Pilgrims of Promise(58)

The pilgrims climbed through the difficult Grimsel with few complaints. The June sky remained bright and blue, and the air was pleasantly cool. About halfway to the top, the evergreens gave way to scrub brush that grew amongst lichen and moss. Streams and waterfalls abounded on every side, and eagles soared overhead. At the crest, the pass was surrounded by rock and swept with cold wind. Snow lay heavy on all sides. Yet, despite the harshness of the silent desolation, five-petaled purple flowers grew stubbornly in nearly every crevice and crack, boasting their beauty.

Delighted, Maria picked a handful of blooms and held them happily to her frost-reddened nose. Her companions, however, were far too cold and shivering to care and wanted only to simply hurry on. So, with a few barks, Wil pressed his followers into the descent—past rock walls striped with tints of green, past more waterfalls and lichen, scrub, and pines—and finally into the spruce, where the scented air was warm again.

The next day they pushed northward along the narrow Aare River and under the watch of three mountain peaks that Heinrich quickly named the “Magi of Mountains.” Staring at them, the baker told stories of his beloved Magi of the Laubusbach. “Under their canopy we learned many things of heaven and of earth. You all would have loved my Butterfly Frau.” The very sound of her name brought a lump to his throat. “Wil, do you remember the Magi?”

Wil nodded. “I do. And I remember Frau Emma very well. She made me feel free.”

The road they followed took them toward the sprawling village of Meiringen and past a view of a castle keep set to the far end of the wide Aare Valley. There, numbers of pennants were flying over a large encampment of soldiers. Springtime was the most common season for warfare, and the company grew immediately anxious.

“We must hurry on,” urged Wil.

The column entered Meiringen, where they decided to rest. Sprawling about the shoulder of the road, the group broke into its usual clusters and helped themselves to the remaining stores on Paulus’s back. “Wil,” said Pieter, “our supplies are getting low. Perhaps we ought to see what’s about in the village.”

“Ja. Methinks the same. Take my father and Otto … and Paulus.”

“And me!” chirped Maria.

“And you,” chuckled Wil. “But have a care. We don’t know much about these parts.” He watched the foursome meander toward the village, and he took the opportunity to call to Frieda. He picked up his bow and smiled at the girl. “Would you like to walk with me?” Frieda nodded, and the two disappeared into a small grove.

In the meantime, Heinrich, Pieter, Maria, and Otto led Paulus to the village edge, where they came upon two old men drinking beer. At the sight of them, Heinrich muttered an oath.

“Ho there, my brothers,” began Pieter.

The two scowled.

“A miserable day for the two of you?”

“Humph,” answered one as he released some gas.

“I see. Well, my name is Father Pieter, and these are m’friends.”

The two looked away and did not respond.

Heinrich curled his lip. “I know you two! Y’sent me on the wrong path!”

One spat. He was a bald, wrinkle-faced farmer. “It would’ve been Edel what done that. He’s daft and doesn’t know it.”

Edel cursed. “Axel is an old fool and dim as dung. Last night he tried pulling his leggings over his head … thought they were his shirt!”

The pilgrims chuckled.

“Did not, dolt. Y’d be dreamin’ again!”

“Enough, good sirs!” laughed Pieter. “Enough! Can you tell us where we might find some cheese and bread?”

The two huddled, then began to argue again. Axel stood and pointed. “There, strangers. Go there, past the church, then past the smiths. The market is behind a row of barns.”

“Nay! ‘Tis the far way,” griped Edel.

Pieter pursed his lips. “So who should I choose?”

“Axel,” muttered Heinrich. “Edel cost me days of trouble.”

Pieter hesitated. “Can you two not lead us there?”

The old men hesitated.

“I’ll give you a blessing.”

The men immediately stood. Pieter laid his hands on both their heads and prayed loudly. When Pieter finished, Axel and Edel bade the foursome follow them through a wandering labyrinth of narrow alleys and tight streets until somehow the old men delivered the foursome to the village market. Otto spotted a stack of cheeses piled in the shape of a pyramid. He ambled to the merchant who waited with his fists on his hips. “Ja? You’ve business with me?”

“We’re looking for food.”

“Ja?” The man stared at Otto for a few moments, then turned his face toward Maria and the two men. “Who be you?”