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This thread is for participants in the Mead Hall Writers' Society writing group to post exercises from Lesson 12: Point of View II.
After you've posted, you're encouraged to review other entries, and discuss the assignment over in the general discussion thread.
The sea stretched out blending into the horizon and Custer let the waves lap up to his feet. There were some yachts bobbing on the calm waters and their owners relaxed in the sun.
The letter fell from his hands and he watched it flutter gently in the sand. The waves slid closer and closer to the note, before taking it in their foamy grasp and drawing it out to sea. As it was washed further away he could see the ink starting to run and before long the paper was nothing more than blue pulp in a blue sea.
A couple walked past, their arms linked and eyes locked on one another. He could hear their exited chatter; they were caught up in the moment that the sun and the beach had created. His eyes ran over them with contempt. He couldn’t avoid it; couples were strewn all over the place. Some were on loungers, rubbing each other with sun screen like they were basting a chicken. Others strutted and pranced in ridiculous beachwear, jutting out their breasts or groins like it was the last days of Sodom and Gomorrah. He shook his head at it all as he got up and walked to the promenade in search of a drink.
The Pacific Bar and grill was nothing more than a shack, loosely furnished with bamboo and cushions. It had a kind of Hawaiian look to it, but was more like a planked 'roach hole. He drew up a stool and waited for the swarthy looking bartender to fix him a drink. He drummed his fingers impatiently and cast his gaze about the place. There was a towel filled hammock fixed to the wall and next to it a glass lamp provided a muted yellow glow. A faint ‘ting’ sounded every time a trapped insect tried to get out of the sphere, too late realising its mistake. He could see the fly’s shadow dancing inside, caught between the light bulb and glass.
Suddenly the hammock swayed slightly and a girl sat up, steadying herself against the wall. She rubbed her eyes slowly and yawned, before ploughing her hand through her dyed blonde hair. She had a deep complexion and a natural beauty that sat well on her small frame.
The barman returned with the drink and placed it on a little napkin. Custer knocked it back in one, still looking at the woman as she straightened out her T-shirt. Another small ‘ting’ signalled the insect had failed in its escape attempt again. As the girl looked at him, he threw his eyes to the floor, unable to meet her gaze. His face was a picture of horrible realisation.
The sea stretched out blending into the horizon and Custer savoured the view. Perhaps he should have felt something; he knew she would have. Maybe she’d cried herself to sleep after writing it; he liked the thought of that. For him it was the perfect end to a bad chapter. He let the letter slip to the sand, knowing that he was deliciously free again. The tides took the note out to sea and he watched it for a moment, waiting for it to sink. It turned to a blue pulp and disintegrated under the waves.
A couple walked past arm in arm. He glanced at them, thinking how smug the guy looked. Hah, boyfriends, husbands; they were everywhere. Behind him, he could see them massaging sun cream into their partners backs. One guy was so red that he actually looked like he’d been put in a trouser press. Good luck with the hot shower tonight, he thought to himself. Everywhere else they paraded like cocks in a chicken coop. A bronzed chump swaggered about with the smallest pair of trunks Custer had ever seen. He imagined him waiting for a Monday bus in the New York rain with nothing more than that jockstrap on. It lifted his mood a little, but he didn’t want to be here amidst these couples. There was nothing for it but to get a drink.
As he walked to the Pacific bar and grill he could already taste the Gin and lemonade and a smile played across his lips. Despite its Spartan finish he liked the place. Sure there were more roaches than bottles of liquor, but hey, insects are just trying to get by too.
He ordered a drink from the suspicious looking waiter and sat drumming his fingers on the bar. He had a nervous energy after the relief from the letter and his eyes shifted quickly across the place.
There was a globe lamp in the corner near a hammock and a least one dozy fly was caught inside. He heard it bump into the glass and each time it did a faint ‘ting’ filtered across the room.
Suddenly the hammock stirred and a woman sat up. Well, well, well, he thought to himself; she’s hot, blonde and wearing an ill fitting T-shirt. He immediately resolved to go and talk to her and drained his drink.
Another small ‘ting’ reached his ears and despite himself he thought of the last words in the letter.
“You’re like a moth in a lamp, Custer. Entranced by girls’ lights and then trapped in a cage you don’t understand, forever trying to escape. You’ll never find what you’re looking for that way.” With a rising feeling of unease his eyes shot to the base of the lamp and the large pile of insect husks that were gathered there.
Constantinople, 1295
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“ Kir Doukas, what are you doing here, “ the fat nobleman stared at his unexpected guest.
“ I must speak with you about your business in Thessalonica. The issue cannot be delayed anymore, “ the guest answered.
