Fog and Rain, Rain and Fog

There was only one town on this, one of the smaller islands in the northernmost reaches of Puget Sound, hard by the Canadian border. There were no beaches on this side of the island and the town sat above the huge rocks on which the waves crashed below.The town had one store and a small restaurant to serve the fewer than five hundred people who lived on the island year round, most of whom lived in the town. Inland there were a few farmers who grew strawberries in the mild summers. The winters were too wet for strawberry growing.Of the fleet of fishing boats that once plied the waters only three remained, one of which belonged to Thor Volden. Thor was a descendant of one of the many Norwegian fishermen who had come to these shores generations ago.In the thirty-seven years he had lived, the fishing industry had died out, first with the Chinook Salmon and more recently with the bottom fish like Halibut and Sole. But Thor continued doing the only thing he?d been raised to do, trying to eke out a meager living.He didn?t earn enough money to pay for help and so he piloted his boat, spread his nets and hauled in whatever he caught with no assistance. The strenuous labor had kept his body slim and his muscles hard. He?d developed a permanent squint from the hours with the sun reflecting off the sea, but when one looked directly at him they were still taken by the clear, ice-blue eyes that looked back at them.Some of the village residents felt that Thor was unsociable and held that against him, but when they expressed their beliefs there was always someone who immediately spoke up in his defense.?Do you remember that time Lillith Marsden had let herself run out of her blood pressure medicine and Thor sailed all the way to Bellingham to pick it up for her?? one might say.?And don?t forget,? chimed in another, ?the weather was terrible.??Yeah,? the first provided. ?Just terrible.?Or someone remembered the time Olin Robertson fell and twisted his ankle so badly he couldn?t stand up.Maria Sells told how ?Thor just happened to be passing and saw Olin layin? on his porch. He picked Olin up and carried him inside and got him all comfortable. He was gonna call the doc but old Olin told him not to and not to tell his daughter.?When asked why, she continued, ?Well, Sally and her husband were goin? through a rough time and he didn?t wanna make things worse. But ya know, Thor went by there every day, well, twice a day really, to see how Olin was getting? on and fix him somethin? to eat. That went on for a week or more, as I recollect.?But it was true that Thor kept to himself for most of the time. He?d never married and lived alone in a house on the edge of town with no close neighbors. His work kept him busy for the major part of daylight hours and when the rains grew in strength to the point he couldn?t go out in his trawler he sequestered himself in his house. On a day when an approaching storm convinced him he should head back in, he came around the island and spied what appeared to be a broken skiff being washed up onto the rocky shoreline. When he reached his dock and got the boat moored he trudged back along the shore for the mile to where he?d seen the wreckage.On his way, he passed in front of the Hughes? house which had been vacant for a couple of years. He?d heard somebody had rented it but didn?t know by whom. When he got to where the dingy was he saw that it was unsalvageable. He had no idea who it belonged to, but he?d put out the word at the local market so that if the owner was from around here they?d know the fate of their boat.Returning the way he?d come, as he was approaching the Hughes house he saw ahead that a younger man was climbing down the large shore rocks. He seemed to be attempting to get to a boulder that stuck up from the waves a couple of feet from the shore. As he got closer Thor saw that there was a cat perched on top of said boulder.He shouted out, ?Hey!? He repeated, ?Hey, you! Stop! Don?t do that!?The man drew his foot back and clung to the rock he was standing on. He watched as Thor drew closer. There was no visual way to see how the cat had gotten on the big boulder, but it was apparent that it soon was going to be very wet with the incoming tide.When Thor got nearer he loudly said, ?Those rocks are slippery. You?ll be worse off than your cat you don?t watch out. You better get back up here.??Yeah, but that poor animal. I heard it calling for help, and I came out and found it. I just wanted to save it. I couldn?t stand by and watch it die.?Thor had reached where the man was and reached his hand down for the guy to clasp so he could help him scramble back up to the grassy area.?Well, I?ve climbed over these rocks all my life, so I got a better chance. Here, hold my jacket.?He lowered himself down the rocks and found firm footing. He took a long step and got one foot onto a