Eclipsis

Chapter 6

          The laughter in the dungeon has subsided. Franzi went back to burying her nose into her arm to keep from inhaling the stink of rotten meats, feces and urine. Hank pulls on his shackles; of course it's futile, they won't budge. "Why are you even trying?", William inquires. Hank sighs, then pulls the iron chains again. "Because that's all I can do, and I have to do something." They hear the noise of keys turning the lock on the dungeon door, and shortly thereof Hugh and Forwin enter and walk up to their cell. Hank opens his mouth to speak, but Forwin silences him by holding up his hand. "Which one had the Eclipsibus?", he asks Hugh, and the castellan points at Franzi. Franzi stares at Hugh, wary of being accused of theft. "Hey, I found it on the floor. Not even a minute before you arrived and arrested us!" The prior scrutinizes the prisoners, one by one. Hank fumes. "Are you O'Sullivan's men? If that's so, it's me you want. Let the others go. They mean nothing." "What is your name?", Forwin asks. "Hank Donovan. As if you don't know." "And how did you get wet, Hank Donovan? Did you swim through the moat to climb the castle wall?" "Moat? It was raining cats and dogs for the past few days." The prior crosses his arms in front of his chest. "Did it? I see... If not through the moat, how did you get onto the wall-walk, unnoticed by the guardsmen?" Hank has had enough. "Guardsmen? We chased this girl up the tower... the ruin of a tower, don't mind! You want us to explain? How in hell did you get here?" 

          Forwin's eyes become very narrow. He points at Hank. "Witchcraft has brought you here and only witchcraft could hide the sun! With the grace of God and prayer, I, Forwin of Cheltenham, expelled your sorcery and released the light back to the people of England!" Franzi has been listening, increasingly incredulous, until something dawns on her. "Wait! ... What is the date?" Hugh and Forwin look at her, not comprehending her question. She rephrases: "What day is it today?" Hugh shrugs. "Do you not know this? Tis Monday of course." Franzi turns to Hank and William. Hank shakes his head. "Today is Sunday." She turns back to Hugh. "And what is the month?" "The second day in the month of the virgin." Franzi looks at William. "That's August." William protests. "But it's September!" Franzi takes a deep breath and asks Hugh her final and most important question: "What year is this?" Prior Forwin does not like the direction his interrogation  has turned and he interrupts: "This is enough! You are not to ask the questions! When I come back you will tell me who you are, why you are here, and how you controlled the Eclipsibus." The prior turns to leave and stops. Without looking back he adds: "If I am not satisfied with your answers you will burn for heresy." Forwin exits the dungeon. Hugh watches him leave, then spits on the ground. "Thinks he gives orders now since he made friends with the bishop..." "Which bishop?", Franzi wants to know. "Roger of Salisbury, who else?" The castellan ponders his prisoners. They don't look particularly  dangerous. " A little dumb in the head maybe, but not dangerous.", he says out loud. He opens the cell and walks up to them, bends down and shackles their legs.  "Sure, that makes perfect sense. Shackle the dumb prisoners even more.", Hank mocks. Hugh ignores this remark and continues to work on the leg shackles. When he is finished he reaches up and proceeds to remove the shackles from their arms. Freed from those restraints their arms fall to their sides in relief. Franzi and Will sink to the ground instantly and rub their tortured arms and shoulders. Hank remains stoically in standing position, even though his legs are shaking. The castellan looks him up and down. "As I said. Dumb." With that Hugh leaves the dungeon and the three prisoners are alone again. Hank sinks to his knees.

          After a few minutes of silent rest, Franzi gets up and starts walking back and forth, dragging the generous length of chains on her shackles along with her. William glares trancelike at the straw on the ground being swept this way and that by the chains until they disturb a hidden rats' nest under the straw and the rats scurry away into all directions, one racing across William's feet. "Jesus, Franz, will you please stop this wandering about? God knows how many more horrors lie beneath. I'm certainly not particularly eager to find out." It doesn't sway Franzi from her pacing though. "This helps me thinking. I'm sorry." Hank looks up at her. "What are you thinking about? Those people are positively insane. There's nothing we can do until we get the chance to break out." Franzi replies without stopping her shuffle. "I'm thinking about Salisbury." "Who is this bishop? Never heard of him." William chimes in. Finally Franzi stops walking. "Not is. Was.  As far as I remember my history lessons he was in high regard and service of..." Franzi pauses, then takes a deep breath. "King Henry." Nobody says a word for a few moments. Then Hank laughs and asks: "What are you saying? We went back in time? To the Tudor dynasty?" "Not that Henry.", Franzi shakes her head. "Not Henry VIII... I'm talking about Henry the First." William jumps up. "You don't really believe we somehow traveled to the 12th century?" Franzi looks at him, dead-serious. "Yes. I believe this is some Monday in August of the year of 1133."

