Cryptic - Chapter 1 "Intriqued"

He was enigmatic, mysterious, and confusing. She was perplexing, puzzling, and obscure. What were they hiding from and why were they afraid? It was difficult to interpret or understand the meaning, causing one to be puzzled by the whole affair. They were so hard to understand and surprising in a way, some would say strange or odd, belonging exclusively to each other, a little weird, eccentric, or queer in an eerie sort of way. “Completely baffled” he said, “very puzzling” she replied...

How did they keep from being seen, so mysterious and hard to follow? Understood by few and deliberately vague, they left everything open for interpretation, especially so as to be difficult to understand. They never sat at right angles, or agreed to anything implied. Always arousing wonder or curiosity to everyone they met.

He was dark and handsome, rough with unclear character. She was golden rays of light, completely unaccountable. As the story unfolds, we see the two together in a little café in Brussels....

The war had just ended and the sky was finally clear. It had been impossible to pass through or enter for such a long time. They had been unable to reach each other but now were together, and were barely able to control their emotions. All the pain, suffering, and hardship endured was now in the past. It was springtime and the flowers were in full bloom.

So long since they had held anyone in their arms or felt any affection, now was the time for a prolonged and affectionate embrace. They had come to recognize their need for each other, in a seemingly absurd or self-contradicting way. It could have been defined as love if one was not careful, because it certainly was lacking sense or sound reasoning, and would be an unjustifiable restriction on each other’s freedom.

Baseless allegations abounded about the two. There was need for caution and care so as to avoid danger or not make a mistake, which kept them in a constant state of vigilance and on guard. For there were those who wished to be rid of this pair of so called heretics, whose only fault had been to claim the authority of an oracle...

He was unsure if he was compos mentis after years of emotional anguish. His observations had become apparent and had led him to this place. She had only recently stumbled into him and was inspired by his devotion. Who was she, and why did she care were his first impressions. That idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone, one formed without conscious thought or on the basis of little evidence. Was it fate, destiny, or coincidence that drew them together?

There were no accidental meetings, only timely preparations for future eventualities. She had become willing to help despite it being dangerous with no certain outcome. What determined the occurrence and development of events in the absence of any obvious design, or was there design, not knowingly or willingly were we all part of the design?

Now they were together again and it was springtime...

There was no formal or systematic examination or research. Some informal inquiries had been made. There had not been time to devote acquiring knowledge. A detailed investigation and analysis would be required in order to piece the facts together and reach new conclusions. Practical work conducted in the right environment to establish a result, but he paused, and thought for a moment for he knew something was not right.

While they sat and enjoyed their brief moment together he noticed something strange out of the corner of his eye. Being perceptive was a trait that sometimes he wished he had not been born with. She sat patiently waiting for him to answer her, "What" he said, "I'm sorry, I was distracted, you said something". "Yes" she said, "you seem so upset".

There had been something bothering him this day more than usual and now he had the feeling that they were being watched...

He hated being distracted and now he was upset at not being able to concentrate because he was preoccupied. He knew that he would become forgetful and lose his attention. It had always been something or someone that was interesting or important.

 

That's where she came in, she brought him back to focus, and to understand what it was he was trying to accomplish. "What is it" she said. "What's what" he replied. "The thing that's bothering you", he thought about his response. They had only been together for a short while but she knew the answer...

She had just caught the tail end of his obsession on this thought that had continually preoccupied his mind. It was the reason that had brought them together in the first place. They were both searching for answers in a disconcerting way. It was their ability to hear above all the other voices and sounds which attracted them to each other.

Now sitting here in this café in an out of the way town where they had thought that they might be safe he had noticed something peculiar and had to put it aside. Not expecting anything as likely to happen here at this moment, they embraced one more time and smiled. "Its ok, I understand" she said. "What would I do without you" he replied.

But that did not change the fact that his perceptions were usually right. He tried to think about something else, about how lovely she looked. She was wearing a cotton skirt and t-shirt with her long hair tied in an old bandanna. No shoes of course, so bohemian he thought, she was "un artiste" and very unconventional. That sweet innocence is what he loved about her, although he knew it was only an illusion.

He had always wondered if she was physically attracted to him. Did he have qualities or features that would induce someone to accept and love him? He was not a man of means, he had always depended on exercising a compelling charm that inspired others. He had been taught to be polite and friendly, had always craved affection and liked her reaffirming touch.

“Are you sure you’re ok?” she asked him, “yes” he replied, he had been worrying too much again. She was here with him now after a long time being away. To her he was a strange thoughtful person. She found him attractive and appealing, a charismatic man, and she had made a decision to be with and help him.

Her friends had thought her crazy but still encouraged her. This strikingly beautiful sensual woman had revealed her wild side more than once. Together they would discover what it was that made them different.

Why did things come to pass by chance and occur without apparent reason…

To be continued.

Robert
2015