Escape from the Past (16 page)

“Wolves,” Bero whispered. “Make haste.”

I had lost track of time, trying to concentrate on the ground instead of my toes. “Will they attack?”

“Sometimes,” Bero said. “We may have to climb a tree.”

Easy for Bero to say—he’d be up in the tree like a squirrel, I thought angrily. The wolves would make a convenient meal of me. I listened harder. Several times I suppressed a shriek when something rustled in the undergrowth, imagining glowing eyes circling us before going in for the kill. Wolves lived in zoos or humungous national parks in the States where I came from.

We had no weapons, not even a knife. Nobody spoke as we rushed along. After a while, I felt a hand in each of mine. Bero and Juliana were guiding me. Hers was small and soft, Bero’s not much larger but hard and crusty.

“Almost there,” Bero finally said.

The ground rose rapidly and above us, the shine of torches brightened the sky. We were approaching the castle from the other side and had to circle back to the main path. I felt like a blind man stumbling along, my throat a metal grate while my feet had gone up in flames.

Before the guard had a chance to notice us, I yelled, “Sirs, it is me, Max Nerds. I seek shelter with Lord Hanstein along with my friends, Bero and Juliana, the tanner’s children.”

The guard stumbled into our way. He rubbed his eyes, trying to look alert at the same time.

“Max Nerds?” He shook his torch to wave us closer. “Your Lordship is away on urgent business. I’ll send someone to alert the squires. You may wait inside the gate.”

Turning around he yelled into the guardhouse. “Make haste. Tell them, Max Nerds has returned.” The other sentry, no less sleepy, pulled up his grimy pants and hurried through the gate and up the hill. We dropped to the ground, but no sooner had we sat down, a light came dancing toward them.

“Enders will put you up in the stables tonight…until Your Lordship returns.”

I wondered if Werner was still in town. According to Bero, the festival ended after the competition when the winning boy
would be escorted to his new home at Hanstein. That would’ve been hours ago. “Thank you, sirs, that is mighty kind.”

“I wish you a pleasant night,” the first guard shouted after us. Near the main entrance waited Enders, looking grumpy as usual. Without a word he turned and led us to the stables.

“Enders, we need something to drink,” I said, “and food. Can you get it for us?” I remembered the few coins from the night before, but my jeans pockets were empty. Ott or his imbecile of a servant had stolen them too. “I’ll pay you for your troubles tomorrow.”

Enders grumbled something, but left and returned with blankets, a basket and a large clay flask. “Is that all?” he managed.

“That’s all, thank you.”

Enders turned and disappeared into the back of the building while we collapsed into the straw. It smelled like horses, better than peasant huts and chicken coops. As Juliana handed each of us a cup of weak beer and a piece of some meat-filled pastry, I was ready to laugh out loud. We’d made it safely. Juliana was with us. I looked at her, the light from the torch above us softening her features, but I could’ve drawn them with my hand from memory.

Every so often she looked up and smiled at me. In the background, horses snorted and scraped their hooves across the ground. It was a soothing sound and Bero soon assumed his customary fetal position, his back to us. I emptied my mug, leaving the last drops in my mouth to wet down my throat and tongue. I laid down, Juliana, in the middle next to me.

Despite my heavy legs and throbbing feet, I couldn’t sleep. After a while, I sat up and listened to her even breathing. I wanted to move closer, hug her to me until the end of time. I was such a fool. It was early morning before I fell asleep.

The stall was empty when I woke. I stretched and after a glance at the crusty clogs and my scraped-up toes headed outside barefoot to relieve myself. Bero and Juliana were nowhere to be seen. I rounded the building to take a closer look at the castle. I had to blink every time I saw how grand it looked. The Hanstein ruins I knew were magnificent, but the real thing left me breathless.

The courtyard had been paved with flat rocks. The two towers beyond reached six stories into the sky. In-between, the keep hovered on the edge of the rocks and overlooked the valley below. They had to have the most amazing views. I wanted to investigate the inside, but it wouldn’t be a good idea. Lame Hans von Hanstein, Werner’s brother, was probably lurking close and that was the last thing I needed right now. I walked past the huge structure on my right, which looked like a three-story apartment building. Voices drifted through one of the doors and I stuck my head inside.

