Naoki Urasawa's Monster Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Another-monster

The cover of the Spanish translation of Another Monster

This text is a report detailing the connection between the crimes of the "Monster" Johan Liebert, from 1986 over a period of ten years, and the case of the "Axe-Murderer" Gustav Kottmann in Salzburg, Austria, November of 2000. This connection, while absurd at first glance, slowly hardened into conviction as I pressed on with my research.

–From the Preface.

Another Monster is a light novel by Werner Weber. Weber interviews several key characters from the Monster story in 2001 and investigates the events from the past, mostly detailing the occurrences before and after Johan Liebert was born. It is a 31-chapter manuscript that summarizes the series and provides extra information about some of its key characters.

Out of universe, the book was written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa and published on June 21st, 2002.

Preface and Introduction

Note that these summaries have been prepared under the assumption the reader has seen Monster. Large chunks of this book are stylized retellings of the events in the original series, so these sections have been left out of the summaries.
News

newspaper clipping of the article Weber wrote

The Preface appears to be a sort of disclaimer, stating that all interviews and pictures are factual. Names are sometimes changed to protect the reader and sketches were done roughly for that purpose also.

The Introduction started on recounting events on one quiet night in a hospital in Salzburg. Gustav Kottmann, a serial killer wanted for the murder of seven men and women, suddenly showed up at St. Ursula Emergency Clinic and, wielding a bloody axe, went on a rampage. He succeeded on 'completing his mission'. He has killed two nurses and a doctor, and committed suicide after by pushing the axe against his neck. This was Weber's first assignment for the Idee newspaper.

This case made Weber take an interest on Kottmann, and he delves through Kottmann's past. From there he learned that Kottmann's history; as a child with negligent parents, he suffered from head trauma when he was twelve years old. There was a hint that the blunt force trauma he contracted was from his parents' abusive behavior. Kottmann was a large boy, who started working at the age of 16, but was terminated by his manager after three months. Subsequently, he took up his father's old job as a farmer and became skilled in using the axe. His good behavior lasted for a brief time only, and was arrested for the crimes of voyeurism and theft. He was able to escape prison, but he always attracts the attention of the police, so he decided to leave his family and stay in Klosterneuberg. He was hired by a bookstore and was able to get hold of a book called Dorn of the Darkness.

Dorn of the Darkness has been the inspiration of Kottmann's future crimes, Dorn being a character who sold his soul to the devil (like Dr. Faustus in the German Faustian legends) to fend off evil. However, Dorn gets to keep a part of the wicked's soul, therefore making himself evil too. Dorn is also a suggestible person, as seen in the quick influence the story books give. Story books by good authors make him a man with conscience, otherwise he becomes wicked after each reading.

When Kottmann was about to quit his job, he started mimicking Dorn in his way. Acts of lascivity in public angered him to the point that he repeatedly hit a man and struck a woman almost to the point of brain damage. The result of his actions sent him to a couple of years in prison. Shortly after his release, he restarted his killing spree. His killings were all very violent and was able to escape the police force each and every murder, until he made a critical mistake in October 1999. He lied low for a year until he returned in the Salzburg murders. However, it seemed to Weber that perhaps Kottman had an accomplice in evading the police at that time.

Referring back to the Saint Ursula murders, two other events of interest caught Weber's attention. Firstly; a week prior to the murders, a man had come into the clinic with a gunshot wound claiming a weapon malfunction. The staff treating him found the circumstances suspicious so called the police on the man however, the man had disappeared before any officers could arrive. The staff that saw this patient were the same three murdered a week later. Secondly, local resident Eugen Molke was found dead 5 days prior to the Ursula murders. While original believed to be a suicide, a deeper investigation found that this had actually been a carefully crafted murder scene. Molke's true identity was Jaroslav Carek, a former high advisor on the Czechoslovakian foreign trade corporation Omnipol. Carek had ties to the old Soviet secret police and was responsible for terrorist training camps. Whoever his killer was, they were clearly a professional.

Weber suggests that this other killer is the real mastermind behind Kottman, most likely the person who came to his aid in 1999. This wouldn't be the first case like this. It bore a few too many similarities to the Johan case.

Now Weber's intentions are two-fold. To re-examine the events of the original Johan Case, to shine a light on some of the still unclear facts, and to expose the existence of another "monster".

Icon-warning
SPOILER WARNING
The following text contains spoilers. Proceed with caution.

Part One (1986-1997)

Chapter 1 – The Beginning (April 2001; Vienna)

Werner Weber begins by recounting the facts of the Johan case. Both from the perspective of Kenzō Tenma's journey and what can be understood of Johan Liebert's. While this serves as a good recap of the events of the Johan case, there are still more threads to be unraveled. This begins Weber's travels to interview the various people involved in that strange case.

Chapter 2 – Kenzō Tenma (May 2001; Yokohama, Tokyo, London)

This chapter dedicated to Tenma went ahead straight with facts on him: He was born 2nd of January 1958, in Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture. His father was a director and manager of a city-owned hospital and his mother a former editor for a medical publisher. Both were divorced and they had Dr. Tenma after the first year of their marriage. It is also revealed here that Dr. Tenma had two older half-brothers.

Weber hired an interpreter to help him get around and he also tried to secure an interview with the hospital his father managed with no avail. He learned that Dr. Tenma kept in touch with very few of his friends, and those willing to assist Weber in his investigation declined upon knowing that he was a foreigner. Weber also confirmed Inspector Lunge's assessment of Dr. Tenma that he does not fit in the Japanese society nor is he culturally German--he is stranger to both cultures.

Weber had, eventually, been able to interview one of Dr. Tenma's friends back in elementary and high school. That friend of Dr. Tenma was still living in near the Tenma household. When interviewed by Weber, he was very much surprised that his friend was linked to a series of murders, because back when they were young, he was that kind of student who was very diligent and hard working. He also described Tenma to be very accommodating, despite his 'rich boy' status. He told Weber that Dr. Tenma liked sports, but team sports did not interest him. He was very good at solo sports though.
Tenma chilld

A young Dr. Tenma in Episode 36

Weber asked him what he remembers about Dr. Tenma in their childhood. He said he used to bully Dr. Tenma together with his older brother that one time, they had come up with an idea to scare the young Tenma off. They asked him if he should like to play hide-and-seek with them. The young Tenma consented, and he was made the 'it'. Now, they really did not hide, but left young Tenma there in the woods for half an hour until they decided to get him back because it was creepy back there. The young Tenma actually peed in his pants because of panicking that he was left alone. His friends started calling him names, but he did not cry about that. The next time they asked Tenma to play hide-and-seek again, he thought Tenma would not fall for the same trick again, but Tenma still consented and played. This time however, they left him there for forty minutes. When they tried to look for him after that, they couldn't find him, so they concluded that Tenma had already gone home. Later Dr. Tenma's mother called them, asking whether they are still with Kenzo, so they went back on their play place and saw Tenma there, saying "No fair, I've been hiding the whole time!". After that incident they stopped picking on him and they started being friends. That friend of Dr. Tenma concluded after this incident that Dr. Tenma was always hardest on himself.