jagged outthrust of the boulder. He reached and teetered. He caught himself with his hand pressed against the boulder and stood still for a couple of seconds. He looked down at the waves lapping against the rocks, noting that they were rising rapidly as the tide came in.He tried again and got a grip of the scruff of the cat's neck. He paused again as the cat struggled against being captured. With a sudden movement, he pushed with his extended foot and thrust himself back against the shoreline rocks. With his free hand, he grabbed a handful of grass that grew out of a split in a rock.?Here,? he said, holding the cat up. The guy reached down and took the cat from his grasp. Thor pulled himself up onto the bank.The man was holding the cat, which was purring and rubbing its head against the man?s jaw.?Well, you got your cat. Maybe you better keep him inside.?The man looked at Thor. ?Thanks, but it isn?t my cat. I told you, I just heard it.??Well, I think it's yours now. He seems to have taken to you. I never seen it ?fore. I don?t know who it could belong to.?The man laughed. ?Well, I guess I could use some companionship.??Watcha gonna call him???Is it a him? I don?t know. How about Piedras??He didn?t tell Thor that piedras kocaeli escort was Spanish for rocks.?You want to come in for a cup of tea? That?s all I can offer.?Thor shook his head. ?No, I better get on home ?fore the rain starts comin? down. It?s supposed to be a big one comin?.??Well, thanks again.?The man turned and went up the slope to the house. As Thor went on his way home he reflected that they had failed to introduce themselves and he didn?t know the man?s name.There were others on the island who also wondered what the name of the young man who had suddenly moved into the empty Hughes? house was. It had become the leading topic of gossip when more than three people accumulated in the market or at the counter of the small restaurant.Some commented on how he carried himself so upright, his shoulders back. Others noticed he lifted his feet in a strange way when he walked and it seemed more like he was gliding along instead taking steps.Rupert Edmond Langley was born and raised in San Francisco. At the age of twelve, he had joined the San Francisco Ballet School and devoted himself to daily training. He?d been an excellent student and after eight years was accepted into the corps de ballet. Three years later he was promoted to soloist.It was acknowledged that he was on fast track to becoming a principal dancer, but fate has a way of unceremoniously wrecking man?s plans. In rehearsal one day like dozens of others, Rupert tore a muscle in his leg behind his knee. His dancing career was ended.For years he?d dabbled at painting, mostly as a way of relaxing from the rigors of his training. Now he had nothing but time and filled it by devoting hours to developing his artistic abilities. The Hughes? house was now as much an artist studio as it was a place to live.In the market, an afternoon?s speculation about the new resident?s identity was joined by Missy Rickard.?I was hired to clean the house before he moved in, but I didn?t get it all done before he got here. I was there finishing up when he was movin? his stuff in. He?s got all these paintings, stuff he did.? She paused to get her breath.Paula Seamans jumped in. ?What did they look like. What kinda things does he paint??Missy shrugged. ?I don?t know how to say it. Sorta like trees, but like if you was lookin? through a crystal or somethin?. They?re pretty though. Anyhow, I saw he signed them all R. E. L.?Mavis Taylor, who was the doyenne of the market crowd, laughed. ?Ariel. Of course. That?s the perfect name for him. He even looks like an Ariel.?Missy didn?t understand a bit of that. It just didn?t make sense to her, but she?d never think of questioning Mavis Taylor.And so, unknown to Rupert Edmund Langley that day, he?d become a one- named ?Ariel?.The storm came and winds blew dampness in through the smallest cracks. Only the leaping flames in the fireplace dispelled the gloom in the room. Piedras spent hours curled on the rug in front of the fire. Rupert took breaks from painting to sit with a mug of steaming tea at a window looking out at the grey sea or deep into the dripping woods. As the tempest waned the clouds settled onto the tops of the tallest trees and the rain continued unabated for day after day.On the morning he awoke and found the sun struggling to break through the ragged clouds, he pulled on a jacket and began a walk into the village. The wind was still kicking up the waves and he zipped the jacket up to his chin.As he neared the first houses he saw Thor on his boat at the end of his dock. He was vainly attempting to tie down a canvas hold cover that had ripped loose, but when he secured one corner the opposite one would escape and flap wildly in the wind.Rupert trotted out onto the dock and