The Black Rose Page #10

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- Well, the light's going. It won't be long now.

- No.

- Aren't you ready yet?

- Yes, almost.

- Well, hurry up.

- Yes, Walter.

I'm sorry, Maryam, that we got you

into this, having you brought here.

- It-

- I'm glad you did it, Walter.

- Well, hurry up.

- Yes.

That's-

That's yours, Tris.

If we get out of here,

you'll be a rich man with what's in there.

How does it feel?

Of course, I suppose by rights

it should be Bayan's...

the spoils of China,

but there'll be plenty for him.

- Walter.

- What?

- Look, I've been thinking.

- Well, don't.

- It only leads to trouble.

- No, no. I've gotta say it.

What happens? I mean, when we do

make it to the other side of the river?

- Well, maybe we better wait till we get there.

- No. What I mean is-

Look, I've been putting

some things together.

Things about making books. Things like

you said that man would give so much to know...

in matters of science like

the direction-finding needle.

Well, I-I thought

to an island...

you know, it might be useful

for a trade and to defend itself.

But-

What I was really thinking, I wish

it was you that was taking her back.

It'd be better that way.

I wish it was you.

Well, Bayan was right

about one thing.

You're a poet, bowman,

and a good one.

But he was wrong

about another thing.

"What you can't touch

doesn't exist," he said.

He didn't know that you could smell

those English oaks of yours from here...

did he, bowman?

Oh, no one could say it

better than you, Tris.

And I- I wish I felt

the same way.

Probably I'm sorry

that I feel that Bayan...

is the best thing that I have to follow,

but that's the way it is.

I'd lie to you, Tris, if I were sure

we weren't going to get through.

But if we do, I won't stand out there

and tell you that I'd take it back.

I'm glad that it didn't end

in the tent, you and I...

bitter and- and angry.

Felicity means something

after all, maybe.

I hope we don't make it.

I hope you don't ever

get to the river.

Walter!

I finished, Walter.

Well, that's one way

we won't get out.

This was open.

Well, this is it.

That door is not as high

as the walls of Rome.

Why don't you get your friend Bayan

to crumble it for you.

Here they are.

- Can you hold them for a while?

- We'll find out.

- I'm gonna try it.

- What?

The walls of Rome.

- Give her to me a minute.

- You couldn't hit anything. Give it to me.

And take her

back out a bit.

Tris!

Tris!

Are you all right?

You all right?

Our friends will be back soon.

Now get her down to the boat.

- Hold onto me. You take-

- Stop being a hero.

How will you keep them back?

Throw a diamond at them?

Go on.

Get her down to the boat.

Hold this clear of the bank.

We'll be right back.

Walter!

- Come on.

- I said I hoped we'd never get to the river.

Well, maybe I don't have to.

What are you talking about?

You have to get back to England,

don't you remember?

Come on. You can't just lie there.

Let me help you.

Leave them alone!

They're mine!

You get onto your walls of Rome

and leave me alone.

Look at you.

You haven't got the belly

for it either, have you?

Well, I don't know.

Books,

the walls of Rome...

and the miracles...

and-and the oaks.

I don't know.

They're just so... green.

What are you talking

like that for? What-

What are you trying to do,

die on me?

Tris, come on.

Come on, Tris.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on, Tris.

Come on, Tris.

We don't use

this door anymore.

- If you've come to trade, you'll have to-

- Old Will, couldn't I use it?

You're playing tricks at me.

It is.

It's Master Walter.

- I'm glad to see you.

- Come in. Come in.

Come in, Master Walter.

Well, it looks the same.

And I have the same questions to ask.

How's Grandfather?

He'll never say it,

but he's missed you sorely.

Once we hoped that

we might see you again.

The king's men

came looking for you.

There were very strange men with them

such as I had never seen before.

- They said that they had a message to give you.

- What message?

I don't know, Master Walter. They said

they would only give it to you when you came.

I'll tell him.

- You lie, you old villain.

- I swear it, my lord.

- He's here.

- Walter, my lad.

- Grandfather.

- Where have you come from?

We thought-Wilderkin, tell my grandson-

I've spoken to him.

- My lord-

- You let me speak to him.

- My lord, I- - What are you standing

there for? I've broken my knightly vow.

Wilderkin, tell my grandfather

that it was my fault-

Tell my grandson that-

Oh, what's the good?

When a vow's broken,

you can't put it together again.

Perhaps the good bishop

could tell my lord-

What have I got to do with the bishop?

I can set myself my own penance.

- I'll-Well, never mind. I'll think of one.

- Yes, my lord.

Then-Then I can talk to him

as much as I want, can't I?

- We've no need of you. Go on about your business.

- Yes, my lord.

Yes, my lord.

So the- the needle that

points in the same direction...

and those books,

I left in London to be sent to the king.

And as they might need

some explanation...

I left word that

they could find me here.

And then I-

I came straight here to see you.

But I- I wish I had

something more to tell you.

It- It all ought

to add up to something.

I've seen Cathay.

But what of that?

For all my talk,

there's been no help for Gurnie in it.

And maybe-

Maybe if I'd stayed here,

he'd still be in his forest...

looking down a shaft

at some king's stag.

Well, I-

I should have the answers, lad,

if you're troubled.

I'm old enough.

But if I were you, I'd-

My lord. They're here, my lord.

The king's men-at-arms.

- They wish to see Master Walter.

- Bring them in, man. Bring them in.

We're ready for them.

There is a man at Oxford who can best

tell you about the importance of the books...

and the manner in which

they are made- Friar Bacon.

As for the rest, I-

I thought perhaps...

the direction-finding needle might

prove useful on the sea that surrounds us.

I don't know. However,

it's all set down in the books...

and your men of science

can read about it there.

I am not inclined to believe

all this about the fire tubes.

- I think the young man saw a dragon.

- Perhaps I did.

You have told us much

and well, young Saxon.

All but the most

important part.

I've- I've told you

all I know, sire.

All but why

you have done these things.

I remember you well,

young Saxon.

You refused to enter my service.

You were very outspoken about it.

If you remember, I asked you a question then

about this matter of Saxon and Norman.

I have some feeling the answer

may lie here, if we can find it...

somewhere in this service

you have tried to do us.

- I didn't do it for you, sire.

- For whom then?

For him.

He- He wanted it that way,

I- I think.

- The bowman?

- Yes, sire.

Why did he wish it, then?

I don't know.

It was something he felt that-

I don't know what it was.

Bayan used to say that

nothing existed...

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