In seventh grade, Tenma tried to play with the coal heater, heating it up until the metal pokers bend and twist. Their teacher, who was so used at employing corporal punishment to discipline her children, asked who did it. Tenma spoke up and he was scolded and hit. However, he said nothing for that matter. However, when another classmate of his played with the heater, his teacher scolded him and even pointed the hot metal poker on that student's neck. This made Tenma stand and he said to the teacher, "You can't do that, it's too cruel. If you think this is education, I'll tell the principal and the Board of Education." Those words scared the teacher away.

Weber was able to interview another friend of Tenma who was a commercial film director. He described Tenma as a 'straight-A' student in his eighth and ninth grade. Although being on the top of the class, he was not singled out and got along with everyone for the most part. When Weber asked him if he believes Dr. Tenma is a mas serial killer, he said it was because of this question that he is reluctant to agree in this interview. He firmly believed Dr. Tenma cannot be a murderer. But then again. people don't always stay the same, and because the German government treats it like it is a big deal, there's a possibility that it is true. He also said he was not able to call Dr. Tenma and check on him because he himself is struggling whether or not to believe in Dr. Tenma's innocence. When asked about Tenma's preoccupations in middle school, he said Tenma was a good guitar player and even said that Tenma was multi-talented. Tenma, he says, was very quick on appreciating other people's abilities and belittles his own talents even though he has his own innate talents. He also said that Dr. Tenma did not like being in a group altogether, thereby getting at a consensus with the previous interviewee's statement. When asked about the music Dr. Tenma liked, the film director said the he [Tenma], liked this one laid-back song he saw from the from Tokyo Music Festival on TV, but he forgot the title of the song.

Doktor's friend

Sketch of Dr. Tenma's friend who knew a lot about his family.

The third person Weber had interviewed was one of Dr. Tenma's high school friends who was now a section chief of a large trading company. He said he was friends with Dr. Tenma through high school, but after entering college, they kind of lost touch with each other because of Dr. Tenma's medical classes and him being at Law School enjoying his college life. He firmly stated that he was one of the people in constant contact with Dr. Tenma before he moved to Germany. When asked if he believed Dr. Tenma was guilty of the crimes pinned on him, he said he used to make a lot of jokes about it in front of their friends but deep inside he was worrying about him. He said Tenma was introverted, with not much time on girls and lovelife. After setting parties for him to know more women, no one interested him. There was even a time when Tenma was asked by one of her friends about love problems. That girl actually fell for Tenma, but Tenma did not reciprocate the girl's feelings and tried to uplift his male friend's image to that girl.

When this friend of Dr. Tenma was asked if he knew anything why Dr. Tenma flew to Germany, his friend recounted these events: While Dr. Tenma had two older half brothers, his eldest brother, eight years older than him, had an inclination to the liberal arts and pursued an economic degree. This made their father hesitant to leave the family business to his eldest son as customary. His father's second son was into medicine, but failed to pass the entrance exam in Kenzo's college. He was able to enter another school however, but its caliber and prestige was way below Kenzo's so their father was firm on his statement that Dr. Tenma should inherit their family business. Dr. Tenma did not want to handle it, and he was afraid it will be forced on him. Surprisingly his mother supported the idea that the second son should manage the business. It can also be noted that Dr. Tenma's mother was very hard on him compared to the sons of his husband.

When Dr. Tenma found Dr. Udo Heinemann's research on Alzheimer's disease, the young college man decided to fly to Germany, to study under the tutelage of the said researcher and also, to escape his father's strong grasp on him. Of course this made his father angry, said Dr. Tenma's friend, but Dr. Tenma did not request for any money and spent his scholarship fund during the length of his studies in Düsseldorf University. Dr. Tenma went to a language school for about a year and then went off to enrolling for medical school. He had exemplary marks on his studies and found employment in Eisler Memorial Hospital. He later learned that Dr. Heinemann's researches were not actually written by him, but by his teaching assistants. Dr. Tenma feared that he might become one of them.

Dr. Tenma is one of the few people who possessed the traits of a good surgeon: careful judgment and quick decision-making.

Chapter 3 – Eva Heinemann (May 2001; Düsseldorf)

Weber was able to secure an interview with Eva Heinemann, Tenma's former fiancée. He met her in a stylish cafe and Heinemann agreed to talk with him for a few minutes.
Eva1

Weber asked her why she and Dr. Tenma had their engagement cancelled and she said it was all for her father's ambitions. She also said that she really loved Tenma and that Tenma wanted to marry her because he needed her to make decisions for him, but her father needed a right hand man and she wanted security. Dr. Tenma grew cold to her when the engagement was cancelled even after Eva came pleading to Dr. Tenma to take her back again. Eva married three times after that and her divorce settlements provided for her lavish lifestyle.

She confirmed her being witness to the murder of Adolf Junkers and her knowledge of Johan Liebert's existence. She also said that she consented to his interview because she was guilty of not testifying on Dr. Tenma's innocence and for the lives lost during the height of Johan's activities. She was able to recall Dr. Tenma's favorite song, which is Al Green's 'Let's stay together'. She said Dr. Tenma longed for regular life and did not seek many friends, probably because of the stressful life as a surgeon. He only opened to Dr. Becker, one of his colleagues, who is not as good as him but one whom Dr. Tenma treats as equal.

She closes the interview by saying she wanted Tenma because he let her be independent. He is also a very accepting person who never turns anyone away, that's why he's a respected and praised person.

Chapter 4 – Heinrich Lunge (May 2001; Brussels)

Lunge side

Weber has interviewed Inspector Heinrich Lunge in Brussels when he became a professor at the Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia) State Police Academy. Weber said Lunge was a difficult man to interview, with Lunge having been betrayed in his career.

Weber also learned though his research that Lunge went on to pursue Johan Liebert's case because of his dismissal from the Boltzmann investigation. It was after he solved Johan's case 3 years later that his honor was returned. He then left the BKA to teach in the State Police academy, with many journalists constantly asking for interviews, especially on the Johan case. Lunge now holds the titles of Nordrhein-Westfalen State Police Academy Professor, and European Police Office (Europol) Behavioral Science Special Adviser — the supervisor of a department that has not been established yet.

Lunge, during the time of this interview, was currently on his mission to create a criminal profiling procedure fit for Europeans.

Chapter 5 – 511 kinderheim (May 2001; Berlin)

Weber follows Tenma's route from when he ran from the authorities. It mentions how he encountered Otto Heckel and became an underground doctor to get by.

Weber interviews Erna Tietze about Anna Liebert. It is revealed that Erna was a member of a detective squad set up by the government, hence why she knew all she did. It is mentioned Hartmann was arrested for child abuse and that the company who intended to turn 511 Kinderheim into a supermarket went bankrupt. Also, that Kinderheim's methodology was created by one of Czechoslovakia's most brilliant psychiatrists, most likely Franz Bonaparta.

Erna tells Weber about what happened to the children at Kinderheim 511. They were trained via physical exercises and combat training, but also in rhetoric. All the children who were hypnotized into remembering these "debates" felt a deep fear of what happened, that they feared that would "cease to be." These "debates" are described with obvious similarities to the brainwashing techniques from the previous chapter. Many children did not survive this program. Some were kicked out for not responding well to the programming, though most of those children were noted to have died within a year of leaving Kinderheim. Erna also gives more details regarding the fall of Kinderheim. A blonde boy (Johan) spread a rumor of a hidden monster that lurked amongst the children. Then, alongside the other students, turned the brainwashing techniques they were learning against their instructors. The instructors turned against each other after the death of the director which, combined with the student's own fear and distrust, created the atmosphere for the fall of Kinderheim.

