Iryssa Luna appeared after a moment, detailing numerous instructions my buzzing ears could hardly hear. But I do recall that she repeated more than once, “Do not exceed the prescribed dose, this medicine has unparalleled benefits but it can kill you, never forget this!”. After reiterating her recommendations she handed me a note, written with beautifully elegant handwriting, on a paper decorated with forget-me-nots.
I took the note and nodded my understanding, thanked Iryssa profusely, paid for the distillate and left, with the necklace still in my pocket and without even introducing myself by my name, damn me!
Go to the laboratory and work!, I ordered myself enraged, marching with crazed disappointment at my conduct. And work could have indeed been the remedy to my inane floundering, if only I had not encountered another obstacle in my confounding day.
When I reached the laboratory I found a man standing in front of the door. I looked at him with surprised coolness, irritated by his presence.
“Are you Cesare Mercurio, sir?”, he inquired in an accented Italian, tinted with unmistakable German notes, and with an broad grin
“Indeed. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”, I replied, my irritation untainted by this man’s friendly greeting
“Ricco Ermete”, the man replied, tending his hand and gripping mine with a vigour that seemed uncalled for
“Very well”, I started, “and to what do I owe the honour of this visit?”
“I am a chemist and if I am not mistaken we share similar interests”, Ricco Ermete begun
“You are not mistaken in saying that I am a chemist”, I replied, wondering why this man had chosen to land in front of my laboratory unannounced rather than send me a note to introduce himself
His grin broadened further
“Your reputation is a brilliant one”, he said
“That is possible, but I tend to be a solitary man in my work and in my life”, was my response
I hoped I had been as clear as crystal, and yet the man was animated by an unbelievable eagerness
“I am a solitary man myself”, he replied, although this hardly seemed to be the case given his incessant chatter
“I am a solitary man”, he continued, “and yet being from your same nationality and sharing such similar…”
I cut him short
“I would have believed you were German”, I said
“I have indeed spent enough time in Germany that my accent has been modified”, Ricco Ermete replied, laughing
Then he suddenly turned serious, and the change was so abrupt it stroke me as odd.
“I understand you have an interest in mercury, to which I have been devoting the majority of my studies for years. I am here to share ideas, perhaps to initiate a fruitful collaboration”, he said, his eyes scrutinizing my face attentively
“It is true that mercury is one of the elements that fascinates me the most because of the mysteries of its multiform nature”, I replied, a hint of sympathy for the man surging within me
Ricco Ermete must have sensed the change in my disposition, because his expression lit up, and he launched himself into a long excursion into his discoveries and experiments with mercury.
“I would be honoured to visit your laboratory”, was the epilogue of his speech
The man’s speech was punctuated with sparks of intelligence that tingled my curiosity. But I am not a fool, and although the man’s enthusiasm was captivating I need the solid certainty that he is not a charlatan before introducing him to the precious beauty of my scientific art.
“The honour would be mine”, I responded, “but today is an extremely busy day. May I suggest that you contact me with a missive to arrange a time to meet again?”
The cloud of disappointment that darkened Ricco Ermete’s face did not elude me, although it lasted for the briefest instant. Then the man’s expression opened into a smile – if authentic or simulated I couldn’t ascertain – and he said, “Of course, dear colleague”
I decided to gather some information of this individual in the next days, as it would be a useful distraction from Iryssa Celata, if nothing more.
The encounter with Ricco Ermete used up the best part of my afternoon and, shattered as I was by the events of the day, I headed to my abode in solitary frustration. And this is how you find me now, reader, recounting the failures of my day to myself, while holding Iryssa’s medical note in my hand.
Chapter 9 – Iris Luna
After the turmoil of the last days this morning I woke up eager to return to the lab and allow a good dose of work to wash away my anxiousness and put some rational order in my frenzied mind. I walked briskly while elaborating a plan for the day, and when I reached the lab I set myself up for the next experiments with methodic enthusiasm and mirthful curiosity.
