Gertie Milk and the Great Keeper Rescue by Simon Van Booy

Author:Simon Van Booy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2018-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

19

Something Rather Awkward Happens . . .

STABLE BOYS IN RED tights and pointy cloth shoes guided the woman down from her tired horse. She was short, with strong shoulders, a round face, and pale green eyes. The attendants helped remove her rabbit-painted breastplate armor.

“Let me introduce myself as Isabetta,” the woman said. “Now, please, let’s go inside.”

She led the three Keepers from the brick courtyard through spiked wooden doors into the Venetian palace that was her home.

The air carried the aroma of wood smoke and cooking food. Isabetta’s servants wondered who these strangers were. Their staring made Gertie nervous, but she told herself it was ridiculous to be frightened of people dressed like characters from a deck of cards.

They were led by their host across a red tile floor to some comfortable chairs near a warm fire.

“They’ve got the right idea,” Kolt said. “This is just like home!”

Gertie nodded, but hoped they would get moving soon. She wanted to eat quickly so they could start looking for the doctor.

The woman’s blonde braids were studded with pearls, and all her hair had been shaved from the front part of her head, so that her forehead looked huge.

“It was a fashion,” Kolt whispered. “The more forehead the more beautiful, apparently.”

Suddenly they heard shouting. A boy’s voice echoed through the hall from one of the palace’s many chambers.

“That’ll be my brother,” Isabetta said. “He’s always messing around in his room with herbs and potions. I don’t think he’s right in the head, to be honest.”

“Probably why he’s not married,” Kolt said with a chuckle.

Isabetta laughed too, but Gertie shot him a disgusted look. “Why would you even bring that up?” she muttered through gritted teeth.

“Just trying to lighten the mood before supper . . .”

“Well, do it some other way . . . and I thought you said we were in a hurry? Maybe I should show her the powder?” Gertie asked. “She might recognize who it belongs to.”

“It’s worth a try,” Kolt agreed. “But let’s meet her family first.”

“You mean, let’s eat first,” Gertie said wryly.

“Travelers, honored guests,” Isabetta announced, “I know you have someone very important to see here in Venice, but as visiting nobles and players of the commedia dell’arte, you will first take a meal with us, so that I can properly introduce you to my father, Doctor Fracastoro, and my mother, Camilla. They are personal friends of the most powerful person in Venice—the Doge—and will help you find this doctor you seek.”

“That must be him!” Kolt said, nudging Gertie. “I don’t believe it, what luck!”

“Who?” Gertie said.

“Doctor Fracastoro!”

Gertie felt a surge of appreciation for the B.D.B.U. It was clear now why they had been sent to a field outside the city. The run-in with the outlaw and Isabetta must have been the old book’s intention after all.

“So your father is a doctor, Isabetta? How marvelous.”

“He’s more an astrologer.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Kolt said. “In Renaissance Italy, doctors were also astrologists.”

“But astrologists study things in space,” Gertie said. “How would that work?”

“Actually, astronomers study things in space,” Kolt tried to explain.

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