The Rose of Provence Read Online Free Page B

rosemary and
other herbs against the spreading of the infection, and he himself
was dressed from head to toe, even in the greatest heat, wearing
hood, broad-brimmed hat, gloves, mid-calf boots and a mask covering
the eyes with glass to protect against the infection, walking among
the patients. Despite the ceaseless heart and soul demanding job,
the uncomfortable costume and the constant presence of danger, he
did not fall ill thanks to his strong body and persistence, but it
was rumored that perhaps the protection of the heavens also
contributed to this. The people were grateful for his efforts, and
with his efforts, he gained fame at a very young age. Many even
called him a doctor prodigy.
    After the passing of the epidemic, he returned to the
university to obtain the real doctoral title. In the summer of
1528, he was within a hair’s breadth from the degree, so he
dedicated all his time to studying. And if he did not attend
lectures, he participated in autopsies, because the medical
university of Montpellier had a special privilege: the local medics
could anatomize the corps of executed murderers, so they could
acquire a higher level of knowledge in the field of anatomy than
any other students in the country, who get only theoretical
education.
    Michel was heading to the dissecting room, looking forward to
escape into the coldness of the room away from the sultry heat,
when one of his friends joined him in a hurry.
    “ Have you heard?” Pierre asked excitedly. “It is rumored that
three new corps have arrived.”
    “ No, I haven’t heard that.” Michel looked at him, inquiringly.
“Have the number of malefactors sentenced to death increased
suddenly?”
    “ Not at all! These were not executed, but young girls. They
have already been buried, but because some say that they went to a
better world so soon one after the other, the magistracy decided
upon their resurrection.
    “ Epidemic-suspicious cases?”
    “ We cannot exclude this. Anyway, it’s going to be interesting
to dissect female bodies finally, because only men were among the
murderers and robbers so far.”
    “ If you attend more courses than pubs, you wouldn’t have
missed the witch last time. But there’s nothing to lose, as I see,
we will get more and more such female corpses too.”
    “ Oh, come on! A burnt corps can never come anywhere near a
fresh, show-white body…”
    “ Pierre! Should I be worried about your taste? Anyway, the
woman last time was hardly scorched, the smoke suffocated her. The
stack did not flame properly; the wood could have been
wet.”
    Along the walls of the dissecting room, large blocks of ice
were breathing cool air. Some were already standing around the
laid-out corpses on the oilcloth-covered tables, but when Michel
entered, they gave way to him. All the three corpses were lying
nakedly with closed eyes as if they were ashamed of their nudity.
One of them had flaxen-hair and was relatively skinny. The other
two were brown-haired and plumper. Their long curls rested on their
shoulders, but just partly covered their breasts, and there was
nothing at all to hide their laps. The professor was explaining
with wide motions:
    “ It’s obvious that we are not facing the plague, because the
characteristic dark-blue pigmentation cannot be seen on their skin.
But because they were young womenfolk, it is also for sure that
they didn’t die of old age. We can exclude the accident as well,
because there is no sign of injury on them. It’s good that the
plague didn’t pop its head up again, but I’m afraid that we’re
facing a new, unknown epidemic.”
    While the others were loitering around, listening to the
master and gazing at the dead girls, Michel stepped to the first
corps and took a close look at the body. Then, without having asked
for permission, he swept the dim blonde hair aside on the
shoulders, revealing the girl’s neck and chest. The others were
watching him breathlessly, and the professor grew quiet as