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Show 146 love and forgiveness, I had been able to throw off some of the grief and guilt which plagued me. Even greater relief had come when Hilde revealed that she knew I had not abandoned her at the stone cross. "I was sure you would not leave me unless there was some urgent need for you to do so, Albert," she'd said. "Remember, when I was struck blind I could still hear, and I heard you pleading with Gast to take me." The placid life at the convent restored me, strengthening my body and my mind. Mother Justina spent an hour or so each day teaching me to read again, "to prepare you," she said, "for whatever lies ahead in your life. The people of Hamelin will always feel hatred and bitterness toward you and the Piper, so you cannot return there, but wherever you go it will help you if you can read a little." On that particular day, my next to last one at the convent, warm sunlight spread across Hilde and me as we sat together in the garden. I gazed at her to marvel how beautiful she had beeome, so tranquil and womanly, although she had just turned fourteen. A feeling of tenderness stirred through me and I reached to touch her hand. "Hilde, I have to go away from here," I said in my hoarse whisper. "I am well now except for my throat, and the pain there eases every day. I can even speak a few words if I speak very softly." "You must go?" Her eyes filled with tears. "Where will you go? How will you live?" "Sister Clothilde left me a ring when she died. She had predicted to the nuns that I would return some day. Sister Perpetua says that the ring is probably worth a lot - it has a large red stone set into it and |