Erna also discusses her time taking care of Nina. While a good child, she would occasionally talk to the wall, seemingly relating events to Johan. Erna notes a time where Nina said that Johan would be leaving his orphanage soon and the next day, Kinderheim 511 burned down. She dismisses this as purely a coincidence, however.

Chapter 6 – Multiple Personalities (June 2001; Frankfurt)

Weber follows Tenma's journey to his time in the Turkish quarter. This begins by looking into Detective Messener, one of the police officers involved in the murder of the Fortners and Maurer the newswriter. He confirms that Messener was hired to capture Nina on behalf of the Neo-Nazi group. Also confirming that both these officers died shortly after meeting Tenma; Messener via stabbing in a drug-related incident a month later, Müller via gunshot in Southern France another month later.

Weber notes the hardships that Turkish immigrants faced in the wake of the German reunification. With a soured economy and rising unemployment, local tensions brewed against the Turks who made up the largest pecentage of foreign workers in Germany. It was these tensions that The Baby's organisation were preying upon.

Weber attempts to look into this "General Wolf" that Tenma encountered but can find no records of him anywhere. Weber notes that Tenma then went on to find Dr. Rudy Gillen, an expert in criminal psychology, to discover if Johan had a multiple personality. With no information available on Wolf, Weber follows suit and requests an interview with Dr Gillen.

Chapter 7 – Rudy Gillen (June 2001; Paris)

Werner Weber interviews Rudy Gillen while he was on a tour for his book, Road to Monster, a story about Johan Liebert. Gillen tells Weber about how he thought Johan didn't exist when Kenzo Tenma first told him about the boy, but decided to trust Tenma. He shares some of the conclusions he made about Johan: He believed the messages Johan left for Tenma were just meant to mess with him; That Johan's original goal was to wipe out the entire world; and that Johan found it important to have Tenma always remember and follow him.

Gillen mentions his theory that there could be others like Grimmer out there in the world. He admits that he would not analyze Johan if given the chance, believing he would easily manipulated. He also suggests that all the primary characters, bar Tenma, would have all been easy for Johan to manipulate since they were all so fascinated by him.

Chapter 8 – Underground Banks (June 2001; Füssen)

The chapter details Johan Liebert's life up til he began his killing spree. Weber interviews an unnamed man (hinted to be Mr. Heitmeyer) about Kenzo Tenma and the underground banks, particularly the one Johan ran. When Johan disappeared from his money laundering business, the man suggests that he simply wanted to see all the grown men flocking and fighting over the money. To his knowledge, a few men decided to pursue Johan to Munich, however, they were not heard from again.

Chapter 9 – Schuwald (June 2001; Munich)

Weber interviews Karl Schuwald about his connection to Johan. Karl discusses how his father, Hans Schuwald, was intending to give ownership of his business empire to Johan. Thus making him essentially the ruler of the entire German economic world. Karl also inadvertently reveals that Johan stayed with his mother just before her death. A fact that neither character pieces together. During this interview, Karl eludes to Johan's favorite book but can't remember what it's title was.

Finally, Karl states that he still doesn't hate Johan. While he still finds himself occasionally shivering in fear from his memories, he cannot disregard their conversation on the roof where Johan shed real tears for him. An experience Karl describes as "utterly true and heartfelt."

Chapter 10 – Lotte Frank (June 2001; Munich)

The next person on Weber's round of interviews is Lotte Frank. They discuss Lotte's experiences with Johan and Karl around the time of Edmund Fahren's suicide. The conversation moves to Johan's fainting spell at the library and to the picture books of Franz Bonaparta. Lotte suggests that the book brought back memories for Johan, memories that he was no monster. She wonders if that might have been the instant Johan returned to being human again.

The conversation ends with Lotte explaining why she believed Karl was not killed by Johan. She states that Karl wanted for the harmony of family, the warmth and bonds of people; things Johan could not have and did not understand. Such pure intentions protected Karl from Johan's ambition.

Chapter 11 – Julius Reichwein (June 2001; Munich)

Dr Julius Reichwein is the final interview of Part One. They discuss some of Reichwein's history as a police officer before talking in some detail about the death of Richard Braun. Braun had shot a serial killer, Stefen Jost, years prior. It's revealed that this was hailed as a victory at the time but an anonymous letter sent to a newspaper said that Jost had been gunned down after surrendering. Braun could not remember the events of the murder himself which fueled public outcry. Pressured, he resigned from the force but continued to accept interviews about the incident. Despite public opinion turning against Braun, several other police officers that knew him wrote articles in defense of his character. By this time the damage was done and Braun found himself in a losing battle with alcoholism. Discussing Braun's death, Reichwein states that he doesn't know if he ended up taking his own life or was pushed.

On the topic of Johan, Reichwein believes that he was a human being. A man who, after the fire in the library, spent his life trying to be human.

Part Two (1997-1998)

Chapter 12 – Czech and Germany (July 2001; Prague)

This chapter gives an overview of the history of Czechoslovakia: the people who came to settle the land, and how they rose to be the nation they are at the time of the second world war. It goes into detail on the history of "Sudenten Germans," a group of people who were ethnically German but lived in the outer reaches of Czechoslovakia known as the Sudentenland. While there is a lot of history to go into, the main takeaway is that this group of people (some 2.5 million people) were exiled from Czechoslovakia at the end of World War II. Some (between 20,000-200,000) were killed during the time of this exile; another 200,000 Sudenten Germans managed to stay in the Sudentenland. However, they were subjected to the seizure of all their property and ongoing discrimination from the Czech people.

Chapter 13 – Jan Suk (July 2001; Prague)

Weber interview Jan Suk, following the original story to the murders of Reinhart Biermann and Inspector Zeman. Suk reveals the details around finding the tape recording of Johan at Kinderheim. He notes that it wasn't the only item of value in Biermann's safety deposit box. There was also a register of all the other boys who attended Kinderheim 511.

Suk describes some of the interviews he conducted alongside Fritz Verdemann of former Red Rose Mansion attendees. He notes that each of them, except one, had their marriages end in disaster and suffered the death of their children. Further investigation by Suk revealed more details about the Red Rose Mansion. It was the home of a member of the Czechoslovakian National Assembly, someone protesting against Hitler's rise to power. He was assassinated and a Sudenten German politician came to inherit the property. This owner was a Nazi supporter up to and during the Czech occupation and the home became a place for torturing those of dissenting opinion. Local children held a rumor that beneath the mansion slept a monster with 10 horns and 7 heads. A monster that, if awakened, would cast an evil spell that would make the Germans and Czechs kill each other.

After World War II ended, the mansion fell into ownership of the Communist government. It was used as a meeting place for secret police and members of the Internal Affairs Ministry. Franz Bonaparta arrived around the early 60s and the mansion became a kind of laboratory for developing his brainwashing techniques. It's noted he performed such actions as turning anti-government agents into government spies and convincing lower officials into suicide. It was around this time that Bonaparta began his reading programme, taking perfectly average young boys to mould. It's estimated around 200 children went through the programme.

