The Lens and the Looker (Book #1 of The Verona Trilogy)

  "Hey, Saint Zeno's bones are down those stairs," Lincoln said excitedly to Hansum.

  The Master scowled, then quickly smiled and nodded toward a well-dressed person whom he caught staring at his discs for the eyes. Lincoln tried to make a funny face at Hansum, but the older boy had his gaze set on Guilietta.

  'Girls!' thought Lincoln disdainfully, and went back to looking around the church. There was a constant hum of gossiping, whispering, laughing, babies and children squawking. People were lighting candles or lying prostrate on the floor in front of the stations of the cross.

  "Wow!" Lincoln repeated to himself. Then his gaze went over to Hansum and Ugilino. Hansum nonchalantly moved next to Guilietta, ostensibly to get a better view of something in the church. Of course, Ugilino had to follow, bumping Hansum out of the way and pretending to squint at whatever had caught his competitor's eye. Guilietta, ignoring the boys obvious and clumsy attention, stepped away from them and took Shamira's arm.

  Then something in the crowd really did catch Ugilino's eye. He began waving frantically and jumping up and down, trying to get someone's attention. It was a priest, coming down the stairs, fighting like a salmon swimming upstream against the crowd. Ugilino waved a second time, this time whistling through his teeth. Before he finished the shrill note, the Master's hand had slapped him on the top of the head. The priest saw Ugilino and waved back. Lincoln was surprised to see that this priest was wearing discs for the eyes, just like the Master. The priest elbowed his way through the crowd to the della Cappas.

  "Eh, see what I told you," an excited Ugilino said to Hansum. "A surprise. It's the priest I carried the dead bambino for. I've visited his church many times since."

  "You've been sleeping here at San Zeno?" Hansum asked.

  "No, Father Lurenzano lives at a little church just outside the city walls. He helps the big priest here sometimes. Hey, how ya doin', Padre?" Ugilino said as the priest got to them. He was perhaps in his early thirties.

  "Buon giorno, Ugilino, my son. Master della Cappa..."

  Chapter 42

  Hansum watched Agistino make a big show of shaking the priest's hand exuberantly.

  "Father Lurenzano, this is my daughter, Guilietta." The priest looked at Guilietta and Hansum saw his eyes go wide.

  "Buon giorno, Signorina," Lurenzano said. "Welcome to Verona and to church. Do you find Verona to your liking? Do you have a father confessor yet?" At this he smiled broadly, showing a black front tooth.

  "Grazie for your welcome, Father Lurenzano. This is a wonderful church you have here. Yes, I am finding Verona much to my liking. And I do have a father confessor. Father Aaron has been guide to my faith since I was a little girl."

  "I've not heard of Father Aaron. Is he in Florence still?"

  "No, he is itinerant," Guilietta said with a little laugh.

  "An itinerant priest is your father confessor?"

  "Well, that's how he describes himself," Guilietta laughed again. "Actually, I believe he travels and confers with many churches in different cities. He is a scholar. I think he has even been an advisor to His Holiness, the Pope."

  Hansum took a half step forward. "Father Aaron is a very interesting fellow," he interjected.

  Instantly, Hansum felt Agistino's hand on his chest, pushing him back.

  "Romero, what are you doing? Speak only when you are spoken to," Agistino rebuked. Then he smiled at the priest. "Yes, Father Aaron is my good friend of many years."

  "A scholar to His Holiness," the young priest repeated. "Well, one cannot compete with that. However, as I have agreed to introduce your father to all the priests in the city, I shall be around your home now and again. If you are in need of a confessional, I am at your service, Signorina."

  "That is most generous of you," Agistino said as Guilietta curtsied.

  Suddenly the church's congregants became quiet. As one, the crowd looked to a side entrance of the church. A procession of important-looking people entered. Father Lurenzano became excited.

  "It's the Podesta della Scalla. He is at church here today. I must attend. Peace be with you," he said, giving the sign of the blessing quickly as he left.

  "And also with you," Guilietta, Agistino and Ugilino replied together.

