Brinkman Adventures

Kate Brinkman: The latch is jammed. Help me. Come on. Let's go. This is it.

Ian Brinkman: Be careful, Kate. If you fall down there

Kate Brinkman: Hand me the light. Do you see anything? There it is. It's hanging from a string. Just a little further.

Ian Brinkman: Kate, don't fall.

Kate Brinkman: I got it. Who did that?

Ian Brinkman: I don't know.

Kate Brinkman: Open it.

Ian Brinkman: I can't. We're trapped. Help! Somebody! We're stuck in the tower. Help!

Beachglass Ministries: You're listening to the Brinkman Adventures, an exciting family audio drama. An ancient castle in Burgundy, France just trapped Ian and Kate Brinkman in its tower. How did they end up there? And what are they doing in the tower at 3:30 in the morning? To find out, let's join the Brinkman family two days earlier on a jet flying over the Atlantic Ocean.

Susan Brinkman: Honey, are you comfortable?

Cara King: As comfortable as I can be considering how big this baby's getting.

Guest (Male): Stewardess, stewardess, I can I please have more peanuts?

Cara King: Sure. I'll run back and get you a bag.

Guest (Male): Two bags and unsalted, please.

Cara King: Okay.

Susan Brinkman: Honey, have you noticed that guy?

Cara King: How could I not? He's the only one with his light on. Make that lights. Look at that. He's using the ones from the empty seat next to him.

Susan Brinkman: Yeah. I can't figure out what he's up to. Sound pollution.

Cara King: Stop humming. I can't believe this guy. Mr. Annoy Man. I think he's scrapbooking, using both seat tray tables. Here you go.

Guest (Male): Thank you.

Cara King: He's not scrapbooking. I've been watching him. He's cutting things out and gluing them to pages in a scrapbook.

Susan Brinkman: It's not a scrapbook. Those are receipts. That's his little office.

Guest (Male): Oh, stewardess. Stewardess.

Cara King: Please just go to sleep. I 'll be right there. I may as well blog since I can't sleep. Well, once a year all the missionaries get together for a few days. We're helping with the worship and child care. Pastor Tim is the speaker.

Guest (Female): Sir, can I help you?

Guest (Male): I'm wondering if there's a scanner on board.

Guest (Female): A scanner? For what?

Guest (Male): What do you think? For scanning documents.

Guest (Female): No. There's no scanner on board, at least that you can use.

Cara King: Being a missionary is hard no matter where you are. They need regular encouragement just like us.

Guest (Male): Excuse me, stewardess. Do you have almond milk?

Guest (Female): I can check.

Guest (Male): Lactose intolerance stinks. And warm it, please. I'm feeling a bit peaked.

Jacques Landers: Welcome, my friends. My name is Jacques Landers and I am the director here at Le Château de Saint Aubin.

Jack Brinkman: I'm Jack Brinkman and this is my wife Susan and our eight kids.

Guest (Female): Hi.

Gracie Brinkman: Hello.

Jacques Landers: Good to meet you. Please take your bags and follow me. Do you normally get this much snow here?

Jack Brinkman: It's a little unusual, especially this early in the season.

Gracie Brinkman: I can't believe we're sleeping in a castle. Are you taking us to the dungeon?

Jacques Landers: Actually, your room is close to the dungeon. See that big door down there?

Gracie Brinkman: That's it?

Jacques Landers: Used to be. We've turned it into our own little movie theater. You may want to check it out. Et voilà. Here we are.

Kate Brinkman: Come on, Hope.

Gracie Brinkman: There's something in my shoe.

Jacques Landers: All of you will be staying in this wing.

Susan Brinkman: How old is this castle?

Jacques Landers: Nearly 700 years old since 1236. Older than guns. Caesar slits in the wall. They used to shoot arrows out of those openings. They call them arrow loops.

Kate Brinkman: Cool.

Jacques Landers: There's another family staying in this section, the Kings.

Susan Brinkman: Oh, I'm glad they made it.

Jacques Landers: And here's your room.

Kate Brinkman: Look at this wall, Ian. I bet it used to go all the way around the castle. You'd sure have a hard time attacking here because this hill drops off so steeply. Check out the stones. They're covered in moss. Ian, look. Oh, I I didn't see him. Hi. Um, do you speak English?

Ben King: Yeah.

Kate Brinkman: Do you live here?

Ben King: No.

Kate Brinkman: Are you here for the retreat?

Ben King: Not me, my parents.

Kate Brinkman: Ours, too. Are they missionaries?

Ben King: Yeah. No. I don't know.

Kate Brinkman: Okay, then. Uh, see you around.

