Selene of Alexandria (13 page)

The children streamed to her and crowded about, shouting. She asked for quiet then repeated what she had said to the fountain women, only this time she didn't claim to be a friend. "Do any of you know her?"

They looked at one another and shook their heads.

"A copper coin for the child who brings me someone who knows Rebecca. Another coin to the child who leads me to her home. I'll wait in the inn around the corner." The children scattered in all directions shouting to their friends.

Selene entered the stuffy darkness of the inn and ordered watered wine from a thin girl who looked too frail to carry the heavy wooden platters of drinks and food ordered by the other patrons. Sitting at a rickety table in a corner, Selene listened to the conversations around her. One group of men vigorously debated the merits of various dancers they had seen perform at the theater. A man at her right bargained with another for the rental price of a shop. Another group, across the room, huddled over drinks and talked in tones too low for Selene to understand.

Before she could finish the thin vinegary stuff they called wine, a small boy with crusty sores on his legs sought her out. "I've found someone, Master. Roua's outside. She can take you to the one you seek."

Selene pushed her goblet aside. "Let's go." They stepped from the drowsy darkness of the tavern into the sunshine.

Selene didn't notice the tall bearded man rise from a table across the room and follow her out the door.

Chapter 10

The boy led Selene around a corner. There a thin girl, about eight, gripped the hand of a two-year-old wearing an outsized tunic with a deep hem and rolled up sleeves. The girl's black hair trailed in a neat braid down her back, but her tunic was worn and patched. Selene wrinkled her nose at the faint stench of urine wafting from the toddler.

"There's a young woman named Rebecca on our street. She has four brothers. Her mother sometimes gives us food. She's not in trouble, is she?"

"No." Selene smiled. "Rebecca's my friend. I only want to find her and make sure she's all right. Can you take me to her?"

"This way." The girl picked up the toddler, who peeped over her shoulder with large round eyes, thumb in mouth. Selene had an urge to make faces at the boy to see if he would smile, but resisted. It would be unseemly for a boy of her station to play with a baby. Instead, she noted where they were going. She would have to return on her own.

They wended their way through several narrow streets and came on one that looked little different from the others. "She lives up there, on the corner, just above the shop." Roua indicated a five-story building with a tannery on the first floor.

"Thank you." Selene gave the scabby boy and Roua each a copper coin. They scampered off with their treasure. They might have led her astray, but she didn't care. She had known hunger, but by choice. The pinched faces and gray skin of these children were new to Selene, and disturbing.

Selene shook off her troubled thoughts and entered an open doorway to the right of the shop. This led to a dim narrow courtyard between buildings. The tannery opened onto the courtyard, filling the narrow space with rank fumes. Blank windows, like eyes, stared out into the empty space. Crumbling brick stairs zigzagged up the walls to narrow balconies that rimmed each floor.

Selene ascended the stairs to the first doorway. The opening was covered with a woven reed mat. She heard someone stirring inside. Two low female voices exchanged words.

Selene rapped on the wall next to the doorway. "Rebecca? Are you there?"

The voices stopped.

Selene heard bare footsteps slap the floor. Rebecca pulled the mat aside and looked at her in astonishment. "Selene! What are you doing here?" Her eyes flicked over Selene's shoulder.

Selene hadn't realized how much she wanted this to be the end of her quest. Relief at seeing Rebecca's face almost overwhelmed her. "I've come to beg your forgiveness," Selene rasped around the tightness in her throat. "May I come in?"

"Of course." Rebecca backed away, holding the mat open. "This is my mother Miriam and younger brother Aaron. Mother, this is Selene."

It took a few moments for Selene's eyes to adjust to the dimness of the room, but she finally made out two shapes sitting by a window. One, an older and plumper version of Rebecca, sat on a three-legged stool, spinning wool on a drop spindle. She looked Selene over from head to foot, the corners of her mouth slightly down-turned. The other, a boy of about ten with curly brown hair and an open friendly expression, sat on the floor twining the finished yarn about his hands. He jumped up, dropping the yarn in a tangled heap.

"Did Selene come to play, Becca? I got a ball." Aaron snatched up a stuffed leather ball; similar to those she had seen the other children playing with.

"No, Aaron, Selene did not come to play," Rebecca said gently. "You must help Mother with the wool. Remember?"

A confused look came over the boy's face then he thumped his chest and looked at Selene with pride. "I'm Mother's helper. She can't spin without me to hold the wool." He dropped the ball, which rolled to a corner, and sat back at his mother's feet to wind the yarn on his outstretched hands.

Selene raised her eyebrows at Rebecca. Most boys Aaron's age would be working or studying.

"Aaron had a fever as an infant," Rebecca said in low tones. "The doctor told us his body will grow, but his mind won't. He will be a child forever."

Stricken, Selene murmured, "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be." Rebecca smiled. "He is a sweet child and a comfort to Mother."

Miriam looked up from her task. "I'm afraid we have little to offer you in the way of refreshment, Mistress Selene." She angled her head toward a shelf on the opposite wall while her hands continued to spin. "Rebecca, see if we have any figs left. There's water in the cask."

"No. Thank you, but I can't stay." Selene reached out to touch Rebecca's sleeve. "May we speak?"

