The Knowledge Stone

by Jack McGinnigle

  It was the man’s turn to be silent. Then, in a soft voice: ‘The Chinese junk …?’

  ‘She broke it, Father, then told you I had done it.’

  ‘The drowning in the river …?’

  ‘She held my head under the water until I nearly drowned and then threw me naked into a large patch of nettles. I was mad with the pain and jumped back into the river. I did not know what I was doing and swam away into deep water. Kati made no attempt to rescue me. I understand I drowned and my body pulled out of the water by some boys downstream. One of them knew how to bring me back to life.’ The man sighed deeply and looked at his son with tears in his eyes.

  ‘My Son, I have been responsible for the pain you have suffered. How will you ever forgive me?’

  ‘Father, my life has been wonderful since you have become my friend, teaching me to swim and giving me the best birthday present that any boy could ever receive. Father, I love you so much!’ Father and son embraced.

  ‘Thank you for telling me the truth about your life with Kati.’ The man prepared to leave but the boy held up a restraining hand: ‘Father, there is one other thing you must know about …’

  The boy now told his father about Kati’s threats to destroy his precious and valuable astrarium from the very day of his birthday. He explained how he had developed and installed a system of protection within the case of the instrument and showed his father a drawing of the mechanism and a sample of the steel wire he had used. He then told how Kati had actually attacked the instrument on that day when the medallion was found under the sleeping platform in the Great Hall: ‘You will remember how we were all fully occupied by that search.’ He produced the hammer that she had abandoned on the floor when she rushed from the room, after being extensively but superficially injured by the whipping wires of the protection system. ‘I did warn her personally,’ the boy concluded, ‘and there was a clear warning notice on the machine but I knew it was almost inevitable that she would disregard my warning. I had to protect my wonderful astrarium.’

  The man was devastated by this news. His own daughter bent on destroying an extremely valuable instrument which had cost him a considerable part of his wealth! It was unbelievable, heart-breaking. After a final embrace the man thanked his son once again and stumbled from the room. Seeking out his wife, he recounted all that he had heard from the Head Stableman about Kati. Then he added the account of his son’s sufferings at the hands of his daughter, finishing up with her attempt to destroy the astrarium. After he had finished, holding his head in his hands, he said: ‘How can she have done all these terrible things? How can I have been so duped? The terrible thing is – there is even more I must speak about to you.’

  His wife listened carefully as her husband now told her about his conversation with Kati when she tried to persuade him to permit her to attend the trial of the stable boy: ‘Suddenly it seemed that the boy’s crime had been to speak to her without permission. The boy always insisted that he had never touched her – in fact he was never near her, because he was the one who caught the horse and calmed it. This was confirmed by the other stable hand who still works here. It was this other man who went to Kati’s aid when she fell. This is what the Head Stableman said in the Court when he was giving evidence. I have become convinced that the boy has been severely punished for a crime he did not commit. In fact – I must go further – punished for a crime that never existed! Kati’s accusation was a complete lie.’

  Husband and wife sat together wordlessly for some time. Finally the woman spoke, her tones calm and practical: ‘Listen, Husband, at this time, we do not know what will happen to our daughter. In the circumstances, it is not unlikely that she will develop the lockjaw disease; this is what the physician and the barber surgeon have told us. The rusty nails were within her foot for many hours. So we must now wait for the Lord’s judgement upon her. Once that judgement has been delivered, if she is still alive, we will know that the Lord has transferred the next part of the judgement to us. Meanwhile, we should wait and make sure that our daughter has the best treatment for her ills. Regarding the stable boy, it is clear that he should remain at the stable yard in the care of the Head Stableman and others. It will be for you to decide what should happen to him in the longer term.’

  Several months crept past on the leaden feet of worry. Kati’s illness took its course and eventually she was able to return slowly towards a semblance of good health. When she was at last able to limp rather painfully around the Manor House and the immediate grounds, her father and mother sought her out for a private conversation.

  They all sat around a table and her father spoke quietly and without emotion: ‘Kati, your mother and I are pleased that you have been able to recover from your illness. However we have been appalled to learn of your actions towards the stable boy on the day you were injured on the riverbank. We know everything that happened, Kati. We also know how you have hurt and abused your brother over the years. For instance, we know that you almost succeeding in killing him when you took him swimming in the river – and we know how he came to be stung by nettles so severely. Finally, we know about your attack on your brother’s very valuable astrarium – you bear the marks of that attempt on your face and body, Kati, and will do so for the rest of your life.’

  Kati interrupted her father by bursting into tears and saying: ‘Father, all you have said is not true. I have not done any of these things …’

  ‘Be quiet, Kati, I suggest you should not attempt to deny anything I have said because I know that everything I have said is true. Furthermore, I suspect that you instigated at least some of the other bad things that happened here over the years. However, I have heard enough and your mother and I have come to a decision about you. It is clear that you cannot stay here because your murderous actions would come to light sooner or later and I would be required to hand you over to the town authorities for justice. I cannot have the good name of the family besmirched in this way.’

  Kati was terrified. What was to happen to her? Her father was speaking again but her hearing had been temporarily disconnected from her brain.