I had been unable to decipher the nature of the gas produced by the hydrolysis of Iryssa Celata by analyzing it as it was, but what if I oxidized it and studied the products of the reaction? Perhaps that was the key to the enigma! I placed a flask on a hot plate and heated the water while adding ammonium persulfate, a potent oxidizer.
During the first instants nothing happened, but then what I saw was pure wonder! Flower –shaped crystals formed on the walls of the flask, and their colour was not uniform. Rather, it changed from deep carmine at the bottom to bluish tints towards the top. It was almost lunch time, but the excitement had chased the hunger away and I proceeded to analyze the crystals without delay. The effort was worth it! There are still many pieces missing from the puzzle, but at least now I have enough clues to make guesses on the nature of the gas.
But there is more than this to my day…let me tell you about a strange coincidence. But was it a coincidence? I’ll tell you the story and you can decide for yourself.
On my way back home I crossed the library, and knowing I could not resist stepping in I surrendered to my wishes without opposing much struggle. Just surrender, I told myself, wondering a moment later at the reasons for which I had formulated my thought so.
I silently slipped in my usual spot down in the rare book section, and when my book opened on the page where I had left it I was not surprised. This book talks to me, I tell you, strange as it may seem…
We shall not omit the wondrous discoveries of a woman, the identity of whom we will conceal at this point of our account.
This woman extracted the rarest compounds of medicinal plants and, with the intent of improving their curative properties, combined them with mercury compounds. The minutest amounts of the compounds have beneficial properties, and yet they are destructive and deadly if not used with the greatest caution! Because of such properties we will not reveal the nature of the compounds, their methods of preparation, or the name of their discoverer.
We shall however not leave unspoken some hints, which can be deciphered only by the most brilliant minds. We confide in those minds to put the compounds to the best use, and faithfully hope that our trust will not be betrayed.
In her notes the woman describes the formation of a rainbow of crystals, with a multi-coloured flair ranging from tones of blue to deep red, that manifest chromatically the fingerprint of the chemicals from which the crystals had originated.
Now, oh reader, no more words shall be pronounced or written on this lethal subject!
That woman was I, I whispered in my mind. What had I known about the rainbow of crystals when I lived? Oh no! I am screaming oh no! in my unstable mind now and I screamed oh no! did in the library, as I sat silently meandering amid implausible conjectures.
I was grasping my red curls with both hands, my head bent, to hush the nonsense but when I raised my eyes I saw him…and it was real. I saw the man who had looked at me through the jeweler’s window. The charcoal eyes, the glossy slick locks of hair falling sensually along the cheeks, the curved mustache and…
…the ring. I noticed it for the first time, with the red rock held captive by flaming tongues of gold. The red rock, I could swear it was cinnabar. I looked at my necklace
, at the beautiful pendant, clear as water, holding the small speck of the red mineral within itself. How had I not realized it? It was cinnabar I had been wearing! I let the pendant slip along my neck and shivered.
The charcoal eyes were transfixed on me now, and the fine mouth was bent in the slightest smile. I began leafing through the book feverishly, raising my gaze now and then to make sure he was still there. And finally I found it! The portrait of Cesare Mercurio lay in front of me. I raised my eyes one more time, but at that very instant the man stood up from the table where he had been sitting and walked away.
I gathered my coat hastily and ran up the stairs, swallowing them away two steps at a time.
“Wait!”, I called out, but Cesare Mercurio did not stop and disappeared in the dark streets, in the meanders of his mysterious existence.
I am writing these words in the street, leaning my back against the library columns. I am afraid of my attic tonight, I am afraid of my lonely presence in it and of the voices I hear, the truthfulness of which I shall especially doubt.
Chapter 10 – Cesare Mercurio
Although I am by nature an introvert and mundane events are of dismal interest to me, I took part to a social gathering of chemists and lovers of science. I would have taken not notice of the event had it not been for my physician and friend, Sir Adolph Mors, who proposed that I participate “Out of mere curiosity for the uses and misuses of chemistry, if not with the hope of learning scientific facts of use for your laboratory work”, he had argued.
