Margit Sandemo - The Ice People 07 - Nemesis

No, he would do what Holzenstern had said. He would forget the vision.

Instead he would focus on Molly and Jessica Cross. That day he had not done much to try and find them, except snooping about at New Askinge – but where was he to search?

Molly had said the neighbouring parish. But for heaven’s sake, there was a neighbouring parish in every direction!

Anyway, he would have to begin the search early tomorrow morning because he just had to meet Molly again.

He began to pull off his boots but then stopped.

A historian in the village. That was what Holzenstern had said. Surely that man was bound to know more about Old Askinge and Salina.

Who could it be?

No. Tancred did not want to know any more about the ghost castle. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden noise. Something smacked gently against the window pane followed by small, light taps. Like grains of sand ...

For a moment, Tancred sat motionless. Then he switched off the light and walked over to the window.

The glass was thick and curved but he saw a distorted figure down below. The face, which was impossible to discern – it was just a blur – was looking up towards him. But it must be ...

It had to be Molly! Somebody had locked his window and it was impossible to open. He pointed towards the large gate with big movements of his arm and the girl walked in that direction.

Tancred’s heart was thumping as he snuck through the many rooms towards the hall. Everybody had gone to bed. There were no lights.

Furious at the creaking sound from the lock, he turned the key, opening the door carefully.

A small, brown shadow dashed in.

“Come,” whispered Tancred, taking her hand. They entered Tancred’s room without being seen and he locked the door.

It was Molly! His own little Molly!

He felt a warm and strong urge of protectiveness.

“Thank God you’ve come,” he said with a sigh. “I’ve been very worried.”

He had thought of her so often that he addressed her informally. After all, she was a maid so it would only seem natural.

But this was not how he saw her. She was his Molly, and that was sufficient.

She seemed much shaken.

“Do take off your coat,” he said gently. “You’re safe here.”

“No, no. This isn’t the proper thing to do in a man’s room. I ought not be here at all.”

“Forget etiquette. This is a special situation.”

But she kept on her worn coat.

And they say that she’s a tart, he thought with horror.

He showed her over to a small sofa and seated himself next to her.

“Now let me hear what you’ve got to say.”

“Oh, I’m so distraught! My friend’s gone! Disappeared.”

He looked questioningly at her. “Where was she when you and I met yesterday?”

“She had already gone by then. I ran away so quickly because I was looking for her.”

“You should have asked me to help you.”

“But I didn’t know who you were – and we must be careful.”

“You told me that you’d be looking for a job in the neighbouring parish?”

“This was just something I invented, sorry! My friend and I are completely helpless. We just wanted to get away ... and then she disappeared and I’ve roamed the area. I only had you to get in touch with.”

“I’m glad you came. Tell me, why do you both run away all the time?”

Her eyes turned dark as she said, “I can’t tell you the reason why.”

“But have you no confidence in me at all?”

“It seems that I do, doesn’t it, or I wouldn’t be here now!”

“Yes, of course. Sorry!”

She was unbelievably pretty. Tancred tried not to look at her too much but something touched his heart – or thereabouts. He wasn’t completely sure. He felt such pain because he liked her so much. Her hair was blond and quite straight. She had clearly tried to pull out all the fir needles and grass. Her eyes were very expressive and her nose was very beautifully shaped. But right now the downturned corners of her mouth made her look like a dejected little girl.

“Well?” said Tancred, encouragingly. “What happened?”

“We fled yesterday night. First, we hid in the stable at Askinge and then I had to run inside once more to get some money, because we’d forgotten that. And when I returned ... when I returned to the stable, she wasn’t there. I waited for quite some time, whispering her name, but she had disappeared without a trace. Finally, I had to leave the farm late in the morning. I thought that she’d entered the forest, so I began to look for her but I couldn’t find her.”

“Then you found me instead,” smiled Tancred.

“Yes,” she said with a shy smile. “And I’ve been looking for my friend ever since. Most of the time I lay quietly on the edges of the New Askinge estate, because I felt that it was the most likely place to find her. I just don’t understand!”

“No, she wasn’t at Askinge because I was there today. You see, I wanted to know a bit more about you both.”

“And do you know more now?”

“No, but I’d be grateful if you’d call me by my name, which is Tancred.”

She nodded silently and shyly.

“Good!” he said. “What do you suggest we do now?”

“I don’t know. I simply don’t know!”

Tancred waited for a moment.

“What if you told me a bit about yourselves?” he said in a low voice.

She started.

“No!” she whispered.

He was still waiting.

Then she said: “I think they’re holding her prisoner, Tancred.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think they’re holding her. That’s what I think.”

“What do you mean by that? She lives at Askinge! So why would they hold her prisoner?”

Molly began to weep.

“That’s why we ran away because she was afraid ... that somebody ... would hurt her.”

Tancred put his arms around the weeping girl.

“You see,” she stammered, “when I came back, I could see that there had been a struggle.”

“Good grief,” he whispered. “How long were you gone?”

“I had to search for the money. It took a while – I’m not sure how long.”

“But tell me why they wanted to get a hold of her. And who are ‘they’?”

“We don’t know who they are. It might be one or several persons. But there are many reasons.”

“Tell me some of them!”

She twisted and turned. “She ... No, I’ve promised not to say anything. Can’t you wait a while?”

“You make it difficult for me but ... all right, then.”

“Thank you. I don’t want to deceive you, Tancred, but I have good reason to keep quiet.”

“You were scared yesterday when I introduced myself in the forest.”

“Yes, because Countess Ursula Horn often mixes with the Holzensterns.”

Tancred laughed. “She’s trying to have me married off to Stella.”

“No, for goodness sake, don’t have anything to do with that family! There’s so much bad blood ...”

“That’s also what Ursula Horn said.”

“It comes from Mrs. Holzenstern’s side. Her father and Jessica’s paternal grandmother are siblings.”

“Do you mean that Stella also carries bad blood in her?”

“That could very well be the case, especially since I’ve seen the weaknesses of the Holzenstern clan.”

“Such as?”

“No, I’ve promised Jessica not to speak badly about her kin. Are you ... interested in Stella?”

Tancred imagined that he detected a certain anxiety in Molly’s voice. He looked her deep in the eyes and gave her a gentle smile.

“No, I’m not,” he whispered.

She looked down and he saw the shadow of a smile on her face as she looked away.

“What did the Count say about me?” she mumbled.