Trepidation | Trepidation Trilogy | The Empty World Sequence

Nineteen

The tribe came to Koln, called Cologne by the French, along the river in the Rhineland. They found places to camp, stretched out in a line of smaller camps along the river, south of the city proper. They waved to boats from there, swam, even fished. It was summer, hot, and the Rhine was welcome. Daily, numbers of the tribe visited Koln, to gather members, information or to purchase goods.

      Many of the venders now travelling with the Goth set up to sell wares. The people of Koln were mostly German, friendly. The region had been along the routes taken by Germans and Romans both in their wars. The Rhine valley had seen much of those wars. And so it made sense so far as Claudia was concerned that they be there now.

      During the days, Claudia would leave John, leave him to his Guardsmen and fishing. She left John to act the Leader and went with her Ladies into the city. Merideth was showing now and feeling heavier and Claudia, Louisa and Elzbieta all being friends to her and to each other would walk together or perhaps ride bicycles. Claudia had all their best dresses professionally cleaned.

      She loved the Goth, had no large problem with being nobelest Lady of a nomadic tribe, but Claudia had been raised a lady of another sort, not titled, but wealthy, and the only woman of the household headed by her father. As much as she could neglect appearance when focused on data, she did enjoy a chance to have her hair treated in a salon, or to purchase cosmetics and shoes.

      Claudia tried to support the venders that traveled with the tribe, were part of it. She encouraged other to do the same. Internal commerce was important to a nation's economy, whether or not they had a fixed homeland. So, she bought dresses from the seamstress, jewelry from the silversmith, soft boots from the tanner. She told the seamstress and ladies how the pants she had discovered, which modern women rarely wore except to spend nights with others, were really very comfortable and practical underneath skirts. She made long skirts and gowns fashonable.

      Sometimes, Karina, Elonwey, or Adelle would walk with them. Adelle they liked very much, considered her a lady. Karina they all adored, but her personal uncontrived and earthy style made some feel badly when shopping for cosmetics with her. Elonwey was nice enough, but she had a longing for John that was probably a little mutal, which Claudia just could not approve of, even if she approved of multiple wives taken by others.

      Merideth and Louisa were both engaged to be married to Alaric, and no one seemed to have a problem with that.

      Sometimes Leonore, Sascha, Melitta, Helena and Jayne walked about with Claudia. This group could be very lady-like when they tried, especially Jayne and Helena, but overall they were geeks. Claudia would count herself a geek most of the time, when she was wearing worn dresses and her hair was hastily pulled back and she at her mobile.

      In all, Claudia found herself never short of female friends to talk with, whether it was about their men, or clothes, or soldering micro-circuitry.

She gave her nights to John.

      Claudia always appeared in camp at dusk or soon after, nicely dressed, and willing to speak to would-be members of the tribe who had been invited to camp. She would read stories or make them up. Always, Claudia would put herself close to John, hold his hand, or hang on his arm, smiling at the girls that fawned over him. They did that.

      When full night came, and everyone had eaten and washed, Claudia would go into their trailer. They had five living in it now and all were close.  They might have all shared one bed if they could fit and Claudia kept from saying it was improper.

      It was enough that she lay with John and smile dreamily at him as she overheard Merideth and Louisa discussing wedding plans, or Alaric's particular moans as they made love to him.