Chapter 2

"Well just go on inside there. That lady is the wash maid, and her job will be to make sure that you are cleaned to the house specifications. Go on inside and take off your cloths there. Stand in the water that is flowing across the floor on the other side of the house. You see, there is a spout hanging on the wall, this is what she will hose you down with. The other lady there will soap you down. So go ahead there, just step up and get on with it, now. The both of them will take care of all other concerns. Such is their employment to do so."

I eased on up toward the hook there on the wall. I slowly removed my range cloths, then moving on upward toward the flowing water. From the wall one smiling lady seized the shower spout and commenced spraying me all up and down with freezing cold water that felt as though it cut with a razors edge of sheer ice, right down to the very bone. I glanced down, taking full notice of my best part, gradually drawing back upward into my body like a turtlehead taking cover into its shell. The sight astounded me for an instant... Like a flash I glanced back up into the faces of the two women standing, who then abruptly exploded with bubbly laughter.

When the shower paused, the other who always stood nearby, began to soap me down with a heavy thick lather. This happened three times, then the ladies appeared with a large thick but extremely soft towel of virgin fleece to rub me down. One of the ladies then turned and disappeared, reappearing just as suddenly with a really fancy silken, toga styled, inside dress robe for me to wear at our hosts' prompt request. I stepped into my leather sandals and headed on back out toward the parked limo. I nodded in thanks to the smiling ladies exploding with laughter again as I passed, who very politely curtsied as I headed out across the bathhouse threshold. I stepped into the limo, now feeling very refreshed, and soon we were all on our way again.

"That was certainly much better than I thought that it would be," I said as I laughed slightly.

"Yes, oh yes indeed," said the beggar with a slight smile and laugh. "We specialize in unique bathing styles here on To Nisi Tis Nymphis. Unto you foreigners, especially your English ones, the land is known simply as Nymphis Nisi. We have a number of other specialties that the international business guests enjoy indulging into as well. It is for those reasons and our rich resource base, that we are growing economically and otherwise in such a phenomenal way these days. We are growing tremendously but trying to do so in a manner preserving our ancient look and feel, as you can probably tell. This man and his daughter are two of the main hosts in this new wave of prosperous transformation that is sweeping us in our present time. If it is managed right, we will soon be the wealthiest, most desired island kingdom this side of the Mediterranean Sea.

"Behold the lavish bath houses and the elegant intellectual academies of reason and debate. Admire the number of our gifted philosophers, who ponder all that exists within and without, conceiving deductions based on what exists, as it stands directly before us and the conclusions in what lies within the unseen beyond, by those suggestions put forward in details existing, as we observe." he so proudly boasted in pointing with his right hand as we motored passed the establishments.

"I truly do relish what I see, but in my beholding eyes, there is still much more in the way of advancement left to endeavor yet," I replied.

As we spoke, the car rounded the upward spiraling road heading toward the summit, upon which sat the illustrious mansion home. Soon we paused between two armed guards. The chauffeur rolled the window down and handed a paper to the guard on the left-hand side of the road, who read over it carefully, then allowed our driver to pass on by. Soon we paused behind the mansion estate. A small crowd of people poured from within the house, gathering all about the limo, behaving as if they intended to roll out some sort of red carpet for us, or offer some sort of other lavish accommodation.

I was certainly hoping so... As far as I was concerned, I was in sore need by that time, of some royal pampering. I had enough of rough necking it way out in the boondocks, even though I can say that I truly love what it is that I am doing. The mounting need for a new thrill was nearing the point of demanding satisfaction. Again, I can say that the gambler's premonition reigned supreme in my intellect, that my future fortune lay just in the edge of my waiting for it to materialize. Before my mind could grasp what was happening in front of me, we were standing before a set of huge heavy wooden doors, with a gargoyle of cast iron and gold plate wearing a huge customary nose ring, positioned directly into the center of the door about breast high.

Our chauffeur raised a right hand, grasping the heavy ring, knocking it down solidly thrice. A hard melancholy figure slightly opened the door to receive the beggar, who then conversed with the beggar in a language I knew not. This figure more held the appearance of a somewhat aged, robed cathedral friar than a simple Butler, if indeed such was his title. The beggar handed him a piece of paper parchment and he proceeded to open the huge door, warmly welcoming all of us inside.

"Which one of you is it who wishes to visit with the misses of the estate?" asked the Butler.

"That would be myself, sire," I answered.

"Are you prepped, pampered and wearing your proper in-house attire," he asked with a hard cold stare as he gazed me up and down hard "The kind lady shall not be allowed the company of rogues and villains who dwell only inside the cobblestone void beyond."

