by Shel Pais
Baruch’s temper got the better of him, and without thinking, he said, “The only pig I see is you.”
Jacque pressed down harder with his boot and started to pull out his dagger. “I’ll cut out your tongue for that.”
“No, Jacque,” Nicholas said. “I have a better idea.” He spotted a well down the street. “Let’s toss him down that well.”
“And poison the water? No. I want to cut his tongue out. Turn him over and hold him down.”
Nicholas and Guibert did as Jacque asked. However, as they turned him over, Baruch saw they were squatting and took a chance. He gathered all his strength and pushed. Both knights fell onto their backs. Baruch quickly got to his feet and ran, but a townsman grabbed his arm and held him. Nicholas and Guibert jumped to their feet and pulled the struggling Baruch away from his captor. The three knights were all quite angry now that this Jewish boy had embarrassed them in front of everyone.
“Now you’ll pay,” Jacque said as he drew his sword.
“Stop this!” A familiar voice was heard over the growing crowd. “Let the boy go.” The crowd turned around to see who had spoken, and then separated to let two men through. They were Father Pierre, the local priest, along with Samuel, the local rabbi. A murmur rose from the crowd as they tried to understand why those two were together. Father Pierre walked right up to Jacque and stood directly in front of him. Pierre was not a small man, standing almost six foot tall and husky. He had been a man-at-arms before suffering a wound that prevented him from holding a sword, becoming a priest after his wife died.
Jacque was the same height as Pierre, and he met the priest’s stare. “Why should we?” he growled.
“This boy is under my protection.”
“Your protection? He said he was running an important errand when he barreled into me. I said he was a lying pig.”
“He was telling the truth. Rabbi Samuel here asked him to do something for me.”
Jacque looked at the priest with the greatest suspicion. “Do what?”
“That’s none of your business. Did he apologize?”
“No, he didn’t.”
The priest walked up to Baruch and freed him from his two captors. “Apologize to the knight,” he ordered. Baruch saw the priest was trying to get him out of this predicament, and he reluctantly nodded.
“I apologize, Sir Knight.” His voice was muted, and few could hear him.
“That’s not good enough. He called me a pig. I demand his punishment.”
Pierre winked at Rabbi Samuel. “We will punish him for his insolence. Now be on your way.”
Jacque’s two friends had grown weary and wanted to get to the inn. “Come, Jacque,” Nicholas said, taking his friend by the arm. “We’re hungry and thirsty. Let this priest take care of him.”
Jacque nodded and looked at Baruch. “I won’t forget this. The next time we meet you won’t have a savior.” The three walked away, and the crowd dispersed, unhappy they did not see the knight punish the Jew.
“I guess I should thank you,” Baruch said.
Pierre grabbed him by the shoulders. “That was a very stupid thing you did. Samuel and I are trying to help our two peoples get along better, and you stir up a hornet’s nest with your mouth. I know of this Jacque. He is a very vindictive man. He will track you down and kill you for what you said.”
“Baruch, Father Pierre is a good friend. He’s right. We must go talk to your father, as I think you must leave France.”
“Leave France?” Baruch was astonished.
“I’m afraid so,” Pierre said. “He will find you if you do not leave the country entirely.” After discussing what happened with his father, Baruch decided to leave. He sailed for England, and after exploring London, eventually settled in Northampton.
Mordecai decided to visit his brother to discuss David. He slowly walked to Gold Street where the wealthier Jews lived. Like most Jews, Baruch was a moneylender, and had done well for himself. When it came to business, he curbed his temper, although he knew when to exercise it to collect his due. Most of his customers considered him honest and fair and did not want to anger him.
Mordecai approached the stone house and knocked on the fine oak door.
“Shalom, Mordecai. Nice to see you. What brings you to me at this time of night?”
“I could not sleep and have a problem I thought that perhaps you could help me with.”
“Of course, my brother. Whatever I can do.”