  ‘Do you?’ Her father was looking at her quizzically.

  ‘Sorry, Father, I …’

  ‘Do you remember Master Ottvid? He is a very rich merchant who lives over the mountains.’

  ‘Yes, Father, I do.’ She remembered a rather small portly man who had a serious speech impediment and would not look anyone in the eye. Her father had introduced her to him and she had treated him with extreme rudeness and contempt. As a result, the unfortunate man became more and more tongue-tied and uncomfortable in the face of her aggression towards him. She had thought he was pathetic in every way! But why was her father speaking about this peculiar little man? Kati’s brain raced. Then, suddenly, she knew! Father would send her to this Master Ottvid and she would live with his family. There would be children to bully, perhaps. Certainly there would be servants to abuse. She would be very nice to Master Ottvid and he would give her a lot of money to spend. Kati cheered up considerably but controlled herself carefully. Her mother and father must not see that she was pleased!

  ‘Kati!’ Her father’s voice was sharp and brought her back to reality. ‘Are you listening to me? What is wrong with you? You should be listening carefully because this affects your future.’

  ‘I am very sorry, Father. I have developed a sudden pain in my head.’

  ‘I will tell you again, Kati. Listen! Master Ottvid is a very rich merchant. You are very fortunate indeed that he has agreed to marry you …’ – her father’s voice droned on but Kati heard nothing more. Her mind was in turmoil once again. ‘Marry! Marry! Marry Master Ottvid! No! No!’ Her thoughts were hysterical. She could not possibly do that. She did not want to marry. She did not want anything to do with men. She had told her father that many times and he had always said: “Don’t worry. I would never force you t
o do anything.”

  As she thought this, Kati cut across what her father was saying and blurted: ‘But Father, you always said you would never force me to do anything.’

  Her father sighed deeply: ‘I said that in the days when I thought I had a daughter who was kind and gentle. Now I find I have a daughter who is cruel and selfish. Listen to me, Kati. You will marry Master Ottvid and this will happen as soon as it can be arranged. Then you will go to live in the town over the mountains with your husband and you will not return here, ever again. Do you understand?’

  Kati wept. However she knew that her presence at the Manor House and, indeed, in the local area, was now untenable. She recognised that she was in danger of being arrested and brought to Court so she must now make her escape as soon as possible. But marry Master Ottvid? That was unthinkable … or was it? Now her mind began to rampage through the new situation into which she found herself catapulted. Master Ottvid was a pathetic weak little man who could not even speak properly. She could dominate him! Yes, she was sure she could do that. From the beginning she would be cold and haughty and order him about. She would treat him like a dog. And she would make it clear from the outset that she would have nothing to do with sexual coupling, whatever that involved. She would insist that she lived in a separate part of his house, have her own servants and be given plenty of money to spend on what she liked: ‘Yes,’ Kati mused, ‘this can be the start of a wonderful new life for me.’ She felt quite elated.

  ‘Do you understand?’ Her father repeated his question.

  ‘Yes, Father.’ Kati was demure. ‘Of course I will always do as you wish.’

  The wedding was hastily arranged for the following month and life became extremely busy at the Manor House. As befitted an important family in the region, it had to be a lavish affair with hundreds of guests invited from the local area and from the town over the mountains where Master Ottvid lived. Kati’s father invited Master Ottvid to come to the Manor House and make further acquaintance with his future wife but the merchant’s business commitments prevented this; he would only be able to arrive on the day of the wedding. However he sent a letter to Kati which she received the following week:

  Dear Miss Kati,

  I am greatly honoured that you have agreed to marry me. I know that we have met only once before when I was visiting your father on business. At that time, I gained the impression that you did not choose to like me much. However, I think you are a very attractive person and very suitable to join me in my life as my wife. I will do my very best to make you happy and I am sure that you will find life with me very rewarding.

  Your humble servant,

  Gar Ottvid

  Alone in her room, Kati smiled wolfishly:

  ‘Yes, my little man! You will indeed do your best to make me happy! I will make sure you do. Once I have you to myself, I’ll soon have you trained like a dog.’

  The day of the wedding arrived. Early in the day, Master Ottvid rode in with his friends and supporters. All were taken off for a morning meal in the Manor House where they were welcomed by Kati’s father, who was in fine spirits. He knew that Kati’s marriage to Master Ottvid was an almost perfect solution to all his problems. Secretly, he felt a little sorry for the bridegroom.

  ‘I hope he learns to stand up to Kati,’ he thought, ‘at least occasionally. But perhaps she will be sensible and just manipulate him cleverly.’ For Gar Ottvid’s sake, he hoped so.

  By contrast, the bridegroom was clearly feeling tense and nervous. Despite the support of his friends, his stammer and shifty manner were just as bad as ever and he wouldn’t look anyone in the eye as he tried to force out the words he was attempting to articulate. Kati’s father looked at him with sympathy and hoped that the little man would be able to cope satisfactorily at the wedding ceremony. ‘I do hope Kati will be nice to him,’ he thought – although he suspected she would not. ‘At least she cannot upset him before the betrothal ceremony.’ Traditionally, the bride and bridegroom were kept apart – they would not meet until the ceremony in the afternoon.

