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He Walked Past the Iron Gate!

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He stood up from his morning drink of coffee and started to the door. Vaulstale Hipston hadthings to do this morning, things that perhaps would cost him his ever fortune. He had justreceived a call at the break of dawn that drove a chilling cold deep into his bones. One whom he had not heard from since his younger days, one whom he respected yet did not trust an old acquaintance as their lives paths lead in different directions. Vaulstale was very educated and of a high-ranking family line, one that had to uphold certain things during their lives that others could always turn to them and find strength. Brodin Mohdan was not much like him and yet he was a strong friend at times in older times to Vaulstale. A friend who in younger days promised Vaulstale that the darker side of being of his family line would never do harm to the Hipston establishment. The call Vaulstale received this morning asking him to met
Mohdan in a darker atmosphere than Hipston was used too and, so much so, unexpected as it
was just to discuss important business was causing Hipston bad feelings.
Hipston went to his desk in the den of the great mansion he lived; he was a loner of sorts and did most of his work in that den and at that desk. He was a very well to do fellow and was not so greatly interested in the womanizing, as he preferred the suspense of his work and business to loose chasing and being to open about himself before others. He reached up as he gained his seat at the majestic Oak desk and clicked on the brass and green hooded glass lamp that provided light for him to work by. He flipped open his appointment book and paged to the present day’s affairs, he gave a quick glance, then closed the thing, picked up the phone and started dialing.
The connection was made at the other end and Vaulstale started in,” Hello, this is Vaulstale Hipston; Tony…, something has come up today; I will not be able to make my appointment with Charles Habber to day. Could you please cancel it and set up a new date sometime next week or later for me and put a hold on any incoming calls for this day please girl? I have some important things I must address today and may be out all day.” The next thing spoken was a, “Thank you…, Tony you have a nice day.” As Vaulstale then set the phone back down on it’s receiver.
Vaulstale then reached over to the house intercom and pushed the button, he spoke toward
the machine, “Helen I will be going out shortly, please hold all calls today as I may not be back until late.” He let up the button, pushed back his chair, got up, and in a bold way moved toward the door. He was a fairly tall fellow and gallantly handsome, he had an oxford degree in business management and the social sciences. He was head of a major investment firm of which had been in the family for many years and was very comfortable about running his large firm from his home, while keeping his forty-fiveish lifestyle filled with culture by reading.
He made his way to the front door of the grand house and picking up his driving gloves off the corner stand before the way out. He opened the door and stepped out into the midmorning Maine air, it was August and the sun was warm, a slight breeze brought ocean
freshness to his notice as he steadily made his way to his corvette car. It was a bright yellow and he enjoyed driving the machine, it was one of his favored wild things in life to enjoy. He very much enjoyed the open air rushing past him as he drove down the country roads that lead to his main office in the city; it was his summer pleasure and the main reason to go to the main office.
He grabbed at the door handle and pulled open the door, swung himself into the fine machine and put in the key. He turned it and the finely tuned machine started, he slipped on his driving glasses, then his gloves. He sat back a moment and thought to himself, “ I have not seen Brodin for almost ten years, why all of a sudden would he call me and ask me so forcible to join him today to for an important meeting at his place today. He has lead such a questionable life, loud women and parties as well his connections in business at times so I have heard are very questionable. Yet he has not been in trouble with the law, thank goodness, but what a dark cloud seems to follow his family and business.” Vaulstale pushed on the pedal and reached for the shift knob, he pushed in the clutch and eased the shift lever into reverse and said in a mild voice,” Well, he has kept his word up till now, I hope this will only further it.” He pushed on the brake after the car had rolled back far enough for him to make the swing out and down the driveway and said again, in a mild voice, “I best get on with it.” He worked the shift lever into first, let out the clutch with grace, and began his journey to see Mr. Mohdan.
Vaulstale in his corvette moved down the road in brash style, it would be a two-hour drive to Brodin’s place. “Thank goodness the traffic would not be so terrible this Wednesday morning.” Vaulstale thought to himself as he turned on the cars radio to a modern rock station, eased back in his seat and edged the speed of the car to just over the speed limit. He moved along swiftly and the time past rapidly soon he was at Brodin Mohdan’s place.
