master mentioning Krakow—in Knittlingen he had introduced himself with those words.
Tonio del Moravia. Krakow magister of the seven arts and keeper of the seven times seven seals.
“Once upon a time there were other universities that taught the arcane arts,” Tonio continued while the old horse pulled them along the bumpy road. “But the accursed church banned them, even though those arts are much older than the church. Now there’s only Krakow left. There’s no other place if you want to learn about the seven times seven seals!”
“What are the seven times seven seals?” asked Johann.
“Be patient, young Faustus.” The master grinned. “You’ll learn about them soon enough. I’ve sent out a messenger to announce your arrival at Krakow.”
“My arrival?” Johann stared at his teacher with disbelief. “But why—”
“Did you never wonder what I was doing when I stayed out all night?” asked Tonio, cutting him off. “I was waiting for news, week after week! When none arrived, I went out myself this morning and gave a letter to a merchant. Our friends need to know that you’re coming. The stars are extremely favorable.”
“That I’m coming?” Johann’s astonishment grew. “But . . . but why should they know about me?”
The master opened his mouth to reply, but then shook his head. “It’s too soon. We’ve been disappointed many times, even though I’m quite certain this time.” He smiled. “Wait a little longer, young Faustus. I’m sure we’ll run into some friends on the way to Krakow. There are many of us, and our numbers are growing. It can’t be long now. Giddyup, you lazy old nag, pull!”
He cracked the whip, and the old horse lifted its head and whinnied, almost as if it were laughing. Then it pulled them steadily eastward toward this legendary Krakow. Johann sat on the box seat, brooding. Now he had some sort of explanation for why the master had been out so many nights, but one mystery had been replaced with another, much bigger one. Johann had thought he was nothing but an apprentice, a plain assistant who helped Tonio del Moravia, the great magician, during his performances in the German empire.
But it seemed the master had bigger plans for him.
The following morning, they reached a larger road busy with merchants and pilgrims. It led south toward the mountains, but Tonio turned the wagon north.
“The old Roman road,” he explained. “Once upon a time these roads covered the empire like a finely woven net spanning many hundreds of miles. They were paved so the Roman soldiers could travel fast. Each road was wide enough for two carts to pass each other. Watchtowers and forts guaranteed safety for travelers.” He pointed out some overgrown cobblestones, remains of a footpath on the side of the road, and a crooked milestone with withered Roman numerals that stuck out of the mud. “Hundreds of years have gone by since, and not much is left. But the little that remains is still better than anything the German kings and emperors have managed since.”
“And this road leads to Krakow?” asked Johann.
Tonio laughed. “Not quite. But it’ll get us close. It’s a long way to Krakow. We’ll be traveling for many weeks—weeks I can use to teach you many things.” He looked up at the sky and squinted. “I only hope we’ll make it in time.”
Indeed, the master used their time on the road and the evenings to teach Johann more about astrology and the basics of alchemy.
“Many believe alchemy is just about finding a way to make gold,” he explained. “I, too, was once obsessed by this desire. But alchemy is much more than that. Alchemy, as it was taught by the great Hermes Trismegistus in Egypt and later by the Greeks and Arabs, grants us an insight into that which the world contains in its innermost heart and finer veins. Do you understand what I mean?”
Johann nodded, though he felt like he’d only tasted the tiniest drop of a vast ocean of knowledge.
The master was much nicer to him now than before their time at the tower. They had all but stopped practicing their juggling tricks, and Tonio rarely read palms and no longer compiled horoscopes at taverns. He seemed in a hurry to reach Krakow. On clear nights, the master spent a lot of time gazing at the stars. Something seemed to excite him very much.
“It’s happening much faster than I thought,” he’d say again and again, almost to himself. “Much faster. Who would have thought, this early in the