The Loved and the Lost (40 page)

The younger Hansum had spent enough time around Podesta della Scalla to know how to push back. He stepped into Father Lurenzano's space and brought his face very close to the priest's.

“One thing you are not is my spiritual guide. And when the Master is not himself, I am the head of this house.”

Lurenzano pounded his fist on the table and was about to yell back when the door opened. Ugilino walked in, followed by a tall military officer in full battle uniform.

“Romero, this general is looking for you,” Ugilino announced.

“Lieutenant Raguso,” Hansum said with surprise. “What's wrong?”

The officer stepped forward and bowed to young Hansum. The older Hansum couldn't help but remember the different ways he had known this man, as a feisty officer who had disagreed with the younger savant, only to then turn into an admirer, and as the older brother who looked out for his younger, bastard sibling. This was also the man who had his throat slit by Feltrino's men. Now here he was again, alive.

“Master Monticelli. Praise God I find you well.”

“
Master
Monticelli?” the priest said.

“I am well, thank you, Lieutenant. Why are you here?”

“I was ordered to bring my men to bolster the northern gate. The guard there told me of the sickness in your house. My admiration for you caused me to come and see if I could render assistance.”

“
Grazzi, grazzi
,” Hansum said. “This is Master della Cappa, my old Master. His daughter was ill, but not with the sickness. I'm pleased to say she is recovering.”

“Master della Cappa,” Raguso said, bowing. He then patted the leather case at his side, which contained his looker. “I use this most often.”

This respect seemed to affect Agistino's demeanor. He sat straighter, nodding his head to the officer and then pushing his cup of wine away.

“And this is Father Lurenzano,” Hansum said to Raguso. “He was just leaving.”

“I protest. You cannot tell me what . . .”

Lieutenant Raguso took a step forward, placing his hand gently on the hilt of his sword and looking at Lurenzano with cool eyes.

“Della Cappa, are you going to stand for this?” the priest asked Agistino sternly. “This boy telling me what to do?”

“Father, I fear I have fallen back into bad habits,” Agistino answered. “While I recover, for my family's sake, I must listen to my son-in-law.”

This did not mollify Father Lurenzano. He straightened his robes and stood erect, his nose in the air.

“You'll see that no good comes to those who mock the church and its priests,” and he strode to the door. As he passed Ugilino, Lurenzano motioned with his eyes a gesture that meant, ‘I will be outside hiding. Come and find me.' When he got to the door, he looked back and gave Hansum a harsh look. But as he did, his eyes couldn't help but travel to the wood box by the fireplace and what lay hidden behind it. He closed the door hard behind him.

“Good,” the older Hansum said to Sideways. “My younger self got rid of that wild card. I think things are safer now.”

“I agree,” Sideways said. “And when both Shamiras and Lincolns return with the herbs, that should take Guilietta out of danger.”

Suddenly, a voice spoke in the senior Hansum's mind.
“Hansum, we've got a problem. Elder Catherine won't cooperate and she's acting like something's wrong.”

“I'll be right there,” the older Hansum said. “Sideways, I think everything is stable here. Take me to Lincoln,” and they were gone.

The younger Hansum turned to his father-in-law.

“Master, my apologies for ordering the Father away, but I do not think he had your best interests at heart, especially after you showed him our treasure.”

“I was weak, my son. With the sickness out there and the Father giving Guilietta last rites, he said he needed means to have the church save Guilietta's soul and protect our house from illness.”

“I don't think anything can assure that, Master. Tomorrow, when Guilietta is stable, we'll move the whole family to Master Calabreezi's estate. My new estate. We will quarantine it for a month, to be safe.”

Just then Nuca came down the stairs. “How is my daughter?” Agistino asked, rushing to her.

“S'eeping. K'eaned up and s'eeping,” the deaf woman squeaked. “Signora too. Me go make food.”

Agistino grabbed Nuca's gnarled old hands and kissed them.

“Grazzi, Signora, grazzi.”

“Gui like daughter. We all fam'ly.”

Agistino was extremely emotional as he walked his neighbor to the door. As she left, he turned to Hansum. “Will Signora Baroni return with Carmella and Maruccio? Do you think her medicine will help further? Should we not get a physician?”

“If Signora Baroni is not available, I can go to the palace and bring a physician in the morning, Master.”

“Oh no, signor,” Lieutenant Raguso said. “I stopped there briefly on my way from the gate. All the physicians are preparing to flee the city. If you want, I will take you there now and,” he patted his sword hilt again, “make sure one comes back with us.”

Ugilino, who had been quietly watching the entire goings on, finally spoke. “I gotta piss,” he said, and left.

The younger Hansum turned to his father-in-law.

“Master, I think your thoughts and the lieutenant's are good. Let us hope Maruccio and Carmella return with Signora Baroni and the herbs. But let us also fetch a physician for good measure. But to do that I must leave you here to guard our fragile women. Are you . . . sober enough?”