“ Good. I suggest we enter in my house. There we can speak freely. “
The guest nodded and turned his horse towards the house. The fat nobleman and his guards followed him. Until they went in the stables nobody had spoken a single word. Finally, as they got off their horses, the host gave short orders to his men and invited Kir Doukas in his home. The host wanted to send men in order to warn his wife to prepare for the guest.
“ No, Kir Tarchaniottes, “ the guest said silently. “ I do not doubt your wife but I prefer to speak in private with you. Our conversation is not for the inquisitive ears of the women “
The host thought for a while and then nodded. He gave sign to his men and they followed him and his guest through the ill lit corridors of his house. Finally, Kir Tarchaniottes and Kir Doukas entered in a small room. The guards were no more with them. They were either dismissed or guarding in front of the thick wooden door. The two men sat on the two large and comfortable chairs situated near low table. They did not say a single word, though. They waited until the only servant in the room finished with the lighting of the candles. As he also went out of the room, they both scrutinized each other preparing the ground for the conversation that would follow. They were very different. The face of the host was darker, brown-reddish, and chubby. It had brown beard but no moustaches. It was all in sweat that the man often mopped with small handkerchief during the conversation. On the contrary the face of his interlocutor was not affected by the hot weather and was almost as white as the snow. He had delicate features of the face but also had shadows under his eyes. His black hair and very short beard and moustaches combined with his black tunics made him look even paler. It seemed slightly unlikely for such a man to be fond of fighting but there seemed to be no other explanation for his thin lips to have become swollen.
“ Kir Doukas, “ the host started, “ I truly did not expect such a visit. For your father seemed to be unwilling to meet me. “
The face of the guest showed no expression but stayed as stiff as a mask. It seemed slightly surprising this mask spoke
“ Kir Tarchaniottes, my father did not organised this meeting, if you mean this. Unlike my father I think you are not useless. “ He made a deliberate pause. Meanwhile shadow appeared on the face of Kir Tarchaniottes but it disappeared soon after. The eyes of Kir Tarchaniottes focused on his interlocutor and Kir Doukas calmly continued, “ I am ready to help you to help you develop your business in Thessalonica. “
“ What business? “ Tarchaniottes looked amused, “ I am simply a landowner and I possess a few estates in the city. “
Then Kir Doukas spoke in a foreign language that seemed to be the one used by the Venetian and the Genoese traders. Kir Tarchaniottes obviously understood any single word and whispered something in the same language. He also mopped the sweat from his forehead with his handkerchief. At the end of their conversation, one of the guards entered in the room and informed them a man called Dyogenes Branas is waiting for Nicephorus.
“ I will come, “ Nicephorus said and the guard left the room. “ What is your answer, Kir Tarchaniottes? “
Kir Tarchaniottes stared him and after a short pause he nodded and said something in Italian.
“ Kir Doukas, what are you doing here, “ Kir Tarchaniottes asked him. Kir Tarchaniottes was surprised by his appearance. Nicephorus was determined not to miss the opportunity to impress his interlocutor.
“ I must speak with you about your business in Thessalonica,” Nicephorus lied to him. “The issue can not be delayed anymore, “ he added with determined voice.
It was dark and he could not see his face very well. However, he could catch his interest that his voice hinted. “ Good. I suggest we enter in my house. There we can speak freely. “
His plan worked. The attention of Kir Tarchaniottes was entirely focused on him. Nicephorus decided not to answer anything. Words would not add anything to his message to him and would only harm his image of young but determined man who knew his price. The silence continued until they entered in the stables. It seemed Kir Tarchaniottes was impressed by his guest and was carefully planning his next moves. As they got off their horses and Kir Tarchaniottes gave short orders to his men. He also sent men to call his wife. The blood of Nicephorus turned into ice and it was only his training that helped him keep his temper under control and to act fast in order to prevent the tragedy.
“ No, Kir Tarchaniottes, “ Nicephorus said to his host silently. “ I do not doubt your wife but I prefer to speak in private with you. Our conversation is not for the inquisitive ears of the women “ He mixed the truth with the lies as he had learned to do. Most of the women were really inquisitive and after all, they were simply subjects in the world of men. Consequently, they were out of consideration. At least most of them. His future wife was a good exception: she had already ruined his personal life with her mere presence. He hated women. He could not love them. His only love was his male friend Dyogenes Branas.
Here the wife of Kir Tarchaniottes also made the things more complicated than they had been. His trusted friend Constantine Matsakes had decided to sleep with her only because he wanted to prove his skills with the women. The whole story was stupid and childish. Nicephorus had agreed to participate because his father angered him. The second reason for his own foolish decision was that he feared Constantine could have bad luck. He did not want his friend to die from the hand of a cuckold. His fears were justified and now he was forced to distract the husband buying time for his friend. Probably Constantine was still in the bedroom with the wife of Kir Tarchaniottes.
