7.

The first morning in the compound, Cornelius was jarred from his sound sleep by the blowing of horns. Several horns blasted the most awful sound in the world. The horns trumpeted repeatedly.

It was impossible for anyone in the entire estate to sleep with the horns shaking the very earth. The horns made the weirdest and most unnerving sound Cornelius ever heard.

One morning, not long after they arrived at the estate, Cornelius rose early to relieve himself. He saw a man walking down the alley close to their quarters. The man carried the horn of some animal. Cornelius followed him to the outer square and watched as he climbed a tower in the corner. At sunrise he put the horn to his lips and gave a loud blast. Loud blasts came from the other three towers. Now, Cornelius knew the source of the blasting horns. He hated the irritating sound.

Cornelius asked, “What kind of animal has a horn like the men used to blow?”

Albino replied, “A ram.”

“What is a ram?” Antonio wanted to know.

“A big mountain goat!” explained Albino.

Cornelius asked, “Why a mountain goat?”

“The big male goats have large horns and they make a good horn.” Albino responded. He took charge of their training. He drilled them in the proper way to act in front of the mistress. He and the eunuchs taught them the language and a few weeks things did not seemed so strange.

Day by day their life took on a routine. They were awakened by the blast of the horns at dawn. The servants came running with a hot breakfast before the sun rose. After breakfast, Albino took them downstream, away from the estate and they bathed. They were informed in hot weather they would bathe morning and evening. Cornelius thought he would die if forced to bathe twice a day. At the clan’s compound they bathed in the spring and then, again in the fall.

Following their bath, they spent the remainder of the morning learning the language of Illyricum. The young men discovered it was not very different than the language of the Italia clans. In a matter of weeks they began to carry on conversations in both languages.

With their acquired language they talked to the eunuchs, estate slaves, tradesmen and merchants. They were not allowed to speak to anyone from the inner square.

The inner square occupants were required to wear a blue colored cloth around their arm, head or waist for identification. The piece of colored cloth denoted a badge of honor. Everyone else in the compound wore dull colored wool clothing.

In the ensuing months the four boys learned several dialects and a few languages. Also they learned mathematics, reading and writing. The four eunuchs drilled them day and night.

Cornelius commented to his comrades, “The only time we do not study, we are bathing, eating or sleeping. All we do is study, eat or bathe.”

Several months passed before they were called to the inner square for their first interview before the mistress.

Knowing the mistress paid a large sum of money for the four young men, Albino quaked at the thought of her being displeased with their performance. His heart was gripped with fear and misgivings.

Albino gave them their last instructions, “Speak only the language of Illyricum. Kneel to the mistress when she enters the room. Keep your head bowed. Do not speak unless she asks you a question. When she dismisses you, back out of the room with your head bowed and whatever you do, do not look her in the eye at anytime. Are those instructions clear?”

They nodded their heads.

“Now, did each of you have a bath this morning?”

Again they nodded their heads.

“Your garments were washed as you slept. You have on those clean garments?”

They answered in chorus. “Yes.”

Their garments were washed many times since they were thrown in the sea, but it took so long for them to dry in the winter, sometimes the washings were postponed. When their garments were fresh they felt really clean.

“Very well, let us go.” Albino led them and the four eunuchs across the street between the two squares and they entered a small alleyway. Midway through the alleyway there appeared an opening on the right. Albino turned in at the door and the boys and the eunuchs followed.

“We will wait here until we are summoned.” Albino motioned to some low benches. “Sit. It may be some time.”

Two hours later a servant appeared and ushered them into the anti-room outside the receiving hall. Albino’s eyes became wide and round. Something was amiss. He felt the tension in the air.

Time slipped by. Albino and the others waited far longer than he ever remembered. He waited, but never this long before entering the receiving hall. Always before, the summons came immediately, but to be made to wait more than a few minutes unnerved him. Generally, his summons into the great hall for his reporting came as he entered the anti-room. He felt a bit apprehensive and could not overcome his anxiety.

“I would remind you of one more thing, my young stallions. We are going in before a mistress. This may be distressful. Keep your head bowed as you go in. Watch me. When I kneel, you kneel. Keep your head down and, if you have a god or gods, pray. Something is wrong.”

Fear suddenly filled the hearts of the boys. The eunuchs babbled in some foreign tongue. The whites of their eyes were enlarged and shining against their black skin.

The summons came. A voice intoned, “Albino, bring your charges, the eunuchs and come into the hall.” They entered the receiving hall with bowed heads and arched backs and slow short steps.

Albino stopped halfway across the room. He knelt and kept his head down. Out of the corners of his eyes he saw the four boys on his left and the four eunuchs on his right. Thank the gods they were in a position of reverence. No arrogance! Quiet humility!

The mistress spoke, “Albino.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

“How are these young men doing in their studies?”

“Very good, Mistress,” Albino whispered.

“Show me.”

“Pardon, Mistress.”

“Have them stand and say their names, where they are from. Address them in Illyricum and let me hear them respond.”

Albino started to stand. “No, Albino, you stay where you are.”

“Yes, My Lady,” Albino responded, trembling. Never before did fear grip his heart, at least not before today. For some reason he trembled. He did not know what transgression he committed or his shortcomings.