"And I shall certainly second that statement. Surly a lady of her standing would deserve much better from a world into which she only must make her appeal," I replied with a smile and a slight bow in proper respect.

The Butler never responded, but only glanced upward toward the others standing inside the foyer room.

"The others about, take your ease here in the chairs and among the library along the wall. You sir, please walk this way. The lady is excited upon your meeting with her."

I smiled and with a slight laugh, I made my reply.

"Well, I am just as excited about meeting the misses. What's her name, may I ask? No one has yet to even tell me her name?"

"Yes sir," replied the Butler. "It was intentional that you were never to know her name... until the appointed time. Our dear lady desires a man of an adventurous heart and entrepreneurial mind. If fear had been part of your character, then she reasoned where you would have neglected to make the move forward into her direction from the very beginning."

"As I have always said, sire, what we fear always has a way of returning, no matter where it is that we stand or what it is that we choose to engage into. It is not that I never fear, I simply push it aside and choose to advance forward in spite of it. Like it has all been said before, somewhere..., if death is my fear, then it shall certainly return, no matter where it is I choose to make my station." I smiled as I continued speaking, somehow silently anticipating a sort of intellectual reply.

The butler never betrayed any hint of emotion, but only proceeded in his continuation.

Soon we walked down to the end of the hall as we have completed our conversation. The Butler reached forward with his right hand, causing the wall to abruptly open into two opposing doors, exposing what appeared to be a concealed elevator. The Butler then stepped forward as he turned into my direction.

"Right this way, sir," said he.

With the closing of the doors, the elevator jerked suddenly, then slowly made its way upward, humming lightly as it did so.

"Well... I should say, I was never told the lady's name. What was it..., again please?" I dared to inquire.

The Butler glanced my way with a quick flash, apparently with hesitation for some inexplainable reason, then replied with an occasional effort to force a smile.

"Thea..., indeed what a beautiful name...Thea of the clan, Selenofotos.... Indeed, and without question one of the most endowed families in the entire Aegean about. Her Father, one Captain Hector Selenofotos, had been excommunicated from the original clan estate and holding, but rose up into opulence by his own ingenuity. First serving as a deck hand, laboring as any other laboring on board. Then he purchased stock in the ship and company commodity stock. Soon his stock account was worth more than ship itself... by three times!

"So, he cashed out promptly, then purchased the ship, earning the title of adjunct Captain. Now his earnings were two thirds of what the ship profited, the other third simply divided up with the ship captain, among his crew and company. The mercantile company only gained a simple base, ten percent.

"The management did not relish the idea of being responsible for the ship, ship maintenance and the like. Captain Hector performed the job very responsibility and with pride. Now he could shift his business efforts onto dry land, since he had a steady inflow from his share in the ship.

"Once onto shore, he invested in land and real-estate holdings. Soon he owned some two thirds of the town itself. If people wanted anything; albeit loans, products and the like, why, all of them came to the captain for access, and he gladly loaned the money out to the equivalent of one third value to the third time over in collateral. In the beginning he only lent money to purchase homes, land or gold, and gem jewelry. Later on, when the philanthropic urge struck him, he would lend out of the goodness of his heart, to people whom he knew had no other choice.

"On many occasions these people may own schools, or houses of worship, or government; so, it was in this way that he slowly came to own the town itself and the people here in.... that is, except any property within the market square or the hospitals... I am not criticizing, by no means mind you, since indeed the captain was a fine gentleman of his time..., I am just telling the story as it is and was."

"And the dear lady is now in possession of all of this, I would presume?" I asked with an inquisitive smile.

"Material need is not part of her quest. That much I can say with a sincere validity," replied the Butler with another forced smile and a slow nod.

"This will be most interesting..., just to see what type of questions it is that she has for me," I returned.

"The dear lady is very unpredictable and the stage in which all of our future presentation shall own, is all of her own design..., to play as she so chooses to engage it," says the Butler.

Soon the elevator paused, the door opening, exposing what appeared to be a large study room, with a canopy bed in the backdrop, a desk at the fore, and another at a distance to the left-hand side of the room. No lady was to be immediately seen, however.

The Butler soon stepped forward from the elevator nine steps, then paused beneath the door post.

"My dear lady...I and your company are here..."

Immediately a lady dressed in a long antique styled Hellenic gown, her neck heavily covered by gem brooch, gold chain and jewelry of every sort, made her way across the floor. Her flesh was fair as the fluff of snow. Her hair was shoulder length, long and black as her freshly dug Virginia coal, but her eyes were of a crystalline sapphire. Both the Butler and I carefully made our way across the floor from the elevator to the place of her seat. The Butler paused between us, motioning for me to take the other seat opposing her position.

