[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.He trotted past the bakery, ignoring the greetings of his apprentices, then paused to return.He chased the workers from view and plunged his hand into the salt bin where he helped himself to a month’s salary.It was a crime that could cost him dearly.“And now some extra for Laszlo’s lie!” Heinrich scooped more salt into his sack and hung it on his shoulders.The angry man strode from the bakery and descended from the village to spend that night in an abandoned stable.The next morning he decided he would follow the Salzach upstream through the mountains until he crossed paths with some caravan.He was relieved that the month had been unusually warm.“Southern breezes—just as Dietmar said might come.” With that, Heinrich suddenly recalled the ring Dietmar had given him.He paused and pulled it from deep within his satchel.He stared at it for a moment.‘Take this to the tinker by the well, ’Dietmar had said.Heinrich hesitated.Why? I wonder what this could be about? The man turned wearily for Salzburg.Heinrich arrived on Wednesday at noon.It was market day and the city’s main well was positioned in the very center of the square.The ground was covered with colorful tents and booths that offered every imaginable trinket or staple from all ends of the empire.Ells of woven cloth, baskets offish, pretzels, spices, woollens, salted pork, barrels of kraut, kegs of ale; it was a seemingly endless, wonderful blend of color and sound that was nothing like Heinrich had ever seen.He wanted to pause at every table to study the work of the goldsmiths, the leatherworkers, and the glassblowers.He would have lingered over the bakers’ wares, but a sense of fear hung over him like a pall.He glanced up at the castle staring from high atop its cliff and he knew he must hurry.Heinrich arrived at the tinker’s door and entered.A woman greeted him.“Grüss Gott.”“Grüss Gott, m’lady.” Heinrich spoke slowly.He was startled by the woman’s appearance and found her hard to look upon.He then remembered her from Dietmar’s burial and he asked curiously, “Is the tinker about?”“Ja.‘Tis me.” She giggled.Heinrich was surprised.Tinkers were something of jacks-of-all-trades.Generally poor, they primarily mended pots and kettles and the like, and were rarely women.“Well, I see.” He fumbled for his ring and presented it to the woman.The lady studied the ring quietly for a moment and as she did Heinrich ventured a look at her pox-scarred skin and homely features.He felt sad for her, yet quite taken by her manner.“Lord Dietmar gave this to me ‘fore he died.”The woman studied Heinrich for a few moments and became slightly wary.She remembered him, too, but his appearance gave her some pause, for his hair was very long and shaggy, and his beard had grown bushy and wild.The eye patch and stump did not help his cause.She thought he had the look of a highwayman.“I remember you from Dietmar’s burial, but I had m’doubts then as I do now.Tell me about him,” she said quietly.Heinrich was in no mood for this.He wanted out of the city as quickly as possible.He sighed and recounted his times with the man.As he told his story, however, he relaxed and the pleasant memories of his brief friendship brought an earnest smile to his face.“And he told me … he told me that freedom and hope are found beyond ourselves.‘Twas at the last.”The tinker’s eyes twinkled.The stranger had indeed known Dietmar.The woman stood up and asked Heinrich to wait.She climbed past crates of tin pots and stumbled over a basket of ladles before disappearing into the darkness of a back room.She returned in a few moments with a flask of wine, a roll of rye, and a heavy pouch.“As a child I was a friend to Dietmar’s mother when she came to the city.‘Tis a long story I’ll not burden you with.Dietmar fell from fortune, as you know, but he saved this pouch that he hid here.A tinker’s shop is ne’er thought worthy of thieves! He asked me to give it only to the presenter of the ring.But, the ring, sir, I shall now keep … I made it for his mother, and Dietmar promised I could have it.”She reached two warty fingers into the embroidered leather pouch and retrieved two gold coins.“Dietmar also promised me two.I swear by the blessed Virgin I’ve not scrumped a single other.The rest, stranger, are for you.”Heinrich stared wordlessly at the woman as she set the pouch in his outstretched palm.She smiled and nodded.“May God protect you from the dangers of this little bag and those who would take it from you.”Heinrich still could not speak [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]