“Young men”, he spoke in Illyricum, “I want you to stand one at a time as I call your names. Keep your head bowed and tell the Mistress your name and where you are from. Stand only one at a time. We will start with you, Antonio.”

Albino hoped and prayed to the gods the boys were not so scared they did not understand.

Antonio stood when Albino called his name. He kept his eyes on the floor. He spoke clearly and distinctly.

“My name is Antonio and I am from Verona.” With the end of his statement he sank to his knees, while keeping his eyes on the floor. Albino let out a little breath.

Next, Salvatore stood, as directed, with his eyes downcast.

“My name is Salvatore, and I am from Venice.” He sank to the floor with lowered eyes. Albino let out a bit more breath.

Then, when his name was called, Leopold stood. He did not raise his eyes.

“My name is Leopold, and I too am from Venice. Albino almost took a breath. His heart pounded.

Finally, Cornelius stood at Albino’s instruction. He kept his head down, but his eyes were looking out from under his eyebrows.

“I am from the Valley of Po and my village is called Este. My name is Cornelius of the Vito clan.” He stood just a second longer before slowly sinking to his knees. All the time his eyes looked out from under his eyebrows. Albino stopped breathing.

Cornelius saw the mistress appeared to be about the age of his mother and a most pleasant looking woman.

Her chair, on a raised dais, gave her command of the room and her subjects. He saw she dressed in white robes with gold trimming. Her face did not seem stern or angry.

The hall was completely quiet. No rules were broken, at least not yet, but Cornelius skated close to the edge and seemed to be testing his luck. Albino only knew Cornelius was in danger.

The mistress spoke, “You, Cornelius.” Albino’s heart skipped a beat.

Cornelius kept his head down, but his eyes were looking at the mistress from under his eyebrows.

“Yes, Mistress,” he replied. He thought he saw her almost smile.

“Stand again.” Albino felt a tightening in his throat and around his heart.

Cornelius stood, keeping his head bowed, but still looking at her from under his eyebrows. Albino wanted to shout at him to lower his eyes.

When Albino glanced from under his eyebrows, he saw a puzzled look on the Mistress’ face. The four counselors, two on each side were in a state of shock.

“You are from the Valley of Po?” the mistress asked.

Cornelius felt uneasy. He thought, “Is she setting a trap for me?”

“Yes, Mistress,” he answered. He did not feel fear, but she might be testing him.

“In your valley do you bow to anyone?” the mistress continued to quiz him.

“No, Mistress,” Cornelius became confused. Why was she picking on him?

“Why, young Cornelius?” asked the mistress.

Cornelius thought for a few moments, “Mistress, I do not know why any one bows to another. All I know is no man bends his knee to another, much less a woman.”

A shocked silence gripped the room. No one ever spoke to the mistress, certainly not in this fashion. Cornelius saw her frown. He feared he might have offended her.

“And you, young Cornelius, are having a hard time bowing and keeping your eyes on the floor?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Cornelius spoke truthfully and very carefully. He showed reverence, not impudence.

“Cornelius, I think I understand. Albino, this young man is from a far away place called the Valley of Po, wherever the Valley of Po is located and it is a land where the knee is never bent.”

All this time Albino closed his eyes. His body became as tight as the string on a bow. He stopped breathing, and he feared his heart would also stop.

The mistress continued, “Albino.” She did not stop for a response. “These boys have learned our language well. You have done a great service to this house. You will be rewarded.”

Albino relaxed a little, but her next words turned his heart to stone.

“Today we are going to do something which has never occurred in this house. Do not be shocked or afraid. I want you, and the boys, to sit on the floor and look at me. I want to talk to you about your homes and your families. I want to know about you. I have plans for you, and I need information.”

None of the boys moved. The eunuchs did not move. Albino froze in place.

The mistress chuckled and spoke again. “I see you are unable to comply with my request. Very well, for today you may withdraw, and we will talk at a later date. Stand! You are dismissed!”

Nine men stood as one and with bowed heads and eyes on the floor, even Cornelius. They backed out of the room very slowly and with eyes downcast. Albino did not remember leaving the receiving room. His mind clouded over with a haze. His heart, now cold stone, seemed near bursting with fear.

Nothing happened and slowly Albino’s fears vanished. They went about their daily routine of studying, sleeping, bathing and eating, but nothing happened. Albino gave them their lessons in the new language. He was not talkative and withdrawn. When they tried to draw him out, he said nothing.

Almost a month later a messenger came and a summons for Cornelius to the mistress’ receiving hall. Albino started to rise to go with Cornelius, but the messenger held up his hand.

“The mistress wants to see this young man and no one else.”

Albino started to protest when he realized this might be a test for them.

He said to Cornelius in Italia, “Be careful. Remember the things I instructed you to do before. You may have each of our lives is your hands. Be careful!”

Cornelius followed the messenger to the central square.

“Come with me. Do not look at the mistress, until she instructs you to so do.”

Cornelius managed a feeble, “I understand.”

Led into the receiving hall and told to kneel, he complied. He dropped to the proper position, when the mistress entered.

“Stand, Cornelius.”

Cornelius stood, but kept his eyes on the floor and very wary of a trap.

“Cornelius?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Cornelius responded, but he kept his eyes down.

