Asimov's Science Fiction 2009-01 by Dell Magazine Authors
Author:Dell Magazine Authors [Authors, Dell Magazine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Magazine, 2012
Publisher: Dell Magazines
Published: 2010-07-03T04:00:00+00:00
Short Story: MESSIAH EXCELSA by E. Salih
E. Salih tells us he is a âyoungish Londoner working in finance. An amateur photographer and untutored writer, âMessiah Excelsaâ is my first story. It's a time-travel story, because they have always been my favorite stories to read. I am not a musician, but I liked the premise of the world's most coveted Stradivarius violin and the colorful characters that have figured in its history (and I liked the challenge of weaving a yarn through all the conjecture)."
Ten miles yonder, on the left shore of the Po, arose the sanctum citadel of a thousand wishful dreams. On cue, the string quartet I had recently acquired in Palermo launched into Handel's Air in F majorâa challenging recital upon the forecastle of an uncouth East Indiaman.
The mighty Serendip, laden with spice, heaved with purpose: vast grey-brown hempen sails furling above; dusky cordage tackled on the quarterâswarthy, strong-armed merchant seamen hauling heavy line, exchanging salty bonhomie. And center stage, wielding a scrimshaw cane, strode pug-faced Cap'n Bill, barracking, bawling, happy as punch. Pleasures abounded: the padana plain (on the patella of Italy), green velveteen stretched to the far horizons; Serendip's sharp prow slicing through luminous blue water creating ripples that swept into a backwash of frothy turquoise. Ahead, upriver, neath a gathering of soapy-white clouds, the beckoning turrets of Cremona sparkled with lemon spring light, while inside me airy butterflies tickled well-tugged heartstrings. My mission was bold: to meet with the maker of the Messiah and to claim the creation for my own.
Ha-llelu-jah ... Ha-llelu-jah ... Ha-llelu-jah ... Subversive rejoicing (G.F Handelwork yet unwritten) underscored my advance on the City of a Hundred Towers, where glory awaited.
Post arrival, my confident masqueradeâ"Prince Sander Janivou of south sea Cerise"âendorsed by the premier East India coterie, ushered me into all the best soirées. With sartorial pomp I commanded respect from the dandyhood, with royal aplomb I displayed two statuesque dandizettesâwho drew the green-eye of Ladydomâa saintly smile and a demon hand at primero. And when out and about my Arabian-horse-powered equipage, ivory-white from fetlocks to forelocks, turned Cremonese heads like Roman busts on swivel stands. And I, maned in perrucca tressesâKing Louis styleâblithely throwing coinage at the feet of shoeless bambini, offering passage to well-heeled gentry, high grade snuff proffered with grandiose courtesy. Then one evening, féte champétre at Piazza del Comune: accompanied by my Sicilian players, standing on the âpreacher's pulpitâ outside the ornate Duomo CathedralâMadonna and child centered in a portico neath the thirteenth century rose windowâa celebrated castrato sang trilling arias to delighted folk, outrageous cadenzas soaring to the summit of the Torrazzo, highest tower in all Europe.
That night greater heights of performance art were scaled by this self-styled libertine with the assist of a lady magnifico twin set and the Kama Sutra teachings. Post coitus I renewed the pledge, revised the plan: stage one, an offer of work. And so one fine heyday, having breakfasted indulgentlyâsoft-poached quailsâ eggs atop butter-fried olive bread soaked in brandy sauce
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
Roadside Picnic - Tale of the Troika by Boris Strugatsky & Arkady Strugatsky(373)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 27 by Lynne M. Thomas(299)
Galaxy's Edge Magazine by C.J. Cherryh(287)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 47 by Lynne M. Thomas(286)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 28 by Lynne M. Thomas(274)
Ciaphas Cain: The Anthology by Sandy Mitchell(274)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 29 by Lynne M. Thomas(269)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 7 by Lynne M. Thomas(260)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 11 by Lynne M. Thomas(258)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 10 by Lynne M. Thomas(255)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 9 by Lynne M. Thomas(253)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 19 by Lynne M. Thomas(253)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 17 by Lynne M. Thomas(251)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 2: JanuaryFebruary 2015 by unknow(247)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 22 by Lynne M. Thomas(246)
De Wapensmeden by A.E. van Vogt(243)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 8 by Lynne M. Thomas(242)
Uncanny Magazine Issue 13 by Lynne M. Thomas(239)
A. R. Yngve(238)