"Madam," he said as I took my seat. "I present to you your requested guest, Magister Fortunato, presently. Sir, I present to you... Miss Thea Selenofotos," he said as he moved his right hand in my direction.

I nodded in polite acknowledgment as the Butler spoke.

"A true pleasure to meet you, mam," I said with a polite bow.

"And my pleasure in your presence," she replied with what first appeared as an unaccommodating firmness.

"Surly this is a nice place that you have made for yourself here," I asked in the name of making pleasant conversation, since I was not the type to sit, stare, and remain silent.

"The place is not one of my own makings, but that of my family. Let's do not allow ourselves to be guilty of straying too far from our point, however. I did not request that you come all the way here to speak concerning the quality of my living quarters," she replied in the same inflexible composure.

"As you wish..., so let's stay to the point, then madam," I replied.

"I had a question that I desired to ask of you, in relation to your poem.... and your answer will determine the status of our association from this moment forward," so stated the lady. A compelled smile zipped across her face in anticipation.

"Ask your question. I have had it all asked before, so there is not anything left to cause me to jump out of the way," I replied with a slight chuckle.

"Very well then," she replied, now wearing a somewhat sly intuitive smile. "If the sprite were simply a common mortal who bore no gifts, then where would you be? Would you be there, within her twain, or would you be in pursuit of another, bearing gifts of gold, and gem studded, golden neck chains?"

She smiled in smug anticipation while she asked me her deep philosophical question, as though she expected an extraordinary reply from me.

"Well, such would depend on the lady herself, in that case. If she bore no supernatural qualities, then certainly she would be of a different character, other than the one who I described in my poem to you. Certainly then, I shall conclude, my stay with her would depend on the nature of her character."

The lady then glinted with a quick giggle.

"What if her gifts were of personality and a caring warm composure...?

"If that were the case, then I might remain there in her company...," I replied with a slight laugh.

"What if her gifts were those of a sorceress, and she could produce anything your poor heart so desired?" the lady asked.

"There again, if she was a foul nasty witch, then I might go on in my merry way. If she was simply a witch, but a lady of pleasant character and a fun loving, pleasantly accommodating nature, then I might remain in her company for a while."

We both laughed for a moment, then sighed into a calmness...

"So do tell me, then," she requested as she continued to giggle slightly, "is that what you desire in a woman..., one who is a kind, fun loving, docile creature, seldom quarreling or disagreeing, and is always in good form with you?"

"Now mam," said I, "let's not confuse a pleasant nature with a slothfulness of the intellect. One can be of a pleasant nature, but at the same time, very quick to spy true opportunity, should it ever arise."

We both continued to converse, both I and my maiden to be, until the hours passed, and the light of day dwindled into the dimming light of approaching night. I had only planned to be in town for a week, but the week was to transform into three, then three more and so on. I contacted the chief archaeologist, who agreed for me to work but to take three days off on the weekend, since we labored for so many hours into the night. Most weeks we labored anywhere from seventy to eighty hours a week, in just four days, with little in the way of rest at night. My potential maidens' simple call established my place of stay for that weekend, she actively requesting my company with the conclusion of every week.

The weeks passed like single days, and both I and now my new love, were consumed by surging waves of heated passion. She could never forbear the passion for matrimony, and I..., could never forbear her generous offering. Like the dream winds of misty moonlight, I was transported into the most elegant of local cathedrals... The magnanimous golden cross looming dramatically in the foreground from the wall behind the Priest... The incense lantern thurible offering forth the most delicate of its misty, passion inducing, herbal fragrances... The effects were trance inducing! Most certainly the enveloping fragrance bore some mystical form of tincture, for the enrapturing feeling consuming my very soul was one of us twain floating, rather than walking forward toward the blessing Priest.

As we both were transported forward, I beheld what I perceived to be the light of God above radiating immediately downward upon us both, enveloping us deep inside a passionate warmth, like no other form of light possibly ever could. I make this statement from the point of perception that the light was more one born from an imperceptible intelligent force, than simply a beam radiating downward. A single glance into her yearning eyes confirmed back unto me, that the convictional sensations inside her were same as those deep inside me, transporting me into what felt to be another dimension of existence.

The intoxication consumed me, even into the depths of my very soul... I could only perceive the ring of the questioning voice, but perceived not the weight of its meaning, except only that the meaning was one of positive effect...: and I always felt the presence of the observing masses behind me, the force of their very spiritual being radiating forward into both of our hinter directions there as we stood...

"Doest thou, oh man of the secular void, take this lady of the elegant hillside mansion, Thea, to be thy beloved bride of the misty moonlight?"