“I am pleased with the progress you have made in your studies. I understand you are the best. I also understand you have, with the aid of the eunuchs, mastered mathematics and some other subjects. I am pleased. That is all for today. You are dismissed.”

Cornelius backed out of the room trembling. Back at his quarters he sat with shaking knees and a pounding heart.

Albino entered Cornelius’ sleeping quarters and asked, “What happened? What did she say?”

Cornelius struggled to speak. “All she did was asked me about our studies. She said she is pleased, and then she dismissed me.”

Albino trembled with relief, but he sat very confused. This mannerism, quite unheard of in the activities of the estate, left him unsteady.

His fear was unfounded. The mistress, only curious about the four young men and their backgrounds, questioned them several times. She only hoped to learn things which would make her more gold.

The mistress’ mind filled with curiosity, while Albino’s heart filled with fear and Cornelius’ soul filled with elation over his success.

Albino’s mind and heart realized the Mistress was only interested in the culture and background of the boys. Her desire to make gold caused her to deviate from the usual protocol of the estate.

No sooner would his heart swell with elation when depression and finally fear racked his very soul. His spirit almost broke one moment, and then he found something of joy to take his mind off his bitterness or sorrow.

As the months passed his tears did not flow at night. He felt deep pains of loneliness. His stubbornness aided him in overcoming his desperate lot as a slave. Neither he nor his friends were beaten or whipped. They were fed very well and treated with kindness. With the good treatment, Cornelius took control of his emotions and finally settled into a semi-normal way of life.

He, a slave, would remain one, he estimated for years, if not for the remainder of his life.

The weeks and months passed as the boys studied and prepared for whatever duty the mistress wished. She called Cornelius to her receiving hall several times and the other boys a few times. She only asked some simple questions about their homes, lands and people. Once she made Cornelius come closer so she felt the wool material of his coat.

“Albino tells me many women in your clan can weave this quality of material. The quality is this good always? Is that correct?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Cornelius answered politely.

She only nodded her head and said, “That is certainly something to think about. You are dismissed.” Cornelius, with out uttering another sound and with head bowed backed from the receiving room.

Winter came to the estate, and Cornelius found it to be much like the Valley of Po, north winds and lots of snow. By the winter solstice, snow three feet deep piled around the estate.

Slaves hauled away the snow from inside the compound. Hauling away the snow took a tremendous amount of time and many to complete the job. The snow gave Cornelius the first opportunity to demonstrate the Vito Clan’s ingenuity.

He said to Albino. “Sir, why does the mistress not have the wood put in out of the weather? It would not have snow on it or be wet and hard to burn.”

“We do not have room for wood indoors. Every room in the estate is used for some purpose.”

“True, but there might be a way,” Cornelius observed, cautiously.

“What is that, my smart young Italiano?”

He knelt and drew a square in the dirt, “At the compound, we have a platform around the walls for the men to stand on and fight barbarians. Under the roof we pile our firewood. It is piled against the wall and this leaves a walkway along the outside edge. You can go to any house in the compound without your boots becoming wet.”

Cornelius did not tell Albino they used the same space as livestock pens.

Albino sat studying the drawing. “That works well at your clan’s compound. Where would we do that here?”

“You would not think I am demented if I show you what I think?”

“I promise not to think you are demented.”

Cornelius laughed, “Come with me.” He led Albino into the alleyway in front of their dwelling. “Look, cut logs long enough to reach across the alleyway. Put them every so far apart.” Cornelius held his hands apart. “About this far, almost a step, and then put logs around the square.”

He motioned at the open area above them and continued, “Then, put rushes over the logs. They grow along the stream. Put the rushes on thick enough so the snow will not come through.”

Albino frowned, “You think snow will not come through the openings?”

“That is what we did at the compound, Albino, and snow never fell on the wood or on the people as they move about.”

Albino shook his head in disbelief, “I don’t see how this can work.”

Cornelius laughed, “I guess you would have to see, to believe. Also, you should note the slaves would not need to clear the snow out of the compound during the winter. Just let the snow pile up on the rushes. This will keep everything dry and warmer.”

“I see,” Albino uttered.

“Besides, those slaves spending time removing snow can do other things more profitable for the mistress.”

Albino stood for a long time looking at the roofs of the compound and at Cornelius. “One more thought. Do you think the logs will carry the weight of the snow?”

“Yes, they will. Just look at the logs in the ceilings of the houses. The span is wider apart than what I just indicated and much longer. They carry the roofing material and the snow.”

“Cornelius, you just might have something there. Now you say put up logs over the alleys and then lay rushes on them. That will make a roof during the winter. What about next summer?”

“Take the rushes down and let the air circulate. Put on new rushes each fall.”

“Young man I will arrange for you to have an audience with the Mistress. She will like the part about being more profitable.” Albino started to walk away, but he stopped. “What are you going to do in the main courtyard of the mistress?”

“We can set four logs in the ground and put the logs across and then put the rushes on top.”

“I will see to the audience, now.”

Cornelius, called to an audience the following day, caused Albino to tremble, because the summons came so quickly. Of course the summons included Albino.

Upon entering the receiving hall they found the mistress seated in her usual place. They entered with heads bowed and eyes downcast. They dropped to their knees.

“Albino, my counselor tells me this young man has a plan to keep snow out of the compound.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Albino replied.