  The entire church watched as the Podesta and his entourage ceremoniously climbed the steps to the upper gallery. It must have been a surprise visit because priests were flocking from all sides of the church, pushing their way through the crowds. By the time the nobleman was at the top of the stairs, an older clergyman with fine silk and gold vestments was seen running to greet him too.

  "Look at the Bishop!" Ugilino cried. And to the surprise and delight of Agistino, the Bishop of San Zeno was also wearing discs for the eyes.

  ***

  Master della Cappa became very excited. He shook Guilietta's shoulder. "See, daughter? Our place in this city is assured."

  "I did good, eh, Master?" Ugilino shouted, his face red with excitement.

  "Buon, my boy, buon. Maybe you aren't useless after all."

  Master della Cappa prayed harder and louder than he ever prayed before. He crossed himself with great exaggeration, kneeled with embellished humility, stood, knelt again, said "amen," all with a great fervor. And every time he looked up and saw the Bishop standing there, in front of almost a thousand worshipers wearing his spectacles, he renewed his vigor. He could hear many people whispering, questioning the object on the Bishop's face. Many were also pointing over to him. At one point in the service, Father Lurenzano stepped up to the altar to assist the Bishop, still wearing his spectacles. The Bishop whispered something to the younger priest and Father Lurenzano untied the ribbon on the Bishop's spectacles. Agistino held his breath. Perhaps he didn't like them, Agistino worried. But then the Bishop took the spectacles and read while holding them in front of the large bible. And when he looked up and began to orate, he held his hands outstretched, pointing and showing them off better than before.

  "This is even better," Agistino whispered to Guilietta loudly. "He shows what they are used for."

  Ugilino seemed not to be able to contain himself. "Thank Cristo!" he blurted out, and instantly found the Master's hand over his mouth. But the Master didn't look angry.

  At the end of the service, Master della Cappa became the center of attention. He chatted up anyone who looked like they might have five soldi to part with, and by the time the church crowd thinned, many people had directions to the della Cappa shop. Father Lurenzano came running up to them, all smiles. He stood right next to Hansum and Shamira, completely ignoring them.

  "Master della Cappa," Father Lurenzano began, "the Bishop wishes me to thank you for his discs for the eyes. To be able to read the Holy Bible again makes him feel like a young man. Many of the nobles on the upper level were impressed also."

  "Bless you, Father Lurenzano. Bless you," the Master said, grabbing the priest's hands and kissing them. Then Agistino felt the something being pressed into his palm. When he looked, there was a five soldi coin staring at him. "What's this?"

  "The Bishop wanted to pay you for the glasses, my son," Lurenzano said, tilting his head sideways and smiling. "That's what they cost, no?"

  "Yes, but no. No! I can't take money from the Bishop!" Agistino took the coin and pressed it back in the priest's palm. He looked into the priest's seemingly-kind eyes, then grabbed his own coin pouch and took out two more coins. "And please, take these and give them to the Bishop. Thank him for me. Tell him how much I admired his service and his church." And then he took another coin. "And this coin is for your church, and for your help, Father. My household thanks you."

  "It is my joy to serve," the priest said. "I will do as you ask." He closed his not-so-clean fingers around the coins. "Master della Cappa, we must let every church in Verona know of your wonderful new shop and how you can make old eyes new again."

  Agistino bowed to him. The priest looked at Guilietta and she curtsied. Then Lurenzano rattled the coins in his hand and laughed. "An
d we see you later, eh, Ugi?"

  "Si, Father, si," Ugilino answered.

  Father Lurenzano laughed, turned, slapped Ugilino on the bottom, and strolled away.

  ***

  On the way home, even Ugilino found it hard to keep up with Agistino's pace. The troupe of teens was like a frenetic gaggle of geese, all chasing after the gander. Ugilino caught up with Agistino and pulled at his sleeve.

  "Master," Ugilino said in breathless amazement, "you gave Father Lurenzano the Bishop's five soldi back?" Then he smacked his own head. "And then all that other money."

  The Master chuckled nervously, like he had just escaped the jaws of a hungry shark.

  "He's not a stupid man, that Lurenzano. If he didn't offer to pay, then the glasses would have just been a gift from me. He couldn't have asked me for money. But him paying for them forced me to give him back even more, to look more generous than he. Oh, those priests are tricky with money."

