Devil's Acre (5 page)

When in a hole stop digging - isn’t that what they say? I had just excavated a crater.
Benjamin drew herself up to her full height. She began rolling down her sleeves.

‘I’m sorry brother, there appears to have been some misunderstanding. You wanted time with the body, you have had it.
I can’t help it if you are not able you do your job within the limitations available. Now it is time for the spirit. Good morning.’

And with that I was shown the door.

‘That
woman!’

‘Which woman?’ Samson
chuckled. ‘Here we are surrounded by them.’

‘Benjamin.’ I growled the name through clenched teeth and then went on to recount my examination - or rather my
non
-examination - of Ralf’s body, much to Samson’s amusement.

‘I fear your famous charm with the ladies has failed you this time.’

‘She deliberately frustrated my efforts.’ I narrowed my eyes at him. ‘It wasn’t any of your doing was it?’

‘I assure you my only concern is to expedite matters with the minimum of fuss.’

‘Grand words
, father. But she did say you recommended an astringent for Ralf which I certainly would not have recommended.’

‘Namely?’

‘Sal ammoniac.’

He shook his head. ‘It is true she does ask for my advice from time to time on all sorts of things - too many things as a matter of fact. I find agreeing with whatever she
suggests tends to satisfy her. I certainly don’t remember this Sal - what was it again?’

‘Sal ammoniac.’

‘Well there you are. I don’t even know what it is.’

I didn’t know whether to believe him or not.
‘I would still like to examine the body. You clearly have great influence with the nuns here. Could you not use it?’

‘Yes of course I could.’

‘Thank you.’

‘And if we had more time I would not hesitate to do so.’

‘Father!’

He put up a defensive hand.
‘Walter, you’ve had your chance. I can’t help it if you fluffed it. The hour of terce has already passed. If we don’t leave now we shall be forced to remain another night.’

‘Can we not at least inform the sheriff of what we are doing?’

He looked exasperated. ‘Don’t start that again. There is no need to get the sheriff involved.’

‘All the more reason
why we should do things openly and correctly.’

‘Walter, listen to me. There are more important things than the death of this old priest. That letter from the king -’

‘The one that wasn’t urgent?’

‘Not urgent
, no. But neither can I ignore it.’ He lowered his voice and placed his hand on my shoulder. ‘I tell you this in confidence. The king wishes me to leave for Normandy very shortly. If we delay because of this Ralf business I may not get there at all. That will not please King John. I would not wish to have to tell him what - or who - caused me to delay.’

‘In which case we should leave the body here. It will expedite matters
all the more.’

‘I have already explained that to you. Mother Odell -’

‘Mother Odell will do whatever you ask of her.’

Samson removed his hand from my shoulder. ‘Walter you overplay my affection for you. I am first and foremost your
spiritual superior. I have indulged you in this matter enough. Now it is time for action. The mules are harnessed. The sun is moving across the heavens. Gather your things together and meet me in the courtyard. That is my final word.’ He started to leave.

‘Ralf wanted to tell me something last night
.’

He stopped. ‘Oh yes?’

‘But he died before he was able to.’

‘And you think this has a bearing on his death?’

I wanted to say it did. I wanted to say that Samson knew more than he was telling me. Most of all I wanted him to satisfy me that he was entirely free of any complicity in Ralf’s death.

‘Just tell me father, why are we doing this? Why are travelling across
Norfolk with the body of a dead priest?’

‘Pure convenience
, my boy. We happen to be going in the same direction.’

I only wished I could have believed him.

When I emerged into the sunlight I found the leaving party saddled up ready and waiting. There were four mules. Samson was sitting astride one and Jane another.

Jane was quite a sight to behold. She was wrapped up against the cold with only her face visible beneath a vast woollen shawl. She looked like one of those toys children have that bob back up when pushed over, nothing but a large round bottom and a pointed head. Mother Odell was standing nearby with her
by now familiar triumvirate of Sisters Agnes, Monica-Jerome and of course the splendid Benjamin. We both avoided each other’s eye.

Over the back of the third mule was slung the now fully trussed-up body of Ralf wrapped head to foot in Sister Angelina’s
beautiful shroud and looking like a child’s stuffed doll. I couldn’t help wondering if Benjamin had deliberately bound him tight to spite me. The fourth mule stood empty and was presumably for me its rein being held in Sister Monica-Jerome’s hand.

