“I should ask God?” Madlen looked at the old woman in amazement. She never would have thought that this simple woman had such steadfast faith.
Hedwig laughed and shook her head. “But of course. With the Lord on your side, you are always stronger than your opponents.” She stood up from the table. “Now lie down and rest. If you leave early tomorrow morning, you’ll reach the Rhine before nightfall. And Maria?”
“Yes.” Madlen looked expectantly at Hedwig.
“Do it right now. Lie back and say a silent prayer to God. He will wake you up early in the morning, and you will feel the power he graced you with overnight.”
Madlen didn’t quite know what to think, but she gratefully accepted the invitation to grab the blanket and lie down in a warm bed. She briefly touched her chest to make sure that the money pouch was still around her neck. It gave her a sense of security to hold onto the little pouch. She thought about the right psalm to recite. Which prayer would please God and help her on her journey? She didn’t know. Words, phrases, and songs passed through her mind, though none seemed to fit. She pondered long and hard, and without realizing it, she prayed silently. Then she prayed some more. She laid all her fears and worries in God’s hands until she finally fell asleep.
In the morning when she awoke, she felt rested, strong, and yes, fearless. How was this possible? Had God really heard her prayers and sent help to her as she slept? Or was it Hedwig’s firm conviction that led her to believe that this was God’s merciful assistance? She couldn’t tell. But she knew that she would never forget this feeling and was deeply grateful for Hedwig’s advice. Yes, she did believe that God gave her courage and strength. God was on her side; she felt it with every fiber of her body. She couldn’t feel any happier than she felt right now.
Chapter Twelve
She arrived in the vibrant city of Worms in the late afternoon. The guards standing watch over the gate didn’t stop her. Without any goods, she made no impression on them since she didn’t seem to have business in the city. She was glad she took Hedwig’s advice to slip one of the old lady’s worn-out dresses over her men’s clothing before departing. Now she seemed a lot bigger than she actually was. Anyone she ran into would deny having seen a young, boyishly thin woman, as the sheriff probably described her. And the extra layer of clothes also had another advantage: the cold had less effect as she marched on. The opportunity to spend the night at Hedwig’s had proven to be very helpful to Madlen. But as good of a soul as Hedwig might be, she didn’t hesitate to take an extra coin for the old raggedy dress she’d given up. But that didn’t make any difference to Madlen; she was more thankful for the advice, which kept her at least as warm as the dress’s extra fabric.
She admired the hustle and bustle of the Worms harbor. There were dozens of young men carrying boxes on their shoulders, walking quickly here and there, ships sailing in to unload their wares and pick up new crates at the harbor. Others unloaded large merchant vessels, surefootedly carrying freight over narrow planks. There was movement everywhere. Madlen was impressed as she stared openmouthed at all the activity.
“Out of the way.” A young man carried two big crates and could barely see a thing as he almost ran over Madlen.
“Don’t just stand there; get to the side if you need to stand there and gawk,” he said as he passed her and approached a small boat, already overloaded and low in the water. “These are the last two,” she heard the man say to another man. “If you take more, the boat will sink before you sail her out of the harbor.”
The other man grumbled something unintelligible. Madlen watched as he pressed some coins into the younger man’s hands. He took the money, tipped his cap, and nimbly walked over the plank to shore, his work apparently done. His gaze fell on Madlen.
“Are you waiting for someone to fetch you?” He approached her with a wide grin.
She gathered all her courage, cleared her throat, and willed her voice to obey her. “Do you know a woman named Agathe?”
He stood still for a moment and scratched his head. “Agathe? I know somebody named Agathe. What’s the answer worth to you, girl?”
Madlen turned on her heels and stepped away. He followed and finally caught up to her. “Where are you going in such a hurry? Don’t get upset.”
Madlen did not slow her pace.
“Now wait a second, sweetheart. Tell me, which Agathe do you mean?”
Madlen stopped and cocked her head to the side.
“I don’t want any money,” he assured her.
“She probably lives close to the harbor.” Madlen thought harder about what she actually knew about her aunt. “She’s a widow and works as a seamstress, as far as I know.”