Bero, Juliana and a couple of squires sat at a crude table, stuffing their faces. Bero didn’t even looked up from his bowl, but Juliana smiled at me. The room had a low ceiling of roughhewn wood beams and a fireplace in the corner. The floor like all floors, I’d seen, was covered with straw.

“Have some food,” Juliana said, her voice much stronger than last night. She jumped up and filled another bowl and mug. I plunked myself next to her while trying to identify the content of my dish. It looked vaguely like oatmeal, not exactly my favorite thing, so I was happy to find a hunk of bread on the table.

“Did the Lord return?” I asked into the room.

One of the squires shook his head. He was too busy scooping food into his mouth.

“Do you know where he went?” I asked, setting my bowl
aside and concentrating on the bread.

“No idea,” the other squire said. He’d leaned back and drained his mug. “Got to work.” With that he jumped up and disappeared into the courtyard, followed by the second guy.

Bero looked up from his bowl. “I need to go home.
Mutter
will be mad. Nobody’s taking care of the sows.”

“Ott may find you.”

“What am I supposed to do about that? We know Juliana can’t go back, but I have to.” Despite his skinny frame he stood up full of confidence. “Ott and Miranda have no right to touch me. I’m not their servant.”

“But you escaped from their manor,” Juliana said.

Bero headed outside. “I’ll tell
Mutter
so she won’t fuss. I’ll take the sows out for the day and be back tonight.”

“Promise to be careful.” I got up and followed him. Maybe I should go along. But I wanted to speak with Werner, tell him about Ott and the parrot and make sure Juliana was taken care of. I watched Bero scamper toward the gate, small and nimble as a squirrel. Something churned in my stomach, a warning voice.

“I’ll stop by after I speak with Lord Werner. Need to buy shoes,” I yelled after him, but Bero, waving at the guards, had passed through the gate and disappeared.

“We don’t have a shoemaker in the village,” Juliana said behind my back. “You’ll have to go to town for that.”

I turned in disbelief. “I can’t possibly walk miles to another town in these clogs.”

“I could go. We’ll measure your feet. But I need money.”

I shook my head and smashed a fist on the table in frustration. “No way! You’re not going to run around. Ott will catch you. He’ll make sure you don’t get away next time.” I cringed thinking what the rat would do if he got his filthy hands on her now. Juliana had turned pale and silently picked up the dishes and rinse them in a bucket.

“I’ll take these to the kitchen,” she said. “Maybe I can work
here
until the Lord returns.”

“Juliana,” I called after her. But she ignored me and disappeared through a door in the back of the room.

I shrugged. At least, she was safe at Hanstein. Even if she was mad at me.

I slumped back on the bench and put my head in my arms. Why was everything so complicated? You couldn’t buy stuff, even if you had money. Food was terrible. Guys like the rat and the Duke did what they wanted. I shook my head. What a horrible life the villagers led. Even rich guys like Knight Werner struggled with jerks like the beadle. And while the castle was magnificent, it was dark and cold and drafty.

I thought of home, the clean bathroom and tiled kitchen, the comforter on my bed. The fact I could get a cold drink from the fridge any time. What if I never returned to my former life? What if I’d lost it all? A sigh escaped me and I buried my head deeper in my arms. I wanted to lie down and forget everything. Sleep and wake up from this impossible world.

I’d drifted off when the faint sound of metal clinking filtered into my consciousness. I climbed off the bench, rubbing away the stiffness from my neck.

A cold wind whipped me as I stepped outside. I followed the sound to the outer bailey where a dozen squires were practicing sword fighting. The younger boys wielded wooden blades while Enders and another big fellow worked with the real thing.

They jumped forward and back, smashing into each other, yelling commands. Enders looked like he was ready for the kill, his mouth pressed together, green eyes squeezed into slits. He’d make a great knight one day, I thought grudgingly. And I better be on
his
side.

With a cry, Enders made his final attack. His opponent’s sword flew through the air and disappeared in the weeds. They both bowed and slapped each other on the back. Enders even managed a grin before he turned toward the younger squires to
shout instructions. Bero would’ve loved to be part of this.

Bero. A vague pressure grew in my stomach and I recognized it from my school days and when my parents had fought: worry. I paced along the outer wall, blind to the beautiful landscape that unfolded below me. Why wasn’t Lord Werner returning?

