NEITHER LOEW NOR DEE SPOKE FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS silenced by the idea that Rudolf might have the thirty-sixth man. “We have to get him back,” Dee said finally.
“How?” Loew said. “Go back to Rudolf’s dungeons? Do you really want to risk that again?”
“There’s no other choice. We can’t let Rudolf learn what he’s got—”
“We don’t know for certain that Rudolf has anything. Mordechai could be the thirty-sixth, I grant you that—”
“We can’t take the chance that he isn’t.” Dee thought back to his notes. “We know it’s not Anna or Jaroslav or Samuel. That leaves five people, that’s a gamble of one in five. We have to—”
“How? The two of us against the might of the Holy Roman Empire?”
“We have the golem—”
“Oh, no. I’m not putting the shem in Yossel’s mouth ever again. You just said that he overheard some people talking about Izak, that he has a whole life I know nothing about. I won’t let him out of my control.”
“Well, what else? That’s why you created the golem, isn’t it—for protection? And as you say, we can’t do anything by ourselves.”
“I don’t know.” Loew began to pace the narrow hallway in front of Dee’s room. “You’re right—we can’t leave him there. I don’t know.”
“Let’s free him, just this once. We can keep watch over him, make certain he does nothing but what we tell him to do. And afterward you can put him back to sleep, or unmake him … .”
“Very well,” Loew said. He seemed to decide all at once. “Let’s go.”
Together they set out for the Jewish Quarter. “Where do you think Rudolf is keeping Mordechai?” Dee asked.
“The same place he kept us,” Loew said. “The Daliborka.”
At Loew’s house they headed toward Yossel’s room. “Judah, what are you doing?” Pearl asked, following them down the hall. “Are you freeing that monster again?”
“Yes,” Loew said.
“Why? He’s destroyed things—you know that. Maybe the next time he’ll even kill someone. And the townspeople—they don’t want him. They’re afraid of him. Of you.”
“I can’t help that,” Loew said.
“Judah, for God’s sake, you can’t do this. Do you know what they say about you, the things I’ve had to hear? They say you dabble in witchcraft, that you speak to demons—”
“Don’t listen to them, then.”
Loew and Dee stepped into the golem’s room. Pearl stayed at the threshold, one hand at her mouth. Loew took out the piece of paper and put it in Yossel’s mouth.
The golem opened his eyes. “What do you want?” he asked. There was a harshness in his voice that Dee had not heard before.
“We need your strength again,” Loew said. He seemed unworried by the golem’s truculence.
“Why should I help you? When I obeyed you the last time you put me to sleep.”
“You know why. Because I’m your creator. I made you from nothing. You must do as I say.”
The golem bowed his head for a moment. “It’s true, you made me,” he said finally. “Very well. But this time after I carry out your commands I want to stay awake. I want to be taught the same things that other people learn, how to read, how to pray. And I want to marry Rivka.”
“I won’t bargain with you.”
“At least teach me something. I want to learn. I know nothing about the world—”
“We’ll discuss this later. Right now I want you to break into the Daliborka and free the man Rudolf’s imprisoned there. Do you know where that is?”
“Yes, I do.”
Loew’s mouth twisted. “And yet you say you know nothing about the world. When did you learn about the tower?”
“When I was free to walk about in the world. When you told me to search for Izak.”
“I told you to go to the Cattle Market. The Daliborka is in the opposite direction. You continue to disobey me—do you see why I can’t trust you?”
“I only wanted—”
“Never mind. I won’t argue with you. You’ll do as I say. And this time I’ll go with you, to make certain of that.”
The three of them walked to the river. Yesterday’s heat had dissipated; the day was cooler, and pleasant wind ruffled the surface of the water. Clangorous traffic plied back and forth across the bridge. In the rare moments of silence the wheeling birds screeched overhead.
They crossed on the side of the bridge reserved for travelers on foot and came to what Dee now knew was called the Lesser Quarter. A poor name, he thought; the opulence nearly overwhelmed him. He had been away for so long, traveling in distant lands, that he had almost forgotten the richness of Rudolf’s kingdom.