Ben King: Whatever.

Gracie Brinkman: Boy, that was awkward.

Matt King: Hey, it's great to be together again, to think that we have the next three days together. This is fantastic. Pamela and I always look forward to our times together.

Susan Brinkman: Thanks for coming back.

Matt King: Hey, you're welcome, Matt. And uh, this year not only did Jack Brinkman come, he he brought his whole family. Besides leading our singing this year, the Brinkmans are also going to be taking care of your kids. And trust me, your kids are going to have a great time. In fact, why don't we dismiss them right now before we get started?

Susan Brinkman: All right. Follow me, guys.

Kate Brinkman: Mom, can I talk to you?

Cara King: Sure. What's up, Kate?

Kate Brinkman: Did you see that older boy that just walked by?

Cara King: Yeah, what about him?

Kate Brinkman: We just met him. He was sitting by the castle wall.

Cara King: I think that's Matt and Cara King's boy. They're in the room right across from us.

Kate Brinkman: He was kind of rude and he wouldn't talk to us.

Cara King: That's strange. Did you say something that offended him?

Kate Brinkman: No, not at all.

Cara King: Well, he's probably just a little shy. Why don't you and Ian invite him to explore the castle?

Kate Brinkman: We'll give it a shot. You coming, Ben?

Ben King: I guess.

Kate Brinkman: Mr. Jacques said the door to the attic is at the top of this old staircase. These are old. Be careful with Kit's camera. Okay. Ben, where do your parents serve? You're in France?

Ben King: Why the questions?

Kate Brinkman: I'm just curious. Sorry. Oh, we made it. A skeleton key. That must be really old. Woah, is this the attic? It must be. I think the door to the tower is on the far side. Where's the light switch? I don't think there is one. We can still see. That looks like a pirate chest. Let's explore the tower first. I wonder what's in it. Ian, come on.

Ian Brinkman: Just a sec. I want to get a picture of that coat of arms. That might tell us who lived here. This is awesome. I bet that trap door in the ceiling opens to the roof. You coming?

Kate Brinkman: I'm right here.

Ian Brinkman: Woah, you wouldn't want to fall off this hole in the wall. You'd land on the steps outside. Wonder why they made this. I'm guessing to let the air or light in. Be careful. Should we climb the ladder to the roof? We have to. Come on. Wait till you see this. Awesome. You can see for miles. This would be a great spot to shoot arrows at invaders. Think of all the battles that were fought here. Look. Down there's the town of Saint Aubin and mountains in the distance. What a cool place. Where's Ben? Ben! I think he went back.

What's this problem anyway? Don't think he likes this much.

Kate Brinkman: It's just like family camp.

Cara King: You're right. With all these bunk beds

Ian Brinkman: Don't sleep walk tonight, Isaac. That would hurt.

Jack Brinkman: So, what did you guys think of your first day here in France?

Gracie Brinkman: It was fun. I ate the kids.

Cara King: You guys did great helping out. Thanks for engaging the little ones.

Ian Brinkman: I found a coat of arms in the attic.

Jack Brinkman: Oh, cool.

Ian Brinkman: He took a picture of it and I found it online. Guess who built this castle?

Kate Brinkman: Tell us.

Ian Brinkman: Charles the Bald.

Kate Brinkman: Charles the Bald? Was that really his name?

Ian Brinkman: It's what everybody called him.

Kate Brinkman: So, was he bald?

Ian Brinkman: They're not sure. Some people think he was actually really hairy and people called him that as a joke.

Cara King: And that's why I tell you guys to be careful with nicknames. Sometimes they stick.

Gracie Brinkman: What else did you find out about him?

Ian Brinkman: Well, King Charlemagne was his grandfather.

Cara King: Now, that's interesting. Charlemagne's called the father of Europe.

Ian Brinkman: Charlemagne gave this land to Charles who built the original castle around 1,200 years ago.

Jack Brinkman: Wow. This place is old.

Cara King: Uh, did Ben explore with you?

Ian Brinkman: At first, but then he disappeared.

Cara King: Hm. We'll keep trying to include him.

Ian Brinkman: But Mom, he's so rude. I wonder if something's bothering him.

Jack Brinkman: Uh, yeah. Did you guys notice that man sitting by us in the plane?

Cara King: You mean Mr. Annoy Man? Talk about rude.

Jack Brinkman: Yeah. Well, he really bothered me, too. I caught myself saying some mean things about him. It's easier to love people when they're nice. When they're rude, it's a different story.

Ian Brinkman: No kidding.