At first Agistino's eyes looked somewhat hurt, and then he blinked. “You are right to ask. Yes. Verjuice will once again be my only drink till I die. I vow this to you and God,” and he crossed himself.

“Lieutenant, we must away,” Hansum said, and they turned to the door. “Master, with the sickness out there, bar the door and let in only those you trust,” Hansum said. “Only those you trust.”

“Good Gia, now you?” Elder Catherine said as the older Hansum popped into her room. She shook her head and continued stuffing things into the bottomless valise.

“Elder Catherine, Guilietta needs your help,” Hansum begged. “We've finally been able to get back here, but our modern medicines are programmed not to work on people from the past. We need your herbs.”

“Where is that last . . .” Catherine questioned as she looked around frantically. “Ah, there,” and she rushed over to her bed and reached under the mattress, pulling out a cracked, leather pouch. She removed a clear cube of crystal the size of a gambling die. It glowed bright yellow as she tossed it in the valise. “Done,” she said.

“Will you help us?” Hansum asked, sounding desperate.

She looked at him, exasperation showing in her face. “You're from the 25
^th
-century now, aren't you?” And then she laughed cynically. “You still know so little about time travel. A major deviation has happened! A mutation!” she said, like he was too stupid to see the obvious. Then her contempt turned to panic. “In my time we never thought you'd get this far in a trillion tries. We thought Arimus was crazy for taking on such an impossible project. A waste of time. But here you are. And if you're here . . . then a major deviation did happen. You must be close to a nexus point.” Elder Catherine paused, staring wide-eyed at Hansum's old face. “And if you're close to a nexus point, the last place I want to be is anywhere around you. I've got family and grandchildren. I could get stuck here forever. I'm out of here.” And with that she went to push an unseen node at the base of her neck.

“Wait,” Lincoln shouted. “Our 25
^th
-century medicines don't work on people from the past. How about your 31
^st
-century medicines?”

She wrinkled her face one last time. “We don't need medicines,” she derided, and pointed at the wall of shelves, full of herbs and various jars. “Help yourselves,” and she was gone.

The older Hansum, Lincoln and Shamira looked at each other, desperation showing on their faces.

“What do we do now?” Lincoln said.

“Are you two still outside?” Hansum asked him.

Lincoln went and poked his head through the wall.

“Yeah, but we're just getting back into the carriage.”

Hansum thought for a moment. “You guys disappear. Sideways, make me look like an older family member of Signora Baroni's,” and in a blink Hansum appeared to be wearing homespun pants, a robe and sleeping cap.” The others went out of phase and Hansum unbarred the door. “Wait!” he called as the carriage started to move. The younger Lincoln and Shamira poked their heads from the carriage window. “You are looking for Signora Baroni? She is away from Verona for some days now.”

“We need her medicines,” young Shamira called.

“It's an emergency,” Lincoln added.

“If you know what you need, please come.” Elder Hansum knew Pan would tell them what to take. They jumped from the carriage and ran to the house, Hansum limping ahead and then hiding in the back room. “Do not look upon me. I am sick and the humors may come out from my eyes and into you.” He didn't want Pan scanning him. “Take what you want. They'll do me no good now.”

“It's all here,” Hansum heard Pan saying. “Everything we need.” Within a minute they were gone from the house and speeding back toward the della Cappa home.

“Let's go back with them in the carriage,” Hansum said, “in case something goes wrong on the way home,” and they site transported away.

“Psst!” Ugilino peered into the night, looking to see where the sound came from. “Psst!” He turned and saw a black-silhouetted arm beckoning from down the road. Ugilino hopped off the stoop and trotted down the street, kicking a dog that snarled at him as it chewed on Signora Spagnolli's leg. She had been one of the first to succumb. A head popped out from the alley by the butcher's shop. It was Father Lurenzano.

“Quickly, before you're seen,” Lurenzano hissed as he pulled Ugilino into the shadows.

“Romero's a big man now, eh Father? Even generals bow to him,” Ugi said.

“He's too bold for an orphan. Telling me, a priest, what to do. And just when della Cappa was going to give such generous alms to the church. We must find a way to rescue the situation. Perhaps tomorrow . . .”

“Romero's going to move the whole family to his big estate in the country tomorrow, Father. I heard he has over five hundred peasants and craftsman working for him.”

“Five hundred? Then he really is rich. But tomorrow . . . that means della Cappa and his strong box will be gone.”

“I wonder if I'll be able to be boss over some of those stupid peasants? Finally.”

“What? You think he'll take you with him?”

“We're family,” Ugilino said.

“Ha,” Lurenzano replied. “They'll put you off with promises and delaying words, ‘
we'll sees'
and then abandon you. No, Ugilino. The church and I are your only friends. You and I, we must not stand these insults.”