“If I sound a bit doubtful, you will forgive me.” The room grew silent and still. Never in the history of the mistress’ family did anyone mention forgiveness. This meant trouble and certainly was most strange.

Albino whispered, “Yes, Mistress.”

“Very well, tell me your plan.”

Albino said, “It is Cornelius’ plan, I should let him.” His voice faded.

“I see. You think if I do not like the idea, I will blame the boy and not you. Am I right, Albino?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Albino whispered.

“Cornelius!”

“Yes, Mistress,” he responded. As always he kept his eyes downcast.

“First, stand.” Cornelius stood. “Now, look at me!”

Cornelius slowly raised his eyes to meet hers, but he did not stand.

“Now, you seem like a very bright young man. You have paid your homage to the house of my father. Now, I want you both to arise from your knees and come to this table. Show me your plan. My counselor thinks it is a good plan, and you can draw it on this papyrus.”

Cornelius leaped to his feet and crossed halfway to the table before Albino could move. He forced his limbs to work. He tentatively approached the table, but stood a little behind Cornelius.

Cornelius drew a rough diagram of the compound. When finished he said, “My Lady, put logs across the alleyways and then cover them with rushes from the stream.” As he talked he drew the logs and then the rushes. “This will keep the snow off the walkways and the alleys dry. There will be no mud tracked into the dwellings. It will keep firewood dry and the compound much warmer. Last, the slaves who usually remove snow can be used for other things to make My Lady more gold.”

The room grew so still and silent, one could hear the water dripping out in the courtyard. Cornelius spoke boldly and the servants feared for his life and theirs.

“Cornelius, you thought this out?” There appeared a look of curiosity on the mistress’ face. She asked, “You alone?”

The mistress, standing across the table from Cornelius, looked directly into his eyes. She liked what she saw, confidence.

“Yes, Mistress,” Cornelius replied.

“What about my courtyard?” she frowned.

“We can set four logs and then place the cross logs on top, with rushes on top of the cross logs, your courtyard will be dry.” Cornelius drew his plan.

“Will that take up a lot of my courtyard? Can you put in just one log pole?”

“We can, My Lady, if you wish. It will be a large log, but we can do so, if you wish.”

He repeated himself, “It will be a large log, but we can do so, if you wish.”

He foresaw her possible distaste for four poles. He planned for her questions. With the problem already solved in Cornelius’ mind, he worked the problem out in his head.

“Very well, come spring we will send the woodcutters to the forest to cut wood for cooking and warmth next winter. First, they will cut enough logs to cover the two alleyways around the squares. Also, they will cut enough logs to cover my courtyard. Now, we need some bright person to figure out how many logs we need and how long the logs need to be.”

The room returned to complete silence. It was so still everyone again heard the water dripping from the roof.

“I know what we can do. Cornelius, this is your idea. You figure up how many logs and how long. My chief timber cutter can fill your order before cutting firewood. The logs can be sent down and the placing of them started. Albino, you will supervise the arranging of the logs. Of course you will consult with Cornelius.”

“Yes, My Lady.” Albino said, with thankful heart. He rejoiced the mistress liked the idea. He would have kissed Cornelius’ feet if she so commanded.

“Now, our young wizard, is there anything else?”

“Yes, My Lady. May I go to the forest for the cutting? I will return with the first shipment to the compound. I want to, with the chief woodcutter, choose the log for the center pole in your courtyard. Also, I would like to help pick the cross poles for the courtyard.”

“I think it can be arranged. Now, Albino, I want the head woodcutter and the head teacher of numbers here tomorrow. I want Cornelius to show them this idea, and I want to watch their faces. Do you understand, Albino?”

“Yes, My Lady.” He dropped back down on his knees, with his forehead on the floor.

“Albino, what in the world are you doing down there?”

“Giving thanks to the gods for you, my Mistress, and that they sent us Cornelius.” Actually, he gave thanks she did not cut off his head.

The mistress turned to Cornelius and asked, “Young man how old are you?”

“Fifteen seasons will have passed since my birth, My Lady.”

“Fifteen and so intelligent,” she muttered looking him up and down. “You must be more than three cubits and a span tall. I must reward my friend, the merchant, the next time we meet. He did me a great service bringing you to my estate. All of you, dismissed. Albino, bring the woodcutter and the head teacher on the morrow.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

The next day, in the presence of the mistress, Cornelius explained to the woodcutter and the teacher of numbers, what he proposed. They looked at him with skepticism and wonderment.

The teacher asked, “Where did you learn about building?”

“My father, the main builder in our clan, planned the dwellings and walls around our compound. I worked with him. I watched and listened.”

The mistress asked, “Woodcutter, can you cut the logs?”

“Yes, My Lady.”

“And, cut enough wood for us for next winter?”

“Yes, My Lady.”

“Teacher, what do you think of this young man?”

The tall black eunuch said, “Mistress, he is very good with his numbers. He has learned our dialect and some of several other dialects. I am very pleased, and I hope you are, My Lady.”

The mistress sat looking at Cornelius for some time. “Cornelius, you will continue your studies until spring. At that time you and your three friends will be sent with the woodcutters. Some hard labor will put muscles on the four of you.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Cornelius answered. The prospect of being outside and in the forest more than pleased him. He did not think they would find a way to escape, as they would only be further from the sea.

