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

  To allay these fears, Pan reminded the teens they still had their twenty-fourth century inoculation implants. These shielded their bodies from everything that was not symbiotic to their individual genetic sequencing. They were usually renewed every three years in youths as they grew. Implants for adults could last a lifetime, but none of the teens had those yet. And since none had ever worried about such things as inoculation dates, not one of them could accurately say when their three years were up. Hansum was pretty sure his last inoculation implant had been updated only a few months before their adventure. Shamira thought her three years were almost done, but couldn't say for sure. Lincoln didn't have a clue.

  "My mom always told me it was my body so I should keep track of it," he admitted, scolding himself.

  "Oh, not to worry, Master Lincoln," Pan soothed. "As soon as we are properly settled, we shall start creating and storing antibiotics and medicines that will come in handy. I'm sure I can keep us all safe." But despite all of Pan's sincere reassurances, he knew the teens had to grieve.

  For Hansum, accepting his new life was the easiest. He had Guilietta, although spending time together, this was a problem. But like young lovers everywhere and at every time, ways were always found. Hansum took to getting up an hour or two before daylight and stood in the alleyway, waiting for Guilietta. They would walk to the market, strolling through the streets, hand in hand. Sometimes they would climb into the old coliseum, the Arena. Sitting high in the old stone stands, they would cuddle and kiss as the stray cats hunted for mice. They would then stand on the top tier and watch the sun rise over the city. On these clandestine mornings, Shamira would cover for them by sleeping on the cot on the main floor. If the Master came down early, the story would be she wasn't feeling well and Guilietta had gone to the market early to get this or that special item that they knew was in short supply. Hansum and Guilietta were always sure to be back before repast, except once, when Guilietta came in, laden with three bags of supplies. Her father met her at the door.

  "You carried all this yourself from the market?" he asked, perplexed.

  "Here's the last bag," Hansum said popping his head in the door quickly, surprised to see the Master. Hansum could see the Master scrunch up his face suspiciously.

  "What were you . . ."

  "Buon giorno, Master," Hansum said quickly and putting on a bright smile. "I was up early setting lenses and Guilietta came to the shop to find another carrying bag. She said Carmella wasn't feeling well, so I went with her to help." The Master stared at him warily. "Lucky I did," Hansum added, not changing his happy face one iota.

  "Oh, you were able to get the fresh carp," Shamira said, adding an extra diversion. "That's your favorite, Master. Yes, it's good you went, Romero. Guil and I could never have carried all this."

  Just then a tousle-haired Lincoln sleepily clomped into the house.

  "Waz everyone doin' up so early?" he said wearily. He was hatless and his hair was sticking out in every direction.

  "You walk in the streets and into my house like this?" the Master chastised.

  "Waz wrong?" Lincoln said through sleep-filled eyes.

  The Master grabbed him in a playful headlock and messed up his hair more, which of course sent the younger teen into fits.

  "You want to be messy, I make you more messy," the Master teased, not letting go no matter how much Lincoln struggled. The other teenagers began to laugh. It was the first time in a week everybody laughed together. "Okay, we leave the girls to put away the provisions and make dinner," Agistino said with Lincoln's face still trapped under his armpit. "Come boys, back to the shop."

  "Let me go, Master, let go," Lincoln cried, now laughing himself. "Have you ever taken a bath?" But the big man ignored him.

  "Come, let's go see how many lenses Romero set before going off to do woman's work," and he strode out the door, dragging a giggling and flailing Lincoln.

  The girls were still laughing when Hansum realized what the Master had said. Of course there was no sign of his work. A look of humorous panic broke out on his face as he raced after the Master, causing the girls to giggle even harder.

  "What's all the laughing?" a voice from the stairs said. It was the Signora, up and moving all by herself.

  "Papa was just teasing Maruccio and it was very funny, Mama."

  "Oh," the Signora said excitedly. She smiled and clenched her fists, hopping up and down on the steps, which began to spring up and down precariously. "You were right, Michael," she squealed, looking back upstairs, "You were right, Holy Angel. Our house is happy again."

  Chapter 53

  In the shop the Master still held Lincoln in a headlock.

  "You walk the streets representing my house with a head like this? Like an old dust broom?"

