Joachim: The Heretic by M. L. Stainer

Author:M. L. Stainer [Stainer, M. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Published: 2017-04-11T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15 - The Estate Of Robert Marchette

THEY WERE WELCOMED into the main house, their team of horses unhitched and led away to the stables. Robert Marchette himself rode up and greeted them. The housekeeper offered each of them drinks and food. At first Joachim shook his head but silently said his prayers and partook of the meal. Reis and Hugh looked around. The kitchen of this opulent manor house was huge, big pots simmered on the stove, the smell of bread baking in the oven had their mouths watering.

Altschmer greeted Marchette with a vigorous handshake and bellowed his greetings to all. Joachim nodded his head and ate what his religion allowed. Hugh and Reis stuffed themselves. All this time, Robert Marchette stared at them with a quizzical, amused look on his face.

“I’m glad to see you have taken me up on my offer,” he said to Reis, who just nodded, his mouth so full he couldn’t talk.

“Indeed, thanks be to you,” said Altschmer, not hesitating to eat. “Ist a long journey from Neath to here.”

“Who are you, sir?” asked Marchette.

“He’s Hans Altschmer,” Reis spoke finally, “master smelter, back from the Virginia lands in the New World and my friend.”

“You, too, were in the Virginia lands?”

Altschmer nodded, a flicker of sadness crossing his face.

“Is it true, what they say, that Virginia is wild and free, beautiful and….”

“…dangerous, ist sehr gefährlich.” Altschmer finished. He drank some of Marchette’s ale.

“But I am here now, in this beautiful country. I vish to remain.”

Robert Marchette nodded.

“This is a good, solid land,” he said. He addressed himself to Joachim. “And you, my fine sir, must be the Jew, Joachim Gans?”

Joachim nodded.

“I am glad to finally meet you, for I’ve heard a great deal… all good things,” he added.

Joachim grunted.

“Are you planning to stay in England?”

Joachim shook his head.

“I am returning to Bohemia. I travel to London to meet Thomas Hariot, then to book my passage.”

Joachim glanced at Reis and Hugh.

“I have delivered these two lads to you. It is my hope that you will press them into your service. They are strong and able.”

Robert Marchette threw back his head and laughed.

“I asked for one to visit and got two. Perhaps a good bargain.”

Joachim whispered, “Perhaps not,” but Marchette didn’t hear.

“And you, my big friend, what of you?”

“I seek vork vere I find it,” replied Altschmer.

“Indeed, sir, for I think I can use you. Can you shoe horses?”

Altschmer stared at him.

“Vas ist this?”

“Horseshoes, horseshoes on my mares and stallions.”

“Ah,” Altschmer nodded his head. “Ja, I haf done this also. I vork vith iron like a ….”

“A blacksmith,” Marchette said.

“Ich kann ein Schmied sein.” He nodded, “a blacksmith I can be.”

“My old smithy died last week. He got kicked by a horse, here,” and Marchette pointed to his chest.

Altschmer nodded slowly.

“I, too, haf been kicked, here… und here.”

He pointed to his ribs and his leg.

“But no mind, the horse got kicked back.” He threw back his head and roared a hearty laugh. Reis smiled, even Joachim managed a grin.

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