Suk notes that the remains of the mansion showed 46 bodies with signs of suggested poisoning: 40 men; 4 women; 2 children. Beneath that, there were even more skeletons probably dating back to the years of Nazi control. It's also noted that the Red Rose would have likely contained a list of graduates though Suk does not believe Johan would have taken such a list if it existed.

Chapter 14 – Karel Ranke (July 2001; Prague)

Weber, through Detective Jan Suk's efforts, has secured an interview to this mysterious man. Although harmless as he was, Weber was blind-folded against his will so that he can meet Captain Ranke, which made Weber think that the man was still an important person in the underground society.

Weber described Ranke to be a large and stately man, but with deep-set eyes. Upon arrival, Ranke explained to Weber that his blind-folding was necessary for his own safety and that Ranke's current situation calls for caution on his part. Ranke also mentioned Wolfgang Grimmer visiting him for an interview, and that he and Dr. Tenma persuaded him not to sell Johan's cassette tape to some German buyers (possibly connected to Petr Čapek's organization).

When Weber started the interview, these facts came to light:

  • The police murders around Prague started after a German source requested Ranke some of Mikhail Petrov (Reinhart Biermann) research materials, Johan's audio recording being one of them, for a large amount of cash. This went wrong when Johan tried to prevent him from distributing his interview under hypnosis. Ranke declined to say who asked for the materials.
  • Ranke is a communist and a patriot. Even after predicting that capitalism and liberalism would win at the end, he still held on to his ideals and protected the system.
  • When asked about whether Bonaparta was a patriot, Ranke states that, Bonaparta's only goal was to control people. Bonaparta had the upper hand on the Czechoslovakian government, who gave him disposable cash to perform all his experiments in the Czechoslovakia. When Bonaparta moved to East Germany, it was evident that the East German government made his personality re-programming experiments a priority.
  • The Red Rose Mansion reading seminars and the experiments at Kinderheim 511 were grounded on the same theory.
  • Bonaparta had the favour of both governments because of his promising results offered by Bonaparta's personality changing experiments - a tool to stop the liberalists from taking control of both governments.
  • Ranke's research on Bonaparta was quite futile, because what he only learned was that Bonaparta loves sweet bean cakes and black tea. He looks as if he is from a fine upbringing and has a good taste on clothes. Already apparent, he also learned that Bonaparta was a storybook writer working under multiple pen names. He is also a psychiatrist, a brain surgeon, and a psychologist.
  • His research brought him to the conclusion that Klaus Poppe was Bonaparta's real name, because the surname 'Poppe' is a well-known anti-Nazi, anti-Fascist, and Communist, all thanks to Terner Poppe - Bonaparta's father.
  • Terner Poppe was, as rumors had it, killed by his son and was brainwashed by him to the point that the elder Poppe did not know who he was. He might have also been a communist hero, but his name was erased in the Czech history.
  • The Secret Police had nothing to do with The Eugenics Experiment. he has herpes

The interview was concluded, Ranke said to Weber:

"So long as I have power, I will not be a public figure. If I lost my power, I could appear... but I would die," he said. "However, I only did what I thought was to the benefit of my country. I only did my job. When it came to controlling the fates of other men, I was not like Bonaparta. I never once enjoyed the act. I don't know how long I will continue to live like this... to be honest, I am weary of it. When will society forgive me...? There was a time when I truly thought that if the Czech Republic joined the EU, the hatred toward the old system would wane.The Eastern system set up a fence around the entire East. As a result, our way of life and value systems differed quite a lot from Western capitalism. And what would happen if a genius with peculiar and obscure ambitions existed in that narrow space surrounded by fences? We officers with no power of imagination would rely on his talent, without considering right or wrong or common sense. No matter what unsightly result waited for us at the end of that choice...

Weber was again blindfolded and taken away from the former Captain.

Chapter 15 – The Red Rose Mansion (July 2001; Prague)

This chapter begins detailing Kenzo Tenma and Heinrich Lunge's search into the Red Rose Mansion. Part of this search included a discussion with Bonaparta's old editor, Tomas Zobak, who becomes the next person Weber interviews.

Zobak talks about Bonaparta history as an author. When Zobak first met him in 1970; he was friendly, pleasant, and firmly rooted in the state's power. Bonaparta had published some monumental psychiatric paper which he decided to shape his books around. After that he became cold, haughty, and self-assured. While his ability as a communicator kept improving, Zobak notes that there was always a hint of unpleasantness to it. Bonaparta had suggested some other topics to his author as well. He revealed that he had developed a method to make two people fall in love. He pitched a story about a boy whose mother is pregnant with twins. The boy worries that a monster would be born instead. In the end it's revealed that the boy himself was the monster but loves his new siblings like normal. On the topic of the Red Rose Mansion, Zobak recalls that Bonaparta wanted to introduce a promising young attendee to him. A young man who wanted to become a storybook author too.

In 1981, Bonaparta returned to pitch his latest book about a monster who fell into unrequited love and goes into a deep sleep. When Zobak rejected the idea, Bonaparta began to lament over how painful it was to be hated. He mentioned that he stole someone's name, a technique he first tried on his father.

"People who have their names taken away die in despair, and will accept any name you give them, just so that does not happen... Anyone who could lose their name but still survive would be a true hero."

Chapter 16 – Anna (August 2001; Prague)

Chapter 16 primarily spoke about Anna's involvement on the Eugenics Experiment. It was said there that Franz Bonaparta tried to brainwash her and wrote her a love letter.
Hauserova

Hauserova, a writer and lawyer, as sketched by Weber

Weber, through the lawyer Detective Jan Suk had introduced to him, came to know Jitka Hauserova, a writer and lawyer who had constant efforts on revealing the former Czech Secret Police 's inhumane activities. Hauserova revealed that Anna had actually been able to hide from Bonaparta's eyes for a period of time, according to an activist's journal Hauserova unearthed through the Libri Prohibiti. It said,
"Today, I hide an activist from my hometown, a beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, at the hideaway on Mill Colonnade. She has with her a twin son and daughter, also very handsome, and fortunately they are quiet and obedient. I will keep her here for a time, until we can reveal the truth, the entire shocking truth, to all."

She also checked Anna's case out of personal curiosity and found out that there was a no-one called Anna to enroll at Brno University who is between 38-55 and is missing. She said that maybe it is because Anna's name was not really 'Anna', which is correct, or maybe, she is not from Brno at all. She also looked up Anna's lover, (Johan Liebert and Nina Fortner's father), but was not able to find any records of any German-born Czech career soldier who died between 1974-75.

Chapter 17 – Sobotka (August 2001; Prague)

Werner Weber secured an interview with a graduate of the reading seminar whom he addresses as Mr. Sobotka. He was an automotive engineer from the largest industrial company in the Czech Republic.

Sobotka said went to the Red Rose Mansion once a week to 'learn new things' but he never really knew why he was attending nor what was he supposed to learn. According to him, classes would be composed of 6-7 people, and they do it to two years always with the same group of people, and at some point their number would decrease. He was not able to remember the faces of the children he attended with, because firstly, they were never introduced, and as soon as the reading seminar starts, they sort of goes into a trance, or a nightmare. At one point they were asked to read the story for them but for much of the time it was the facilitator who would read.
Inkblot

Card 1 of the projective Rorschach inkblot test

He could still remember the books they read and unconsciously committed it to memory that he can tell each of the storybook's content verbatim. He confessed he did understand the meaning of the story but that he does not want to be reminded of it.