  "Lemme go, Master," Lincoln shouted. "I'll be good, I'll be . . ."

  "Yes, you'll be good," the Master laughed. "And you'll be clean." And with that, he lifted Lincoln off the ground and dunked his head in the icy water of the water barrel. The Master bobbed Lincoln up and down a few times, laughing and winking at an astonished Hansum. Then he plopped the boy back down on his feet and stood back, hands on his hips.

  Lincoln danced around on the spot, gasping for air and shaking his head violently. Water sprayed everywhere. Then he stood still, frozen on the spot, a wild look in his eyes.

  "Oh, oh," Pan whispered to Hansum.

  Hansum had to agree. Lincoln was most likely going to flip out. But nothing happened. Standing there like a wet cat, Lincoln just put his arms down by his side and took a deep breath.

  "Okay, I give up," he said.

  "What? What are you talking about?" Hansum asked.

  "I give up," Lincoln said again. "I'm not going to fight it anymore."

  "What do you mean?" Hansum asked again.

  "I mean we're stuck here. We can never go back to our old life." Lincoln didn't seem to be worrying that he was talking this way in front of the Master. "I'm driving myself crazy worrying about it. But it can't be helped. And like Arimus . . . like Father Aaron said, happiness is a choice. Well, I guess I'm choosing to be happy."

  "Oh my, I think he finally gets it," Pan whispered to Hansum.

  "The Holy Father was wise," the Master said crossing himself. "We must take what life gives us, for we have no choice about that. And we will all make mistakes. But with work and by using the resources we can muster, we can make a good life for ourselves."

  The three men, young and old, looked at each other.

  "I'm in too," Hansum added.

  ***

  Later at dinner, everyone seemed in a much better mood. Everyone bowed their heads and said a prayer for Father Aaron, and when they finished, they did not look sad. Shamira uncovered a bowl on the table and revealed their meal.

  "Aspic of beef! Bravo, Carmella. Bravo Guilietta." the Master crowed.

  "Thank you, Master."

  "Thank you, Papa."

  The Signora clapped her hands and bounced on the bench. Then the door opened quickly and Ugilino walked in.

  "Master, Master," Ugilino called, out of breath.

  "Of course, who shows up when food is served?" Agistino said. Ugilino stopped and stared at the table, looking somewhat hurt. The Master laughed. "No, come my boy. Sit in your place and tell me what makes you so out of breath." Ugilino relaxed and sat at his place by Hansum, now smiling.

  "I got us another church to visit, Santa Anastasia. Next Sabbath. I already gave the priest his discs for the eyes."

  "Bravo to you too, Ugilino," the Master said. "Come, let's eat. Say your prayers, Ugi."

  As the meal was coming to an end, the Master dusted the crumbs off of his front, got up and went up the stairs to his bedroom. He came back holding the telescope.

  "We must start showing these around," he said.

  Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln looked at each other cautiously.

  "I don't want to disappear," Lincoln whispered to Hansum.

  "Do you really think that's a good
idea, Master?" Hansum asked. "It's only a toy."

  "Oh, I think we can sell quite a few of these. And it's more than just a toy. Come, we must go to the shop."

  "I'm going for my nap, dears," the Signora said yawning. "No, daughter, I can get there myself."

  "I'll come to the shop too, Papa," Guilietta said. "I want to learn to set the lenses, like Carmella." Ugilino made a face. "After all," Guilietta added, "if Ugilino is going to be selling so many more discs for the eyes, we must all be ready." Ugilino smiled broadly now. As they walked out the door, Guilietta asked. "May I look through the new invention again, Papa?"

  Lincoln leaned close to Hansum. "Do you really think that introducing this thing to the world can change the timeline? That one of us may disappear?"

  "We're gonna find out," Hansum replied.

  Chapter 54

  Feltrino Gonzaga was riding his horse in the direction he was told he'd find the lensmaker's. He knew he was pressing his luck staying in Verona. He could be recognized at any time by a soldier or another noble, so he moved cautiously. He would have left that morning, now that his horse wasn't lame, but he couldn't get that beautiful girl, Guilietta, out of his mind. That had been his main weakness the past few years, beautiful girls, and some not so beautiful ones. But this one was a beauty.

