Pagan's Vows by Catherine Jinks

Author:Catherine Jinks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000
ISBN: 9781741762648
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd
Published: 2007-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

Winter 1188–1189

Chapter 18

It’s Jerusalem. It’s got to be. A narrow street, lined with shops; the sun beating down on coloured awnings. And isn’t that Saurimunda? Hovering in a doorway, beckoning, smiling . . . But it’s hard to see, because she’s wearing a veil. A veil and a gauzy . . . wait. It isn’t her at all. It’s someone much older. Someone tall and dark, with big breasts – huge breasts – heavy and smooth –

Dong. Dong. Dong.

Oh no! Please don’t run away! Come back! It’s nothing! It’s just a church bell . . .

Dong. Dong. Dong.

On second thoughts, it’s not a church bell. It’s a hand bell. This is crazy. This doesn’t make sense. Where did the shops go? Something banging –

Hold on, what’s under my head? Feels like wool. Darkness. Footsteps. Oh God. Now I understand.

It’s time to wake up.

Bernard Blancus, ringing his bell on the threshold. Dong. Dong. Dong. I don’t believe this: surely it can’t be nocturnes? I only just closed my eyes! Amiel, in the next bed, throwing back his covers. I can’t do that, it’s freezing in here! Burying my face in the pillow. Please, please, let me go back to my dream. Let me go back to the big-breasted lady.

A sudden shaft of cold air, as Clement pulls my covers back. He raps at my bed with his stick.

All right, all right, I’m coming.

Feet first. Ow! Ah! This floor is like ice! Where are my socks? Quick, my socks! Fumbling about for my belt; my socks; my scapular. My wonderful winter cape. My sheepskin gloves

– A tap on the shoulder.

It’s Clement. He makes the sign for ‘where’, and runs one finger down the middle of his face (a reference to Roland’s aristocratic nose).

Where – Roland?

What do you mean, where’s Roland? Looking around. It’s hard to see, in this light: a bunch of shadowy figures, milling about, making beds, pulling on clothes, yawning, coughing, spitting. But none of them is big enough or broad enough to be Roland.

God preserve us. Where is he?

Making a fist, with the thumb turned down. I know not. Clement frowns, and peers at me closely. What are you looking at me like that for? I just told you, I don’t know where he is! Maybe he’s gone to the latrines! Maybe he’s sick!

Oh Lord. I hope not. I hope he’s not sick. Signing at Clement: I – go – infirmary. Clement shakes his head.

You – go – church, he replies, and heads for the door.

Damn it, Roland, where are you? Why didn’t you wake me up? Fumbling with my boots as the others follow Clement, trailing after him like a flock of little black chicks. Hurry, Pagan, hurry! Don’t want to be late. One boot on. Other boot on. Joining the end of the line, just as it enters the herb garden. Past the refectory. Stumbling along in the dimness.

I knew this would happen. Roland’s been so odd, lately. So quiet. And not eating nearly enough. Getting much too thin.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.