Jack Brinkman: Later that night I was convicted about my lack of love. I asked God to well, help me be more loving the next time I encounter someone like that. Oh, well you have a chance here to show your love towards Ben in the same way.

Cara King: You could try and find out what he's interested in.

Ian Brinkman: I'll do my best.

Kate Brinkman: I love the sound of Ben.

Cara King: Jacques and Debbie do such a good job running the chateau. I wonder how many people visit each year.

Jack Brinkman: He was telling me between 50 and 60 groups.

Cara King: Wow. Are they all church groups?

Jack Brinkman: For the most part. The Grace Brethren Church in the States runs it.

Cara King: I see Ben brought a soccer ball. Look at him out there in the snow.

Ben King: Yeah, he loves soccer. Would spend his whole day playing it if he could.

Kate Brinkman: Guys, let's go out there and join him.

Susan Brinkman: Yeah, that's a great idea. We'll take care of your dishes for you.

Kate Brinkman: Gracie, we can make a snowman out there.

Gracie Brinkman: I want to play soccer.

Guest (Female): Hey, can I come?

Cara King: Don't forget your coats and mittens.

Guest (Female): Wait for me.

Cara King: Go ahead, Kate. I'll get the little ones ready.

Jack Brinkman: Love your kids.

Susan Brinkman: Yeah, so do we. They're such blessings, every one of them.

Cara King: Susan, I am so sorry. I read on your blog about the loss of the twins.

Susan Brinkman: Oh. It has been hard. I think about them every day.

Cara King: Hm.

Susan Brinkman: I'm sorry. Thanks, Cara.

Ben King: You guys had a tough year, too.

Jack Brinkman: Yeah.

Ben King: We're still processing.

Jack Brinkman: Well, I hope this week is helpful.

Cara King: Oh, Ben is really good.

Jack Brinkman: He's running circles around our kids. I'm going to need to work on athletics with them.

Cara King: Well, soccer makes him happy.

Susan Brinkman: I see the old Ben when he plays.

Ben King: He's really missing his team back home.

Susan Brinkman: I worry about him. He seems to be turning inward.

Jack Brinkman: Well, after what you guys have been through

Kate Brinkman: Nice soccer ball. Where did you get it?

Ben King: My best friend gave it to me.

Kate Brinkman: What's his name?

Ben King: Hoddy.

Kate Brinkman: That's an interesting name. Hey guys, we should go back up in the attic and explore. I really want to see what's in that trunk.

Ian Brinkman: It's kind of spooky up there.

Ben King: We going to play?

Kate Brinkman: Ian, I'm open. Kick it.

Ben King: Not a chance. Not a chance, Ian.

Kate Brinkman: Over his head. All right. Oh, not over the wall.

Ben King: Ian. Oh, no.

Kate Brinkman: He's heading for the river.

Ben King: I can't believe this.

Kate Brinkman: Whoops. Sorry. Ben, where are you going?

Ben King: I'm going inside.

Kate Brinkman: Ben. Come on, Ian. Quick. Let's go down there and try to find it.

Jack Brinkman: Hey, Ben. Uh, where are you going?

Ben King: To my room.

Jack Brinkman: Is something wrong?

Ben King: You really want to know?

Jack Brinkman: Yeah. Yeah, what's the problem?

Ben King: Everything.

Jack Brinkman: Everything?

Ben King: I lose everything I care about.

Jack Brinkman: Ben, it's hard to understand why God allows us to go through certain things.

Ben King: If he's even there.

Gracie Brinkman: I feel awful, Kate. He wouldn't even look at me during supper.

Ian Brinkman: Yeah, I noticed that. What should I do?

Gracie Brinkman: Replace it. But his best friend gave it to him.

Ian Brinkman: How can I replace that?

Gracie Brinkman: It's even scarier up here in the dark. Now, where's that chest?

Ian Brinkman: On that side. Closer to the tower. There. Hey, shine your light to the left. Look, a tiny door.

Kate Brinkman: Kate, the chest.

Ian Brinkman: No, just wait. This is cute. That's a door?

Kate Brinkman: Yeah. Check it out. Shine your light on it. You need a key. Hey, there's something sticking out from under the bottom. A piece of paper or something.

Ian Brinkman: Huh?

Kate Brinkman: Looks like a page torn out of a journal. See the handwriting? It's pretty faded.

Ian Brinkman: I can't really read it.

Kate Brinkman: You can't read it because it's French, Ian. Hey, Ben speaks French. We could go down and have him translate it. Can we open the chest now? Help me with this cover. What are those? Possible sheet music. I bet they're at least 100 years old. Johann Sebastian Bach. Who's that? Just one of the greatest composers ever. This one says Bach, too. And this one. I bet these are all by Bach. We 'll have to show Michelle. I think she's played some of his music before. Okay, we have to go. I have to tune my guitar for the meaning tonight.

