Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A Chapter by Enigma

Jade was his name. Like any other man who walks the face of his earth in search of love, peace and fulfilment, he too, walked the shores of that island lost deep in his search. But there was a difference. A big piercing difference that landed our hero in the category of mentally insane for though his search was genuine, the object of his search was more mythical than the unicorn. Or was it?

 

His walks accompanied with a deathly silence and a mournful look have been endless. He knows neither day nor night and his search takes him far amd wide. Sometimes, he prefers taking a deep plunge into the blue abyss surrounding his habitat and reach its depths for some clue.

 

The locals never had any trouble from this troubled man, yet they were wary of him. He seems to live solely with himself and was never seen talking. He behaved like a certain species of animal who spent their lives widowed and in constant search of their missing partner, I hear a man joke behind me.

 

I am here, on this island, as yet another tourist who has aquired a taste of spending her savings for the sake of new adventures and the sights and smells of new culture and cuisines. And more than often, the community has more to offer. Like Jade, who hails from my own country and yet, is living like an alien, isolated from the social world. I want to know why. I need to know what brought this man to this state who, I hear, was once a successful archeaologist with a blooming career. The locals share the story of his distress over coffee and I was invited to one such conversation myself.

 

"He fell into the water and drowned. Ever since he was resuscitated, he's been like this." , came a voice.

 

"He is cursed by the spirits of the tombs. Cursed, I say.", came another, more raspy this time.

 

"Aye. He is cursed, alright. Cursed by his own fate, his own heart",said one, from the corner of the room which was choked with pipe smoke and reeked of coffee. I, like others, turned to face the speaker, who, by the nasty comments of his contemporaries, was called Falcon. He was an old man, so old that you might think that he has breathed ever since the days of Alexander. Such mighty glory was very much restored to the the humdrum of daily insignificant life of earth and over the years, has perfected his garb of an earthly low-life with his mangled beard and dishevelled clothes. He smoked his pipe and coughed each time he blew smoke. Wearing the sailor's cap over his head, he seemed lost in himself and completely ignorant of the million eyes which were momentarily glued on him.

 

I reached his table, cautiously, because drunken men, and he did seem a bit inebriated, are inadverently fussy and seem much too eager to cause commotion.

 

Before saying anything, I bought him a glass of beer and that seemed to soften his features. Yet, he eyed me with suspicion. I clarified my purpose of coming over to his table and with a little persistence, he helped me travel back into the past with his memories and unraveled a facsinating and unbelievable local legend.

 



© 2011 Enigma


Author's Note

Enigma
And...? :)

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Reviews

Great way to begin the story--I'm interested to read more. I especially liked the description of Falcon. You gave me a clear picture of how he looked and acted without rattling off a spiel of details.

Posted 13 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Scene set well, dialogue feels natural, that is good :) Looking forward to more love....great start! xx

Posted 13 Years Ago


I like the way you begin this story. Strong character and storyline. I like the description of the fall into the water and you left me with a opening ending. I look forward to see where you are taking this story. A excellent opening chapter.
Coyote

Posted 13 Years Ago


1 of 2 people found this review constructive.


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Added on May 24, 2011
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Author

Enigma
Enigma

India



About
Hi, I'm Preeti. Nice to meet you! I found this place around the same time I found my love for writing. To be honest, it was a time back when I could write. And I did, oh so much. I found words to b.. more..

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