A Bolt From the Blue by Diane A. S. Stuckart Read Free Book Online

cause to suspect the truth about me.”
    I finished my plea and watched in dismay the struggle that played across my father’s pleasant, open features. The artist in him understood my dream of one day becoming a master like Leonardo. The parent, however, was aghast at the thought of his daughter living among so many males with no other female around to safeguard her virtue. And while my father always claimed my mother to be the more stubborn of the two, I knew that he could be equally firm in holding to a notion, should he believe it was the right thing to do.
    Finally, and to my great relief, he gave a small nod. “Very well, Delfina . . . or, I suppose I must get used to calling you Dino. No matter, I shall reserve my judgment for a time. If I can assure myself that your fellows do indeed treat you as a boy, I will rest easier allowing your masquerade to continue a bit longer.”
    “Then let us go and meet them,” I urged with a smile. “The Master will be looking for us there, anyhow.”
    And we did, indeed, find Leonardo awaiting us in the main workshop. As for the other apprentices, they had begun returning from their day’s outing and were gathered around him sharing their tales of where they had gone and what they had done. Vittorio had returned, as well—the mischievous Pio still at his side—and looked quite pleased with himself, so that I guessed his assignation with Novella had proved a success. While the youths laughed and chatted, Leonardo listened with his usual air of kind interest, occasionally urging the shyest among them to offer their thoughts.
    My father and I observed the scene for some moments before the Master finally noticed our presence.
    “Ah, Master Angelo,” he exclaimed, giving my father that more formal title now that we were among others. “Let me introduce my assistants to you.”
    I felt a rush of pride as my friends made their bows and then listened respectfully while my father, in turn, gave them a brief account of his accomplishments. A few of the boys—Tito and Paolo, I knew for certain—had some knowledge of woodworking and appeared suitably impressed by the commissions my father described. For my part, I stood to one side and contented myself with my good fortune at having been born to a father of such kindness and talent.
    When my father returned the floor to the Master, Leonardo said, “If you will recall, draftsmen, I gave you a holiday today. A few more hours yet remain, so again I task you with spending them in some enjoyable manner until it is time for the evening meal.”
    A small cheer rose at this, and under the Master’s indulgent smile the youths swiftly scattered. Then he turned to my father and me. “And now, it is time for me to reveal to you the nature of my latest invention, which requires a master cabinetmaker’s skilled touch.”
    We returned to his quarters and waited while, with a show of great secrecy, he left us alone and stepped into his private workshop. He reappeared a few moments later, carrying a cloth-covered object perhaps as wide and broad as my arm. Setting it upon the table, he gestured us closer and said, “You must excuse my caution, but I must first make certain that we are not being observed.”
    While my father and I exchanged puzzled glances, he checked the door to make certain it was latched and then pulled the shutters closed across the window. What could be beneath this cloth that required such precautions against its being seen? I had been prepared for something substantial, similar to his expandable bridge or his river dredger . . . perhaps a catapult that tossed flames. Whatever lay hidden beneath that length of oiled linen, however, could hardly be of that scale.
    I frowned. It mattered little to me what this invention was, for as Leonardo’s apprentice I was here at his whim. If not here, I would be toiling in the main workshop or smoothing plaster upon yet another wall in the duke’s chambers.
    My father, however, was a