Jack Brinkman: Good job on the guitar, Kate.

Cara King: Thanks, Dad.

Jack Brinkman: There's sorbet in the other room. You want to join us?

Kate Brinkman: Sorbet?

Jack Brinkman: Yeah. It's like ice cream.

Cara King: During a snow storm?

Jack Brinkman: Hey, French sorbet is good anytime. Well, you know where we're at, guys.

Cara King: Here comes Ben. Ian, talk to him.

Kate Brinkman: Hey, Ben.

Ben King: What do you want?

Kate Brinkman: I'm so sorry. I 'll get you another one.

Ben King: Good luck with that.

Kate Brinkman: Maybe we could search for it downstream.

Ben King: Forget it. It 's gone.

Kate Brinkman: Ben, wait. Um, do you speak French?

Ben King: Yeah. Why?

Kate Brinkman: We found this old piece of paper in the attic. Um, can you read this?

Ben King: It says I am staying at Grandpa's castle again this summer. I don't want to be here.

Jean Paul Sartre: Cousin Albert Schweitzer is visiting from Africa. Right now he's playing the piano. He's back doing organ concerts, two days money for his hospital. And Grandpa is angry and always he tired of me. This is going to be a long summer. Jean Paul Sartre.

Kate Brinkman: I bet this is from a diary. I wonder if the rest is up there.

Ben King: That paper might be worth something.

Kate Brinkman: What do you mean?

Ben King: Hey, Mom.

Kate Brinkman: Yeah?

Ben King: Who was Albert Schweitzer again?

Cara King: Albert was a lot of things. He studied the composer Bach and was a famous musician.

Kate Brinkman: Bach? Really?

Cara King: Yeah. He also studied philosophy, theology, and the Bible. When he read about Jesus, it changed his life. He left his career as an organist and went back to school to become a medical doctor. Then he went to Africa and started a missionary hospital.

Kate Brinkman: Wow, that's neat.

Cara King: Hm. Before he died, he received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ben King: And you said he came here, right, Mom?

Cara King: Yeah. The Schweitzer family owned this castle for years and Albert spent a lot of time here. Isn't that cool?

Kate Brinkman: That's amazing.

Ben King: You haven't heard of someone called Jean Paul Sartre, have you?

Cara King: As a matter of fact, I have. Jean Paul also spent a lot of time here as a boy and he also studied philosophy and became famous as an adult.

Kate Brinkman: Man, two famous dudes here.

Cara King: Hm. Sadly, he turned away from God and became a Marxist and an atheist.

Kate Brinkman: Wow.

Cara King: Yeah, two very different people. Ben, don't stay out too late, okay?

Ben King: Yes, Mom.

Cara King: Good night, kids.

Ben King: Good night, Mom.

Kate Brinkman: Good night. I wonder if Albert Schweitzer played this piano. It sounds old enough. This C sharp doesn't work. That's annoying.

Ben King: Maybe I can fix it. The hammer is missing.

Kate Brinkman: Guys, there's tiny writing on the soundboard just above some of the string pegs. Look. Some strings even have a column of letters.

Ben King: That's weird.

Kate Brinkman: I think it's some sort of code. And look by the bass hammers. It says toccata and fugue fugue fugue

Ben King: That would be toccata and fugue in D minor. It's a composition by Bach.

Kate Brinkman: How did you know that?

Ben King: Six years of lessons.

Kate Brinkman: Kate, let's see that page from that diary. I think it's the same handwriting. But why is it in English?

Ian Brinkman: Maybe that way French people couldn't figure it out.

Kate Brinkman: The music in the attic. Ben, we found an old chest in the attic full of old music. It was all Bach.

Ian Brinkman: Let's go.

Kate Brinkman: See? All Bach. I wonder if it belonged to Albert Schweitzer. Your Mom said he studied Bach.

Ben King: Brandenburg Concerto number three. Prelude and Fugue number one in C major.

Kate Brinkman: Toccata and Fugue in D minor. This is it. Back to the piano. Come on.

Ian Brinkman: Wow, you're pretty good, Ben.

Kate Brinkman: Thanks. Just like I thought. The letters are only above the notes you played. Play the first three notes of the song again. In the order that you played them, there's a T and H and E. Play the next three. K E Y. So far it spells the key. It's a message left by Jean Paul Sartre. It has to be. Ian, get a pencil.