***

          Inside the priory of Tutbury, unlike all the other rooms for the monks, Forwin's chamber is spacious and lavishly furnished. The bed is big, the walls are covered with heavy rugs, and soft candle lights fight off the late afternoon shadows created by the last sun rays. Forwin sits at his desk, the Eclipsibus in front of him, humming softly. Aalina stands shy and scared near the door. Prior Forwin folds his hands. "I know, my child, that it was you who took the relic. There is no sense in denying it. Tell me..." He stares at her with an attempt to look sympathetic. "Did these strangers force you to bring it to them?" Aalina doesn't say a word. She looks at her feet and simply shakes her head. The prior changes his tone. "You are to cook and to clean my mother's living quarters, no more, no less. Entering the priory without invitation is a crime. Especially for a woman. Or a girl. Look at me." Aalina looks up, but not into his eyes. She is scared of his eyes, so she tries to keep hers concentrated on his forehead. Forwin regards Aalina appraisingly; realizing what she is doing, he sits up a little straighter. He catches her gaze with his eyes and Aalina sees the hunger in them. Shocked, she casts her eyes back to the ground. Forwin gets up from his chair. "Why did you take it, Aalina?"Forwin gets up and moves around his desk. Aalina stumbles over her words, then talks faster, frantically trying to talk herself out of this situation. "I... I don't know, Father Forwin. I just thought it was so beautiful, and I wanted to look at it in the sunlight. I am sorry." Prior Forwin comes closer. "How did you find the Eclipsibus?" "Twas in your mother's trunk. I found it... when I searched for some clothes to mend." Forwin stands right in front of Aalina and picks up her chin. "I see. Do you imply that it was I who took it from the priory and hid it in my mother's clothing trunk?" Aalina replies in alarm: "No! I didn't mean to say that..." Forwin smiles faintly. "What did you do with the Eclipsibus, after you stole it? Take your time. Tell me all." Aalina takes a deep breath.

          "I took it to the keep and went to the wall-walk, where I was alone. It hummed. Like now. Then I saw that I could move the plates, so I rolled them. I was only playing... Nothing happened at first, but uh, then I noticed that I could push that bar." Aalina points at one of the bars on the frame of the Eclipsibus. Prior Forwin closes his eyes as if to visualize the occurrences. There is an odd and disquietingly sensual undertone in his voice. "And... did you push it?" "Yes. Suddenly it stopped humming. The sun started to disappear. I got scared. I dropped the relic and ran into the tower, but..." Aalina searches for the right words. The prior, choked by excitement, motions her to go on. Aalina, not knowing she ran into the 19th century ruins of the tower instead of her own time, does not know how to explain what she saw. She doesn't want to tell of her astonishment and how scared she really was. The prior might lock her up because he'd think she is lying, or worse, insane. "I rushed down the tower, and..." "Don't hold back. Tell me what you saw." "It looked so different. Inside. And once I ran outside... I saw that I was surrounded by ruins. The sun was back, but the castle, everything gone or in shambles. And old. The stairs, they were mossy and broken. I ran down the hill. I wanted to run home, but I didn't recognize the road... There were horses, for of them, pulling a wagon. And a lady and a gentleman, in peculiar clothing, they were sitting in the wagon. The horses were so fast. I stood in the middle of the road and they almost... I barely escaped with my life. I just wanted to be back in the castle, so I ran again..."

***

          Back in the dungeon Hank, Franzi and William watch a rat chew on the skeleton's remains. Hank grabs one of the bones and throws it at the rat. "We're from the future, doesn't that make us their boss in a way? It's insulting to be holed up by these ignoramuses. We should tell them." Franzi shakes her head. "They'll burn us for heresy." William chimes in: "Don't say that! I've always thought drowning would be the worst death. I never even considered burning at a stake. So don't say that..."

***

           Night has fallen and more candles light the prior's chamber. Aalina has finished her story. "I need to go home. Please." "First we will make sure that no witchcraft was involved." The girl's eyes grow wide. She shivers and speaks in a whisper. "I am no witch." "We can easily prove or disprove that, my child. Do you know what the witches' mark is?" "Yes... I don't have any moles! I swear, God be my witness!" "I wish I could trust you... Alas -", Forwin's voice grows hoarse. "I must examine..." His breath becomes heavier, he starts inhaling through his mouth. Excitement and need sparkle in his eyes like foreboding stars. He ventures a hand toward her chest. Aalina walks backwards till she hits the wall. Trapped, she winces, turns her face to the side and squeezes her eyes shut when Forwin's hand finally reaches her. Gently he opens her garment and a little groan escapes his mouth when he bares one small breast...