by A. E. Albert
“We’re going out with Leonardo,” smiled Dickens. “I thought you might like a little time to get to know Georgii better.”
Billy gave Dickens the dirtiest look he could muster. The man only smiled and waved, as he, Jeanie and Leonardo walked out the door.
Chapter 20
The filth that the rabbits left behind was unbelievable. What made their task so difficult were the hundreds of rabbits either hopping about or refusing to move when you tried to sweep beneath them. Billy would move one, only to have another takes its place. Needless to say, it was a long and slow job.
Georgii didn’t say much. He just dutifully went about his work. He didn’t complain nor did his expression betray any kind of emotion.
Billy wiped the sweat from his forehead and leaned over to get a drink of water from a jug on the table, then flopped himself down onto a chair.
As Billy watched Georgii stay on task, he stated in a weary voice, “Hey, Georgii, take a break.” The hard working young boy was making him feel guilty for sitting down. But those thoughts were quickly forgotten when Georgii countered with a very bizarre reply.
“A knight seeks to do excellence in all that he does,” the boy said in a serious tone, as he diligently kept sweeping up the rabbit’s mess.
Billy raised his eyebrows. “Excuse me?” This came out with a slight laugh.
Georgii stopped what he was doing and turned toward Billy. “The code of the knight. He must seek excellence-”
“What’s all this knight stuff about, anyway? Is that why you carry around a wooden sword?” Billy suddenly remembered what Leonardo had told him the previous evening about Georgii and his delusional thinking.
A red blush formed on Georgii’s round cheeks; he then touched the wooden blade at his side. “I practice with my sword every day, for a knight seeks strength so that he might be of service.”
Billy raised an eyebrow. “I thought only certain people could be knights?” Billy asked, more out of boredom at this point, than really caring what Georgii had to say. As far as Billy was concerned he was just a weird kid with strange hobbies.
Georgii had resumed sweeping the floor. “I...I…well, I am just a baker’s son. My father is a prosperous business man and he has taught me a very profitable and useful skill, but…” He then hung his head. “My father says that I am an ungrateful son. He is a good father and I have no wish to shame him.”
“How does practicing with a wooden sword shame him?” Billy asked in confusion.
“I wish to be a knight,” responded Georgii in a forlorn voice. “Only those of noble birth may earn their spurs. Besides, a knight begins his training at seven when they are fostered by another family. I am already fourteen years.” He then hesitated. “I will probably never bear the physical stature of a warrior.”
Georgii stole a glance at Billy. “You may laugh as well, for most of the town does, especially Niccolo de Fabiano.” Georgii hardened his eyes and lifted his chin. “But I have committed my life to conduct myself as a knight; to live by the knight’s code.”
“What is this code?”
Georgii’s eyes brightened at this question and he began speaking rapidly. “It is the ideals and beliefs that all knights must adhere to. They take an oath to uphold them, living their lives for what is right. They give aid to a lady in distress or protect pilgrims on the road to the Holy Land. It is to live a life of honor and virtue.”
“I don’t know if I think too much of this code, Georgii, if that jerk Niccolo can be a knight-”
Georgii’s face took on an angry cast, taking Billy by surprise. “Do not insult the way of the knight! It is not the code that is marred, only those that abuse it!” His face paled and he hung his head. “I am sorry, Billy, a knight seeks nobility. I should never have raised my voice.” He lowered his eyes and his voice was low and contrite.
Billy rolled his eyes and stated in a dry tone, “Georgii, it’s no big deal.” He then added under his breath, “Actually, I’ve been yelling a lot myself lately.”
“A knight controls his emotions, so that his justice is impartial and done in the name of truth.”
Georgii’s statement was so solemn, Billy almost laughed. “You know, if this knight stuff comes into every conversation you have, then it’s no wonder people laugh at you.”
