C4

Chapter the Fourth

Mendel: Chapter 4

The Sacred Tridium - Holy Saturday: the afternoon



After an hour, Brother Timothy began to relax. The rehearsals had been going well and the gypsy Brezen appeared to be word perfect. A natural actor, he had no difficulty grasping what he had to do, and even brought into the rehearsal his own flare for the dramatic. It would go well.

"There will be considerable confusion afterwards," Brother Timothy told him as he was getting up to leave. "Remove the clothing we have just given you, drop it on the ground and walk away. I will meet you with the rest of your money at the corner of Starobrneska and Biskupska streets within the hour". Brezen, who had escaped from more tight situations than Brother Timothy could ever imagine, simply nodded. He had his own ideas about how their relationship should end.

Across the room the four brothers from Pernstejn were also making their preparations. Three of them were dressing in nondescript city clothing and trying hard to feel comfortable. The largest of them had a length of iron chain which he was wrapping around his waist. In time, the end of this chain would be padlocked to Cesky Brezen and the two would be inseparable until the final moment. As an extra precaution against betrayal, the gypsy called Balo, who would not be needed, would be kept securely locked up in the cellar until Brezen had performed.

The fourth brother from Pernstejn was dressing differently. Acting on orders he was smearing his face with grease and dirt, putting on rags and practicing walking across the room using a crutch under one arm. His part was that of a cripple and it had been given to him because he had the most aptitude. His brothers were the muscle.

When he was satisfied, Brother Timothy signaled for the outer door to be opened. Made one last check, and slid out into the side street. Although it was still early, the main streets of Brno were already crowded, merchants were doing their first serious business of the spring, and everyone was taking advantage of the opportunity to celebrate.

Across the alleyway, the third gypsy was watching, as he had done everyday for the past couple of weeks. During that time he had lived rough, stealing what food he could and keeping well out of the way of the law. Without his leader to do his thinking, he had limited his actions to following the monk and his prisoners to the cellar and then keeping watch. For days nothing happened, then, the monk had reappeared, visiting the cellar on at least two occasions. Something was beginning to stir, and he wanted to be ready.

It would be dark soon, and the Easter Vigil would begin with the appearance of the first star.