Death and the Devil

“They are, unless an uninfected person joins them of their own free will. Other people go to Melaten as well, the carter with the wine, for example, and the washerwomen. And you know the man with the bells who goes around begging for them, he’s dealing with them all the time. But you hardly ever hear of people like that catching the disease, and if they do, it’s only after many years. No, the lepers are not a real danger. They are a warning to the arrogant. Leprosy doesn’t distinguish between rich and poor; anyone can catch it. A just punishment God visited on those accursed crusaders, to bring back together with all the treasures they stole from the East.” He glanced at Jacob and grinned. “Good old Hannes gave you quite a fright, didn’t he?”

“Hannes is the one with no face?”

“The worst case in Melaten. It’s odd that he’s alive. Still alive, I mean.”

“Still laughing, too,” said Jacob. “But tell me, how did you find me? What happened to you after we split up?”

Jaspar made fluttering movements with his fingers. “I got away,” he laughed. “I think the men hadn’t actually been ordered to capture us, just to stick to us until our crazy crusader could dispatch us in some quiet corner. It’s probably a bit different with you, but they can’t just kidnap or even kill me in the middle of the street. What they hadn’t counted on was that we would smell a rat and run off. They were suddenly afraid they’d lose sight of us and be blamed for it later, so they dropped their pretense and took chase. They didn’t send the most intelligent specimens of humanity after us, thank God. Unseen by them, I went straight into St. Mary’s. It never occurred to the idiots I’d hide in the first church I came to. It was obvious they wouldn’t stop to think until they got to Highgate. Then they’d retrace their steps. So I went straight out by the side door and back to Haymarket, hoping I’d find you there. No problem! That clout on the head with the radish was quite spectacular. I couldn’t join up with you, but I saw everything from a distance. When I realized you were safe for the moment under the cart, I strolled along a good way behind. It wasn’t going that fast and I assumed it would have to stop somewhere. Then when I saw it turn into the gate at Melaten I had to get a move on, but I was too late, they’d already closed the door. Fortunately I know Melaten and I know the little gate at the back.” He nodded smugly. “So that’s how I saved you. You can write me a thank-you letter—oh, no, of course you can’t. And all the time I was trotting along behind, I kept wondering, why doesn’t the Fox jump off? To be honest, I still don’t understand.”

“Because the Fox was trapped,” said Jacob sourly. “He’d got his paws stuck in between the planks.”

“And couldn’t get them out?” Jaspar laughed out loud. “That story would get me a drink in any inn in Cologne.”

“I think I’d prefer it if you kept it to yourself.”

“If the men who were after you only knew! But they know nothing. I imagine they haven’t been told what it’s all about. They’ll have just been given some cock-and-bull story why we have to be caught.”

“They knew damn well why they were chasing me,” said Jacob.

“You? Oh, yes, you’ve stolen one guilder, you rascal. Who from, if I might inquire?”

“Matthias Overstolz.”

Jaspar stopped and stared. “From him? But why him, for God’s sake?”

“I didn’t steal it,” Jacob protested. “He gave it to me. Yesterday morning. And now I’m supposed to have stolen it.”

“One moment,” said Jaspar. He seemed confused. “Why would Matthias Overstolz give you a guilder?”

“I was standing outside their house in Rheingasse, trying to wrap my jerkin around my head. Haven’t I told you this?”

“No,” said Jaspar, frowning. “Who knows what else you’ve forgotten to tell me.”

They walked along in silence for a while. The sun was low in the sky, making the fields and meadows all around glow with an almost unnatural intensity.

“Fox-cub, are you telling me the truth?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Jacob,” he said, “we only met yesterday. I have great but not unbounded trust in you. So just reassure me. Is everything you have told me so far the truth?”

“Yes, dammit, it is.”

“Good.” Jaspar nodded. “Then presumably we know the name of at least one of those who ordered Gerhard’s death.”

“Matthias Overstolz?” asked Jacob, dumbfounded.

“And not only him,” Jaspar went on. “Suddenly everything’s clear. I’ve been racking my brains to think how our meeting with the witnesses could have got out. I’m afraid I let too much slip to Bodo, and of course he couldn’t wait to tell his fellow magistrates about it. And one of his fellow magistrates—”

“—is Theoderich Overstolz.” This is terrible, thought Jacob. One of the most powerful Cologne families wants me dead. “But what have the Overstolzes to do with all this?”