The Prince and the Nun

by Jacqueline George

  Therese closed the door behind him with a smile. Wild and exotic lovemaking with Mefist was sounding more attractive every day.

  In the morning, Therese found a guard posted at the foot of the spiral staircase of the tower. The storeroom under the stairs had been emptied and a card table placed in its doorway. An open log book lay on the green baize top. The sentry leapt to his feet and saluted as she passed. Oh dear, she thought, this is beginning to look very serious.

  She went to the General’s office before breakfast. He was dictating to an orderly with his door open, but he stopped when he saw her and called for coffee. “Dear Therese! I’m so sorry about last night. Drazevich has very little common sense, and very little idea of what is polite. I apologise for him. He would apologise himself, but I’m afraid he has had to attend an incident at Tergov. Some ammunition has been reported missing. We don’t know if it was stolen or used for practice. Not important, really, but it’s enough to send Drazevich off to the front line for a couple of days. I’ve told him not to return before Friday at least. Come; sit down and have coffee with me. Show me that I am forgiven.”

  What an old charmer, she thought. No wonder the girls enjoy their afternoon visits. “General, I understand completely, so there’s nothing to forgive. Are you sure I’m not disturbing you?”

  The orderly came in with coffee and cake. “General, do you think I should make a medical visit to the prisoner? I’m afraid he was badly beaten last night.”

  “Of course, my dear. I’d be most grateful. It’s far better that you do it. I don’t want to be accused of interfering in SekPol’s dirty business. Go ahead and do what’s necessary. You might check on the feeding and sanitary arrangements as well. Drazevich is convinced the man is a partisan; what do you think? Is that possible? We haven’t had any of that sort of trouble so far.”

  “I think he’s trying to mislead you, General. I’m pretty sure it’s the man who filled his boots with cow dung, and he just wants his revenge.”

  “Hmm. Dirty business. Very dirty. Tell me, my dear, do you think we could have trouble with partisans hereabouts? You know more about the village than we do.”

  “I’m positive you could have very severe trouble if you make the partisans yourself. Let an officer like Drazevich loose down there in the village and he’ll start an incident, shoot someone, and then it will start. Of course, the more he tries to suppress it, the worse it will get. These people seem very placid, but they’re as stubborn as mules once they get an idea in their heads. All the same, I believe it won’t happen unless you make it so.”

  “Would you be able to tell me if something was about to happen?”

  “But of course, General. I’ve no desire to see young men dying, and all the sadness and bitterness that would bring with it. I can tell you, but I can’t do much to influence the village people. Apart from singing your praises, and I’ve been doing that already to anyone who will listen.”

  “Good, good. I’m sure this will be my last posting, and I would be delighted if it turns out to be very quiet and boring. Nothing wrong with that—what? So far it has been a foretaste of heaven. Enough work to keep me busy, and your young ladies every afternoon. I hope the war goes on forever!”

  Therese approached the soldier guarding the stairs. She carried a bowl of warm water with antiseptic, a towel and a bag of lint. She smiled in answer to his salute and said, “General’s orders, soldier. I have to visit the prisoner. Can you let me in?”

  “Beg pardon, Your Honour, but Lieutenant Drazevich said that no one was allowed to go in.”

  “Really, soldier? Perhaps I should bring the General so you can explain to him?”

  The soldier whitened. “I’m sorry, Your Honour,” he whispered hoarsely. “I’m just a soldier. I don’t know what to do. He just said no one was to go in, and especially Prince Mefist.”

  “Just let me in, soldier, and if Lieutenant Drazevich has any complaints, just tell him that the General ordered it.” The soldier picked up the large key ring that lay openly on the table. Beside the old-fashioned door key were two small, bright keys that Therese did not recognize. Handcuffs, she guessed.

  The storeroom was a jumble, lit by a single glazed arrow slit deep in the tower wall. A hooded figure lay in the dim light below the arrow slit. His hands and ankles were tightly handcuffed, and the two sets of cuffs had been crossed so that hands and ankles were close together behind his back. He smelt of stale urine.

