Читать книгу Theopolda's Quest - Linda Wisely - Страница 13

Theo didn't have anything to do until lunch. She paced around the room, then looked out the window and watched the soldiers in the courtyard below practicing their sword skills. From her window, they looked like toy soldiers.

Finally, Sarah returned with a dress hanging over her arm. Behind her the guard carried in a bucket of steaming water.

"I brought you some hot water and a clean dress and chemise, so you can be presentable for court this afternoon. I hope this will fit adequately." Turning to the guard, she motioned, "Just put the water by her basin." As the guard left, she handed Theo a hair brush. "Here, I managed to get this hair brush for you also."

Theo took the brush gratefully. "Thank you for your kindness to me, Sarah. I really can use a good wash in warm water. I know you had to go to a lot of trouble to get these things for me."

"It was no trouble. The king ordered you to have hot water and a clean gown. I did think of the hair brush myself," Sarah told her. A bath and a clean dress for a prisoner?

Theo wearily walked over and gave Sarah a hug. "I wish you all the best, signorina," Sarah whispered, as she turned and quickly left the room. Theo watched her go and sighed with discouragement.

The heat from the hot steaming water helped Theo relax and forget for a little while how bad her situation was. She washed her hair as best as she could with the bar of lye soap that was beside the wash basin. The dark green wool dress was a little too big, but when belted, it looked OK.

She inspected herself to make sure the compass wasn't visible, then she sat by the window and brushed her hair. What on earth is going to happen? Why did the King visit me himself? Where are Will and Sagan? When her hair was mostly dry, she lay back on the bed to wait until someone came to get her. As she lay there, her mind kept going around and around with thoughts and worries. She had always been strong and independent. Now she felt so helpless. "Dear Lord, what do you want me to do?" she whispered.

After a simple lunch, two guards came to escort Theo to court. It was a long walk down the tower steps and through several large rooms that wound down to the hall where the court was to be held. This a huge castle. I must try to remember how we got here, so that if I get a chance to escape I can find my way.

Finally, they reached a long hall with many people standing in groups talking and apparently waiting their turns. She was ordered to stand with the guards outside two big ornate doors. From a different entrance, she saw Will and Sagan being brought in. Their hands and ankles were chained. Theo made a move to go to them, but one of her guards jerked her back with a scowl. Theo longed to throw herself into Will's arms. She had never seen him look so disheveled. And poor Sagan, she knew how he hated to be dirty.

Will's dark hair was hanging limply in his eyes. As he looked at Theo, he nodded and gave her an encouraging smile. Sagan's blonde hair looked like he had been running his hands through it over and over. It was pushed back from his forehead and twisted every which of way. Both had dirt on their faces and a day's growth of whiskers. Sagan gave her a long, sad look.

Finally after what seemed like hours, their guards were motioned to bring them in. They were dragged through the big doors and walked down a long aisle lined with staring people. Theo cringed in embarrassment. All of these people thought they were terrible criminals. She felt guilty just being here. She wanted to crawl in a hole away from the crowds curious stares.

When they got close to the opposite end, they were brought to a standstill in front of a raised platform upon which sat the King and several other official looking men in royal robes and hats.

A man stepped up and began to read from a piece of papyrus. "Theopolda, Will Crispo, and Sagan Hapsburg, you are charged with un furto a un'aggressione a mano armata (armed theft and battery) of Gustapo Borgia, an officer of this court. How do you plead?"

"Non colpevole (not guilty)," they all said in unison.

"I call Gustapo Borgia before this court."

The ugly little man who had tried to kidnap Theo in the Palermo market stepped up. He was dressed in very fine clothes and looked so different that Theo barely recognized him. He looked at the three with a malevolent scowl.

"Are these the three who assaulted you in Palermo two days ago?" the court reader asked.

"Yes, I have witnesses that were present at the time of the incident," he announced, motioning a man and a woman dressed as merchants to come forward. Theo had never seen these people before, and was sure they hadn't been at the market but were being paid to bring false witness.

The woman stepped forward. "I saw that woman," she pointed to Theo, "with a sword stuck under Signor Gustapo's chin, he (she pointed to Will) held Signor Gustapo, while she tried to run him through. The other one (she pointed to Sagan) stole his purse and when the policia were coming, they ran away."

Now the man stepped up beside her and said, "That's exactly what happened, I saw it all."