  He was glad the Bishop of San Zeno fed him that morning because he had not been able to find much money. Only fifty denari in his pouch, part won gambling at a tavern last night, the rest robbed from a drunk at swordpoint afterward. Arriving at the street he was told the lensmaker's house was on, he pulled up on his horse's reins and looked around.

  "God, look at these hovels," he muttered. "They're only good for burning. Now which one are you hiding in, my beauty? God, don't make me knock on every damned door." As if in answer to his prayers, he saw a door open and out walked the object of his adoration. Behind Guilietta was that bear of a father and that motley crew of apprentices. The girl was holding some cylinder and put it to her eye. Everyone was laughing and acting like a happy family. Feltrino found it odd that a master was so nice to his subordinates. His father wasn't this way.

  ***

  "Oh look," Guilietta said, aiming the telescope across the road and down the alley beside the tailor's house. "I can see Master Satore working in his garden. It's like he's right in front of me. Look at the size of that squash." Guilietta then lifted the cardboard and lens invention, pointing it toward the city. "And look. The morning doves sit upon the roof of Castlevecchio so peacefully. There's twelve of them. And a yellow and black canary sits with them." Something walked in front of the lens. Guilietta lowered the telescope and found she was staring up at a man on a very large horse. It was the noble who was leering at her at the church, Feltrino.

  "Buon giorno," Feltrino said, looking down from his mount. "Master della Cappa," he said, still keeping his eyes on Guilietta. His large stallion stepped around nervously, causing Guilietta to back up. Feltrino hit the horse hard on the neck and the animal calmed somewhat. Feltrino dismounted, straightened his sword, then held out the reins to Lincoln. "Tie my horse to that post," Feltrino said with a sneer. Lincoln, who had never been around animals, looked up at the huge beast, which chose that time to give a loud snort. "Now, you fool!" Lincoln took the reins and looked nervously about. He walked toward an old broken post by the edge of the house, but when he got to the end of the tether, the horse didn't follow. Instead, it pulled its massive head in the opposite direction. Lincoln was lurched backwards and dropped the reins. Hansum quickly took hold of them.

  "He's never been with horses, Signor," Hansum said. Feltrino looked angry again.

  "Romero, don't speak unless spoken to," the Master said quickly. "Not to a noble."

  As the two teens tied the horse up, Lincoln looked fearful as he tried to stay away from the huge hooves.

  "Fools," Feltrino chuckled. Then he looked like he smelled something bad. "This is where you make your wonderful discs for the eyes?"

  "Our shop is around the back, Excellency. It's brand new. Would you like to see?" As Hansum and Lincoln rejoined the group, Agistino motioned for them to stand by Ugilino and to also take a step backwards.

  "What?" Feltrino finally asked. He hadn't really heard what Agistino said. "Oh, see your shop. Yes. Perhaps the young signorina could give me a tour. I'd love to see all, especially if it's new and . . . virginal."

  While Guilietta looked quickly down, all three boys became angry. Ugilino and Lincoln didn't move, but Hansum stepped toward the Prince. Agistino moved sideways, blocking Hansum's path, but keeping his eyes on Feltrino.

  "I'm afraid my daughter knows nothing of lensmaking, Excellency. You wanted discs for the eyes for your father? That would be a wonderful gift from a loving son, I'm sure."

  "Ah, yes. Well, perhaps another time for that," he said, trying to get Guilietta to look at him again. This seemed to be getting too much for even Agistino to put up with.

  "Well, Excellency, if I can be of no service to you today, we must to the shop and work."

  "I shall have a walk with your daughter then. Perhaps, even a ride," he said looking at his horse.

  "She must attend to her mother!" Agistino said, grabbing Guilietta's arm and pulling her toward the house. She dropped the telescope. Feltrino picked it up with his gloved hands.

  "What's this then?" he asked, looking at the two lenses.

  "Oh that, it's just a toy, Excellency," Agistino said, holding out his arm to take it back.

  "How is it used? I saw the beautiful girl hold it to her eye, like this." He pointed it where Guilietta had, toward Castlevecchio. His eyes went wide. "Witchcraft!" he gasped.