stepped onto the boat. He made several tries at grabbing the flailing corner of the canvas and finally succeeded. It fiercely tried to wrench free of his grasp but he held tight. The wind inserted itself under the canvas and puffed it up into an empty mound.Rupert lurched forward and fell full-body on top of the tarp and quieted it while Thor wrapped the rope around it and secured it with intricate knots. He straightened up and made sure he had accomplished what he?d set out to do.Satisfied he offered his hand to Rupert and pulled him up onto his feet.?Thanks. You?re a godsend. I?m afraid the wind was defeating me.??Glad I happened along.??What are you doing out in this mess?? Thor inquired.?I was going to the store. I ran out of tea, and I was going bonkers locked up in the house for so many days.?Thor laughed. ?Yeah, I get the same way, but at least you got company. How?s Piedras doing??Rupert was impressed that he remembered the cat?s name.?He?s fine, but not much of a conversationist.?Thor repeated his chuckle. ?I don?t have any tea, but I got coffee brewing if you?d like to come in.??Thanks, I?d like that,? Rupert said, remembering how Thor had turned down his invitation a couple of weeks before.?By the way, I?m Thor,? Thor said, extending his hand.?I?m?? Rupert began but Thor cut him off.?Yeah, I know, Ariel. Mavis told me.?Rupert was confused. How did Thor know his initials? Who was Mavis??She told me too who Ariel was. From Shakespeare. She knows that sort of thing. It?s a real nice name.?They?d reached the front door and Thor opened and stepped aside for Rupert to enter.?She said that you paint. Real nice pictures she said, though I don?t expect she?s seen many of them. But I?d like to.?Rupert thought, ?So now I?m Ariel. Okay, not what I?d have chosen, but that seems apt, too. New life, new name.??I?m not a professional. It?s just a hobby. I?ve never had an exhibition or anything like that.?Thor had poured two mugs of coffee. ?Sugar? Milk??Ariel took the offered mug. ?Just milk.??Ha, I think I still got some left. I need to go to the store, too. But it?ll probably be packed today. I?ll wait till tomorrow.?They settled in the chairs flanking the fireplace and Ariel looked around. The room was sparsely furnished but neat. It reminded him of a ship, probably the captain's cabin. Thor watched him.?This used to be my dad?s place. kocaeli escort bayan Almost everything in here is just the way it was. Not none of it is mine, hardly.??Well, you keep it nice. Mine looks like what it basically is, the painting studio of a bohemian artist.?When Ariel finished his coffee he set the cup on the broad wooden arm of the chair.?I?d better go on to the store before the rain starts up again.??I doubt it?ll rain for another few days, although there is another storm out in the Pacific heading this way. But we should have a little break.?Thor stood and collected the mugs.Having had second thoughts he said, ?If you don?t mind I?d like to go along with you. Like I said, I need to restock on some stuff too.??No, I?d like that,? Ariel said.As they walked through the market, each one choosing what he needed, other shoppers took notice of them. It was unusual to see Thor associating with another person, and this was an almost stranger. How had they come to meet? What had brought them together?Ariel stopped and spread his arms out.?Can you believe this? They?re out of tea. Nothing.??Well, you drink coffee,? Thor said.?By default,? Ariel responded.They finished their shopping and headed toward home. The fog was coming in and writhing between the trees.When they reached Thor?s he said, ?I?d invite you in, but it looks like you?d better get on home before this fog gets so thick you won?t be able to find your way.??Thanks for going with me. I really enjoyed your company. And thanks for the coffee.?Thor chuckled. ?By default. Thanks for letting me tag along.?Ariel stood there for a few seconds. It seemed there should be something more to say. Something unsaid.?Well, okay. I guess I?ll see you. Bye.?He turned away and began walking. After a dozen steps, he looked back and Thor was still standing there, watching him go. Thor lifted his hand and went up onto his porch and through the door, closing it to the fog that tried to cling to him. In the days that followed he would find himself unexplainably thinking about Ariel, remembering a certain expression that had crossed his face or a particular manner in which he?d moved.The new storm arrived but it wasn?t as powerful as the first. However, the rains fell with only brief letups for four days and nights. When it stopped and the sun came out and crossed a cloudless sky Thor went again to the market.He carried a small package as he later went to the Hughes? house. His knock on the door went unanswered. He returned home and found paper on which to write a note. He trudged again to the Hughes? house and