  “Jesus, Mary and Joseph!” The exclamation burst from her. “Give me those keys right now!” She was shaking in fury.

  The soldier did not object and handed over the key ring, muttering, “Sorry, Your Honour, it’s SekPol, not us.”

  Therese bent to unlock the cuffs. The chains were stretched taut and the rings bit into Rado’s flesh. The first one sprang open, and Rado groaned. She quickly unlocked the rest and returned the key ring to the soldier.

  “Get out and lock the door behind you. I want a proper breakfast for him right now. Tell the kitchen the order’s from me and have one of the women bring it. See Fodor and tell him to send me up water and a basin. And a chamber pot. Tell him to bring a razor as well; this man has to be shaved. Get moving!”

  She started to untie the hood and nearly vomited. Rado’s face was swollen and bruised. His eyes had closed, and dried blood surrounded his nose and mouth. She carefully peeled the hood away where it had stuck with blood. There was no question of shaving his battered, wounded face today.

  “My God, Rado. Are you alright?” Immediately she wished she could take the stupid words back. Rado groaned and rolled onto his face.

  “My hands,” he croaked through swollen lips. “The blood’s coming back. Oh God!” He tried to move his fingers, but the pain made it agonizing. Therese put her hand on his shoulder and waited as he slowly revived.

  By the time the food arrived, he had managed to sit up against the wall and was carefully moving his legs to get some life back into them. The girl set the tray down beside him, horror on her face. “What have they done to him, Ma’am?” He shook his head at the coffee and asked for water.

  “Run downstairs to my room, please. Bring a glass of water from the bathroom.” The girl hurried off.

  “Do you think you can eat?”

  “I can try, but I don’t think I can chew the sausage. Is there porridge? Or soup?”

  As Rado sat sipping his water, Therese sent the girl off to the cook again. She knew that the girl’s story would be all over the castle in the next half hour. She started to mop Rado’s face with warm water to remove the dried blood.

  “Where am I, Ma’am? In the castle?”

  “Yes. You’re in the tower. My room is just below.”

  “Where’s the policeman?”

  “Don’t worry. He’s been called away for a couple of days, and the General and Prince Mefist are trying to sort something out for you. They can’t set you free, but at least they can stop this ugliness. It’s criminal!”

  “That’s SekPol, Ma’am. They’re not normal people.”

  “At least we have no SekPol people up here at the castle. Not until Drazevich gets back. Are you ready for some coffee? Look, I can’t let you go free. I’ll have to put your handcuffs back, but not like they were. We’ll link them together and fasten one wrist to the radiator here. That means you can move around a bit at least. I’ll get you a bed, or a mattress for tonight. You won’t be very comfortable, I’m afraid.”

  “It’ll be heaven compared to last night. Thank you very much, but can you help me to escape?”

  Therese touched her lips and frowned at him. “Where are your boots?”

  “I think they threw them over there somewhere. They started to beat the soles of my feet at one stage. I think I’ll be walking slowly for a while.”

  “At least we have your boots. You’ll need them eventually. I want you to promise me that you’ll still be here tomorrow. If you escape now, God knows what will happen to me.” She added in a whisper, “Giv
e me a day. I’ll work out something.”

  She sent Fodor off for some replacement clothes and offered to help him strip and wash. Rado was too shy, so she joined the two sets of cuffs into one and clipped one end to the radiator. She explained to the soldier how to secure his prisoner once Fodor had got clean clothes on him and left, promising to return in the evening.

  Chapter 20

  Therese decided she would have to solve two problems. How to get Rado out of the storeroom, preferably before Drazevich returned, and then how to get him out of the castle. Of course, it would all have to be done without pointing the finger of suspicion at herself or anyone else in the castle. She thought about asking Mefist for help but rejected the idea. Drazevich already disliked him and if he could implicate him in a plot to free a prisoner, the consequences could be very serious indeed. She sat in her office and started to compile a mental list of things that she must do. It became very long and complex.

  Still, she thought, as Mikhail might say, it’s the job never started that takes the longest to finish. She called for Maria and got down to work.

