Birgitta the Nun

Part 42 - The Debt

The massive doors of the church could be seen from far away, across the cemetery. They were decorated with flowers and ribbons, and proudly let on some kind of activity going on inside.

"We'll continue on foot," the wizard settled and climbed down from the cart.

The nun was quick to follow. She dropped down from the vehicle like any veteran trouper ready for action. She brushed the road dust off her robe and thought, "Finally—finally I've reached somewhere and can get things done."

The gates were heavy and Charlie and Birgitta together pushed them open. Silence met them as they entered the churchyard. It was a dead silence, but at the same time sacred. Though being a nun, Birgitta took it all in in awe. Everything struck her as terribly holy, and she could find nothing resembling her comfortable monastery. She didn't know a lawn could be this evenly mowed—so smooth. Neither had she ever seen such a straight row of graves. Of course the monastery didn't have any graves, but still—these were awfully lined-up and well organized.

Birgitta hurried her steps and aimed for the decorated doors of the church. But the Charlie hesitated—

"We can't go in there," she said, putting her hand on Birgitta's shoulder.

"But we're so close to our goal," Birgitta groaned, and made a full show of her eagerness.

"This will be fine," the wizard replied. She inspected their current position, "Right here is close enough."

It was obvious she didn't want to enter the church. She pulled at the robe of the nun and brought her behind a warden's shed. There she crouched. It was as if the churchyard had brought on a desperate need of hiding. Occasionally she put her head around the corner of the shed and spied at the towering building. Movements could be seen through its pompous windows - candles being lit, the waving of an arm, or the floating-by of some decorated head - but Charlie didn't try to join in.

Birgitta crouched next to the wizard and felt like an idiot. But she tried not to interfere. The wizard was in mourning - or at least so she thought - and that called for some respect.

The flowers in Birgitta's hand were beginning to droop. She looked at them with contempt—she wouldn't want these on her grave. A nudge in the side of Charlie brought her attention to the nun. She held up the flowers and made a gesture, as if proclaiming defeat. Charlie rolled her eyes.

"But why can't we go inside?" Birgitta wailed.

Charlie pretended not to hear and pulled her hat tight over her ears. She kept a close watch on the church, and any eventual development, in silence. An explanation would come when she was ready for it.

Birgitta quieted down and followed the gaze of the wizard, and together they watched for something unknown to happen. And hopefully spectacular.

But the doors of the church remained shut tight. It looked as though they did it on purpose - the doors wanted to keep up the suspense. They wanted the curiosity. They wanted people to wonder what was going on inside.

"I owe her some money you see," Charlie eventually offered. She didn't turn her attention from the church, "This peasant and I aren't on even terms."

"But she's dead," Birgitta protested.

"Sure, she's gone," the wizard sighed, "but not her memory. And not her family. They'll know when they see me—"

"Why not just pay them?" Birgitta inquired. She didn't receive the explanation in any thought-out manner, but just pushed for what she thought a sound thing to do.

"With what? My hat?" the wizard snorted. "No—I'd better lie low. But I'm still here at the funeral, paying my respects in my own way."

"Well—you're the boss," Birgitta sighed. She really didn't see Charlie as any boss but let her have it for now. Then, somewhat more collected, "Respect is not cheap these days anyway—maybe that'll settle your scores in heaven."

"Exactly—" The wizard cried. Then, raising her right index-finger towards the heavens, she declared in a clear and somewhat too loud voice, "A nun as my witness!"

The cry of the wizard gave a terrible echo. She dropped her arm and her index finger. Her voice filled the cemetery. It bounced between the graves, then hit the un-holy statement like a tennis-ball against the church-facade. She looked at Birgitta with big eyes and clenched her jaws. Birgitta clenched her fists. And the echo faded away.

Silence took over and the nun and the wizard unclenched their limbs. Again the churchyard was still and quiet.

"That was close," the wizard whispered.

"Close for what?" Birgitta retorted.

But again Charlie gave no reply. She shut herself up like a mussel and again curled up into a ball. Then, still behind the warden's shed, she continued her waiting. The nun had no choice but to join her.