“Oh, Albino, you can go and work with them. A little hard labor will do you good. Trim some of that fat off you.”

Albino squatted on his knees. He did not look up. “Yes, My Lady.”

“Teacher, you go over the number of poles and the length. Be sure he is right. I feel he is, but go over them.”

“Yes, Mistress,” The teacher touched his heart, lips and forehead and waved a salute. “It is an honor to serve my mistress.”

“Woodcutter, you will see the four boys are well fed, but worked hard. I need good strong slaves.”

“Yes, My Lady.” The woodcutter bowed.

“Very well, it is settled. You are dismissed.” She paused and then added, “Woodcutter, there will be no beatings. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my mistress.”

The collection of men in the receiving hall retreated from the room with heads bowed and eyes on the floor, but not Cornelius.

Cornelius looked at the mistress from under his eyebrows and he smiled. He saw her smile back. Strange as it might be, he felt she might be a friend, even to a slave.

He would serve his mistress well. From this day forward he would be looking for things which would make her happy and make her gold and wealth. He would try to improve the lot for himself and his three friends.

Cornelius liked the order and discipline of the estate. The mistress ran the estate much like Vito, his grandfather, ran the compound. Everyone performed a job or an assigned responsibility and occupied a place in the order of things. Cornelius liked order and he responded to the regimentation.

Winter hung on late that year, but with a change in direction of the winds, the snow began to melt and within days spring arrived.

Spring came with a burst of color, warmth and soft breezes. Water from the melting snow gurgled down every draw and ravine. The stream ran full as the runoff increased. By the time the snow melted, a carpet of grass and flowers covered the earth. The air became filled with the freshness of the earth, songs of birds and fragrance of opening blossoms.

As if by some signal, the compound came to life. Doors were thrown open and the household and slaves cleaned the many rooms, aired bedding and generally removed the vestiges of winter.

Cornelius and his three friends were glad for the break from their studies. They cleaned their quarters and prepared to travel to the east and the forest.

The mistress ordered, “Besides the four young men and Albino, the four eunuchs will accompany the woodcutters to the forest.”

On the last day before leaving for the forest the mistress called the four young men to the receiving room. She did not call Albino, or the eunuchs or anyone else, only the four.

When they were on their knees and with heads dutifully bowed the mistress entered the room. She glanced over the audience of four young men and pronounced, “Tomorrow you will go to the forest. There is much work to be done in cutting the poles and firewood. I trust this will be accomplished. But, moreover, I want the four of you to observe. See if there are better ways to do things. You come from different cultures and have seen things that are strange to us. Perhaps, like the logs, you will see something that will help the estate.”

The boys remained in their positions. The silence grew longer and longer.

Suddenly, the mistress barked. “Now, go! You are dismissed!”

Backing out of the room, they maintained their positions of reverence, but not Cornelius. As they backed out, he looked out from under his eyebrows. His gaze met the mistress and he slowly bowed his head further down in subjection to her. She did not smile, but he thought he saw pleasure in her eyes.

With dawn the horns sounded. Most of the house, up and preparing for the departure of the woodcutters, only grumbled at the obnoxious sound of the horns.

The mistress assigned extra men to the caravan and to aid in the cutting of the timber. At Albino’s suggestion, through a counselor, she ordered the male slaves usually used in clearing snow from the compound to join the work force. The additional slaves almost doubled the normal number going to the forest.

As the sun broke over the eastern horizon, a long column of men, wagons and carts departed the estate. Many saw the trip to the mountains a reprieve from working on the property. Most found working in the forest much more strenuous than working at the Mistress’ dwelling.

For half of the summer the woodcutters cut poles to cover the alleyways. The four young men suffered from the hard work the first few weeks. By midsummer they hardened and enjoyed the challenge of cutting timber. They, in their youth, made a game of cutting wood the entire day. Cornelius, as the biggest, grew more and filled out as he swung his ax. His muscles began to harden. The other young men were not as tall, but their muscles also began to grow firm and develop.

The woodcutter and Cornelius picked a giant tree for the center post in the mistress’ courtyard. They were careful in picking the four timbers which would make the cross poles and carry the load of smaller logs and rushes. These trees were cut first and trimmed to the correct length.

Cornelius left the forest with the first shipment of logs to the estate, while his friends stayed to cut wood. He worked the rest of the summer placing logs over the alleyways. The main log was set upright in the middle of the mistress’ courtyard. Soon the four supporting logs were in place and they began to place the rush bearing logs across the open areas.

The placing of logs high in the air gave Cornelius the second opportunity to display his natural building talent. Not the woodcutter, Albino, the teachers or anyone in the estate thought about how to put the logs on top of the building and across the alleyways. Cornelius worked out a solution.

When the four boys first arrived at the compound, Cornelius discovered ladders and stairs leading to the roofs. People in the estate, most every night or evening, gained the roof to find a breeze. The walls of each building extended three feet above the flat roofs and offered a pleasant retreat from the heat or weather. In many places wooden trellis works were constructed to give shade during the day. His plan to put the logs on the roof was simple.

During the first days of spring, before going to the forest, Cornelius with the aid of his friends measured and planned the method for placing so many logs on top of the structures. Cornelius borrowed a roll of cotton string from the weavers and colored it with white chalk.