The golem began the climb up to the castle. Beside him Dee heard Loew labor for breath, and he stopped too, already tired. “Wait,” he said to the golem.
Yossel looked from one to the other, a puzzled expression on his face. For a moment it seemed as if he would disobey; then Loew repeated Dee’s command to wait, and the golem stopped.
“Why do you puff like that?” Yossel asked. “Why don’t we continue?”
Loew glared at the golem, but Dee, taking pity on him, said, “Because we’re old.”
“Oh,” Yossel said. “Will I become old too?”
Loew continued to say nothing. “I don’t know,” Dee said. “You’re the only one of your kind in the world.”
“The only one …” Yossel said, breathing the words. Another expression passed across his face. Was it loneliness?
When they were rested they continued up the hill. Dalibor Tower was at the eastern end of the castle outbuildings. They skirted the castle walls carefully, keeping watch for guards or servants or guests of the emperor, but the few people they saw ignored them and went about their business. Probably the folks in the castle had grown used to strange visitors.
As they approached the tower Dee heard a commotion up ahead, what sounded like two men arguing. “Wait,” he said. This time the golem obeyed him. He motioned the other two around a corner of one of the outbuildings.
“What is it?” Loew asked.
“Hush. Listen.”
One of the voices grew louder. “I delivered him to the tower like you told me to,” the first said.
“And then what?” the second man said. “He flew out the window?” He laughed loudly at his own wit.
“I don’t know what happened to him.” The first man’s tone had grown wheedling. “All I know is, I left him in the tower. I don’t know how he got out.”
“He got out because you forgot to lock the door.”
“No. No, I swear—”
“Well, the only other explanation is that you let him go. How much did he pay you?”
“He didn’t pay me a penny. I swear to you—”
“Not a penny? You let him go for nothing, then?” More laughter. “I’d confine you to barracks, but unfortunately I need you to help search the grounds. But you’re sticking close to me, do you understand? I’m not going to lose him again.”
The first man muttered something Dee couldn’t hear. “What was that?” the second man asked.
“He’s—he’s a great magician, they say. What if he’s disappeared? What if he turns us into toads?”
The second man laughed. “He’s not, though. He claimed to be this fellow Rabbi Loew, but rest assured that King Rudolf knows what Loew looks like. The man’s just a peddler.”
Dee heard Loew gasp beside him. How had Rudolf gotten that information? Had Mordechai been tortured?
“A peddler?” the first man said. “All right, then—I’m ready!”
The two men headed away from the tower, their footsteps growing fainter as they went. “Where could he have gone?” Dee asked. “Does he know any magic?”
“No. I don’t think so, anyway. None of the thirty-six do, as far as I know. I’m supposed to protect them.”
Something screeched in the tower room, a sound horribly like the demons in Kelley’s ho
use. Dee spun around. The raised center of the tower—the circle that he had puzzled over—was lifting. It rose higher as he watched, and then someone pushed it over to the side, and the peddler’s head came into view.
They hurried toward him. “Who—who are you?” the peddler said, fear evident in his voice.
“Is that where you hid?” Loew asked, and at the same time Dee asked, “What’s down there?”
“Rabbi Loew?” Mordechai asked. “What are you doing here? It isn’t safe for you. And is that your golem behind you?”
“It isn’t safe for you either,” Loew said. “Come, we have to—”
“Hush,” Dee said. “I think they’re coming back.”
No one spoke. Footsteps headed toward them, two men by the sound.
“Quickly,” Mordechai said. “There’s a ladder.”
He began to lower himself. Dee hurried to the circle and looked inside. He could just make out the first rung in the light from the open door.
He followed Mordechai. The ladder went down into pitch darkness. “What is this place?” he asked. “How do you know about it?”
