The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett [324]
“What do you think?” she asked him.
Tom had seemed to think Philip would not be merciful, Jack recalled. But then, Tom’s overriding concern had been that the lodge should take decisive action. Having promised Philip that they would be firm, Tom could not then plead for mercy. Mother was not in the same position. Jack began to feel a little more hopeful. Perhaps he would not have to leave after all. Perhaps he could stay in Kingsbridge, close to the cathedral and to Aliena. He no longer hoped that she would love him, but nevertheless he hated the thought of going away and never seeing her again.
“All right,” he said. “Let’s go and plead with Prior Philip. We’ve got nothing to lose but our pride.”
Mother put on her cloak and they went out together, leaving Martha sitting alone at the table, looking anxious.
Jack and his mother did not often walk side by side, and now he was struck by how short she was: he towered over her. He felt suddenly fond of her. She was always ready to fight like a cat for his sake. He put his arm around her and hugged her. She smiled at him as if she knew what he was thinking.
They entered the priory close and went to the prior’s house. Mother banged on the door and walked in. Tom was there with Prior Philip. Jack knew immediately, by their faces, that Tom had not told Philip about Jack setting fire to the old cathedral. That was a relief. Now he probably never would. That secret was safe.
Tom looked anxious, if not a little scared, when he saw Mother. Jack recalled that he had said I did my best for you, I hope your mother will see that. Tom was remembering the last time Jack and Alfred had a fight: Mother had left Tom in consequence. Tom was afraid she would leave now.
Philip was no longer looking angry, Jack thought. Perhaps the lodge’s decision had mollified him. He might even be feeling a trifle guilty about his harshness.
Mother said: “I’ve come here to ask you to be merciful, Prior Philip.”
Tom immediately looked relieved.
Philip said: “I’m listening.”
Mother said: “You’re proposing to send my son away from everything he loves—his home, his family and his work.”
And the woman he adores, Jack thought.
Philip said: “Am I? I thought he had simply been dismissed from his work.”
“He’s never learned any kind of work but building, and there’s no other building work in Kingsbridge for him. And the challenge of that vast church has got into his blood. He’ll go wherever someone is building a cathedral. He’ll go to Jerusalem if there’s stone there to be carved into angels and devils.” How does she know all this? Jack wondered. He had hardly thought it himself—but it was true. She added: “I might never see him again.” Her voice shook a little at the end, and he thought wonderingly how much she must love him. She would never plead like this for herself, he knew.
Philip looked sympathetic, but it was Tom who replied. “We can’t have Jack and Alfred working on the same site,” he said doggedly. “They’ll fight again. You know that.”
“Alfred could go,” Mother said.
Tom looked sad. “Alfred is my son.”
“But he’s twenty years old, and he’s as mean as a bear!” Although Mother’s voice was assertive, her cheeks were wet with tears. “He doesn’t care for this cathedral any more than I do—he’d be perfectiy happy building houses for butchers and bakers in Winchester or Shiring.”
“The lodge can’t expel Alfred and keep Jack,” Tom said.
“Besides, the decision is already made.”
“But it’s the wrong decision!”
Philip spoke. “There might be another answer.”
Everyone looked at him.
“There might be a way for Jack to stay in Kingsbridge, and even devote himself to the cathedral, without falling foul of Alfred.”
Jack wondered what was coming. This sounded too good to be true.
“I need someone to work with me,” Philip went on. “I spend too much time making detail decisions on the building. I need a kind of assistant, who would fulfill the role of clerk of works. He would deal with most