Frederick Kirchhoff The Emperor's Library 1 The Flight

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.Moreover, Karl turned out to have business of his own to pursue, the nature of which hekept to himself, so only four of the company ended up calling on their relatives. Give my best to everyone, Karl muttered and set off alone.They watched Karl disappear amid the windings of the town before anyone spoke. Don t ask, John, his mother said. I didn t say a thing. Perhaps you should tell Jon and Zo� how to get to the town center from here. That s easy enough.Follow Karl to the first turning, then go left.He went straight, sothere s no danger of stumbling on his secret.Jon and Zo� took his advice and soon found themselves on the main street, which, whilelittle wider than the alley, managed to feel busy.Here, for the first time in his experience, Jonsaw real shops with real goods laid out for sale.He d read about such places, but he d never seenone firsthand and was delighted to see men and women bargaining over a piece of cloth or abasket of potatoes.Still, he could see that Hexam was a place where men and women enjoyedlittle more than the necessities of life.Reading in the Foresters library, he d come acrossdescriptions of markets where men sold gold and precious jewels and spices conveyed from asfar away as the shores of the Eastern Sea, but here he saw no hint of opulence; and he soondiscovered that if he showed any interest in a seller s wares he was opportuned to buy them.After less than an hour, he and Zo� had seen enough and decided to go in search of David.Unexpectedly, Karl joined them, looking pleased with himself but still keeping hispurposes a mystery; and together they left the town by the south gate, where they found Davidwaiting patiently for them next to a clump of trees lush with the pale green of early spring.Eventually the rest of their party appeared, along with an older woman, who must have beenPeter s niece, and two young people she introduced as her children, Doris and Stanax.Both weregood looking in that dark-haired Forester way especially Stanax; and John was notablyattentive to both of them, prolonging a meaningless conversation when it was high time toresume their journey.Even Karl noticed John s interest in his two cousins. That Doris has grown into an attractive woman, Jon overheard him saying to John,once they were on the road. She s our kin, you know.She doesn t dress like a Forester, but shecounts as one. I know, John said. But the rule of living with your wife s family wouldn t apply if one of us married her,Karl pointed out. She could live with us.She might even bring her brother.There d be noreason for him to stay behind in Hexam.Their mother could take care of herself.Doris wouldmake a good wife. Are you thinking about marrying her? John asked in a voice intended to be heard bymore than Karl. What s the talk of marrying someone? Peter asked. Karl is interested in marrying Doris. I didn t say anything of the kind, Karl blurted out angrily. Yes, why should Karl get the pretty women? Peter asked with a laugh. You should belooking for a wife yourself, John.If I were your age, I wouldn t let my brother beat me to ahandsome woman like Doris.And there s her brother Stanax as well.He d make a good husbandfor Zo� they were born within a week of one another, you know, and I d call that auspicious.We could have a double wedding.Helen interrupted. My children will find husbands and wives when they decide to marry.And I suspectthey have their own ideas about the right persons.Then she turned away, uncomfortable with the forcefulness of her reaction.Jon saw that Zo� was looking at him. Yes, Doris is a pretty woman, John told his grandfather. And her brother Stanax is ahandsome young man.When it comes to looks, I d be hard pressed to choose between them.Buteveryone knows we come from a well-favored family.Despite Karl s hostility, John was in unusually good spirits, and Jon suspected his moodhad something to do with the two cousins although Jon judged their good looks highlyexaggerated.How could anyone who d seen John consider Stanax handsome? He had a goodface that was true but skinny arms and a fat ass.More like a pear than a man.And, standingbeside Zo�, Doris looked plain.Still, John was unpredictable.For all Jon knew, he mightconsider Doris the most beautiful woman on earth.Or was it Stanax he d made the detour to see?Hadn t Karl said that John had trouble deciding whether he liked girls or boys? Well, how did you like Hexam? John asked, falling behind to walk beside Jon.Jon tried to be noncommittal. Fine, just fine. It s nothing like Bridgetown, John observed. And, of course, Bridgetown is only asmall city nothing like Kar. I wonder what Kar is like. So do I.I know about the high walls and the Emperor s palace Grandfather used to tellus about them when we were children and I ve read descriptions in books but you must haveread them, too.Can you believe they have iron gates to prevent men from entering the city on theriver? I ve always wondered what they looked like.And I ve also wondered what it would belike to live in such a crowd of people [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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