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world around us, we are studying His works, His thoughts. It's almost blasphemy
to ignore that and have faith in the words of a mere man."
I lay back down. "Now, that is a remarkable thought! That it were possible to
study the mind of God by observing His works-in the same manner that I have
studied your mind by observing your mills and looms. Incredible! ...I think that it
will take me a long time to absorb it."
We were silent for a while and then our ladies called us to dinner. They were still
walking stiffly and were not at all cheerful.
"Why such downcast faces?" I asked.
"My love, it is not my face which is troubling me," Annastashia replied.
"Well, cheer up! We shall be at Sir Miesko's in four more hours."
"Four more hours!" came five simultaneous feminine cries.
"Well, I'm sorry," I said. "But there's nothing for it. The fault is all in those
sidesaddles you persist in using. With the possible exception of teats on a stallion,
they are the stupidest things imaginable. There is nothing to keep the rider in
place but the horse's good intentions, an untrustworthy thing at best. Look at that
rig! The rider must sling her right knee over a knob designed to numb her leg, put
her left foot into an inadequate stirrup and then put her right toe under the back
of her left knee to obliterate sensation in that member as well. Its sole purpose
seems to be to permit a woman to ride while wearing a dress and destroying her
body."
"Well ...what are we supposed to do about it?"
"Don't ask me, my love. I am taxed to my abilities being a fighter and a lover. Sir
Conrad is our master of technical devices."
Five pairs of eyes turned on Conrad.
"It's obvious. Put on pants and ride on a man's saddle."
"That's scandalous!" Krystyana said. "The very thought that a lady would be seen
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in a man's clothing..."
"Then there's the key word, pretty girl, 'seen.' Make an outfit that looks like a
woman's dress but functions like a man's pants."
"Uh ...I don't follow you."
"Take one of your dresses. Slit it hem to crotch in front and behind. Sew in a fold
of cloth between them. If you're careful about it, you can make it look acceptable
but still be able to fork a horse."
The girls looked at each other anxiously and then grew a communal grin.
Suddenly, Krystyana said, "But how would you get into it?"
"Well ...you could make it in two pieces, top and bottom, blouse and skirt; or you
could slit it down the front and button it up like one of my shirts."
The grins returned.
"But that's not going to get us to Sir Miesko's. You girls clean and pack the gear
while we saddle the horses."
The sun was still high when we arrived. Sir Miesko was out inspecting his fences,
but Lady Richeza. greeted us well. She is easily the most courteous and gracious
woman in Christendom. She was common-born, like my Annastashia, and seeing
her well-run household gave me visions of my own domestic bliss. But Sir Miesko
was base-born as well, and knighted on the battlefield for valor. He was not faced
with a heroic father and twenty generations of nobility.
Sir Conrad was talking intently with Lady Richeza.
"Yes, Sir Conrad, Gretch arrived safely and the girl's a wonder! This new
mathematics of yours is a fascinating thing. I have no doubt that we'll have a
dozen good instructresses by Christmas."
"And how about the schools?"
"It goes well. Eight villages are fully committed, and by winter I think that the
problem will be the lack of educated teachers."
"A dozen the first year is better than we had hoped. Textbooks?"
"We've made a start, buying supplies out of Cieszyn. But at the rate it's going, we
won't have four dozen sets in time."
"That's skinny. Haven't you heard from Father Ignacy?"
"Not yet. But there was a delay in finding a merchant going to Cracow."
"Well, if you don't hear from him in a few weeks, inquire about professional
copyists in Cieszyn."
"But that's expensive, Sir Conrad, and we're already close to your budget."
"Well, going over budget is not as bad as blowing the whole project. We need the
books."
"Excuse me, Sir Conrad," I interrupted. "What is all this about?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]