Unholy Innocence by Stephen Wheeler Read Free Book Online Page A

well-policed contest between the two teams – one from the town and one drawn from among the King’s men – would be a welcome distraction.
    The game kicked off shortly after sext in the after noon. I had my work cut out coping with the multitude of injuries among both the players and the spectators - not that there was much to distinguish between the two since every townsman under fifty seemed to join in the game at one point or another. As usual these were mostly knife wounds, some malicious but most due to players and spectators carrying their weapons loosely about their persons. I vowed that if another game like this was ever arranged I would make it my business to insist that daggers be unstrapped and left in the sacristy. The game did manage to end more or less on time mostly because someone – I think it was the Prior – simultaneously got all the bells of the abbey to ring for compline while the army heralds trumpeted assembly at the other end of the ground. The only people still left playing at dusk were the town boys who had far too much energy and didn’t know when to go home. I have no idea what the final score was but Gilbert, my assistant who had been enthusiastically rushing in and out of my make-shift treatment room with progress reports all afternoon, thought we had scored thirty-seven goals to the army’s ten. In any event it looked as though our side had won the day, and judging by the rather boozy singing and chanting it had been a successful one.
    With the last patient patched up and sent on his way I dismissed Gilbert with my thanks while I finished tidying up. By and large it had been a joyful day. As I stood at the door winding bandages and looking out over the long June twilight I saw a hooded figure standing by the gate. From his height and his stance I could see that it was Joseph. Surprised and delighted , I waved furiously and rushed over to him.
    ‘Greetings brother,’ I said breathlessly. ‘What’s the purpose of the hood? Are you in disguise?’ I was still exhilarated in the aftermath of the football match.
    ‘Greetings indeed, brother,’ he replied coolly. ‘It is a relief to see you too. When I didn’t hear from you for a few days I became worried.’
    ‘Worried about me?’ I chortled taking him to one side. ‘There was no need. Apart from being bored out of my mind. With the King ailing everyone’s movements are restricted.’
    ‘You don’t have to be coy, Walter,’ he said softly. ‘I know that it is your movements that have been restrained. And I know why.’             
    ‘You’ve heard the news, then?’
    ‘Regarding the King’s rheum? Of course. Everyone has heard it and no-one believes a word of it. What’s really wrong with the King? I’ve heard he’s been poisoned.’
    I laughed dismissively. ‘Poisoned? My goodness me, no! Where did you hear that? Poisoned indeed! Huh!’ But Joseph was not fooled by my denial. ‘I’m sworn to secrecy,’ I conceded seriously. ‘But no, not that. Suffice to say your divining is as uncannily accurate as ever.’
    He frowned. ‘Brother, you do my reputation no good by this c onstant inference of my sorcery.’
    ‘Doesn’t do it much harm either,’ I grinned. ‘Ah, it is good indeed to see you ,’ I thumped his shoulder. ‘I have been so bored kicking my heels these past days. What news of the outside world?’
    He waved a dismissive hand and looked at me seriously. ‘Walter, I have come to tell you that I am going away for a while.’
    ‘Hm, must be serious if you’re calling me Walter. Why? What has happened?’
    ‘Nothing – yet. But it is not safe for those of…my persuasion here in Bury while so many armed men are in the town.’
    ‘Jews, you mean,’ I said fixing him with a stern look.
    ‘Anyone who looks a little different. And I am hardly invisible.’
    Taller than most and certainly darker, he had a point.
    ‘But you have the King’s protection.’
    ‘Such arguments are for