  She met Mikhail in Timko’s office when he returned from the forest that afternoon. The old man stood before her, hat in hand, but she said nothing until Timko took the hint and excused himself. “Mikhail, I want you to help me, if you don’t mind. I need a couple of things done confidentially.”

  “Yes, Ma’am?”

  “Need a haversack or some kind of bag, with useful things in it. A knife, string, matches, I don’t know.”

  “Useful things, Ma’am. Like useful for what?”

  “Say, useful if you were going to spend a little time living in the forest.”

  “Ah, I see, Ma’am. I see.” He lowered his voice. “How is he, Ma’am? They do say that they beat him something terrible.”

  “He’s not well, but he’ll live. If I can get him out of here. But not a word to anyone, Mikhail. Not even your wife. If anything gets to Drazevich, I’ll be shot. Or worse.”

  “Don’t you worry, Ma’am. I’d never let that happen to you. You did right calling me. No one thinks anything of an old fool like Mikhail.”

  A wave of thankfulness caught at her throat. “Why thank you, Mikhail. Can you get that bag? Perhaps with a blanket as well?”

  “Certainly. And no one will know nothing. What do you want me to do with them?”

  “Nothing yet. Just keep them handy. Oh, and a long piece of rope. I think he’s going to have to climb down the outside wall at night. There’s something else you can help me with. He’s got to be able to open the door from the inside, so he’ll need some kind of lever.”

  “He’s in the tower storeroom, Ma’am? Well, there’s no problem with that. There’s a box of tools there already. I saw them when we were moving the Count’s things last month. I’ll be bound the police didn’t find them, not without moving all the furniture. They’re right over in the back corner, through the door and on your right. I don’t know their story, but they’re fine tools for a carpenter, right enough, but foreign made. Sheffield steel! They seemed hardly used. Looks to me like the whole box was sent from England for someone of the family, and put aside when they lost interest. I’d have been happy to take them, but… Still, it’s probably just as well. Now they might be the saving of young Rado. It’s not much of a lock, that one. He’ll have no trouble getting it off if you can get him out of his chains.”

  “You leave the chains to me, Mikhail. I’m sure he’s going to be very grateful—if I can get him out of the castle safely. Let’s go up to my office. I think you’d better make me a shelf to explain why you’re here.”

  Getting the chains off him. That was going to be a headache. Therese decided to visit her room. The sentry jumped to attention and saluted.

  “Good morning, soldier. You’re still here! How long do they keep you on duty?”

  “Until seven o’clock, Your Honour. The sergeant says it’s easy duty, so we stay seven to seven and eat our lunch here.”

  “That’s terrible. It must be very boring. Shall I bring you a magazine?”

  “Thank you, Your Honour. I can’t read very much.”

  “Never mind. At least you can look at the pictures.” She went up to her room, wasted a few minutes, and returned to leave two women’s magazines with the soldier.

  Securing the sentry was going to be a necessity. She sat with Maria at lunch, and they put their heads together.

  At quarter to seven that evening, Therese and Maria returned to the tower. Therese wore a provocative evening dress and carried a bottle of beer and a glass. Maria had a tray of sandwiches. She had dressed in her nun’s raincoat that reached down to her calves and did not hide her stockinged ankles and patent leather shoes tapping along the flagstones. Even more interestingly, the coat was buttoned only to the level of her hips. As she walked it swayed open and closed, giving shadowy glimpses of her plump thighs.

  “Good evening, soldier. Let’s go and feed the prisoner.”

  Maria led the way, and Therese let the sentry follow her. She could see he appreciated the sight of Maria’s bottom swaying up the stairs. The soldier unlocked the door and stood back to let them pass. Rado was sitting up on his mattress, blinking in the light.

  “Maria, take that chamber pot downstairs please. Keys, soldier, and we’ll unlock him while he eats. I’ll sit with him; you take Maria out and lock the door behind you. He’ll be safe enough.” She knelt and undid the handcuffs. Rado stretched and rubbed his wrist.

  Maria took the covered pot and the two of them left. In spite of her burden, Maria had already started to flirt with the soldier.

