Unforeseen Events II – Part III

It had rained just before dawn and the Plaza glistened in the morning sunlight. Elusive notions coursed through Ethan’s thoughts as he sipped his morning cup. ‘Magic’, he thought. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath and exhaled, uttering “Coffee”.

“Coffee?” said a gentle voice from behind.

Turning, he saw Sally approaching.

“Good morning,” he said with a half smile.

“May I sit?” 

“Please.”

She pulled a chair out from the table in front of the Café Machado.

“You’re up early,” she said as she sat down.

“I like this time of the day.”

“Me too.”

After an awkward pause, “Are you settling in?” she asked.

“Day by day,” he said, “I’m catching up to myself.” Ethan wondered if Sally knew he had come early to the Plaza each morning since they first met the week before. He wondered if she had left town or was avoiding him.

“Catching up?” she said.

“Travel is exciting,” said Ethan. “Going from place to place is a constant, unfolding surprise. It’s life at the top, until it isn’t.” 

“Meaning?” she said.

“At some point you find yourself dazed and disoriented. Your zeal for the journey fades and you simply have to stop. You have to find a safe place where you can rest and digest the changes you’ve been going through.”

“Well said. I haven’t traveled a lot of but I think I know what you’re saying.”

“Is your work going well? With the ceramics?”

“Oh yes. You should come by the workshop sometime. I mentioned you to Carmen and she said she’d like to meet you.”

“That’d be nice,” Ethan said, bolstered by the thought that Sally had spoken of him to another.

“What are you doing today?”

“Ahhh… nothing in particular.”

“Why don’t we visit Carmen at her studio? We can go right after breakfast. Or have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“Or maybe you have other plans?

“Nope.”

“Oh good. Let’s order.” Sally saw Manuel the waiter through the front window of the Café and gave him a wave. 

The workshop of Carmen Castillo was located at her residence, an old Villa high on a hill overlooking the town. In the distance the blue Mediterranean stretched out to the horizon. Sally and Ethan approached the structure on foot. Arriving at the front door, Sally banged the steel knocker twice and then twice more.

“That’s my code,” said Sally, “so she knows it’s me.” Ethan nodded.

The great wooden door opened revealing an older woman, tan and lean with flaming red hair, braided and tied up in the popular style of Frida Kahlo.

“Hello Sal, who’s your friend?” said Carmen with a distinct Brooklyn accent.

“Carmen, let me introduce Ethan Wells.”

“How do you do Ethan Wells,” said Carmen as she reached forward to shake his hand.

“Hello,” said Ethan, taking Carmen’s hand.

“You’re right,” Carmen said to Sally, “that’s quite a grip.” Then to Ethan, “That’s quite a grip young man.”

“Didn’t hurt you did I.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. It’s not just the strength of your hand. There’s power behind it. You’ve got something in you. You’re different. I know these things.” 

Ethan felt embarrassed and looked over at Sally. She gave him a subtle nod then looking over to Carmen, “I wanted to show Ethan the studio.”

“Right,” said Carmen. “We’re just about done packing the kiln. We’ll fire it up later this morning.”

“This morning?” said Sally. “I thought that was happening next week.”

“I know,” said Carmen. “A rush order from an important client. Gotta keep ’em happy.” 

“We can come back if we’re interrupting,” said Ethan.

“Actually you come at a good time. Right now let’s have something to eat. You two hungry?”

“We just had breakfast,” said Sally.

“Then have drinks with us while we eat. How ’bout it Ethan, you up for conversation?”

“Sure.”

As the three walked through the foyer of the house Carmen called out, “Ramona, quatro para comida.”

“Si Señora,” said Ramona from the next room. 

The three walked on through another doorway onto a rear patio where a round wooden table was surrounded with a half dozen chairs. As they seated themselves a young Spanish woman came out of another doorway with a tray carrying four glasses of lemonade. 

“Gracias Ramona,” said Carmen. “Trae la comida cuando esté lista.”

“Si Señora,” said Ramona as she disappeared back into the house.

Another man entered the patio from the garden gate.

“Pierre, you’re here!” said Carmen. As she stood up from her chair the two embraced and kissed.

“Come meet Ethan. Ethan this is Pierre Montagne”

The man walked over to Ethan, put out his hand and speaking with a French accent, “How do you do sir.” 

