Here is the next chapter in the sequel. If you're interested, you may see all that I've written so far of the fourth book, tentatively called Heir of Drachma (so far, until someone comes up with a better title), on Authonomy.com.
Chapter Nine
The inside of Barncuddy’s Ale
House stood as a reminder of the best of Shepperton. As Bob, Melchior, Eustace,
Hermes and Tom arrived, the portly owner was his usual busy, sweating self,
trying to calm the rabble, and providing drinks and bread for the patrons of
his establishment. His face lit up with recognition as the group entered, and
he welcomed the visitors.
“Me good masters, do come in.
What’ll it be tonight?”
“Well, my friend,” said Bob, “if
you please, we’d like a table, somewhat private, if possible. Perhaps upstairs,
where we can sit and talk.”
“But of course, gentlemen,” he
said, then turning back toward the kitchen, he called out, “Ho, Diane! I’ve got
some gentlemen fer ye.”
Diane came from the back of the
kitchen, looking vexed, with flour and kitchen grease staining her apron. She
was drying her hands on the apron, and looked up, to see the smiling faces of
the men. She immediately blushed.
“Oh, my. Ye did’na say who it was.
Me good Master Robert, and Melchior, too… and in the company of these young
ruffians.” She winked at Eustace as she said this. “Well, then, me good men, it
would appear that ye be needin’ a table. And one, if I am not mistaken,
upstairs, out o’ this rabble, eh?”
“You know me well, Diane,” said
Bob. “Yes, that’s precisely what we need.”
“Well, if ye but follow me then,
I’ll show ye to a table upstairs. And, I assume that ye’ll be wantin’ some
pitchers of ale.”
“Of course, but we’ll be wanting
your company, too.”
Diane’s brow darkened at this. “So,
Master Robert, it would appear to be more than just talkin’ for its own sake,
eh?”
“Eustace, your mother is a most
perceptive sort, isn’t she?” Eustace smiled shyly. “True, Diane… so true.”
She showed them up to a room on
the second floor, where years before, she had also served some of them, and
which had been the beginning of dramatic changes for her, as well as Eustace.
The memory of that encounter hit her afresh.
“Now, we’re not talkin’ of ships
and broaches, and long lost loves, are we? For ye know that I’m not going not
enter into that again…”
Bob caught her drift, and
reassured her.
“No, Diane, we’re not. And you’ll
notice that Kerlin’s not here with us tonight, and neither is your husband.”
“Well, then take some seats,
gentlemen. I shall be back wi’ yer ale.”
As the group sat down, Hermes
commented on the fact that Diane, now a lady of some renown, and mother of his
buddy, Eustace, was back to serving at Barncuddy’s, in her former occupation.
And this was after she had another child.
“Oh, fie on ye!” chimed in
Eustace. “She has never considered that she was a special lady. And it was this
serving at the Ale House which has brought her the greatest pleasure, if ye
must know. That, and the entreaties of Barncuddy and Willie to Cayman, that she
be allowed to return. It seems that patrons of the Ale House was missin’ her,
and her rolls, too.”
“Might I say, Eustace,” put in
Bob, “that your mother has brought some calm to Barncuddy’s, at least if you
were to ask Willie and the Brewster himself. And even today, I could sense it,
as we came in here. But how is it at home with your new brother? You may ask
why that would be important, and I’ll tell you in a minute.”
“Well, Master Robert, me younger
brother, Manny, he’s already a handful. And he stays at the castle while me mum
works. It’s Frieda that takes care of him there.”
“Oh, yes, of that I’m aware,”
replied Bob. “Now, as to his importance, might I just say that, as Diane’s
eldest, and also as heir to Derrymoor’s estate, your mother might have some
reservations about you accompanying me.”
Tom, who had been silent until
now, spoke up. “It would seem, my friends, that none of you know what dangers
might be present, and where this future should lead you… Ah, Diane, you come!
And as Master Robert said, we do welcome you.”
Diane looked at Tom with
uncertainty, as she placed the pitcher of ale, as well as the tankards about
the table, and when all were served, she sat down herself, at the chair Bob had
pulled out for her.
“Anyway, Diane, it would seem that
your motherly advice would be again needed. For, you see, I am apparently in
some danger here upon the Isle…”
“Oh, m’lord! Thee… in danger… how
is that possible? What might it be, fer I know none other than Antoine LeGace
who could be behind any threats to ye.”
“Indeed, it is this same Mr.