  "Trickier than Jews, Master?" Ugilino asked.

  "At least Jews are straightforward. They're tough when doing business, but they don't ever do this to you," and he gave the appropriate rude Italian gesture to illustrate his meaning. Ugilino looked sheepish and took a few steps backward.

  "All of you, listen," the Master said, continuing his pace. "Now is a critical time in our house's recovery. When people come to purchase discs for the eyes, we must have them. That means we must work hard over the next days to build stock. However," he said, pointing a finger in the air, "I am the only competent lens grinder, so you must all keep me supplied. We must lose no time. Girls, you keep the house in order. Keep food and drink ready. Boys, you must keep the shop clean, not fight, and do exactly what I say. Romero!"

  "Yes, Master," Hansum answered, running to his side.

  "I'm thinking that you might be able to learn to mount the lenses in their frames."

  "I'm sure I could, Master."

  "Daughter!"

  "Si, Papa?" Guilietta lifted her skirts off the muddy street and hurried forward.

  "Child, your mother must be kept under control. We can brook no distractions to our purpose. Do you understand?"

  "Si, Papa."

  "Maruccio, Ugilino!"

  "Si, Master," they echoed together.

  "Ugilino, you must keep the workshop clean. A clean workshop is a productive workshop. Will you do this and not run off?"

  "Of course, Master. I'm your man."

  "Maruccio, you must keep me supplied with whatever I need while I'm working. Learn to anticipate what tool I need. You can do this?"

  "You got it, boss, I mean, Master."

  "And when you have a bit of time, you help Ugilino clean and carry wood too, eh?"

  "Whatever you say, Master."

  Something came into Ugilino's head, like an unwelcome bird dropping. He had just become the bottom dog in the pack again. He slowed down, trying to work this out. How could the Master do this? It was he, Ugilino, who got Father Lurenzano to have the Bishop wear the discs for the eyes. It was also Ugilino who had stolen back the lathe and protected the Master when he was drunk. He should be rewarded by getting the best jobs in the shop. Then the Master would respect him and let him marry Guilietta. He fell a few steps behind as he thought all this.

  Everyone looked back to see why Ugilino had slowed.

  "Eh, what's a matter with you?" the Master asked impatiently, "I said we must all keep busy."

  Ugilino looked Agistino in the eye. He wanted to scream, but the Master was looking back at him with such intensity, he knew it was no use. He put his head down and walked quickly again. 'What cannot be helped must be endured,' he remembered being told by another priest. 'And after all,' Ugilino thought, 'we're all eating like princes.'

  ***

  The next few days were frantically busy and Ugilino did his best. He cleaned and swept the shop better than he ever did before. He picked up every grain of grit and ground glass he could find, placing it neatly in the trash box. But even as he tried to enjoy these small personal triumphs, he'd look up and see the Master patting Hansum on the back, telling him what a good job he was doing in learning to mount lenses. This rankled Ugilino so much that when he sat down to another wonderful meal, it gave him little comfort, especially when the Master trumpeted another of Hansum's successes to everyone. He was rankled even further when he saw Guilietta and the orphan boy actually exchange smiles.

  Chapter 43

  A few mornings later, Hansum sat next to Shamira at repast and spoke in a low voice.

  "Pan wants to talk to both of us."

  "Young Mistress," Pan began, "at dinner, give the Signora an extra large portion. We need her to take a longer nap than usual. This will allow us to finish the designs for the advanced lathe. If we can finish our work today, we can display it to Master della Cappa tonight after supper."

  As expected, after the old woman stuffed herself with food, she trundled up to her bed and insisted her daughter join her. As Hansum left for the shop, given what Pan had shown him the night before, he anticipated a very interesting meeting after supper. Plus, Pan had shown him another idea he would save for a little later, plans for a hand-held telescope. This was an invention, Pan explained, that wasn't supposed to be invented for another hundred and fifty years.

  When Shamira later came to the shop with a pitcher of cool water, she nodded at Hansum and said, "The plans, they're all done."

  At supper, Hansum watched a very tired and obviously sore Master sitting at the table. In three days they had made twenty-one pairs of discs for the eyes; seven of each strength. Agistino's eyes were tired. Hansum watched him at the supper table, eyes closed, chewing his food.