The crowd began to murmur. Thieving was an executable offense.

"Was any gold found on any of the prisoners?" the arresting guard was asked.

"No money was found," Antonio said plainly.

"How do you account for that?" The inquisitor asked Gustapo, while the King merely looked on with a bored expression on his face.

"I call Captain Christopher Columbus of the ship the Pinta before the court," Gustapo said in a loud voice.

Captain Columbus stepped out of the crowd and came forward with a smirk on his face.

"Captain Columbus, did the prisoners pay you in gold for passage on your ship the Pinta that traveled from Palermo, Sicily, to Naples yesterday?"

"Yes signor, they paid me twenty gold florins apiece to sail on my ship which arrived in this harbor yesterday morning." Columbus looked at Theo and smiled malevolently.

Theo glared back. What a terrible man. I suppose he is trying to get even with us for threatening to tell his wife of his despicable behavior. She could feel her face getting red with anger at the lies. She stood tall and looked Columbus squarely in the eyes. He had the grace to look away from her glaring gaze.

"It is my assertion that these criminals used the gold that they stole from me to buy their passage on this ship," Gustapo looked at the crowd triumphantly.

"Do you have any further evidence for this court, Signor Gustapo?"

"I believe I have proven my case beyond a shadow of doubt."

The crowd again began to talk among themselves.

Will yelled, "That's a lie," but the guard hit him on the side of his head, and he didn't dare say anything else.

Theo sucked in her breath quickly and felt like she might faint. A wave of nausea enveloped her and everything but a small hole in the center of her vision began to get dark. You must get hold of yourself, she thought. I will not faint. She took a deep slow breath, and the room stopped spinning. She looked around as best she could but didn't see Brother Justus anywhere.

"Does anyone offer defense for these prisoners?" the inquisitor asked, looking around the room. A tall thin monk, in a brown robe and zuccetto with hair peaking out around the edges, came forward from the back of the hall.

"I am Francesca Guardato, Abbot of the San Lorenzo Maggiore Monastery of the city of Naples. I have a document to present to the court making me the protector of these Roman Catholic young people that you have standing before you." He handed a piece of parchment to the King, who read it silently.

Theo, Will, and Sagan, held their breaths. The people in the room were very still, waiting to hear what the King would say.

"Even though this seems to be an admissable official document, it has no bearing on this court when thievery is in question. As you know, theft is punishable by death," the King asserted, handing the paper to the inquisitor.

"Your majesty, I propose to be responsible for these young prisoners. I ask that they be released into my custody and that of the monastery. I will make restitution of the gold and will guarantee that they will stay at the monastery until such time as the court will allow them to leave Naples. I know these young people personally. They are not criminals. I assert this to be a true statement as an official of the Catholic Church and God," the Abbot asserted boldly.

Gustapo hissed. The officials on the platform conferred with the King, and then the King stood up.

"As King of Naples, I find you, Theopolda, and you, Will Crispo, and Sagan Hapsburg, guilty of theft of a purse of gold from Gustapo Borgia, a member of my royal court. I also find you guilty of assault and battery. Crimes for which no leniency can be allowed. I give you la pena di morte (the death penalty) by hanging in three days."

Theo thought she might really faint this time. Will and Sagan stared in disbelief. The crowd started yelling, "l'impiccagione! l'impiccagione! (hang them)

When it began to look like they might try to take them, the King motioned for silence.

Abbot Francesca stepped close to the King. "Sire, a great injustice is being done. I beseech you to reconsider."

"You dare to disagree with my decision as King of Naples? If you don't stand down, I will have you executed with them," King Ferdinand growled.

The crowd was getting loud and unruly, whether for the prisoners or in agreement with the King, was not certain.

The King stood and raised his sceptor."This court is adjourned for the rest of today. Clear the hall now!"

Theo, Will, and Sagan were rushed out of a side door.

Theo was screaming,"Will, Will, help me!" The guard began to drag her away. "Be quiet or I will have to get rough." Theo shut up quickly.

Will and Sagan's guards were holding them tightly as they tried to get to Theo's aide. Will was thrashing wildly, struggling to get free. Sagan was attempting to twist his hands out of the chains, but to no avail.

The guards took Will and Sagan back to the dungeons.

"Don't give these prisoners any supper," one guard told the dungeon keeper. "That should calm them down," he said as the dungeon keeper unlocked their cell and pushed them in.