“It’s David, Baruch. He’s worrying the elders again with his talk of fighting and his desire to be a knight.”
“Mordecai, I’ve told you before I agree with him. In my youth, I felt the same way. To this day, I wish I had taken care of Sir Jacque. If I ever find him, I still might do so.”
“That was many years ago. He’s probably dead by now. Baruch, you are not helping me. What David wants can never be. I was hoping you would talk to him and make him forget those crazy ideas.”
“Mordecai, I would do anything for you, but that I cannot. Perhaps David will get his chance to do something to help our people. Perhaps not. However, I will not try to dissuade him from something I believe in. I wouldn’t worry, though. As you say, what he wants is not possible, right?”
Mordecai sighed. “I suppose you’re right. It is impossible. He will have to forget about it and live his life as we all do.”
“Would you like some wine?”
“I guess a little may also help me sleep.”
Baruch poured two glasses and handed one to his brother.
“L’chaim,” they said simultaneously as they clinked them together and each took a drink.
“These are beautiful glasses,” Mordecai said.
“They’re from Morocco. I got them from a trader who could not repay his debt. Notice the gold and jewels around them? I have ten more. Mordecai, I’ve asked you many times to go into business with me. Why do you always refuse?”
Mordecai put down his glass.
“I’ve told you I just am not comfortable doing that. Our father, may he rest in peace, was an apothecary who taught me the trade, and I like carrying on his profession.”
Baruch nodded and smiled. “How I miss our father and mother. I believe father was right in making me leave France, but it hurt both of us.” Baruch had heard the story of what had happened to their parents many times, and both men were silent as they each thought about it.
Tuvia ben Shimon, their father, and Devorah, their mother, lived quietly in a section of Paris near other Jewish families. An apothecary, Tuvia was known for his success in helping to cure Jews and Gentiles alike. Devorah was an attractive woman, and although she tried to hide her face behind a thin veil when she went to the market, she was often the target of Christian men who taunted her with not very subtle sexual suggestions. She always ignored them, and until that fateful day, there had not been any real trouble.
One early afternoon before Passover, as she walked by the market stalls shopping for vegetables in preparation for the holiday, a mercenary by the name of Roul of Laval spied her and could not take his eyes away. Half-drunk from too much wine, he walked up to her, blocking her path. He was accompanied by two other mercenaries, who also had been drinking.
“Where are you going?” he said. She stopped, ignored him, and started to turn around, but the other two men blocked her path. “Come. Take off your veil so I can see your true beauty.”
“Roul, she’s a Jewess,” one of his companions said. “An infidel.”
“I’ve never had a Jewess,” he said. “At least not one as pretty.”
Devorah quivered with fear, wondering what to do as all three of them laughed at his remark.
“If you won’t take it off, I’ll do it for you.” Roul reached up to pull off her veil. Devorah wore a ring on her right hand, and with the back of it, hit him hard on his right cheek. The ring caused a deep cut, and blood began to flow. The slap stunned all three men, and Devorah tried to run. Roul grabbed his cheek and cried out i
n pain. “Get that Jewess!” he yelled. His friends tried to run after her, but they were too drunk. None of the people in the street tried to stop her. Devorah was able to make it home, locking the door and sobbing as she told Tuvia what had happened.
Roul, embarrassed and enraged at being attacked and wounded by a Jewess in public, offered a denier as a reward, and kept asking everyone who she was until he found someone who could help him. A Christian man, whose wife had been so ill that Tuvia unfortunately could not save her, had recognized her. The man blamed Tuvia for his wife’s death, even though Tuvia had explained the medicine probably would not help. This was his opportunity for revenge. He told Roul where she lived, as well as lies about Tuvia, how he was a wizard and Roul should be careful that Tuvia does not turn him into a beast. Roul told the man he would kill them both.
Later that night, Roul and the same two mercenary friends broke into Tuvia’s house while he and Devorah were sleeping. Mordecai had stayed with a friend that night, and therefore was not at home.
