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The Gate
By Erinna Gilkison
Many Canadians today feel geographically and historically removed from the horrific events of WWII. In his novel The Gate, by telling the "small, human stories"; of those who cannot so easily forget, Michael Elcock reminds us that our connections are not always as distant as we may think.
We begin in September of 1984: Etienne drives his BMW from Vancouver to the farm in Pemberton where he grew up. He has not visited for many years. His grand-mère, apparently his only remaining family member, is dying.
He arrives in time for his grand-mère to recount a sketch of her past and that of his mother, who he believed until now had died giving birth to him. It turns out this story was a convenient lie, with the real story yet to be uncovered.
"'The letter. You have the letter? . . . It will help you,' she says in French. Her eyes are closed. "'I am so sorry Etienne.' They were her last words.";
In this letter, from people who call themselves his "aunt and uncle in Belgium,"; they refer to Etienne as "a little miracle, and a brave one."; They remark that "his hands and feet have healed well.";
A couple of months later, Etienne has not been pleasant to work with since his grand-mère's death, so Etienne's business partner "suggests"; that Etienne take a break, He Etienne flies to Europe, meets with a client in Germany, and then sets out to find his mysterious relatives in Belgium.
Etienne has no reservations about doing business with Germans, but upon his arrival in a small Belgian village, the atmosphere changes. "Vous êtes Allemand?"; asks an elderly woman, as her "narrow eyes"; notice his German license plates.
Etienne finds his aunt and uncle, still living at the same address that was written on the letter. They are both shocked to learn that he knows nothing about them or his own early years in Europe.
Jacques explains to Etienne that memories of WWII are never far from their minds. "There wasn't a family in Europe that wasn't touched by the war. I don't believe it was the same in North America. There are still many of us here who haven't forgotten about it.";
Jacques and Françoise proceed to tell Etienne the story of his parents and his infancy. In June of 1944, Etienne's father, Pascal, parachuted into Belgium, landing near the Franco-Belgian border. The fictional Pascal was a member of an inter-allied Resistance mission with the code name Citronelle-an organization that actually existed.
After a botched mission, Pascal finds his way back to his wife Marie in Hirson, France, a town near the Belgian border, and discovers she is due to give birth in two months. Marie hopes the Germans will have left France by then. "I don't want him to come into the world while they are here.";
Marie, who has her own heartrending reason for having joined the Resistance, insists on accompanying Pascal to hide out in Signy, another French border-side village. In this uncertain territory, suspicion and duplicity abound.
Pascal arrives home one day to find German soldiers in his farmyard, waiting for him to return. He lies still and listens, his rifle beside him, the box of ammunition in his hand. He begins a desperate search for his wife and newborn son in the nearby town of Montmédy, home of the regional headquarters of the SD (a branch of the German secret police).
A few days later, the Americans liberate Montmédy. With the help of a new friend, la veuve de pays boisé (the widow of the woodlands), Pascal begins to heal his mind and body. When the German offensive approaches once more, Pascal finds himself in Belgium, where an unexpected reunion awaits. But as is so often the case in wartime, his joy is fleeting.
One of the many horrific events of WWII is about to take place in the villages of Grune and Bande.
To tell any more is to say too much. Michael Elcock has used onsite research, including first-hand accounts of the key historical events, to create a heartbreaking and suspenseful novel.
978-0-88982-272-6
Many Canadians today feel geographically and historically removed from the horrific events of WWII. In his novel The Gate, by telling the "small, human stories"; of those who cannot so easily forget, Michael Elcock reminds us that our connections are not always as distant as we may think.
We begin in September of 1984: Etienne drives his BMW from Vancouver to the farm in Pemberton where he grew up. He has not visited for many years. His grand-mère, apparently his only remaining family member, is dying.
He arrives in time for his grand-mère to recount a sketch of her past and that of his mother, who he believed until now had died giving birth to him. It turns out this story was a convenient lie, with the real story yet to be uncovered.
"'The letter. You have the letter? . . . It will help you,' she says in French. Her eyes are closed. "'I am so sorry Etienne.' They were her last words.";
In this letter, from people who call themselves his "aunt and uncle in Belgium,"; they refer to Etienne as "a little miracle, and a brave one."; They remark that "his hands and feet have healed well.";
A couple of months later, Etienne has not been pleasant to work with since his grand-mère's death, so Etienne's business partner "suggests"; that Etienne take a break, He Etienne flies to Europe, meets with a client in Germany, and then sets out to find his mysterious relatives in Belgium.
Etienne has no reservations about doing business with Germans, but upon his arrival in a small Belgian village, the atmosphere changes. "Vous êtes Allemand?"; asks an elderly woman, as her "narrow eyes"; notice his German license plates.
Etienne finds his aunt and uncle, still living at the same address that was written on the letter. They are both shocked to learn that he knows nothing about them or his own early years in Europe.
Jacques explains to Etienne that memories of WWII are never far from their minds. "There wasn't a family in Europe that wasn't touched by the war. I don't believe it was the same in North America. There are still many of us here who haven't forgotten about it.";
Jacques and Françoise proceed to tell Etienne the story of his parents and his infancy. In June of 1944, Etienne's father, Pascal, parachuted into Belgium, landing near the Franco-Belgian border. The fictional Pascal was a member of an inter-allied Resistance mission with the code name Citronelle-an organization that actually existed.
After a botched mission, Pascal finds his way back to his wife Marie in Hirson, France, a town near the Belgian border, and discovers she is due to give birth in two months. Marie hopes the Germans will have left France by then. "I don't want him to come into the world while they are here.";
Marie, who has her own heartrending reason for having joined the Resistance, insists on accompanying Pascal to hide out in Signy, another French border-side village. In this uncertain territory, suspicion and duplicity abound.
Pascal arrives home one day to find German soldiers in his farmyard, waiting for him to return. He lies still and listens, his rifle beside him, the box of ammunition in his hand. He begins a desperate search for his wife and newborn son in the nearby town of Montmédy, home of the regional headquarters of the SD (a branch of the German secret police).
A few days later, the Americans liberate Montmédy. With the help of a new friend, la veuve de pays boisé (the widow of the woodlands), Pascal begins to heal his mind and body. When the German offensive approaches once more, Pascal finds himself in Belgium, where an unexpected reunion awaits. But as is so often the case in wartime, his joy is fleeting.
One of the many horrific events of WWII is about to take place in the villages of Grune and Bande.
To tell any more is to say too much. Michael Elcock has used onsite research, including first-hand accounts of the key historical events, to create a heartbreaking and suspenseful novel.
978-0-88982-272-6
Submitted on June 27, 2011 in By David.
