Before his eyes could fully adjust, someone bumped against him. As he turned to apologize, he caught the playful smile of one of the tavern’s serving wenches. Liam stopped himself before he called out to her. He could have sworn it was Theresa. His heart skipped a beat. Justin let Liam suffer a moment or two before giving up her real name: Arianna. Then Liam began noticing the differences. Arianna was taller for one, she also had a slightly more boyish figure than Theresa’s pleasant curves. Her low cut bodice took care of some of that problem, though, highlighting her “assets” and adding more curve to her waist. There was no denying, she was something .… Mentally, Justin agreed heartily, until he realized how much he was giving up and quickly quieted down.
Liam looked around the barroom. Several patrons were staring at him. Well, he had been standing in the doorway for quite some time now. Good a time as any to try out your new look, he thought. Liam graced each patron that met his eyes with the most mischievous grin he could manage. The effect was priceless. Each person in turn gave a guilty start, then quickly redirected his or her attention to their food, their drink, their companions. They knew Justin well; most liked him well enough, but all knew better than to cross him when he smiled that way.
Liam made his way to the table Justin indicated.
“Smile,” Liam quoted an old expression under his breath, “it makes people wonder what you’re up to.” Justin’s amusement rang through Liam’s mind. Arianna came up with a platter of breads and cheeses and had just started to ask him what else she could bring him when a huge shadow fell over the both of them.
“Arianna, could you bring us two pints to my office?” the shadow spoke with a hint of a Russian accent.
Liam looked up, and then looked up farther. Finally he reached the face of the tavern keeper, Anton. Once again a flash of familiarity crossed his mind, he knew this person at one time or another. But that would have to wait, as more pressing matters required his attention.
“Arianna, m’love, could you make that one pint and one whiskey?” Liam quickly caught the grin on Anton’s face before it vanished back into seriousness. Anton was Justin’s only rival in a war of practical jokes. Justin’s last strike had been to exchange Anton’s mug of beer for another liquid of far less appeasing taste, but roughly the same color.
“Come along, Liam, we need to talk.” Anton was obviously upset with Justin over something, and apparently it wasn’t his last prank. For all Liam knew, they were in deep trouble. Rising, he grabbed the platter of bread and cheese. Trouble always seemed lessened on a full stomach.
***
Anton’s office was comfortably furnished. The walls were paneled in a dark wood grain. The floors carpeted with many rugs from many different places of origin. Even the desk Anton sat behind was of a fine wood Liam was unable to place. Anton had spent most of his life at sea as a merchant, and made quite a fortune out of it. But for some reason he would never fully explain, he had settled into this little village as he retirement. Still, they said you could take the man out of the sea, and Liam had to agree. The office probably strongly resembled the captain’s cabin on Anton’s last ship. Justin believed that the wheel that served as the tavern’s sign also came from that ship.
Justin's surprise at Liam's knowledge was palpable. Liam was beginning to place people. Dominique and Anton ... Emma and Aengus? It was said, after all, that you met the same people again and again ....
Now Anton sat across the desk watching Liam. They waited in silence until Arianna came in with their drinks. Liam sat pensively as she put down Anton’s ale, and then set a glass and an old bottle before him. As she proceeded in her duties, she casually brushed against Liam with her hip. Liam glanced up, only to become entranced by a familiar pair of sparkling blue eyes. A warm smile spread across Arianna’s face, causing a matching warmth to shoot from Liam’s momentarily stilled heart to suffuse and redden his face. With a tinge of regret, he realized that had Theresa been as generous with such looks as she was with her hugs, he probably would be on more stable ground, emotionally.
Liam reached into his pouch and produced what Justin assured him was a proper amount of coinage for his bill and tossed them onto her tray as she moved to leave. Across the desk, Anton visibly stiffened.
“What are your intentions, Laddie?” Anton spoke in his heavily Russian-accented Gaelic. Justin had never been able to place the accent’s origin. Liam's knowledge filled in several blanks for him. Liam, not entirely sure what Anton was driving at, stared blankly at the tall man. “Come now, Laddie. You haven’t been serious about a single Lass since Rebecca passed away.” Both men looked away for a moment.
Passed away was a gentle term for what had happened to Justin’s first love. Liam could see and feel Justin’s memories as if he had lived through them himself. Dear Gods! They had cut off her fingers because she had the audacity to scratch them in self-defense. Justin’s pain and horror at finding her in a pool of her own blood and other’s less appropriate bodily fluids was only balanced by the cool justice he felt in having hunted down each of her murderers … But that was a tale for another day, preferably one far off, Justin's revenge something he had kept even from Dominique. Gods knew she had tried to pry it from him, though.
“Arianna is as innocent as your own love was. I can’t be letting her become another one of your conquests, regardless of how willing she is to become so.”
