The Copper Sign by Katia Fox, Lee Chadeayne Read Free Book Online Page A

crowd, close to the stairway, Ellen saw the maid, completely absorbed at the sight of the young man. Ellen hoped the girl would think of something other than having her tooth pulled in order to get his attention.
    The barber-surgeon needed more equipment and a larger table. On one side there were his herbs, medicines, and cloths for making plaster and bandages, and on the other the saws for amputations as well as pairs of tweezers, scalpels, and needles of various sizes. A brazier and a branding iron stood nearby, too. Both the barber-surgeon and the tooth puller used broad leather straps to tie down their patients securely so they couldn’t jump up in fright or pain and run away.
    Sweat poured down the faces of even the bravest of them when a tooth had to be pulled or a wound sewed up. Patients were standing all around the platform, and in their faces one could see their fear of the pain as well as their hope for a cure.
    Curious bystanders also besieged the podium in hopes of witnessing an amputation or other horrible thing. The crowd carefully watched every move the men made, commenting on their gestures with disgust or astonishment and shouting taunts at the patients. Apparently the spectacle was a welcome diversion for many of them.
    Ellen couldn’t bear to watch any longer. The repulsive odor of pus and rot, blood and burned flesh was just too much for her stomach. And it was only with difficulty and a strong will that she managed not to throw up her fish pasty.
    On the other side of the square, the booths were huddled close together. Their roofs were of colored cloth or leather used to collect rainwater, and the merchants poked at them from below with sticks so the rain would run off. Farmers, monks, and all kinds of merchants had brought their goods to Ipswich. Whatever anyone could want could be found at this market: iron or copper pots in all sizes and shapes, all sorts of clay vessels and baskets, toys and household goods, leather and leather goods, cloth, straps, decorations, and anything useful made of horn, bone, wood, or metal.
    In one corner, two monks in threadbare cowls were selling beer that they ladled from large, bulging kegs. Though they both appeared to be impoverished, their brew was no doubt very good, as a long line of customers holding one or more large tankards had formed alongside their wagon.
    Farther along, live poultry was for sale along with eggs, flour, herbs, salted and smoked meat, fruit, vegetables, and other condiments for the kitchen.
    Most unusual, though, and always surrounded by curious onlookers were the stalls with exotic fruits and spices such as dates, pomegranates, pepper, ginger, anise, cinnamon, and mustard. Ellen took a deep whiff of the tantalizing aromas. When she closed her eyes, it almost seemed to her that she was in another world.
    All the merchants were shouting and extolling the quality of their goods. At the costume jewelry booth there were crowds of women and girls of all ages pushing and shoving in order to see the pretty goods and perhaps be able to touch them as well. Even though it had become second nature in recent months for Ellen to act like a boy, she stood there, like all the girls, with mouth and eyes wide open, marveling at the colorful hair ribbons and other attractive finery. The beautiful, bright colors, the exotic odors in the marketplace, and the huge variety of goods offered there was as intoxicating as a tankard of strong beer.
    “Move along, lad,” a pale-looking merchant barked at him, “you’re blocking the view for the ladies!”
    The next moment he was smiling and extolling his cords, braids, and ribbons while at the same time trying to chase Ellen away with an angry look—and suddenly all the wonderful, blissful feeling vanished. What is more important to you, you silly goose , Ellen thought to herself— to be a blacksmith or to dress up with colorful ribbons in your hair? She was angry that she had been so taken in by these pretty,