I reluctantly accepted, but in the light of the facts I shall forever be indebted to my friend!
Contrarily to my skeptical expectations the discussions did indeed reveal intriguing novelties and inspire stimulating lines of thought, but it is not because of this that I am so grateful to Sir Adolph Mors. Oh reader, listen to how a seemingly irrelevant event can change a man’s life!
I was sitting at a table conducting an animate dissertation with a fellow scientist when I caught a glance of her flaming hair. For a moment I doubted that the vision was nothing but a delusion, as my night had been animated by oneiric images of Iryssa and by the honey-sweet sound of her melodic voice. So intense had been the dream that I had taken the necklace with me, suspended in the feeling that I would see her at any moment. How could such an absurd hope become reality? Ah, how magnificent life can be at times!
The man in front of me kept talking, but I could no longer hear his words. My expression must have turned suddenly ecstatic and stunned at once, because my interlocutor interrupted his sentence and asked, “Are you quite all right, sir?”
“Yes, yes…excuse me for a moment”, I mumbled and headed towards Iryssa’s table followed by his perplexed gaze
It wasn’t courage that guided my steps. I walked almost unconsciously, oblivious of the surroundings, as if the night’s dreams permeated the world in which I was acting.
“Iryssa”, I whispered
She raised her eyes in surprise, and the man who was talking to her interrupted his speech. And this man…I recognized him, he was the one who had been waiting in front of my laboratory the previous day. In which ways is he connected with Iryssa?, I wondered
“I trust and hope that you are better, sir?”, Iryssa asked me
“I certainly am, and I am here to thank you for your services”, I lied with unexpected assurance
“I have done very little”, Iryssa replied, smiling modestly, and I felt my whole soul and body waver and shimmer at the sound of Iryssa’s voice, innocent and sensual at once.
I stood there in silence, short of words.
Iryssa rested her eyes on me, studying me with a sharpness dissimulated only in part by her natural shyness. After a moment a wave of fondness crossed her face- or am I imagining? – and she asked, “Have you met Ricco Ermete before?”
“He has indeed”, Ricco Ermete replied before I could
I was irritated by his presence because of his interference in my conversation with Iryssa, but of course I have a strong grip on my emotions, as a man should!
“It is a small world, isn’t it? I didn’t expect to see you here”, I said, tending my hand with a smile, perhaps not joyful but at least polite
Iryssa arched her brows just slightly.
“Ricco Ermete has paid me a visit as he fancies my work and finds it may be of interest to him”, I explained before Ricco Ermete could talking again
My intention was not to patronize the man, but nonetheless I wished to set myself apart from him and make clear to Iryssa that our relationship was merely superficial. After all I still didn’t know anything about the man.
“It is a pleasant surprise to meet you and Iryssa at once, I was unaware that the two of you were acquainted with each other”, I said, the question about the real nature of their relationship burning within me
“Chemistry is the foundation of all disciplines, although not all men recognize it”, Ricco Ermete began and I nodded, unsure as to where this conversation was leading
“And of course chemistry is the heart and soul of an apothecary shop”, he continued
“Sir Ricco Ermete helps in my uncle’s shop a couple of times a week”, Iryssa interrupted, and concealed my giggle with a polite nod, amused by the impatient interruption of my beautiful woman
“Iryssa and I have been working in the apothecary shop all day, and it is true luck that we decided to join this event…”, he started, and then continued, but what he said I wouldn’t be able to tell you because I was no longer listening to his prolix babble.
I slipped my hand in my pocket and felt the necklace’s small box. It was now or never. I needed to give Iryssa the necklace, but how? I was swaying amid this mayhem of doubts and thoughts, when Fortune – who has befriended me today and whose existence I shall never again deny – came once again to my rescue.
