The Copper Sign (41 page)

“Indeed, it doesn’t sound very good yet,” Jean replied, looking concerned. “Even Greybeard’s barking sounds better.”

Ellen waved dismissively with her hand, let out a hollow cough, and motioned for him to come. “Let’s not talk anymore about me. How are you, and have you found work?”

“I’ll soon be able to make you the best glue you ever had,” Jean boasted.

“You? Well, won’t that be something. I hope it will actually stick, then.” Ellen broke out in another long fit of coughing. “How did you get involved in making glue?” she asked when she got her breath back.

“I’m working for the shield maker. I told you, he makes his own glue and will teach me how, that’s what he said.”

“Is his son sick again?”

“No, Sylvain works there, too. By the way, he’s a really nice fellow, a head taller than I am and a little older, but it isn’t something he gets all stuck up about.”

Ellen smiled. “I’m happy you found such a good job. Madeleine is pretty busy here, too. The only one who has nothing to do is me.”

“Madeleine looks happy, so I didn’t have to worry about her,” Jean said, turning around to face her.

“Ruth is good to us. She never left my side when I was ill.” Ellen gasped for breath, wheezed a bit, and then continued. “All I did was lie in bed, but every bone in my body hurt as if I had been working all day in the smithy.” She paused for a moment and coughed. “Yesterday I wanted to finish the hilt, but I just couldn’t.” She quickly pulled the woolen shawl around her shoulders. “I feel like I’m a hundred years old.”

“A hundred?” Jean laughed. “Nobody ever gets that old.”

“Just look at me,” Ellen grinned, exhausted.

“It’s starting to get cool, and you’d better come into the house and warm yourself by the fire,” Ruth said, and showed them in.

Jean stood as close as he could to the fire, rubbing his hands. “It’s almost time for me to leave so that I can get back before nightfall. It’s safer.” He said good-bye to Ellen, kissing her on the cheek, and she looked at him in amazement because he had never done that before. He blushed and quickly turned away.

“I’ll show you the way,” Ruth suggested.

“She’s still weak, and I’m happy you are taking care of her. Madeleine also seems to enjoy being here. Thank you for everything,
madame
!” Jean said, bowing gallantly.

“Away with you, you rascal,” Ruth scolded in embarrassment, and pushed him out through the gate.

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you, really!” Jean hastened to say.

“That’s fine, then,” Ruth grumbled, and tied the knot of hair behind her. “Nice boy,” she mumbled with a smile, and went back into the house.

When Jean came back a week later, Ellen was much better. She quickly got tired and was still a bit pale, but she seemed to have regained her confidence.

Madeleine was the first to notice Jean standing in the yard. She flew into his arms. “I missed you so much,” she whispered in his ear. “I made something for you to eat. You are surely hungry.”

Jean looked in astonishment at Ellen, who in the meanwhile had come out of the house. “Madeleine has changed,” he said softly, after greeting Ellen as well.

“This is a marvelously peaceful house that can do you a world of good.” Ellen led Jean into the main room, where Madeleine placed a large plate of lentils in front of him. He spooned up the soft, tasty legumes with great appetite. “Wonderful, Madeleine,” he congratulated her, smacking his lips.

Ellen could not wait to learn where the next tournament would take place. She put both her forearms on the table, bent forward, and watched every bite Jean took. “Come on, tell us!”

“We should break camp in five days at the latest. The tournament in Chartres is the next to last before Christmas, and there will be lots going on there. Anselm, the pancake baker from the Rhineland, and a few others who stayed here will be leaving then, too. If we don’t want to travel alone, this is the best opportunity for us.”

“Good, let’s do that then. The fresh air and the walking will help me get my strength back. Now, do tell me about William. Have you seen him? Did he ask about me?”

Jean took a deep breath. For a brief moment he had hoped Ellen would not ask about William. Even though he could lie if necessary, Jean knew that with such things the truth would always come out sooner or later. So he decided to tell her first about William’s triumph in the battles.

“Someday, no doubt, he’ll be the most famous of all knights and everybody will be wild about him. Fighting is his life, and everything else is of no importance to him. Have you ever seen him fight?” Ellen blushed when he spoke of William.

