Chapter 11 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
“Gabriel?” James whispers to the vague shadowed outline he can see moving around the room. “Are you okay?” He’s met by a soft squeak and the dull sound of what he assumes are Gabriel’s toes hitting the hardwood frame of the bed.
The groan that follows soon after confirms the suspicion.
“James? What are you doing up?” Gabriel asks, stepping into the light of the lamp. He sits down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to rub his toes.
James sits up a little, leaning back on his elbows. “The stopping of the train woke me. Are you okay? What time is it?”
“Just a little after three. And I’m fine, just had to use the bathroom.” Both men fall silent as the vehicle around them settles in its unmoving state. “We should probably get some more sleep, busy days ahead.” He flicks the light off when he turns on his side.
“Yeah,” James mumbles distractedly, “you’re right.” He can’t help but feel like there’s something off with his friend.
*
The second time he wakes up the light is coming from outside.
Where the light gray of the December morning sky brings in shadows of its own creation and promise of a new day.
It’s, however, not the light that woke him, but the echo of retching sounds and, once again, a flushing toilet.
The rest feels like a repetition of earlier in the night.
He waits on the opening of the door, for Gabriel to appear in the doorway and sleepily make his way to bed. It doesn’t happen like that.
For a second time there’s the sound of someone being sick, accompanied by groans of discomfort and a toilet flushing. Moments later the sounds cease and the sink turns on.
This time, the door does open and Gabriel does appear in the doorway.
James sits up fully, wide awake now, when he spots the slight sheen of sweat on Gabriel’s forehead and the glazed look to his eyes.
He swings his legs over the edge of the bed, intent on offering Gabriel a helping hand.
He doesn’t get the chance as Gabriel shuffles over and lets himself fall back on it gently. “Gabriel?”
“I’m fine, James,” the sick man says from where he’s curled back up underneath his blanket now. “Just need to let my stomach settle. We’ll go for breakfast in a bit.”
“What? No! You’re sick. I’ll get some tea and you can rest.”
Gabriel groans. This time it doesn’t sound pained, but frustrated.
“I’m fine. Just go take your shower, yeah?
Breakfast after.” The conviction in Gabriel’s eyes is the thing that convinces James to do as he’s told.
Before he goes, he does grab a glass of water and the – hurriedly emptied – bathroom bin.
After his reluctant, and speedy, shower he finds Gabriel sitting upright in his chair by the window. The shades are rolled up just slightly, giving them a little glimpse onto the platform of the station. At nine in the morning there are already plenty of people mingling around.
James’ mind flashes to the plans he made to see the Rathausturm in the town center and the Christmas museum he’s heard everyone talking about. They all fade away when he looks at Gabriel’s slow movements and the way he groans as he bends down to tie his shoes.
“Why don’t you stay in bed? Rest up a bit?”
“I want to see this Christmassy town you’ve told me about. Need to know if it lives up to its name, you know,” he says, swaying a little. “Now come on, I know for a fact that you’re already behind schedule.”
*
The town does feel like something straight out of a period piece, plucked from a cartoon and built right here in Germany.
The photos don’t do it justice and even the crowds can’t stop James from admiring the beautiful authenticity of it all.
The air is fragrant with the cold of winter, the aroma of baked goods and a mix of wet stone and something earthy.
Once again he can’t get himself to go up into the tower of the town hall, enviously looking around at the people walking high up on the platform.
From his place beside him Gabriel’s taking pictures with his old-fashioned polaroid camera.
No doubt trying to capture everything so he can sketch it later.
James is relieved to see that the hazy look has vanished from his friend’s eyes. The flush to his face is still a little concerning, but as long as Gabriel says he can handle it, they’ll stay out here.
James ticks off one of his boxes when they walk away from the town hall.
Somewhere in town a clock strikes noon, and his stomach rumbles.
His watch beeps soon after. Breakfast earlier that day consisted of just a coffee and a small bread roll they found at a tucked away bakery.
He figures they can call themselves lucky that Gabriel managed to even keep that down.
“How about some lunch?” the man walking alongside him suggests, tucking away the camera into his satchel.
“I could do with a cup of tea.” They find a small café, tucked away from all the hecticness of the main street, and take a minute to breathe it all in.
The town does feel like Christmas, the lights impressive even in the daylight and from what he’s seen from the markets until now, he can tell it’s adorable in the way that it wraps around the entire town.
Alleyways and hidden away corners participating in creating that unique holiday spirit.
After lunch they find time to visit the Christmas store and its accompanying museum.
“Now this is Christmas,” Gabriel remarks when they step foot inside the little shop.
The walls are lined with ornaments of every variety, the tree spinning in the center of it all decorated with tinsel and lights.
It’s everything the Christmases of his childhood weren’t.
Bright. Happy. Over the top. But most importantly, joyful and full of laughter.
All around there are people mingling, oohing and awing over the displays and decorations.
“You could say that again.” James is transfixed by it all. Even if most of the things he sees are gaudy and not his taste, it’s exactly like the celebrations he’s seen in the movies. “It’s joyful alright.”
Gabriel’s answering laugh is weak, the exhaustion lining his face more prominently now. If the way he’s fidgeting is any indication, the pain is starting to worsen again. James hoped that the herbal tea would have helped to soothe it for a bit.
Just this once, he deliberately uses the line he knows will make sure they’ll return to The Adventurer. “How about we go back? I think I’m done for the day.” He knows he should feel guilty for essentially lying to Gabriel, but for the sake of his friend’s comfort he doesn’t.
The twenty-minute walk is slower than it was this morning, erring on closer to forty minutes.
But it does give James the opportunity to duck into a local supermarket to stock up on some bottles of water and stomach ache safe snacks.
Gabriel will still need to eat something for however long he feels like this.
When they do eventually get back to The Evergreen, it’s easy to change into their pajamas and settle into their beds.
Gabriel’s tablet is perched on the pillow barrier between them.
Not even fifteen minutes into A Miracle On 34th Street Gabriel’s soft snoring reaches James’ ears.
With a smile he too lays down further, his focus split between the glowing screen and the resting man on his right.