Helfer - Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived

ON A GRAY, FOGGY MORNING THEY CAME, rising on the

MORNING, HERR GOBEL.

DURING THE SLOW SEASON CURPO was allowed to take care

SATURDAY MORNING. There was no great fanfare about it. Modocs

Hi, IM GERTIE, said a voice.

NOW YOU KIDS BE CAREFUL and I dont want you

THE SIDESHOW, which many patrons considered a freak show, featured

TRUCKS, SKIPLOADERS, AND ROUSTABOUTS were busy moving circus equipment and

WHEN BRAM ARRIVED at the circus grounds it looked as

NEWS ARRIVED FROM THE PORT that The Ghanjee from India

THE JOURNEY FOR BRAM was one of wonderment and danger.

WHAT IN THE HELL do you think youre doing! The

THE WEATHER HAD TAKEN a turn for the worse. Winds

BRAM TOOK A MOMENT to gaze around the hold. Litter

Help!Help!

HOURS HAD PASSED. The fog thinned, and in places had

IM SORRY, but the doctor left strict orders that the

WAKE UP! WAKE UP, SIR

A FEW DAYS HAD PASSED when a small Indian man

BRAM AWAKENED IN A BASKET CHAIR, hung from the high

THE SUN BROKE INTO DAYLIGHT like an egg being cracked

THE LIGHT OF THE FULL MOON moved through the trees

AS THE WEEKS WENT BY Bram and Mo lived wherever

A HUNDRED YARDS DOWNSTREAM Bram found a place where the

FOR A MONTH HE PRESSED ON, rarely stopping except to

THAT NIGHT BRAM LAY AWAKE; his thoughts were of Gertie.

A NOTICE IN THE VILLAGE said that Kalli Gooma would

BRAM AWOKE TO A LOUD COMMOTION. The early morning sun

BRAM AND SIAN WERE TO BE MARRIED! It said so

THIRTY-FOUR ELEPHANTS STOOD READY. Eight had been outfitted with machine

BRAMS MIND AWOKE long before his body, to a slow-turning

THE CARAVAN WAS WAITING. Modoc and the other elephants that

SHE WAS THE BIGGEST FROM THE START. Even old Bertha,

THE LINES AT THE TICKET BOOTH stretched down the block

MO DIDNT FEEL WELL. Her last performance had been a

ALWAYS WALK IN THE VALLEY OF LIFE. The mountains on

BRAM NEVER DID GET OVER CURPOS DEATH. He blamed himself

IM SELLING MO.

AN ANIMAL COMPANY called Gentle Jungle Exotic Animal Rental had

THEY HAVE ANIMAL RENTAL COMPANIES HERE, said Gertie.

MO IS LOSING HER SIGHT IN THE OTHER EYE, Bram.

The story of Modoc is true. When writers attempt to write a story based on the truth, they must first take all that they themselves have seen and know it to be a fact. Next comes research and documented proof which mayor may notbe true. And, finally, there is hearsaythat which people tell you is factual. All this is put in a bowl, mashed and ground, and spread onto the pages in as close a semblance as possible. Then a little (poetic) political license is taken.

Therefore, the story of Modoc is trueat least as far as I know. Its the best I could do.

O N A GRAY, FOGGY MORNING THEY CAME , rising on the cold north winds from the icy peaks, sweeping across the timber land into the gray, misty valleys of the Black Forest baby sounds! Somewhere below the fog layer, the insistent wails of a baby could be heard, their temerity as if from Mother Earth herself.

And then another voice arose. Deeper, brassy, trumpety, but still ababy sound. It, too, was whisked away through the thermals, swirling and dashing about until it met its kin. A quiet moment hung over all. Then, together, they joinedthe wailing and trumpeting became one. They drifted over the countryside, beyond the river, across the corn rows and the desolate fields of last summers picking.

The first sunlight of the morning bathed the chilly Hagendorf Valley with its burnt ochre sphere. It seemed to rest, but for a moment, at the foot of Olymstroem Mountain upon a rather small but quaint old German farm. It was from there both baby sounds emanated.

A rutted dirt road snaked up the center of the farm, separating the pale yellow German-Swiss style two-story house from the large, old, rock and timber barn. The barns rock supports had tumbled down at every corner, resembling small volcanoes with boulders spewed in all directions. The rotting wood structure seemed to be part of the earth itself, and spoke bluntly of the many years of winter storms it had survived.

Circus paraphernalia lay everywhere. A huge old wooden circus wagon, its hitch buried deep, wheels dug into the mud from years before, showed chips of red and gold paint still visible on its frame. Pieces of candy-striped tent hung over the barns windows. A broken ticket booth lay in shambles, its GENERAL ADMISSION sign still hanging from the roof. Chickens, geese, a few pigs ran free around the dwellings. This was the Gunterstein farm.

The baby sounds had separated. From the second-story window of the house only the soft crying of an infant could be heard. Hannah, the midwife, an exceedingly large and buxom woman, finished powdering the infants behind. After bundling him in a soft, warm blue blanket, she handed the baby boy to his mother. Katrina Gunterstein gently took her firstborn. A pretty woman in her early forties, the daughter of a dirt farmer, Katrina had a wide strong jaw and a high forehead that spoke well of her inherited German peasant stock. Kissing his bright pink cheeks, she opened her nightgown and offered the baby her full breast. The touch of the infants tiny mouth on her nipple sent a ripple of pure ecstasy through her body.

Oh, Josef! This is a boy to be proud of. Is he not wonderful? She looked through tears of joy at her husband, who stood at her bedside.

Josef was the epitome of a proud father gazing down at his infant son. His slender body and chiseled high cheekbones made him appear much taller than his six-foot frame. Katrina had found the man of her dreams in Josef, a quiet, gentle man of the Jewish faith. After many failed attempts during their ten years of marriage, they were now blessed with a marvelous boy child. Although his blond hair and features came from the strong Nordic side of Katrinas family, he had the sweet and gentle warmth that radiated so strongly from Josefs heritage. They named him Bram, after Josefs father.

The boys going to make a fine elephant trainer, said Josef, his eyes full of anticipation.

Josef, as his father years before him, worked for a small village circus in the nearby town of Hasengrossck. He was a trainer, a trainer of animals. More precisely, Josef was a trainer of elephants. At times Katrina thought he loved the elephants more than he loved her, but better it be animals, she thought with a smile, than another woman. Besides, this love for animals was what made him the wonderful, caring man he was.

An ear-splitting trumpet shocked them out of their bliss. Realizing there was another baby to celebrate, Josef kissed his wife, the infant, and, in his excitement, even Hannah, and dashed downstairs, embarrassed at the mistake he had just made.

He felt a chill in the air as he stepped out on the porch. As morning broke, the earths shadows eased their way down the mountains. Winter had worn out its welcome and spring was pushing the flowers up in the meadows. By the look of things it was going to be a wonderful day. Josef hugged himself briskly to keep out the cold and headed for the barn. Swinging open the large, creaky barn door, he stepped inside.

The scent of alfalfa, oat hay, and saddle soap, and the pungent odor of elephant stool in the damp musty air greeted Josefs nostrils. Bale upon bale of hay was neatly stacked against one side of the wall and formed large rectangular steps leading to the very top of the barn. From there one could touch the huge rafters that held the old structure together. On the opposite side of the barn were animal stalls, tack, and feed rooms. Inside the spacious tack room, the leather horse saddles, bridles, and halters had been buffed and polished to a high sheen. The brass buckles, D-rings, and cinches all sparkled, each piece having its appropriate place.