Part 5
All the gang bar Robin and Much were relaxing at the camp on the latter's return. Much sank to the ground near Will and Alan and sighed heavily, wiping his brow and taking a swig of drink.
"Well anything?" Robin asked the gang in general.
Will looked to Marian who said. "You tell Robin, Thornton spoke directly to you, not me,"
Robin shook his head asking what was going on and Will begun by explaining about Gisborne's wrath then continued with, "Gisborne is taxing the villagers himself in addition to taxes paid to the shire."
"That sounds a bit far fetched," commented Much.
"But not unexpected of Gisborne," uttered Robin. "What kind of taxes?"
"A tax to trade in Nottingham."
"Not many of them can afford to do that."
"A tax for every child in each household and for how much livestock," put in John.
"May I say that is ridiculous," Much exclaimed.
"It is supposed to be," Marian replied quietly. "That is the whole point of his taxes."
Robin shook his head "A trap."
"It is bait hanging from a hook." she told him.
"You should not give in to it," Much said.
"But if Robin does not give into it, Gisborne will think or more ways to torture the people of Locksley until Robin does come to their aid," Alan commented.
"Has he begun to enforce these taxes already?" Robin asked after pondering the matter.
"Yes, Thornton says he wants a confrontation, he is not happy that he learnt of your marriage to Marian."
"So he is pushing me for one."
"You're not going to go are you? You are going to let the villagers of Locksley suffer?" Much asked him.
"No, I am not going to let them suffer, but I am not about you play into Gisborne's hands either."
"What happened at Knighton?" asked Marian sensing a change of subject was in order; Robin needed time to think about the situation with Guy.
"The flux," said Much, bluntly.
"The flux?" she repeated.
"That is contagious," said Djaq.
"What?" Alan replied.
"It passes from person to person," Djaq added.
"Nice," Alan added.
"Who is sick?" Marian asked Robin and Much.
"A visitor, Eli's brother. Tuck said he thought it was the flux. He did not say it was confirmed," Robin explained.
"Still it is a horrible illness," Djaq added.
"Yes," said Marian wistfully.
"I do not want it," repeated Much and Robin shot a withering look skywards.
"We have to take precautions."
"What?" asked Much.
"When I tended the sick with my father, less contact was better with patients with the flux. Necessary contact, but limited. Also do not eat what they eat or drink from where they drank. Keep ourselves clean."
"If we are ill it is our crimes catching up with us," John said shaking his head of the flux killing them all off.
"God does not punish us like that," Robin said trying to get him to see sense but knowing that it was probably a pointless exercise.
"I am not sure," he replied.
"We went to Nottingham too," Much said lifting the heavy tension of the group.
"Why did you go there?" asked Will.
"Two reasons," said Robin. "One to see if anyone in the Trip to Jerusalem was talking about illness anywhere hereabouts and two to see if we could find any leads on Eve."
"Eve?" asked Marian.
"You remember she was at Bonchurch," Robin elaborated.
"Oh that Eve," said Marian. "Why did you not say?"
"You know where she is?" Much asked.
"I know where she was, that was some months past."
"Where tell me?" he pleaded.
"She was at the castle the Sheriff was not sure he could trust her, she worked at the castle, a virtual prisoner, not permitted to leave the castle."
"Well I will find her…thank you," he added.
"We will help you find her my friend," Robin added patting Much on the shoulder comfortingly.
Marian looked round, the group all seemed caught up in their own thoughts, probably the likelihood of getting the flux, which although nasty and in some cases fatal was not as bad as the pestilence, leprosy or smallpox. Robin was lost in his thoughts she reached across and placed her hand on his arm, he did not acknowledge her and she hoped that he would not do anything foolish or rash to resolve the matter of Guy of Gisborne, the flux would just have to run its course and they would have to pray that they would be spared.