And then he can remember a man in white lab coat showing him designs, ones like Rorschach. Although there was no apparent to them not showing up in the seminars, he felt it duty to attend religiously.

One day, the reading seminars stopped, due to the absence of Bonaparta. Through a probing question, Sobotka was able to remember this one bit of curious information: One time when Bonaparta told a story and then asked them if they understood, he did not nod because he was not paying attention. Then, his name was called. It did not strike to him as odd at that time, but later it dawned to him because they were never addressed with their names. The story he told was one Bonaparta created on the spot, the King of Darkness and the Queen of Light. He also said that sometimes, he would ask the students to create similar stories, but the results would always disappoint him. The only one who has satisfied him in the past was the story of a monster who was asleep.

Chapter 18 – Jaromír Lipský (August 2001; Prague)

Looking further into the Red Rose Mansion leads Weber to interview Jaromír Lipský. The first point of discussion, Lipsky's mother, the wife of Franz Bonaparta. She was an actress, working both the stage and screen, but working as a chef as her day to day. As early as Lipsky can remember, it's always been just him and his mother. She likely met Bonaparta while working as an actress in the 50's. She was reknowned for taking on multiple personalities on the stage. Without makeup or costume changes, she was said to change characters as if another actor had completely taken her place. This drew the attention on several psychologists who looked at her brainwaves to see if she truly did possess multiple personalities that she cycled through while performing. Which, in turn, led Bonaparta to her and their eventual marriage.

Lipsky describes his selection for the Red Rose Mansion. It was not a case of nepotism, rather that a man (described like Peter Čapek) had come to his home and had asked him a series of questions and showed him diagrams. Lipsky recalls that the questions seemed normal but left him feeling terrified. His mother cried and said that he had been chosen for a "special class", but if he didn't want to go, she could work things out. Not wanting to make life difficult for his mother, Lipsky attended.

He mentions the more he understood what was happening in those classes, the more frightened he became; but also feeling strangely drawn back to it. Eventually he was kicked out for not being a "superior child", which his mother was elated by. Lipsky says that the "superior children" were those who understood the storybooks preached to them and believed them entirely. However Bonaparta was looking for someone who could not only understand the books, but one who could come up with them himself.

Chapter 19 – Fritz Verdemann (August 2001; Düsseldorf)

Weber debates whether to go to Brno, to search for info about Johan's mother; Bohemia, the birthplace of Johan's father; to investigate the identities of the people Franz killed in the Red Rose Mansion; or to Bonaparta's hometown to find out more about him. Just then, Weber gets a call from Fritz Verdemann, who told him he was free for a interview the next day. Taking this opportunity, the interview begins.

They discuss how Verdemann met Tenma and the details around Verdemann's own legal style. Verdemann mentions that since the incident with Johan, he has accepted as many cases as possible related to Tenma. He also reveals that he came into possession of Wolfgang Grimmer's journal after trying to piece together Grimmer's past. Part of his investigation revealed Grimmer entered Kinderheim at age 7 or 8, then left at 14 to be raised a spy with a surrogate family. Verdemann asks if Weber is going to continue Grimmer's work of uncovering the truth behind Kinderheim 511 and the Red Rose Mansion. Weber says he will continue to pull these threads until the truth is revealled. The journal is then handed on to Weber for further investigation, Verdemann only asking Weber to find out what happened in the final episode of The Magnificent Steiner.

Verdemann goes on to reveal to Weber that his father truly was a spy, his first time revealling this information publicly. His father was a Czech-German of the Sudentenland (Bohemia to be specific) who lost all of his wealth at the end of the war. He was deported into West Germany and felt that the West German government was indifferent to the plight of Sudenten refugees like himself. This lead to him being recruited by East German agents to become a spy. Verdemann describes his father as very passionate about returning to his homeland in Bohemia and suggests this is why he was throwing in with the communist east. Finally it is mentioned that Verdemann's father was a friend of a certain Czech-German couple who are eluded to as Johan's paternal grandparents.

Chapter 20 - Martin (September 2001; Frankfurt)

Before Weber can follow the new clues that Grimmer's journal provides, he receives an email from Eva Heinmann regarding her experiences during Tenma's escape from prison and her time with Martin Reest. This chapter summarises this section of time from the original series.

Chapter 21 - Petr Čapek (September 2001; Frankfurt)

This chapter begins by detailing Petr Čapek's time in West Germany starting in 1989. He set up a small classroom where he taught immigrant, mostly Turkish and Vietnamese, students English for a very affordable fee. It came to pass that many of his students starting commiting suicide or becoming extremely violent, bearing obvious similarities to the results of Kinderheim or the Red Rose Mansion. This raised public concerns over Čapek who then found respite with the organisation alongside The Baby and General Wolf.

To learn more about Čapek, Weber interviews Ahmet Mustafa; one of the Turkish men who had lived with Milan before his failed assassination attempt. Mustafa describes the struggles of Turkish immigrants in Germany post World War 2: the 20 hour work days; losing connection to your homeland; the increasing racial tensions that boiled over after the fall of the Berlin Wall. He also knew Čapek around the time he opened his school. Many immigrants flocked to Čapek's school to help their children thrive in a foreign society. When the first suicides began, no one managed to piece together that it was Čapek's school at the root of it all. Čapek was recreating Bonaparta's methodology in West Germany "according to his (Bonaparta's) wishes." The tipping point was when all the children nearly killed each other in a classroom fight. Milan's son was one of the chief perpetrators who ended up hanging himself after being removed from the school.

Mustafa reveals that Čapek had originally come to Germany looking for someone related to Czech refugees, a picture book author in his 40's known as Hermann Führ. Mustafa goes on to say that if Čapek's organisation was working to install a supreme leader as early as 1989, would they really have been looking at the, at the time, 13 year old Johan? Isn't it more likely they had their eyes set on someone else, Herman Führ.

Chapter 22 - Grimmer's Notebook (October 2001; Berlin)

Note that this chapter is primarily direct copies straight out of Grimmer's notes. Most of these are written in code so their complete meaning is difficult if not impossible to understand. Likewise, most of these ideas are not linked narratively, but rather different ideas that Grimmer is exploring at the time. Below are the key pieces of information discussed in the chapter.

Grimmer followed his understanding of what Bonaparta was trying to achieve for the Communist parties: The rise of western capitalism leads to an increase in leisure time. This in turn creates situations for people with too much time on their hands leading to a journey of self discovery. For some this leads to crimes from boredom, to crimes for pleasure, to murder for pleasure. The increase of pleasure murderers becomes the tool used by people acting toward an efficient collapse of the west. To create the people necessary to control these pleasure murderers: name deprivation, absolute isolation, acts of destruction due to a belief in nothingness, repeat, repeat, Ubermensch.

Looking into Bonaparta's storybooks, Grimmer came across a book that appeared as if only cowrote by Bonaparta, titled The Sleeping Monster. Grimmer wonders if this is a sign that Bonaparta had returned to his experiments or if this other author, Herman Führ, is another monster out there.

