Brother Andre has asked the four parents to meet with him at a terrace cafe. The children are in a park like area below the dzong, playing in a grove of willows and alders, where there is a creek and a foot bridge, a pretty setting.
"Mr and Mrs Schuurman, Mr and Mrs Spiets, thank you for joining me here. I have something important to discuss with you, and I must be careful how I handle it.
First let me confirm that you have all agreed that Jack should go to Holland with the Spiets, and become part of their family as an adopted son. Is that correct?"
Siem, "That is correct." The others nod.
"Good. You've all heard, from Jack and from me, that he was a foundling, and that nothing is known about his parentage. But the exact truth, as is often the case, is a bit more complicated.
Jack is going far away, and I cannot be sure of contacting him at any given time in the future, so I now must inform you of the following: I came into possession of a letter, in 1946 I believe it was, which purports to describe some circumstances surrounding his birth. Jack himself knows nothing of this.
The material as I say, is circumstantial, and it does not contain any clue which can be used to identify his parents. As a matter of fact, there is a warning in it not to attempt that."
Bertus, "But if that is the case, what could it contain of any significance?"
"I cannot comment on that, except to say this is all we've got, about Jack, and I believe it will be important to him when he's older. So I wish to ensure that he will someday read it. To that end, I have made a copy for myself - this is the original." He gives a sealed brown envelope to Mr Spiets.
"Mr and Mrs Spiets, I ask that you place this package in the hands of your family solicitor in Canada, when you retain one, and instruct him to send a letter to me, in care of the King at Thimphu, stating that he undertakes to give the documents to Jack on or just after Jack's eighteenth birthday. Would you do that?"
Marie, "Yes. Of course we will."
Siem, "Yes, certainly. And Jack must not know till then?"
"Right. Thank you. This takes a big load off my mind."
Bertus, "Maartje, do you have the feeling that we've just been manoeuvred into being unofficial witnesses here?"
"Yes, I do. It's like a Gothic novel, isn't it? Secret documents, long term confidence contracts, uncertain circumstances surrounding a mysterious birth. Kind of exciting! Are you sure you can't tell us a bit more, Brother Andre?"
