Birgitta the Nun

Part 29 - The Inn #2

The merchant pushed the doors open with confidence. She wasn't disappointed as she beheld the assortment of the tavern. It was all there as it should be: travelers in every shape and form, happy and sad, smooth and rugged; smells of every kind, both delicious and appalling, strange and familiar; chatter and murmur on the most scattered of subjects, making no sense whatsoever to an uninvited ear. Smoke clung to the whitewashed walls, making them gray and drab, and full of whisking shades. Bottles of wine were to be seen on every table, accompanied by clammy glasses being filled and refilled.

The merchant circled the place, recognizing no faces but greeting plenty. She took a cigarette from a stranger - though not a smoker herself - and let i hang unlit in the corner of her mouth in the most decorative way. It was a popular little joint and business flourished.

No tables were left without guests and the newcomers settled for hanging at the bar. The merchant casually leaned her upright frame against the counter, as if born to do it. But the nuns were a different matter: they looked like deserted wranglers, without a mission and a purpose, as they tried to cling to the counter in some kind of relaxed way. It seemed as though the surface were overly polished, causing their arms and elbows to slip off, again and again.

It was a small spectacle and soon enough the innkeeper noticed the odd gauchos. Curiosity shone in her eyes as she gave way for her hospitality:

"Good evening travelers. What brings you here?"

"Dinner and business," the merchant replied, confident as ever.

"Dinner and business it is," the innkeeper offered and brought out her obligatory notepad. "And a bed of course—" she continued. "You look tired my friends, and in need of some rest."

"No bed mistress. We won't stay for long."

"No bed?" The innkeeper seemed somewhat disappointed at the loss of an extra income. Then, trying to push the matter, "I've got excellent beds—none too pricy."

"No bed mistress," the merchant repeated. "Thank you for your hospitality, but I'm sure there aren't even any beds left for us." She took a quick look around, indicating the place being perfectly crowded.

"Yes, I see—" The innkeeper didn't look up but scribbled in her notebook. "You're a clever guest, I can tell—I won't persist. That leaves business." She lifted her eyes, "That is for me, I presume?"

"Correct," the merchant agreed.

"Excellent." The innkeeper again brightened up.

The pre-meeting to the business-meeting had started and it was a whole lot of nodding and scribbling. Birgitta looked from the one to the other, and tried to follow the wordless communication. The abbess rolled her eyes.

"Trying to be mysterious are you, eh?" she snorted. "Bring out your receipts and get it over with—pay a farthing and pretend to be rich. Ah, business - the lovely smell of shifting papers."

The innkeeper stared at the wicked nun and stopped her scribbling. Then, shifting her gaze towards the merchant, "Maybe we should make this private?"

"I won't argue with that," the merchant replied. She spit out her wet, still unlit cigarette.

The two dealers left the nuns at the bar and headed off to some private backroom. Birgitta went looking for the loo and the abbess was left alone on a high chair with a bowl of peanuts.