“Ethan stood up to shake Pierre’s hand. “Good to meet you, Pierre.”

“Pierre’s been working on a movie,” said Carmen.

“Where?” said Ethan.

“Not far. I’ve been in Almería for the past month,”

“Pierre’s a photographer,” said Carmen.

“I’m shooting stills for a western.” said Pierre.

“Interesting,” said Ethan. “What’s the title of the film?”

“Per qualche dollaro in più,” said Pierre. “It’s an Italian production with American actors.” 

“Which actors?” said Sally.

“The lead is a chap named Clint Eastwood. I think he’s done some TV in the States.”

“Oh yeah, ‘Rawhide’,” said Ethan. “A popular series. What’s the title again? Of your movie?”

“In English,” said Pierre, “it’s called ‘For a Few Dollars More‘. It’s a sequel to a film they shot last year called, ‘A Fistful of Dollars’. They’re only releasing these films in Europe. I doubt they’ll amount to much.”

Ramona entered the patio with a tray filled with appetizers and set them on the table.

“Thank you Ramona,” said Carmen. “Bring the main course in ten minutes. Diez minutos.”

“Yes Ma’am,” said Ramona as she left the patio.

Watching Ramona leave, Carmen remarked, “She’s learning her English.”

An assortment of small bowls contained a variety of Spanish dishes with shrimps, vegetables and other morsels.

“Dig in,” said Carmen. 

Looking at the spread, Ethan remarked, “I wasn’t hungry but this looks tasty.”

“Go for it,” said Carmen. 

Sally smiled and sipped her lemonade. The four sat quietly enjoying the repast.

As the morning progressed the four companions left the patio and walked through an orchard of lemon trees. Coming out of the orchard Ethan observed a sight for which he had no reference.

“What is this?” he said.

“It’s an Anagama kiln,” said Carmen. “It’s Japanese.”

“It’s big,” he said.

What Ethan saw was a raised earthen mound, six feet high at the center and eight feet wide, stretching out nearly thirty feet up a gentle hillside. At it’s end was a red brick chimney that stood up six feet above the mound. The whole thing gave the appearance of a beached whale. Rising above and covering the mound was a long gabled, steel frame with a corrugated metal roof. On both sides of the mound were huge stacks of chopped firewood stretching its entire length.

“This is quite a production,” said Ethan.

“I hope you two don’t have plans,” said Carmen. “I need all hands on deck tonight.”

“Count me in,” said Sally and turning to Ethan, “You want to have a night you won’t forget?”

“Yah… Sure.” said Ethan.

“Ah… one of us,” said Carmen.

Four young workers were putting finishing touches on the kiln, readying it for the firing. Carmen walked the other three around the embanked structure.

“Pierre and Sally already know how this goes, Ethan, but you’ll want to learn the basics.” 

“OK,” he said.

“The task for all of us will be to keep a steady fire going throughout the kiln. We start the main burn in the firebox, down at the bottom.”

Ethan nodded. 

“Then to maintain a constant, even temperature, we’ll be putting smaller sticks through the portholes along the sides. We do this to maintain a constant, even temperature.”

“How hot will it be?” he said.

“Over two thousand degrees.”

“And how do you know when to put in more firewood?”

“We watch the chimney. When we don’t see flames coming out it’s time for more fuel.”

“How long does this all go for?”

“We’re only firing a couple hundred pieces this time, so the burn will last about thirty hours.”

“Oh?” said Ethan.

“Don’t be alarmed,” said Carmen. “We do this in shifts, six hours on and six off.”

“So we’ll tend this until?..”

“My workers will start the burn. Then we’ll be on the second shift, three o’clock this afternoon until nine this evening.”

“And after that?”

“The workers return to tend the fire until 3AM in the morning.”

“And we come back at 3AM,” said Sally.

“Ethan, are you up for this?” said Carmen.

“Yah,” said Ethan. “Hell yes.”

“Comrade,” said Carmen, glancing over at Sally.

Sally and Ethan left the Villa, affirming they’d return at 3PM. Sally told Ethan she had to take care of some chores and prepare for the work that lay ahead.

“You might want to rest up until this afternoon,” said Sally. “Bear in mind we’ll be back again at 3AM for our second shift.”

“No problem,” said Ethan.

