Free Fire by C.C. Humphreys Page A

arises, you could – you could look to my daughter.’ He came up on one elbow again, though it pained him. ‘Most of our family is in York. In Rotterdam. She may need some temporary protection until they can be summoned should anything…’ He trailed off.
    Coke came over, knelt and took the man’s hand again. ‘And she shall have mine, Isaac. You may trust me on that.’
    ‘Very good, Captain – William. Then I shall.’
    The two friends sat silent for a while, listening to the high, beautiful notes sounding nearby.
    —
    The youth did not need to cease his tune to smile. But he did to speak.
    ‘Hello again,’ he said, lowering his flute.
    ‘Keep playing,’ replied Rebekah bat Judah.
    He did, just as beautifully. Several people paused to listen, to tap a foot. Some dropped a coin into the cap on the cobbles before moving on. Rebekah did not move, or sway, just stood regarding him, her dark eyes wide.
    The tune ended on a single high note, wonderfully sustained, clinging in the air a long moment after he lowered the flute. A passer-by threw in a last groat. The player knelt, running his fingers over the coins, then looked up at her, his blue eyes dancing under his shank of golden hair. ‘A goodly haul,’ he said. ‘May I spend a portion on you, Rebekah? Buy you a drink?’
    Her face stayed grave. ‘You know that is not possible. I do not go anywhere, with anyone. Especially –’ She gestured at him. ‘I do not even know your name, though you stole mine.’
    ‘Stole? Nay,’ he laughed, ‘I took it in exchange for my heart!’
    ‘Tut!’ she scoffed, though she was pleased. ‘Your name, sir?’
    He rose, his face serious now. Pouring the coins into a pocket of his coat, he clutched the hat before him. ‘Daniel,’ he said, and gave a formal bow.
    ‘Daniel?’ she echoed. ‘ ’Tis a name…a name of my people.’
    ‘I know. My parents honoured them. As do I. I wish –’ he hesitated, ‘I wish I could be one of them – of you. Especially now.’
    ‘Why now?’
    The smile returned, the face lit. ‘Because then maybe you’d let me buy you that drink.’
    ‘Tut,’ she said again. ‘Are girls of your people allowed to do such things with a stranger?’
    ‘No. Though I would not truly know. I have had little to do with girls. I haven’t wanted to until –’ He broke off, his shy smile returning. ‘I have brought you something. A token.’
    ‘What?’
    He looked around. People were staring at this young couple, both handsome, so different. The Gentile and the Jew. The light and the dark. ‘I think some of your tribe are disapproving that we talk so long. Come.’
    He stepped away. She did not move. ‘Where?’
    ‘Just a few paces.’ He pointed to an alley’s narrow entrance. ‘There.’ When she still did not move, he smiled. ‘Come. Do not fear. We will stay near the entrance, in the light.’
    ‘Tut,’ she said, for the third time, though there was little disapproval in it now.
    He led her two paces into the alley, halted, delved into his coat and pulled out an object.
    ‘A banana?’ she exclaimed, then laughed. ‘It is not even heart-shaped, sir!’
    ‘Have you tried one? The queen eats little else, they say, since they came to the realm but recently.’
    ‘I have not.’ She reached, drawing her hand back. ‘We are not allowed to eat many things.’
    ‘But this is a fruit, not – not a pig! Here,’ he broke the skin, peeling it in four sections, broke off a nub and offered it to her. When she shook her head, he ate it himself. ‘Hmm! Delicious. Are you sure?’
    He tore off a much smaller piece, held it out. She shook her head again, so he ate her piece, folded up the rest of the banana in its skin and put it away.
    ‘Well, sir,’ she said, taking a step, ‘if that is all –’
    ‘Nay. That was just…lunch.’ He reached again into his coat. ‘This is dessert.’ He held out a paper-wrapped package. After a moment she took it and held it.
    ‘Open it,’ he