Grimmer notes the bodies recovered from the Red Rose Mansion were 46 in all: 40 men, 4 women, 2 children. Bonaparta must have increased the number of bodies from the 42 involved in the experiment to cover for himself, Johan, Anna, and someone else. Weber pieces together that it must have been Čapek who got his hands dirty getting the extra bodies.

Finally Grimmer believed that there was a link between Johan's father and Bonaparta, comrades from neighboring villages. Weber believes if he can find more information about these villages then he may be able to understand more about Bonaparta.

Chapter 23 - Herman Führ (November 2001; Vienna)

This chapter begins with the story: The Sleeping Monster by Hermann Führ.

"In ancient times in an unknown place, it's told that all the people had their names taken away. They say that a rumor spread, a rumor of a monster who remembered everyone's names. And so many people left on a journey to look for the monster. They discovered a cave where the monster lived, but the all-important monster slept under a spell that had been cast upon it. Disappointed and exhausted from the long journey, the people fell deeply asleep in front of the cave. However, there they had a dream. In the dream, the monster came out and taught everyone their names. They awoke with great joy, grateful to the monster, and all returned to their own towns. However, now when they called out to each other by name, they found that all the names were lies, and they didn't even know who they themselves were. They began to hate each other, and they killed one another until there was no one left.... "

Weber notes that this book was released in early 1998, meaning it could have been a late Bonaparta story; however it is more likely someone else entirely. The most likely author is the same man who manipulated Kottman and the one Čapek was seeking in East Germany. Weber heads to the publisher of The Sleeping Monster, Anselm Kiener, for more information on this author.

Kiener reveals that The Sleeping Monster sold quite well to libraries, kindergartens, and schools, before the publishing president pulled the book for leaving a "bad aftertaste." This was not the only book written by Herman Führ. Kiener notes another of his books received a large order for a thousand copies to be delivered for a reading seminar that was being set up. This other book was The Awakening Monster. At the time of the interview, Fuhr had not contacted the publishing company in some time. The last time Kiener spoke to Fuhr, Fuhr had become busy with another "job" which would need finishing first. When Kiener tried to get back in touch with Fuhr, he could not make contact.

Weber gets Herman Führ's last known contact address and phone number from Kiener and continues his investigation. He tries calling the number to no answer. Going to the address, he finds a room that has been vacant for the past two years.

Herman Führ had disappeared.

Chapter 24 - Collapse (November 2001; Düsseldorf)

Weber puts the hunt for Herman Führ on hold to complete his investigation into Johan's journey. Particularly to piece together what he can before Johan's end in Ruhenheim. Weber chooses to interview Benjamin (Egon) Weissbach, a policeman who was investigating the middle aged couple murders and, after his retirement, Johan.

Weissbach begins by discussing his capture of serial killer Reinhart Dinger, the taxi driver who first took Johan and Anna in after their flight from Eisler Memorial. Dinger had revealled how he had taken in the twins and how Johan had stoked his aggressive tendancies, ultimately pushing him into becoming a killer. Weissbach also recalls back to his interview with Dinger alongside Dr Gillen. In this interview, Dinger reveals that Johan had returned to him one day and asked him to kill a bank clerk in Frankfurt. Gillen noted at the time that other serial killers were reporting similar stories, of a man who approached them to kill a specific person in Frankfurt.

Weissbach retired and headed to Frankfurt to discover the truth behind these murders. He finds that all the murders tie back to Cristof Sievernich. These three murders being Johan covering up the truth of the Devil's apprentice. It is implied that the victims were all involved into Cristof's history; his birth mother, a man who trafficked Cristof from East to West Germany for the Sievernichs, and a whistleblower who had got too close to the truth. It's revealled that, currently, Cristof is in a legal battle with his adopted father's ex-wife and relatives over the father's inheritance. The family taking the view that Cristof was from Kinderheim, an experience that "extremely warped his character."

Finally, Weissbach mentions the murder of Horst Grossman, the last serial killer that Johan killed. Weissbach notes that Grossman's murders were perfect, leaving no clues to his crimes. For Johan to murder such a useful ally, he must have been ready for the end.

Chapter 25 - Ruhenheim (November 2001; Ruhenheim)

Zweifelstadt

The massacre of Zweifelstadt

The final piece of Johan's journey for Weber to uncover are the events of Ruhenheim and the massacre that took place there. Strangely, this brought to mind a another case from 1958. The town of Zweifelstadt met a similar fate with all the inhabitants slaughtering each other. The event began with a simple murder case relating to a gang dispute. The police were slow to reveal the details of the death and rumor quickly overcame the town. Person to person, this rumor grew of psycho criminal hiding amongst the villagers. Quickly public opinion turned on Michael Oswalt, a townsfolk who kept a hunting rifle on clear display in his home. The first murder occurred when Oswalt's neighbor shot another resident mistaking them for Oswalt. This gunshot was heard by the entire town. Things quickly escalated in the town and people began to shoot anyone who happened to come their way in supposed self-defense. The village was annihilated in a single night.

It was reported that during the week prior to the massacre, a graduate student had stayed at the village. This student had reportedly been the one to instigate these rumors about Michael Oswalt and had sown suspicion in the neighbor that Oswalt was going to come for him that night. Interestingly, the student had stayed with a German family who had been relocated from the Czech Sudentenland and had told them not to leave the house for three days while the massacre occurred. When police began to look for this student, he could not be found among the dead or the few left alive. The prevailing theory to the what happened is that the whole situation was some crazy experiment conducted by the East German government.

Chapter 26 - Nina Fortner, a.k.a. Anna Liebert (November 2001; Vienna)

Weber continues to receive rejection letters when requesting an interview with Nina Fortner. Without her testimony, Weber decides to recount the events of the Johan case from her perspective as best he can.

The chapter goes on to recount the events of Monster from Nina's perspective.

Weber concludes this chapter by wondering about the 42 people who Nina saw die in the Red Rose Mansion as a child. If she saw 42 people die, why were 46 bodies uncovered? These extra four must have been planted by Čapek to cover for Bonaparta, Nina, Johan, and one more. Surely this last body was meant to be for the twins' mother. Weber decides to include a search for her in his investigation.

Chapter 27 - The Magnificent Steiner (November 2001; Valletta)

Earlier in his investigation, Weber promised to look into the final episode of The Magnificent Steiner for Verdemann. Upon finally getting the OK from the original author; Weber heads to Valletta to talk to that author, Robin Andrews. Andrews was 71 years old and the president of a comic publishing business known as BG Comics.

Andrews begins by talking about the original comic behind the Steiner cartoon. "The Amazing Steiner" was created in 1946 with co-writer Steve Kellerman to instant acclaim. Andrews did the art and Kellerman the story. This original run ran for 3 years including a radio program and merchandise but not a cartoon show. The premise of this comic was a hero who managed to turn anger into a drug. Whenever the hero needed to battle the bad guy, he had to find a way to inject himself with his super drug before turning into a superman. Near the end of those three years of publication, another company sued Andrews and Kellerman, claiming that they had substantially copied elements from their own comic series. Kellerman eventually revealed that he had indeed knowingly taken from this other series. He signed over all the rights to Andrews and "The Amazing Steiner" ended.

