Klaus Von Volker had set up his rally near the north end of the Stadparkbrucke. The City Park Bridge, once known as the Karolinenbrucke, was a popular place. The bridge spanned the Wienfluss, and the Vienna River cut through the heart of Vienna.
When he’d gone to school in the city, Lourds had been fascinated by the river. People weren’t allowed to walk or cycle along the concrete riverbed that had been laid. The headwaters in the Wienerwald sat on a bed of sandstone that saturated quickly. As a result, the Wienfluss could turn from a slow-moving creek to a roaring river pushing nearly 130,000 gallons of water a second. Even heavy equipment machines would get washed away in the deluge.
Von Volker launched his vitriol from an elaborate stage. The man was definitely a crowd-pleaser, if the reactions of the people gathered there to listen were any indication. Behind him, two large wide-screen projectors mounted on utility trucks showed ‘Zionist oppression.’ The footage was primarily of Israeli military rolling into contested areas, tanks crushing cars in the streets, soldiers shooting anyone who opposed them, and familiar politicians screaming.
‘For too long, Israel has dictated the shape of the future in the Middle East. The Zionist government makes economic war on Iran, and their war has poured over onto us.’ Von Volker walked the length of the stage like a rock star, touching the hands of his ardent supporters. ‘The United States and other members of the European Union have reduced their trade with Iran, and they expect us to do the same. Not only expect it, for that is too genteel a word, they demand Austria’s compliance as well. But the United States and her peers have alternate sources of oil.’
Lourds knew the argument held some validity. The sanctions the US and EU were trying to impose limited the amount of oil bought from Iran. That was primarily because the corporations outside countries dealt with tended to be — more and more — straw companies for the Revolutionary Guard, the Ayatollah’s private murder squad.
A few people in the audience dissented from Von Volker’s claims, though most of them appeared to be tourists or young people. Bullyboys who evidently worked for Von Volker circulated through the crowd and ousted those people. The Viennese uniformed police appeared not to notice the semiphysical encounters.
‘The United States allies itself with Saudi Arabia and other countries.’ The PA system thundered Von Volker’s words over the crowd. ‘They can afford to cut back on oil because they have agreements with those countries to produce what they need. But what does Austria have? Do we have access to those other oil reserves?’
‘No!’ The crowd’s response was deafening.
‘The Zionists are seeking to hold our country back! They don’t want to see Austria strong again!’
The crowd booed and hissed and cursed the United States and Israel.
‘The United States has seen fit to pursue its “War on Terror” throughout the world. These days, it seems, the president and his advisers can find terrorists anywhere they choose to look!’
Another cry of protest filled the park.
‘Could the previous American president find “weapons of mass destruction” in Iraq?’
‘No!’
‘And now they use their “War on Terror” to paint Austria’s desires to advance her economy and her position in the global market. How long will it be before the United States tries to patrol terrorism in our country?’
An incensed howl went up from the crowd.
‘If we do not stand together, if we allow Israel and her lapdogs to choose our allies, we will be defenseless before them one day. That is their agenda.’
More condemnation surged from the crowd, much of it directed against the United States.
Von Volker grinned like a wolf as he paced more furiously. ‘Israel penetrated the infrastructure of the United States and took control a long time ago. Now they tell that greedy country what to do, commanding it like a lapdog trained to please its master. In these recent years, the United States has posited itself as the policeman to the world. Now they chase their shadows of terrorists around the globe. All the while, they continue consuming everything, becoming a monstrous leech that will suck the life from both the Western world and the Eastern one.’
More curses against the United States ran rampant through the crowd. As Lourds watched this time, he saw that the chanting was led by embedded cheerleaders, young, handsome men with strong Aryan features. They could have been poster children for Adolf Hitler’s master race.
‘How do you like the show?’
Lourds turned to look at Alice, who’d appeared from seemingly nowhere. ‘Frankly, your husband makes me sick.’
‘This is in a crowd. You should have to endure him at home.’
‘I couldn’t. This is the kind of blatant hostility and threatening posture that World War II was fought to stop.’ Lourds shook his head. ‘All that’s missing is a martyr.’
Von Volker stood in front of the crowd again. ‘The United States is inept. Look at how they poisoned the waters in the Gulf of Mexico when they lost control of the offshore oil rigs there. Millions of gallons of oil spewed into the ocean and killed wildlife in the waters and along the coasts for months. Did they take responsibility for their greed and destruction?’
‘NO!’
Reluctantly, Lourds had to admit that Von Volker had plenty of ammunition against the United States.
‘The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was disastrous.’ Von Volker emphasized his words with a bunched fist. ‘The world won’t know the true cost of that blunder for possibly generations. In the meantime, all that oil the United States was counting on will need to be replaced. And do you know how they’re going to replace it?’
The question thundered over the crowd, which responded in a disjointed burst of general unhappiness.
‘By taking more oil from the Middle East! And in doing so, they will take more than their fair share. Austria will be like a homeless person begging for crumbs at the rich man’s table.’ Von Volker paused theatrically. ‘Unless Austria rises up to take control of her own destiny!’
The furor rose to a fever pitch.
‘Israel has already bemoaned Germany’s dealings with Iran to the point that German business with Iran has been restricted. Iran has the oil we need. We have political support that country needs if it is to survive and move successfully into the twenty-first century. When the rest of the world is using nuclear power, Israel and her allies continue to lobby against Iran gaining that power to better maintain their nation and provide for their people.’
‘As if that’s all nuclear technology will be used for.’ Lourds took a deep breath. ‘He’s a very dangerous man.’
Alice nodded. ‘I know.’
‘Together, Austria and Iran, we must rise up against the Zionist oppressors and kick the boot of the United States off the back of our necks.’ Von Volker strutted before his constituency. ‘We are a race of warriors!’
Cheering and whistling broke out.
‘We are Austrian!’ Von Volker roared his declaration. ‘We will not submit like some meek schoolgirl in the face of a harsh taskmaster. All we need to do is rise up and stand our ground!’
Wild cries of support filled the park.
Alice touched Lourds’s arm. ‘Have you heard enough? He’ll continue in this vein for another hour or two. If we leave now, we can reach the schloss just after his people leave the rooms.’
‘Definitely.’ Lourds took her hand and let her lead him through the crowd.
‘Herr Von Volker.’
Von Volker finished mopping his face and glanced up at the bodyguard standing near him. He’d taken a break to briefly rest his voice. He wasn’t finished inciting the crowd yet. Media people from all around the world were streaming the news footage live. CNN and Fox News were staying with the story as political analysts tried to interpret the coming worldwide reaction.