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Show 33 Like an obedient dog, I turned and trotted to the council hall. The first councilman to come along was old Heinrich vor dem Muhlentor. He was bent almost double with age and swollen joints, his frail weight leaning heavily on a walking staff. A councilman since long before I was born, his eyes were growing weak but his fingers still clutched tightly to the neck of his purse. Not long after arrived Johann Steneken and Johann Lamberti, one as round and short as an apple, the other tall and gaunt. The third Johann, Johann Rike, followed them, broad and heavy-footed. In short order came Berthold von Emmern, Bernhard Scadelant, Hermann Wulf and Dietrich Scette, talking together in low voices. Vfhen they saw me so close by, their talk stopped. My master Hermann Meinersing overtook Edelar von Velde and Heinrich Steneken, passing through the doorway without even a glance in my direction. All three viere tradesmen and were officers in their trade guilds. Bertram Werengisi called out to them to wait for him, and I heard him tell them that councilman Wichard would not come to the meeting because he was in great pain with a toothache. Dietrich Senewolte straggled past me, and then they were all inside except the mayor. The sun had long since cleared the tops of the buildings, and was shining hotter than it had been in months, so that the dampness from the cobbled streets rose in clouds of mist. I was wearing only my soiled torn shirt over my hosen, and even with nothing else to cover my skin I began to feel the heat. Perhaps the citizens' prayers |
