Odo's Hanging
Page 23
Turold had promised one thing and Odo had promised trouble, but the Bishop is a different man now, and in retreat, in Rouen. His room is small, with a small window, a crucifix on the wall and a benched desk. He wears a monk’s habit, his ambition is not dead, but sleeping. His hanging decorates his hall, but the hall is locked, no one sees it. Sunlight does not fade the wool, and the linen will be as fresh as the day it was drawn from Ermenburga’s stock.
Linen.
Forest.
Walls.
Pigeon.
Distance is only miles, and as the sun rises, so there is no real distance between men and women, only faithless acts. I can speak but I cannot talk.
‘I do not have to work today,’ said Martha.
Why not?
‘And I have some cheese.’
I can smell it.
‘Do you want some?’
Yes.
‘How much?’
A lot.
‘Bread?’
No.
Martha cut me some cheese. It smelt of old water. A pigeon came to the window and sat on the ledge to watch us. It was nesting weather.
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