The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia Read Free Book Online

victim’s killer. The guards crossed themselves and swore at the cowering family.
                Zizka brought the lantern closer. He stuck his finger in the victim’s blood, and pointed it at the Federns. They pulled away from his finger as if it oozed with the great pox.
                “So, you shrink from the sign of your own guilt!”
                “It’s not guilt, it’s a commandment from the highest authority,” I said. “Any contact with human blood makes us unclean for a week. Are you unclean from contact with blood, Reb Federn?”
                “No, I’m not.”
                “Are you, fraylin Federn?”
                The women cried and denied it.
                I turned to Sheriff Zizka. “With your indulgence, my good sir, I don’t believe that a Jew would ever lie about such a thing.”
                “And I didn’t believe Jews really did such things till I saw it with my own eyes,” said Zizka. “Put them in irons.”
                “Yes, sir.”
                The guards closed in around the three accused criminals, the women emptying their eyes of tears and begging for God’s intercession.
                I played the one card I had left in my slim hand. “I know that the evidence implicates this humble family, but according to the Carolinian Code, the Jews are the emperor’s concern, and are subject to his benevolent protection.”
                Zizka said, “Is that so? Well, I didn’t bring my copy of the Carolina with me, but somehow it stuck in my mind that it also calls for the burning of unbelievers and sorcerers, and if you ask me, these Jews are both.”
                “Then you’re supposed to summon the royal guards. Jews are under their jurisdiction.”
                “Not for murder, they aren’t.”
                “In all matters—”
                “This is a matter for the city. Come on, you—”
                The municipal guards seized Freyde and Julie. A couple of them struggled to force the irons around their wrists, knocking over boxes of feathers, which flew around as the women cried out in despair.
                Another crash came from upstairs.
                Seeing his stock damaged and his women manhandled so harshly, Jacob finally stood up and took responsibility.
                “They had absolutely nothing to do with this. It’s all my fault.”
                “Jacob, no—!”
                “Silence, woman! Now we’re getting somewhere,” said Zizka. “You swear that your wife and daughter are innocent?”
                “I swear.”
                Zizka was clearly pleased with this statement. He probably figured that eliminating the women made things simpler, since women are much more difficult to prosecute in these matters. They have a much higher threshold for pain, for one thing.
                “Then who were your accomplices?” he asked.
                Jacob hesitated. There was no right answer to this one.
                “Answer the question, Jew.”
                I said, “He doesn’t have to answer. This line of questioning is reserved for the formal inquest at the emperor’s court.”
                “Well, aren’t you the little Jewish lawyer. Go ahead. Try to use your clever words to get past me.”
                “You don’t have to be a lawyer to know a frivolous murder charge when you see one,” I said, meeting the sheriff’s gaze.
                The sheriff was only a couple of inches taller than me, but he had more than enough clout to back up his threats. Feathers drifted in the air between us. Zizka seemed to be suppressing a smile.
                “Don’t listen to his lies,” said the woman with the