Morbus Dei: The Sign of Aries. Matthias Bauer

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СКАЧАТЬ giving a Frenchman a present?’ demanded Karl, astonished.

      ‘Nonsense,’ interjected the Prussian, coming out of the cottage with a grin on his face. ‘The only thing Johann ever gave a Frenchman was a bullet.’

      Hans and Karl grinned but Johann was dead serious. He turned to von Binden. ‘Does the name mean anything to you?’

      The Count nodded. ‘General La Feuillade is marching this very minute on Turin, along with Marshal Vendôme and the French troops.’

      ‘Von Pranckh made a pact with a certain General Lieutenant Gamelin, at least that’s what he boasted to him,’ said Johann thoughtfully.

      ‘Let’s hear that again, more slowly this time,’ said Hans, running his hands through his hair. ‘Who exactly did what to whom?’

      ‘Von Pranckh and General Lieutenant Gamelin must have planned something,’ said Johann, trying to unravel the knot of names and connections. ‘And General La Feuillade was going to get a ‘present’.’

      ‘What if Gamelin were the bearer of this so-called gift?’ suggested the Prussian, looking at the others. ‘And if the black carriage, which is now on its way southwards, were to belong to him?’

      ‘And what if the present is wearing a dress,’ added Karl, serious now.

      ‘Elisabeth is the present?’ asked Hans.

      ‘Not her, but her illness. And that of the prisoners in the two waggons,’ said the Count.

      ‘But what’s the point of the whole thing?’ asked Hans, still not understanding.

      ‘La Feuillade can lay siege to the citadel of Turin till kingdom come but he can’t storm it because the fortifications are too strong,’ explained the Prussian. ‘He’ll have to undermine them: dig tunnels underneath, explode the tunnels and hope that a defence wall collapses, which he can then overrun.’

      ‘That could take months and would tie up a large section of the French troops. Not to mention losses due to artillery fire,’ added Johann. ‘But if he manages to spread a disease in Turin, the problem solves itself and the French will be able waltz through the city gates as cool as you please. You saw yourselves how quickly the disease spread in Vienna.’

      ‘So that’s why the waggons are so heavily guarded.’ Even Hans had finally cottoned on.

      ‘They’ll probably travel across Semmering, going south along St James’s Way to avoid patrols and because it’s the quickest route. And that’s where I’ll find Elisabeth,’ said Johann, standing up. ‘I’m going to get going straight away!’ Stretching out his hand, he turned to the Count. ‘Thank you for your help, Samuel.’

      The Count ignored Johann’s hand and instead embraced him warmly. ‘Thank you. I’d like to go with you but Victoria Annabelle and I are heading in a different direction.’

      Johann nodded and let go of the Count. Victoria Annabelle peeped shyly at him and he gave her a friendly wink. With a quick smile, she vanished into the cottage.

      ‘We’re going to Siebenbürgen, where you originally wanted to go,’ continued the Count. ‘If all goes well and you find your wife, I would be glad to meet up with you again there. I plan to stay there and shall welcome anyone of a free spirit and a free heart who has a mind to join me. But in the meantime, let me give you dear Markus Fischart, he’ll make sure you keep your head on your shoulders.’

      Markus stood up and saluted eagerly.

      With a smile, Johann turned to the others. ‘Men, none of you has to come with me. You could–‘ he broke off, suddenly winded, for the Prussian had just thumped him on the chest. As he fell to his knees, he glimpsed a mischievous look on his friend’s face.

      The Prussian gazed with approbation at his fist. ‘Ah, I feel my strength returning,’ he cried, glancing down at Johann. ‘Do you feel it too?’

      Johann nodded, trying to catch his breath.

      ‘Excellent,’ continued the Prussian. ‘I think I’ve had enough rest. You too?’

      Johann got to his feet. ‘All you had to do was say that you were coming with me.’

      Hans and Karl cleared their throats almost at the same time.

      ‘That all of you were coming with me, I mean. Thank you,’ said Johann, taking a few deep breaths. Hans and Karl patted him on the back and they all went back into the house.

      Although Johann was as happy as a sand boy that his friends were going to help him he was well aware of the dangers of their mission and that the prospects of them all returning alive were slight.

      Any yet perhaps they could make it–they were loyal comrades, he had a clear goal and together they’d give Gamelin and his mercenaries hell.

      I’m on my way, Elisabeth.

      An hour later they had already left Deutsch-Altenburg far behind them.

      VII

      Dark storm clouds hung over the old imperial city as the last of the barricades were being torn down in the quarantine district. One couldn’t help feeling the authorities were trying to remove all trace of the disease as quickly as possible in the hope of blotting out the memory of the deportation as well.

      And indeed it wasn’t long before the streets and alleyways were bustling again with folk going about their business as if the events of the previous weeks had never happened.

      Two dozen horses stood outside the entrance of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. They were draped in black silk caparisons decorated with the imperial eagle, which also adorned the flags held by the footmen.

      Curious bystanders were pushing their way forwards in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the interior of the cathedral, where the state funeral for General Ferdinand Philipp von Pranckh was at that moment taking place.

      It was murky in this stately house of God and the air was filled with the cloying smell of incense and the bass tones of the large organ on the Füchsel baldachin, which set the candles quaking. Nearly all the pews flanking the Gothic nave were occupied by official dignitaries and influential citizens. Before the altar, von Pranckh’s elaborately embalmed body was laid out in an ornate tin coffin, with a collar strategically placed to hide the fact that his head had been severed from his body.

      With his hands folded and his head bowed, Bishop Harrach stood in front of the coffin. The strains of a requiem filled the cathedral, inviting reverent contemplation of the inevitable.

      Memento Mori.

      Remember that you will die.

      Even Mayor Tepser had bowed his head in humility and closed his eyes. Not much longer and this inglorious chapter of his term as mayor would belong to the past and eternal oblivion.

      Not long now.

      The choir was singing the last verse of the Dies Irae.

      Lacrimosa dies illa,

      Qua resurget ex favilla

      Iudicandus homo reus–1

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