Now Liam was on stable ground. “Nor will I,” he answered before Justin could stop him. To stifle Justin’s protests, Liam drew up one of his own memories of Theresa. Justin, immediately seeing the resemblance, realized where Liam was going and kept quiet. Apparently, it was quite possible to have more than just the one soul-mate Justin had been taught everyone had. “Anton, if, in the past, my actions towards the bonnie Lass had been anything less than honorable, a change is now due. I admit I had filled up the emptiness with a slurry of women of less than reputable behavior, but that in time grows old as well. Perhaps now it is the time to fill that void with something more substantial and lasting.”
“Alright, who are you and what have you done with Justin?” Liam was taken aback. How could he possibly have known? “First, you carry yourself different. Then you actually pay your bar tab. Now this?” Justin’s laughter was almost deafening. Anton didn’t have a clue as to how close to the mark he actually was. Liam let Justin’s laughter infect his own, and soon Anton joined in, laughing at his own joke.
“Let’s just say that the bonnie Lass inspires me to a greatness I have not yet attained,” Liam managed to choke out as his humour subsided into giggles.
“Well then,” Anton added with a grim smile, “I have to be particularly on my toes then, won’t I?”
Liam’s answer was naught but a wide evil grin.
***
Liam wound his way out of the village. This time, his attention was taken less by the quaint architecture. He began to notice the squalor and dirty conditions that abounded. Lacking anything resembling a central sewer system, all waste was dumped out the windows. Collecting in the alleyways, it provided an excellent breeding ground for the many rats he saw. His apprehension grew with every moment. Realization slowly dawned. Something was seriously wrong … or was about to be.
Liam entered the town square. The square was bounded on one side entirely by the new church, obviously meant to dominate the square as it wished to be the primary focus in the lives of the peasants and villagers.
“Death walks among us!” A tall man, dressed in the robes of a friar complete with the shaven tonsure on his head, railed at the passers-by that Death had come to punish the heretical unbelievers of this town. He went on that Death was but one of the four Horsemen whose coming was foretold in John’s Book. Revelations foretold the end of the world of sinners and that’s what was happening now.
As if to draw further attention to the priest’s sermon, a large wooden cart came through the square. Everyone in the square drew back as if afraid of its contents. Liam couldn’t blame the
m. The cart had been stacked high with dead bodies. Paying closer attention as they drove by, Liam saw the tell-tale signs of the cause of their deaths: lumps under their arms and on their thighs bleeding pus, blackened fingers and hands and feet. He felt the blood drain from his face.
The priest continued on that the villagers’ lack of faith is what brought death to their door. He told them that turning to those who did Lucifer’s will would only bring destruction and eternal damnation. Liam got the distinct impression that the priest was making eye contact specifically with him as he continued on about the human minions of the dark one.
Well, thought Liam, as discretion is the better part of valor, and many believe that cowardice is the better part of discretion, I think it’s time to valiantly run away! Quickly, he made his way through the square and out of the village, not resting till he was well away.
***
The next few weeks were a blur. It began with Liam reporting to Dominique what he had seen, and all he could remember of what he had learned about the plague in various history and biology classes. She put him at ease, telling him that she did not fear the sickness. After all, hadn’t she survived several of them herself? Liam looked after her, wondering just how old Auntie Dominique really was.
A crash course in a variety of subjects followed: natural remedies, herbal medicines, spell craft where it was needed. Herbs were ground, teas were brewed, poultices mixed. Liam’s head felt as if it might explode with all the knowledge he was gaining. He only hoped he could remember it all when he returned. Emma was an avid practitioner in herb and natural magick. He would have so much to share with her when they could talk alone again.
Liam began spending his days more and more in the village, delivering medicines to the stricken townsfolk -– much to the dismay of the town’s barber. Liam had to suppress a shudder each and every time he saw the man, huge and burly, his white apron covered in scarlet stains.
You mean to tell me that all barbers do in your time is cut hair??? Justin was incredulous. The barber was the only person of science in many villages. He had studied the various humours that made up the body, and was quite adept at the use of leeches to remove an overabundance of said humours that were the cause of illnesses.
“Have you not been listening to what your Aunt has been teaching us? The only thing that happens from blood letting is the loss of blood. In my time we have discovered that diseases are caused by small 'creatures' called bacteria. They are passed from body to body by specific methods of transfer: air, fluid, so on. The viruses that caused this plague were not brought about by having too much of some humour in your blood stream. It was passed by insects that lived on the bodies of the rats that would travel with the merchants and ships, thus spreading the disease through their bite.” Liam pointed out that the bacteria was not airborne; many believed that burning the bodies of those who died from it was how it spread; after all, went the reasoning, neither he nor Dominique had not contracted the disease, though they had visited many infected houses.
His only respite each day lay in being in the presence of the bright and beautiful Arianna. He began taking every lunch in the inn, becoming quite a regular, more and more accepted by the village folk that often stopped in for food or ale. Justin initially railed at Liam’s apparent lack of progress with the lass, but the marked effect on Anton’s stern gaze, which changed from overprotective watchfulness to grudging approval, was enough to eventually silence him. Liam’s patience paid off in other ways as well. The shy flower of Arianna’s true personality blossomed under his attentions. A greater, though still innocent, beauty began to radiate from within, and true confidence began to overtake the bluster she used in her job as barmaid.
