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

  "Look at this," she said, thrusting the note in front of him.

  "What about it?" he asked.

  "Where's that note Feltrino gave the Master?"

  Lincoln's eyes widened. He went to the nail on the wall and pulled it off. They held the notes together. It was the same paper and handwriting.

  "Boys, go home. Now," Lincoln said firmly.

  "But big brother Maruccio," little Pippo began.

  "I said now!" Lincoln and Shamira hurried the boys out, locked up the shop and ran for the palace.

  ***

  Ugilino reached forward, his fingers almost touching the leather case. Guilietta pushed herself through to the front of the line and the case moved away from Ugilino's grasp.

  "No need to push," a man's voice said to Guilietta. "If you want to see the Bishop and the relic, just say per favore."

  "Per favore, Signore. I need to get through on urgent business at the palace."

  "You'll not get past the procession for a while," Ugilino heard the man say, "but come stand at the front here."

  There was a parade of priests and soldiers walking slowly through the square. Deep lines of people were crushed together on two sides of the procession as it passed. Ugilino pulled the blanket over his head like a cowl and wormed his way the extra few feet toward Guilietta. The looker case was still slung over her back, only inches away. The Bishop was walking right in front of Guilietta, behind two priests who were carrying a small, ornate trunk between them.

  "The bones of San Zeno," one of the priests cried. "The bones of San Zeno." Many in the crowd crossed themselves and cheered loudly. They were so loud and caused such a distraction that Ugilino thought to himself, 'NOW!', and he grabbed the strap of the case and pulled on it as hard as he could. "Miracles for believers!" the priest cried.

  "Hooraw!" shouted the crowd.

  Guilietta flew back violently as the case was yanked from her. She fell to the ground amid the crush of townspeople. Ugilino turned and pushed himself out of the crowd.

  "Stop! Thief!" he heard Guilietta scream. "Stop!"

  Ugilino could feel the hands of several men grabbing at him. Obviously, the sight of a beautiful young woman struggling up from the ground inspired them to be helpful. Ugilino punched one in the neck with all his might and stomped the foot of the other, tearing himself from their grasp. He broke through the back of the throng and started running in earnest.

  "Stop him," he heard Guilietta cry again. He pulled the blanket tight around his neck to make sure she didn't see who it was, but heard her continuing to shout. He looked back quickly to see her running past the two men who had initially grabbed him but were now standing, nursing their bruises. Guilietta really could run, he saw. He began running down a street, and there he saw Feltrino standing and peering from around a corner. He was waving for Ugilino to duck into the alley with him. Feltrino withdrew and Ugilino careened around the corner, right into Feltrino's strong hands.

  "Guilietta's chasing me," Ugilino croaked, out of breath.

  "Yes, I saw her," Feltrino said, smiling. "Stand back here." Ugilino took a step behind Feltrino and watched him clench his fist and draw back his arm. Guilietta suddenly appeared around the corner and Feltrino smashed his fist into her cheek. She fell to the ground like a rag doll.

  "Hey, you didn't say you would . . ." Ugilino gasped.

  "Give me the looker," Feltrino said, his hand reaching toward Ugilino, still smiling as if nothing had happened. Ugilino looked at Feltrino, then down at Guilietta, lying in a heap. When he looked up again, Feltrino wasn't smiling and he had his sword in his hand. Ugilino handed the looker to Feltrino and the noble smiled again. "She shall be my toy for later," he said merrily. Feltrino tossed the looker into the back of the wagon, clipped his sword onto his belt, then bent to pick up Guilietta. "A diversion on the way home tonight." He picked up Guilietta's limp body and dumped it into the back of the wagon. He looked around and, seeing the blanket around Ugilino's shoulders, took it and covered Guilietta.

  "You didn't say nothin' about hurting her," Ugilino spouted, grabbing Feltrino's shoulder and spinning him around. As Feltrino came about, Ugilino felt a sharp, excruciating pain in his arm. He backed off to find the tip of Feltrino's dagger embedded in his shoulder. "Aaaeeeiii!" he screamed, pulling away from the blade. Pain and blood gushed from the wound.

  "What's the matter with you?" Feltrino shouted. "Don't ever touch me!"

  "But Guilietta . . ."