  The girls had made the same beautiful chicken dish that Shamira had learned from the first Signora. All were quietly devouring their meal when the Master asked Ugilino if he had heard from Father Lurenzano. When Ugilino said no, the Master became agitated.

  "Go visit him tonight. Make sure he hasn't forgotten his promise. After all, he's been paid for this favor. But don't tell it to him like that! Don't talk about money at all." Ugilino said he was very busy and didn't know if he'd be able to go that night. The Master, so tired from his long hours of work, banged his hand on the table. "Busy? You are the least busy of all!"

  "Maybe tomorrow night, Master."

  "Tonight!" the Master yelled. "Why are you questioning me? I thought this priest was your friend?" Ugilino fell silent and put his head down.

  Pan whispered to Hansum, "Say, 'Master, you look tired.'" Hansum repeated this. The Master grunted, not opening his eyes. Pan said something else and Hansum repeated it.

  "Master, I have an idea to make us more productive." The Master opened his eyes into a suspicious squint. "It's an idea for an improved lathe. We can have it made by a local carpenter."

  "What nonsense are you talking about? Improve? How?"

  "Let me show you, Master . . ."

  "Let me show you, Master," Hansum parroted. "Carmella is good with a piece of charcoal and parchment, so we worked together to make some plans."

  The Master's bleary eyes opened fully. Shamira got her satchel of drawings and, after Hansum moved Agistino's bowl and swept the crumbs away, she put several pieces of paper in front of the lensmaker. He stared at the drawings, taking time to understand what he was looking at. The way in which Pan had instructed Shamira resulted in a very modern set of plans.

  "See, Master," Hansum explained, "here is the front view of the lathe, a top view, and two side views, all in proportion." Parts had local measurements, all precisely worked out by Pan. "You see, Master, both hands remain free to work on the glass. The motion of the spindle is created by a foot pedal. These are removable dops. The operator can concentrate on grinding and polishing without the bother of having the lathe sitting idle when lenses are turned over or changed. An assistant can do the changing and leave the more skilled craftsperson to work only on lenses." The presentation went on for several minutes. When Hansum finished, the Master sat silen
tly.

  "These are your thoughts?" the Master finally asked. Agistino looked at Hansum, his eyes full of confusion.

  "Si, Master."

  "Si, Master."

  "And you instructed Carmella, the kitchen girl, to put them on parchment?"

  "Si, Master."

  "Si, Master."

  Now the Master's confusion was profound. "When?"

  Hansum waited for his answer from Pan, but it didn't come. Apparently, even Pan had to pause before answering this. In the past few days, Shamira and Hansum were scarcely in the same room together, let alone have time enough to consult on complicated plans. Finally, Pan whispered his response, deciding to completely ignore the question he had been asked.

  "Do you think this lathe could be of benefit to us, Master?"

  Another long pause by the Master.

  "Where did you get these thoughts?"

  "They just came to me," Hansum repeated.

  The Master sat and stared. Hansum imagined what must be going through his mind. He was beginning to understand how, before modern times, things changed slowly over centuries. To see something radically advanced would be a shock.

  "Put your hand on his right shoulder and say . . ."

  "This design will help your shoulder from being sore, Master."

  With Hansum's hand still upon the Master's shoulder, the older man looked up, and with limpid eyes said, "Tomorrow we must find the best carpenter in Verona."

  "I'll run and get the ones who worked on the shop," Ugilino said, anxious to be seen making a contribution.

  "No," Pan instructed Hansum to say.

  "We will need a good furniture maker to construct this. The work is more fine. Especially the spindles and dops. We must employ someone with a wood lathe."

  "There's a furniture maker in the market," Guilietta said. "His chairs have turned legs and backs. I've heard the Podesta even has some of his pieces."

  The conversation went on long past when people usually went to bed. At one point, when it was getting dark, Agistino stretched out both hands on the table and made a pronouncement.

  "Romero, I must continue making discs for the eyes. Therefore, you must work with the carpenter to make sure everything is done as it should be. So, someone else will have to learn to mount lenses."