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News » For the Sake of a Soul: XX
Presenting Gerlitt Enith
Terish flipped through the pages of the book and scanned random pages of text before saying, "It is a diary. It does not appear to be a story written in diary form, but an actual diary. There is a mention of a golden lady later in the text, so I will skip through the early sections until I feel that the events concern our present topic. I am interested in this work, so will talk to Galabur later about keeping it."
Straekin spoke before any other could mention a certain request. "As you scan the early part of the text, Terish, check for details that will confirm that this man was from your world."
The youthful appearing hero nodded and began pausing on each page. The others stayed close, although did move to perform what tasks they felt was necessary. Seeing that Ferrigote had started a fire, Tujorn moved about collecting the detritus from the trees to sustain the flames. Thaunya had Medalpha help her prepare a meal. Ferrigote moved to do his own appraisal of the condition of their horses. Dathol helped the fighter and aided in mending what wounds were found on the animals. Straekin helped where there was a need, but she was more interested in listening to Terish. Celatia took advantage of her special status to simply stay near her burden and listen to what he felt was worth saying.
"The writer was a Gerlitt Enith. He was the second son of a wealthy transporter. I cannot add comment about the job, or the ability to handle long range transportation, because economics was never my strong subject. I have spoken with a number who were amazed to hear of my family’s business. To make bread one must have a supply of grain and other ingredients. If my job to deliver it was so perilous, just think about those that had to protect fields and such. I know my adopted family, the Dozzrines, were stone masons, although those that proved themselves in their employ were often put to work as guards. There is a lot about my home world that I do not know."
Dathol softly commented, "That is part of what makes your world so scary, Terish. Your people managed order in the midst of chaos, and yet gained no divine recognition. Most of us struggle under the hope that everything will work out in the end."
The lean silk and leather attired man was thankful that no more comments came, because it allowed his thoughts to stay on the topic. "Gerlitt was on a mission to find diamonds. Such were not to be used for jewelry, but for weapons. It seems that my people appreciated the hardness of the crystal. Gerlitt made comments about the quality of a short sword that he owned."
Thaunya commented before Ferrigote could, "That had to have been a huge diamond, Terish."
"I would think so as well, but Gerlitt mentions his father and older brother as having larger swords." The youthful appearing hero rushed on before others could comment, "The early text is mostly on the journey. The crew raids islands to steal food and women. Considering the number of women in my early history, I would think females to be a more commanding presence. Again I cannot give a more complete picture, but the ladies mentioned here are simply raped and not treated very well. Those that survive are brought to shore on the next raid, then left to survive and I assume prepare for any children."
Terish is forced to flip pages to answer a few questions. He is honestly interested in gaining the answers to most queries, just does not think that the present to be a good time for considering trivial details. The face of the youthful appearing man does not show impatience as another question comes, but holds a stoic expression as he flips pages and mentally tells himself that answers can come from a number of sources. The page flipping also enables him to gain a better familiarity with the text, making him more confident in where and how to start the reading.
"The crew is in need of fresh water. This seems to be a regular problem in that members of the crew will use the water barrels for relieving themselves, not turn a spigot off having water simply drain away, or use a barrel as target practice and put a hole in it. Anyway, the last group to go on a water expedition did a horrible job, so Gerlitt makes it a point to lead the next raid.
'The island was a poor subject for our consideration. Plant life abounded, but only in sections between the rough rippled surface of long dried lava. The men complained about the lack of natives and being forced to approach an island that probably would not have water as well. There were shouts of jubilation when a native was noticed signaling to others about our approach. A number of men dove into the water to initiate an attack upon the natives.'
Ferrigote mumbled loud enough for all to hear, "Not much control over his men."
Terish slightly smiled as he answered, "Truthfully, he seems to be managing quite well. The fact that this expedition is holding together is a compliment to the man. His daily entries mention problems that most of us here would not consider normal for any group of civilized men. I mentioned the problems with the water, but there are similar disgusting and neglectful situations with most other facets of their life.
"Think about this guy. He has dark brown hair, I assume this because he mentions his hair being the same color as the ship’s deck. Gerlitt is rather strong, because he slams his fist into the jaw of one crewman and mentions his pride in seeing the blood on the boards of the ship and knowing his head looks the same because blood spattered towards him as well."
Ferrigote interjected with the question, "What did he bust the crewman’s jaw for?"
The youthful appearing man twisted the lips of his mouth before answering, "Pulling a lady from him too soon. Gerlitt had the authority, if not just the brute strength, to claim anything brought aboard the vessel. He took a lady that was brought aboard just to soothe a certain desire. Gerlitt must have been slightly tall, because he had to place the lady on a board to get her where she was easily accessible. It seems that the crewman that had claimed the woman was rather anxious for such an activity himself, and pulled the lady to him as soon as Gerlitt sighed with pleasure. His notes from that day say that the sigh was indeed due to having gained some release, but that the sensations had not died down yet."