‘You have the look of troubled peace about you, brother,’ Odell smiled to me as I approached.

‘More trouble than peace, mother, I fear.’

‘Our Lord must have felt a similar anguish hanging on the Cross, a serenity that
he would soon be with the Father in Heaven only marred by his concerns for those remaining behind after he had gone. After all, he knew what future they would have to face.’

‘I can certainly sympathize with that,’ I said. ‘Except that I do not know what my immediate future holds. Apparently that is not in my hands.’
I looked purposefully at Samson.

Monica-Jerome
now stepped forward and handed me the rein of my mule.

‘This is for you, brother,’ she blushed holding out a satchel of food. ‘I’ve put an extra apple in for you,’ she whispered and smiled revealing her buck teeth.

‘Thank you sister. You are one person I will remember with affection and gratitude.’

Monica-Jerome blushed a bright crimson.

‘Are we ready to go?’ asked Samson impatiently.

Odell took my hands in hers. ‘Bless you Brother Walter
for what you are doing.’

I was
startled by her words. As far as I knew I hadn’t done anything. ‘It is I who should thank you, Mother Prioress, for you hospitality and your kindness.’

She smiled. ‘I hope you will be able to come and see us again in happier times.’

Happier times?

‘Come along, Walter,’ said Samson.

I climbed on to my mule thanking Monica-Jerome for holding his head as I did so. And then something extraordinary happened. Despite the mud and the snow Mother Odell dropped to both knees before Samson and kissed the hem of his robe.

‘God bless you father
abbot.’

He leaned over his mule’s head and placed his hand on the prioress’s head in blessing.

At last we were off, Samson first followed by me leading the mule with Ralf’s body and finally Jane bringing up the rear. Behind us came the sound of fluting voices from the nuns. I look back but the sun was in my eyes casting the nuns into silhouette. But I didn’t need to see to imagine the scene: the four of them, hands clasped as if in prayer, singing the
Gloria
. A few moments later we were out through the gate and turning towards the town centre and the beginning of the next stage of our journey the end of which I knew not.

Chapter
7

IN
THEODFORDA

‘Beware
the wiles of women!’

‘What’s that master?’

‘Women, Gilbert. They are the cause of every man’s downfall - indeed, the downfall of all Mankind. It was Eve, remember, who tempted Adam with the apple - a euphemism for sex of course.’

‘Sex is not a subject I think on very often, master.’

‘Don’t be absurd. Every man thinks about sex. It’s what he does about it that makes the difference.’

‘I assure you master I have quite enough to occupy my thoughts taking care of you and the other monks in this place. Now, lift up if you please while I plump up your pillows.’

‘Oh, fuss fuss fuss. You’re turning into an old woman yourself, Gilbert. I’ll be glad when I can leave this place and get back to my work. When am I leaving by the way? In fact, why was I brought here in the first place?’

‘You were neglecting yourself. The abbot thought it for the best. Your memory is not what it was.’

‘Nonsense! I have an excellent memory.’

‘Master, you cannot even remember my name.’

‘Of course I can. You’re Gilbert my assistant.’

‘No master, I’m Gerard the infirmarer. Gilbert died last Michaelmas at Eye Priory where he’d been sacristan for twenty years. You remember? We said a special mass.’

‘I know that. Of course I know that. I just got confused for a moment that’s all.’

‘Exactly. Now, how are your bowels? Have you evacuated them today yet?’

‘I can remember more than you think. I can recall the day I arrived here and that was over half a century ago. Samson was abbot then, of course. I can even tell you the first words he said to me. Walter, he said, it is my job to cure the souls of men; it is your job to do the same for their bodies. There. Not such a clod now am I?’

‘You were very fond of this Abbot Samson.’

‘He was a very great man. Abbot Henry could learn much from him.’

‘I’m sure he’
d be overjoyed to hear it.’

‘I’m sure you’ll be overjoyed to tell him.’

‘No master, I don’t gossip. What passes within the infirmary walls stays within the infirmary walls. What are you doing now?’             

‘Counting.’

‘Counting what? The passing years?’

‘Bridges.’

