Frederick and Geraldine
Chapter 5- Impossible Love

(Chiara andGeraldine were on the deck. Chiara started to talk with Geraldine.)

''I need tounderstand my life when I look back and see

Thathappiness is my reason to push some things far away.

This ship islike a small Eden balancing on the sea.

When I losehope, I hope that it will come back another day.''

''God isabove all and when the waters are quite blue,

He sends thesun to shine at the end of every storm.

I'm far fromhome, but there was nothing in my life I wouldn't do.''

The crestshad a glassy aspect and some clouds started to form.

In theOttoman Empire, Athens was a run-down village.

The Ottomanlandlord made the free Greek peasant serfdom.

To live nearthe Acropolis, he lost the privilege.

In Piraeus,the wind was like a harp blown at random.

Miguel waswalking on deck wanting Pedro to meet

To proposehim to go to visit the Acropolis,

Then, to eatfresh fish and to exercise their dancing feet.

He thoughtthat the ship looked like a sailing necropolis.

TheParthenon on the Acropolis in Athens

Was amazing,although the flourish in Athens became,

During theOttoman Empire, something that should never happen.

But, interms of philosophy, it didn't lose its fame.

Carla wasbathing in her cabin and asked the maid to bring

A pot ofboiling water from the kitchen because

The watercooled down. When she exited, the door started to ding.

Maybe themaid was in haste or it was a hidden cause.

Passing by,Miguel saw Carla exiting the bathroom.

When he sawher silhouette through the diaphanous air

Against theflames' glow, something magical happened to him.

He looked ather, and then, he sensed the true depths of his despair.

He admiredher neck and the outline of her body

And theflawless perfection of her skin; he went away,

When heheard the maid's steps; Carla's breasts were pure and soggy,

And shemoved her arms and her legs as she did ballet.

(After awhile, he returned to walk around. After she had finished her bath, Carlaopened the window to allow the fresh air to enter the room. Carla saw Miguelstanding on the deck. He turned to her and said, ‘’Hello! ’’)

Carla askedhim, ''Is this evening a future starry night or not? ''

''Sostarry-eyed, my love for you is nothing but a shine.

And, in mydreams, you come to love me much more than a lot.

I close myeyes to feel your love and you're almost divine.''

(Carla toldhim that she did not know this poem. He said that this poem was just composedby him. Then, he invited her to come together with Pedro to visit theAcropolis.)

Carla, afterexiting the Periclean Parthenon,

Tripped onthe Karrha limestone step and almost fell when Miguel

Helped herup while embracing her, ''It's a phenomenon.''

He put hisear over her heart, '' I hear a fast tinkling bell.''

Behind them,Bella and Pedro were talking about physique.

She saidthat she couldn't get pregnant, so they traveled to

India, a treatmentthrough yoga and herbs to seek.

''Miguelsuffers! '' 'It's important to make your own dreams come true.''

''Let'sshare our cups of coffee to make a spiritual bridge between friends, ''

SaidNaimah.'' Let's share a few moments of some good-hearted cheer, ''

SaidFrederick.'' ''Love can die, but a friendship never ends.''

''Love isendless, '' ''I'm a widow harrowed with grief and fear, ''

''I've lostmy wife, and now I must take care of my unique son.''

''Where doyou go? '' ''I'm going to Morocco, firstly,

And then,I'm going to Egypt.'' ''I think this trip can't be easily done.''

''I have abrother who can help me because I'm worthy.''

''So, youleft your home, '' ''I couldn't pay the taxes for my land.

Then, Iabandoned my village and I fled to the town,

While manypeople did it like me; I had to understand

That theagriculture shrank; the food prices put me down.''

''The priceof the Turkish silver fell and that of gold increased.

Your rawgoods became cheap for the European traders

Who couldbuy very large amounts of stock trades from the east

To bedeveloped and exported back; the friends turned to haters.''

''Theirproducts were cheaper than yours while having a better quality

To undermineyour local businesses and your craft guilds.''

'' Theyworked to introduce new methods in their factories.''

''It's dueto our government, which this kind of bridges builds.

I've found ajob in the lowest town's level as a servant.

At school,my son understood the education was his only outlet.

Whiledealing with the angry people, I felt lost in this current.''

''You shouldunderstand this situation from the outset.''’

(He talkedwith Frederick about Maya, his sister.)

A strangeman having icy eyes embarked for Lisbon at noon.

He wore anamulet around his neck on its leather string.

He broughtthree dogs while whistling the air of an unknown tune.

From around,his cruel face looked like wanting tears to wring.

This strangeman wore a black suit, a black hat, and a black cloak

Having equalpleats over the shoulders; his face was shrouded

In mystery;he started to walk as he wanted to provoke

Fear; hesearched for an employee because his room was crowded

With someunusual things and he didn't have space for the dogs.

He wanted aface-to-face meeting with the captain.

He looked atFrederick while saying, ''Tell your rats and hogs

That my roommust be clean; they must work for that clean to happen.'’

He sat downat a nearby table and decided

It was thetime to pay Frederick for the travel.

He said,''this is the best way to make you be excited.''

He gaveFrederick five rubies, which were as thick as any gravel.