I should’ve gone with Bero and retrieved some money. Surely, someone around here could organize a pair of boots that didn’t feel like pieces of hollowed cement. This was no time to be without shoes. The ground was damp and stony and I’d be in no shape to do anything. At least I should’ve asked Bero to bring a few coins.

Where was a cell phone when you needed one? I grinned. Bero would’ve been flabbergasted, heck everyone would’ve been speechless, had I pulled a phone out of my pocket. But then, they may have thrown me in the dungeon for witchcraft. Of course, without cell towers and someone on the receiving end it was useless anyway.

I’d reached the backside of the wall and passed by the chapel. Noticing its door ajar, I slipped inside. At the opposite end of the tiny stone-clad room sat a winged altar carved in oak. It was magnificent and better suited for a large church. A simple Jesus statue stared down at me. A handful of oil candles and sticks of incense burned below, throwing shadows across the three bench rows. I began to pray:
God, what am I doing here?
My mind turned blank. I had nothing but questions. What a desolate place. The musty air was stifling and I hurried back outside.

A light rain began to sprinkle and I felt even gloomier. I kept walking and ended up at the back gate, probably meant for deliveries. I’d been here before in modern times. A guard stood on each side. They nodded but otherwise ignored me. I turned around.

It was decision time.

No more waiting around. I had to get money, see the dress-maker to buy some sort of cover and extra pants. My gaming
progress, whatever that was, didn’t look too hopeful. I’d ask the Hanstein squires to help me find shoes. If Werner showed up, fine. If not, at least I’d gotten more comfortable.

With trepidation I thought of the hike to the village. I’d rather burn the damn clogs before I wore them. I just had to be careful not to run into the rat. The Duke had probably long left with his prize, Lady Clara, and the tax money.

I remembered it was Sunday. Infuriating. I’d already been here more than a week and was still no closer to figuring out the goal of this game. When I returned home I’d give Jimmy’s father a piece of my mind.

None of the squires practicing sword fighting paid attention and after greeting the guards I climbed downhill. The village spread below me as if someone had tossed a handful of huts into the air. In the quiet morning air, smoke curled from chimneys. Most people were probably in church and the rest of them sleeping off the festival. It was high time for another bath in the river, but the wind had an icy edge this morning and my feet complained with every step.

A couple sleepy patrons sat at one of the tables at the Klausenhof and I wondered what time it was.

The watch in my pocket was useless and peasants seemed to organize their day around the sun. It would never fly where I’m coming from, I thought. My entire day was run by the clock, getting to meals, sports and classes. How much school had I missed? The math test had come and gone. Surely a half dozen other exams. My mother had gone to the police and turned crazy with worry. Here, I was stuck a few centuries back. I thought about Jimmy. Maybe he’d tell his dad that I had disappeared and they’d find a way to get me out. It was a slim hope, but what if I could never figure out the goals of the game and…I couldn’t allow myself to think this far. I’d go nuts first.

Bero’s hut looked deserted. Not a sound came from the stalls. Bero had taken his pigs into the meadows. I hurried to the hut and opened the door.

Benches and table lay splintered on the ground. Clay shards were scattered, blankets ripped to shreds. Straw sacks had been pierced with their innards spilled out. Above the fireplace, my T-shirt hung speared, the tip pierced where my heart would’ve been. I started to shiver. Ott had returned to reclaim Juliana and declared war. In a fit of anger, I yanked my shirt down and put in on underneath my new one.

Remembering the coins I climbed to my sleeping quarters. I felt the stuffing behind the clay wall—and sighed. The purse was still there. Ott wouldn’t have expected money in a poor shack like Bero’s and hadn’t looked. I quickly grabbed the coin bag and climbed back down. I’d have to find Bero who’d probably been gone when Ott showed up. With the money we could buy new furnishings. I stopped in my tracks. What if the rat had taken the mother and Adela? Peasants seemed to have no rights or protection.

I rushed back outside. Silence greeted me. It surrounded me like a cocoon, thick and unmoving. Fear grew inside me then, a sense of doom, putting pressure on my bowels. I headed for the outhouse, barely aware of the stink. I had to warn Bero, get him to return to the castle early. Maybe we could collect food for the pigs and leave them for a few days until we’d have time to make plans. Surely, Knight Werner would be back.