Chapter Thirty-Six: The Epidemic Village of Luxen (1)
I don't know how long we walked, but a towering stone wall began to appear in the distance. That great wall that isolates the village from the outside world was nothing but Locsen's sign. In front of the gate stood two guards, swaying boredom. I stopped the car for them.
Idon said as he dismounted, frowning:
“Here we come?! "I thought the road was longer than this."
I didn't pay attention to him, but just lowered the luggage from the cart.
“My lord, sit here for a while.”
“Why?”
“I will hide your identity.”
«Hide? For what reason?
I took small vials out of the bag, and Edun looked confused.
I said: “Children are not allowed to enter the infected village unless they are infected. "And I can't leave you outside alone."
“But...”
“Then you attract attention wherever you go. We'll go in secret. "Bend down a little."
He bowed reluctantly.
«Pfft! What is this that you are spraying on my head?!
“Hair powder that changes hair color temporarily.”
"powder? Why do you pour it on me like that?!”
What a complaining boy... Thank God I didn't use charcoal!
I continued to sprinkle powder on his soft hair.
“Oh, my eyes are burning!”
“Good, it'll just look like you're sicker. Now we put this on your arm.”
“What is this?”
“A gummy paste that looks like sores.”
After the disguise was complete, Idun sat with his head bowed and miserable.
“Do we really need all this?”
"Yes. Only in this way do we reduce our potential exposure. And remember what I told you a moment ago.”
Then she sat him inside the cart again. We've taken up more time than we should... I have to hurry. I wore an old priestly robe I had gotten through Catherine.
At that moment, Guard Petersen was yawning until his mouth nearly opened, his helmet sliding over his eyes. Who cares about appearance in a place where no one even visits?
“Are there any visitors expected today?” asked his companion.
“I don't think so. Neither yesterday nor the day before, and today will be no different.”
“So what is this next car?”
The carriage approached at a steady pace and then stopped at the gate. Petersen called out cautiously:
«Stop! Introduce yourself!
I answered in a low, hoarse voice under the hood covering my face:
“May the Lord bless you. “I am Priest Benedict.”
Nothing of my features could be seen, but the voice was like that of a stabbing old man. As soon as the two guards heard the word “priest,” their seriousness increased.
One of them said: “We apologize, Your Honor. Are you revealing your hood a little?” This is the entry procedure.”
“Sorry, I'd rather not show my face... I've had dandruff before.”
The two of them shivered as soon as they heard the name. I continued with a faint laugh:
“But thanks to the Lord, I recovered, but the scars remain even with the holy power.”
“No doubt,” Petersen said quickly. “It must have been painful.” Then he added: “Do we see who is in the car?”
“Of course, but be careful...the child is injured.”
As soon as they looked out the window, they gasped: a pale boy, his skin black and festering, and his eyes red.
“He is my student, Johannes,” I said. “I get sick and he helps me.”
“Poor thing…” The two guards covered their mouths in pity.
She continued: “All the priests capable of healing left the capital on a religious trip. Until they return, there is no place for him there.”
“There is a small house for priests inside the village. He can stay there.”
"Thank you all. May the Lord bless you.”
“And may He bless you also.”
The two guards quickly opened the gate, and we entered without any objection.
“Alas… the boy was still young,” one of them said with a sigh.
“Yes… Why are the good guys always afflicted?”
They didn't see my sarcastic smile behind the hood.
In the carriage, Edun said in astonishment:
“How did you change your voice like that?”
“A trick I learned a long time ago.”
“Can I learn it too?”
“With practice and time, yes.”
“Then teach me!”
I didn't answer him, but I kept watching what was around us. Everything is still the same...the hostile looks, the same bad smells.
It's been almost four years since I came back to life.
The houses were built of random stones, and people walked around with their bodies eroded. I wish the old man was still alive... otherwise there would be trouble.
We arrived at the small temple near the entrance. I parked the carriage in the nearby stable.
“My lord, from here we will continue walking. The alleys are narrow.”
“Do I really have to go?” he said in a trembling voice.
I saw fear in his eyes. True, he saw everything from the window.
“If you want, wait here,” I said. "I'll go alone."
"What? To where?"
“The man I am looking for lives inside.”
"Can't we take the carriage?"
“The roads do not allow.”
“But...what if we get sick?”
He's about to cry. I said quietly:
“Infection is not as easy as you think. If it had been, the priests and doctors would not have dared to come here.”