  The time arrived and all was in readiness. The priest and his assistants were in place. The bridegroom took his place and awaited his bride. She came, deeply veiled, on the arm of her father. The ceremony proceeded and bride and bridegroom were borne through it on the usual gossamer wings of unreality that are so often a characteristic of such events. The bridegroom was deeply grateful to find that he could speak his words of promise with clarity. ‘I wish I could speak like that always,’ he could not help thinking.

  The ceremony over, the veil was lifted from her face and she turned contemptuous and hostile eyes upon the man who was now her husband, expecting his gaze to be firmly fixed on the floor. It was not. Two calm grey eyes were looking deeply into hers; eyes so powerful that she had to look away, feeling a pang of bewilderment.

  With so many guests and well-wishers, both bride and bridegroom were kept very busy in the next few hours and had little opportunity to speak or be together. The banquet had to be served and eaten, much wine drunk and long speeches made. Master Ottvid was now is extremely good spirits, laughing and joking, looking confident and, to everyone’s surprise, speaking quite fluently. On the other hand, Kati sat confused. This was not the Gar Ottvid she had expected to marry.

  She looked at him and suddenly had the explanation: ‘It’s the effect of the wine! That’s why he’s so much more confident. He’ll revert to his usual nervous and inarticulate self when the wine wears off. I’ll need to make sure he doesn’t drink wine in future. I’ll deal with that tomorrow. I will forbid it.’ Kati sat back and smiled. ‘I’m really clever at solving problems,’ she thought.

  It was evening and time for the departure of the bride and bridegroom. Kati had changed into travelling clothes and boarded the large covered wagon that her husband had brought with him. As befitted a rich and important man, he would make the journey on horseback. Kati was exhausted by the events of the day and, despite the bumpy and uncomfortable progress of the wagon, she quickly fell into a fitful sleep and did not waken until they arrived at her husband’s home town. Of course the wagon also carried all Kati’s possessions in several large trunks. Just before leaving, Kati had suddenly remembered her “magic stone” and ran to recover it from its hiding place. She kept the stone in its wrapping of cloth and placed it in a deep pocket of her clothes.

  Darkness had descended by the time Kati arrived at her new home. She was pleased to note that her husband’s home was a very fine manor house, as far as she could see, considerably larger than her own family home. It was also gratifying to see that there were many servants to greet them. As soon as the wagon came to a halt, ignoring her husband completely, Kati alighted and addressed the assembled servants in icy tones: ‘I shall retire immediately to my rooms. Take me there immediately.’

  ‘Mistress, I am the Housekeeper,’ a tall lady dressed in black replied, ‘I shall take you there now.’

  Kati glared at the woman: ‘I don’t care who you are, just conduct me to my rooms.’

  Her rooms were large, spacious and very lavish, containing everything that Kati could possibly want. There was a large bedroom, an adjoining dressing room and a pleasant sitting room next door.

  ‘Leave me,’ Kati snapped to the woman, ‘send my personal maids to me and tell my husband that I do not wish to see him tonight.’ The woman bowed and left. When the maids came shortly after, she ordered them curtly to prepare a bath for her. After a long and leisurely bathe, Kati donned her sleeping chemise and prepared for bed. As she undressed, she remembered her magic stone, took it from her gown, unwrapped it and placed it on a convenient dresser: ‘Maybe it will bring me luck,’ she thought, ‘although I don’t think I need luck now!’

  Her orders to her maids were equally curt and unpleasant: ‘Go! Bring food and drink to me one hour after sunrise tomorrow. Make sure it is properly p
repared or you will be punished.’

  ‘Yes, Mistress.’ The frightened maids departed.

  Kati stretched out on the soft and very comfortable bed.

  ‘This is the start of a new and wonderful beginning for me, just as I planned. Here I am, a very rich wife, married to a pathetic little dog of a husband. I’ll just study him carefully for a little while and then I can work out what are the best ways to make him terrified of me. I’ll find all the best ways to hurt him, physically and mentally. And I’ll do the same with all the servants – they will soon be dancing exactly to my tune.’ Kati drifted off into a luxurious and happy sleep, looking forward to the wonderful and totally fulfilled life she was starting.

  It was the strengthening daylight that woke her. She stirred and opened her eyes, just a little. Light streamed through the partially opened window shutters. It was morning! She had slept blissfully throughout the night. Now she lay without moving, luxuriating in the moment. Finally she opened her eyes fully for the first time and began to examine the large room, noting its very spacious proportions, its fine decoration and expensive ornamentation: ‘Beautiful,’ she breathed.

  ‘Yes, isn’t it?’ Kati started and jerked her head around to identify the origin of the voice. Her incredulous gaze came to rest on a figure sitting in a large carved chair not far from her bed. It was her husband, although, in a way, she hardly recognised him. Yes, he was still the same small man that she had married yesterday but, now lightly dressed, he looked much more solid and muscular. Also, the voice she heard was not weak, stammering and hesitant but strong, powerful and without impediment. Even more startling was the fact that he was actually looking directly at her, steadily and confidently, his lips set in a slight smile.