It was a slightly disturbing work, but I fell in love with it instantly. Paul
noticed my interest, and sarcastically said, 'You know he-goats are known for their randiness, don't you?'
Of course I must have looked like a fool, for one moment I thought he had seen right through me, had read my lustful thoughts about him from my posture, maybe straight from my mind.
The merchant, eager to make a sale, used my moment of stunned silence to get a word in.
'Beautiful paper-maché folk art, missus, and only a tenner. That is practically for free.'
That was way cheaper than I expected, and the figure seemed to encourage me to take him with me.
Next to me, Paul laid a hand on my arm in a familiar way and looked at me disapprovingly.
The merchant quickly said, 'Eight pounds, that is my final offer.'
I did wonder why Paul was so set against my buying it, but I quickly sealed the deal.
'Sold!'
After buying the goat-man I was ready to return to my apartment, and perhaps Paul was, too.
'Shall we go home? And why were you so set against my buying this?'
He laughed merrily.
'I wasn't, that guy thought we were a married couple, so I pretended to thoroughly dislike it so you'd get it for as little as he would sell it for.'
Of course the logic of that statement was clear to me immediately, what a neat trick!
'You're really smart, and subtle, I never even noticed that. Thank you.'
He looked at the thing thoughtfully and even touched it briefly, then stated, 'It feels vaguely sentient, I have a certain sensibility to magic. I hope I won't regret helping you buy it.'
I did not understand that last remark, why would he regret something I bought? But he mentioned another word that sounded positively ridiculous to me.
'Magic?' I couldn't believe he said that!
'This piece of painted paper? You're not serious!'
By this time, we had reached the cart with the rest of our purchases, and after laying our latest buys carefully on top of the others, we set off for home, the boy following with the cart.
Back home, we shared the cost of the cart, and after taking his metals into his basement, Paul helped me take my stuff upstairs, and even find a nice place for everything. We saved the goatish man for last, and decided to place him over my small hearth. With a big iron hammer from his workshop Paul drove a nail into the wall of his house, and hung the mirror-like piece on it.
Taking a few steps back to admire his handiwork he seemed very satisfied with his job.
'Nice and straight. Seeing him here I think he suits your place, he looks well on your wall and he'll feel safe here.' Again, I had a feeling he knew more than he let on, more about this work of art and more about me. I must admit I felt a bit disconcerted, I regarded him as a down-to-earth craftsman, a gifted craftsman surely, even an artist, but not a spiritual person. But now he seemed to see right through me.
'You are so silent, aren't you pleased with the new man in your life?' he asked when I just stood there, looking at him in surprise and yes, even dismay.
Shaking the feeling of another world touching mine, I looked about my room with its new inhabitant, and I was more than pleased, I was thrilled. This was the piece I had in mind when I set out this afternoon, a real focal point, and just quirky enough. So I let all my satisfaction resound in my voice.
'Yes, I am very happy with him. He looks right at home here, as you said.
Thank you for your help.'
Still I couldn't help feeling that he knew I had a crush on him and wanted to let me know he did. Not wanting to show my disturbance I asked him, 'Will you stay for dinner?'
His reply startled me again.
'I don't think so. I think it's time I made dinner for you, at my place. Let him get used to the room on his own'.
The last remark was made looking at my new piece of art, which he seemed to almost regard as a real person.
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Document Outline
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Revelations Page 60