Home » The Archives » Chapter 12 » Playing with Fire
| Re: Playing with Fire [message #462 is a reply to message #461] |
Mon, 23 July 2012 21:03   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
Switzerland |
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Sunday, October 14, after 2:30 p.m., Tracy Island time, en route to Paris, France.
"So, what are your plans for the week?" Virgil asked of his co-pilot.
Kyrano smiled. "I have very little actually planned, Mr. Virgil. I will visit some old friends and tell them of my engagement. There are several places in the city I wish to see again. And..." Here his voice got soft and sad. "I will visit Tin-Tin's mother... at the cemetery."
"Ah, I see," Virgil replied, nodding in understanding. There was a quiet moment, then, hesitantly, he commented, "You don't talk about her much - Tin-Tin's mother, that is. In fact, I don't even think I know her name. Tin-Tin's never told me, either." He raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "Not that I've ever thought to ask..."
"It... it is difficult to speak of her," Kyrano replied. "Like your father, I was devastated when my wife died, leaving me with a small girl to care for. The year or so after she was killed seemed like an eternity; I do not remember much of it because of my grief. Moving to the United States at your father's request was like starting anew." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then assayed a small smile. "Her name was Samani, and she looked very much like Tin-Tin does now. Her eyes were brown, though, and her skin darker."
"She must have been beautiful," Virgil murmured.
"She was, as beautiful as her namesake. Her father named her for an Indonesian butterfly, the vanessa samani." Kyrano paused, and sighed. "I will see him again, in Paris. He has been an invalid for many years; Samani's sister's family cares for him."
Virgil shot a surprised glance at Kyrano. "Tin-Tin has an aunt? And cousins? She's never said..."
"I know. We have drifted apart somewhat, my wife's family and I. Much like your family has with your mother's kin." Kyrano looked out the window at his side; there were clouds beneath them that thickened as they flew west, but through the infrequent parts he could see shoreline, and land. "I have kept up a correspondence with my father-in-law, telling him about Tin-Tin's accomplishments, but the letters have diminished to a handful per year now. Still, I feel it is proper that I tell him about my engagement to Lisa."
Virgil nodded. "I wonder if Dad did something similar when he remarried." He glanced over the instruments, and nudged the plane to a slightly new heading. "Tell me: how did Samani die?"
The Malaysian sighed. "She was a scholar, my Samani. Her field of study was Renaissance history, and she had become a frequent lecturer at universities throughout Europe. When we met, she was beginning to work on her doctoral dissertation. She was visiting the Renaissance room in one of the Paris libraries when the building was hit by lightning. It caught fire, and..." He paused and sighed again. "She died."
They were silent for a time again, then Virgil said quietly, "Thank you for telling me."
"Thank you for asking," Kyrano replied simply. "It has been a long time since I have thought on these matters. I hold Samani dear in my heart and in my memory, but it is easier to live if one does not dwell on the past."
"Like my father did."
"Yes." Again, there was a moment of quiet, then Kyrano straightened in his seat a little. "And what are your plans for this visit, Mr. Virgil?"
Virgil smiled. "Well, I plan on shopping a lot. I need new clothes, and there are gifts to buy for certain... ahem... upcoming events. I brought along my paints, so I can spend time capturing anything that suits my fancy while I'm there. There are the art galleries and museums, and the gift I was given included tickets to three different performances; one to the opera, one to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's performance, and one to a musical. I also purchased tickets to a concert by Chartreuse Petunias; they're one of my favorite alternative rock groups." His smile widened to a grin. "I'll be keeping pretty busy."
"It sounds as if you will," Kyrano said.
"The only thing that would make it perfect is if I could have taken someone along to share it with."
"Like Miss Elise?"
Kyrano got another surprised look for his comment. "How did you know?" Virgil asked.
Kyrano smiled, an expression both serene and slightly teasing. "As your father's retainer, I see much that others do not see... including which of his sons has romance on his mind, and with whom."
Virgil chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind," he said, his tone dry. "Yeah, I wish I could have brought Elise, but when I was given the gift, I had no idea things were moving in that direction. Neither did Dad or Mom. I'll bring her to Paris some time, if it works out between us."
"And I am sure she will enjoy it," Kyrano said. "As will Lisa, when I bring her to the City of Lights."
Posted by Tikatu on March 6, 2008
  
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