Georgii looked at Billy with an open and steady gaze. “I wish only to be me. In the independent states of Italy, a poor man with rich aspirations and a shrewd mind, may make a good life for himself and raise his social standings. But alas, a baker’s son can still only be a baker’s son. The rights of the nobles cannot be extended to someone of my class.” He gave Billy a small smile and then slowly went about his work in silence.
Billy turned his head and became lost in thought. When he again directed his gaze to the lonely boy sweeping the floor, he began to see him with new eyes. Billy knew exactly what it was like to be kept in that social box and people who thought they were better than you trying to keep you there. He understood what it was like to live in a caste system, people making assumptions about who you were and who they thought you should be. Georgii just wanted to be himself and Billy knew what it was like to be condemned for it.
Billy stared at the dejected and sad young man. “Hey, you never know, you could grow a foot or so in the next few years,” he said sheepishly, surprising himself by his effort to make Georgii feel better.
Billy continued to sit at the table and quietly drank the rest of his water. He then stood up, picked up his broom and resumed his cleaning. As Billy cleaned, he was moved by the revelation that he and Georgii had more in common than he thought.
Chapter 21
As everyone sat around the table the next morning, Leonardo recounted for the group humorous stories about his rabbits. “…and as Salvanus laid his head on the pillow, Halbuldus, bit him on the ear!” Leonardo laughed uproariously at his own tale. “That will teach someone to pay attention, won’t it Halbuldus!” he said to the rabbit while scratching him behind the ears.
Billy didn’t really appreciate the story. He had too many experiences of his own already. Just the previous night, he reached into the cupboard to get himself a bowl, only to have his fingers nipped for his trouble. Everyone else thought Leonardo’s stories were hilarious. Wait till one of them tries to use a chamber pot in the middle of the night and they find a furry surprise. Billy was still horrified over the experience.
“You children have been working so hard. Why not enjoy the festival today? It will be over by tomorrow night. This reminds me! I am to be a guest at the home of the mayor. There is to be a great feast in honor of his daughter’s birthday. Of course, you are all invited as my guests.” Leonardo turned to focus solely on Billy and Jeanie. “The mayor has a young son I shall introduce you both to, yes.” As he said this, the kind old man smiled at his own thoughtfulness.
“We would be honored, Leonardo,” replied Dickens.
A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Georgii entered the house, holding a small bouquet of wildflowers. He gave a slight bow to everyone in the room and then immediately approached Jeanie.
“Gianna, I saw these flowers and they reminded me of you.”
“Thank you, Georgii, that was very sweet of you,” she said as she gave him a warm smile in appreciation.
“I...I…was wondering Gianna, would you like to accompany me to the Piazza del Duomo?” He then hastily looked to Billy. “Of course, you are more than welcome to join us, Billy.”
“What a wonderful idea!” declared Dickens.
“What is the Del Duomo?” inquired Jeanie. Billy was curious himself.
“The Del Duomo! You have come to Pisa and have not heard of the Del Duomo!” exclaimed Leonardo. “It is a square in the heart of the city. Standing on it are some of the most beautiful buildings in Italy! Yes, yes, Georgii, you must take them to the square. Of course, after you help me with the rabbits, yes.” Billy didn’t think ‘helping’ was an accurate term, since he and Georgii did all of the w
ork, but he liked the little Italian man anyway.
Later, after Billy and Georgii cleaned up after the fur balls, they began to ready themselves for their outing.
Billy pulled Dickens aside and in a low voice asked, “When are we going to talk to Leonardo about you know what?”
“All in good time, Billy. A perfect opportunity presents itself with perfect patience,” Dickens smiled, walking toward the door.
“What does that even mean?” Billy forced out in an exasperated whisper.
“It means I’m going shopping for our clothes for the banquet. Have fun.” And with that, Dickens walked out the door and began to stroll down the street whistling.
As, Billy, Jeanie and Georgii walked through the streets of Pisa, Billy’s only thoughts were that when he got back home, he hoped he’d never have to set eyes on another rabbit for the rest of his life and he’d never have to hear one of Dickens’s philosophical quips again!