(Frederickstarted to talk with this stranger man, who decided to confess.)

‘’In thethird century, Corfu was invaded and conquered

By thepirates from Illyria; later, they were driven out

By theautonomic Romans; though it was kinda awkward,

I've foundan old treasure map; I've bought that land; I’m a scout.’’

Geraldineknew that Frederick did not want to betray her

Because hewanted to be the father of her child.

She wantedhis burden not to be more than he could bear.

She wasafraid that losing control could make her feel be beguiled.

Frederickwanted his son to be the captain of a ship

And to gotogether with her to do some business in Italy.

He had losta lover before being with his wife in the time slip.

Whiletalking, they didn't lie to each other prettily.

(The carrackwas sailing to Syracuse.)

Frederickwas the master and Brisbon was his mate.

He hasalways told Brisbon what it was to be done.

Brisboncommanded the sailors and he was really great.

When hescreamed, ''Steer, trim, sail, '' to their duty they had to run.

Sam and Slimwere steersmen while Gian and Aldo were men-corners.

Suaram,Cosma, and Dino were gunners while Ismail

Wascarpenter; Fargo was a swabber and boatswain while Hector

Was acooper; Abseil was a quartermaster; to sail

Gino, Nico,and John hoisted the sails and got the tacks aboard

Whilehauling the bowlines and steering the ship when needed.

Ibrahimcooked, furled the sails, slung the yards and washed the board.

Maya was acook, or a quack when the rules were not heeded.

Aldoscreamed, ''Slim, I see a land on the horizon! ''

''Impossible,you must see only the sea until Syracuse.''

''Thecompass had a big variation for no reason, ''

Said Freddy,''we're in a wrong place; I need a valid excuse! ''

(Carla andMiguel were talking while walking on the deck.)

Carla said,'' his infidelity devastated me.

The worsething that could happen had already occurred.

''Is there atime for you in his life? '' '' 'Twas never meant to be,''

Miguel said,‘‘you should ask him perfection.'' ''He said I'm absurd.

Every timehe left the house I was wondering to know

Where he wasgoing.'' '' He couldn't drive in two lanes at once.''

'' He wasintimate with her; I've heard and I felt it so.''

'' He triedto deal with feelings in the darkness like a dunce.

He hadabsolutely no respect for his own marriage.''

'' To savemy family was quite a humiliating

Decision.''''It was love, which he tended to discourage.''

''Are youfaithful? '' ''Yes, I am. It's an asphyxiating

Situation,sometimes, but the life must go on; we face it.

I had somedalliances, which were platonic lunch dates

With somebeautiful and thinking women for the well of wit.

I've foundmy fidelity borders while meeting my mates.''

''Were yousure you weren’t an adulterer-in-waiting?

You riskedbetraying the commitment to be faithful to God.''

''God didn'tgive my wife a child; I think He heard her praying.''

'' Theslushy infidelity comes when the thoughts go abroad

As an eventof the heart; I didn't trust Pedro again.''

'' You mustbe trustworthy although you fall toward resentment

For Pedro.Be faithful to God! You know it's not in vain.''

„I feltrejected, '' '' You couldn't betray this commitment.

Our thoughtscan undermine those covenants we've made in the church.''

''Anymarital crisis can bring out the worst of us.''

''God has afamily plan; He doesn't leave us in the lurch.''

''There isthe suffering of the children I don't want to discuss.''

'' Mayberecalling the early good days can construct

Anexplanation of what happened.'' ''It's about perfection.''

'' Whileliving without His divine grace, people self-destruct.''

'' Pedro isunhappy while living in anger, and passion.''

„Bella wantsquietness in a closed relationship with God.''

'' We mustbe sinless and pure to reach the perfection.''

'' She'spleasing to God while causing my grief; she's totally flawed.

Her body'ssacrifice leads me to a wrong direction.''

'' Making mistakesleads people to fall and to rule over sin.

They thinkthat they are redeemed from all the iniquity,

But they arewrong until their hearts are purified within

To listenfor God's voice talking about dignity.''

(Carlastopped to look for a few seconds into his eyes. She understood the cause ofher sufferance.)

''God toldAbram to walk before Him and to be perfect, ''

Said Miguel.''It's important to kill the vice in the members.''

'' Theimperfect people like to be complete; they vigor to defend.''

''Pedrothinks our perfection ends in the fire's embers-

Call me whenyou may be perfect and complete in the God's will-

He uses tosay.'' ''Tell him how to realize repentance.''

''Hepretends he cannot overcome the sins; they always kill.''

'' Thisrepentance wins when we do it with persistence.''

'' He deniesthis freedom from sin as a possibility

To live onthe earth; when we think we have no sin, we deceive

Ourselves.''''The conscience is the heart of the responsibility.''

''There is aperfect Adam above the head of Eve.''

(Whilehearing a strange noise, they were frightened. They turned and saw some tonguesof flame coming from the kitchen. Fargo came in haste to invite Carla to getinto the boat and to go on together with him to the shore. Carla saw the womencoming close to that boat. Miguel helped her while Fargo helped Geraldineescape. The men approached the fire to begin fighting it.