dozen times: young men who had gone out of their wits after their service. One morning they're as jolly as can be, and the next day they're pulling the hair off their head! I've seen it. We need someone else-''
''Brother Dieter is no longer shell-shocked!'' Brother Adelmo said mournfully, ''He said that he was rapidly and miraculously healed during a hospital stay, and that he returned to the Fatherland sane and grateful. This you must- and we all- believe!''

The doctor paused, and thought for a while, while the monks yet regarded him in expectation. Finally he spoke: ''I would further investigate with him, but the present moment is far from opportune. And besides, I believe there is a Brother Pieter to be looked at...''
The monks offered no protest and assented at once; as the doctor sat down for his breakfast, they gradually began to disperse, not without, however, some of them kissing his hands gratefully before taking their final leave. He requested a quick breakfast, which was instantly brought in by Brother Friedrich, and after imbibing the coffee, and taking a single bite from the apple, he asked the remaining monks present to conduct him to Brother Pieter. They were just on their way, when suddenly they had heard Katarina's screams, and the mission was interrupted.

***

It was quickly known that the abbot was the one who had sent a letter to the Müllers very early that same morning right when the monks quit the chapel, informing them of the recent events and requesting their presence. As the day proceeded, the monks had attempted to go about their monastic day as normally as they could manage, though in the end they could not dispel the vague, unseen vibe of fear that pervaded the entire monastery, spreading eventually to the puzzled volunteers, and plaguing the entire company with the severity of the whole uncertainty and mystery behind the matter. The doctor had told them the honest truth (that Dieter was, as it were, alright) and they did not doubt it, but their being prohibited from calling on their beloved novice had left them almost apprehensive, and were impatient for the opportunity to open once again. Brother Johann, apart from Dieter of course, was the only monk who had remained absent from the monastic day and its various duties. However, this absence was of no import, as the monks had only barely managed to get by anywho: the masses were either too fast or too slow, the various chores were conducted absent-mindedly, and in the end it was a rather lousy day for everyone.