Free My Guardian Angel by Sylvie Weil Page B

the streets of Troyes.” Some say there were twenty of them; others swear there were at least a hundred. The rumor goes that they were men
and
women and they hadn’t thought twice about helping themselves from stalls and henhouses belonging to Christians as well as Jews.
    On the wide trestle table made from two wooden shutters, Muriel’s father, Joseph ben Simon, displays a magnificent bearskin complete with its head. Elvina strokes it. “This would make a wonderful coat for this freezing weather. Without the head of course,” she adds.
    Muriel’s father laughs. “It was a real bargain. The traveler who sold it to me was in a hurry to get rid of it and be on his way. He had killed the bear with his own hands. He was going through the forest, and the bear attacked him. Poor bear should have known better!”
    Two familiar voices reach Elvina from beside the stall. “Touch the ears!” says one.
    â€œThe muzzle is even softer!” replies the other.
    Rachel and Naomi are wrapped up from head to toe in blankets that are trailing along the ground. “Elvina, we followed you,” Rachel says. “We didn’t want to stay shut up in Muriel’s room all day,” Naomi adds. “We aren’t the ones who are sick. We escaped. Hey, there is Uncle Nathan. He has brought out his skins as well!”
    Muriel’s uncle has spread several skins on the ground in front of his shop. There is a cow skin and several sheepskins whose wool has already been removed. The twins rush over and start jumping up and down on the skins. “You see, Uncle Nathan, we’ve come to help you.”
    â€œThat’s good; keep it up. The more they are trodden down, the sooner they’ll be ready for tanning. They could make you a lovely pair of shoes or a saddle for a fine lady’s horse.”
    Elvina puts down her basket and joins the twins. As she tramples on the skins, she looks upward to the heavy gray clouds scudding rapidly across the sky like battalions of soldiers. No, clouds are not like soldiers, for they carry no threat. Clouds move freely! Where are they going? Where will they be by evening? Above Paris, a city Elvina does not know, or even farther? Will they be flying over the sea, which she has never seen? How she would love to run away with them! If only she could wander freely, as they do, with the whole world unfolding below!
    A slap on the back brings Elvina down to earth. She jumps in surprise. “Ouch! Naomi, Rachel! Why . . .” she begins. But when she turns around she sees neither Naomi nor Rachel.
    â€œMarguerite!” she cries.
    Under a gray hood two round rosy cheeks, blue eyes, and a smiling face can be seen. “Yes, it’s me,” Marguerite says. “And you, Elvina, you wicked girl, where have you been hiding? We never see you anymore!”
    Marguerite is the eldest daughter of a Christian farmer for whom Solomon ben Isaac has done more than one favor. Taking hold of Elvina’s cape, Marguerite shakes her playfully. “I was just talking about you this very morning with my sister Jeanne. She misses you. You used to be such good friends! What has happened?”
    Elvina doesn’t know what to say. For these last few weeks she hasn’t had time to think about Jeanne and Marguerite. But is it really true that she hasn’t had time? Not exactly. Suddenly Elvina feels boiling hot in spite of the cold piercing through her clothes. She feels so hot that sweat is pouring down her back and she turns away in embarrassment. Facing Marguerite once again, she replies quietly, “You know, we Jews don’t go out much these days.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about? You’ve come out today, haven’t you? And it seems the others have, too.” Marguerite has noticed the twins eyeing her. “Tell me, Elvina, who are those little furies sticking so close to you and giving me such threatening