The Anatomy Lesson A Novel (ARC) by Nina Siegal

Author:Nina Siegal
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780385538367
Publisher: Nan A. Talese
Published: 2014-03-11T04:00:00+00:00

XIII

The Body

I made it to Amsterdam by dint of my sharp nose, for all scents led toward the city. I wandered around, gaping at the spices atop the carts along the wharves, staring at the trollops on the quays, coveting the boats in the canals, sampling every distiller’s gin. I loved the constant tolling of the church bells all around me, the thousands of seagulls and pigeons everywhere overhead, the open windows presenting wine-filled goblets and plentiful fruit platters and cheeses of every color and crust, fine art, and silver. Even with all the trollops and brigands, the garbage and the foul stench of the canals, Amsterdam was a thief’s paradise.

I stole, it seemed, whatever was loose: copper, tin, and silver spoons, platters, cups plates, fruit, vases, tulips if they were cut, brushes, spurs, blankets, bear hides—even shoes once, off a horse’s hooves. And I sought alms, too, using so many tricks I’d learned along the way. Merchants here seemed to prefer to drop a coin into the palm of a devout mendicant than spend a day at penance in church. I acted the part of a saintly beggar, so enthralled by my recitation of prayers that I bumped into the fruit stands in the old market or upset a hot tray of veal collops, and left with pockets bulging.

On one of the days I was on the new canals, I met Jacob the Walloon, another vagabond. I told him of my woes and he said, “At least you’re not living on the river. It’s ten wide with rogues. There’s so much pitiful flesh cramped side by side along the Amstel, it’s like slaving on a galleon.”

He put an arm over my shoulder and pulled me close like an old pal, guiding me away from the wharves and toward the town center. “You must be cold in that vest,” he said. “I know of a way we can get you a nice, warm, tailored coat. I bet you’d like that.”

Here’s how the scam worked: We’d pick a tailor’s shop where a gentleman was getting a fitting. He’d be disrobed while the tailor was taking his measurements, and his old coat would be hanging by the mirror, or maybe the door. Jacob would run in and start shouting that he’d been robbed out in the street and that the thief had run past the shop. Usually, the gentleman would nobly chase out into the street, and the tailor would often follow. That’s when I’d slip in and grab what had been left unattended. I’d take only the one used cloak, throwing it on over my jerkin, and walk back into the street as if it was always mine.

The first time I did it, I got a heavy wool cloak lined with purple velvet. To think, someone wanted to replace that for something new. I loved the feeling of the cloak so much, the comfort and warmth, that I told Jacob I’d keep it for myself. But he said that he deserved half so we’d have to sell it and split the cash.

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