left the package and the note on the top step.Ariel had taken advantage of the clear day to take a walk along the shoreline. When he got back home he picked up the paper bag and looked inside. There was a box of tea. He read the note.Ariel, Enjoy. The next time, if you invite me again, I?ll accept. Thor.Ariel brewed a mug of tea and sat at the window looking out at the Sound. He thought about this man. He was ten or maybe fifteen years older than Ariel. He was good-looking in a very distinctive way. He was viral and lived a solitary life, and yet he was kind and open with Ariel. Why wasn?t he taken?The heavy fog returned, making the surroundings disappear, making the house an island unto itself. In the afternoon the sun would weakly burn through and then the fog would gather strength and block the sun out. Condensation dripped from the needles of the pines and the eaves of the house.Ariel found a piece of gift wrapping paper and cut out a square. On the back side, he wrote,Sir Thor,You are invited to an afternoon tea tomorrow at four o?clock (or before the fog grows too thick to find your way). Fancy dress is not required. A tolerance for my poor cooking is.Your servant,Sir Ariel Thor arrived on time clutching a handful of leaves and grasses he?d gathered on the way. When Ariel opened the door he thrust them forward.?I?m afraid there isn?t any flowers between my place and yours.?Ariel took the bundle. ?Well, I?ll have to find a vase for these. I?ll just put them outside the back door until I can dig one up.?They sat at the small table he?d cleared of its usual clutter and which now held a spread of crackers and a small bowl of Underwood Deviled Ham he?d mixed with mustard, some slices of pepperoni, slices of cheddar and Swiss cheese and a plate of chocolate chip cookies.?Actually, I have coffee if you?d rather. You don?t have to drink tea,? Ariel offered.?No, this is a tea, so I?ll drink tea.?He looked around at the paintings that leaned up against the walls.?Now I see what you do with your spare time. Maybe I should get a hobby.??I?d go nuts imprisoned in here by the weather if I didn?t do this,? Ariel said. ?What do you do to stay sane???I grew up with it so it doesn?t bother me all that much. Sometimes I repair stuff from the boat, like nets. And I read a lot.??Oh? What kind of stuff do you read???I get a lot of magazines, different sorts. And I read books. Mostly detective.??Any favorite authors???I like some of the old ones, like P.D. James and McDonald and Leonard. And I like James Lee Burke and Michael Connelly, of course.?Ariel sipped his tea.Thor pointed to one of the oils.?I like that one. I mean I like a lot of them, but that one especially.?Ariel smiled. ?That?s the first one I painted after I got settled in here.?He waited a moment and then asked, ?Do you want it???What? No, no I couldn?t. I mean thanks, but I couldn?t take it.??Of course you could. I?d like for you to have it.??Maybe I could pay you for it. How much do you want???I don?t want a fucking thing. It?s a gift. I want you to have it if you really like it. You need something to hang on the walls of that living room of yours.?Thor cut his eyes sharply at Ariel and then laughed.?I guess you?re right about that. Thanks.??More tea???Just a little?After another moment's silence, Thor said, ?You know what I?d really like to do? I?d like to come here someday and watch you paint.??No, you wouldn?t. You?d be bored to tears.??No, I don?t think so. I?d love to watch how you mix izmit escort the colors. You don?t just paint with plain old yellow, and how do you know where to put it? I think I could just sit here and watch you for hours.??And could I come with you on your boat someday when it isn?t raining or windy or foggy or cold and watch you???You?d probably fall overboard.??Oh, that?s what you think of me? I?m that clumsy???What I think is I?d better shut up before I get in any deeper.??Yeah, good idea. But you know, I think that would be wonderful. To be out on the water, just you and me and the sky and I could watch what you do. I wouldn?t get in your way. I?d just watch you work, watch how your body moves.?Ariel stopped, afraid he?d said too much. They sat quietly for several minutes, each lost in his own thoughts.Thor stood. ?Look at the time. If I don?t get out of here I?ll be here all night.??That wouldn?t be a tragedy,? Ariel quietly said.?What???Nothing. Has it gotten too foggy? Do you think you can make your way home??Thor opened the door and looked out.?It?s pretty thick, but I can find my way around here with my eyes closed. I know all these parts like the back of my hand. Tell you what.?He closed the door.?Why don?t I return the favor of this invite by having you over for dinner some night soon. I?m pretty good with salmon.??I love salmon. So does Piedras, as a matter of fact. But both of us only eat the canned kind. It?s been so long since