The Cabinet of Curiosities by Paul Dowswell Read Free Book Online Page A

supper. Her stepfather works in the alchemy workshops. He’s not a natural philosopher,’ he said loftily. ‘He just tidies up, keeps the fires burning – that sort of thing. They live on Golden Lane, a bit close to Daliborka Tower for my liking.’
    ‘And Golden Lane is part of the Castle?’ said Lukas.
    ‘Yes, yes, of course.’ Anselmus sounded testy. Lukas felt confused. How was he supposed to know? Perhaps Anselmus noticed the hurt look on his face. ‘I will ask Otka to show you around the Castle after you have eaten,’ he said.
    They had a long and pleasant breakfast, Lukas still light-headed with relief. Anselmus told him he had been expecting him since March. He was anxious for news of his sister-in-law and keen to know as much as possible about his new apprentice.
    When he asked about the medicinal properties of camomile and Lukas looked blank, Anselmus snapped, ‘I knew all about camomile when I was your age.’ Clearly there would have to be a great deal of learning in a very short time.
    Having been assured that Otka would not disturb him, Lukas took a bath in front of the fire and then dressed in some of his uncle’s clothes. He was tall for his age and Anselmus was only a little taller. The clothes felt big on him, but not uncomfortably so. ‘When you earn your first wage you must buy your own clothes,’ said his uncle, ‘but until then you can make do with mine.’
    When he was ready, Anselmus called for Otka. She appeared immediately and gave them both a little bow. Lukas thought she had a nice face, although she was not what he would have thought of as pretty. Anselmus spoke to her in the Bohemian tongue. Lukas had picked up a few words on his travels, but not enough to hold a conversation or understand what was being said now.
    ‘She speaks a little German too,’ said Anselmus. ‘I’m sure you will be able to manage.’ Like many Netherlanders, Lukas had grown up speaking both Flemish and German.
    Otka looked at him and smiled, showing her large white teeth, which seemed slightly too big for her mouth. ‘Follow,’ she said.

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    Chapter Seven
    They walked out to a bright spring morning. Only now he wasn’t terrified could Lukas begin to enjoy his extraordinary surroundings. He passed through a great stone door and out into a square that most prosperous towns would be pleased to call their own.
    But instead of the usual bustle of a town or city, this square was almost empty except for a small squad of soldiers and a few hurrying courtiers. Lukas felt like a trespasser.
    Otka pointed at the huge Gothic structure immediately to their left. ‘St Vitus,’ she said.
    Most big cities had a cathedral. The Castle had one to itself. The size of it filled Lukas with awe, but there was something a little sinister about the knobbly buttresses and arches that rose like a great thicket of thorns into the sky.
    They walked through two vast courtyards separated by an enormous building. Otka pointed to some windows above a magnificent fountain. ‘Emperor sleep here,’ she said, and put her head to one side on her clasped hands.
    She pointed to another building. ‘Shhhh,’ she said with a finger to her pursed lips. ‘Treasure!’
    ‘What sort?’ said Lukas.
    ‘All sort,’ she said. ‘Everything. Amaze! But shhhhhhhh! Otherwise . . .’ She mimed a knife being drawn across her throat.
    Lukas was curious. He would ask his uncle about it.
    Another passage led to the Western Gate of the Castle. It was here, Lukas recalled with a shudder, that he had been seized by the palace guards.
    They walked up to the ramparts and stood before a bridge spanning a great empty moat. A landscaped park lay beyond, with its own stone wall.
    Otka pointed to the park and began to make animal noises. ‘Grrrrrr.’ She grimaced and clawed the air with both hands. Lukas looked puzzled. Then she put an arm up to her nose and waved it about, making trumpeting noises. Lukas wondered if she’d gone mad.
    She was enjoying