  "Get the hell out of here, you stupid peasant!" Feltrino screamed, bringing the dagger's tip to Ugilino's face.

  "But I'm your squire. You said . . ." Ugilino then felt more searing pain as the knifepoint scraped across his cheek. Ugilino screamed and ran into the road.

  "You, my squire?" Feltrino shouted in a laugh. Then he snarled. "A filthy peasant like you? And such a fool? Oh, I might as well kill you now," Feltrino said taking a step forward. Ugilino turned and ran. He heard Feltrino laughing behind him, but no footsteps following.

  Ugilino ran and ran as hard as he could. By the time he got to Piazza Bra, cramping pains were shooting from his shoulder and blood streamed down his arm and face. 'I better get to Signora Baroni,' he thought. 'That dirty rotten bastard! He said I could be his . . .' Ugilino stopped dead in his tracks. He stared at two people who had suddenly stopped in front of him. They were staring at him, obviously shocked at what he must look like. Then Ugilino began to babble so quickly he was incoherent.

  "Maruccio, Carmella . . . Feltrino took Guilietta. He knocked her out and put her in a wagon. He stole the looker and is going back to Mantua. I tried to save her but . . ."

  "Slow down, Ugilino," Shamira said. "What are you saying?"

  "You're bleedin' like a stuck pig, man!" Lincoln cried.

  "It's Feltrino, he stabbed me. I tried to save her but he knocked her out and stabbed me."

  "Save who?" Shamira asked again. "Speak more slowly."

  "Guilietta. Feltrino has her looker, and he hit her really hard and then put her in a wagon. He's going back to Mantua with the looker. And Guilietta."

  "My God!" Shamira gasped, turning pale.

  "Is Guilietta hurt bad?" Lincoln asked.

  "I don't know. He hit her real hard in the face and she went down. Then he put her in the wagon and covered her with a blanket and said he was going back to Mantua."

  "Oh my God, oh my God!" Shamira said. "We've got to . . ." Then she stopped and looked at Ugilino hard. "How do you know he was stealing a looker and why would he tell you where he's going?"

  Almost caught in his lie, Ugilino froze. "Hey, he stabbed me when I tried to save her. I hate that bastard." Ugilino saw Shamira and Lincoln's eyes widen with shock when he took his hand off of his wounded shoulder and more blood oozed out freely. He quickly clamped his hand down and winced. "Where's the Master?" he asked.

  "He's at the palace with Romero."

  "You better go and get them fast. The Podesta too. I'm bleedin' bad. I gotta get to Signora Baroni." Shamira continued staring at Ugilino. He could see she was trying to figure something out. "You better go, Carmella," Ugilino said to further distract her. "That bastard is probably driving out of the city gates by now. And you know what he'll do with her when he has a chance." He made a pained face, which he didn't have to exaggerate. "I've gotta go," he said, hobbling away. Lincoln stopped him.

  "What did the wagon look like? Can you describe the horses?"

  "Just a plain wagon, I don't know. Oh, the horses. One was a big, ugly thing. The other was a nice brown one. I gotta go." And with that he turned and limped away.

  ***

  "Oh my God, my God," Shamira said.

  "We gotta go. C'mon!" Lincoln grabbed Shamira's arm and pulled her forward. They ran the rest of the way to the palace. Luckily Captain Caesar was in front and recognized them.

  "Captain Caesar," she panted, and then quickly explained the situation. He instantly turned and shouted to a soldier on the palace roof.

  "Signal to close th
e city gates. All of them. Now!" he called. The soldier on the roof picked up some flags. "Come, I'll take you to the Podesta.

  ***

  "What do you propose, Signori?" Hansum had asked the Podesta calmly.

  "Si, Signori," Agistino said glumly as he got up and sat on the edge of his chair. "I am at your mercy. Please believe I did not intend to deceive you in any way. Circumstances . . ."

  "Of course, of course, my friend," Nicademo said. "We have all been in tight places where circumstances dictate that we put ourselves in God's hands. But seriously, examine how your resources would be overstretched for such a project as fifteen hundred lookers. You have but two lathes and a small staff of youths and girls. His Excellency is dealing with kings and dukes and princes. Do you think it wise of us to make promises to kings with such a situation as yours?"

