The Devil's Opera(133)
“Not yet,” Hans said. Simon was surprised at the lack of anger in his friend’s voice. He himself was ready to scream at the merchant.
“Not yet,” Schardius agreed. “But all things come to an end, don’t they? And true wisdom might lie in recognizing the end when it comes.” He cocked his head to one side for a moment, then without a word turned back to his companions, who burst out laughing at something he said.
Simon moved back to Hans’ side and looked up at his friend. “What was that all about?” He was pretty sure that the merchant had said something more than what the words alone would convey.
“I don’t know.” That was all Hans would say, but Simon thought his friend looked more concerned than usual.
They walked around to their usual bench and went through the ritual of stripping off shirt and jacket and the placing of the hat on Simon’s head. Then they turned and watched the other end. That night’s opponent came into view at that moment.
Hans grunted. Simon peered up at him from under the brim of the hat. “I know this one,” Hans said, grinding a gloved fist in the opposite palm.
“Is he good?”
“Sometimes Konrad is tough.”
“Tougher than you?” Simon’s stomach flip-flopped.
Hans grinned. “No. Especially not with you for my luck.” He patted Simon on the shoulder.
“Hans! Konrad!”
They looked up to see Herr Pierpoint waving to them from the desk where the timekeeper usually sat.
“Come over here. There’s been a change in plans.”
They looked at each other. What could have changed? Hans shrugged and pulled his shirt and jacket back on. Simon tagged along behind Hans as he strode toward where Tobias and Herr Pierpoint were standing.
“What do you mean there’s a change in plans? I’m supposed to fight Konrad, right?”
“Wrong. Your plans for the night are changed, Hans Metzger.”
Simon knew he should know that cold voice, but he could not remember whose it was. He turned with Hans to see a face from the past.
“Karl…” Hans said. It was Barnabas’ cousin Karl from Hannover. “Barnabas never said your surname.”
“Elting.”
“So. And what has brought you back from Hannover, Herr Elting?”
“Why, you have, Herr Metzger.” Karl’s voice seemed tinged with sarcasm. “We have unfinished business, you and I. I have brought a challenge for you. Face Hannover’s champion fighter tonight for a purse of fifty thousand USE dollars.”
Fifty thousand dollars! Simon’s jaw dropped and his mind reeled. That sum was almost lordly. It made the eighteen hundred Hans would have won in the fight with Konrad almost seem like a beggar’s wages. Fifty thousand dollars!
Simon’s eye caught sight of someone standing behind Elting—Master Schardius, smiling. His mind snapped out of its shock and leapt to the conclusion that the merchant was involved. That meant… He turned to Hans and pulled on his sleeve with urgency. “Crows, Hans! Crows!” He hoped Hans remembered their conversation from a few weeks ago.
After a moment Hans dropped a hand on Simon’s shoulder and squeezed.
“Very well, Herr Elting.” Hans’ voice was calm. When Simon looked, his face was still. It was the way he was around Master Schardius. He had taken Simon’s warning. The boy almost sagged in relief. “Let me make sure I understand you. You want me to fight this ‘champion’ from Hannover—tonight—and you will pay fifty thousand dollars to the winner.”
“Correct.” Elting almost snarled.
“Winner take all?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s see it.”
“What?” A bewildered expression crossed Elting’s face.
“Show me—show all of us—the money.” Hans pointed to Tobias and Todd Pierpoint. “Let them count the money.”
Elting’s face grew red. “You doubt me?”
Hans’ face could have been carved from stone. “They count the money, or you’ve made a long trip for no reason.”
Elting’s face grew even redder, but he pulled a large purse from a coat pocket and handed it to Tobias. Simon watched with the others as the up-timer referee and the down-timer fight organizer pulled out five stacks of cash, put their heads together and counted the bills.
“Fifty thousand, just like he said,” Herr Pierpoint announced after they restored the money to the purse and drew the strings closed. Tobias nodded in confirmation, ferret eyes wide. As the up-timer moved to hand the purse back to Elting, Hans held up a hand.
“Keep the purse, Herr Pierpoint.” Hans turned to Elting. “Here are my terms.”