  “Quick!” Therese whispered. “Don’t worry about the food. Apparently there’s a toolbox over there in the corner. Check that it’s there and what’s in it, but don’t move it or any of the furniture. I’m going to look for your boots.”

  Rado tiptoed quickly to the stored furniture and started to squeeze through. “I’ve got it, I think. This is a nice box. Walnut, I think.”

  “Never mind the box. What’s in it?”

  “Carpenter’s tools. Plane, mallet, chisels. Nice chisels, too. Gauge and square, screwdriver….”

  “Anything you could use to get the door lock off quietly?”

  “Oh, yes. That’ll be no problem at all.”

  “Good. Put the box back and make sure it’s hidden. Now come and sit down and eat your supper before Maria gets back.”

  She found the boots quickly and moved them out of sight. Rado sat back on his mattress, eating his sandwiches hungrily. He ignored the glass and carefully drank his beer straight from the bottle. Therese looked at him closely. The swelling around his eyes was going down a little, and yellow and blue staining had crept across his face. His lips were still swollen and ugly. He chewed very gently.

  “You can eat that?” she asked.

  “More or less, Ma’am. If I do it slowly.”

  “Good. In a few days you’ll be able to eat anything. What about the rest of you? Can you walk?”

  “They hurt my knee, Ma’am, so I wouldn’t like to go too far just now. If you could give me a couple of days I should be right.”

  “I’ll try and get you out of here tomorrow night, before Drazevich gets back. We’ll try and make out that you’ve left the castle, but we’ll hide you away for a day or two until the fuss dies down. It won’t be comfortable, but we’ll do what we can.”

  They could hear Maria laughing outside. She seemed to be flirting with more than one man. They tapped at the door and unlocked it. The sentry brought his relief in. “Your Honour, here’s the night guard.”

  “Very good. Maria, put the pot over here where he can reach it, and run down to my wardrobe and get a blanket. It’ll be cold up here tonight. Give me your hand, Rado, it’s time to be locked up again.” He offered his calloused hand, and Therese clumsily closed the cuff about his wrist. She clicked it tighter and checked to see it could not be slipped over Rado’s hand. The soldiers watched, and the night guard took
the keys from her. They all left, turning off the light and locking the door behind them.

  Mefist was sitting at the club bar when she got back, but she did not allow him to take her off for a chat this time. Better to keep him in the dark for a day or two.

  Next morning Dorota came with her to bring Rado his breakfast. The same soldier had day duty again, and Therese purposely left him alone with Dorota as much as she could. It would brighten his day. Rado looked and felt a lot better, but as he stretched and walked a little around the room, she could see he was still in pain. She clipped him back into his handcuff and told him with a wink that she would see him in the evening.

  Waiting for the evening visit made for a long day. Therese passed the afternoon in the library, trying to read but spending most of her time watching the snow whirling outside the tall windows. Outside, wild weather lashed the castle and the wind moaned in the chimney. The forest would be no place for humans tonight.

  She timed their visit to coincide with the change of guard. She brought both Maria and Dorota with her, both wearing half-opened coats over their working lingerie. They stood talking with both sentries until the day guard left, Maria fluttering her eyelashes at him quite shamelessly.

  Rado ate nervously and without speaking. Dorota stayed with Therese and left Maria to chatter with the guard by the door until Therese called. “Right, my friend. Time to be locked up again. Give me your hand.” The cuff started to close about his wrist just as Maria found her shoe buckle was coming loose. Without a thought, she went down on one knee and put the other foot out in front of her to play with the small buckle behind her ankle. The coat slipped from her thigh, and the guard could see more female flesh than he had seen since he became a soldier. His eyes were glued to the sight, and his mouth hung half open.

  The handcuff clicked home around both Rado’s wrist and Therese’s fingers, and she made a show of testing its fit. “There we are. You’re not going anywhere unless you take the radiator with you. Maria! What are you doing? Cover yourself—that’s not ladylike. Here, soldier, your keys. We’ll leave the prisoner to his dreams.”