My German Lover Part 23, chapter 1

A few months later, Paul was having breakfast with Will and Ludwig when madame Louise, the governess, came in to tell him he had a call...

Paul went to his study and took the call there...

"Oh bonjour monsieur le Curé, comment allez-vous?" (Oh, god day Vicar, how are you?)

"...Not too good, I'm afraid... Tragic events occured here last night... and quite frankly... I didn't know who else to call but you..."

"Oh?"

"...Yes. Last night, a young man from the village was severely beaten... He's one of your employees, and works for you at Bagatelle... I thought I should give you a call..."

"Who is he?"

"François Dubois..."

"François?... But... What happened?"

"... I can't tell you over the phone... but... he was the victim of a gay bashing..."

"(...) How is he? Where is he?"

"He's here, at the presbytery... the doctor is here too... and... François is in pretty bad shape, I'm afraid. The doctor says he needs an operation, and it's urgent that he goes to the hospital... But that's the problem: His family has no money for that and, anyway... his father is not very... cooperative, due to the circumstances..."

"Could he travel to Paris?"

"The doctor thinks he could make it, but he has lost a lot of blood... It's a question of time..."

"Father, I'll be there as soon as I can... I'm leaving Paris right now! And I'll take François back to Paris with me. Don't worry! But I want to see his father... Is he there with you?"

"...No..."

"Make sure he's at the presbytery when I get there..."

"Yes. Count on me for that..."

"I'm leaving right now..."

"Fine..."

Paul went back to Will and Ludwig... explained everything to them and, looking at Ludwig he said:

"...You're coming with me... Let's go!"

They left Paris in a hurry and on their way to the village, nothing much was said. They didn't know what to expect and quite frankly, they didn't understand what had happened...

As soon as they got to the presbytery, the Vicar explained to them:

"...Last night, François and his friend Jacques were caught while they were... well... they were engaged in a sexual relation, if you see what I mean... From what François could tell us, they were caught "in the act" by Marcel Foucarde and four of his friends... Now, François is a strong young man, so at first, he was able to fight them... and it gave Jacques enough time to flee... But then, François was alone against five guys... So in the end, he was overcome, and he was badly beaten.

"...According to the doctor", the Vicar continued to explain... "they used an object to sodomise him... something like a baseball bat... and François bled a lot. But the worst wounds were caused to his sexual organs... The doctor said they must have hit him there very hard and repeatedly. According to the docter, he urgently needs an operation, or he will die."

"...But this is savagery... Have the gendarmes (policemen...) been called?"

"yes! They spoke to Marcel Foucarde and his friends... But they all deny having been involved in the beating. And from what I understand, the gendarmes do not intend to press charges, due to the nature of the activities François and his friend were engaged into, when the attack took place", the Vicar answered, with a sad look on his face.

"But that's horrible...", Paul shouted...

"Yes, it's shocking...", the Vicar said... "And there is not much we can do, except take care of François"

"Where is he?"

"He's upstairs with the doctor. His parents are also there. His mother is deeply troubled, of course... As for his father... well... Obviously, he doesn't accept the fact his son is... gay!", the Vicar answered.

"I see..."

"Can we go see François?", Ludwig asked...

"Yes. Come with me...", the Vicar replied.

They went upstairs and when they saw François, Ludwig said:

"Shit! Why the hell did they do that to him?"

"Don't worry... For the moment, he doesn't suffer. I've given him a very strong sedative", the doctor explained.

Ludwig took a chair and sat right beside his friend's bed...

"...My poor François..." Ludwig said to his best friend... "What have they done to you..."

Of course François, being under sedation, could not hear nor answer that question...

Paul looked at the doctor and at Mrs & Mr Dubois and said to them:

"... May I talk to you in another room?"

"Of course", they answered.

The Vicar led them to another room where they sat. Paul looked at the doctor and asked:

"How is he?"

"In a very bad shape. He lost a lot of blood. I've stopped the bleeding for now... but he needs an operation, and it's urgent!"

"I don't have the means to pay for that...", François' father bluntly said... "He sould have known that that's what happens to fifi (sissy..) like him! My own son! When I think..."

He didn't have time to finish his sencence since Paul looked at him and said:

"... We're talking here about your son's life, may I remind you! Not his sexual orientation..."

"Well... If it was not for his "sexual orientation", as you say, he wouldn't..."

"ENOUGH!", Paul said, looking at Mr Dubois straight in the eyes.

Mrs Dubois was sitting there, not saying a word, sobbing... Obviously, she was fearful of her husband, and her opinion probably didn't count for much, Paul thought...

"Now", Paul said... "We're gonna take François to the hospital! We're going back to Paris with him, and don't worry Mr Dubois: I'll pay the bills. François is one of my employees... and he's Ludwig's best friend. We'll take care of him..."

Then Paul turned to the doctor and asked him:

"...Can you come with us to Paris, just in case something goes wrong during our trip?"

"Yes..."

"As soon as we get there, I'll ask someone to drive you back here, don't worry..."

Paul looked at Mrs & Mr Dubois and asked them:

"Do you want to come?"

"It's out of the question...", Mr Dubois dryly answered. "I have work to do on the farm... and my wife has to take care of our other children back on the farm..."

"Very well", Paul answered. "But you'll have to sign a paper authorizing me to take the necessary decisions at the hospital, and sign all the documents on your behalf. François is still a minor, so he can't give his consent..."

"No problem... as long as it doesn't cost me anything..."

"IT WON'T", Paul sharply answered...

Paul wrote a general authrization giving him power over François, and Mr Dubois signed it. The Vicar also signed it, as a witness...

"Fine", Paul said. "Now, let's go..."

As François was being carried to Paul's car, Mrs Dubois took Paul apart and told him:

"Please... Please, Sir! Take good care of my son. Please! I love him so! (...) My husband is not a bad man, you know... It's just that..."

"Don't worry madame Dubois: Your son in in good hands. I'll do all I can to save his life, and nothing will be spared, I swear to you..."

Madame Dubois was silently crying. She raised her eyes and said to Paul:

"I don't know how to thank you monsieur de Brion! You're a good man... I trust you fully..."

"... Do you have a phone at the farm?", Paul asked her...

"Of course not!"

"... Don't worry. Through the Vicar, I'll keep you informed..."

"Yes... And since every morning, I come to Mass..."

"Fine!"

Later that same day, as they arrived at the Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in Paris, the village doctor explained everything to one of his colleague there... Then Paul met with the surgeon...

Paul having introduced himself to the surgeon, the doctor looked at him and said, with a smile on his face:

"Monsieur de Brion? Of course... I know your father well..."

"Please doctor, do the best you can. I'll take care of the bills, so don't worry about that! I want the best for him, do you understand me?"

"Yes, monsieur de Brion. I'll do my best!", the surgeon answered... "Now, we must take him over to surgery..."

"We will stay and wait...", Paul answered.

While they were waiting, Paul signed all the forms. He took a private room for François, and went there with Ludwig to wait...

Later, he gave Will a call, and explained everything to him...

And of course, it didn't take long before Will, Lutz and Franz got to the hospital...

They were all waiting...