  "Oh no," Agistino said, sounding like he really didn't want to be accused of something as serious as that. "It's lenscraft, Excellency, lenscraft. What can be used to make things that are near clear can also be used to make far things close."

  ***

  Feltrino's preoccupation with Guilietta instantly evaporated. He had never seen or experienced anything like this. He put the tube back to his eye and peered into the distance. "Fantastico!" he said. "The spires of that church have come close to me." He heard a sound across the street and aimed the instrument there. He saw a man and a woman laugh as they worked in a garden. The man had picked up a long squash with a bulbous end and was holding it to his midsection. The woman was laughing with fits. Feltrino could barely hear her laughter, but he could see the glint in her eye and the black around her few teeth. They didn't know they were being spied upon. Feltrino look seriously at Agistino.

  "Master. Master della Cappa," he now said with respect. "This is your creation?"

  After a pause, Agistino slowly nodded his head once. "It is from my shop, Excellency."

  "I would like to take this to my father, Master della Cappa. He may be interested in it." Feltrino knew at once what an important instrument of war this machine could be. And if he could bring this to his father, he would not return seemingly defeated by the world. He would be a hero.

  "Well, Excellency, of course," Agistino replied. "They are to be sold. But this is the first one. I have not even put a price on it yet."

  "No one else has seen these?"

  "No, Excellency."

  Feltrino thought deeply for a moment. "Master della Cappa, perhaps you may even consider moving your shop to Mantua. I'm sure my father will offer patronage to a craftsman such as yourself."

  "Oh, Excellency, we are well settled here with a new shop."

  "Perhaps you will change your mind." Feltrino went to his horse and took a piece of wrinkled parchment from a sack. "You, boy," he said to Lincoln, "turn around." Using Lincoln's back, Feltrino wrote on the paper, 'Safe passage to Mantua. - Feltrino Gonzaga'. He handed it to Agistino. "Myself or someone else will come to talk to you in the future. In the meantime, if you want to travel to Mantua, this will get you there safely." Feltrino smiled his most sincere smile for the Master. "And I'm sure we could find much better accommodations for you." He saw Master dell
a Cappa looking at him, stone-faced, trying not to show favor or dislike for the suggestion. The girl was still standing, her hands clutched and staring at the ground, embarrassed. The ugly apprentice was not looking at him, knowing not to stare at a noble, but the other two apprentices and the kitchen girl were eyeing him very boldly, even with disdain. "Well, I must be off home," Feltrino said. "I have been too long away. I shall take your wonderful machine and show it . . ."

  "Excellency, please, I must have it back," Agistino said.

  "What? What did you say to me?" Feltrino said, whirling around accusingly.

  "My device. It is the first and not . . . not yet perfected."

  "It works perfectly well. No, I will have it and send for more."

  "But Excellency . . ."

  "Don't talk back to your betters, lensmaker," Feltrino said, raising his voice. "I say things once and expect obedience." Feltrino reminded himself of his father when he spoke those words. He turned and strode to his horse.

  ***

  "Hey!" Hansum shouted, stepping quickly forward.

  "Romero, no!" Agistino cried. But Hansum was already next to Feltrino, reaching to grab the telescope. Without a hint of warning, Feltrino spun around, his sword now in his other hand. The metal hilt struck Hansum in the cheek, forcing him to fly backward and onto his back.

  "Romero!" Guilietta screamed.

  Hansum looked up and saw a sword point pushing into his tunic.

  "Please, Excellency, it's yours," Agistino pleaded. "Take the . . ."

  A rumble of hooves was heard up the street. Everyone, including Feltrino, looked to the noise. Half a dozen mounted soldiers were galloping into view. The officer in front had his sword drawn and his helmet's cover down. The soldiers behind him all had poleaxes at the ready. The officer's helmet turned toward where Hansum was lying and pointed his sword at Feltrino. Feltrino made to turn to his horse, but stopped, knowing there was no way he could get away. It was only moments before the group was surrounded by soldiers. Two of the soldiers quickly dismounted and pointed the very sharp spikes at the end of their poleaxes at Feltrino.

  "Put down your sword, Gonzaga," the officer called. Feltrino relaxed and smiled. He clipped the sword back on his belt. "On the ground!" the officer said.