“They always are.” Johann leaned back with a wink. He turned his attention to Eve, then. “Now, who is this lovely lady?”
Michel spoke up. “This is Eve. I have hired her to help me with my books. Keep me organized.”
Johann took her hand in both of his and gave her a warm smile, looking at her over his gold spectacles. “It’s nice to meet you,mademoiselle.”
“You as well.” She smiled.
“Hmmm,” Johann tittered, retreating into his apartment. He held out his hand. “Please, come inside.”
Johann’s apartment was small and cluttered with curios from all over the world. The doorway led them through a narrow hallway with shelves crowded with all kinds of things: pots and pans, tools, springs, china, pocket watches, spectacles, buttons, dolls, utensils, magnifiers, glass disks, and scores of other knick-knacks with no obvious purpose. Michel remembered his first visit here with his father, when he had been fifteen. He’d spent hours examining the unique items. Now, however, Michel had too many other things on his mind to enjoy Johann’s oddities.
Johann led them to his sitting area at the end of the hallway. It was a small room crowded with wardrobes and mismatched chairs, a cluttered workbench, and uneven stacks of books and parchments in little towers across the floor. One high window was open and gave the room light. Johann swiped a pile of gears off the settee so Eve could sit, and then he picked up the side of a bench to slide a collection of spoons into a basket, clanking and rattling as they went. Johann smiled proudly and held out his hand for Michel to sit.
“Johann, somehow it is always more crowded in here than the previous time,” Michel said as he sat down.
Johann grinned. “You know me, Michel,” he said as he cleared a spot on his workbench. “Now what do you bring me?” His expression, shining with excitement.
“Bold of you to assume this box is for you,” Michel grinned at the man.
“Ho, Michel, don’t toy with me.” He held out his hands. “Give it here.”
Michel handed over the package, and Johann put it on his worktable. “Okay, okay,” he said, observing the weight and size of the box, perhaps just big enough for a pair of fancy boots, as he unwrapped the fabric covering it. “Ah,” he said, a giddy note in his voice as the covering fell away. “It is lovely.” He ran his hands over the gold-leafed etching, over the dials and windows with numbers. “What is it?”
“It’s a Pascaline. An adding machine,” Michel said. “They are wildly popular in Paris.”
“Anaddingmachine!” Johann clapped his hands together with glee. “My, my, my.” He twiddled the dial. “I can add…I can add anything I want!”
Michel enjoyed watching his friend play with his new toy, but he was eager for his reward. “Now, Johann, what is the news? I need information.”
“Yes, yes,” Johann said. “What would you like to know?” He twisted a knob, and the box made a click. “Ooh!” he chortled.
“We were attacked in the hills.”
Johann scoffed, not looking up. “You are always attacked in the hills,” he said, playing coy.
Michel glanced at Eve and met her eyes. She looked down. “Yes,” he said, “but this was different.”
Johann spoke but did not turn his attention from the Pascaline. “The horde is looking for someone.” He pulled his hand down his long beard. “A woman.” He adjusted his glasses. “An odd-looking woman.” He glanced at Eve, then Michel, over his spectacles. “Perhaps one traveling with a Frenchman.” He raised his eyebrows and turned back to the adding machine.
“Why are they looking for her?” Michel asked evenly.
“Her tribe wants her for retribution. It is said,” he cleared his throat, his voice dipping low, almost as a mumble, “it is said she killed her husband.”
Michel sat still. “And what will they do with her if they find her?” He turned to Eve. She looked back at him, with secrets in her eyes.
“That I do not know, Michel,” he said. “But,” he drew the word out as he fiddled with the machine. “The tribes know better than to disrupt the trade routes. The woman is lucky she has found a Frenchman to travel with. We French are safe in this part of the world, if we don’t step out of place,” he said, accentuating theif. He ran his fingers over the little windows that displayed numbers. “Eight plus seven,” he muttered to himself. “Let’s see.” He adjusted a few dials. “Too far East, the French have no influence. The inner clans care not for such connections.” He clicked something into place. “Fifteen! My goodness! It’s correct!”
Michel gave him a small smile, thinking how these inner clans had been the exact ones he had hoped to woo. What a fool. “I’m glad it works,” he said to Johann.
Johann turned in his spot to face Michel and Eve then. “Listen, my friend, you are safe in the walls of the cities. You are safe if you stick to the well-traveled roads. The tribes don’t want to start trouble with France. Or with you. But you, young lady,” he turned to Eve and took her hand before continuing, “You stay covered when you are out. Gossip travels faster than horses.” He gave her hand a pat before releasing it. Then he addressed Michel, “The tribes are mostly on their northern treks with the herds right now. It is unlikely you will have many encounters like you did coming into town, if you stay clever.” He paused. “I would complete your business promptly and not linger. You understand that angering the horde will destabilize the entire line. It will put a lot of men out of business between here and France. And lives…” He gave a grim nod. “Lives could be lost.” He turned back to his table. “I wouldn’t want to be the man who causes Cardinal Mazarin any trouble.”
Michel looked at Eve, whose eyes were downcast. “Well, Johann.” Michel sighed, already feeling defeated. “That brings me to my next question. Any chance you have found a contact for cashmere?”
Johann grinned. “Actually, my friend,” he chirped, still twisting knobs on his machine. “Yes. I believe I have found someone who will be willing to trade with you.”
Eve listened to Michel and Johann talk as she stared out the window. Despite Johann’s warning, Michel had shifted back to business and talked with excitement about the potential deal. She wanted Michel to achieve his goal. She understood his objectives. Eve had selfishly placed herself in his path, never thinking about the trouble she would bring him. She had seen him as a way to get to France, to escape. He didn’t need to know more about her or her past.
But she had begun to rely on him. She had begun to want to be near him.