Vaulstale eased his corvette into the long driveway into the dark foreboding estate that had Mohdan on the extravagant mailbox. It was near the ocean just south and outside the city;Mohdan was in an area considered heavily populated with retired Mob bosses. The area had its share of grand mansions and special security force to patrol the whole area that was not gilded by any security fence; it appeared each dwelling was responsible for its own gates with guards and fencing.
Hipston eased his car down the lilac hedged driveway and up to a security gate that had a
drive up intercom as well a camera he noticed was perched atop the Iron gates. He stopped at the intercom, reached out, pushed the button, and spoke toward the machine, “Hello, this is Vaulstale Hipston I am expected. I am here in regard to a call from Mr. Mohdan.”
A deep and raspy voice answered, “Ah, yes one moment please I must check my guest list
sir.” All of a sudden, the gates before Vaulstale started to open and the next minute the voice answered, “Please drive up Mr. Hipston.” Vaulstale shifted the car into gear and moved forward toward the ominous mansion that could be noticed after a few turns in from the front gate. He eased up to the front of what appeared a parking lot with another shorter gate that was before a path that lead to the front door of a great ivied stone and brown brick mansion.
Vaulstale parked the car right up front aside the old black Iron Gate that had stonewalls
reaching out and what appeared surrounded the front and perhaps whole of the great yard of the place. He picked off is driving sunglasses and put them in the compartment aside the drivers seat. He took off his driving gloves and let them lay to the top of the compartment, plucked out the keys, opened the car door, stepped out. After closing the car door, he stood a moment gazing up at the house and about the area, then sauntered toward the Iron Gate. He stepped up to it, reached out an unlatched the latch, and swung the gate open. He stepped briskly up the cobblestone path toward the house and then up the front steps. As he approached the front door it opened and a large tall man in gentleman’s attire appeared at the opening and waited to greet Vaulstale.
Vaulstale greeted the gentleman as he got to the top of the front doors, “Hello, I am Vaulstale Hipston.” The gentleman replied, “This way Mr. Hipston if you please Mr. Mohdan is waiting right in side to meet you.” With a steady stride Vaulstale entered the dwelling as the gentleman stepped aside to manage the door and it’s closing. He stepped a few steps in and was going to turn and see which way the gentleman was going to lead him when he heard a voice, “My, my, my Vaully Hipston my old college and neighborhood friend come right in, I have been waiting for you.”
Vaulstale quickly turned as the gentleman stepped past him and saw coming toward him the
familiar features of his college and younger days Brodin Mohdan. He looked rapidly about
the great entryway and then back down the hall toward the approaching Brodin.
“This way, this way Vaully,” Brodin continued as he approached, “Daniel, if you please I
hope dinner is almost ready we will be in the sitting room, please bring us some wine.” The gentleman Daniel replied, “Yes Mr. Brodin dinner should be ready shortly; I shall bring the wine sir.” Daniel swiftly walked off. Brodin walked right up to Vaulstale and reached out with open arms and clasped them about Vaulstale saying as he hugged and patted him on the back, “Vaully, Vaully I am ever so happy to see you. My, my life has been good to you so far.” He stepped back as both released from the greeting.
Vaulstale was now smiling and answered back, “My goodness Brody, you look very well
yourself…, it looks like you have put on a few pounds since the last time I saw you.”
“Yes, ah yes, Vaully life has been good to me, I do eat well too. Huh, huh,” chuckled Brodin.
He continued as he led Vaulstale on into a great sitting room, “Come, I am supposing you’re wondering why I ask you here and so suddenly. I am so glad you came after all these years, I was wondering if you would. Come now, come sit here, sit here Vaully.” Vaulstale took a seat and Brody one right next to him a fancy Maple coffee table sat before them. Vaulstale took a moment to gaze around the eloquently designed room, which held a great library of books along its one back wall.
Vaulstale spoke, “Brody I see you are a bit of a reader still, my I myself read much these days when I am not tied up with work.”