Ian Brinkman: The key to my soul is in the murder hole. What's a murder hole?

Kate Brinkman: The dungeon?

Ian Brinkman: Maybe.

Ben King: How about the holes in the wall? Mr. Jacques said they shot arrows out of them. Maybe those are murder holes.

Kate Brinkman: That's it, Ben. We'll need to search them all. Guys, get your coats on. We're going outside. This storm is getting worse. Should we go inside?

Ian Brinkman: I can't feel my hands. Time to think of it. I can't feel my feet either. Or my face. This has to be it. It's the last one. Can you give Ian a boost?

Kate Brinkman: Sure. Anything? Here, shine the light in.

Ian Brinkman: I think so.

Kate Brinkman: What is it?

Ian Brinkman: It's a it's a it's a weirdness. Weirdness.

Kate Brinkman: The key to my soul is in the murder hole. Key to my soul is in the murder hole. What's a murder hole? Jean Paul Sartre, what is a murder hole? That's it. Ian, are you awake?

Ben King: No.

Kate Brinkman: Yes, you are. Get up.

Ian Brinkman: Kate, what are you thinking?

Kate Brinkman: We got to go.

Ian Brinkman: What is it? Like 3:30 in the morning?

Kate Brinkman: Come on, Ian. You got to get up. Kate, there's a blizzard out there. Listen to it.

Ian Brinkman: I remembered something from our history lesson. They used to pour boiling water on enemies through holes in the castle walls. That's what a murder hole is. And that's what you found in the tower, Ian. Come on.

Kate Brinkman: Oh, great.

Ian Brinkman: The latch is jammed. Help me. Oh, there. Come on. Let's go. This is it. Be careful, Kate. If you fall down there

Kate Brinkman: Hand me the light. Do you see anything? There it is. It's hanging from a string. Just a little further.

Ian Brinkman: Kate, don't fall.

Kate Brinkman: I got it. Who did that?

Ian Brinkman: I don't know. Open it.

Kate Brinkman: I can't. We're trapped. Help! Somebody! We're stuck in the tower. Help!

Ian Brinkman: Ben, what are you doing up here, Ben?

Kate Brinkman: I heard you guys get up, so I followed you. Did you find it?

Ian Brinkman: Yes, a key. The little door. Let's go. Would you look at this? A journal and the first page is torn out. Guys, we just found Jean Paul Sartre's diary.

Kate Brinkman: Woah.

Ian Brinkman: Ben, can you read it?

Kate Brinkman: It's been eight years since my dad died. I can't remember his face anymore. Why did he have to die? I never got to do anything with him. It doesn't seem right.

Ian Brinkman: That's sad. Sort of how I feel about the twins.

Kate Brinkman: Yeah.

Ian Brinkman: Sometimes I wonder what they would look like now. Are you okay, Ben?

Kate Brinkman: Not really.

Ian Brinkman: What's wrong?

Kate Brinkman: I lost my best friend.

Ian Brinkman: What happened?

Kate Brinkman: I gave him a Bible and his parents got mad. They took him out of school and then bad things happened to his family and a lot of other people. I'll probably

Ben King: Never see him again.

Ian Brinkman: I'm sorry, Ben. I didn't know.

Kate Brinkman: We better get back to our rooms. Mind if I keep the journal tonight?

Ian Brinkman: Sure. Good night, Ben.

Kate Brinkman: Today I found some matches and lit my toy car on fire in the bathroom.

Jean Paul Sartre: The fire burned my grandfather's rug. I turned the rug over so he wouldn't know, but then I realized gold knew. It made me so angry I danced in a rage and shook my fist at him. He took my dad, so today I turned my back on God and will never

Susan Brinkman: Never look back.

Kate Brinkman: Jean Paul Sartre. I miss Hoddy so much, God. I know he became a Christian, but bad things happened. We had to leave the country and I lost my best friend. I'm angry, but Lord, I don't want to become like Jean Paul. I don't want to turn from you. Please help me, Jesus.

Beachglass Ministries: You've been listening to the Brinkman Adventures. In today's story we met Ben, a missionary kid, or MK for short. Real MKs face unique challenges. And like any other kid, they sometimes struggle with their faith. If you know any MKs, make sure that you pray for them. While fictitious, today's episode entitled Castle of Secrets was inspired by real places and real people. Visit our website, brinkmanadventures.com to find out more. Today's story isn't over. Do you want to find out what happens to Ben and his family? Keep listening to hear the exciting conclusion entitled On the Run.

Jack Brinkman: Kids, Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all the nations. Let's give ourselves fully to him and share his good news until the whole world hears.