Kir Tarchaniottes gave up his dangerous intention and they headed to unknown direction. They entered in a dark room and a servant started lighting the candles. Kir Tarchaniottes invited Nicephorus to choose one of the two large chairs situated near a low table. As they both sat, they started scrutinising each other. Nobody of them wanted to speak in the presence of the servant.
Kir Tarchaniottes was fat and short man with very unattractive appearance. His face was chubby and dark and had beard without moustaches that did not suit him very well. In addition he was sweating during their conversation that did not improved his image. His origin was more appealing. He came from the family of the Tarchaniottes and he owned significant lands in the Empire. Like many Roman noblemen of the period, he had his place in the economy of the cities. However, he was not very skilful in the intrigues of the high nobility and it was not surprising that Alexius Doukas, the Nicephorus father had chosen other people who are skilful in the both crafts.
Once the servant was gone, the host suggested they drink some wine and Nicephorus agreed. The host poured Nicephorus’ cup with wine and then his own.
“ Kir Doukas, “ the host started, “ I truly did not expect such a visit. For your father seemed to be unwilling to meet me. “
The name of his parent provoked hatred in the heart of Nicephorus and made him put more efforts to stay calm. Showing your true feelings during negotiation was weakness.
“ Kir Tarchaniottes, my father did not organised this meeting, if you mean this. Unlike my father I think you are not useless. “ He made a deliberate pause. Meanwhile shadow appeared on the face of Kir Tarchaniottes but it disappeared soon after. The eyes of Kir Tarchaniottes focused on his interlocutor and Kir Doukas calmly continued, “ I am ready to help you to help you develop your business in Thessalonica. “
“ What business? “ Tarchaniottes looked amused, “ I am simply a landowner and I possess a few estates in the city. “
Nicephorus could not be mislead so easily. He had heard everything his father said to one of his loyal retainers. He knew Kir Tarchaniottes traded illegally with goods like silk, grain and iron and he owned his riches to this activity of him. Nicephorus knew the man knew perfect Italian because of his good relations with the Italian traders, the main players in
this unfair game. Nicephorus did not want to take more risks than he needed to and decided to switch into Italian as few people knew this language well.
“ Kir Tarchaniottes, I know more things that it seems. I know about your affair with the traders of Genoa and Venice. I also know why exactly you came to my father. You should not underestimate the intelligence of a useful ally of yours like me. “
Nicephorus looked at his bewildered host and sensed Kir Tarchaniottes was not ready to give any answer. “ Kir Tarchaniottes, I know you need ally because of the stricter measures taken by the government. My father is not to help you. He thinks you are useless for him. Of course, he made a critical error “
Kir Tarchaniottes mopped the sweat from his forehead and made effort to overcome his confusion. Nicephorus was sure he never expected young man like Nicephorus to reveal his secrets. Probably, he did not expect the conflict between father and son to be so deep. “ Go on, Kir Doukas, “ he whispered.
“ I am different than my father. I think we have common interests. Smuggling can be also a good source of money. Your relations with the Italians can also be helpful for my ambitions. You have interest to support me because I have relations with a few influential families and can often access the secrets of my father. “
“ Kir Doukas, “ the man met the eyes of his guest slowly overcoming the shock. Nicephorus knew what this sight meant and was prepared for the next words “I think you miss something. Your father, may he live long, is still alive. From what I hear I realise you are not in good terms with him. I did not want to have enemies like him… “
“ Kir Tarchaniottes, it is true my father is unscrupulous man and a dangerous enemy. However, it is also true that he already supports somebody else like the Radul family. You also should not underestimate my own skills, Kir Tarchaniottes. You are right I am not the head of the Doukas family, too. This will happen in the future. My advice is not to burn the bridges behind you. I never forget those who help me, Kir Tarchaniottes “
Kir Tarchaniottes bent on the chair and drank from the cup. Nicephorus also tasted the wine. The guard who appeared from the door suddenly interrupted the reflections of Kir Tarchaniottes.
“ Kir Tarchaniottes, a man called Dyogenes Branas wants to speak with Kir Doukas. He told us this is urgent “
Nicephorus met the eyes of Kir Tarchaniottes. He knew Constantine was now safe. He had changed his attitude towards this man, though. His original aim was to distract him and thought he was useless. Now he had decided to use him in the future. He needed his answer.
“ I will come, “ Nicephorus said and the guard left the room. “ What is your answer, Kir Tarchaniottes? “
Kir Tarchaniottes stared him and after a short pause he nodded, “ I accept, Kir Doukas. “
Leaving open for a possible late submission...