Pope Joan_ A Novel - Donna Woolfolk Cross [43]
“Well, Odo,” the bishop said expansively. “What do you say? Was the Greek right about Joan, or not?”
Odo looked like a man who has tasted vinegar. “It appears the child has some knowledge of orthodox theology. Nevertheless, this in itself does not prove anything.” He spoke condescendingly, as if to a difficult child. “There is, in some women, a highly developed imitative ability which allows them to memorize and repeat the words of men, and so give the appearance of thought. But this imitative skill is not to be confused with true reason, which is essentially male. For, as is well known”—Odo’s voice assumed an authoritative ring, for now he was on familiar ground—“women are innately inferior to men.”
“Why?” The word was out of Joan’s mouth before she was even aware of having spoken.
Odo smiled, his thin lips drawing back unpleasantly. He had the look of the fox when it knows it has the rabbit cornered. “Your ignorance, child, is revealed in that question. For St. Paul himself has asserted this truth, that women are beneath men in conception, in place, and in will.”
“In conception, in place, and in will?” Joan repeated.
“Yes.” Odo spoke slowly and distinctly, as if addressing a halfwit. “In conception, because Adam was created first, and Eve afterward; in place, because Eve was created to serve Adam as companion and mate; in will, because Eve could not resist the Devil’s temptation and ate of the apple.”
Among the tables, heads nodded in agreement. The bishop’s expression was grave. Beside him, the red-haired knight gave no outward sign of his thoughts.
Odo smirked. Joan felt an intense dislike for this man. For a moment she stood silently, tugging on her nose.
“Why,” she said at last, “is woman inferior in conception? For though she was created second, she was made from Adam’s side, while Adam was made from common clay.”
There were several appreciative chuckles from the back of the hall.
“In place”—the words tumbled out as Joan’s thoughts raced ahead and she reasoned her way through—“woman should be preferred to man, because Eve was created inside Paradise, but Adam was created outside.”
There was another hum from the audience. The smile on Odo’s face wavered.
Joan continued, too interested in the line of her argument to consider what she was doing. “As for will, woman should be considered superior to man”—this was bold, but there was no going back now— “for Eve ate of the apple for love of knowledge and learning, but Adam ate of it merely because she asked him.”
There was shocked silence in the room. Odo’s pale lips pressed together angrily. The bishop was staring at Joan as if he could not quite believe what he had just heard.
She had gone too far.
Some ideas are dangerous.
Aesculapius had warned her, but she had become so involved in the debate she forgot his advice. That man, that Odo, had been so sure of himself, so bent on humiliating her before the bishop. She had ruined her chance for the schola and she knew it, but she would not give the hateful little man the satisfaction of seeing her dismay. She stood before the high table with chin lifted, eyes blazing.
The silence stretched on interminably. All eyes were on the bishop, whose assessing gaze remained fixed on Joan. Then, slowly, very slowly, a long, low rumble of mirth escaped his lips.
The bishop was laughing.
Beside him, the buxom woman giggled nervously. Then the room erupted with noise. People cheered and pounded on the tables and laughed, laughed so hard the tears coursed down their faces and they had to wipe them off with their sleeves. Joan looked at the red-haired knight. He was grinning broadly. She met his eyes, and he winked at her.
“Come now, Odo,” said the bishop, when at last he could draw breath, “you must admit it. The girl has outwitted you!”
Odo gave the bishop a poisonous look. “What of the boy, Eminence? Do you wish to have him examined as well?”
“No, no. We’ll take him too, since the girl is so attached to him. We’ll take them both! To be sure, the girl’s education has been a bit”—he sought the right word