Oliver Pötzsch - The Werewolf of Bamberg

“You fools! Can’t you see this is my very honorable personal physician? Leave us alone.” He put down the silken feed bag he’d been holding and reached out his hand with the bishop’s ring. “Master Samuel, what a pleasure. I hear that the mercury treatments you prescribed are working wonders for my beloved Francesca. I’m very grateful.”

“But I am indebted to you for permitting me to act as personal physician to such a magnanimous ruler.” Samuel bent down to kiss the bishop’s ring, then glanced at his friend as a silent admonition to show his own reverence.

“Well, I see you have brought your esteemed colleague,” Rieneck said, continuing to smile as Simon put his lips to the gold signet ring. “I hope he is enjoying his stay with us in Bamberg.”

“Ex. . extremely,” Simon croaked, struggling to his feet. “A beautiful city, and the new archbishop’s palace up on the cathedral square will soon be the jewel in your crown.”

God, what drivel is coming from my mouth, he thought. Must one be such a bootlicker to serve the mighty?

The bishop nodded. “Indeed it is beautiful, though some unfortunate incidents have marred its beauty recently.” He turned to Samuel. “I have heard a suspect has already been found in this werewolf matter-a fellow from one of these groups of itinerant actors.” He shook his head. “What do you think of it, Doctor? Did your commission come to the conclusion that he really is a werewolf?”

Suddenly, the squirrel monkeys behind them let out such a loud scream that Simon winced.

“That’s exactly the reason we wanted to speak with you, Your Excellency,” Samuel began in a somber tone. “In our opinion, it is very doubtful that the suspect is guilty. This troupe of actors had not even arrived in the city at the time of the first missing-persons cases. The only evidence is a few wolf pelts they found in the young man’s room. That’s all.”

“Hm, I think Harsee views it differently. He thinks that questioning the lad would lead us to other werewolves.”

“I, on the other hand,” said Samuel, “fear a mass panic like what we saw at the time of the ill-fated witch trials. The boy will name everyone he can think of. The citizens are already troubled enough; we shouldn’t be too hasty.”

Philipp Rieneck seemed lost in thought for a while, then reached for his silk bag of feed and went back to caring for his pheasants, uttering comforting cooing sounds from time to time.

“I’m extremely saddened that the guards seized this actor,” he said after a while. “I had been so looking forward to a performance by the troupe in Geyerswörth Castle, especially since the Bishop of Würzburg announced he would be stopping by for a visit the day after tomorrow. But if even more actors-”

“The boy is innocent, without question,” Simon replied, then was shocked to realize he’d just interrupted a real live prince-bishop. Rieneck looked at him indignantly.

“I’m certain that the Inquisition Commission just founded by Suffragan Bishop Harsee will come to a different conclusion,” His Excellency replied coolly. “And if my information is correct, the good bishop did not request your participation, nor that of City Physician Samuel, in this narrower circle that will decide who is to be tortured.”

“But you will make the final decision,” Samuel answered gently. “All we ask of you is to postpone the torture a bit. We are in the process of collecting evidence that can lead us to the real culprit.”

Simon swallowed hard. Up to now, all he had told his friend was that they were hoping to save an innocent person from the claws of justice. Samuel had really stuck his neck out far in making that last assertion. It was clear to Simon that his friend was risking the loss of his good reputation and perhaps even his position as the bishop’s personal physician.

“The real culprit?” Rieneck frowned. Suddenly he seemed unsure of himself. “Do. . do you have any suspicions regarding this beast? Do any of the witnesses claim to have seen anything else?”

“You know that I don’t have a very high regard for these so-called witnesses,” Samuel replied. “The night watchman was drunk as a skunk, and the rest is probably just idle talk. In my opinion, they’re just figments of the imagination on the part of a few pompous idiots. We have some missing people here, and someone is responsible for their abduction. It isn’t necessarily a werewolf.”

“Not a werewolf? Well, if you think so. .” The bishop continued feeding the pheasants, but evidently he was mulling it over. Finally he turned back to his guests with a broad smile.

“Perhaps you are right, Doctor. If this young fellow is questioned, he’ll probably accuse his colleagues of being werewolves just to save his miserable life, and I can forget about my visit to the theater. Since my good friend Johann Philipp von Schönborn, prince-bishop of Würzburg, is unfortunately no friend of the Inquisition, we shall have to postpone the torture until after the performance.” Then he threw the bag away and rubbed his chubby hands together. “In addition. .” He hesitated briefly, then continued animatedly. “In honor of the bishop’s visit, there won’t be just one performance, but two. After all, he’s a real imperial elector.”

“Two performances?” Samuel asked, confused. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

Rieneck gave a sly grin, like a small child. “Well. . I was foolish enough to give permission to another theater troupe to take winter quarters in our city. The manager comes from the beautiful country of France and somehow was able to wrap me around his finger with his sweet, honeyed words. Supporting two troupes of actors in a modest bishopric like Bamberg is clearly beyond our means. Our suffragan bishop Harsee is at times a bit zealous and keeps pestering me about the first group.” He rolled his eyes, but then nodded cheerfully. “So therefore, we will have a contest. Two performances, one by each troupe, presented for His Excellency the Würzburg bishop and all the citizens of Bamberg. The troupe that gives the better performance will be permitted to remain in the city. What do you think? Isn’t that a splendid idea? It kills three birds with one stone: I politely dismiss one of the two groups, impress the elector, and gain the good favor of the Bambergers. For years they’ll remember this friendly gesture by their monarch.”

He scrutinized his guests’ faces like a cook who had just suggested an especially strange menu.

“Ah, a splendid suggestion, Your Excellency,” replied Simon. “So there’s some hope for Matheo?”

The bishop frowned. “Who is Matheo?”

“The young lad sitting in the dungeon accused of being a werewolf,” Samuel explained.

“Ah, I see. Well, yes, then he will be spared until after the performance, as I said-an acceptable solution for all concerned.” The bishop seemed extremely pleased with himself and turned to Samuel with a smile. “I owe it to you for having suggested this marvelous idea, Doctor. It will be a great pleasure for me to greet you and your friend at the performance.”

He reached for his sack again, dismissing his guests with a wave of the hand without even looking at them again. “And now, farewell. I must go to feed my dear monkeys. This menagerie takes a great deal of my time.”

“Damn it! You know where Barbara is. Now tell me right away, or. .”

“Or what?” Magdalena gazed at her father serenely. “Are you going to torture me on the rack if I don’t tell you? Pull out my fingernails or put on the thumbscrews? Hm?”

“I’d be happy just to give you a good spanking, and it’s too bad you’re too old for that now.”

Grumbling, Jakob waved her off and fell into a gloomy silence. He leaned back on the wooden bench in the Bamberg hangman’s house, lit his pipe, and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. A steady rain pounded against the closed shutters.