(quick fic) Patience

[wytchcroft]

The sea at least is honest; it's the land that lies.

Gazing out from the soft slope at the edge of a red sandy cliff, Daniel could barely see the listing ship and could not make out the granite teeth that had abused her so cruelly.

The sun was beginning to rise, reaching out to touch the shadows of the cliff-base, between them they slicked the Sea with red.

"Really, t'aint but a mercy we'll be doin'..."

The wind of the night had dropped, and though a breeze still sang through the spines and spikes of grass about his feet, Daniel could hear the low voice clearly, from close and behind. The man speaking was as broad as his accent, Samson he was called and never a name more fitting.

Daniel gave a half nod, shifting his hands in the wide pockets of his oilskin. "If it were such a mercy Sam then we should be about our business already by now." He turned slowly to face his grizzled companion.

"Patience is a virtue," the man said.
He was staring at Daniel with hungry but level eyes, like a mastiff waiting for the chain to be struck off.

"'Tis almost dawn and who will tell tales then eh? No one to be blamed for anything, our little lights can't be held responsible now, can they?"

Daniel was glad he had no eyeglass to see the flailings onboard - though he'd be more than close enough before long. He ran a hand up to the wild gorse of his hair. "Mercy is it?"

Truly, Samson was not in the mood to humour the milk-blooded likes of young Daniel, but he was content to do so since in a few minutes all this mealy moping would be forgotten and the two would be tramping through the surf like men, men with a purpose, men with a duty - to their people, their wives, and their homes.

"Do you not see Dan," the man rattled off his words in a well practiced manner, "it's always about mercy - take the Sea... she's merciful to us, we have a need and she delivers. Or if you like, you could say God's will is merciful - as Father Adrian does. We are grateful after all, aren't we - aren't you?"

"Aye..."

"And it's the law -who's to question the mercy of the law eh? What comes in comes in. It's right for us - and right for them big city folk, those that run the line."

"And those poor men?"

"We ease their suffering lad - better their time ends quick and painless." Samson had pulled a heavy club from a linen bag slung over his shoulder. An odd fluting sound cut through the air, cut across their conversation. "There be the whistle lad, time to move them jelly legs of yours." Samson turned away to trudge down the descending path to where it met the dunes. The boys would have a boat on the other side and ready.

"Mercy..." Daniel said again, and to himself.

But Samson had good hearing, for he turned about suddenly and pointed his club accusingly at Daniel's lanky frame.

"And let no man call us Wreckers," he yelled.

Comments

[aliasse.livejournal.com]

like a starling, a song of the morning, the sun and the scent of wild roses

I absolutely love this line: it conjures up all sorts of images from illuminated manuscripts. Didn't they used to eat starlings in those days?:)

Knights are cool. But, even though I have a picture of the knight here, I preferred Gunnar Bjornstrand's squire (was it a squire? - it's so long since I actually watched it).

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

And another comment to make me blush!:))

Koff! er, yes, well they ate lark's tongues - but 'like a lark' just reads all wrong, LOL!, so i changed it - and i do adore illuminated manuscripts :))

knights are... difficult - very appealing but... there's a lot of baggage there; tricky symbols, slippery values, weapon fetishes (!)etc
but i do love the whole Arthur/King Under the Hill thing, i mean it's dodgey as fuck but... nah, i love it :))

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

and i need to re-watch 7h Seal! it's actually been a long time for me too.

i watched 'persona' again just recently and 'through a glass darkly' - and Bergman's last movie 'Saraband'.

Have you ever seen The Magician (aka The Face)? Makes a great double bill with Seventh Seal (and Gunnar's in it too).

right now i'm elbow deep in robert bresson - for my sins.. my - sins... -whip snap!- must mortify - whip snap! - sins - etc etc

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

... and sometimes i watch comedies.

[aliasse.livejournal.com]

Comedies? - tu mentes quand tu petes. (Fart jokes, definitely amusant...)

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

ah oui, d'accord - ala Serge Gainsbourg et vu d'exterieur, ou le film 'petomane'! :))

[aliasse.livejournal.com]

The last Bergman I watched was 'Fanny and Alexander'. I love the scene where the uncle berates the priest; I could watch it a hundred times and still laugh. I find loss of control intensely comedic. I haven't seen the others. And I haven't seen a single Bresson. (That was one of those confessions that didn't feel good...) I'm a sucker for a Hollywood movie.

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

well, it's not like they show them on the telly!

i love a good hollywood movie too, i'm not as pretentious as i sound, honest! LOL! :))

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

pretentious, moi? (LMFAO!)