“Seamstress?” He scratched his head.
“Her husband’s name was Reinhard,” Madlen said. It was the last bit of information that she had.
“Agathe.” His eyes started to twinkle. “Yes, I know her. If you want, I can bring you to her.”
Madlen couldn’t quite put aside her suspicions. “You can just tell me where I can find her.”
He grimaced playfully. “Well, I deserve that. I’ll bring you to her anyway.” He took off and Madlen followed. He walked very slowly so she could catch up to him.
“What’s your name by the way?”
“Maria,” Madlen answered quickly, the same name she’d given Hedwig. It seemed wise to keep up the pretense for now.
“My name is Kuntz.” He searched Madlen’s eyes, but she looked straight ahead. “And what do you want from Agathe, Maria?”
Madlen didn’t answer.
“You’re as mute as the fish I catch.” He sulked.
They went farther along the harbor. The houses were built a lot closer to the wharf than they were in Heidelberg. There were also quite a few huts that didn’t appear to house any people at all.
“What are these structures?”
Kuntz followed Madlen’s view. “Just as I thought. You’re not from here.”
“The huts,” Madlen repeated.
“They’re not only in Worms. I believe that most of the harbors along the Rhine have them. They temporarily store goods.”
“Why doesn’t everybody just pick up the wares that were intended for them?”
Kuntz looked up suddenly. “How can anybody know so little about trade?” He laughed but stopped when he saw Madlen bow her head in embarrassment. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to be rude.” He spread out his arms. “I can hardly believe that you’ve never seen this before. I’m so used to all the hustle and bustle. I know there are harbors where even bigger ships sail, ones that travel over the ocean, carrying cargo we could only dream of here.” As Kuntz’s eyes lit up, Madlen almost chuckled.
“One of these days, believe me, I’ll be on one of them, traveling afar. I’ll see with my own eyes the sights the sailors talk about in their stories. There, on the sea, where there are fish as big as a church and people who dance and laugh all day long, where beautiful girls ensnare men and there are exotic goods wherever you turn.”
Madlen smiled. “Can we continue on our way?”
Kuntz nodded.
“You want to sail? My bro . . .” She cleared her throat. “My cousin, my uncle’s son, wants to go to sea, too.”
“Oh really? What country does he want to travel to?”
“I don’t know exactly, and believe me, neither does he.”
Kuntz laughed. “Same with me. I know that many don’t believe me. But one of these days, I’ll take off.” He stepped closer to Madlen. “Every penny that I earn, I save so that I can buy my passage.”
“How much does something like that cost?” Madlen asked, looking wide-eyed at Kuntz. Perhaps she could earn enough money to fulfill her brother’s dreams.
Kuntz waved her off. “A fortune, I can tell you that. But I’ll do it anyway.” He stopped again.
“I hope you do.”
“Thank you.” He lifted his arm and pointed. “We’re here.”
“Where?”
“At Agathe’s, of course.”
“Really?” Madlen looked over at the house, amazed. She never expected her aunt to be so well off.
“And you’re sure that this is the right Agathe?”
“Yes, why do you ask? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing. So, you don’t know another Agathe, another widow whose husband was named Reinhard?”
Kuntz shook his head. “No, and I know just about everybody in this town.”
“All right.” Madlen turned again to the house. It was built of stone; it must have cost a fortune. But maybe only a fortune in her eyes. There were a lot of houses like this here. Did these people simply have more money than those in Heidelberg?
“Thank you, Kuntz. I can manage the rest myself.”
“Why don’t you knock on the door first to see whether this is the right Agathe?”
She’d had the same thought. But even if Kuntz was wrong, she didn’t want to spend any more time with him. He was too nosy.
“No, thank you anyway.”
“That’s your decision. I just wanted to help.” He didn’t budge.
“Why are you waiting?”
“I just want to stand here. Everybody in Worms has a right to stand where he wants.”
“I will only knock if you leave.”