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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] 'And you, he said, avoiding my eyes. Widow Daventry led us to the back door. Before she reached it she blew out the lantern. Only then did she open the door. 'The moon is full, she whispered, 'Be careful. God keep you well.' 'The Lord's blessings on you for your help,' I returned, Impulsively, she reached out and embraced me tightly, then with a sigh pushed me away. I stepped into the alley. The man came close behind and shut the door behind us. 'Follow me, he said Without a backward look, he moved away. One foot dragged, so that as he walked, he made a little scraping sound upon the ground. I glanced up to the dear sky with its bright, full moon. Ill omen or good, it occurred to me that I might never see the sun again. 53 THE MAN WHO GUIDED ME did not speak as we moved along narrow alleys and lanes. Never once did we set foot on the main street. But on one occasion, when we heard the watch approaching, he slipped into an alcove. Breathlessly we waited until they passed It was then that I said, I need you to take me to the White Stag tavern; 'I was told to bring you to the walls, he said. 'Show the place to me and I ll trouble you no more. And I ll pay you, I said, holding out some pennies. He put out his hand, which in the moonlight showed me he had but three fingers. I dropped the coins. For a moment he seemed to weigh the money. It s not far, he said, and limped away. After passing through a warren of muddy lanes, we came to the head of a dark alley. There, the man said, pointing. No light came from any building. Where' I asked. 'That building. He gestured to the head of the alley and a narrow structure two storeys high. I looked at it again but when I turned back to thank the man, he'd already gone. All I could hear of him was his foot scraping in the dark. I studied the house he had pointed out. It was the moon that allowed me to make out a sign hanging over the door - it bore an image of a white stag, ghostlike in the faint light. The building seemed not only on the verge of collapse but also completely deserted. I approached and rapped softly upon a stout door. There was no response. Reluctant to leave, I put my ear to the door and listened. I heard a sound within. Emboldened, I knocked again. The door creaked open. I saw no one, but a voice spoke, Who is 'I'm Bear's apprentice, I whispered. He s been taken. The door shut. I put my ear to it again. I was sure I heard voices. Perhaps, I thought, they were discussing what to do. The door reopened a bit. What s your name!' I was asked. 'Crispin. 'Come, someone said, even as the door swung open wide enough for me to slip within. I looked around. A small candle provided a little light amidst the shadows. The room was not unlike the Green Man's, but smaller, with fewer tables and benches. I could make out five men. Their faces were indistinct, partly hidden with cow(s, making it dear they did not wish to be recognised. Still, I had a vague sense that at least some of them were those who had been gathered in the shoemaker's house earlier in the day. 'What brings you here?' I was asked. I was sure it was John Ball who spoke. 'Bear has been taken, I said. By whom?' 'The soldiers. The ones who came to your meeting. 'Do you know where he is?' 'He was brought to the Furnivals' palace. 'Are you sure?' 'I saw him dragged in. 'God have mercy on his soul, someone else said. 'They'll torture him, said another. They ll make him give our names, 'He doesn't know them. 'He won't inform on you, I said. I m sure he won't, He's too strong for that. He'd rather die, 'Braver and stronger people than Bear succumb to pain, said one of the men. And he's grown weak, the man I thought was John Ball said 'When we met a year ago, he was ready to join us in our brotherhood. Since then, he's changed his mind. I said, He says things are not ready' 'How would a juggler know about such matters!' someone asked. 'The man's a spy, John Ball said. It s his business to know. To hear the revelation was to know that it was true. The only part of my surprise was that I had not thought it out myself. Then John Ball said to me, Why did you come here, 'I need to help Bear. 'You can't, said another. The palace is too well guarded. Besides, they'll have put him in the dungeons. 'Boy, said John Ball, Bear told me you're Lord Furnival's bastard son. You were most likely the reason our meeting was discovered. Didn't Bear turn away from our brotherhood! How can we be certain of your loyalties! If you had any sense you would be gone by now' [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |