No trespassing (I): ALPENGLÜHEN (Alpine Glow) part 2
Alfred and Madeline had a fine summer holiday in the mountains. During the day, they first enjoyed the breakfast buffet, Gasthof Kreuzspitze offered its guests. Then they went hiking in the mountains near their hotel, or they visited interesting places in the neighborhood. Back at the hotel, if there was time, they held a relaxing stay in the swimming pool and in the spa. Excited by the nudity in the spa, they used to have good sex in their room afterwards. The day was closed with a delicious diner, an evening walk, and finally again good sex before sleeping. That was their daily holiday routine.
In the brochures at the tourist information center, Madeline had found out that there was a nice and pleasant old town, just some forty kilometers away from their hotel. Every Wednesday morning, a market was held there. Madeline wanted to visit that town on a market day. They had only one opportunity left : the last Wednesday before their return home on Friday. But there was a problem. The little town was located at the other side of the mountain ridge. From their hotel it was only accessible by a mountain pass, the Kreuzspitzepass. The way over it would bring them straight to the town. However that road was apparently forbidden for private motorized traffic. There was a bus service over the pass to the town every Wednesday, but due to the windiness of the road, there were size restrictions for busses. To her disappointment, Madeline found out that the bus was already fully booked weeks in advance.
So the only option left was to go by their own car. To get to the next mountain crossing, they had to drive the other way, and make a detour of nearly hundred and thirty kilometers, for the outbound trip only. This option would cost fuel, road toll over the other pass, but most importantly, a lot of time. Even when leaving early, considering the breakfast hours of the hotel, they would barely arrive in time for the market Madeline wanted to visit. In order to gain time, they considered to take the risk, at least for the outward trip, to make a quick dash over the thirty kilometers through the forbidden road, as it was, as they heard, nowhere barred.
The road ran across an autonomous settlement, a forgotten remnant of feudal times and still keeping its own laws. The rulers it once had been subjected to, were since long extinguished. It was a community of only about five hundred people, living in three villages, and in a few smaller hamlets. Two villages were located along the road through the valley, a third one, the ‘capital’, somewhat higher uphill. During the 11th century, glaciers had started melting, and the Kreuzspitzepass became accessible. The local community was granted rights and privileges in exchange for controlling the traffic over the pass. They were allowed to stop and, if necessary, detain every traveler over their territory, solely by their own judgment. The only exception were pilgrims on their way to or from Rome. Anyone who could identify him or herself as a pilgrim was allowed to cross the pass, on the condition of paying a modest toll.
Times had changed, but the autonomous area still used its ancient rights to preserve its identity. The community of the autonomous settlement was not hostile to foreign visitors as such. The area had much to offer. Particularly, the inhabitants adhered to their traditional way of life. They wore traditional dresses and practiced agriculture in the traditional way. They had barely electricity or telephones, no internet, no mobile networks, no radio, no TV. The use of motorcars was restricted to official vehicles. That way, they kept their valley pure, free of traffic and other modern pollution. Bikers and hikers were welcome. Cars absolutely not. Nevertheless, Alfred had heard from people that there was little chance to be caught. Others had been driving through, without problems. The abhorrence for modern communication tools in the valley gave trespassers a head start to drive through before anyone could be alarmed. The few police officers were half time farmers and were particularly busy preparing the harvest during the summer months. The police station was established in the ‘capital’, at some distance from the forbidden road, and they had only two cars : an old Volkswagen Beetle and an even older Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi, which were both said to be in repair most of the time. Alfred and Madeline decided to take the risk, despite the severe warning at the beginning of the prohibited track.
Alfred and Madeline went on that Wednesday morning, hoping to arrive at the market neat 10 a.m.. Just one kilometer from their hotel, they entered the forbidden road. Immediately, the road started climbing to the pass. It was a large asphalt road, well-equipped and well maintained. They wondered how such a good road could be forbidden, especially as there were no barriers to prevent the use of it. The ascent of the pass took them only fifteen minutes. On top of the pass, they let themselves seduce by the beautiful panorama. They parked the car and stepped out. Helped by an orientation table, they enjoyed the landscape. The view was tremendous, almost delirious. The sky was clear and they could see mountain ridges up to hundred fifty kilometers away. Madeline’s mood could not be better. She already looked forward to dwelling over the market, between the old houses and buildings, buying some stuff, some local food, and finally some walking around and eating and drinking something in a cozy café.
On the pass stood a chapel, with a typical onion dome. Just in front of it was a stall. Madeline had noticed it only sold little crucifixes on a chainlet. The vendor looked a little bit strange, somewhat fanatic. He urged them to buy one. They should follow the cross on their way, so, the cross would protect them and bring them safely to Rome. Curiously, to Madeline’s surprise, Alfred had proposed to buy one.
“You never know!”
“Alfred! Twenty euro for some superstition? Come on, that is ridiculous!”
“But…!”
“Come on dear, we are not going to Rome. Only thirty kilometer from here, a market is waiting for us. Just drive us there!”
“But…!?”
“Alfred! It will be all right. I have confidence nothing will happen!”
Alfred knew what to do. Her self-confidence often did hide feelings of worry and uncertainty. Despite her good mood she was likely a little bit worried about the risk they would take. She counted on him to drive them through.
(to be continued)
..." - Alfred wouldn't know of such thoughts I guess