Cornelius asked, “Antonio, will you hold this string on the top of the outside wall?”

Cornelius stretched the string from the wall out twenty cubits.

“Leopold, please drive a stake in the ground, at the end of the string.”

Cornelius tied the string to the stake. At this point the young men started asking questions.

“Cornelius, what are we doing?”

“Just watch.”

“Cornelius, why did we drive a stake in the ground and tie a string to it?”

“Just watch.”

Albino arrived, watched, and asked, “What are you doing?”

They answered, “Just watch.”

Albino scratched his head, but he stood and observed. He knew the young men were performing some important exercise. He was interested in their strange actions. He watched.

With the string pulled tight, Cornelius stepped the distance from the stake to the wall of the estate. They watched as he divided the distance into thirds and drove more stakes at these points.

At the first point he put the butt of a small sapling on the ground. He rubbed the sapling back and forth, marking the side of the sapling with the white chalk. He lay the sapling down and cut a notch at the white mark.

Next he moved to the other stake or dividing point. He raised another sapling and marked it with chalk. He lay the sapling on the ground and cut a notch on the second chalk mark.

He explained, “Each sapling, with its mark or notch would serve as a measuring devise, when we reached the forest.”

Cornelius tried to explain, but they only stood looking confused.

Albino could not stand it any longer. “Cornelius, please try one more time to explain what we are doing.”

Cornelius grinned. “Come in the house and I will draw you a picture.” In their dwelling he drew on a sheet of papyrus and explained.

“Here is the ground. Here is the wall of the building. Here are the two places I measured the sapling. Now, we will take the sapling with us to the forest. We will cut two logs one and a half cubits longer than this first mark. That is so we will have some log to bury in the ground. Those two we will stand in the ground here at the first mark.”

“Next, we will cut two more logs one and a half cubits longer than this second mark and stand them in the ground at the second point. Remember when I asked Antonio to hold a string on top of the wall?”

They nodded, remembering the long sting.

“It is the length of the logs, which will run from the roof to the ground. We will stand logs on end and make them our support. Last, we will lay a log, with one end on the ground and the other on the roof across our upright supports.”

He paused and then asked, “Now what do we have, my friends?”

The teacher said, “It sounds very complicated.”

“It may be so teacher, but I saw my Father do the same thing at our clan’s compound.”

They stood in amazement. Finally Albino spoke. “You have a bridge, a sloping bridge from the ground to the roof.”

“You are right, Albino, except it will be a?”

Albino interrupted, “Ramp!”

The other men stood in stunned silence.

All the while, Salvatore said not one word. Then he asked, “I know what you are going to do. You are going to roll the logs up on the roof using your sloping ramp.”

“Salvatore, you are right.”

Salvatore asked, “But, Cornelius, how will you roll them up?”

“This part is easy. We will use ropes. We will anchor them in the ground in front of the building. Oh, this is where we are going to bring the logs up. The ground is higher on the outside than any place around the dwelling. After anchoring two ropes, we will take the ropes across the roof and drop them off on the ground.”

Albino interrupted. “That still does not place the logs on top of the building.”

“Right, Albino, but we can take the rope out to the log lying at the bottom and go around the log. Not tie the rope, but go around the log and back to the roof of the building. When you pull on the end of the ropes, the log will roll. It will roll up the sloping bridge or ramp, as you called it. It will roll up and onto the roof.”

The young men, the eunuchs and Albino stood in silence, studying the drawing. Cornelius watched their faces. Slowly realization and understanding of his plan dawned on them.

Antonio said, “Then you can put other logs across the roof and alleyways and roll the logs any place you want. The logs become roadways on the roofs?”

“Excellent, Antonio, excellent. We will roll the logs which will be used in the courtyard first, then the cross logs and finally the rush-carrying logs. We will do the work from the top, not the bottom. The only log that will be hard to handle is the upright one in the center of the courtyard. When we arrive at that place, I will show you how I saw my Father set up a big log. One bigger than the one we are going to use.”

Albino stood looking and contemplating the project. “Cornelius, I think this will work, but I am concerned about the four main logs in the courtyard. How will you put them in place? You can not roll them on something I can not see.”

“You are right, Albino. We will build a scaffold, roll the first log out on the scaffold, and then place the end on the upright timber. One end can rest on the roof and the other on the scaffold, until we reach the upright. The only thing I need is for you to help me measure the length of the center log. We will stretch a string across the courtyard and then mark another sapling. We will have the length we need. We already have the lengths of the alleyway logs and the four cross logs. I just need the length of the center log.”

They were as excited as children! Albino rushed away to make arrangements for them to climb on the mistress’ roof.

He approached one of the four counselors, “We need to climb on the roof to make measurements across the Mistress’ courtyard.”

In a couple of days the counselor reported, “Permission is granted to make the measurements.”

It took them less than the passing of one hour on the sundial to complete their measurements. Cornelius marked the sapling and cut a notch to check their measurements. Now, they were ready to cut trees in the forest.

The head woodcutter did not ask Cornelius what the extra trees were for or why they were of strange lengths. He learned the young man, Cornelius, was very capable. He also learned the young man obtained the ear of the mistress, through Albino or one of the counselors.

Cornelius learned something from the woodcutters. For decades, wood cutting and hauling to the estate made for slow arduous work. Their logging wagons impressed him, as the clan never owned wagons as long as the logging wagons.

