A Dream

Please note: This story is a continuous, multi-chapter narrative. You can find the correct order in the right sidebar. All texts were originally written in German and translated into English using AI. I asked the AI to preserve the original stylistic flair wherever possible.   The first camp was set up at the edge of the forest. The forest’s edge looked as if it had been cut with a knife. There were no small young trees or shoots, only those mighty, towering spruces and firs. They stood stiff like soldiers; even the wind seemed barely able to move their branches. If one let their gaze wander between the trunks, no change could be seen. Trunk after trunk – not drawn with a ruler, but there were no real interruptions by bushes or other trees. Moreover, the view was severely limited by the ever-thickening darkness within the forest.   Dr. Ebram Rolfo, the leader of the expedition, stood with his hands on his hips, legs apart in his dark suit before the wall of trees, tilting his head back. His gaze was critical and appraising, as if he were sizing up an enemy. As he stood there, a man approached him – broad-shouldered, with the build of a laborer who had made his fortune and now carried a prosperous paunch. His face, already slightly widened, adorned with a bushy mutton-chop beard and a steaming pipe in his mouth, showed a smirk at the critical look of the slender doctor of history.   “Ah, Dr. Rolfo! There you are! I was told you arrived recently, and I thought I should be the one to greet you first – not the forest!” boomed the stout man toward the slender one. The addressed turned and removed his top hat with a slight bow. “Delighted, Mr. Balei. I didn’t expect you to personally take part in the expedition.”   Tergun Balei also removed his headwear – a modern bowler hat, color-matched to his light brown suit – and extended his hand to the doctor. “Oh no, of course I’m not going along – far too strenuous!” He laughed. “But I wanted to make sure all the materials and workers are in place so the expedition gets off to a good start.”   Ebram took the tycoon’s fleshy hand in his rather delicate fingers and gave it a proper shake. “Ah, I see. Well, I hope everything needed is present?”   “Absolutely! I went through everything again with Mr. Hollwart, my deputy for this expedition and the one responsible for equipment and such. It’s all there!”   “Wonderful! I spoke with Mr. Hollwart beforehand, and we made a few small changes regarding equipment and provisions. I hope that was alright?”   “Yes, yes, all good! I want this expedition to succeed – so I shouldn’t be stingy.” Tergun chuckled, his belly wobbling slightly. “Come, Doctor, before you set off tomorrow, let’s eat and drink together. I brought a very fine wine…”     The camp consisted of several large tents where workers slept and tools and supplies were stored. Dr. Rolfo had his own tent, which he didn’t have to share. It was designed to provide a comfortable living situation for a longer stay. It couldn’t be set up alone – at least three people were needed to help. The interior was divided into two areas: a front section with a table and stools, some small furniture and crates; the rear section was smaller and consisted of a padded hammock and two trunk-suitcases containing Dr. Rolfo’s personal belongings. One of the trunks was particularly heavy, as it held books and writing materials.   For transport, 14 trucks specially designed for railway construction were used – rather narrow with tall wheels, perfectly suited to penetrate the forest without having to cut an excessively wide path. Most were open at the back but covered with tarpaulins to secure the cargo. A total of 50 workers were hired: 40 for transport and clearing, the remaining ten were assigned to Dr. Rolfo – as cook, porters, laundrymen, and assistants.   The camp was also guarded by the workers to prevent animals from sneaking to the supplies or curious reporters from taking photos. There were no natives apart from the local wildlife. Around the camp, torches had been placed at some distance; they bathed the scene in an almost romantic mood. Only at the forest’s edge did the torches seem dimmer – or so it appeared. There, they barely flickered, as if they wanted to line up with the tree-soldiers before them.     Tergun Balei climbed into the waiting limousine and tipped his hat in farewell. “Doctor, I take my leave and wish you much success.” Ebram nodded at him with a smile. “Thank you – and a pleasant journey home to you!” He shut the car door and smiled politely until the automobile was out of sight. Then he took a deep breath and sighed. His gaze wandered across the camp and settled on the forest. Somehow, the darkness in the woods looked like a hole into the depths, one you could fall into. He shook his head to rid himself of the thought and made his way to his tent.   Once there, he tossed his jacket over one of the stools and went straight to the rear section. There he freed himself from tie, shoes, and vest, stretched extensively, and sat down in the hammock. He briefly considered fetching a book, but the wine had gone slightly to his head. He wouldn’t be able to concentrate anyway.   He jolted awake – something had roused him, a sound perhaps? Lying in the hammock, he listened, and a strange feeling crept over him. His heart suddenly began to pound, and his hands turned cold and clammy. Nervously, he wiped them on his trouser leg and considered getting up to drink some water and warm his limbs through movement. He had already stretched one leg out of the hammock when a long, drawn-out scream – full of rage and cruelty – made him pull it back instantly. He drew the blanket up to his chin and didn’t dare breathe loudly.   A shadow appeared on the tent wall – a misshapen thing crept around the tent, sniffing. Ebram couldn’t make sense of what it was. His rational mind worked at full speed while his instinct-driven body remained frozen in fear. “This is just a dream!” he told himself silently and immediately scolded himself for talking to himself. But it helped, so he calmed himself. “Such creatures don’t exist, so this must be a dream. Wake up, Ebram, wake up!”   He repeated these words like a mantra – and then, suddenly, the air was knocked out of his lungs. He blinked and tried to understand what had happened. Then he realized: he had fallen out of the hammock in his sleep and crashed to the ground. Gasping for breath, he turned to the side, slightly curled, to ease the pain until he could breathe somewhat normally again. After a while, he managed to sit up and look around. Dawn was already breaking, and the tent was correspondingly bright. He stepped outside and examined the ground in front of the tent – but found no tracks. No one, not even a monster, had visited during the night. He laughed at himself inwardly.     An hour later, he had washed and changed into fresh clothes. Bernard Hollwart cleared his throat outside the tent. “Dr. Rolfo? Would you like to join us for breakfast in the big tent?” Ebram considered briefly. “Hmm, no – but your company would be quite welcome.” After a short pause, the foreman replied, “Agreed, I’ll have something brought over. I’ll be right back.”   Ebram used the brief delay to wipe down the table and align the stools opposite each other. Then Hollwart entered. “Good morning, Dr. Rolfo. Did you sleep well?” “Ah, I had a strange dream about a…” – he paused briefly – “…oh, nothing important.” “You had a nightmare?” Hollwart asked. “Hmm, yes, you could call it that – but just a dream.” Ebram gestured invitingly toward the stool. “Nothing to worry about.” Hollwart sat down and studied the doctor attentively. “A scream in the night? A monster at the tent? You’re not the only one.”