esson 44: Stone Ten

 follow the Seeker's path north near Lenzburg, and where the Esterliturm¹ should be, I find the Stone Castle. I am at once annoyed by two noisy magpies (German "Elster"--related to "Ester-"?). Snow covers the land, but I know it will be warm inside, so I hurry along. Seems no need to knock--it's a 'public' place. Downstairs is rather gloomy, so I follow the light and voices to the top. Here is something like a common room, with a fire bright and cheery, where salt-of-the-earth type people are gathered for evening socializing. There is a large round Stammtisch², filled with hardy, jovial folk, and also smaller square tables with people playing Jass (cards), sharing stories, and enjoying each others' company. I share a bench near the fire with a rather elderly man, and we exchange small talk.

I'm finally warm, so I tell him 'nice meeting you' and head out. I go downstairs and into the 'treasure room.' There are a lot of antiques here! I take a candle from the outer room and enter. The door blows shut and my candle is extinguished! At first, I'm startled, but calm returns as I know I am safe within this fortress. As I center myself, I see a small shiny object, and go over and pick it up. It's a scarab of gold and silver, with some sort of incandescent jewel lighting up like a firefly. It reminds me of a couple of things: the Thoth Tarot Moon card, and a woman who once told me "Du machst Licht!"³ How appropriate to gain this treasure on the full moon solstice--this longest night brightened by the strongest moon of the century! It tells me that this Moonchild can shine--strong on long nights.

I pull a loose thread from my coat, tie it around the scarab, and hand it around my neck. Then I remember to hang it *inside* my clothes, so the magpies don't try to snatch it. Then again, perhaps I should leave it here, where it will be safe. It's too bright, and may attract worse thieves than those birds. I use its light to help me find the door, then put it in a small wooden box, which seems just the right size.

Now I see a way up to the roof, and decide to go have a look. Emerging on top of the tower, I am almost blown off by the wind! It's higher than it looked from below. I can see mountains in the distance, and the birds are busy over by the trees. Apparently, they have a nest high in an evergreen. A pair of travelers approach the castle, and I wave, but they don't see me. Oh, look! they're bringing an evergreen tree for the Stube.⁴ I kind of wish I knew the people here better, so I could join in their festivities. But instead, I think it's time to go . . . .

1 Esterliturm is a tower on a nearby hill, built to offer a view from the Black Forest (southern Germany) to the Alps (southern Switzerland).

2 A Stammtisch is a table in a restaurant reserved for the family that runs the restaurant (and their friends). I think the closest thing in English would be an employee table.

3 "Du machst Licht" means literally "You make light."

4 'Stube' is a room where people gather, such as a living room, family room, or main room of a restaurant or pub.