The children decided to take a detour to the fair after all. All three of them walked around, eating candied fruits and watching the entertainment. Billy thought the best entertainment was when a man bent over to fill a water trough and a horse whacked him in the backside, sending him splashing into the water.
Billy threw his head back and roared with laughter. He looked back, smiling at Jeanie and Georgii. Although Jeanie was in a fit of giggles herself, Georgii was as solemn as ever. He was gazing intently at a group of women standing nearby.
“…Oh, you know Pane, out with his friends. I never know what that boy is doing!” the woman said crossly. “He says he has a new pet that he, Francus and Paulus are going to play with it. I just hope he doesn’t bring the mangy mutt home!”
Billy could see Georgii’s jaw tighten. Before he could ask what was wrong, Georgii began to walk away.
“Hey, what’s going on?” asked Billy, as he and Jeanie caught up with him.
“Just something I need to take care of,” he said with a quiet, but hard voice.
Georgii led the children out of the fairgrounds and through winding streets and alleyways. They entered a particularly narrow lane with large wooden crates and tubs littering the sides.
Billy could hear a horrible howl emanating from the dark end of the passage. As he turned his head to the direction of the sound, Georgii marched down the dim path to investigate. As they approached, they could see three boys about twelve years old. They were standing before an orange tabby cat whose legs were bound together. They were laughing and jeering at the crying animal, as they taunted each other to abuse it.
A short and squat boy with rosy cheeks and curly hair elbowed one of his companions. “Ha, look at it, Paulus, pull its tail again!”
“No, you do it this time. The rotten cat almost bit me!” his blond haired friend replied, pushing him away, as he too laughed.
The rosy cheeked boy nudged the third of the three. “You do it, Francus; your hands are the quickest!”
“Pane, this was your idea, you do it!” the boy Francus stated. He seemed the most reluctant to abuse the cat.
The three young boys had no idea they had an audience behind them. Billy watched, stunned, as the three young boys were torturing the poor animal. Its fur was standing on end and its mouth open in a perpetual hiss.
Jeanie burst forth, her hands balled into tight fists. “You little brats!” she yelled.
Georgii put his hand gently on her arm. “No, Gianna,” he said softly.
He then calmly approached the boys, withdrew his wooden sword and pointed it at them. Immediately, they began laughing uncontrollably.
“Oooo, Georgii and his toy,” taunted Pane, the rosy cheeked boy. “Look at it, Francus, the weapon of a knight!” he yelled, erupting into a hysterical fit of laughter
“I think someone needs to teach little Georgii what happens when he meddles in other’s business,” the blond boy Paulus sneered, as he smacked his fist into the palm of his hand.
Georgii said nothing. As the boy approached, he simply brought his weapon down in a high arc and struck the boy’s raised fists with the broad side of the sword. The boy yelped and brought his injured hand to his mouth. Immediately, the boy Pane ran at Georgii with a roar, who expertly flipped the blade around and hit the boy in the stomach with the handle, knocking him to the ground. The last boy, Francus, stood still. His eyes began to widen as he slowly backed away.
Georgii stood with the blade pointed at the boy’s throat, his stance that of a warrior. In a low and hard voice, he said, “I suggest you all leave now and never will I see you harm a living creature again.” Immediately, the boys ran from the alleyway, clutching their injured parts and never looking back.
As Georgii bent down to free the cat, Billy looked at him in amazement.
“Wow, Georgii!” exclaimed Jeanie.
Georgii gave a slight smile. “A knight aids those too weak to help themselves.”
“How do you know how to do that?” she asked with wonder in her voice.
“I watch the knights as they practice their skills and I work daily to hone what I have learned.”
“Ya, but why do you bother even doing it?” asked a confused Billy.
“I wish to be of service to others. Not only strength of virtue, but strength of arm is required of a knight,” Georgii simply replied, returning his sword to the sheath at his side.