“Then let’s meet back at the Villa at three.”

The sun was setting as the four tended the fire in the kiln. At the front Carmen and Sally fed chopped wood into the firebox. Along the sides of the mound Ethan and Pierre were feeding sticks of wood through the small portholes. From the chimney flames shot up like dancing ghosts. Finishing their task, the two men returned to the hearth to join the women. They all sat down on the weathered deck chairs. 

“All’s well,” said Carmen.

For a time they sat quietly, gazing at the presence of the kiln. To Ethan it seemed like a living thing, pulsing, grumbling, breathing fire and gases like some mythic beast. He half expected to see it to rise up and launch itself into the night. 

“Ethan,” said Pierre, “tell me about your life in America.”

“That’s a tall request,” said Ethan.

“Forgive me. I meant only recently, before you came to Europe.”

“It was good, actually. It was interesting… and productive.”

“Ethan was a drummer,” said Sally. “He played all over America.”

“Is that so Ethan?”

“It wasn’t that glamorous. I toured with an orchestra that had a niche market, playing in smaller cities and towns. I was only with them for a year.”

“What was that like?”

“I got to see a lot of America. The orchestra I played with was a troupe of first rate musicians. They were a hardy bunch. I learned so much from them and I became more than I was.”

“Why did you leave the band?”

“Exhaustion. Not so much physical as mental. After many months on the road the towns and cities seemed to be going by in a blur. And I had issues with my drumming.”

“How’s that?”

“Drumming was something I always cherished. I loved everything about it. But those affections seemed to ebb away. It was like I needed something more… or at least something else.”  

“I know that feeling but still, that must’ve been some year.”

“It was.” Ethan paused for a reflective moment. “How about you Pierre? Same question.”

“Well… y’know… these are interesting times, which makes for interesting moments. I hunt those moments with my cameras and occasionally capture images I can sell to the newspapers and magazines.”

“Sounds exciting.”

“It can be. But like you, I have thoughts that there’s something else, something more out there.”

“Oh God,” said Carmen, “you men with your existential angst.”

“Carmen, be nice,” said Pierre.

“Ethan what books are you reading,” said Carmen.

“These days I read a lot of James Michener. I like the sweep of his stories, and his long, family sagas.”

“Any favorites?”

“I’m reading ‘The Source’ right now, his latest work.”

“What’s that about?”

“It’s about an archaeological dig in Israel. It details the uncovering of a great mound with each descending layer revealing stories of the different epics, which occurred over the millennia as different civilizations lived on that spot.”

“Sounds fascinating.”

“It is. When I finish the book I’ll pass it on to you, if you like.”

“Oh I’d like that. The premise sounds intriguing.”

“Have you read Sartre or Camus?” said Pierre.

“I know their names. That’s about it.”

“Ethan,” said Carmen, “there is an extensive library here at the Villa. If you plan to spend some time here in Mijas you’ll be welcome to borrow books anytime you like.”

“Thank you Carmen, I’ll probably take you up on that.”

“Anybody hungry?” said Sally.

“I am,” said Pierre.

“How ’bout you Ethan?” said Carmen.

“I could eat.”

Standing up, Carmen said, “I’ll go help Ramona put together a spread. Sally, you’re in charge of the fire.”

“I’m in charge,” said Sally

Carmen walked into the orchard and out of sight.

At 9PM, Pablo, Ramon, Luis and Esteban returned to the site and began their shift. The others said their goodnights as Sally and Ethan left the Villa. Walking down the cobblestone path, their way was lit up by the full moon.

“Thank you Sally for bringing me into this experience,”

“It’s something isn’t it.”

“Yes. I feel like I’ve entered into another world.”

“I hope you’ll stay here for awhile. I mean in Mijas.”

“I believe I will. And you were right, by the way.”

“About what?”

“I won’t forget this night.”

As the two approached Sally’s door, “This is me,” she said. “I’m going to say goodnight for now to rest up for our next shift. I’d suggest you do as well. Do you have an alarm clock?”

“I do. When I get to my place I’ll set it for 2:30AM.”

“Then I’ll see you back at the Villa.”

“See you at 3AM.”

“Ciao.” 

Ethan turned and continued down the winding cobblestone path. Sally stood at her doorway, watching him as he walked out of sight.

to be continued…