I ate in a restaurant I hardly remember what well-cooked food tastes like.??Well, mine don?t taste like restaurant food. Not like any restaurant food you?ll find around here, that?s for sure. I?m going out to sea as long as this weather holds up and the fog lifts somewhat. When I get back with a load I?ll let you know and we?ll get together. Is it a deal???It?s a deal. Oh, don?t forget your painting.?Ariel picked up the canvas Thor had admired and handed it to him. He held the door open and watched Thor go down the steps and slowly disappear into the thick fog.The next day the fog had given way to the sun and Ariel brought a chair out and sat in the sun. He thought about what it would be like to be on the boat with Thor and imagined watching him haul in nets full of fish and how the sun would glint off the sea spray that covered his muscular, shirtless back.And he wondered at why he was thinking about this straight man in such a way. There was no future in it, and he had no plans to set himself up for hurt once again.At about the time Rupert had joined the corps of ballet he?d met and been seduced by Ross. Ross, who was seven years older than Rupert, was a rough, hairy man with broad shoulders, big arms, a big chest, and big thighs. He drove a dump truck for a demolition company, hauling the rubble from buildings which were being torn down.He loved drinking with his buddies from work, he loved watching sports on television, he loved drinking beer and eating pizza and he loved fucking Rupert in the ass, not necessarily in that order. What he didn?t like, or even understand, was any kind of art, plastic or performance. He had no interest in what Rupert did and didn?t want to hear about it.He?d talk about any and all games he?d watched and didn?t understand why Rupert wasn?t excited about them. Therefore, conversation was almost nonexistent between them, but that was no problem as long as Rupert got naked and got in his bed and gave his ass to Ross to stick his fat cock in.He?d pound away, biting the back of Rupert's neck until his balls finally emptied themselves and he could fall back, sweat-soaked, and laugh and say, ?That was good, wasn?t it, baby??Rupert?s friends persuaded him there was no reason to stay with Ross, that there were dozens of better guys who would love to get a crack at him, so he broke it off with Ross, who said, ?It?s your loss, baby.?But Rupert wasn?t the kind who wanted to play the field. He didn?t enjoy going to bars and flirting. He didn?t like cruising. He wasn?t interested in one night stands and quicky sex. He wanted stability.Three years later he was introduced to Hugh, who was short and cute, with a big smile and curly hair that kept falling across his forehead. Hugh moved in with Rupert and they had fun cuddling in front of the TV and cooking together and even soaking in the claw-footed bathtub together.Hugh liked having an apartment he could come home to. That is to say, an apartment for which he didn?t have to worry about paying the rent on time. And he liked having a hot meal on the table when he came home in the evening. That is to say, if he came home in the evening. Hugh liked variety in his life. That is to say, in his sex life.The affair lasted six months and Rupert asked Hugh to move out. Then he told him to move out. Then he locked him out.Time heals all wounds and often erases bad memories. A couple of years before he was promoted to be a solo dancer Rupert began dating Emmanuel, a fellow member of the corps. He was three years younger than Rupert and seemed to adore him.The romance flourished and they became lovers. Emmanuel was the fiery Latin type, and jealousy was always just below the surface, but Rupert gave him no reason to exhibit his suspicions. Things appeared to be going along as they were supposed to. But then those nasty fates stepped in and Rupert tore the muscle in his leg.Emmanuel was there for him as he underwent surgery and started down the long road of therapy. But when it became evident that Rupert would never return to dancing Emmanuel grew distant and soon rumors reached Rupert that he was seen in the company of one of the older principal dancers.Emmanuel was determined to hitch his star to someone who might help his chances to advance in the company more rapidly, someone with influence. Rupert was crushed, and the knowledge that his dancing career was at an end sent him seeking a different life, in a different world. And so he?d ended up on this small, rainy, fog-enshrouded island only a few miles from the Canadian border where he knew no one and no one knew him.And now he was called Ariel and he?d met a man named Thor. The sunny days lasted for only a very few days. The sky grew heavy with clouds which seemed to press down against the tops of the trees. The dampness collected on the window panes until drops formed and ran down to form puddles on the sills.