The next day, the entire Jewish community was enraged at what had taken place. Not only did Roul kill Tuvia and Devorah, but Devorah had been raped by all three mercenaries. They killed Tuvia first, since Roul did not want to take a chance that the wizard would put spells on them. Devorah’s body was found naked and stabbed through her heart. When Mordecai returned home that morning, he stumbled upon the gruesome scene. After their burials, he decided he could not live there anymore and left for England to join his brother, wishing he could punish the perpetrators. The authorities made only superficial efforts to try to identify the culprits, and Mordecai knew he could do nothing.
Baruch and Mordecai both had tears in their eyes as thoughts of their parents subsided.
“I had better return home,” Mordecai said. “I think I’ll be able to sleep now.”
“Be careful, my brother. The streets can be dangerous at night.”
“I’ll be all right. Good night, Baruch.” The brothers embraced, and Mordecai left and arrived home without incident.
The next day, Mordecai sat for a while thinking about his conversation with his brother. So many of his people had suffered at different times. He knew about the massacres Crusaders had perpetrated, believing Jews were just as much infidels as Muslims. How ironic, he thought, that in ancient times the Israelites were respected for their bravery and heroism. The armies of Solomon and David could not be defeated. Then there were the conquerors—Babylonians, Persians, Macedonians, and others until finally the Romans. The Maccabees established the Hasmonean State in Israel while still under the Romans. However, since the Roman expulsion after the failed Bar Kochba revolt, not only was Judea renamed Palestine, but almost all Jews were dispersed throughout the Empire. In his heart, he believed David and Baruch were right. But again, it was impossible.
“DAVID, IT’S SUNDAY, AND I want you to run an errand for me.”
“Yes, Father. What do you want me to do?”
“I have a preparation for Arthur of Coby Hollow I would like you to bring to him. He has already paid me. Do you know where that is?”
“It’s at the far edge of Salcey Forest. I’ll take Avram with me.”
“Good. Here it is. It’s for his wife. Tell Arthur she needs to take all of it at once and then rest. It will make her sleepy anyway. You should be back before dark if you leave now. It’s about a half-day’s journey, and the morning is still young. Be careful and watch out for bandits.”
David took the preparation, kissed his father goodbye, and left. He went straight to Avram’s house and knocked on the door. After a short while, it opened.
“David,” said a still-sleepy Avram as he stood in the doorway, “it’s Sunday, and I was going to sleep in.”
“Not today, Avram. Get dressed. You’re going with me to Coby Hollow.”
“Coby Hollow? There’s nothing there but a few huts. Why are you going there?”
“We are going there. I have to deliver a preparation to someone named Arthur. His wife is ill and my father said this will cure her.”
“Very well. Come in. I’ll dress and then we can go. I’ll eat my breakfast on the way.”
Avram dressed quickly, grabbed some bread and cheese, and began walking with his friend.
“Honestly, David, I wanted to stay in today. I was even going to miss services.”
“Avram, it’s a beautiful day and you need the exercise.”
The two friends reached the end of the open road and stopped at the edge of the forest. Avram looked down the overhanging trees and shuddered.
“This is a perfect place for an ambush.” He looked at David. “Well, Sir Knight, where are your weapons to protect me?” Avram said, raising the pitch of his voice so he sounded like a girl.
“That’s not funny, Avram. Don’t jest.”
“I’m sorry, David. It’s just that I’m frightened. Who knows what lurks in the forest? Wild beasts? Thieves? Elves and goblins? Witches?”
“Elves, goblins, and witches? Do you really believe in any of that nonsense?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen them, but then I never venture into the forest. I’m only doing this for you.”
After walking along the forest road for a while, they saw a man approaching. He was a forester, officially appointed to hunt and maintain the forests. He had a sword at his side, a bow around his shoulder and a quiver of arrows at his back. David greeted him as they came face to face.