Brodin replied, “Yes…, Vaully I do read much still, I find it the real way to stay ahead of my competition. You know some of them, out there, they don’t have the smarts like me and you do, Huh, huh. If I can tell them a good story from a good writer when they come see me or part of one, well Vaully, they think they have come to the right man, Huh, huh.”
Vaulstale sat back with a smile on his face as he listened and then answered, “My Brody you are still the charmer I see, no some out there are not as wise as those who keep up in literature.”
The gentleman appeared at the door and made his way into the room with a tray carrying a
bottle of wine and two glasses.
“Ah, Daniel, good the wine, it is that special vintage I told you to open for this marvelous occasion.” Brodin said as Daniel approached. Daniel replied as he set the wine down and set out the two glasses, one before Brodin and the other before Vaulstale, “Yes Mr. Mohdan, it is the wine you requested and dinner will be in about ten minutes sir.” He poured out wine into the two glasses as Brodin replied, “Good, good, Vaully this is very special wine I got in Europe last year, I found it in Rome. There where only a hundred bottles of this made thirty years ago and I bought the last four bottles. I hope you like Lamb; I had the chief make up some chops. You do like Lamb I hope.” Daniel stood waiting to see if the wine was satisfactory.
Brodin took up his glass first as Vaulstale followed and sipped of it, then turned to Daniel and said, ”Very fine Daniel, go now, this will be fine, let us know when dinner is ready.”
Vaulstale sipped the wine, it went down very smoothly, and the taste was full heavy and
sweet. He set the glass out a bit before taking in another sip and looked over at Brodin who was waiting with a smile for some sort of feedback and said, ”My Brody you did come
across some very nice wine here. I have only tasted wine like this once before and it was a very old vintage I found in Venice when I was there years ago.”
Brodin answered as he smiled and took another fast sip, “You like that, Huh, huh…, I knew
you would you will like the Lamb too, I just know it.”
“My yes, Brody,” answered Vaulstale, “yet what is the great problem you hoped very much I
could help you with Brody?”
“In a minute, Vaully,” said Brodin, “tell me how you are getting along and I will let you
know about what I have been doing. Then we shall get down to business, perhaps at dinner. “
The two then started in bantering stories about themselves and what they had been each
doing after they parted company after graduation from Oxford. They talked for about ten
minutes and then Daniel appeared at the sitting room door and spoke in, “Mr. Mohdan sir,
dinner is served.”
Brodin turned toward him and replied, “Thank you Daniel, me and Mr. Hipston will be there
in a moment.” Daniel disappeared from the doorway and Brodin looking at Vaulstale said,
“Come Vaully…, bring your wine lets eat. I will now tell you why I asked you here my good
friend, I am so glad to here you have been around the world like I have and done so well
with your families firm.” He reached out and plucked up his own glass of wine after coming to his feet, he stood waiting for Vaulstale.
Vaulstale rose, glass in hand saying, “Brody I am amazed that you have been so busy, I
thought for sure you would have moved into the air freight business as you talked about it so much in college. I mean you always told me you were thinking about expanding from the trucking firm your family had and move into air freight.” Vaulstale followed Brodin as he led the way into the dinning room which was filled with the sent of roasted lamb.
“Ah that,” spoke Brodin,” I almost did just that, but you know it is very expensive these days and so I turned to starting and maintaining shipping lines in forgien countries. You know, insurance does not always cover any of those planes that go down or all of the cost of lost cargo. It is very expensive and this way I don’t have to worry about such lose.” As they sat down Brodin turned to Daniel and said,” Daniel please bring that wine.”
Daniel replied, “Yes, Mr. Mohdan as you like sir.” He turned and vanished out of the room
and toward the sitting room.
“This all looks marvelous Brody,” Vaulstale began, “now what was this problem you wanted
me to help you with.” Brodin past the Lamb chops to Vaulstale as he shook his head, “Yes,
yes the business matters.”
They both filled their plates, Daniel returned with the bottle of wine and poured out what the glasses would hold of the bottle, then he set it on the side of both and waited for his next set of directions from Brodin.