This didn’t really answer Billy’s question, but it said a lot about Georgii. Billy only did anything brave in a situation if he felt it was his only choice. Georgii believed it to be his duty. He still didn’t understand why Georgii purposefully puts himself into situations so people could make fun of him. Billy definitely had more sympathy and respect for the kid, but he still didn’t get why he went out of his way to be a target for others.
Chapter 22
As they continued on their way, Billy looked into the distance. He could see a vast structure rising above the tops of the other buildings as they drew near the city’s center. They finally approached a large field of green grass and in the center was an enormous white building, reaching into the sky. It’s as tall as some apartment buildings, Billy thought. The giant structure was rectangular in shape, with smaller wings protruding from both sides. The roof was high and slanted downward.
“This is the chapel Santa Maria Assunta. Its construction began in 1064 by the architect Busketo. However, the grey marble façade on the outside was done by Rainaldo,” said Georgii with pride in his voice. Billy wondered why none of these guys had last names.
He’d seen lots of pictures of ancient Roman buildings; he couldn’t believe how similar they were. But this was built in the Medieval Times? A confused Billy asked Georgii, “This church looks a lot like the buildings from Rome.”
Georgii smiled. “Yes, Billy, this style is called Romanesque, which is to say in the style of the Romans. See the arches built into the outer walls. The columns, sculptures and general style were created to mimic the technique of our ancestors.” Georgii looked at his companions with an excited expression. “Come! Wait until you see the inside. You have seen nothing so grand in all of your lives.” He rushed ahead, waving for them to join him.
As they walked, he pointed to a large door. “That is the central door; it is made out of pure bronze. Here, this is where the visitors enter. It is the Portia di San Ranieri, the chapel’s patron saint.”
As the group approached the door, Jeanie stopped to stare at an odd half finished structure located across from it.
“What is that supposed to be?” Her head cocked to the side in confusion.
“A tragedy, my Gianna. What you see is the Campinile. It was to be the chapel’s bell tower, but during construction the weak soil in the ground caused it to sink on the south side. The builders only made it to the third level. There is talk of future plans to salvage the tower, but I don’t see how they can save it.” He sadly shook his head as he turned and began walking through the side door.
Billy felt someone lightly pinch his arm. When he turned
, he saw Jeanie smiling at him.
“What?” he whispered.
She pointed to the lopsided structure. “That building is the future leaning tower of Pisa,” she laughed softly. “Poor Georgii! I wish I could tell him.”
Billy looked at the unfinished tower. Cool, I just saw the leaning tower of Pisa. Well kind of, he thought, as he and Jeanie went inside.
Billy and Jeanie were spellbound by the impressive interior of the chapel. It had numerous halls all lined with columns topped by arches and gleaming marble everywhere.
“These halls are called naves and each lead to the pulpit.” He pointed to a circular object at the far end of the chapel made of white marble and surrounded by columns. Each column was mounted onto sculptures of lions.
As they walked around, Georgii explained the names of the various frescoes, sculptures and stained glass windows.
“Do you see that window?” Billy and Jeanie looked to where he was pointing. “Every March 25th, a light shines through that window and hits that shelf on its right side,” he said as he pointed to an egg shaped shelf. “That is the exact time the Pisan calendar begins.” Georgii smiled at the children’s confused faces. “Pisa has its own calendar.”
As the tiny group meandered about, Jeanie lifted her head and turned in slow circles, attempting to get a sweeping view of the magnificent chapel. “You know so much about this place, Georgii. You must come here a lot.”
“I only know what any good Pisan would,” he replied, although his blush was telling how her words pleased him.
Jeanie let out a laugh. “Oh, come on, Georgii, you’re super smart. Admit it,” she said playfully.
Billy suddenly remembered what Leonardo said the townspeople thought of Georgii. He may be a little weird, but he was definitely not soft in the head.
In true Georgii fashion, he replied, “A knight does not boast but allows others to do so for him.”
“You are right, a knight would not. But seeing as you are no knight, little Georgii!” All three children turned to the sneering voice echoing through the chapel.