“Sir Ricco Ermete?”, a voice called out behind us, and as we turned we saw a page holding a letter in his hand
“In person”, Ricco Ermete replied
“There is a message for you”, the young page said, handing him the letter
Ricco Ermete opened it and his face darkened, his frown tracing deep and deeper lines on his face at each line he read
“There is an urgent matter I must resolve”, he said at last
“I hope all is well…”, Iryssa said
“Oh yes, yes…but unfortunately I must leave without delay. May I beg you to accept my apologies as I ask you to anticipate your ride back?”, he said
“Taking me home would force you to take a detour, and I do not wish to inconvenience you by delaying your trip. I will be able to find another carriage to reach home, please do not concern yourself with me”, Iryssa replied with a delightful frown
“May I offer you a ride home at your convenience as a sign of gratitude for healing my illness?”, I proposed, trying to keep my voice steady as my heart leaped
“I am much obliged for your generosity, sir…”, Iryssa smiled, and there was an undisguised curiosity in her smile now
“Sir Cesare Mercurio”, I replied laughing, “how uncourteous of me to forget to introduce myself”
“I shall see you again, your kindness is greatly appreciated”, Ricco Ermete interrupted us, before walking away hastily
“I haven’t introduced myself either, although somehow you seem to know my name”, she said, with a mischievous tinge in her tone
“Your uncle called you by name in the apothecary shop”, I explained
“You are an observant man, Cesare Mercurio”, Iryssa commented
She studied me attentively for a moment, then added, “Iryssa Luna Celata is my full name
Iryssa Luna Celata
The name echoed within me.
“Your last name…”, I started, leaving the sentence in mid-air
“My ancestors were Italian, yes”, she replied to my unspoken question
Oh reader, how much I love this woman! I love her for her intuition, for the beauty of her soul and of he
r figure, for her wit and her feminine shyness, for the halo of well-being exhaling from her. But why am I telling you all this? After all I am bound to her for reasons beyond all the ones I’ve listed, I am attracted by a mysterious thread the logic of which surpasses my mind. And her origin…I’ve told you that present and past are woven into an endless flow, and propagate as an undeterred echo. Isn’t this but another proof of the existence of transparent and yet unbreakable links that mould our lives, as strings that move puppets on the stage of a theatre?
“What brought you here from Italy?”, Iryssa asked, interrupting my reverie
“My father married a Dutch woman. He was a doctor, and yet he ironically deceased at a very early age, when I was still an infant. My mother chose to return to her homeland, and we packed few months after my father’s death, bringing with us my Italian nanny. I have no memories of my father, but my nanny spoke to me in my native language and recounted stories of my ancestors, keeping the memory of my origins vivid within me”, I told Iryssa, as she drank my account with undisguised curiosity
“And what inspired you to learn about chemistry?”, Iryssa asked
“My mother married a second time, and my stepfather was a chemist. He valued his work above everything else. He spent the longest hours in the best room in the house, which he had transformed into a laboratory. Entering that room was strictly forbidden to all people in the house, and because of that my desire to discover that space grew irresistible. I was a quiet but clever kid, and I found a way to open the door at night without being noticed, or so I thought. How fascinating it was to run my fingers on the smooth surface of the flasks in the room dimly lit by the moon’s halo, to open the bottles and smell their mysterious contents! My stepfather left his notes in the laboratory, and with time I took pleasure in reading about the discoveries he had made during the day, his doubts and the description of his experiments. For a while these experiences sufficed to me, but one audacious night I felt the urge to repeat an experiment, the outcome of which seemed to confound my father considered the numerous question marks and comments on his lab book. Of course I lacked all scientific skills and when I set myself to work I stumbled at every step. The scarce illumination was a further hindrance, and so I lit a small lantern to ease my troubles. But in the middle of the experiment the flame wavered and died away, and I found myself in almost complete darkness. When I attempted to light the lantern again an ignited speck of dust fell into the dish in which I was blending the elements. As I saw it fall I gasped, fearing they would catch fire and burn uncontrollably. What happened instead is that they caught fire slowly and, when the flames smouldered, the blend slowly changed colour, muting from light yellow to glowing purple! The marvel I felt at that moment was one I never experienced before. That instant set the path of my life and I understood that my purpose could only be to pursue the mysteries of nature and chemistry”, I said, remembering
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