Thread: Original Sin - Cast in Stone

Ciro went immediately from Alessandra's presence to the Quarry-Master in hopes of catching him before he left. The quarry master looked at Ciro, cautiously, wondering if he could trust him. Ciro had always paid his debts to the man. He had been late once or twice, but he had never not paid. Still the man did not like to extend credit, especially when he learned that Ciro wanted an 8-cubit by 8-cubit by 4-cubit block of white marble. Whatever his project was, it was going to be ambitious. The cost was 60 florins, with 10 florins interest included in the price for credit terms. The man nodded and asked what his needs were. Of course it was white marble. They all wanted white marble. If only they wanted Limestone, it was so much easier to work with. Ciro received the block two days later. It showed in his workshop and the transporters rolled it in on a series of round logs. It took 2 hours to get it off of the cart and into his workshop. It was an impressive slab of rock and it had cost him an average man's salary for 5 years. Ciro spent an hour simply inspecting the stone, feeling it's seams and it's hardness. Looking and tapping to find the telltale places to make the first couple taps. He chipped off one of the corners and placed it on an anvil, hitting it with a heavy hammer. The rock cracked and split, it didn't crumble into dust. This was a good piece of rock. It would do nicely. He signed the agreement with the Quarry-Master and began the process of putting all of his tools together. He was happy as could be with the rock. He contemplated getting some new tools for the work, but wanted the familiarity with his chisels, mallets, scraping tools and polishing stones. New tools, one day, but for now he would work with the familiar tools he was given when he attained the rank of journeyman stonemason. Ciro spent the next day in preparation. He gathered several barrels of water from the well to make sure he had everything for his tools to ensure they were well kept. He also purchased some oil to keep his tools from rusting. With his tools oiling and the water gathered he went and purchased a number of cushions and a large sofa for Alessandra to sit on as he worked on the face that was to become a masterpiece. He slept the morning and early afternoon of the Friday, and woke up making sure he made his way over to the pub. He left 14 of the remaining 15 florins hidden safely in his house. He did not want to make the same mistake as the week before getting every artisan in Naples drunk. He was popular for days to come after his binge, but he was not in the pub for festivities, he was there with a purpose. He saw a girl with dark hair enter the pub and sit down, looking around. It was her, she did come! Ciro feared for a moment she wouldn't show and he would have to find another model, but for the time being he had Alessandra to carve. She wore a black, heavy cloak but hints of the blue dress she wore in the market peeked out from under the cloak. He walked over and sat down beside her. He was elated to be so close to her again. Ah, you make me so happy that you are here. I would offer you a drink here, but I am afraid that would lead to more merriment and I am looking to create tonight. Perhaps we can share some merriment another time. I have wine, grapes, olives and cheese at my workshop if you are hungry or would like something to remain fresh for the evening. Shall we go to my workshop? Ciro smiled and led her by the hand across the street and down a smaller side-street to his workshop. He showed her the way slowly so that she could come and go as she pleased, especially so that her presence wouldn't be noted at the tavern. No-one wanted her discovered. Ciro opened the double-door entrance to the workshop revealing a simple room with a pleasant sand and straw floor in the main work area surrounded by simple sanded pine-plank floors everywhere else. There was a kitchen in the left back corner, and a table with chairs in the back-right corner. There was a sofa and several cushions on the sofa about 10 feet to the left of the working area, a 15-cubit wide circle in the middle of the floor. In the middle of this circle sat the 8 foot tall by 8 foot wide slab of marble. It dominated the room, with it's great white opulence reflecting back the light of all the lanterns. Tucked away in a corner was a simple bed of a small mattress over a pile of sweet-smelling straw. A personal toilet was located in the alley, private to only Ciro and there was a small bathing room with a small tub as well as a basin and mirror in another room cut into the wall behind the sofa. Welcome to my workshop. It's not the finest accommodations in all of Italy, but it has everything I need and hopefully you can be comfortable here while I complete my work. If I had my way I could spend a lifetime just working on perfecting the eyes that God has seen fit to give you. But I cannot start there, I must start with what the stone says I must start. It says I must start with the top down. The crown of your lovely head, I suspect. Ciro moved his hands up and down the marble, getting a feel for where to start. Years of training and practice had taught him to listen to what the stone had to say.