LeGace who seems to present the threat. And he is now known to be somewhere on
this island. But just what manner of threat is not known. But it would seem
real to me, as well as to Tom and Craycroft. And it was decided that I should
go into hiding, somewhere… perhaps Drachma’s place. And it hasn’t been decided
definitely who should go with me, or for how long. And that brings up another
thing, which is Judy, and what to do for her. For I certainly do not feel that
she is in any condition to travel, who knows where, or for what length of time.
So, it’s for these reasons that I wanted you in on the discussion.”
“Aye, I see… And you would like me
opinion, but I sense more…”
“Indeed, for you’ve got another
hand in the fire, so to speak. For we speak also of your eldest, Eustace. As
you know, Eustace has become one of my best pupils. He has succeeded in
developing a real sense of the purpose of medicine. And though Hermes is a
certainty, Eustace, I’m afraid, needs your approval. For we also speak of his seizures.”
Eustace blushed at this, but said
nothing.
“Well, as ye know, m’lord Robert,”
Diane continued, “were it not fer thy presence among us, me Eustace would have
stayed but an urchin on the streets. And now here he is, nigh unto being a man,
and has learned much from thee. It would seem to me that, as much as I would
love to put me arms about him, and keep him safe wi’ me here, I know that it
has to be his decision, whether to go wi’ ye or to stay. Now, I haven’t any knowledge
of the dangers of this quest of which ye speak, but I did learn years ago that
danger can find ye whether ye stay at home, or go out into the world. And
further, as to his fits, he would truly be under the care of his physician. So,
then, what I have to offer is just this – that ye, me son, must make the
decision that ye will, and God go with ye.”
A tear escaped her eye as she said
this, and she reached over, grasped Eustace’s own flagon, and took a drink of
ale. All eyes were still on her as she spoke again.
“Now, as to yer lady, m’lord, I
know that Jeanne can care fer her, but that is not what ye had in mind, is it?”
“No, Diane, It is not…”
“Well, if I may be so bold, let me
say that I shall keep watch fer ye. It is not fer fear, but from me own sense
of strength, which I have by now come to cherish, which I shall extend to yer
lady. She shall not suffer, nor shall her unborn child suffer, other than that
which the Lord of heaven should send her. Fer believe me when I tell ye that
she shall have the best midwife within the castle. And I shall speak wi’ me
husband, who shall make it certain that she is guarded with all the castle’s
power. Now, is that what ye’ve come to ask me?”
In answer, Bob raised his flagon
in a toast.
“Here’s to one of the true
rarities of our realm – a lady with both discernment and strength. And into
your capable hands I leave the care of my wife and her unborn child.”
Diane felt a lump in her throat,
and could feel the winds of time blow through her soul, as her companions
raised their own flagons.
Tom next turned the discussion
toward who would be accompanying Bob on his most mysterious venture. It was
decided among those present that Bob would be joined by Hermes and Eustace, as
well as Martin and Stoneheft. Tom and Melchior would stay at the castle, and
care for the youth who had been injured, as well as seeing to the care of the
school and the clinic in general.
“Well, Lady, it would seem that
we’ve kept you here long enough. Now, I would like you to keep this token with
you.” Bob reached into his pocket, and pulled out his very worn wallet. He took
out of it a small plastic card, and handed it to Diane. “Now, this is a token
from my old times, and you know what it is, don’t you, Hermes?”
“Aye, that I do, for it is your
portrait, painted with light. It is what you called your license for driving,
is it not?”
“That’s right, it’s my driver’s
license. And it is my identification.”
They all looked at the little
card, and to a person were amazed at its artistry. It seemed a most astonishing
bit. This little piece of unknown material, on which there was the portrait of
Master Gilsen, with all the smallest writing, and the strange numbers.
“And what’ll ye have me do with
this most magical charm?” asked Diane.
“Just keep it safe with you,” said
Bob. “You never know how these little things can become so important.”
“Aye, Master Robert, as ye well
know.” Then she slid the driver’s license into a mysterious fold in her top,
close to her heart.
Before breaking up, Melchior spoke
to the group about what he had discovered in his little laboratory. As he was
explaining the intricacies of his broth, and what it showed, down on the main
floor of Barncuddy’s Inn a man of indeterminate age quietly slipped out into
the night. He had seen enough to know that there would be a group leaving the
castle on the morrow, and that he would be ready to follow.
Considerably later that evening,
Bob returned to his home, to find Judy still awake, and pacing about. It wasn’t
difficult for Bob to read her body language, and it was evident that she had
been weeping. He felt suddenly very fragile, and like a child, returning home
after curfew, he began to think quickly of what to tell the woman of the house.