“That will be all for now Daniel,” Brodin spoke after taking his first bite of Lamb chop and finding it done to perfection. Daniel took to stepping away from his statue like posture and spot saying as he left, “Very well, Mr. Mohdin.”
Brodin started, “Ah, now we can talk. The lamb is good is it not?”
Vaulstale replied as he took another sip of his wine, “Yes, Brody you surprise me, your taste in wine and food has changed a bit since college. I can see where those extra pounds you carry come from now.”
Brodin laughed as he sat back a bit and then started in, “Vaully let me be frank with you, and I am worried about things in Pakistan. As you know one of my largest lines is in Pakistan and well the way they doddle about things is so unsettling to staright forward solid business Vaully.”
Vaulstale replied in a bit of a cynical voice, “I have heard that at times it is like the beach and the ocean comeing in at high and low tide.”
Brodin went on and asked of Vaulstale, “Very much so my good friend and very unstable as
you must notice, you have some investments in that area do you not Vaully?”
“Well, yes I do Brody,” Stated Vaulstale, “Yet I have never been so bothered by it. Honestly, we are running very smoothly once a deal is made it stays made, you know!”
Brodin continued after taking another sip of wine, “Yes, yes maybe for you it is as such.
What I need from you Vaully is that you invest in special ways in that area my friend. Will you do that for me Vaully my friend, I hear a coupe is starting soon and you know how terrible that can be for business.”
“A coupe,” Vaully looked up from the little bit left on his plate in surprise at Brodin, “How did you hear about this, I have never heard such a thing Brody. Are you sure you are getting straight information.”
“Oh I am getting straight information my friend,” Brodin said in a strained quite voice, “I am helping cause such a thing my firend. I and my business associates have grown very tired of all the shifting around in our area of business.”
Vaulstale finished his dinner and took up his glass and finished it, he was starring at Brodin with a very concerned look on his face as he finished his meal. He then without changing the expression on his face said to Brodin, “No, I can not be apart of something like that. If it ever got out Brodin, I would soon be ruined. I will not be of any help to something as such Brodin.”
Brodin as he listened with a blank look on his face for an answer put his smile back on and said, “ Now, now Vaully don’t get all out of shape about this. I was just going to mention it;if you were not interested do be it. Let’s not let this ruin or friendship. Vaully just forget that you ever heard a thing about this and I will leave it at that.”
“Forget it, Vaulstale returned, “How do you expect me to forget it. Brody what the hell have you gottin yourself into, I mean how could you get involved with something so deep and dangerous?”
“Vaully, Vaully don’t you get so upset now,” Brodin continued, “I mean this lets not let this become between us. Maybe you are right it was just a wild idea, because it has been so bad for sometime there Vaully…, nothing more.”
Vaulstale answered in a stressed voice, “A wild idea Brodin, I can only hope so. I mean it I cannot go alone with you on something like that. I mean it and it is nothing you should be involved with Brodin, not at all!”
“Please, have some more wine Vaully,” Brodin replied, “and let’s just forget about this silly thing. Remember me vaully silly thoughts lots of times.” He started to pour out some more wine for Vaulstale who covered his glass and said, “No, I think I should be on my way Brody.” Brodin pulled back the bottle and let it rest back on the table.
Brodin started again, “Well now, Vaully forget it.., I mean it you are right it sounds stupid for me to be about something like that. I tell you what if you are going to leave I know it is getting long, please wait I have a bottle of that special wine I want you to take with you.”
Brodin shouted as Vaulstale rose from his seat. “Daniel, please get Mr. Hipston that bottle of wine I wanted him to have, he is leaveing us.”
Vaulstale spoke, “Yes…, it is getting long and I should really be on my way. I hope you
mean that Brodin that it ws just an odd thought because I will have to be against you. I really must be on my way.”
Brodin answered, “Yes I assure you Vaully it is a wild Idea, forget it, I as well would be ruined, what am I thinking. Let me walk you to the door Vaully.” He got up from his seat and started after Vaulstale who was readily moving away from him and toward the door.
