Gabriella understands as well as I do that our fates are now intertwined. Even in the time before the pestilence, the coupling of a Christian and a Jew would have been an unforgivable sin for people of both faiths. Now, in such apocalyptical times, I cannot imagine how they might respond. Even without me by her side, the danger will only grow for Gabriella the longer she remains in Genova. And if I fail to provide the Archbishop with an effective curative, her fortunes will turn truly dire.

I raised these concerns with Gabriella as she prepared breakfast.

Surely the doge and the councilmen will not allow the flagellants to assail your neighborhood as they did mine, she said.

It is not the councilmen I fear.

Is it the Archbishop?

I wrapped my arms around Gabriella from behind. Darling, the Archbishop holds sway over all of them, I said. He could release the flagellants with a swipe of his quill.

Is that really so?

Yes, despite his empty words to the contrary. And if they come for you, they will have to kill me first.

She put down her knife and turned to face me. Tears ran down her cheeks. I cannot lose anyone else dear to me, she said as she buried her face in my neck.

Then come away with me.

Where could we go without our troubles following? she asked as she dried her eyes on her sleeve.

Anywhere. Best if we go north, to the lands well beyond the Alps where the plague has not yet ventured. For the time being, we can take shelter at San Giovanni.

How can we live in a monastery?

Only temporarily, I said. We will be safe among the brothers. The plague has already consumed what it can there. When the time is right, we can determine where to go next.

Gabriella gazed deeply into my eyes. Would we go there as husband and wife? she asked.

Yes, I said without hesitation.

Good, I will gather my belongings, then, she said, as though we had just agreed on a choice of taverns rather than having committed to marriage.

On our way to the monastery, we visited the Jewish quarter. None of the Jews were outside their homes, despite the midday hour. We spoke with Gabriella’s siblings inside her brother’s house. I implored the family to join us at the monastery, but, as Gabriella had predicted, they were unwilling to live under the roof of the Church. I urged them to at least find sanctuary outside of the city, and her brother agreed to take my suggestion under advisement.

Gabriella and I carried our belongings in sacks on our backs for the climb to the monastery. Rather than complain over the exertion, she was exhilarated. She stopped often to marvel at the view of the city and the harbor from our perch.

When we reached the monastery, I was relieved to see that work on enclosing the crypt for the rats had not yet been completed. I could still see a narrow dirt passageway that led to the channels below. I wondered warily if my life might rely on that slim opening.