  "I understand, Signor," the Master said. Hansum saw Agistino was getting himself under control. "But has my word not been good in our dealings so far? Did we not deliver early and did we not just show you a lathe design far superior to any in Christendom?"

  "Yes, you have, on all accounts, been faithful, Master della Cappa. That is why we honor you with this meeting," Nicademo said.

  "Thank you, Excellency," Agistino said with dignity, though his eyes were still wary. "What is it you propose? I am in both God's and your hands."

  The Podesta looked at Master della Cappa and then at Nicademo, then back. He put a hand on the plans for the water-driven lathe, pushing it yet further down the table.

  "Perhaps your shop and resources are too little," the Podesta said. "Perhaps we should arrange the looker's manufacture in Florence."

  Horrified, Agistino lost his composure again, crying, "But they are an invention of my house!"

  There was an insistent knocking at the door.

  "We are busy!" the Podesta shouted angrily.

  "It's Caesar. An emergency."

  "Come."

  The door opened and Captain Caesar walked in quickly. Hansum was surprised to see Shamira and Lincoln standing nervously in the hall. When the Master saw them, he seemed even more shocked.

  "The Gonzaga, Feltrino," Caesar explained. "Apparently he stole a looker and is making his way out of Verona with it."

  "Has he gotten away?" Nicademo asked.

  "I've signaled the gates closed. The girl and boy just got here with the news."

  "There's more," Shamira said, stepping into the room, wide-eyed. The Podesta signaled to Caesar to let her speak. "It's Guilietta. Feltrino's kidnapped her. She's with him."

  ***

  In the courtyard Captain Caesar was assembling his men to chase down Feltrino. The Podesta was going too, on his big white stallion. He was so angry that yet another generation of Gonzaga was besting him, he wanted personal revenge. The Baron was trying to dissuade his cousin from going, but he would not hear of it. He also ordered extra horses, as they would be riding hard.

  "I had him in my hand and I showed mercy," the Podesta complained to Nicademo. "I was only holding him, and he does this to me, stealing my lookers."

  "No sign of him at the gate, Excellency," Caesar reported. "He may already be outside the walls."

  The Master, Shamira, Lincoln and Hansum were standing by, looking frantic with worry.

  "You must save my daughter, Excellency," Master della Cappa pleaded. "Please, save her."

  "Go home, della Cappa," the Podesta said. "Your house has already done enough, letting him take a looker."

  "Let me go with you, Excellency," Hansum pleaded. "I can ride well and you have extra horses. Please let me go. She is like a sister to me."

  "Oh, you can ride too?" the Podesta mocked. "My savant's talents are so very diverse." Mastino saw the savant thinking. It was like he was listening to someone speak to him.

  "And I can track," Hansum said. "I am an excellent tracker, if they go off road."

  "It would be logical for the Gonzaga to go off road, Excellency," Captain Caesar said, "I don't know why he would be using a wagon."

  "Because he's got Guilietta," Hansum said emotionally.

  "Perhaps she went willingly," Mastino suggested.

  "NO WAY!" Hansum shot back loudly right at the Podesta. He instantly felt Caesar's strong hand grab his shoulder roughly.

  "It's okay," Mastino said, almost amused at the outburst. "After all, she's like . . . his sister."

  "We are all very close," Shamira added as calmly as possible.

  "That is all good," Mastino said, then he laughed. "Captain, give Romero one of the spare horses. We shall observe his skills."

  Captain Caesar looked surprised.

  ***

  This was a very different horse than what Hansum was used to. He looked up at the beast. Almost seventeen hands at the withers and positively massive.

  "I'm used to riding Arabians," he said to the Podesta as he got up somewhat awkwardly. The horse started to test Hansum by pulling away. Hansum yanked hard with both reins and dug in his heels, bringing the animal to a dead halt. "But whatever the animal, they have to know who is in charge."

  There was only one main road to take a wagon on if Feltrino was travelling to Mantua. It split several ways after a while, but until then the riders could ride at a gallop. The first fork in the road was a quiet place. Few wagons would have passed there in the last while. Hansum rode his horse to the front of the line and jumped off.

  "Don't let our horses trample the recent tracks," he said. He ran from one road and then the other, letting Pan scan the impressions of both wheels and horse hooves.

  "From what Master Lincoln was told by Ugilino about the wagon and horses . . ."