Theo was once more taken up the many tower steps and put back into her gilded prison.

Where was Brother Justus? Theo wondered. Obviously he had written the document giving the Abbot the authority to speak for them. I hope he isn't ill. Theo threw herself onto the beautiful bed and sobbed until she had no more tears.

"We have to find a way to escape," Will told Sagan.

"I know, I've been trying to figure out something. Do you think we could trick the guard into coming into our cell and then knock him out?" Will whispered.

"I don't know. Let me think about it," Sagan said and sat down onto a straw mound unable to concentrate because he felt so dejected.

A few hours later, a monk was admitted to the jail area. He was dressed in a brown wool robe with his hood pulled up shadowing his face.

"A monk from the monastery has kindly come to pray with you and bestow God's Blessing. Which ones of you want to pray with the Friar before you die?" the dungeon keeper announced loudly.

Will and Sagan both stood up and came close to the bars. "We do, Friar."

"Tutto apposto (all right), stand back or I won't be able to unlock your door. Back I say," the guard said, when they didn't move fast enough.

"Get in fast, Father. I can't have any prisoners escaping."

The monk slid in quickly and the guard turned the key, locking him in with Will and Sagan.

"Listen here you two, I don't want any trouble. Give this man of God the respect he is due. I'm warning you," the big fat dungeon guard said, as he turned away and shuffled back to his seat by the fire.

As Will and Sagan watched the Friar, he pushed his hood back onto his shoulders. With his finger up to his mouth, he indicated they be silent

Will and Sagan both jumped, startled. It was Brother Justus.

"Now my children," Brother Justus said loudly, "which one of you wishes to pray with me first?"

Will stepped close to Brother Justus. "I do, Friar." Brother Justus walked with Will to one corner and motioned for Sagan to be on the look out in case the guard came back too soon. Brother Justus and Will got down on their knees and made the sign of the cross, then Brother Justus began to talk to Will quietly.

"I tried to get in to see you before you went to court, but they told me to come back tonight. The monks from the San Lorenzzio monastery are going to help break you out. I have to talk quickly. Just be ready. It will be late tonight after most of the castle has gone to sleep. There are tunnels beneath the city that we can use to escape in. Try to get some sleep before we come, so you will have all your strength."

"What about Theo? She is not here," Will whispered urgently.

"Yes, we know where she is. You and Sagan will help us get her, after we free you." Brother Justus stood up and said in a loud voice, "The Lord bless and keep you, il mio figlio(my son)."

Then he repeated the same procedure with Sagan. "Thank you for your blessing Friar," Sagan said loudly, as Brother Justus called to the guard. "We are done."

The guard was respectful to Brother Justus. "Say a prayer for me too, will you Father?"

"Da tutti (by all means)," Brother Justus replied, as he was let out of the cell.

"There's another prisoner down the way that wants to speak with you also, Father."

So Brother Justus prayed with several other of the bedraggled prisoners and gave them God's blessing before he left.

Brother Justus hadn't been gone very long before two guards came and told the dungeon keeper, "We have orders to take the dark one they call Will," as they handed him a piece of parchment.

"Uh, I can't read. Whatever you say," he took them to Will and unlocked the cell door.

"You," he pointed to Will, "Get up!"

Will got up and brushed the straw off his legs, and looked at the guards in bewilderment.

"Come with us to the mummery."

"What is a mummery?" Will asked.

"You don't even want to know," one guard said as he grabbed Will's arm and tied his hands behind his back with rough rope.

Sagan watched helplessly as the two guards walked down the hall with Will between them. He continued watching as long as he could see them so he would know which direction to look for Will when it came time to escape. He only saw them turn left before the light from their torch was gone.

The guards led Will down several dark halls that were lit along the way by candles sitting on sconces mounted high on the castle walls.

Finally they went through an arched opening. Standing in an open doorway was a very tall, thin, bald headed, dark skinned, foreign looking man, in a robe with strange symbols on it.

He bowed to Will and said with a heavy eastern accent, "I am Abdul Rabbubabatan, high priest of the great Anubis, God of the Dead. I am so glad you could make it to my special chambers." Abdul walked forward and took hold of Will's right arm and began walking with him as though they were friends.

"You may stand outside until I release you from your duties," he told the guards. "I probably won't be needing you anymore this evening."

