The Evening and the Morning (Kingsbridge, #0)

by Ken Follett

Thursday, June 17, 997

“How come you know when Easter is?” and he had replied: “Because it’s the first Sunday after the first full moon after the twenty-first day of March, obviously.” It had been a mistake to add “obviously,” because Erman had punched him in the stomach for being sarcastic.

There was a monastery on the far side of the town. The monks had a way of measuring the hours of the night: they made big, graduated candles that told the time as they burned down. One hour before dawn they would ring the bell, then get up to chant their service of Matins.

He would miss Pa, who all his life had told him things he would never forget, such as: “No matter how well you scarf two planks together, the joint is always the weakest part.”

Good wood was better than silver, he had liked to say, because it was harder to steal. “We’ve got nothing left, and no way to make a living,” Edgar said. “What on earth are we going to do?”

Edgar’s family believed in plans. His father had often said that you had to build the entire boat in your imagination before picking up the first piece of timber.

Edgar understood numbers, and he could not let that pass. “Wasn’t Jesus born in the year one?” he said. “He was,” said Degbert. He added snootily: “Every educated man knows that.” “Then he must have had his first birthday in year two.” Degbert began to look unsure.

“In year three, he became two years old, and so on. So this year, nine hundred and ninety-seven, he becomes nine hundred and ninety-six.”

Early July 997

“You want a grand passion, a lifelong romance, but those exist only in poems,” Genevieve said. “In real life we women settle for what we can get.”

‘The Wife’s Lament.’” She turned to Aldred.

find that fascinating, Father Louis? You’re from Reims, that’s near the German-speaking lands.” “It is,” he said. “You’re well educated, my lady.” Ragna felt she had passed a test. She wondered whether Louis’s condescending attitude had been a deliberate attempt to provoke her. She was glad she had not risen to the bait. “You’re very kind,” she said insincerely. “My brother has a tutor, and I’m allowed to sit in on the lessons as long as I remain silent.”

dislikes the work of governing, but I’m fascinated by it.” Aldred put in: “Women sometimes do it well. King Alfred of England had a daughter called Ethelfled

who ruled the great region of Mercia after her husband died. She fortified towns and won battles.”

Louis said: “Dismas?” Ragna said: “That was the name of one of the thieves crucified with Jesus.” “I know that,” said Louis heavily, and Ragna told herself not to be so clever. Aldred said: “This Dismas also steals, especially food.”

“I’m sure, but at least people here know what’s sinful and what’s not. The other thing is that I’ve seen no slaves anywhere in Normandy.” “There’s a slave market in Rouen, but the buyers are foreigners. Slavery has been almost completely abolished here. Our clergy condemn it,

Aldred was not shocked. He continued the discussion without pause. “On the other hand,” he said, “your peasants are serfs, who need the permission of their lord to marry, change their way of making a living, or move to another

got three more sons.” “Then they’re fools, whoever they are,” said Ragna. “The loss of a child is a terrible grief to a mother, and it makes no difference how many more you may have.” Tears fell on Ellen’s wind-reddened cheeks, and she reached out a hand. Ragna took it and squeezed

“Cider from Saint-Martin is stronger than most, by the grace of God and good husbandry.”

had to turn the book into the library unfinished waiting to check it out again!