Daniel appeared at the door with a bottle of wine wrapped up in paper and held it out to Mr. Mohdan that he could give it to Vaulstale as he pasued at the doorway. Daniel then quickly opened the door and stood waiting as Brodin Mohdan said his goodbyes. Brodin reached out at a hesitant Hipston and gave him a big huge, he stepped back and grabbed the wine saying, “My, my, my good friend.., it has been a big delight to see you again. I enjoy hearing so much you giving me advice; again, just like in the old days is it not Vaully?” Vaully nodded and said not a word. Brodin held out the bottle of wine to Vaulstale and he took it.
Brodin started in as he patted Vaulstale on the back in a friendly way as he turned and
walked out the door, “You take that bottle of wine now and enjoy it. You make sure you
leave the cork off once you open it and let it breathe. My, my Vaully we should do this again soon. We do let it go so long before we see each other, let’s stay closer from now on; I really need your advice once and awhile.”
Vaulstale stood outside the door for a moment turned back to Brodin, “You be very carful
Brody, it has been nice and thank you for the dinner and bottle of wine. You…, Brody…,
sure know how to put a scare on me still,” he shook his head in amazement, turned, and
walked to his car.
Brodin yelled as he went, “Vaully you take care to now, you know I need your adive let’s do this again soon. I tell you I will give you a call when I am up in your part of town, ok! You make sure you leave that cork off when you open that bottle to let it breathe!”
Vaulstale reached the Iron Gate, pulled it open, and walked past, he yelled slightly loud back at Brodin Mohdan, “Yes, Brody lets do this again sometime.” He closed the gate and walked to his waiting car. He climbed in and set the key into the ignition after placeing the wine on the seat next to him. He put on his gloves and driving glasses, started the car and backed out.
He looked up at a waving Brodin and gave a short wave back after putting the car in first
gear, then he spead off. He reached the outer gate that was open when he reached it and after checking traffic raced down the road that led him back home.
The time returning went by even faster so it seemed to Vaulstale as he parked his car in the driveway. All he could think about was the stupid situation Brody had tried to get him into as well as how stupid it would have been for him. He got out of the car after grabbing the bottle of wine, after he had closed the car door he looked at the wrapped up bottle, shook his head and muttered, “Brody you better have not been lieing to me about forgetting the fact that you were going to help overthrow a government. You do have good taste though I must say.” He turned and went into the house; put his gloves back into their plase and walked into the dark house. He turned on the lights knowing the maid had gone home and headed toward the kitchen. He could not get it out of his head how foolish his old friend had sounded as he decided to pour a bit of the wine and drink it to calm himself down. He fumbled in a drawer at the kitchen counter for a bottle openner, pulled it out, opened the wine and then got a glass out from the off the upper shelf. He poured himself a glass and left the cork off the bottle, turned with glass in hand and went to his study to check his messages.
He reached his study and then his desk setting the glass down after he took a sip and
muttered to himself, “Lets see what we have here for messages.” He pushed the machine on
and it started, the messages read out as he sipped the wine down. “Ooh, that is good wine,” he muttered to himself.
Chapter Two
It was the next morning and a voice was heard saying, “Mr. Mohdan would you like some
more coffee sir?” The paper rattled and from behind it a voice said, “Sad is it not.., Daniel, Vaully passing like that. They said itw as a massive heart attack; no, I have enough coffee Daniel.” “Fine sir and yes.., how terrible sir. Will you be going to the funeral sir?”
Brodin Mohdan replied as he folded up the paper and set it aside, “Yes Daniel I think I will go. Say Daniel will you please get Mr. Pastik on the phine and tell him our deal is on. Tell him our road block has left us and we are free to proceed.”
Daniel answered back, “Yes Mr. Mohdan…, I shall do it right away sir.”
“Sad such a smart man and so young,” Brodin muttered, “He walked past the iron gate, my
what goes in the bottle always does not stay in it. My old friend if you leave the cork off the most important part may excape leaveing only what one presumes is supposed to be in it.”
Brodin spoke out loud again, “Daniel if you will make certain that last bottle of wine is is put up away safe, we may need to give Mr. Pastik a gift one day.”
THE END!
By Michael J. Pinger 9/15/06
© Copyright 2006 Mike (UN: mikeyaw at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Mike has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

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