W
ere there two of them or three? Or two bridges and a ford? Certainly there were two rivers. I remember we had to cross over them both in order to get into the town. It was a significant moment for by crossing those rivers we were finally leaving Suffolk and entering the wild and mysterious county of Norfolk. The road we wanted was on the further side of the town but to get to it we had to get through the marketplace which even on this freezing January morning was thronging with people.

As soon as our little caravan
of four mules entered the square we were descended upon by a swarm of waifs like moths to a flame. Samson threw them a few coins which they scrabbled for in the frozen mud. All well and good, but it drew the attention of two of the monks from the priory who happened to be in the market buying provisions. It was clear from the expressions on their faces that our presence was a shock. So, not everybody in Thetford knew of our coming, I realised.

‘I think we’ve bee
n spotted, father.’

‘So I see.’

After some hasty exchanges one of the monks sped off, his robe flapping above his ankles in his haste, while the other came bustling over.

‘Father abbot? It is you, oh what joy!’ He kissed Samson’s hand like a man deprived of nourishment.

‘Sub-cellarer Simon,’ said Samson extricating himself from the man’s grip. ‘What good fortune to have run across you. We were just on our way to the priory.’

The monk’s elation quickly turned to consternation. ‘Oh but father why was I not informed of your visit? I fear you find me naked.’

‘Not quite the weather for that, brother,’ chuckled Samson. ‘But no formality, please. We have no wish to impose.’

‘No imposition,’ frowned the man, ‘no imposition at all. It is a pleasure and an honour. Even so, Prior Peter will be mortified - that is to say, he will be delighted
of course, but he will be desolated that we have nothing for you. Or rather we do but -’ The man bit his lip then jabbed his finger at the sky. ‘Brother Raymond has gone on ahead to spread the glad tidings. I should join him I think - if you will permit, father.’

He ran off, then came back to kiss Samson’s hand a second time, then ran off again after the first monk. Samson nodded and
smiled and waved encouragement in his wake.

‘Damn,’ he said under his breath.

The Priory of Our Lady of Thetford stands on the north bank of one of those two rivers I mentioned earlier, the Little Ouse -
there, I’ve remembered its name now. Across it on the opposite bank could still be seen the remains of the old Saxon cathedral when Thetford - or rather
Theodforda
as they would have known it - was Norfolk’s greatest town. In modern times the cathedral had removed to Norwich alongside the castle leaving behind only this half-dismantled shell.

As
a Cluniac foundation, the priory is not subject to any other English abbey but is directly under the stewardship of the Abbot of Cluny. However, any abbot outranks a prior, especially one as senior as the Abbot of Edmundsbury who can thus expect a measure of deference. But respect is a two-way street and it would have been discourteous not to have called in at the priory as we were passing especially now that our presence in the town had been rumbled. As we rode up to the gates we found a welcoming party hastily being assembled and headed by the prior himself - a tall, gaunt-looking man with arms like a monkey and a nose like a beetroot.

‘Father
Abbot greetings! Welcome, welcome indeed!’ he bellowed coming forward with his arms spread wide. ‘This is indeed an honour!’

‘
Brother Prior, how good of you to receive us!’ Samson bellowed back. Dismounting, he embraced the prior kissing him fully on the lips like a long-lost brother. ‘I do apologize for arriving unannounced like this. Truth to tell, we hadn’t expected to be here at all but we were forced by the foulness of the weather to spend the night with the sisters of Saint George.’

‘Your bad fortune is our
good,’ gushed the prior. ‘By the inclement weather God has rewarded us with your presence. He moves as ever in mysterious ways.’

‘He does
indeed,’ nodded Samson solemnly. ‘But I said to Brother Walter here - do you know my physician Walter of Ixworth, by the way? Walter, I said, now that we are here we simply cannot leave Thetford without paying our respects to my dear old friend Prior Peter Vincent at Our Lady of Thetford.’

‘Master Walter, welcome to you too,’ Peter beamed at me
, then immediately frowned concern. ‘But Father Abbot, your
physician
?’

‘Oh no, nothing like that,’ Samson laughed off the suggestion. ‘
Brother Walter is here as my companion, not my nurse. ’

‘God be praised
for that,’ said the prior with evident relief. ‘But please, both of you, won’t you come inside and warm yourselves at our hearth?’