After that incident, Andrews began BG comics with the help of editor Danny Lewin. The business began with some smaller series with some smaller authors until a fan entered the picture, William Bargeld. It was Bargeld that helped recreate Steiner into what we know it as today. So, Bargeld and Andrews teamed up to create The Magnificent Steiner. The pitch of the series is as follows:

"The hero was the son of the founder of a new religious cult that lived in peace and quiet, isolated from the rest of the world. One of the features of this cult was that showing emotions was forbidden, and their greatest taboo was the emotion of anger. The hero's father, the cult's founder, preached that accumulation of emotions produced psychic abilities and brought one closer to God. The hero had gone through severe training since childhood and had never once gotten angry.
But one day, someone attacked the cult and killed everyone except for the children. The protagonist happened to be buying supplies in a town far away and thus escaped the slaughter, but not the scene of his father's execution. At that moment, the energy of twenty years worth of accumulated anger surged up in him. His body changed, got bigger, and he transformed into Superman Steiner. The hero turns into Superman Steiner and annihilates the group who executed his father.
But afterwards, it comes to light that he and the surviving children had been lured into the cult as young children, and that the group had actually been sent to attack the cult by their real parents. Furthermore, it was believed that his father had founded the cult with surviving Nazi terrorists planning the destruction of America....his real name was Steiner. So the hero sets out on a journey to learn the truth about the cult and his father. Well, on his journey of discovery, he gets dragged into trouble everywhere he goes...and he can't remember anything about turning into Superman Steiner, but when he wakes up, all his enemies are dead."

The comic was a hit. In 1958, Andrews teamed up with an animated studio and the cartoon was born. It ran from 1959 - 1961 in America then from '61 onwards in France and West Germany. It's noted that co-author Bargeld was delighted to know that the show was playing in Germany as he had emigrated from the East side in 1951.

Weber follows through on Verdemann's request and asks about the final episode of Steiner. Andrews says that two version were made. The series had taken its toll on the writers and there was a lot of in-fighting during the creation process. It was at this time that Kellerman, the original author, came back to Andrews to say that there was "something evil" in the new content of Steiner. In fact, the TV stations running Steiner were receiving a lot of harsh criticism from mothers everywhere. In response, Bargeld wrote an ending and gave it to the cartoon creators for publishing while the comic was still wrapping up. This script was created and filmed ready for release. Andrews found and took that ending to the networks and they all agreed a different ending needed to be done. However, Andrews was not able to have the episode written and animated in time. So for those in the USA, they did not get either version of the final episode. For the rest of the world, Andrews ending was sent out. Meaning his was the official ending of the series.

In Bargeld's ending: The hero's father turns out to have faked his death all along! He had used some mastery of a powerful mysticism that allowed him to control anyone at will. He and the cult went on to brainwash all Americans and recreate the USA into the nation of Naziamerika. The hero took everyone not brainwashed and set up a barricade camp in the desert. Then his father, leading the brainwashed US army, comes to attack the camp. With no other option, the hero becomes Steiner and has to wipe out his father and the army. He then goes on to annihilate all the other brainwashed Americans. When the hero returns to being himself, only a few Americans are left alive who choose to follow him. So the hero becomes the founder of a religious cult, just like the man who raised him.

In Andrews' ending: Steiner becomes aware that he is the monster and has killed so many while being Steiner. His real mother, only just found, asks him never to transform again, even to save another. Like the other version; Steiner's cult father comes back, having faked his death at the beginning. He then transforms, much like the hero, and kills the hero's mother. The hero then transforms into Steiner once again but refrains from killing his father. His two personalities, hero and Steiner, merge to become one.

After the show ended, Bargeld retired from comic creation. Andrews brought Kellerman back to continue working on the comic series which went on another two years until 1965. After Bargeld left, it's popularity steadily fell. Weber asks where Bargeld ended up. Andrews says that he had a visit from the FBI who said Bargeld had returned to East Germany in 1964. The FBI found it suspicious that someone who had risked so much to make it to the west would so quickly return to the east, particularly at this time when the cold war was so hot. Their opinion was that Bargeld was a spy and were seriously investigating the claim.

Weber ends his interview by telling Andrews about Grimmer and the picture books of Bonaparta and Fuhr. Andrew's responded with the following:

"Kellerman tried to tell me once. He said, 'There's only a limited amount of material in my head for me to make things from. One day, although the gears were grinding away, nothing came out, and it was painful to work like that. But after awhile, none of it mattered anymore. When that happens, you have three choices: take a break and hope for a comeback, flat-out retire, or plagiarize yourself like a petty thief to try to stay alive a little longer. But when the devil actually appears before you, you'd probably sell your soul dirt cheap to buy back the creative spark you've lost. But then, the work that came afterwards wouldn't be an expression of your own creative will, since you exchanged it for the devil's will, don't you think?'"
He looked at me steadily. "Kellerman died in 1995, still truly believing in the existence of the gods and devils in those stories."

Chapter 28 - Anna Part II (December 2001; Brno)

Marie kavanova

Marie Kavanová

Weber decided to copy Hauserova's method of locating persons who knew something about missing persons by placing an advertisement of them on newspapers. Weber even went the extra mile by posting the pregnant Anna sketch, thereby having twenty people contact him for information after. The first person he interviewed was Marie Kavanová, the matron at a boarding house near Brno University, which houses females boarders.

Mrs. Kavanová said she had only recalled Anna because her husband was very ecstatic when he first saw Anna. Her husband took a picture of Anna and kept it because his husband died while Anna was still attending school. She said her picture proved to be useful because when Anna went on a trip to Prague and didn't come back at once, she went to the police and a detective came searching for her. All other photos of her were obtained by the detective, and then one day, the detective said he had found Anna living with a man in Prague. There was a hint that it was actually Čapek who had asked for the photos and played detective, because Mrs. Kavanová described the detective "he wore glasses and had a big nose."

The second person that was interviewed was Jana Kubelková, a singer at a club which party officials went to after office hours. She knew Anna there in the club when Anna was working part-time singer there. She described Anna as a very talented singer:

"She had a very special voice and was a talented singer. Besides that, she could mimic any woman's voice. Of course she could do all the famous singers from the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe, but her Dianna Ross, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell and Karen Carpenter were exactly like the real thing."

Ms. Kubelková, an activist, was saved by Anna's talent in mimicking voices. She was very amused at Anna telling she is an ex-convict, but that amusement dissipated when Anna came back to her one time saying she was being pursued by someone. She was then told by Anna that her name 'Anna' was only an alias for her part time job and that 'Maruška' was her real name.

The third person Weber interviewed about Anna wanted to remain anonymous but was referred to by Weber as Antonin Kohout. He vouched for Anna's being enrolled to Brno, and even told Weber that she majored in Biology, finished all her requirements for graduation but was never able to join the graduation ceremony. He also revealed that there was an instruction to destroy all her documents and her name in the registry.

The fourth person whom Weber interviewed is Hana Arnetová, who claimed to have lived with Anna for a short period of time. She and Anna, according to her, were roommates, and that Anna was not a bother to her at all. She also slip her theory that Anna was also half Czech/half German, like her lover. It was also through her that Anna's real name, Věra Černá, was known.

Arnetová also disclosed the fact that Anna actually had a twin sister that did not survive to be born. Anna's mother always compare her to her twin sister who did not survive, and so Anna tried to do her sister's share of everything, and do things for two people, hers and her sister's. Arnetová also said that Anna was thinking her sister was alive somewhere and that her sister was named "Anna".

