assure you, the minute I put my mind to building an open fire or making a mattress from pine needles, I will soon be doing these things better than you yourself.”
Now the idea of a pine-needle bed had never occurred to Judah ben Simon, and the thought of it softened his heart. “So,” he laughed, “I can see that I have got myself a nasty one. But, just for my personal information, I would like to know where in this country they allow a young lady to pass through her teens without knowing any of the domestic arts?”
“I come from the city of Cracow,” replied the girl.
“So my reputation has reached all the way to Cracow?” asked Judah warily.
“Oh yes,” nodded Rachel Anna. “Indeed, I first heard your name in connection with the great rabbinical court of that beloved saint Judah the Pious. All the sages there are fascinated by the reports which have reached them concerning your knowledge of the forest, for they truly believe that such a scholar may one day help them unravel the knots and intricacies of God’s mysterious pattern.”
“Then you can go straight back,” hissed Judah ben Simon furiously, “and tell them that I already know God’s plan, which has ordained that the so-called wise men of Cracow be exiled to the slimiest pits of hell.”
And, before the astounded young woman could say another word, Judah ben Simon had turned his back and stalked off into the forest. He picked up his pens and brushes, and tried to work, but found it so hard to concentrate that, later in the afternoon, he headed slowly back towards the elm grove, telling himself all the while that he was only looking for the blue jay he had been sketching earlier.
Rachel Anna was sitting on the ground with her back propped against a tree, so that her orange hair fanned out against the rough bark; her purple shawl lay beside her, thrown carelessly on the grass. Hearing his footsteps, she raised her head and smiled; but, when he began to speak in the same angry tone, her expression turned to a look of wonder, as she marveled that his stubbornness was even greater than the rumors had led her to believe.
“I forgot to ask you,” he muttered, “whether Judah the Pious also mentioned that brilliant piece of advice which he gave my family twenty years ago.”
“No,” answered Rachel Anna. “But your mother spoke of it this morning.”
“Then you can surely understand my position,” sighed Judah, sinking down onto the grass, exhausted by the battles he had fought with himself that day. “You can see why I wish to avoid all contact with superstitious, religious people, why I have come out here to bury my shame in the logical order of the forest. And you must realize that I could never pass my days with a woman—even such a beautiful woman—who has been to the court of Judah the Pious, and become the handmaiden of the world’s greatest impostor.”
In the fading sunlight, Rachel Anna looked back at him, too surprised to blush at the compliment. “I have also witnessed public executions,” she said. “Does that mean I am a famous murderess? Listen, Judah ben Simon: having glimpsed the sage with my own eyes, I cannot deny that he is an amazing man. But, aside from that, I swear to you that my experience with superstition has been much more painful than yours. For it is likely that you were honored as a blessed miracle-child by your neighbors, while I have been scorned as a witch and a demoness all my life.”
“Because of your eyes?” asked Judah.
“Because of my eyes,” she nodded. “But also because of something else.” Then slowly, cautiously, Rachel Anna raised her left hand, displaying the trump card which, she had always known, would someday help her win one game. And that was how Rachel Anna’s sixth finger came to be discussed in the forest.
“And was he not disgusted by this?” cried the young King of Poland.
“Not in the least,” grinned Eliezer. “In fact, he was so comforted by their common
Now the idea of a pine-needle bed had never occurred to Judah ben Simon, and the thought of it softened his heart. “So,” he laughed, “I can see that I have got myself a nasty one. But, just for my personal information, I would like to know where in this country they allow a young lady to pass through her teens without knowing any of the domestic arts?”
“I come from the city of Cracow,” replied the girl.
“So my reputation has reached all the way to Cracow?” asked Judah warily.
“Oh yes,” nodded Rachel Anna. “Indeed, I first heard your name in connection with the great rabbinical court of that beloved saint Judah the Pious. All the sages there are fascinated by the reports which have reached them concerning your knowledge of the forest, for they truly believe that such a scholar may one day help them unravel the knots and intricacies of God’s mysterious pattern.”
“Then you can go straight back,” hissed Judah ben Simon furiously, “and tell them that I already know God’s plan, which has ordained that the so-called wise men of Cracow be exiled to the slimiest pits of hell.”
And, before the astounded young woman could say another word, Judah ben Simon had turned his back and stalked off into the forest. He picked up his pens and brushes, and tried to work, but found it so hard to concentrate that, later in the afternoon, he headed slowly back towards the elm grove, telling himself all the while that he was only looking for the blue jay he had been sketching earlier.
Rachel Anna was sitting on the ground with her back propped against a tree, so that her orange hair fanned out against the rough bark; her purple shawl lay beside her, thrown carelessly on the grass. Hearing his footsteps, she raised her head and smiled; but, when he began to speak in the same angry tone, her expression turned to a look of wonder, as she marveled that his stubbornness was even greater than the rumors had led her to believe.
“I forgot to ask you,” he muttered, “whether Judah the Pious also mentioned that brilliant piece of advice which he gave my family twenty years ago.”
“No,” answered Rachel Anna. “But your mother spoke of it this morning.”
“Then you can surely understand my position,” sighed Judah, sinking down onto the grass, exhausted by the battles he had fought with himself that day. “You can see why I wish to avoid all contact with superstitious, religious people, why I have come out here to bury my shame in the logical order of the forest. And you must realize that I could never pass my days with a woman—even such a beautiful woman—who has been to the court of Judah the Pious, and become the handmaiden of the world’s greatest impostor.”
In the fading sunlight, Rachel Anna looked back at him, too surprised to blush at the compliment. “I have also witnessed public executions,” she said. “Does that mean I am a famous murderess? Listen, Judah ben Simon: having glimpsed the sage with my own eyes, I cannot deny that he is an amazing man. But, aside from that, I swear to you that my experience with superstition has been much more painful than yours. For it is likely that you were honored as a blessed miracle-child by your neighbors, while I have been scorned as a witch and a demoness all my life.”
“Because of your eyes?” asked Judah.
“Because of my eyes,” she nodded. “But also because of something else.” Then slowly, cautiously, Rachel Anna raised her left hand, displaying the trump card which, she had always known, would someday help her win one game. And that was how Rachel Anna’s sixth finger came to be discussed in the forest.
“And was he not disgusted by this?” cried the young King of Poland.
“Not in the least,” grinned Eliezer. “In fact, he was so comforted by their common
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