The Closet

Chapter 6

The morning came with no surprises. They still had to go to school. The chair was still under the doorknob. Their parents were still away. By 8 AM they were on their way to school. John and Jarom had agreed to meet in the high school library at 3:30 after school.  With no mother home to remind them and with their thoughts elsewhere, they forgot to pack a lunch so at the last minute John had to find enough money for each of them to buy a meal.  Their mother’s cookie jar had a few dollars in it and robbing the jar, they were prepared.  Other than that, the school day passed normally.  After school as planned, John and Jarom met at the library and began looking for books on the history of Mannheim and the American military facilities.  They tried searching the web, but found little and doing it the old-fashioned way was all that was left. 

John was looking through an old book with maps of the military kasernes while Jarom was reading about the military history of the area.  John laid his map out on the table. 

“Take a look at this, Jarom!” whispered John.  

Jarom slid over at the table they were working on to get a better look.  He noted that there were six kasernes (military bases in Germany are referred to as kasernes) spaced over an east to west arc with their home in Ben Franklin Village (BFV) roughly in the middle. According to the references Jarom had been going over, the 3^rd. Reich had built the original bases.

  Mannheim was a large industrial center manufacturing explosives, armaments and equipment in the area.  BASF and Daimler Benz, both world class manufacturers, were located only a few miles from BFV.  In World War II, Mannheim and its bases were nearly leveled by British bombers. The first bombing occurred as early as December 16, 1940. The Allied forces advancing into Germany reached Mannheim in late March of 1945 where they entered the city unopposed on 29 March 1945. The American military took over the German Kasernes and rebuilt them for their own use starting in 1947-48. 

John took out a ruler and began to measure the distance from their house to the various kasernes. Directly to the north of their house approximately ½ mile was a large wooded park known as the Kafertal Wald that had been protected from development.  There was a small lake about 1 mile north of their house. Between their housing area and the Wald were agricultural fields that extended a half-mile or so to the west and southwest. Directly northwest of their house was a large square Abandoned Ammunition Arsenal, as it was labeled on the map, surrounded by a fence measuring about 3000 feet on a side.  A concrete structure was located in the southwest corner. 

Jarom said excitedly, “I bet that’s where we were last night.  The concrete stairs probably went right up into that old building right there!  Measure the distance,” he demanded.

Using the map scale, John measured the distance from their house to the old building’s foundation and calculated it at about one and one-half miles from their house. 

“Let’s see if we can find a satellite image of this area on the computer,” suggested Jarom, and they moved to one of the library computers. 

Google Maps didn’t let them down.  The image showed a fenced area on the edge of the Wald that had several structures in it, now overgrown with trees and vegetation.  About ½ mile directly east of their home was one of the kasernes, now known as Sullivan Barracks.  There were several warehouses as well as barracks for the soldiers there.  Taylor Barracks was another of the kasernes located about 1 ½ miles southeast of the house, and Spinelli Barracks was located 1 ½ miles south.  Turley Barracks was situated approximately 2 miles southwest of the house and Coleman Barracks was about 4 miles northwest. 

“This is crazy,” said Jarom with an air of assurance. “The tunnel system was obviously built during World War II.  I bet the Germans were using it for something.”

“But what?” John asked. “The Nazis ruled Germany.  They didn’t have to hide in deep tunnels under the ground.”

“I don’t know what they used these tunnels for, but I’m sure they did.” 

“It is interesting that our house seems to be a hub for the tunnels that could run to each of the old bases. Maybe soldiers needed to get from one base to another quickly,” thought John out loud. 

They drew a picture of the map with the things they had found on it, closed up the books and headed home eager to share what they had found with Jason and Allie.  Mrs. Friedrickson did not invite them to dinner that evening, but did come over and knock on the door to check on them. They assured her that they were fine and were grateful that she had come early so as not to waste their precious time that night.  Now if only their mother would call soon, they could get started earlier.

Together they examined their hand-drawn map and Jason and Allie listened as John and Jarom explained what they had found. 

Allie said, “I wonder if the ladder I climbed last night went up to one of the soldier’s rooms in Sullivan Barracks.  I could hear someone walking around, and it was midnight.  The warehouses would have been closed by then.” 

“I think we need to assume that these tunnels are abandoned and that it would be as big a surprise for someone in the barracks to find a ladder-shaft in his room as it was for us,” said John thoughtfully.

Thinking of last night’s adventure, Jason said, ”We need to take a rope with us.  We might find another ladder that we can’t reach.  We could throw the end of rope through the bottom rung and then climb up the rope.”

“That’s a great idea,” affirmed John.  “Rope and some kite string we can tie on to the end of it and a rock for the end of the kite string so we can actually get the rope up to the ladder. Throwing the end of the rope won’t work very well, but throwing the rock and kite string will, and then we can pull up the rope with the kite string.  Allie, do you have your kite still?”

“I do.  I’ll go get the string and be right back,” she replied, and ran upstairs.

“Where is some rope?” asked Jarom. 

“I know!” said Jason. “There’s a tow rope in the trunk of the car!” 

“That’s great, but Mom and Dad have the car,” John pointed out.  “Maybe we’ll just have to find one tomorrow and go without it tonight.”

They waited and waited for a call from their parents, who were out to dinner with the phone off.  When they finally got back to their hotel at 8:30 and called home, Jarom answered the phone hurriedly.

“Hello,” he said.

He heard his Dad’s voice answering him, “Hello, Jarom.  How’s everything going there?”

“Just great, Dad.  Our homework’s all done and we made dinner ourselves tonight.  Last night we ate at the Friedrickson’s.”

“I hope you were a gentleman in their home.”

“Oh, Dad.  I know how to behave as a guest.  When are you and Mom coming home?”

“Well, my conference is Monday through Wednesday, so we could drive home Wednesday night and get there late, but if you guys are doing OK, then I think we’ll drive home on Thursday and take our time.  We might even do a little sight-seeing.”

“I think that’s a great idea, Dad.  You and Mom deserve some time alone and this is a great chance for you to see a little of Germany.  We’ll be just fine.”

“Why do I get the idea you’re trying to keep us out of your hair.”

“I’m not, Dad. I’m just trying to be a considerate son.”

“Hmmmmm.   Let me talk to John.”

“Hi, Dad.  Are you and Mom having a nice time?”

“We are.  Are you sure everything is going OK there?”

“Everything is just fine.  Have a good time with Mom.”

Lacy talked to Jason and Allie and then they hung up.

Frank turned to Lacy and said, “I get the feeling we’re getting a snow job.”

“Oh, Frank!  You’re so suspicious.  They’re just great kids!”

“Yes they are, but I was a boy once.  I still recognize the signs of loving deceit.”