Birgitta the Nun

Part 22 - Business

The innkeeper led the way and brought her guests behind the bar. They passed through a busy kitchen, traversing the territory of a sturdy cook. With a mistrustful expression, the cook watched the newcomers penetrate her domain. She kept a close watch on their every step, her right hand clenching a heavy spoon, like a visual promise of defense and struggle. Then a quick nod from the innkeeper - and she returned to her pots and pans. The guests could pass in peace.

They were led to a backroom at the end of the kitchen. It was small but heavily isolated, and when the massive door closed, it gave the impression of a bunker. A map sat at the wall, revealing every nook and cranny of the village, and naturally contributed to the bunker-feeling. The innkeeper walked up to the map and pulled down a curtain. It was not meant for curious eyes. Then she turned to the blackboard at the opposite wall, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote:

Scheme:

1. Pay debts

2. Water horse

3. Have dinner

"The horse is already seen to," the abbess said, rather proud to be contributing to the mysterious business.

"Very well," the innkeeper replied. "That leaves money and food. Please have a seat."

The innkeeper showed the merchant to a small round table, and the two of them sat down to business, without inviting the abbess. She was left on her own, hanging in a corner, like a child not let in on the politics of the adults.

The merchant and the innkeeper each brought out a heap of receipts. Then, side by side, they started matching them up. Income would cancel outcome—interest would balance disinterest—and so forth. The merchant pulled out a machine from god knows where, and let her fingers hammer away. She did the adding up of numbers, while the innkeeper stamped and punched the discarded receipts. It all looked very professional, and they didn't have to share many words to reach an agreement.

The abbess tried to catch a glimpse of some receipt, but the large hands of the innkeeper cleverly covered every line legible. The one receipt cancelled the other, and so it went on—till the heaps were heaps no more, but only one single scrap of paper.

The abbess wandered about her allotted corner of the backroom. There should be something of interest, she was sure. A high and wide cabinet - covering almost half of a wall - caught her attention. It looked interesting enough, and she stood on her toes to do some poking around. The shelves were full of strange objects: bandaids, electronic gadgets, chewing gum, teddy bears, ink stamps, and the like—and the abbess let her restless fingers fiddle without restraint.

Her eyes fell upon an article from a newspaper, and she started reading with interest. But when she picked it up - snatching the paper from its place on the shelf - at the same time she let loose a pair of dice. It was an accident: the dice rolled from the shelf and dropped to the floor. The noise was fantastic. They rattled away on the stone-floor like mad fugitives. The poor nun froze in her place. Soon she was going to be reprimanded for her curiosity, she was sure. "Put that down you wicked nun," she muttered to herself. But no reprimands came. She glanced at the 'adults' and realized they were too busy doing business to notice her. Thus she was left with her freedom to roam. The dice were left on the floor - abandoned to their flight - while the abbess went ahead and attacked some new item of the shelves.

"Aha," the merchant exclaimed. "It looks like I owe you a penny."

"Only half a one," the innkeeper replied, pointing out a latent expense.

"Very well—let's settle at that." The merchant pulled out her pouch and offered a cut coin.

The innkeeper accepted with a bow and a pleasant grunt. "Now, let's get you some dinner," she said, looking content. "Any allergic preferences? Any alternatives?"

"None at all," the merchant replied.

"Good—I haven't got any. Just one stew - but a mighty one."

The innkeeper made grand gestures and had her guest seated back at their table. She brought them stew and wine and treated them to fresh bread and cheese. It was a feast and the travelers were not slow to enjoy it.