"I do," I replied, feeling as though I was compelled by an immense unseen spiritual force to speak, but yet, simultaneously feeling confident my reply was truly from the core of my inner being.

"Does thou choose her above all others, to have and to hold, in the sanctity of true love amid the elegant splendor of secular estate, until death do thus part?"

"I do," replied my compelled response, my willingness to wager all on some unseen possibility of new experience or even a potential future fortune, that otherwise would be void from my grasp in all probability.

A momentary pause ensued, enveloping all within the congregation and throughout, then my ears beheld the continuing questioning.

"And does ye, dear Thea, oh thou queen of the misty moonlight, born from the berth of heaven itself; take this man of the secular earth to be thy lawful groom, to have and to hold, and to cherish above all others, until that very day of your passing across the dismal threshold of the secular, into infinitely glowing royal divinity?"

"That, I most certainly do," she replied as she gazed upward into my eyes, absorbing my very soul as her enrapturing eyes glared deeply into the heart of my very being.

"And now, among the masses, does anyone within hold any valid reason as to why these two should not be wed?" asked the Priest.

A lone hand raised from amid the congregation.

"And sir, what matter, indeed, is your justification for these two not being wed on this day?

"Certainly," replied a lone voice from the hinter-side without. "That sole justification being where it was I who made first gracious request for matrimony, and not the one before us here today."

"And what base qualifies you to continue in request for the hand of this dear angel standing before us here today?" requested the Priest.

"Dear Sir," responded the voice from amid the congregational distance, "does thou truly not know of my establishment? Have ye forgotten me, sir? My father owns nine of the shops out in the market square. We possess extensive real-estate holdings, some twelve in apartment tenements. Surly, what more canst a person demand of one? What indeed, may I inquire, does this groundling have to offer that is above my best? Nay..., I should surely add, what in fact does he hold in trust, that is above any other within this congregation before us at this very moment?"

A rippling gasp and a murmur ran throughout out the congregation like an invisible, though turbulent wave, possessing immense unseen power to destroy.

"I should certainly conclude here before our congregation today, that the ultimate decision is that of the dear ladies' in the end," responded the startled Priest, who struggled to contain himself as he spoke.

"Thank you, dear Sir," responded Thea to the parish Priest, her face being steadfast in his direction.

She now turned toward the source of the distant voice.

"Most certainly, oh good sir, you are endowed by blood in such a manner that well justifies your standing and request., but my question unto you is this... Beyond your standing, what else have you to offer outside of that? Were you of an intellectual status, then you could deduce the valid position before you on this moment, offering us thy perfectly selected reply. I should say to you, sir, that your quick tongue hath betrayed thy lack of intellectual insight before all of us here on this very moment. Right here and now, in that regard, you have surely lost your footing with me!"

A laugh rippled through the congregation as Thea turned again toward the Priest.

"My choice stands as it is, let not that fact be held in disregard by anyone on this day of matrimony. Allow the ceremony to continue but forbid the antagonist from entering into our honorable reception hall. We shall all henceforth embrace the positive, and forbear outside negatives from within our very presence!"

On that very instance of her words being spoken, a figure separated from the crowd in company with three other figures appearing to be family, easing from among the congregation, then slowly moving through the opening door, only to vanish into the outer void beyond.

The Priest stood rigidly, clearing his throat, then raising both hands above the crowd.

"On this note, today at this very moment, allow me to present Mr. and Mrs. Fortunato... Sir, both you and the Mrs. may turn to face the congregation."

We both turned to face the formless figures without, then returned to hold hands and face one another.

"Sir, you may now, kiss the bride!"

We both embraced passionately, then bowed together before the cheering cathedral masses exploding with applause....

The reception was one of elegant splendor, the hallway filled with dazzling portraits of the islands' finest and most divinely gifted. The ballroom dance in graceful, elegant medieval costume...; the heavenly hors oeuvres, the crystal tinctured wine fountain flowing to bestow its endless blessings upon those guests in waiting... It all now seems like a hazy dream to the point that even I almost question its reality, but it so surely occurred to the point that I wish it could stand solidly on its own, even to the point where it outshines the events that followed...

I recall well the earlier years of our matrimony. The events shine forward in my reflective mind as the most delightful splendor in personal experience, even to the point that the radiation therefrom pushes out any recollections of darkness seeking to penetrate through into my blissful euphoric heart. My present emotions are like those of a roller-coaster riding up and down on huge rolling hills. One moment I am ecstatic, my soul consumed with swoons of euphoria in my reflections upon a glorious past experience and most successful endeavor. On the other moment, in an instant and for no apparent reason..., I wallow on the bottomless pit of gloomy midnight despair, consumed in my own tears.... Oh, for crying out, dear Lord what now am I to do?