“Don’t bother, Bob – I know where
you’ve been, and I know who you’ve been with,” Judy said, with an accusatory
tone in her voice, as if she could sense his turmoil. “Just sit down here, and
level with me.”
She turned away as Bob tried to
hug her, and stood aloof by the window.
“No,” she said, “not now. First
tell me all about your night, and spare nothing. You may pretend that I don’t
have an opinion, but you’d be so wrong.”
“As you know, I went to
Barncuddy’s with Tom, Eustace, Hermes and Melchior. We went there to discuss
what to do about you and me. It would appear that I am now something of a
marked man, if I read things right. And it would appear that Craycroft himself
thinks this way. And, believe me when I tell you this, you were on my mind the
whole time. And if I could safely have you accompany me, you know very well
that I would.”
“And just why do you think I
couldn’t go with you?”
“Well, you’re over eight months
pregnant, and the trip to Drachma’s forest home is through some rugged terrain…
And I just don’t want you getting hurt.”
“And…,” She could sense that he
was holding back.
“Oh, all right, I’ll tell you.”
Bob hesitated, then he said, “You remember the story of how Tom came into the
world? Well, that particular story has me scared. How he was born of Maggie,
who died delivering him. It was something that Angelica said – that, for all
its forest security, Drachma’s home was not the place to bring someone new into
the world. Even though she wouldn’t elaborate, I could tell she felt strongly
about it.”
“Hmm. It seems that you’ve been
thinking about this quite a bit, huh? Well, let me tell you, Robert Gilsen,
that I, too, have given this some thought. And let me tell you what I’ve
decided. We’re here in this time and place, having been brought together by
Drachma himself. And, yes, it would be much more comfortable to have our child
here in this castle, but remember – what we vowed, before God and Father Henri,
and all our new friends, that neither sickness, nor health would come between
us. That this was for life.”
Bob couldn’t help himself. He
smiled as he got back up. And, shaking his head, told her, “well, m’lady, it
would appear that you’ve lost none of your persuasive powers. You know, I’ve
never really been able to argue with you. You’ve always been able to win, and
still can, I’m afraid.”
This made Judy smile, but also
made her tremble inside. She looked straight at her husband, and with tears in
her eyes, said, “Robert, you know that it’s love that brought us here, and love
that created this child within me. And it’s like the preacher in the book of
Ecclesiastes says, Two are
better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they
fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls
and has not another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, they are warm;
but how can one be warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who
is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
This time Judy returned his hug.
Bob was amazed again at his wife, who had quoted Ecclesiastes from memory, and
who seemed to have the skills of the best lawyers he had ever had the misfortune
to encounter. Of what else was she capable?
“Well, my love, then I guess it is
settled.”
“Somehow, I knew you’d listen to
reason.” Judy smiled, and kissed him.
“Just one more thing… I’ve got to
steal Diane away from Barncuddy again. It seems that the best midwife in the
castle would need to come along.” Bob did not mention that he had given her his
license.
“But Bob, how about her young one?
Have you thought about that?”
“No. To be perfectly honest, I
hadn’t thought about it.”
“Well, I suggest that you do, for
it would weigh heavily on her, I know.”
Then Bob changed the subject.
“Let me tell you about what
Melchior has discovered,” He caught Judy a bit off guard, as they were getting
ready for bed. “It looks as though, after all these years, and all our failed
attempts, he has finally come up with what may become an effective antibiotic.”
“Oh, really? Tell me more.”
As they were bustling about in
their bedchamber, and before sleep took them, Bob explained how Melchior had
discovered something within the red seaweed, which most considered a nuisance,
something so utterly surprising, as to rival the work of Alexander Fleming,
many centuries later. And it was because of this discovery, as well as
overseeing the clinic, which made it necessary for Melchior to stay, as well as
Tom.
As they cuddled in bed, Judy could
feel the excitement, apprehension and something else in Bob’s manner. It seemed
to her that his breathing gave off a hint of something ethereal – something
from the other world, which they had left years before.
“You know, Bob,” said Judy, “
there’s just a certain something that you’re giving off. It’s a sort of a far
off thing. I don’t know what it is, but it seems that it’s very powerful. But
you listen to me - I know now that you’ll also be cared for, Love.”
And so they drifted off, with the
day ahead certain to bring unexpected changes and challenges.
No comments:
Post a Comment