Aita Josean led Maite and Kepa back to the sacristy, to some trunks in one of the corners. 

He opened the first one. “You never know who is going to come needing what,” he said almost absentmindedly as he rummaged through stacks of clothes. “The people – many of us – are in desparate need of even the most basic things. I try to keep some things on hand.”

He pulled out a long skirt and a blouse, passing them to Maite. They were plain in style, but clean. He then handed Kepa a pair of pants and a shirt.

“Not the fanciest clothes in the world, but they should do,” nodded Josean with a hint of a smile. 

“Eskerrik asko,” replied Maite. “We really appreciate these.”

Josean pointed to a side door. “You can change in there, my dear,” he said to Maite. “And you,” he continued, turning to Kepa, “can change behind that screen.”

The two nodded before they disappeared. Moments later, Kepa reemerged from behind the screen. 

“They fit perfectly,” remarked Kepa. 

“My mother was a seamstress,” replied Josean. “I have an eye for clothes.”

The door to the side room opened and Maite stepped through. Though her outfit was plain, and her hair disheveled, Kepa was struck by her beauty.

She gave a small twirl, the long skirt flaring out a bit at her ankles. “What do you think?”

“You look stunning,” babbled Kepa.

Maite blushed as Josean pretended not to notice the flirting going on between the two of them. He started toward his living quarters when a sudden pounding at the outside door of the sacristy startled them all.

“S’ouvrir!” a gruff voice bellowed from outside. “Open the door old man!”

“Azkar!” hissed Josean as he rushed to the other trunk. “Quick! Inside!”

Kepa looked inside the trunk as Josean opened it. A rickety ladder led into the darkness. He looked back up at Josean who nodded urgently. Kepa scampered down as quickly as he could. Maite followed him. As soon as her head cleared the trunk, the already dim light from outside vanished as Josean closed the lid.

Kepa held his palm down toward the ground as it began to glow. He could see a small passageway leading into the darkness. As his feet touched the ground, he helped Maite with the last few steps.

Sounds from above were muffled by the stone around them, but a few escaped through the trunk. They heard heavy boots stomping around. There were sounds of things either breaking or being thrown around. They heard shouting and what Maite thought might be a cry of pain, but she wasn’t sure. The boots seemed to get closer and Maite was sure they would open the trunk and see the two of them huddled in the dark. She nudged Kepa to snuff his light. They both held their breath as they heard the lid of the trunk creak open, but no light shown down on them. The lid slammed shut and only then did they release the air trapped in their lungs. 

The sounds from above eventually vanished. After a few more tense moments, Maite heard the trunk open again. This time, shards of light fell from above, piercing the darkness around them. 

“It’s safe,” she heard Josean’s voice come from a silhouetted figure. “You can come out.”

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