Historical Setting, 610 C.E. a farm house near Besançon
Greg and I are the last of our group to arrive back at the safe farm house. There is a sense of victory among us, having freed the prisoners with no bloodshed and also having captured an extra sword, then contaminating a lovely, dark woods by affirming rumors of demons. Well, maybe the demon myth was just a convenient opportunity. Whatever, knowing of the rumor gives us another veil of stealth as we will soon return Father Columbanus to his community.
The father seems no worse for wear, in fact, he seems invigorated by the success of the project. He thanks God for the miracle of Paul and Silas.
We are sure that the Besançon soldiers will make a plan very soon to guard the road to Luxeuil. And we’ve already forfeited speed and surprise. If we follow the one old Roman road it will take us right passed the fortress and on in the most predictable way using the slow and steady mule wagon.
“So, Gaillard,” I ask, “tell us the plan to get the Father, two soldiers with swords, and a monk and a mule and me all passed an army of soldiers.”
“Make that, three soldiers with swords,” offers the farmer, taking the extra sword in hand. “And we can move faster on horseback along an alternate pathway I know of.”
Gaillard explains, “The Father would probably prefer a wagon ride.”
But Father Columbanus reminds us not to let his silvered tonsure and liturgical status keep him from the horses.
“You ride, your holiness?”
“Of course, did you suppose an abbot has no human legs under his vestment? I would love a good excuse to take a gallop through the hills once again.”
The farmer readies his two horses as Gaillard and Greg prepare their own mounts. So, the plan is that the Father will ride a horse, guarded by three swordsmen, and they will take an alternative path to the road to avoid the likelihood of meeting soldiers guarding the main road. Greg and I will take our time on the well-known Roman road with the mule and the wagon and at best, we can serve the escape as a decoy. A wagon with monks going north toward Luxeuil might be just how the guards are expecting to find the escaped prisoner.
And so it is that our mule wagon hasn’t come far passed the fortress when we are stopped by the soldiers from Besançon.
(Continues, Tuesday, December 12)
Lazarus Ink 