Chapter 29 - Klaus Poppe (December 2001; Jablonec nad Nisou)

Weber decides to visit the Red Rose Mansion while he's still nearby. He finds that, upon arriving, he's accosted by a police officer out of any investigation into the site. He wonders if the government still have something to hide there, if bodies are still being uncovered from the site.

Karl Schuwald then gets in touch with Weber. Karl was going to find the name of Johan's favorite book for Weber (Chapter 9). He reveals that it was "Dorn in the Darkness" written by Fritz Weindler. The same book beloved by Gustav Kottman, the axe murderer that started Weber's whole investigation. The next day Weber calls the publisher to find more about Weindler. They say that Weindler had died very suddenly. One day they had gone to Weindler's house to pick up his latest work only to find a small group of people in his room mourning his loss. Apparently he had been hit by a car the day before and died instantly, followed by a very hurried funeral and burial. Weber asks what Weindler was like. The publisher described him as "quite attractive... early forties... though his expressions were hard to read and he barely smiled. He hated having his picture taken and never even allowed one." Finally the publisher mentions they did not see the body at the funeral.

Weber then heads to Bohemia to interview Milos Prochakza, an old Communist leader who personally knew Terner Poppe (Bonaparta's father). He reveals Terner was one of the few Germans who stayed in the Czech Sudentenland after most were exiled after the end of World War 2. Terner was a man who supported Czech independance and the growing Communist movement. Prochakza thought that if he wasn't German, Terner would have ended up as President or Prime Minister. Terner had the political skills, connections, and experience to achieve so much of the Party's goals. He held power from the shadows for a time until he was around 50 years old. After that he shut himself up in his house, apparantly his mental state declining: "At the time of his death, he apparently was so confused that he couldn't remember his own name."

Prochakza mentions that Terner had asked a young girl from the town if he could impregnate her. She was only 18 or 19 at the time and so beautiful that all the men in town were in love with her. Terner's son was no different, succumbing to the girl's charms. Prochakza doesn't know if Terner had cast aside his family for this young girl but by the time Terner had shut himself up at home, his wife and child were nowhere to be seen. In the end, the girl hastily married another man and ran off to the neighbouring village of Reichenberg. This reminded Weber that Verdemann mentioned that his father lived in Reichenberg and lived next to an attractive young coupld from a neighboring village. Was there a connection between Bonaparta and Verdemann?

Chapter 30 - Franz Bonaparta (December 2001; Jablonec nad Nisou)

Now all of the pieces of Bonaparta have fallen into place. Weber summarises his understanding of Bonaparta's life:

There was a Sudeten German who allied with the Czech in World War 2 and helped intall Communism in the aftermath. He had a son who one day fell in love with a beautiful girl in the village although the father fell for her too. The girl ran off to another town. The son grew a deep hatred for his father. Eventually the son found a way to destroy a person by depriving them of their names and trialed it on his father who spent the rest of his life in fear and confusion.

The son become a powerful figure of the Czech Communist State. He had the power to rewrite personalities and the full support of the politicians and police. At this time, the girl from the village contacted him asking for a favor. She wanted her son recommended for enrollment into the military academy (as a Czech German, he would have an incredibly hard time succeeding otherwise.) The favor was given and Bonaparta watched the boy until he was ready to take part in an expirement of his own.

Concurrently, Bonaparta discovered a young Czech girl who was said to have been a twin while in her mother's womb. He took the two young people and had them meet in Prague. This was an oppourtunity to test his ability to make any two people fall in love. The plan succeeded with the minor inconveniece of the two attempting to run away together after the truth was revealled. Bonaparta killed the young man, and became very interested in the twins in the now pregnant girl. Although, he hadn't counted on falling in love with the girl, just like his father had done those many years ago....

Finally, Weber wonders about the boy from the experiment who would grow up to be Johan's father. Who's child was he? The girl from the village who Bonaparta and his father loved fled and married quickly. Terner Poppe confessed he wanted to impregnate her. Could Johan's father truly have been Terner's child all along? And did Bonaparta know?

Final Chapter - (December 2001; Jablonec nad Nisou)

Weber retires to his hotel room to record his thoughts. He hears a noise in the room next to his which is odd considering the hotel was largely vacant. Then the phone rings. It was Inspector Lunge. Lunge hurriedly gets Weber to pull out his copies of Dorn in the Darkness and The Sleeping Monster. He points out the artistic similarities between the two and how familiar they feel to Bonaparta's own works. "Fritz Weindler and Herman Führ are the same person. That man is a monster. Be very careful." Then the phone call ends.

Weber starts tying all the pieces of his investigation of Fuhr together. Then the phone rings again. This time, it was Hermann Führ.

Fuhr puts his history together while Weber questions him. He was known as Bonaparta's "Most Promising Student." After graduating the Red Rose he worked for the Czech government doing "missions in the west side." Eventually he fled. Fuhr says he fled from the monster, from Bonaparta. Fuhr proceeded to lay low, particularly after Bonaparta arrived in West Germany in 1981. He believed Bonaparta was chasing after him. After the release of "A Peaceful Home," Fuhr thought that Bonaparta had settled down from his old activities. No longer feeling chased, Fuhr went on to write Dorn in the Darkness in 1989. Shortly after, Peter Čapek arrived in the west looking to install Fuhr as a world leader. Fuhr faked his own death to throw off Čapek.

In 1997, Fuhr went back to the Red Rose mansion. He doesn't know exactly what drew him there that day but he wanted to set foot in the scariest place again. When he arrived, he saw it burning down and Johan emerging from the flames. Fuhr describes it as:

"And then he emerged from within. I was set free. I stopped running. I could paint my picture books, and live like him."
"The end...in the Landscape of the End, there will be only he and I."

By 1998, Čapek had died, so Fuhr returned to authoring under the name Fritz Weindler. It was during this time that he came into contact with Gustav Kottman. Fuhr saved Kottman from being arrested and later would use that leverage to cause him to commit the Saint Ursula killings. In 1999, Fuhr murdered Eugen Molke; an old Czech Communist official and the last person who knew Fuhr's history. With him dead, no one knew who Herman Führ was. Until a certain investigative reporter came looking.

The interview concludes with the following:

The man whispered, "There's something I want you to see."
I gathered my wits. "What is it?"
"The manuscript of my new work. I'll come over now."
"When? How soon will you get here?"
"Now."
"Now? Where are you?"
"In the room next to yours."

Afterword from the translater, Takashi Nagasaki (March 2002)

Welcome
THIS ARTICLE IS A STUB
You can help Monster Wiki by expanding it.

Commentary from supplementary book The Nameless Monster (August 2008; Stockholm)

May 2007

Welcome
THIS ARTICLE IS A STUB
You can help Monster Wiki by expanding it.

March 2008

Nagasaki finally comes into contact with the person who bought the sketches under the name Werner Weber and discovers that it's not the former reporter, but an individual involved with shady book dealers.

He confronts the man, who tells him his client said to destroy the sketches as soon as he got them. When Nagasaki asks him to describe the buyer, he says it's a person who sits next to one of the world's most powerful political leaders, and that they plan to recreate Bonaparta's experiments.

The man also tells Nagasaki that his client plans to get in contact with Herman Führ, claiming he is the next generation Voss.

Advertisement