Straekin felt a need to state, "That is sick, Terish."
Ferrigote quickly responded, "Yeah, the lady was probably wishing that it would have lasted longer too."
Terish rushed to stop more comments. "Gerlitt was dressed in a combination of skins from various animals. He took pride in the fact that the hides were not all shaven, but had hair on certain sections. He does not mention metal armor, but does state that certain medals and buckles were ornate and large. What protection they might have given him in battle we can only conjecture.
"He himself is really not shaven. His hair is short, but uneven. He cuts a lock of hair each day with his sword to test its sharpness. If he is in a situation where he needs to look tough, then he cuts hair from his face. On a normal day, he will cut a lock from his head."
Thaunya felt a need to ask, "Is that how you remember your father, Terish?"
"No, he took pride in that he could work with the ovens. If he got singed, then he shaved claiming that he liked himself better that way although really to simply hide the fact that he came so close to being burnt. If things were going well then he let his beard and mustache grow. Of course, they would grow long enough that sooner or later he would get himself singed." Terish chuckled before adding, "I remember him being angry once and having a clean shaven face. When I went to Endullae to sleep, she was commenting with the other ladies about my father and what happened."
Dathol was glad for the details concerning Terish’s original home life, but did not want the topic to stray too far. "I believe that Gerlitt was coming to shore with some men."
Terish was thankful to be put back on track. "Yes, and about two-thirds of his crew have rushed to shore to battle natives. The remaining third are mentioned as being very thirsty and wanting to make points with their leader. Gerlitt mentions both points to stress the reason that he decided to go where he went. One, he was as thirsty as his crew and saw the mist as evidence of a large body of water, and two, he was overcome with a number of arms wanting to be the one who pointed out that mist and gaining the credit for discovering the water."
Tujorn blurted, "It wasn’t water?"
"You are jumping ahead of the story. This is a diary though, so he is writing after the daily events. The tone of his words is such that I am quite certain that it was not water. The man has a clear manner of writing, and has an odd style of avoiding vulgar language. I do not know why he does not color his phrasing, but in working to stress certain opinions he will start to write a certain word, then scratch it out to write a few more details. Anyway," Terish flipped a page, "he mentions a fight with some native monkey-like animals and claims them responsible for killing a couple of his men in case someone wonders why their bones are not present." The youthful appearing man waited for another to interrupt him, but the aroma of the cooking food caused the group to relax and allow Terish to talk.
'We came across a path through the lava. Any thought of this island still having volcanic activity was at that time pushed from our mind. If people traveled through this territory enough to have formed a walkway through the rock, then the land should be safe enough. The speed of the men thus increased up the mound of igneous stone towards the mist that could still be discerned.
'Why we never smelled the sulphur, I cannot say. Aromas normally have a way of traveling beyond the sight of its source. The fact is that we did not suspect the deception of the source of that mist. The men in front stepped over a rise, surely focused their eyes on the large pond ahead of them, and rushed to their deaths. The sulphuric air seared their lungs and barely allowed them the ability to gurgle a warning before they collapsed to the ground with their hands clutched at their throats.
'The pond was barely large enough for my ship to have fit in. The water therein had a lovely blue tint that made me also consider rushing ahead to quench my thirst. A couple of men loudly planned a method of rushing up to the lake’s shore and scooping up a mug of the liquid. I called them fools. One returned my statements, and I grabbed him and threw him over the rise. Watching him die gave me control over the four who remained.
'It was as we chanced raising our head to watch that last man die that we saw the house. It had a beauty from a distance that was most elegant. The frame of the structure was of a white that was luxurious but did not blind one from reflecting the sun. What really gained our interest was the gold. The roof was covered with the substance, and the precious metal gleamed from frames around the windows and doors. Our throats became moist as our thirst for water was replaced with a different lust.'
As a plate of food was given to Terish, Ferrigote said, "Skip ahead to him reaching the house."
"It’s a diary, Gote, not a novel. He is not attempting to entertain with his wording. He basically only mentions the trip around the rim of the depression to give reasons why the other four men died. You can accept his words, or believe that he was just being selfish and wanting all that gold for himself. The point is that he does reach the house alone."
Again chapter length has been met. The next chapter is titled, "The Lady of Gold."
Posted by TerishD on Friday, May 09, 2003 (06:03:13) (1742 reads)
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Re: For the Sake of a Soul: XX
(Score: 1 )
by Meg on Friday, May 09, 2003 (20:45:43)
Very good! How do you put a story up in the Archives? I'm just a simple bard trying to find her way in this city.
I live to perform. Snickers (my familiar), though, thinks differently.
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