  While Pan was informing Hansum of his observations, Captain Caesar was discussing the situation with the Podesta.

  "The road to the left is the most direct route," Caesar said. "It goes through several villages, but he wouldn't care about that. The road to the right is rougher and almost a half day longer, through a valley and heavy forest. I say we go to the left."

  "I think not," Hansum interrupted. "There are three recent wagon tracks under four hours old. Two go to the left and have only one horse. Our information is he was using two horses. A big wagon horse and a smaller one, shod for speed. See, notice the hoofprints. Unmatched horses. This one goes to the right."

  "One of his horses was not a wagon horse?" the Podesta repeated. "And you can see that in the tracks?" Hansum nodded. "He may abandon the wagon and girl if he detects us. Captain, divide our men into three groups. The larger one on the road and send smaller ones through the forests on either side. Come, we must be quick."

  ***

  Guilietta stared at Feltrino, trying not to show the hatred and fear in her heart. One side of her face felt puffy and ached. She was standing in the forest, now high on a hill, her hands tied in front of her. Feltrino was looking down into the valley with the looker.

  "It's lucky I decided to get us off the road," Feltrino said. "They would have caught up with us by now. My God, I think that's Mastino himself. They're moving away from us. We should be safe here." He put down the looker and turned to Guilietta. "How does this marvel work?" he asked, referring to the telescope. "There must be many ingenious things inside to make it do such magic."

  Guilietta stared at her captor blankly. She had assembled many lookers and knew it was just three lenses, one at each end of the smaller adjusting tube and a larger one at the end of the long tube. "I don't know how they work," she said. "It is learned work that only people like my father can do."

  "No matter," Feltrino said. "When we get back to my city, our philosophers will take it apart and discover the magic." Then he looked at Guilietta. "I think we are safe to stay here for the night," and then he smiled sardonically.

  Guilietta caught her breath.

  "Please, no . . ." but Feltrino had already taken a step toward her and grasped her wrist.

  "Even filthy from travelling all day and that swollen face, you are still very appealing," he said.

&n
bsp; "No," Guilietta said again, struggling. But Feltrino's other arm was around her waist and pulling her toward him. Guilietta screamed but Feltrino laughed and put a hand over her mouth. She bit down hard.

  "Bitch!" he cried and threw her to the ground. "Now I won't be so nice when I . . ." but his threat was interrupted by the sound of a branch cracking loudly somewhere close by in the trees. Feltrino drew his sword and knelt by Guilietta, the saber tip close to her throat. "Keep your mouth shut."

  A large horse broke through the branches, one of Mastino's soldiers upon it. Feltrino sprang up before the man could see him, his saber extended. Guilietta watched as the man turned in the saddle at the last moment. The blade, aimed at the space between his breastplate and back plate, missed the opening and bounced off the polished steel. Guilietta didn't wait to see what would happen next. She ran into the woods.

  ***

  Hansum was kneeling, allowing Pan to examine the tracks in the hard-pack road. The Podesta and Captain stood behind him, silently watching, while the other soldiers looked on from their horses. Still saying nothing, Hansum stood up at Pan's command and scoured the area ahead and then behind them. He could see the Podesta staring at him intently. Then Pan spoke to Hansum, who repeated his words.

  "The tracks we're following have disappeared."

  "But there are plenty of tracks on the road," Captain Caesar said.

  "Those are old tracks, Signor. He must have pulled off the road at that rocky area behind us and headed into the hills. The wagon must be hidden . . ."

  "A rider approaches from the trees, Master Hansum," Pan whispered. "Two horses and one rider. About five hundred meters off the road. He'll be out of the woods in a moment."

  Hansum looked over in the direction Pan referred to.

  "Someone's coming out of the forest," Hansum said.

  The Podesta took out his looker and used it.

  "How could you . . . he's right. It's Sanchez. He's leading a second horse. Damn, there's a man slung across it."

  Sanchez could give no word whether Guilietta was still with Feltrino. After finding the riderless horse, it took the soldier time to find the body. Hansum jumped on his horse. He was chomping to dive into the woods, giving chase to Feltrino.

  "Caution, Young Master," Pan whispered. "Patience. This is war. You must keep a cool head, if you want to keep it at all."