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mice or worse. By the end of November, the rafters of both houses were decked with salted and smoked meats, hams, and sausages. Corners were cluttered with baskets of barley and rye and nuts. Wheels of cheese were wrapped in dried leaves and straw and stacked in the lofts. Everything was readied for the long cold, merciless winter.
    Aunt Agnes was preoccupied with the work of these winter preparations. Anna spent much of her time watching and distracting little Thomas, finding tasks for him, redoing most of what he did. Though she criticized everything Anna did, Agnes seemed entirely unaware of Thomas. Nothing he did brought any response from her. She spoke no words to him or about him. It was as though he had ceased to exist.

7
    THE WOODS
    November 15, 1095
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An early snow had dusted the fields and now swirled in the cold wind of the shortened afternoons. Martin and Gunther were preparing to depart after dinner, for they always on the road in the final weeks of the harvest season. Since sunrise, Anna had been helping make sausages. Elisabeth chopped and pounded scraps of meat and stirred in salt and bits of fennel and sage. Anna stuffed this claylike mixture into cleaned lengths of pig intestine that Margarete tied with strings made of sinew. As they blanched these sausages in a cauldron and hung them on a rope high above the smoky hearth, Anna sang a song she had learned from Martin. She had a surprisingly deep, rich singing voice that even Agnes had to admit she enjoyed.
    While the girls made sausages, Agnes fussed about the midday meal. She set out fresh roast pork seasoned with mustard and garlic and a milk pudding of boiled grains and currants and stewed pears. The family treated the meal as a celebration for Elisabeth because her day had been ruined and for Martin who had been on the road with Gunther on his saint’s feast day. Karl gave Elisabeth a splendid horn drinking cup on which he had carved snowdrops, and her older brothers gave her a new knife with a polished bone handle. Karl took her old knife to save for Thomas. Karl gave Martin a handsome shepherd’s horn pipe to replace the one Martin had lonst in the summer. He was delighted and immediately put it to his lips and entertained the family with a quick and cheeful song.
    â€œThat was a feast of a dinner, dear wife,” said Karl patting his stomach.
    Gunther thanked Agnes and rose from the table.
    â€œCome Martin, we must be off now. It’s a fine afternoon, but we should begin, or it will be dark before we reach Worms. The days are short now.”
    â€œGod speed Gunther,” said Agnes, pushing herself from the table and stretching her arms above her head. “How lucky they are to get out of this smoke-filled house. Well, Karl, before the snow traps me in the house, perhaps I will go out, too.”
    â€œGo? Agnes where will you go? ” asked Karl.
    â€œFor a walk. Perhaps I’ll gather the last of the nuts.”
    â€œDear woman, there are no nuts left to find. And the woods will be empty.”
    â€œI have had a week of blood-letting and sausage-filling. My own stomach is fuller than a sausage casing, as over-filled as one of Anna’s ill-made links.” She glanced scornfully at Anna.
    Anna said nothing, but Lukas, who was sitting at her side, took her hand beneath the table.
    â€œGo and breathe some clean air. There’s still a good amount of sun today,” said Karl.
    â€œI’ll take Thomas home with me,” said Anna.
    Agnes glowered at her, “No. I will take the boy.”
    â€œTake the dog as well,” said Karl.
    â€œI shall.”
    â€œDo not go deep into the woods,” he added.
    â€œAm I a fool?”
    â€œNo, you’re a trying woman, but a matchless cook. Wrap the boy well. It’s very cold. Our Thomas shall be glad to go with you,” said Karl, raking his fingers through the pale silk hair of his youngest son.
    Agnes fitted Thomas with his warmest things;