Her former servant indicated a corner occupied with another three-legged stool and a small carved chest. The single room was almost bare. Sleeping mats, two baskets and a plain pottery jar lined one wall. Two spare robes hung from pegs next to the door. Selene sat on the chest, leaving the stool for Rebecca.

The older girl sat, folded her hands in her lap and asked, "Was your plan successful?"

"Yes. No. I never meant…" Selene stumbled to a halt, took a deep breath and started over. "I saw Hypatia and she did agree to sponsor me. When I returned, Father was so angry, he didn't believe me. He said he had dismissed you for helping me. I begged him to let you come back, but he was adamant." Selene bowed her head. "I had no idea Father would blame you for my misdeeds. Can you forgive me?"

"Your father had every right to dismiss me." Rebecca shook her head. "I should never have helped you do something so dangerous. I'm the older and should have more sense."

"But I would have done it with or without your help. If not yesterday, then next week. It's not your fault!"

"What's done is done." Rebecca sighed. "There is little use in blame and recrimination."

"I know. That's why I brought this." Selene reached in her pouch and took out a bracelet. She ran her fingers over gold coins showing the profile of some long dead emperor, set in lacey gold filigree. "I want you to have this."

"Your mother's bracelet!" Rebecca gasped. "I can't take such a thing from you."

"I have little coin of my own, but this is mine and I give it freely. I think Mother would approve." Selene looked around the bare room and thrust the bracelet into Rebecca's hands. "Take it for your mother and brother. You can sell it for a good price."

The skin tightened around Rebecca's eyes and mouth. "My brothers will be back from their trading voyage in a fortnight. They will take of care us. In the meantime, I will seek other work."

"Oh, Selene, you compound your error by this reckless action." Rebecca rose, looked out the window, and sighed. "At least you are not running around the city unaccompanied."

"Are the children still there? I thought they ran off as soon as they had their coins."

"Children?" Rebecca shook her head. "I was speaking of Phillip. He awaits you in the courtyard. I saw him before…"

"What?" Selene jumped up and strode to the window. A tall, bearded man lurked in the shadows. He had her brother's form, but wore the rough clothes of a workman.

Rebecca turned to her brother. "Aaron, go invite Master Phillip up."

"Phillip's here?" The boy's eyes shone with delight. "Will he play ball?"

"I don't think so, but you may ask." Rebecca smiled and tousled her brother's hair. "Be a good boy and fetch him." Aaron scrambled out the door, shouting for Phillip.

The man in the shadows stepped forward. Selene tardily recognized her brother. What was he doing here, and in such clothes? How had Rebecca known him? When had he met Aaron? And the biggest question: Would he tell Father of her latest escapade? Selene's mouth went dry and palms slicked with sweat at the thought of her father's reaction to this jaunt.

Phillip ascended the steps, laughing, with Aaron. His face was carefully neutral but when he met Selene's gaze, his eyes were as full of questions as her own. He bowed to Miriam and Rebecca. "Mistress Miriam. I'm delighted to be invited back to your home. I hope you and your family are well?"

"Well enough, Master Phillip." The older woman inclined her head. "It is good to see you again. Will you stay for a meal?"

"I would, Mistress, but I have to return my sister home. Thank you for your kind offer." He turned to Selene. "Have you concluded your visit, sister?"

When they reached the street, he asked, "Do you care to tell me what's happening? It's most confusing to leave home for a single day and return to find my sister magically transformed into a brother."

No recriminations. No condemnation. How she had missed the comforting presence of her older brother! Selene poured out the story of the last two days, her hopes, dreams, actions and their consequences. By the end of her tale, they were nearly home. She felt flooded with relief at unburdening her heart.

"A physician?" Phillip whistled. "You aim high, little sister. Can you not tend the sick in the charity hospitals with the other Christian ladies?"

"No." Disappointment marred her face. "This is not some trivial matter that will fly out of my head when I have more important things to think of."

"I know you are not light-minded, Selene. It's just…" Phillip scratched his beard. "…couldn't you choose something more suitable to your station? Women of our class don't enter professions. Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Women of our class marry and have babies. I want more." Selene eyed her brother. "Besides men of our class don't run around in worker's garb."

"This isn't for me." She put a hand on his arm. "Well, it's mostly for someone else. Could you talk to Father about Rebecca? I don't know what I'll do without her."

"I would have spoken to Father about Rebecca without your plea." He tousled her shorn hair. "With me gone so much, we need a cool head to look after you." They reached the door. "I'll go ahead and make sure Father is engaged so you can get to your room."

Selene tiptoed past her father's office and raced to her room to change. When she emerged, the household staff deluged her with details about meal preparation, petty disputes and assignments. After dinner, she returned to her room to find her mother's gold bracelet on the cosmetics table.

Selene sat with the rebuffed gift in her lap, thinking of Rebecca. They had been together since before her mother died, but she had had no inkling of what Rebecca's life was like outside this house. The girls had talked about their families, but Selene had never imagined the harsh reality of Rebecca's existence. She prayed Phillip would be more successful than she in arranging Rebecca's return.

Phillip – missing for a whole day, mysteriously showing up at Rebecca's in workman's clothes, obviously familiar with Rebecca's family.

"Stupid me." Selene slapped her forehead with the heel of her hand. "Phillip wiggled all my secrets out of me and told me none of his. He'll have a lot to answer for next time I catch up with him."