Читать книгу Theopolda's Quest - Linda Wisely - Страница 7

Once on the wooden walkway on the wharf of Palermo, Brother Justus told Theo, Will, and Sagan, "I need to talk to the captain of the ship called the Pinta, where I have been told I can buy our passage to Naples for tomorrow. Do you three want to look around while I do that?"

On the hill above the harbor, a market place could be seen. Many people were milling about under the brightly colored tents.

"I would love to see the market!" Theo exclaimed. "Do you think it would be all right if we went there while you are purchasing our tickets?"

"Yes, if you stay together. It shouldn't take too long, and then I will join you there. We need to get to the St. Mary's of the Admiral Monastery before evening as Abbot Pietro will be waiting for us. We want to be off of the streets before it becomes dark because thieves and rogues roam then," Brother Justus admonished.

The market stretched as far as they could see. Booths made of four posts and a wooden shingle roof lined each side of the street. They were filled with goods of every kind. Scattered around behind the booths were brightly colored tents full of wares to entice those browsing the market. Foreign merchants were selling fine silks, wool dyed mostly in red, green, and gold, and beautiful carpets brought in on ships from the east. Minstrels could be seen strolling along the streets playing lutes and mandolins, some singing as they walked. Tumblers and acrobats were performing behind the booths in a wooden bench-lined area. Some of the local peasants were selling fruits and vegetables right out of their carts with the horse still attached. It was so noisy, with the merchants calling out their wares, minstrels playing and the sounds of the animals, Theo could hardly hear herself think.

"I love this place with all the bright colors and unique things to look at," Theo said as she flitted from booth to booth. Will and Sagan were not quite so enthralled but stayed close to Theo. Every now and then they were distracted by something that interested them.

Theo picked up a teal and purple silk scarf and wrapped it around her head and shoulders.

"How does this scarf look on me?" She asked, turning from side to side, preening.

"It is beautiful and so are you, but don't let it go to your head," Will mumbled, then turned away from her so she wouldn't see the look on his face. He had surprised himself. I must be careful not to let her know that my feelings for her are changing. She isn't ready.

"What did you say?" Theo was not able to hear him over the noise of the crowd.

"Nothing," Will denied and pretended to be interested in the juggler as he threw his colorful balls in the air and skillfully caught them amidst the crowd.

Sagan had stopped at a table full of swords and was not paying them any attention. When he noticed Theo starting to move away, he rushed to her side and admonished her, "You need to stay close to us, how can we protect you if you are out of our sight?"

"Oh, Sagan, don't take your job of protecting me so seriously. I don't think I am in any danger with all these people about," Theo complained. She went a few booths down to see some gowns that had caught her eye. Will and Sagan moved to follow her, but their view was obscured when a group of rowdy young men crowded in front of them, laughing and teasing each other.

Suddenly a dirty hand darted out from the rack of gowns, latched on to her arm, and began pulling her towards the back of the booth. She should bring a pretty penny when we put her up for sale.

"Come with me, bello signorina. I have more beautiful things in the back that you would love to see," hissed a man with skin the color and texture of tanned leather. His straggly beard on his pockmarked face looked like he had shaved with a dull knife. The stench of his breath through his rotten teeth was so strong it made Theo draw away from him in disgust. As she pulled back, his fingers became like claws biting into her left arm painfully as he increased his grip.

Without a thought, Theo quickly reached into the folds of her dress with her free arm and pulled her rapier out of its sheath. She had attached it to her belt that morning when she dressed as usual. Faster than the greasy haired little man could blink, she had pinned him up against a post with the point of the small sword under his chin. His beady eyes looked like they might pop out of his head.

"I don't think so," Theo said grimly through clenched teeth.

At that time the crowd parted. Will and Sagan caught a glimpse of Theo with her sword pinning a shopkeeper against a post.

"What on earth is she doing?" Will gasped.

Sagan, quick to assess the scene, yelled to Will, "Muovita (hurry), go around the back of the booths and grab the man from behind. I will stop Theo from getting us thrown into prison!"

Sagan began to run toward Theo, screaming, "Theo, stop, stop!"

By this time, a crowd was beginning to form around Theo and the shopkeeper. As Sagan reached Theo's side, Will grabbed the man's arms from behind and held them tightly close to his sides.

The evil little man sputtered and twisted. "Get this mad woman off me," he spat vehemently.

"He grabbed me and tried to drag me into his tent!" Theo exclaimed, as she lowered the rapier.

"I'm pressing charges, and you will all go to the dungeons," the man yelled. "You don't know who you are messing with. I have connections and you will be sorry!"

"Sir, it seems that we can press countercharges," Sagan said calmly, even though he knew that as visitors to Sicily they were at a disadvantage. "I propose that we all just calm down and go about our business as if this never happened."

Theo's mouth dropped open. "You want to let this dastardly rogue go?"

Horses could be heard coming toward them on the cobblestone street. It was the Sicilian Policia.

Will and Sagan grabbed Theo, one on each side, and yelled,"Run!".

As they ran, Theo cried in frustration, "I was handling the situation! Why did you interfere?"

Will and Sagan pulled her between a booth full of hanging chickens, and they escaped down a winding alley. They kept running until they were so out of breath, they couldn't run any longer. Theo bent over holding her side, sharp pain shooting through her stomach and back from running so fast. Angry and terrified, tears began to stream down her cheeks as she fought to catch her breath.

Looking around, they saw that they had run into the residential section of the town. Homes were stacked on top of each other and crowded very close together. Small narrow streets could be seen winding between the buildings in several directions.

"Where are we?" Theo said, peering into the dark alleys.

They could feel eyes on them. Looking up, they saw several people on their balconies quietly staring. Will waved at one lady, and she immediately turned around and went inside of her home.

"What did I do?" Will asked facetiously.

"It seems they don't like strangers," Theo said.

"We need to get back to the wharf. Brother Justus will be looking for us." Sagan began to walk down the dark street.

Theo pulled out her compass."The wharf is south of us. Go this way," she pointed. "Look for the volcano and the sun. We can use them to keep going in the right direction."

By now the sun was low in the sky, but they could see the beginning of a pink and orange sunset in the cracks between the buildings. They kept the smoking mountain on their left, and the setting sun in front of them, as they wound their way toward the ship masts that were starting to come into sight over the tops of the lower buildings.

As they burst out of the last tiny street, Brother Justus could be seen deep in conversation with several people on the wharf. He was gesturing wildly toward the market. They could see by the look on his face that he was very upset.

When they drew near enough for Brother Justus to see them, he ran toward them and began to say with agitation, "Where have you been? Someone told me they thought you had been arrested!. I have been beside myself. I was trying to enlist help to look for you." He was gasping and breathless with fear for them.

"Brother Justus, I am so sorry." Theo threw her arms around the portly monk that she loved so much and gave him a hug.

All three began to tell their tale at the same time. "I can't understand anything you are saying. One at a time, my children, please!" Brother Justus exclaimed.

They related their adventure to him while he led them toward St. Mary's of the Admiral Monastery.

"I have only a couple of things to say. You were very lucky this time. From now on, you must stay together and not bring any more attention to yourselves. We are foreigners in this place and will not receive the same treatment we would if we were Sicilian."

"I think I've learned my lesson. I understand now why you have been saying that there can be danger in the most unexpected places," Theo acknowledged.

"That's for sure," Will agreed. Pictures kept playing in his mind of Theo in the clutches of that horrible man. If anything were to happen to Theo, I don't know what I would do.

"Yes, Brother Justus, we will do a better job of protecting Theo from now on," Sagan promised.

"And yourselves also, I hope," Brother Justus looked at them in consternation.