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[heft] Perry Rhodan 0638 Der Konterplan

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.He had just stepped from his sitting room into his bedchamber when he heard a rap at his door.Slipping the pouch under the clothespress near the foot of his bed, Sanct’ Germain went to open the door.“My master,” said Rogerian.“I do not mean to disturb you—” He stopped himself, unable to go on.“What is it, old friend?” Sanct’ Germain asked after Rogerian fell silent.“Is something the matter.”“I need a word with you,” he said.“I would rather not wait until you arise in the afternoon.”“All right,” said Sanct’ Germain, no sign of dismay in his manner.He stepped aside to allow Rogerian to enter.“Tell me what is troubling you.”“I had a most.disturbing caller,” said Rogerian, and then took a deep breath, delivering his news in a single rush.“Ithidroel came a short while ago, immediately after his morning prayers, to warn me that there was going to be an attempt to seize your house and goods after Mass on Sunday, because you do not attend the holy services.The Praetorius’ scribe told him the whole of it.Your apostasy is the excuse they intend to use.” He held up his hands before Sanct’ Germain could speak.“Ithidroel said that it is not enough that you come to the synagogue to discuss the writings of the Prophets and Patriarchs, for you are not a Jew any more than you are a Roman Christian.The Praetorius is short of money, and you are rich.”Sanct’ Germain shook his head; his apprehension now had shape and meaning.“I suppose I must be grateful for that introduction Episcus Luitegild provided, after all; although it was probably one of the Episcus’ slaves who passed on my need of the introduction.The Praetorius’ intentions are not coincidental, I suspect, with our plans to depart.Praetorius Chindaswinth may not have a Byzantine garrison to protect him any longer, but he is not entirely powerless, either, and his coffers may well be empty.It is not surprising he would think of me, for I am a foreigner and he knows I have gold and property.” He fell silent for a brief moment, then spoke as calmly as if he were arranging for feed for his horses.“We will have to move our goods outside the city over the next two days, as unobtrusively as possible.We can explain our need to have the villa well-stocked in case the storm should cut it off from Toletum.”“And if this is forbidden?” Rogerian asked without any significant change in his demeanor.“I cannot be the only resident of Toletum who has to provide his country house for the winter,” said Sanct’ Germain calmly.“Everyone who keeps a villa will be doing the same thing; to refuse me would expose the Praetorius’ intentions before he can put them in motion.I doubt he would be so foolish.If he wants my property, he will have to justify his seizure or risk having his court rebel.”“Would they do that to support a foreigner,” Rogerian wondered aloud.“It has happened before,” Sanct’ Germain pointed out.“The Gardingi withdrew their men-at-arms from the city and taxed the Praetorius for it.No, we have a little time, and we must make the most of it.”Rogerian had been with Sanct’ Germain long enough that this swift shift in plans did not astonish him.“What do I tell the servants here?”“Tell them that they will not suffer on my account.I will pay them two years’ salary and grant writs of manumission for all slaves as well for when I leave.I want none of them to starve, so I will also provide—through the synagogue—to have money enough to maintain this household for some time to come.I suppose Ithidroel will be able to manage that for me, I will visit him this afternoon and make the arrangements, including a suitable donation to the monastery when I have settled matters with Ithidroel.” He strode about the room, stopping beside a red lacquer chest of Roman design where he kept his medicaments.“Choose such items as you know I will need, and prepare the rest for storage.This must come with us.I will attend to the athanor myself.” He paused.“A pity I did not have time to make more jewels.These, and the gold I made last week, will have to suffice.”“Then you do not doubt that the Praetorius will act once he is ready?” Rogerian asked.“Certainly not—if I did, I would expose us both to consequences neither of us wants.And the Jews have the most reliable information about such matters.The Episcus does not concern himself with the Praetorius’ authority; he cannot afford a clash of wills and purposes.” He flung up his hands to show his exasperation.“I should have known this was coming.I should have realized that as soon as the Episcus issued our introduction, that the Praetoris would be informed and would demand some price for my departure.Three days to depart—fewer than I would like, but it is better than no warning.It is my lapse.I should have been more vigilant.”“The Praetorius is greedy, the Exarch is greedy; they are all greedy,” said Rogerian, his voice level; only the light in his faded-blue eyes showed how condemningly he meant this.“As I knew, and as you reminded me,” said Sanct’ Germain, dismissing this.“This is not the first time we have ever had to deal with such a man as Chindaswinth.” He looked at Rogerian.“We will need to get the strongest horses out of the stable, and the best mules.At least we can move them to the villa without questions being raised.”“I will see to it,” said Rogerian.“Give me time to trim their hooves before taking them out of the city; if I leave such tasks until we reach the villa, someone will remark on it [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]