“It’s a dungeon,” the peddler said. Loew and the golem came down the steps after Dee. Mordechai went back up and muscled the circle back into place. The dark was absolute now; Dee felt as if he’d gone blind. The air was chilly and smelled of mold and damp earth and something else, iron perhaps. Or old blood? He shook his head; he was being fanciful.
He recited a spell and a small light bloomed outward around them. The shadows fell back; Dee made out the wavering forms of Loew and Mordechai. The golem remained in shadow, a dark looming shape.
Dee had not noticed what Mordechai looked like earlier. Now he saw that he was shorter than either Dee or Loew, with a sun-browned face. His white hair was thinning on top; what remained curled around the sides of his head like sheep’s wool. His beard, also white, was trimmed close to his face. He had brought a candle out of one of the voluminous pockets of his dark shapeless cloak; he put it back when he saw Dee’s glow-light.
“I know because I hear things,” Mordechai said. The fear Dee had heard earlier was gone. “People tell me things when I travel. I daresay even Rudolf’s forgotten about it, though.”
An animal chittered from somewhere, and another animal answered. Five or six of them ran at once, their paws skittering over the floor. Rats, Dee thought.
“Someone just told me an intriguing story, in fact,” Mordechai said. “Apparently there’s a man in Prague who’s making boots to give to the Messiah when he comes. Boots made of the finest, softest leather in the world. They say he’s been working on them for five years.”
“Never mind that,” Loew said. “Why did you tell the soldiers you were me?”
“They were about to arrest you.”
“And you preferred them to arrest you instead? What did they do when they found out you weren’t me?”
Mordechai laughed. “Their hospitality leaves something to be desired, it’s true,” he said.
“Did they torture you?”
“Come, Rabbi Loew,” Mordechai said. “I’m far younger than you. Isn’t it better this way?”
“But why did you do it?”
“Do you have any children?” Dee asked abruptly.
Mordechai was silent for a moment, dearly surprised by the question. “My wife and I have two, a boy and a girl,” he said. “I visit them as often as I can.”
“Just two?”
“What odd questions,” Mordechai said mildly. “Why do you ask?”
“There’s a rumor you’re Izak’s father.”
“Izak? Oh, yes, Hanna’s boy. A nice kid—I wouldn’t mind having him for a son. But I always thought his father was Baruch the butcher.”
“How often do you visit Prague?” Loew asked.
“Every thirty-six days, if I can. Now would you mind telling me what all this is about?”
Dee heard Loew take a deep breath. “Do you know the story of the thirty-six righteous men?” Loew asked, watching the peddler intently.
“No. Wait—yes, I remember something. They’re supposed to uphold the world, is that right? Keep the world from ending, something like that?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We think—we have reason to believe that you’re one of these men.”
Mordechai laughed. “Me?” he said. “No, that’s impossible. I’m just an ordinary man, trying to make his way in the world.”
“You probably wouldn’t know if you were, though.”
“I daresay no one thinks he’s righteous enough. So by your reasoning anyone alive could be the man you seek.”
“You appeared on a list.”
“A list, was it? My name was on a list?”
“Not your name,” Loew said reluctantly. “It said ‘Traveler, Jewish Quarter.’”
Mordechai laughed again. “And I’m the only one who travels to the Quarter, is that what you’re saying?”
“No, of course not. Come—let’s leave this place and talk in the light. Surely the guards have gone by now.”
“Certainly.”
Mordechai climbed the ladder, cautiously lifted the covering, and pushed it out of the way. Dee winced at the loud groan it made, then winced again as the strong sunlight poured in. He spoke a few words and his light went out.
Mordechai pulled himself up to the floor of the tower. Dee went next; Mordechai gave him his hand to help him climb. Loew came after him, and the golem at the end.
They hurried away from the castle, all of them casting quick backwards glances as they ran. No one seemed to be following them. They went as fast as they could into the Lesser Quarter, the golem and Mordechai in front, Dee and Loew lagging behind.
They made their way past the outsized manor homes, nearly castles in their own right, that Rudolf’s nobles had built for themselves. Dee slowed to a walk, struggling to keep Mordechai in sight as he headed in the direction of the river.