"Why am I here?" Will asked.

"All in good time. I will gladly explain to you everything that we are going to do, step by step," Abdul said with a strange smile.

They walked to a closed door further into the first room. Abdul pushed it open and coaxed Will down another hall. When they entered the room, Will saw a long narrow wooden table in the middle of the floor with a trench under it. Around the walls were shelves with bottles and urns of different sizes and shapes filled with unidentifiable things. Abdul took Will to a heavy wooden chair by the wall and pushed him down.

"Please be seated. I have a few things to prepare before we can get started."

"Started doing what?' Will asked, as he looked around the strange room that smelled of herbs and incense.

"It's my little secret for now," Abdul said, as he went to a wooden counter and began setting up several bowls in which he added things from his collection of bottles. He hummed quietly as he worked.

"Listen, Abdul, I haven't done what I am accused of. I've never stolen anything in my life. Really, I'm innocent. Do you think you could just release me and let me leave this castle?"

"That's what they all say," Abdul said quietly. "I work for King Ferdinand. If he says you are guilty, then that's what I believe. If I helped you escape, I would be the one hanging in the courtyard with your friends. You are lucky. You won't be hanged. The King has a special place for you because you are such a fine specimen."

"What do you mean, specimen? I wish you would tell me what he has in mind. Somehow I don't think I'm going to like it," Will said slowly.

"Oh, but you have no say in the matter. I would venture to say you will have a place here in the castle for a long, long time; ha, ha, ha," Abdul chuckled deep from his chest, giving Will goosebumps.

Now Will was starting to be afraid. "I think this guy is crazy," he thought to himself.

Abdul continued to mix powders and liquids into several different containers. He seemed to be in no hurry. His every movement was very precise.

Will stood up quietly and began to slide slowly toward the door, when Abdul suddenly turned around.

"No, no, you mustn't try to escape. I don't want that handsome face marred. We must keep you in good shape. It just wouldn't do for you to be covered in bruises and scrapes." Abdul took Will back to the chair, and this time tied him down with some rope that was lying in the corner.

Will began to believe his worst fears were coming true. He remembered the glassy stares in the schriveled up faces of the people in King Ferdinand's 'Hall of Mummies' and knew he was about to join them. He began to work on getting his hands untied behind his back, but they were bound too tight.

"You are very lucky you know," Abdul said. "I am doing you a great honor reserved for only the elite of Egyptian society. You will see the afterlife soon."

"You really think you are doing me a favor?" Will ask incredulously.

"Oh si, you will live again in your perfectly preserved body, if you are true of heart. Shortly, I will inject you with the venom of the mighty cobra. It will slowly paralyze your body. Then I will wash your body with wine and spices and commence to drain your blood. I have perfected a special way of mummification that keeps your body more supple, by draining your blood while you are still alive. Next, I will carefully pull your brain out of your head through your nose with this hook." Abdul picked up a small brass instrument with a long handle and hook on the end. It made Will shudder.

"By that time, of course, you will have died, so I will remove your lungs, intestines, stomach, and liver, and put them in canopic jars for preservation until you enter the afterlife. I will leave your heart in your body, so that Anubis can decide if you are pure of heart and will be allowed to live again. After I wash your body with wine and spices a second time, I will cover it with salt for seventy days. When forty of those days have passed, I will stuff your body with linen to give it your original shape and let it sit in the sand for the rest of the seventy days. At that time, I should be able to dress you in a handsome court outfit and place you in the hall of mummies. Isn't that just wonderful!" Abdul clapped his hands in glee.

"I just want to continue living in this life," Will whispered, fearing he would break Abdul's trance.

Abdul had walked like a sleep walker over to the work bench and put something on his head. Suddenly he turned around. A hideous mask that looked like a dog's head covered his face. Seeing Will's look of shock, he said, "I must wear the mask of Anubis in order to proceed properly." Abdul inserted a small tube between his lips. Whoooosh! Will felt a sting on his neck like something bit him.

"There, I have put just enough venom on that dart to slightly paralyze you. It is a fine art to get just the right amount of venom. If I put too much poison on the dart, it would stop your heart, and then I would just have to get a different specimen. King Ferdinand hates it when I do that."

Abdul came close to Will and peered into his eyes.

"Still breathing I see. As I said, just the right amount." He seemed very pleased with himself. Will could feel his hands and feet starting to tingle.