The men grouped together and headed towards the trenches, maintaining a prudent distance of at least five meters between each quartet. One of the groups took the initiative and began the task. One of them, waist-deep in the trench, removed stones and branches with his hands, passing them to the companion holding a bucket. A third, with a torch in hand, illuminated their movements, ensuring that every corner was visible.
After a sustained effort, the trench was free of obstacles and the bucket was full. The one in charge of the bucket approached other workers who, bucket in hand, were heading to the warehouse to empty them and take new ones.
"Do you mind if I combine mine with yours?" he asked with a tired but kind voice.
"Sure, no problem," one replied, and the others nodded. After repeating this process with five people, his bucket was empty and he could return to his post. The one who had been clearing the trench came out and gave his place to the companion with the shovel, who took over loosening the loose soil and any vegetation that might have sprouted.
A guard, observing the scene, approached the man with the bucket, intrigued by his quick return.
"How have you come back so soon?" he inquired with a mix of amazement and skepticism.
The man with the bucket, wiping the sweat from his forehead, explained: "I saw a few already on their way to the warehouse and their buckets weren't completely full. I suggested we combine ours to save trips. So, after emptying my bucket into theirs, here I am again."
The guard nodded, impressed by the man's cunning. "Good strategy. Keep it up."
With a nod, the man with the bucket smiled and rejoined his group, ready to continue with the work.
As the man with the shovel was removing the soil, after emptying a part into the bucket and filling it, he noticed that one of the base stones had fractured. Fortunately, it was just one stone and replacing it would solve the inconvenience. The man with the bucket, meanwhile, had gone to the warehouse to empty his load and bring back an empty bucket.
The man with the shovel, realizing the broken stone, called to the companion who was carrying nothing. "Hey, I need a hand here!" he exclaimed while trying to lever the shovel under the heavy rock. With a bit of effort, the stone gave way but crumbled into several smaller pieces.
The free companion hurried to his side and, without a word, began to pick up the pieces of stone, removing them from the trench and stacking them carefully at the edge of the path.
"Good reaction," commented the man with the shovel, as he watched the other remove the fragments. "These stones could have been a bigger problem."
"It's always better to prevent," the other replied, with a nod. "Do you think we'll need more help with this?"
The man with the shovel shook his head. "No, we can handle this. But keep your eyes open just in case."
At that very moment, the man with the bucket returned, bringing a new and clean bucket. "I'm back. What did I miss?" he asked, noticing the activity around the broken stone.
"Nothing we can't handle," assured the man with the shovel, giving a friendly pat on the shoulder to the newcomer. "But your new bucket is going to be useful right now."
As the man with the shovel continued his work, removing the soil and vegetation that had accumulated, time seemed to fly. Thirty minutes had already passed, and his stretch of the trench was completely clean. The man with the bucket, for his part, had gone back and forth more than ten times, each trip with the bucket full of debris.
However, the rain did not cease, and after an hour under the downpour, some of the men began to show signs of discomfort, sneezing and coughing. The water, relentless, had begun to accumulate in the trenches, already reaching about three centimeters in height.
As the various groups finished cleaning their respective areas, they headed towards the warehouse. There, they left their tools and prepared for the return to the cathedral. During the walk, a servant, with some concern in his voice, dared to ask the captain of the guard.
"Captain, what are we going to do with the holes left by removing the broken stones?" he inquired, looking back towards the trenches they had left behind.
The captain, walking with a firm step, was quick to respond. "For now, leave them as they are. The blacksmiths and carpenters will take care of them later. The important thing is that we all return to the cathedral and take shelter from this rain."
The men, some relieved by the response and others still worried about the possibility of getting sick, nodded and followed the captain. The soaked clothes weighed heavily on their skin, and the cold began to seep into their bones, but the promise of a warm refuge in the cathedral gave them some comfort as they faced the rest of the way under the storm.
Crossing the threshold of the cathedral, the servants were greeted by the clerics, who handed them dry blankets to wrap themselves in and warm up. The men headed to their makeshift beds, mattresses spread out on the floor, and with quick and practical movements, they shed their soaked clothes. They rubbed themselves with towels, trying to dry their numb bodies, and then tied the towels around their waists.
Shortly after, while some were still coughing and rubbing their hands to generate heat, the clerics appeared again, this time carrying trays. On each one, there was a glass of milk and a bowl of hot soup. The soup, with its aroma of chicken and herbs like parsley and thyme, promised to be a balm for their bodies battered by the cold and dampness. The clerics moved among the men efficiently, ensuring that each of the 240 servants, as well as the guards who had been with them in the rain, received their portion.
The men took the trays with trembling but grateful hands, and the first sip of hot soup seemed to bring them back to life. The murmured thanks mixed with the constant patter of rain outside. Despite the exhaustion and cold they still felt, the warmth of the food and the shared company provided much-needed comfort on that gray and rainy day.