Birgitta the Nun

Part 54 - The Note

And indeed, they had reached the village. The chimneys puffed their beautiful smoke in pleasant little clouds above their heads and civilization embraced them. People chattered in a busy manner, dealing and trading and bargaining. They scurried all over the place with their important little errands, hardly noticing the strange tent taking up residence in the middle of the square. But the children noticed. Once in a while one of them would stop, turn its round little head - as if regarding the situation something worthwhile the attention - and scrutinize the newcomers and their foreign equipment.

A bicycle came flying, almost knocking the merchant to the ground.

"Damn beseecher," she cried, shaking her fist at the flying vehicle. "Were I in my cart right now—I would have stomped that bicycle to bits already."

The merchant was no hot-headed creature, and her upset outcry made the abbess cock an eyebrow:

"I'm sure you would," her voice was reserved. "You and your horse are a vicious ride."

The merchant ignored the haughty face of the abbess, and started to pack the tent. She straightened her back under the heavy weight of her enormous bag, and set off across the square. And abbess followed suit.

The village was crowded, almost like a town, and resembled nothing like the lazy suburb the travelers had envisioned from far away. It was hard to imagine this crowded village - with its steady current of conversation and commerce - trying to hide from them only the day before; when here it was, all welcoming and busy.

They asked no questions and in return the villagers offered no comments. Everything floated, everything spun. The commotion was fine-tuned yet turbulent - like an orchestra still rehearsing before the grand entrée.

When the merchant saw the giant inn, towering at the end of the market place, she guffawed pleasantly, and patted her stomach.

"Oh-ho. Now, this is something worth beholding. Dear nun, we did fight—but now our reward has been delivered."

"Yes, I can see that," the abbess muttered, shrinking at the sight of the imposing building. "I hope it will be worth it—"

Though the merchant enjoyed being on foot, and managed fine on her own, she was always exhilarated to meet civilization. Her eyes shone and her smile broadened. Not even almost being run-over by a bicycle could put her off. She glanced at the reluctant nun and wondered why she didn't feel the same? Were all nuns pure introverts? But no, that was not it. Birgitta might be an introvert, but the abbess was outgoing, in her own strange way. She was probably just very much an abbess, the merchant thought, a person who enjoyed being in control. And if she ever met with the outside world, she would do it in a composed manner. She was doubtless a good abbess: none too eager, but neither unwilling - very much balanced.

A market stall displayed an assortment of colorful flowers and the abbess stopped to admire them.

"Now that's funny," thought the merchant. "We've been in the countryside for a long time - among trees, flowers, birds and wildlife - and this is the first time she's stopped to admire some bit of nature. How strange."

She was obviously not an outdoor-person, but neither a city-person. Then what was she? An indoor-cloister-person? The merchant again concluded that the abbess probably was a great abbess, not in need of very much variation, but appreciative of delicate things.

All of a sudden the inn towered in front of them, right at the tips of their toes, as if having sneaked upon them with its alluring facade. The merchant almost hit her nose against the brickwork. Had she been a wizard, or just a little bit superstitious, she could have sworn this inn a magical one. But that wasn't the case this time - and calm as a cucumber she entered the bewitching building. The abbess ducked behind, as if again longing to hide behind her heavy trousers.

The place was crowded despite being still forenoon, and the travelers had to push their way inside. They didn't bother to go looking for unoccupied chairs, but steered their steps towards the bar and its accumulating population. Soon a tall figure, wearing a service-like outfit, approached them with purposeful steps. She thrust a long and lean arm through the crowd, reaching all the way to the abbess, and handed her a folded note.

"For you Madame," she offered and released the note, then pulled her arm back and disappeared among the guests.

"How strange," the abbess said and studied the unexpected letter. "No one knew we were coming here—I mean, how could they?"

The merchant shrugged.

The abbess unfolded the note and saw in a neat handwriting the following message: "Please return to the monastery. You are very much needed. Holy regards Sœur Madeleine, stand-in abbess, though not cut out for it."

That was it. There was no date or explanation written on it, not even an address.

"Hmm—" the abbess said. "This was a surprise." She showed the note to the merchant, "I guess I've got no choice but to return."

"Probably not," the merchant agreed, glancing at the note.

"But the cat—"

"Don't worry. I'll continue looking for it. Gossip loves me and if there's anything to find out, I will."

"So you're staying?" the abbess hesitated. "You're not coming with me, or at least my way?"

"I can't—I've got some business to attend, at some inn."

"At some random inn?"

"No, a proper one—" now it was the merchant who hesitated. "I mean a certain one. This exact one in fact," she pointed to the ceiling, then to the floor, indicating this very inn to be her very exact and long-sought goal.

"Really?" the abbess tried to smile. "So you're not just escaping nuns and wizards?"

"Certainly not. There will be a great deal of that kind where I'm heading."

"I'm sure there will—well thank you for the lift, and for your generous helpfulness."

"I'm glad," the merchant bowed. "You've taught me a lot."

And so they parted, the nun and the merchant. The abbess left the inn and set off in some random direction, trusting her new sense of not understanding anything at all, to take her to the right place.

The merchant soon got caught in some proper business at the inn. There were lots of people to deal with and plenty of fights to avoid. She even decided to take up a room and a bed, while awaiting her horse and her cart. They were sure to arrive someday, she was positive. Her nag was a clever one and soon enough she would find her mistress again.