Anne Dublin Children's Library 2-Book Bundle. Anne Dublin

sleepless nights had caught up with Johanna. She felt tired to her very bones. More gently, she added, “I won’t blame you.”

      “I’m not leaving,” Cecile said, jutting out her chin. “I’m going to Altona with you.”

      Johanna squeezed Cecile’s arm. “I was hoping you’d say that. And Cecile?”

      “What?”

      “I’m sorry I was rude just now. I’m wound up like a spring.”

      “It’s all right,” Cecile said. “A few words aren’t going to spoil our friendship.”

      Johanna smiled wanly. “I hope not.”

      “That’s better,” Daniel said, coming out of the inn and wiping his mouth with his sleeve. He untied the reins, climbed back onto the wagon, and snapped the horse’s reins.

      Approaching Altona, they passed a wagon leaving the town. The wagon driver had a cloth pulled tightly around his nose and mouth. He pointed behind him, in the direction of Altona.

      “If you know what’s good for you, don’t go there,” he said.

      “What’s that?” said Daniel.

      The man shuddered. “Plague!”

      Daniel pulled hard on the reins, as if the wagon were about to fall off a cliff. Cecile covered her face with a corner of her cloak. Johanna pulled Rebecca closer to her chest. Johanna looked behind her as the other wagon moved away. Corpses two and three deep were piled haphazardly on it. The bodies shook with every jolt of the wagon.

      Everyone knew about the plagues that had spread throughout Europe over the years. Johanna didn’t know all the names of the plague the physicians used. All she knew was that plague was usually fatal.

      If one person in a family caught the plague, the entire family would be locked inside their house. Watchmen would check the house from time to time to make sure no one tried to leave. The family would all be dead within the space of a week. Then the gravediggers would come to pile their carts with the sad cargoes and bring them to the cemeteries.

      Rich or poor, good or bad — the plague didn’t discriminate. It killed almost everyone it found, wiping out entire families and communities.

      When the cemeteries were full, when the mounds of earth created unnatural hills two or three feet high, the dead would be carted to the country to be buried in huge open pits. There was no time for a decent burial; no time for the bereaved to mourn. It was often their turn to die next.

      “I’m not going any closer!” said Daniel.

      “I must see if my family has been spared,” Cecile said.

      “Forget it,” said Daniel, shaking his head. “I’m not going into a plague-infested town.” He held the reins tightly. “I kept my part of the bargain. Don’t say I didn’t. But I’m not going there!”

      “Please!” Cecile said.

      “I can’t and I won’t,” said Daniel. “I’ve lost enough of my own family to the plague.” He gestured with his thumb. “Now get off!”

      Should I go with Cecile? Johanna thought. How much do I dare risk? My life, and Rebecca’s as well? She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and looked into Cecile’s eyes. She’s my friend. I must help her.

      “Come, Cecile. I’ll go with you,” Johanna said. “But first we must pay Daniel.”

      Daniel held out his dirty hand. The girls reached into their meagre purses and paid him the schillings they owed him.

      The girls got down from the wagon. Cecile clutched their bags and Johanna held tightly to the baby. Johanna now understood what people meant when they talked about a heavy heart. Hers felt like lead. Her thoughts whirled about her head as they began to walk away. But then she had an idea.

      “Daniel!” she shouted, hurrying after the wagon. “Wait!”

      Daniel pulled the reins up sharply. “What now?”

      “Will you do something for us?”

      Daniel glanced back towards Altona. “Depends what.”

      “Wait for us here? At least,” she whispered, “at least until we know what happened to Cecile’s family.” She paused. “And please watch the baby. She’s sleeping. She won’t be any trouble.”

      “That’s asking a lot,” Daniel said.

      “We’ll come back as soon as we can. I promise.”

      “I don’t know much about babies.” He took off his cap and wiped the sweat on his forehead with the back of his arm.

      “I promise we’ll be back within the hour.”

      “All right,” said Daniel, nodding. “I’ll watch her, but for Christ’s sake, cover your nose and mouth!”

      Johanna and Cecile plodded along the rutted road. No laundry hung on clotheslines. No children played in the streets. The few people hurrying by kept their faces covered and their heads down.

      Scrawny cats prowled in the lanes. Piles of rotting garbage were piled on the streets, in alleys, in front of houses and shops. The stench of rotten food and open sewers filled the air. Johanna stopped and vomited until her stomach was empty, leaving a sour taste in her mouth.

      They made their way to the town square where a ragged throng of people crowded around the church. Several people were beating on the heavy wooden doors with their fists.

      “For mercy’s sake!” cried a scarecrow of a man. “Let us in!”

      “The rich bastards,” muttered another. “They ran away and left us here to rot!”

      “And now the church won’t even let us in!” wailed a woman.