It was a warm afternoon. Liam drowsed in his usual booth. That part of his mind that was still awake marveled as Arianna’s graceful form deftly avoided the passing grope of an overenthusiastic customer. The customer’s passion quickly became squelched as the tall form of Anton entered the common room. Everyone knew better than to make passes at the employees under his gaze … it was a quick path to leaving the bar holding disjointed fingers or a broken arm. To say he was overprotective was an understatement. It was even more of a marvel to them that he did not proffer the same treatment towards “that Delarouche lad.”
Anton moved to the back booth where Liam dozed over a half eaten lunch.
“Laddie, ye need to be coming with me right away!”
The urgency in Anton’s voice had Liam fully awake in moments. Quickly he left the booth, following in the large man’s wake. He brought himself up short as Anton blocked the now open doorway with a massive paw. From the shadows of the doorway they watched as a procession of people in black meandered its way through the village streets. Liam had seen this many times in the past few weeks. The Danse Macabre. The belief had developed that in order to placate Death, a few villagers would dress up like him and dance through the streets. This would please him enough to keep the plague away from the village. Liam smiled to himself; he was seeing the basis for a skit he had performed in many times at the Renaissance Festival. But then a sight followed that darkened his mood.
A plague cart trailed the procession, empty but for one lone occupant, her hands bound to the sides of the cart. Dominique. Father Santiago followed behind the cart, pronouncing to all within the sound of his voice the charges against the woman before him: witchcraft; conspiring with the Dark Lord Lucifer; bringing about the destruction of the village and the good people residing therein.
Sensing the tension in Liam’s body, Anton immediately picked him up and carried him to the office. He sat Liam in a chair and, with one arm pinning him to the chair, dumped a pitcher of cold water over his head. Sputtering, Liam’s anger changed focus swiftly from the priest to his friend. Realizing what Anton had just done and why, though, he forced himself to calm down. Anton sat down opposite Liam and stared hard into his eyes.
“Can I be assuming for the moment that yer not going to be acting the fool now?” He waited for Liam’s nod before continuing. “Now think, laddie. Use that brain for something other than yer practical jokes. Who would be behind this? Who would be gaining from these actions? What do they want?”
Liam sat in silence for a brief moment.
“The barber.” The coldness with which he spoke the words clearly conveyed the loathing he felt for the man and his practices. “Auntie Dominique’s medicines have been working far too well for his tastes. His business and his reputation are suffering.”
“Precisely. Now, what was the purpose for dragging her through the village in such a degrading fashion?”
“Obviously, there would be others sympathetic to her plight, others she had helped … others who were of her blood.” As he spoke, realization slowly spread across his face. “And anyone caught trying to give aid to someone so condemned as the servant of darkness .…” Liam left the rest unsaid.
“So, how do we go about freeing her without implicating ourselves?” This time Anton spoke not to goad an answer, but out of frustrated concern. Liam stared off into space, thinking, listening.
“Anton,” he started suddenly, causing the other man to jump, “how would you like to be joining me in one of my grandest pranks, ever? I think I’m beginning to have the hatchings of a plan. However, your part will have to be behind the scenes. No, for this one we will be needing someone who will draw no undue attention.” The evil grin once again spread across his lips as he motioned for Anton to continue the conversation. Slowly he rose.
“Ye don’t even have to ask, laddie, I’m in. But who did ye be having in mind for the other task ye be mentioning?” Anton visibly warmed to the thought of working with his rival rather than against him. Anton watched closely as Liam quietly moved to the door. Quietly, Liam turned the handle, then quickly opened the door, catching the young woman eavesdropping on the other side by surprise. He pulled her inside then quickly slammed the door closed.
“I believe we have our volunteer,” Liam crowed
as he pulled Arianna’s startled form into his arms.
***
Liam sat on the finished part of the church roof. The open construction allowed him easy access to a perfect place from which to watch the scene playing out below him in the town square. The townsfolk were beginning to gather as night fell. In the center of the square a small platform had been hastily erected. On top of this stood a large wooden beam; around it was a massive pile of wood. The horror of the Burning Times was being played out before him. Several official looking men, obviously the town guard conscripted into the service of the church, had positioned themselves at key points around the pyre and were holding aloft flaming brands. Torches to feed the fire. Liam scanned the crowd more closely, checking to see that all was in place. His eyes rested on the slight form of a blonde woman sitting on a folded cloak she had draped over a barrel for cushioning. Part one in place. Liam waited, hoping fervently that the formula he recalled from his high school chemistry class was correct. If not, this plan was doomed to failure.
The Shining Cities: An Anthology of Pagan Science Fiction Page 26