Bernat’s words inflamed the crowd still further. This time the officials were unable to withdraw the supplies, as the mob engulfed them. Pere Juyol and the city magistrate were about to be lynched, and were saved only by some soldiers who ran to their defense and then escorted them back inside the palace.
Few managed to satisfy their needs. The wheat was spilled across the square, and trodden on and wasted by the mob. Those who tried to scoop it up risked being trodden on as well.
Somebody shouted that the city councillors were to blame. The crowd rushed off to drag them out of their houses.
Bernat joined in this collective madness, shouting as loud as anyone and allowing himself to be carried away on the tide of enraged citizens.
“Father, Father!”
Bernat looked down at his son.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, still striding along and shouting at the top of his voice.
“I ... What has happened to you, Father?”
“Get away from here. This is no place for children.”
“Where should I ... ?”
“Here, take this.” Bernat handed him two money bags: his own and the one for the prisoners.
“What am I to do with these?” asked Arnau.
“Go home, son, go home.”
Arnau saw his father disappear in the midst of the crowd. The last thing he saw of him was the glint of hatred in his eyes.
“Where are you going, Father?” he shouted after him.
“In search of freedom,” said a woman who was standing nearby, also watching the mob swarming through the streets of the city.
“But we’re already free,” ventured Arnau.
“There is no freedom where there is hunger, my lad,” the woman declared.
In tears, Arnau fought his way through the rushing crowd.
THE DISTURBANCES LASTED two entire days. The homes of the councillors and many other noble residences were sacked. The enraged crowd went round the city, at first in search of food ... and then in search of vengeance.
For two whole days the city of Barcelona was submerged in chaos. The authorities were powerless to stop it, until an envoy from King Alfonso arrived with sufficient soldiers to put an end to the violence. A hundred men were arrested, and many others fined. Of the hundred, ten were hanged after the briefest of trials. Among those called to testify, there were few who did not point to Bernat Estanyol, with the birthmark over his right eye, as one of the instigators of the citizens’ revolt in Plaza del Blat.
16
ARNAU RAN THE whole length of Calle de la Mar to Pere’s house without glancing at Santa Maria even once. His father’s eyes were engraved on his mind; his shouts echoed in his ears. He had never seen him like that before. “What’s happened to you, Father? Is it true as that woman said that we are not free?” He rushed into Pere’s house without paying heed to anyone or anything, and shut himself in his room. Joan found him there, sobbing.
“The city has gone mad... ,” Joan said, opening the door. “What’s wrong?”
Arnau did not answer. His brother looked round the room.
“Where’s Father?”
Arnau choked back his tears and pointed up into the city.
“Is he with them?”
“Yes,” Arnau managed to stutter.
Joan recalled the rioting he had been forced to avoid on his way back from the bishop’s palace. The soldiers had sealed off the Jewry and were standing guard outside the gates to keep out the mob, who had turned their attention to looting the houses of rich Christians. How could Bernat be with them? Images of groups of enraged people battering down doors and emerging with armfuls of possessions filled Joan’s mind. There was no way that Bernat could be one of them.
“It can’t be,” he said out loud. Arnau looked up at him from the pallet. “Bernat is not like the others... How can it be possible?”
“I don’t know. There were lots of people. They were all shouting ...”
“But... Bernat? Bernat couldn’t do things like that... Perhaps he was just... trying to find someone?”
Arnau stared at Joan. “How can I tell you it was he who was shouting the loudest, who was leading the others on? How can I tell you I don’t believe it myself?”
“I don’t know, Joan. There were a lot of people.”
“They are stealing, Arnau! They’re attacking the city aldermen!”
Arnau’s look silenced him.
THE TWO BOYS waited in vain for their father to return that night. The next day, Joan got ready for school.
“You shouldn’t go,” Arnau advised him.