The wagons were awkward and clumsy, but they hauled logs from the mountains to the estate. The wagons were four wheels on axles attached to two logs. This allowed them to be long enough to haul the long timber.

The woodcutter pointed out, “It is much easier to haul whole logs and cut them for firewood at the estate. It is hard work to cut the timber into short pieces in the forest and haul the fireplace size pieces down the mountains. Branches we trim off the short tree are cut to fireplace length, but the trunks are hauled intact.”

Cornelius was very impressed when the cutters loaded the first logs to place over the alleyways. To his surprise they loaded the logs using the rigging like what he saw on the sailing ship. The device of ropes and pulleys made loading logs easy and efficient. At the end of the first month, a caravan of logs prepared to travel to the estate.

Ten wagons, loaded with logs, hitched to a span of four oxen and secured were ready to start to the estate.

The woodcutter came to Cornelius, “We put the center log and the four cross logs on the first wagon. Also, we put the special cut logs for the ramp on the first wagon.”

Cornelius smiled, “Thank you, Sir.”

Albino said, “I will tell the mistress how helpful and cooperative you have been, woodcutter. We will send the wagons back as soon as they are unloaded.”

The woodcutter bowed, “Excellent. We will send one more wagon train to you, with logs for the estate roof. The other wagon trains will contain firewood.”

Cornelius stood, saluted the woodcutter and took his place in the caravan of wagons. Even with such heavy loads, it usually took only seven days to reach the estate, but with the heavy rains it took over two weeks.

Rains in the mountains made the roads difficult to traverse with the long heavy logging wagons. Upon reaching the estate, the ten wagons were unloaded on the east or high side of the compound.

Cornelius pointed to the wagons. “We will unload here on the high ground. The ramp will not be so steep at that point.”

The next morning the wagon train started back to the mountains and a workforce undertook the task of building the ramp, or the slanting bridge as Antonio called it.

Antonio added, “Just think. We are going to roll logs up on top of the structure. Many would laugh at us.”

Cornelius laughed with the men. “Right, but they have not seen this ramp work. If they saw and watched, they would see how simple it really works.”

To Cornelius’ pleasure the work progressed much faster than he dreamed. Of course, Albino, a good organizer and a stern overseer, obtained the most from the slaves.

Cornelius said to his friends, “Albino is a hard task master, but he never uses a whip or rod. His sharp tongue and fierce face make men quake.”

Upon completion of the ramp, the center log and the four longer timbers, for the Mistress’ courtyard were the first to go up the ramp and across the roofs to the center courtyard.

Cornelius instructed, “Roll the big center log off the roof.”

When it hit the ground, everyone wanted to know how they would stand it on end.

Cornelius again instructed, “Leave the four cross-timbers on the roof. I will show you how to stand the center log on end.”

Everyone, including the Mistress questioned how they would stand the center log on end and some even scoffed and laughed.

With the help of several slaves, they rolled the center log to the middle of the courtyard. Cornelius and the teacher of numbers measured the courtyard several times and finally drove a stake in the center.

At the point of the stake, and following Cornelius’ instructions, Albino ordered the slaves to dig a hole two cubits deep and one cubit in diameter.

Upon completion of the hole, Cornelius showed Albino the next step.

“Slope the hole on one side. Make it at least three cubits long. When you are finished, we will roll the log over the hole. The bottom end will go down in the hole. The log will be lying on the slope. We will only have to lift the top end and set it upright.”

Albino and the teacher stood studying the drawing Cornelius used to explain his idea.

The teacher said, “Cornelius, you have a special gift. I would have dug the hole and struggled with the log for days trying to set it upright. Your way, we only lift the top half.”

“Yes, teacher,” Cornelius answered

The teacher also observed, “It is obvious, the slaves will only be lifting about half the weight of the log. Half is resting on the earth. It is a good plan. How do you know to set the log up this way?”

Cornelius answered, “I have seen my Father set logs like this many times. If he wanted a center pole in a dwelling, this is the way they would erect it.”

The teacher laughed, “We will dig a hole in the courtyard.”

He put his drawing away and restated his plan, “When the hole is done, we will slope the side and then set the pole.”

To Albino, Cornelius’ and the teacher’s delight, the pole setting went just as discussed. In a week the center pole stood in place. The next task, setting of the four main cross timbers, caused many to ask questions.

Albino asked, “Cornelius, how will you set the cross timbers? One end of the timber can roll on the roofs, but the other end will be?” His voice trailed off.

Cornelius grinned, “Out in the air, Albino?”

“Yes.”

“It is easy, Albino, do you not remember, we talked about this task last spring?”

Albino thought, but his face turned blank.

Cornelius said, “We will build one scaffold. It will run from the roof out to the center pole. We roll one timber out on the scaffold and the roof. The next timber will roll out on the roof and the first timber and so on. When we have the four timbers in place and the logs secured, we will roll the roof logs up the ramp. From there we can place them as we choose on the roof.”

Suddenly Albino smiled, “Now I remember. My young comrade, you are wise far beyond your years.” He bowed slightly to Cornelius, who returned the salute.

The slaves completed the scaffold in the center courtyard in one week. They were another week rolling the four longest logs into place.

