Chapter 7

Ellisa played her cithara, singing, "Tears fall into the sea, seeing you, a feeling comes over me. My cares scatter along. I was waiting for you, could it be wrong?"

Carrying a pitcher into the room, Brigette asked, "You wrote that? Who is it about?"

"Remember the pirates who were hanged on the beach last year?"

"How can you write beautiful lyrics and sing like you do for those men?"

"A song is about emotion. You'd know nothing about it. Your mind is dull and so must be your thoughts."

"I can't play like you, but I know of someone better."

"Better than me?"

"Mm hmm."

Ellisa laughed maniacally. "Who is it?"

"You needn't worry, I don't expect he'd offer you much of his time. Seeing as you're such a difficult woman to get along with."

Ellisa laughed harder. "It doesn't matter whether he likes me or not just as long as he's intrigued."

"His name is Niccolo."

"The hyena?"

"He was the best at the theater."

"What does he play?"

"Cithara, same as you."

"Is he really amazing?"

"He is."

"I want to see him."

"He's always at the Oasis with those scoundrels."

"Let's go tonight."

"Your father would never allow it."

From another room, Josef called out, "Yes I will."

Brigette endured Ellisa's smug face as she huffed, "Wear a coat." The walk wasn't far, and mostly downhill. Brigette was the first to notice the sun, overpowered by cool air, as it hung low in the sky over Oasis. It seemed picturesque, and might lure some romantic in from afar with its charm. Of course, she thought herself too wise to fall into such a trap. Their music might stir her feelings, and inspire her at times, but the world would not regard their contributions for long. This was a world for hard labor and status. Clawing up to improve one's standing mattered. These musicians, with their rejection of the world's system, could never rise too highly. Especially, she thought, since they were motivated by an inner feeling or intuition. Often, their motives and interests would make no sense to someone with a clear view of life, and this is just what she had. Still, there was a certain poetry in the place and the people. And no one could fault her if she indulged her imagination just a little.

Philosophically, and even visually, the place was a perfect counterbalance to everything she knew to be true about the world. From the top of its modest hill, Oasis mimicked the great heights of Pallas. The ocean peacefully lulled in the evening tide. Men played catch in the day's fading light with a small leather ball outside the doorway. They had no worries, no cares, and yet many of them didn't have enough money to last more than two days at any one time.

Ellisa and Brigette walked in under hoods. Suddenly the mood shifted, from the chilly island setting outside to a cozy and warm hideaway of musicians and wanderers. Don Peppe blowed a soothing rhythm on his flute. Brigette shrugged. "It's not what it used to be."

Ellisa's eyes sparkled; her shining white teeth made a rare appearance from behind her unusually genuine smile. "It's perfect."

Jerome approached them. Ellisa handed him a coin. "Bring me a grappa, no lemon."

"Grappa extra lemon, coming up."

Ellisa grimaced. "So irritating. I can't believe he's running a shop."

Don Peppe switched to tambourine. He belted out, "This is the day I fall apart. Shed my skin and learn to fly." Don Peppe swung to the rhythm. Brigette noticed Niccolo scribbling in a book of lyrics. Don Peppe continued. "Falling into confusion. Falling through the air. A-aye it's wonderful."

Jerome handed Ellisa the grappa. She took a seat and drank. "He did put extra lemon in."

Brigette looked uncomfortable. "Let's go."

"Sit down."

The night wore on with Brigette never quite settling in. Ellisa's face came alive with pleasure. The songs were new and unpredictable. Traditions from all the old masters were wholly ignored. All that seemed to matter to these musicians was that the sound excited the hearer and that they pushed their emotion all the way to the furthest back corner of the hall. Jerome called out,

"Niccolo, could you…?"

Niccolo threw off his book of lyrics and takes his cithara.

"Something to make us laugh," Jerome requested.

Niccolo raised his eyebrows. "I don't have any of those songs."

Luca crept in close to Niccolo. "Do you know who came to see you? She's here. Ellisa." Niccolo casts a look at the two cloaked figures in the corner.

Luca smiled. "She must have heard of you."

Niccolo took his place on the small stage. He pulled a single string, setting in motion a new song. Ellisa's eyes narrowed. Don Peppe took a drink, then handed it to Jerome. Jerome shook it up. Don Peppe drank from the cup again and nodded.

Niccolo sang, "And we are, all together in Caledonia to greet the earth from above, and we are so alone."

"Caledonia, he sings as if he's been there," Ellisa suggested to Brigette.

"Maybe he has. What do we really know about him?"

"We know he can play."

Don Peppe followed the notes with his hands beating on the table.