“Good day, sir,” he said.
“Good day. What are you two doing here?” the man said, looking them over.
“We’re on our way to Coby Hollow. Is the way safe?” Avram said.
The man looked straight at Avram. “Should be. Of course, I know a wild boar down the road that loves to attack Jews. Maybe I should call him.”
Avram could see his friend was getting angry and might even try to hit the forester. Avram grabbed David by the arm and started to walk away. “Thank you, sir,” he said. “We’ll watch out for that boar.”
The forester laughed and went on his way. Avram looked at David. “Are you mad? You were really thinking about hitting him, weren’t you?”
“Why not?”
“They were only words. I’m not like you, David. I can’t fight and don’t want to.”
“You could learn. I wanted to take his weapons from him.”
“You’re mad if that’s what you were thinking,” Avram said, shaking his head.
Eventually they reached Coby Hollow, a tiny village of about fifteen families. The villagers worked the fields of Baron Geoffrey, as his lands were quite extensive. They found Arthur, who was very grateful and thanked them. He offered them food and drink, but they declined in keeping with their dietary laws. They turned around and began the journey back.
Both boys were eager to return to West End. Avram kept complaining he was tired, and David just wanted to eat. He was angry at himself for not taking any food with him. As they were getting closer to home, not far from the spot where they had seen the forester that morning, they saw a man sitting on the side of the road, leaning against a tree. It looked like he was sleeping.
“Avram, look. It’s the forester, fast asleep. Now’s my chance.”
“Don’t you dare! He’ll wake up, draw his sword and cut us both in two.”
They slowly and silently approached the man. Avram stayed back a bit while David got close to him.
“Something’s wrong, Avram. It looks like he’s not breathing.”
David gently nudged the man, and he fell over on his side.
“Oh my God, David. He’s dead!” Avram cried.
David put his hand over the man’s chest. “There’s no heartbeat. He is dead.”
“But there’s no blood, no wound. What could have happened? Perhaps he was ill, although he looked healthy when we saw him this morning. And he isn’t very old,” Avram said, panic in his voice.
“I don’t know. My father told me sometimes people just die without being ill. No one knows wh
y.”
“We’d better get out of here. If someone sees us with him or even near him they’ll think we cast a spell on him and killed him.”
Avram could see David was engrossed in thought. Then a huge smile appeared on David’s face. He began to remove the forester’s weapons and looked in one of the man’s pockets for extra bowstrings. He found three and took them as well.
“Are you crazy?” Avram exclaimed. “You can’t keep those. It’s forbidden.”
“Why not? He has no use for them.”
“But where will you hide them? And what if someone recognizes them and blames you and maybe me as well for murdering him?” Avram’s voice was shaking.
“I know a place where I can hide them. I won’t even tell you in order to protect you. These aren’t custom weapons. They’re just common ones many foresters and men-at-arms have.”
“How do you know?”
“Avram, I know about these things. I’ve asked soldiers to show me their weapons. While some told me no since I’m Jewish, others were happy to show them off. I’ve seen weapons just like these before. Held them. Admired them. They can’t be traced to any one person if I can get them to a hiding place before anyone sees us.”
David moved the body away from the road and hid it under some brush as a precaution. No need to make it easy to find him, he thought. David found a fallen branch and wiped away their footprints. He then picked up the sword, bow and quiver, and they hurried away from the dead forester. They did not see anyone else on the road in either direction. After a while David stopped. “Avram, I want you to go on ahead without me. I have to hide these.”
“Be careful, David. What you’re doing is dangerous. I’m worried about what may happen to you.”
“Go home, Avram. Forget about what happened today. Never tell anyone. Remember your promise to me.”
“I remember. I’ve forgotten already.” Avram looked at his friend and shook his head. “I just don’t understand what you’re going to do with them. You can’t use them and you can’t get anyone to teach you how to use them.”