Just as the log rolling for the alleys and courtyard began, the second wagon train arrived. The slaves spent a week unloading the logs. After one day’s rest the wagons were sent back to the mountains for their last load of logs.

When the slaves returned to rolling logs, Albino set four groups to the task of rolling logs on the roofs. To another group, he assigned the task of rolling the logs up the ramp. They used two ropes, just as Cornelius showed Albino. At the end of three more weeks the logs were covering the alleyways and the inner courtyard.

The mistress awarded the slaves a day of rest and a feast. She ordered a calf slain and cooked for the slaves. For Cornelius, he remembered days in the compound with the clan. He felt tears in the backs of his eyes. He blinked them away and joined in the feast.

Cornelius and Albino leaned against a rock wall eating when Cornelius asked, “Albino, what do we do next?”

Albino glanced at Cornelius. He suddenly realized this young man would be a giant one day. The lad stood taller than Albino. Albino saw the great muscles developing across the lad’s shoulders and arms.

Albino thought, “My, how the girls will like this one.”

Albino answered, “The mistress will call me tomorrow, I think, and give me instructions. I know we have to cover the logs with rushes, but it can be done next fall.”

“Could she send us back to cut timber?”

“Possible, but I think there are enough cutters for cutting the wood.”

The mistress did not call Albino. She sent word he could have one group of slaves to tear down the ramp. They set to work and were finished tearing down the ramp when the last wagon train arrived from the mountains.

Cornelius and his three friends greeted each other, took up their axes, and began to cut firewood. This task took the rest of the summer. The wood was cut and stacked in the estate streets and alleys for use in winter.

The cutters were given a day of rest when the wood cutting and stacking ended. The mistress again ordered a calf slain and cooked for the cutters. Cornelius, his three friends and Albino joined in the second feast with gusto.

The next morning the mistress called the four young men, Albino and, of course, the four eunuchs to her receiving hall. They walked in with heads bowed and dropped to their knees. She spoke, “You have done well, Albino. I am pleased with you and your charges”

Albino placed his forehead on the floor and said, “Thank you, Mistress.”

She continued. “Now, I have another task for you, but before telling you what it is, I have a question. Albino, have you and your young wizard figured out how to put the rushes on the logs?”

Before Albino answered, Cornelius spoke, “Yes, My Lady.” He paused, realizing he spoke out of turn. He did not look up from the floor. With his heart pounding, he finished his statement, “The men can climb the stairs and then walk out on the logs and lay the rushes on them.”

The room became dead quiet. Albino trembled. The eunuchs were shocked at Cornelius’ outburst. Cornelius’ three friends grinned at the floor. They knew Cornelius’ elation with the work. He could not be still or silent.

The silence lengthened. The men on the floor only imagined what might lie ahead for them.

After an indeterminable amount of time the mistress spoke, “Very well, it is settled.” Then she asked, “I would like to know if the young wizard from the Valley of Po is good with a bow and arrow?”

The room remained silent. Finally, Cornelius answered, “Very good, My Lady.” He only answered the question. He did not intend his statement to be a boast. His throat caught. It sounded like a boast.

He thought he heard the mistress chuckling. She cleared her throat. “We will see. I have heard the men of Italia are good hunters, especially with the bow and arrows. The head woodcutter tells me the forest is full of deer. I want you, Albino, to take this young wizard and let him hunt deer. I desire venison on my table this winter.”

Albino said, “Yes, My Lady.”

“Then hurry. I want you back before the harvest.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

She stopped Albino in his tracks, with, “And, Albino?”

“Yes, my mistress.”

“Take these other three young stallions with you. See they work hard, ride hard and certainly see that they are back for the harvest.”

Albino prostrated himself on the floor, “Yes, my mistress.”

When they were alone, Cornelius said, “Albino, I have not seen a bow like I used to hunt. It will take me a few days to make a good bow.”

“Then, my young friend, you best attend to your task.”

Cornelius spent the next two days hunting for a sapling.

He muttered, “It must be just right.”

Finding one, he brought it back to the estate. It took another two days of work and soaking to shape and form the sapling into the bow he desired. While he worked on the bow, he examined more than a hundred possible arrows shafts and only picked out some two dozen.

By the week’s end he, his three friends and Albino, riding on horses, rode into the forest to the east of the estate.

True to his boast, he shot a deer a day for the next two weeks. When he shot a deer, Albino and the other young men pulled it up into a tree and dressed it. The next morning, one of the three young men would mount his horse, place the deer over an extra horse and ride to the estate. Every day thereafter someone rode to the estate, while one rode back, the third friend helped dress another deer.

Albino stated, “I have never seen anyone hunt like Cornelius. He stalks the deer until he has just the right shot and then he never misses. This big strong bow drives an arrow deep into the deer, if not totally through it. Sometimes Cornelius has to hunt the wounded animal, but that is seldom.”

After two weeks, word came from the estate, “The kill is sufficient for the estate. Return immediately.”

Only Albino, Cornelius and Antonio were in the camp when Salvatore rode in with the message. Leopold, absent, rode to the estate with a deer. The next morning they broke camp and started down out of the mountains. At about midmorning they found Leopold beside the trail. He lay unconscious, and bleeding from a head wound.

Antonio shouted, “Leopold is wounded and perhaps dying!”