Samson gave a slight bow. ‘For myself I’d be delighted. But if you don’t mind Walter will remain with the mules.
It is...’ he lowered his voice ‘...a delicate matter.’

The prior followed Samson’s eyes to the figure of Ralf
lying across the back of one of the other mules. His eyes widened with understanding. ‘Of course,’ he nodded and went over to have a word with one of his monks.

‘Couldn’t leave without paying our respects, father?’ I hissed. ‘Forced to spend the night at the nunnery?’

‘Oh do be quiet Walter,’ Samson smiled through clenched teeth. ‘What else was I supposed to say?’

‘Father
, you’re surely not thinking of leaving us outside while you go in and enjoy our host’s hospitality?’

‘We’re late enough as it is. If you come too we’ll never get away.
Wait here with Jane. I won’t be long.’

‘But
father, it’s freezing out here!’

He thrust the reins of his mule into my hands.
‘Then stamp,’ and followed the prior in through the gates.

Behind me Jane
gave a snort of contempt. ‘Just a companion, nothing more.’

‘I’m sure Father Abbot knows what he’s doing,’ I
said watching him disappear into the building with all the monks flooding in after them.

I shivered involuntarily and decided to dismount and stretch my legs to try to get the blood moving in them again. Stamp, Samson said. I would if I didn’t fear my frozen feet would shatter on impact. Nearby a group of beggars stood hunched around a brazier and I wandered over hoping to share in their comfort. A young man dressed in filthy rags shuffled round to make room for me.

‘Thank you my son,’ I smiled rubbing my hands together briskly above the flames. ‘Brrr! Cold no?
Enough to freeze a turd in a bucket, what?’ I chuckled.

I pride
d myself that I knew how to speak to these people. After all, I’d been almoner at the abbey for a while. It is one of the joys of our Benedictine Order that we should show charity to the poor whenever we can - leftovers from the refectory table, our old bedding, that sort of thing.

‘Have you been waiting here
long, my son?’ I asked the young man cheerily.

‘About a year.’

I looked at him with astonishment. ‘Good lord!’

One of the monks came
scurrying out from the priory carrying two steaming mugs of spiced ale. He handed one to me and gave the other to Jane before scurrying back inside again. Normally I detest spiced ale but I was so cold I could have drunk the Devil’s spit if it was warmed first. As I blew across the steaming liquid to cool it I became aware of several pairs of eyes watching me.

‘Here,’ I said offering my cup to the young man.

He looked at me in surprise.

‘No really,’ I insisted. ‘I don’t much like spiced ale. Too...spicy.’

The young man didn’t need telling twice. He took the cup in both hands and gulped down half its contents before passing it to his companions. Behind me I heard Jane give another snort.

‘Why are you always so cynical?’ I
frowned returning to her. ‘Are you so consumed by your own grief that you have no compassion for others?’

‘Compassion!’ she sneered. ‘I saw no compassion last night.’

‘If you are referring to the unfortunate incident between Abbot Samson and Father Ralf then I’m afraid that was Ralf’s fault. God knows the Sisters of Saint George are poor enough. They can’t afford the loss of a single pot. Father Abbot was justly angry on their behalf at the wanton waste.’

I didn’t
believe a word of what I was saying any more than she did but I had a duty of loyalty to my superior. It doesn’t do to break ranks before servants whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter. It gives them ideas.

‘Ralf wor blind
. He can’t help accidents. Now he’s dead acause of it.’

‘Hardly that
,’ I said. ‘And I’m sure had father abbot known Ralf was so ill he would have tempered his words. He couldn’t have predicted what was going to happen. No-one could.’

‘Could he not?’
she sneered

I was beginning to lose patience with the woman. ‘Jane you are being unjust. I’ve known Abbot Samson for fifteen years and I can tell you there is no man living
with greater compassion.’

‘Fifteen year
?’

‘Yes.’

She leaned towards me over her mule’s head. ‘I know’d Sam Tott’ton for nigh on forty year an’ I say ’twere malice.’

My jaw dropped open.
‘Forty years? Are you sure?’

She just grinned back at me. A thought suddenly came to me:

‘Jane, where is your home village?’

‘Tott
’ton, same as Samson. Same as Ralf. There now, Brother Knows-it-all,’ she smirked. ‘What d’ye think on that?’