Historical Setting, 610 C.E. Besançon Fortress
The plan to free Father Columbanus from the old lion’s cage of Besançon is nearly accomplished. The abbot of Luxeuil and the five prisoners who suffered in chains are all freed and a bishop is presently sorting out the details of absolution for the five rescued, regardless of God’s relentless grace and forgiveness.
So far, no blood was shed.
The bishop’s prayer goes on and on. Anyone whose eyes aren’t on the eternal just now might catch a glimpse of soldier Greg and me slipping through the hidden door under the rug. Greg dons the monk’s robe again as we go into the tunnel. No one seems to be following us. But when we reach the end of this section under the cage, preparing to go into the other tunnel that leads out we can hear the commotion of the gathering soldiers. They are mounting horses to ride out across the fields. Undoubtedly, they will be guarding the road northward to Luxeuil. Hopefully, Gabe and Gaillard have already taken the Father to the safe farmhouse where we will meet together before the trek back to the monastery.
So now, Greg and I enter into the tunnel leading out to the pasture, choosing not to light a torch so that the darkness will not only blind us it will also hide us. If soldiers follow, they will have torches. That light will go before us also, and if we find ourselves sharing their light, then we can run from them. For now, we move slowly feeling our way along the wall.
It turns out, guards coming through this tunnel with torches are noisy, talking, shouting, tromping with heavy footfalls. Well before we see the glow of their torches, we know they are behind us. In monk’s wools we can become shadows in this darkness.
I stretch my hand along the wall, reaching for that break we know is here, that fork toward an old unfinished tunnel.
Greg is versed in all the soldier’s tricks of eluding a chase. He gestures to me to stand motionless and silent in the shadow on one side in the opening of the wall, and he hides with his sword hidden in the robes by standing motionless on the other side of the opening. If one of us is noticed, we will surprise them from both sides, and that will allow Greg’s to be the first sword drawn.
May there be no swords drawn.
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 