“No, I had to work, you’ll remember,” Jean grumbled, trying to change the subject. “The shield maker actually hasn’t said anything yet, but I hope I can work for him again at the next tournament. Then you can buy your glue from him. He’ll certainly give you a fair price, if I discuss it with him.”

Ellen smiled. “Good, let’s do that. By the way, I pretty much finished the hilt yesterday.” Suddenly she turned serious. “It’s only in the last few days that I’ve been thinking about Athanor again.” She shook her head in disbelief. “As soon as I can work again, I’ll make the pommel—I can hardly wait to get back into the smithy. I am really feeling a lot better now.”

“Oh, Ellen, I brought something along to help you get back your strength. Wait, I’ll go and get it!” Jean ran out into the courtyard where Nestor was standing and returned holding a clay pot in his hands. Ellen had followed him into the yard while Madeleine was busy in the kitchen.

“Here, it’s for you!” Jean handed her the little pot.

A thin cord held the top on.

“Well, what’s in it? Ellen turned the little pot over in her hands, curiously.

“Just open it and see!” Jean’s face quivered with delight. “Careful, though!”

Ellen untied the knot and took the cover off. Inside the pot was a viscous, brown mass.

“Jean, what is this?” Ellen smelled it carefully. “Mm, good, a bit bitter, but at the same time sweet.”

“It’s cooked with apples and pears. The man from the Rhineland with whom we’ll be traveling makes it and sells his pancakes along with it. It tastes sweet, almost like honey. Just try it!”

Ellen dipped her finger in the syrup and licked it off with half-closed eyes. “Mm, you’re right, it tastes wonderful!”

“Jean, you ought to give the horse a good rubdown,” Ruth said as she came out of the house to give Ellen a woolen shawl to put around her shoulders. “It’s not good to leave him standing there covered in sweat. Tie him up in back by the goat pen, where you’ll also find straw and a bucket of water for the animal.”

“You have to take better care of yourself. It’s too cold for you without this shawl,” she scolded Ellen. For the first time, Jean noticed how small the woman was. She came up only as far as Ellen’s shoulder.

“You’re right. I’d better take care of Nestor.” Jean started taking their things off Nestor’s back. “Could Ellen and Madeleine stay with you a few more days? Then we’ll have to leave for Chartres,” he asked Ruth as offhandedly as possible, without looking at her.

“And you?” Ruth asked, picking some dandelion leaves from the vegetable patch. “Very tasty.” She nodded at Madeleine and handed them to her.

“I’ll find something. I still have time.”

“Can you chop wood and repair the roof on the shed?” Ruth asked softly, as she looked up with some concern. The straw roof had holes in it and was ripped in places.

Jean nodded, a bit unsure. Though she appeared very kind, the small woman intimidated him. He had never dared to ask what he owed her for Ellen’s care.

“Then you can stay here. My good husband, God rest his soul, left me this house and one other farther up the street. The rent from it is enough for me to live on. If you’re just as undemanding as Madeleine and Ellenweore and can make yourself just as useful, it’s fine by me if you stay.”

Jean nodded enthusiastically. “Thank you,
madame
!”

As they were sitting at supper in the kitchen that evening, he looked around surreptitiously. Ruth had withdrawn before the meal, and the three of them were alone. On a little board next to the fireplace there was a seven-armed candelabra. Jean was trying to think where he had seen something like that before.

“She’s Jewish!” Ellen declared, as if she could read his mind.

Jean blushed at once, as if he had been caught doing something wrong and looked away, embarrassed.

Madeleine cleared the table and gave some leftovers from their dinner to Greybeard, who had been running around the table begging.

“Jean,” Madeleine asked, “could you go to the fountain first thing in the morning and fetch a few pails of water?” She poured the last bucket of water into the pot and hung it over the fire.

“Hm,” he grumbled. “Had I known she was an infidel…”

“Jean!” Ellen looked at him in horror. “Her husband was a doctor, a famous one in fact.”

“And what does that have to do with it? Jews are dangerous.” Jean asserted that with conviction even though he didn’t really know what it meant to be Jewish.

