"Sister, it is I. Francesca".
I nearly dropped the lance. I froze. Luciana, holding a lance in her right hand, crossed herself with her left.
It was Francesca. It was my sister Francesca. Francesca was at the trapdoor.
I shook my head and placed my fingers to my lips. A look of utter horror crossed Luciana's countenance as she realised what my meaning was. I shook my head again. All colour had now drained from her face and she cupped her hand across her mouth.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Caterina, I know you are there". I cut the air with my hand as if it were a knife. Luciana slowly nodded.
"Let me in Caterina. For the love of God. Let me in". Loud sobs and coughing.
Luciana crossed herself again. I motioned to her go to Niccolo. She nodded and with what could be called a certain grace, held the lance in her left hand and picking up her skirts in her right hand, she disappeared down the steps into the darkness.
I should have told Luciana to take Niccolo to the lower crypt. I hoped that she would have the good sense to do that.
"Caterina. Let me in. I will die out here".
My hand gripped the lance. I was shaking. She is my sister. My dear Francesca.
"Caterina. Let me in. I am your flesh and blood".
She is my sister. My sister, but I have to let her die. Otherwise we will all die.
"Caterina. I know you are there. Let me in. I wish to see you and Niccolo before I die. Let me in".
She is infected. I cannot let her in.
"Caterina. Caterina". She said softly, between sobs. "I berated you for your cleverness, your ingenuity. I should have listened to you."
I said naught.
The trapdoor rattled and shook.
"I am begging you. Let me in. I do not wish to die out here alone". Dust and dirt and stone fell onto the steps, causing me to stumble. I held the lance, remembering what Pietro had shown me. Feet slightly apart, lance in both hands, thrust towards the enemy. I knew the trapdoor would stand fast.
A large lump of dirt fell with a thump onto the flagstones. I adjusted my stance. The trapdoor shuddered.
Was she alone? Where was the foppish husband of her? Her overbearing mother-in-law? Where were her servants? Her slaves?
Hammering, thrashing, shaking. Coughing, spluttering, sobbing and then silence. I leant against the wall of the crypt to steady myself.
The coughing became louder. A rasping, rattling cough. "I cannot find my breath Caterina..."
She was infected. My beautiful, capricious sister Francesca was infected with the Pestilence.
