They Cross The Portal

The sun was already low in the west, casting long shadows as they walked towards the portal. Luisa gathered her fine dress so that its hem didn't drag on the sandy ground. An inscription was carved above the lintel, stating that the building was a convent dedicated to St. Agnes of Rome. Luisa knew her legend: She was said to have suffered martyrdom as a young woman because she would not give up her vow of virginity.

Eduard took hold of the chain that was attached next to the door and connected to an ancient bell. The ringing sounded high and urgent. Luisa shivered at the sound, which shattered the previous silence. She would have liked to ask her fiancé to get back into the car and leave this place, which seemed somehow eerie to her. But she remained silent and kept her worries to herself. If they turned back now, it would be impossible to find another suitable place for their plans before it got dark.

They had to wait several minutes before they first heard footsteps crunching on gravel beyond the doorway and then a pale face framed by a black veil emerged from behind the barred window.

Eduard stepped forward to meet her questioning gaze.

“Excuse me, sister. My fiancée and I have traveled far. We are looking for shelter and accommodation for the night. We would therefore be extremely grateful if you could let us in. And...” he hesitated briefly, wondering whether he should reveal the real reason for their being here, ”we have another pressing matter. Would it perhaps be possible for us to talk to your Mother Superior about it in private?”

The nun thought for a moment, then nodded and the scraping of a heavy bolt being pulled back resounded.

“Come in.”

Luisa had to overcome an inner resistance to cross the threshold. If Eduard hadn't gone ahead briskly and pulled her along by the hand, she would probably have stayed outside. When the door closed and the bolt was pushed forward again, the sound had something definitive about it. She felt a shiver run down her spine. She clung to Eduard's arm for support.

“We are just about to have our dinner, to which you are cordially invited,” the doorkeeper explained, “You will also meet our Superior there and you can make your request yourself.”

They both thanked her and followed her across the inner courtyard into a spacious building with leaded windows. On their way through the winding corridors, which gave the impression of a labyrinth after just a few branches, they encountered more nuns heading for the refectory. Eduard was increasingly irritated at the sight of them. Once in the dining hall, he finally bit his lips to avoid blurting out a question that was on the tip of his tongue. All the nuns had their habit stretched around the middle of their bodies. Some had even undone the seams at the sides so that the robe could embrace the fullness of their bellies. As a result, he not only caught glimpses of undergarments, but in some cases even of naked skin. This seemed inappropriate for women who had vowed chastity. And he wondered what the reason for this was. Either they were all extremely well-fed. Or they were all expecting - which was utterly unthinkable!

A middle-aged nun approached them. To his relief, Eduard noticed that she was the only one with a normal figure.

“Welcome! I am Mother Dorothee, the abbess of this community. Please be guests at our modest meal. Whatever is on your mind, we can discuss it afterwards.”

Luisa was not happy about the delay. She felt uncomfortable, even though this was supposed to be a place of security and peace. But she realized that there was nothing she could do at the moment to speed up their request. So she bowed her head in surrender and went to an empty seat on the long wooden benches.