“Women can’t make decent swords, and Jews are dangerous. Lord, how I hate such foolish talk.” Ellen glared at him. “Ruth is kind and generous and not in the least bit dangerous. And it seems to me we proved long ago that women can do more than most men believe possible.”

“All right!” Jean raised his hand in a conciliatory gesture. “Where shall I sleep?”

“There’s room over there in the corner,” Ellen replied gruffly. It angered her that Jean, of all people, should be talking such nonsense. She had had sufficient time to get to know Ruth and knew she was a really good person, as God-fearing as a Christian in any case, even if her customs were different.

Greybeard did not let Madeleine out of his sight. He wagged his tail happily when she finally responded to his pleading gaze and handed him a dry cheese rind, and then he licked his hairy, grey lips with obvious enjoyment.

“If it were up to you, you’d do nothing but eat all day, you bottomless pit!” Ellen’s voice was soft and warm when she spoke to Greybeard. He came straight over to her and sniffed her hand before turning around and settling down at her feet.

“But you’ll sleep with Madeleine, all right?” she said with playful severity.

Greybeard looked up at her and squinted, glanced toward Madeleine, and then laid his nose down on Ellen’s right foot.

At first, Madeleine had been afraid of sleeping without Jean, but Greybeard had proven to be an excellent substitute. As they were making their beds, he went over into the corner where Madeleine slept, waited until she had straightened out the covers, and then lay down in the middle of the blanket.

“Hey, give me a little room,” Madeleine scolded with a laugh and snuggled up to him. “Ugh, you stink,” she mumbled sleepily, without moving away from Greybeard.

“She doesn’t seem so…crazy anymore,” Jean whispered, tapping his forehead.

“She hasn’t been seeing any man for a long time, except for you, I mean. I think that has been good for her.” Ellen looked over at Madeleine and smiled. It was nice to see her so contented. “Someday we’ll have enough money to settle down and have our own house. Of course, it won’t be as large and comfortable as this one, but we’ll be able to live in peace,” Ellen promised softly, but with determination.

Jean quietly went about repairing the roof of the stable, cutting wood, and making himself useful wherever necessary as the day of departure approached. “I’ve done everything you asked of me. Is there something else I can do before we leave Compiègne?” Jean didn’t look at Ruth as he spoke.

“Is there something troubling you?”

“You were very kind to us, Madeleine has flourished here, and you have brought Ellen back to full health. But you never told me how much you are asking for your help.” Jean hesitated for a moment and still couldn’t bring himself to look her directly in the eye.

“You mean how much you owe me?”

Jean nodded apprehensively.

“Well, let me think. You and Madeleine have worked for your room and board, so that’s taken care of. Then Ellenweore…” Ruth put her chin in her hand and thought. “Well, she trusted me completely, without even a trace of reserve, even though I am Jewish. She gave me her friendship and gratitude, and through her I have gotten to know Madeleine, whose mind was wrapped in dark clouds, and have learned how beautiful it is to see her laughing and freed from her worries. Honestly I couldn’t put a price on the happiness, the singing, the laughter, and this lovable, clumsy dog you brought into my house. All three of you… excuse me, all four, including Greybeard, have enriched my life. You owe me nothing, nothing at all, except perhaps a promise to visit me if you should ever be in our region again.”

Now Jean turned red with shame—he had been so certain that she, a Jewess, would demand a lot of money from them. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Ruth, and ask for your forgiveness because I had some unflattering thoughts about you, and I am terribly ashamed,” he said ruefully.

“You are a good boy, Jean, and have not always had an easy time with Madeleine, have you? And Ellenweore surely is also not always easy,” she said with a grin, taking Jean in her arms. “Good people like you are always welcome. That is how my husband felt, and I am just carrying on the way he would.” There was a short, embarrassed pause; then Ruth patted him on the arm. “Go now and get Ellen and Madeleine. You have to leave.”

The farewell was tearful. Only the dog seemed untroubled, as he probably didn’t know what it meant to say good-bye. Ruth embraced them all, one after the other, whispering something to each that the others couldn’t hear, and for each seemed to have found the right words, as they all nodded bravely, wiped the tears from their faces, and tried hard not to look so sad.

Jean held Nestor’s reins and was about to help Ellen up.