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〃It might be best if you would e with me；〃 Father Fletcher suggested。 〃I know these woods and can lead you to a safe place。〃
Dirk raised his eyes； saw Gar and Madelon standing behind the priest。 He looked out over the clearing； saw it almost empty； except for a few stragglers who slung packs on their backs while he watched； and a hundred brushwood shanties。
He turned back to Father Fletcher； nodded judiciously。 〃Yah。 That might be a good idea。〃
Father Fletcher strode away toward the trees。 Dirk glanced at Gar and Madelon； then turned and followed the priest。
CHAPTER 9
The rising sun found a party of four wandering down the King's Highway…an old hedge priest； a young woman in a dark； hooded robe； and two filthy madmen； crusted with dirt and with only a twist of loincloth for clothing。 The one might have been very tall； if he ever stood straight； but he was hunched and shambling； shuffling down the roadway。
What the other lacked in height； he made up in energy。 He bounded down the road capering and crowing； howling a hymn of glee to the rising sun。
〃Quite well done； I'm sure；〃 Father Fletcher said dryly； 〃but I think you do it with too little cause and too much will。 I would ask you to remember that I am； after all； a Christian priest〃
〃Of course。 Father；〃 Dirk tossed back over his shoulder； 〃but any good Christian would agree that only a madman would chant a hymn to the sun。〃
〃Nonetheless； our good Father has a point；〃 Madelon demurred。 〃True； we must be disguised from the King's patrols； and two madmen and a maiden bound for convent will scarcely be noticed in this land； if they travel under a priest's protection； but I would like to remind you that no Soldiers are watching at the moment。〃
Dirk brushed the objection away。 〃You don't understand the art of it。 The true histrionics must always be in character； you never know when you're going to have an audience。〃
〃Ordinarily； I wouldn't find that argument too pelling；〃 Gar demurred。 〃But； since three horsemen have just e into sight ahead of us； I must reluctantly grant it a certain validity。〃
Dirk looked up； startled。 Far down the road； half…obscured by the morning mist and the sun behind them； three riders stood in silhouette。
〃Be easy； my children。〃 Father Fletcher seemed relaxed around a core of tension。 〃We axe only two poor madmen and their grieving sister； journeying to a Bedlam house under the protection of a priest。〃
Dirk filed the fact for ready reference； and whirled around to begin the next act of 〃Salute to the Sun。〃 Halfway through the second stanza； a voice cried； 〃Hold！〃 Just in time； too…Dirk had almost run out of lyrics。 He whirled about； one hand poised over his head like a fountain…statue； staring wide…eyed at the Soldiers。
Father Fletcher came to a halt and looked up； mildly inquisitive。 Gar kept shambling on； Madelon tugged at his arm； and he stopped； then turned； slowly； to gaze at the Soldiers with a vacant bovine stare。
The sergeant scowled down at them。 〃What have we here； Friar？ Three geese； plucked bare by the parish？〃
〃Only two poor madmen。 Sergeant；〃 Father Fletcher intoned； 〃newly orphaned； and their saner； grieving sister。〃 Saner。 Dirk wondered about that。
One of the troopers leaned down to yank Madelon's cowl back； rich auburn hair tumbled down。 The Soldier whistled。
〃Under my protection； of course；〃 Father Fletcher murmured。 The sergeant glared at the trooper； and the man drew back。 Dirk was amazed； he hadn't realized the clergy had so much influence。
〃And where would you be traveling to。 Father？〃 The sergeant was measuring Gar with his eyes。
〃Why； to the nearest Bedlam house； of course；〃 Father Fletcher said easily。 〃The Hospice of Saint Orthicon； at Chambray。〃
〃Three； they are；〃 the second trooper growled； 〃and； if you straightened out the big one…〃
〃Pray do not attempt it；〃 Father Fletcher murmured。 〃He bees violent if you touch him。〃
The trooper eyed Gar's bulk； and moved his horse back a little。
〃Well； what of it？〃 the first trooper growled。 〃Do we arrest them？〃
Father Fletcher looked up in mild puzzlement。 〃What for？ Surely these poor unfortunates could have harmed no one。〃
〃I'm sure they could not have。〃 The sergeant's sarcasm was thick。 〃But； ridiculous as it may seem； we Soldiers are bound to consider that even you； a man of the cloth； might be trying to smuggle dangerous criminals past us。〃
〃Nor' Father Fletcher was appropriately scandalized。 〃Is there really so little faith left among your superiors？〃
〃Even so；〃 the sergeant lamented。 〃But ours not to question why。 Friar。〃
〃Sergeant；〃 the priest reproved him gently； 〃I am a man of peace。〃
Dirk thought about arrows and kept his mouth shut。
〃My superiors； I fear； are not；〃 the sergeant pointed out。
Father Retcher's tone became more severe。 〃Sergeant； if you meddle with those under the protection of a priest； you earn the displeasure of the Almighty。〃
〃There's some truth in that；〃 the sergeant said thoughtfully。
〃But if we don't； we earn the displeasure of Lord Core； which is apt to e a little sooner than God's。〃
〃But it doesn't last quite as long。〃
〃There's some truth in that； too。〃 The sergeant glowered down at Dirk； who had fallen into a rapt study of the grains of dust in the roadway。
Madelon looked up at him wide…eyed； almost adoring。
The sergeant straightened in the saddle； with an air of decision。 〃Well enough； then。 Father…we won't interfere with the clergy。 Well let you take your charges to the Bedlam house。〃
〃I thank you；〃 Father Fletcher murmured。
〃In fact；〃 the sergeant went on； 〃our respect for your cloth is so great that we'll even escort you。〃
〃Oh。〃 Father Fletcher pursed his lips； thinking that one over for a moment。 〃I thank you greatly； but。。。 surely that is too much bother to ask of you。〃
〃Not at all； not at all；〃 the sergeant said affably。 〃After all； we couldn't have you being set on by outlaws； now； could we？〃
The sun was setting as the priest brought the madmen to the Hospice of Saint Orthicon…with three steel…clad Soldiers behind him。 Their sister kissed them a fond； tearful farewell at the door…and muttered between kisses； 〃Keep your hearts up； as well as you can。 We'll get you out somehow…I just can't promise how soon。〃
Then she stood back； hand raised in parting； while the priest blessed them； and the attendants ushered them in； out of the sunlight…and into a dank； chilly gloom； filled with the smell of unwashed bodies and excrement
They stopped in the doorway； involuntarily pulling back as a pandemonium of moans and wails hit them。 Dirk's eyes fought to adapt to the gloom； there was only a little light； from a few small windows way up high on the walls…barred windows； set in granite thirty feet above them。 By the time this modicum of sunlight filtered down to the floor； it had spread out to a sourceless； uneven murk； out of which rose islands of pallid bodies clothed in rags and filth。 Some of the islands moved in a constant； slow churni