Suddenly Mordechai stopped. As Dee caught up with him he saw a group of men fanned out across the road, blocking their way. One of them, Dee saw with dread, was Kelley.
“Stop there,” Kelley said. He pointed to Mordechai. “That’s the one, the thirty-sixth. Bring him to me. Bring the rest of them as well.”
14
TWO MEN MOVED FORWARD AND GRABBED Dee roughly by the arms. “So you found him,” Kelley said. “The thirty-sixth. I don’t suppose you were ever going to tell Rudolf.”
“How do you know who he is?” Dee asked.
“I saw him in the glass.”
“I thought you couldn’t use the glass.”
“Yes, well, I’ve grown more adept since we last met. And I’ve gotten help.”
Now Dee saw something odd behind Kelley, some kind of distortion in the air. It looked as if a poorly-made pane of glass hung there; some of the men behind it seemed stretched to nine feet tall, others pinched to the size of gnomes. As Dee watched the disturbance swelled and grew and began to mold itself into the shape of a man.
“Your demon,” Kelley said, following his gaze. “I’ve managed to make him visible in this world. And did you like what I had him do in Trebona?”
“He’s not my demon,” Dee said hotly. “You summoned him.”
“Come now, doctor. He’s yours, bought and paid for. Who was it who said knowledge is worth any price paid for it? That is what you said, isn’t it? You didn’t say, ‘Any price except trafficking with spirits,’ did you?”
“I didn’t call him up, I—”
“Well, it doesn’t matter now. You were the one who brought him to Prague, anyway. You thought you were running away, but in fact he was leading you here step by step. The door opens here, you know. This is where he’s the strongest.”
Yes, of course, Dee thought. I already know that. But Kelley wanted to talk, wanted to show his old master what he had accomplished by himself. And the more he talked, the more chance they had that something might happen. That, mayb
e, Mordechai might escape.
“So you weren’t the one to make him visible, as you claimed,” Dee said, cutting off whatever Kelley had been saying. “It would have happened anyway, as the door opened wider and he became stronger.”
“Nonsense,” Kelley said. “I learned the spells, I spoke them—”
Kelley turned, somewhat nervously, to look at his demon. He’s not in complete control of it, Dee thought. That’s interesting.
The demon had become more solid as they spoke. Dee glimpsed a face for a moment: red eyes, scaly skin, two great fangs jutting upward from the bottom row of its teeth. Then the shape wavered and became a bundle of bones loosely tied together. The bones were thin as twigs and the color of ebony, sucking in all the light around them.
Suddenly Dee remembered his visit to Kelley’s house, how he had had to face what he feared most in the world, his nightterrors. He tried frantically to think of something pleasant, something to banish the evil. Jane.
The shape distorted again, and he saw a hellish mix of fangs and scales and Jane’s lovely eyes and hair. It was the worst sight yet, so terrible that he cried aloud.
Everything turned black. The demon moved within him. He felt himself, his soul, his spark of awareness, sink down and nearly gutter out, smothered by the demon’s presence. It feeds on fear, he thought. It knew I was afraid. It was behind everything that happened in Kelley’s house. His heart pounded so heavily he was afraid he would die.
The demon forced his eyes open, then worked his legs, turning him in a small circle. The two men holding him had apparently run away. His muscles moved without his volition; it felt as though snakes crawled inside him.
A crowd had started to form, drawn by the noise, or perhaps the scent of magic. Everyone stood still, looks of horror on their faces. He saw Magdalena and Izak and Mamugna. And was that Erzsébet next to them? The demon turned him again and he caught a blur of motion at the corner of his eye; someone or something stood high up in a tower overlooking the street, someone familiar.
“Not the best body I could have chosen,” the demon said. It laughed horribly, contorting Dee’s face into an unfamiliar grimace. “An old one, about to die. I’ll have to choose someone else. Who will it be, I wonder.”
The Alchemist's Door Page 24
