✞[ VI. ]✞ Station of the Cross
[ † ] Faded white-wash lined with jig-jag fissures that split apart wood and chipped paint gradually became the cynosure of a peeping screen's interest, an A.I.'s curiosity mirrored in the explorative fingers groping along a rotting wardrobe's edge, and lightly pressing over the surface of the deep grooves. For a moment, the bronze-dusted Iscariot Angel of Judgment appeared to be studying something, rugged jaw fixed taut; and, after rummaging through old, moth-eaten linens he gave a short tug and a tumble of tartan fabric emerged from the depths of a drawer he happened upon, a momentary look of surprise transfixing his features.
Deep chuckles line the corded sinew of his throat, the discovery leaving him a little amazed, if not tickled at the thought that he should make such an unexpected find. Exactly the same color, too..From what he remembered.
Thumbs over the hemline in a caress, yet not quite a caress, fond touches sparking in him a sense of longing for the Caledonia he'd left behind. Another world, another place. And the date! The first of May. A holiday belonging to his homeland, so far off and away. How he missed the ceremonies of Old . . . Perhaps the twinkle of madness in his eyes gave him away as he began to shed slacks in favor of the knee-length pleated dress of the Highlands, wrapping it around his hips with ease.
Once the kilt was secured tightly around his waist he stood still for a moment, back turned towards the rear wall. [ † ]
Ah danced en th' marnin' when th' world wis begun,
Ah dance en th' moon an' th' stars an' th' sun,
Ah came daun frem Heaven and ah danced on earth,
At Bethlehem ah had ma' birth.
Dance thaen, wherever ye may be,
"Ah am th' Lord of th' dance,' sayeth he,
'An' Ah'll leid ye all wherever ye may be,
An' Ah'll leid ye all en th' dance," sayeth he.
[ † ] Spirited away by whatever whimsy had possessed him the Scotsman positioned his hands on his waist, well-toned legs bared as his feet pushed securely together, brow fixing in concentration as he worked out the schematics of what he was about to do. A complete stillness came over the man before his legs suddenly kicked out in a rhythm familiar only to the natives of Scotland, using perfect form to initiate a traditional Highland Sword Dance. [ † ]
Ah danced fer th' scribe an' th' Pharisee,
They wad nae dance, they wad nae follow me.
Sae Ah danced fer th' fishermen,
James an' John came wit' ma an' th' dance weent on.
Dance thaen, wherever ye may be,
"Ah am th' Lord of th' dance," sayeth he,
"An' Ah'll leid ye all wherever ye may be,
An' Ah'll leid ye all en th' dance," sayeth he.
[ † ] For such a large man the giant managed to be graceful in his performance of the Scottish jig, perfectly in tune with bagpipes no one else could hear. A leap and a bound, and he'd land, nearly soundlessly if it weren't for the rickety condition of the floor, causing many a creak under his weight yet still managing to stay relatively within the bounds of space given his long legs as the pleated skirts jounced and swung to the side and slightly up. [ † ]
Ah danced on th' Sabbath an' Ah cured th' lame,
Th' Holy people saed et wis ae shame.
They whipped an' they stripped an' they hung ma' high,
Left ma' thaur on ae cross ta' die.
"Dance thaen, wherever ye may be,
Ah am th' Lord o' th' dance," sayeth he,
"An' Ah'll leid ye all wherever ye may be,
An' Ah'll leid ye all en th' dance," sayeth he
[ † ] He twirled around as the formation dance seemed to take hold of his senses, carrying himself through the steps of the formation dance quicker than before, arms lifting and then systematically lowering to his waist again, careful not to miss a step and hit himself against one of the far corners. [ † ]
Ah danced on ae Friday when th' sky turned black,
Et's hard tae dance wit' th' devil on yer back.
Thay buried mey bodieh, thay thought Ah'd gaun,
But ah am th' dance, an' ah still gae on.
"Dance thaen, wherever ye may be,
Ah am th' Lord of the dance," sayeth he,
"An' Ah'll lead ye all wherever ye may be,
An' Ah'll lead ye all en th' dance," sayeth he.
Thay cut ma down, but Ah leapt up high.
"Ah am th' life that'll niver niver die
An' Ah'll live en ye ef ye'll live en ma.
Ah am th' Lord o' th' dance," sayeth he.
"Dance thaen, wherever ye may be,
Ah am th' Lord o' th' dance," sayeth he,
"An' Ah'll leid ye all wherever ye may be,
An' Ah'll leid ye all en th' dance," sayeth he
[ † ] The screen blanks as it falls at the finish of the lyrics and dance, catching a last sight of spectacles sliding off the bridge of his nose as a silhouette shadowed the door way to his room. [ † ]
M-maxwell?!
Deep chuckles line the corded sinew of his throat, the discovery leaving him a little amazed, if not tickled at the thought that he should make such an unexpected find. Exactly the same color, too..From what he remembered.
Thumbs over the hemline in a caress, yet not quite a caress, fond touches sparking in him a sense of longing for the Caledonia he'd left behind. Another world, another place. And the date! The first of May. A holiday belonging to his homeland, so far off and away. How he missed the ceremonies of Old . . . Perhaps the twinkle of madness in his eyes gave him away as he began to shed slacks in favor of the knee-length pleated dress of the Highlands, wrapping it around his hips with ease.
Once the kilt was secured tightly around his waist he stood still for a moment, back turned towards the rear wall. [ † ]
Ah danced en th' marnin' when th' world wis begun,
Ah dance en th' moon an' th' stars an' th' sun,
Ah came daun frem Heaven and ah danced on earth,
At Bethlehem ah had ma' birth.
Dance thaen, wherever ye may be,
"Ah am th' Lord of th' dance,' sayeth he,
'An' Ah'll leid ye all wherever ye may be,
An' Ah'll leid ye all en th' dance," sayeth he.
[ † ] Spirited away by whatever whimsy had possessed him the Scotsman positioned his hands on his waist, well-toned legs bared as his feet pushed securely together, brow fixing in concentration as he worked out the schematics of what he was about to do. A complete stillness came over the man before his legs suddenly kicked out in a rhythm familiar only to the natives of Scotland, using perfect form to initiate a traditional Highland Sword Dance. [ † ]
Ah danced fer th' scribe an' th' Pharisee,
They wad nae dance, they wad nae follow me.
Sae Ah danced fer th' fishermen,
James an' John came wit' ma an' th' dance weent on.
Dance thaen, wherever ye may be,
"Ah am th' Lord of th' dance," sayeth he,
"An' Ah'll leid ye all wherever ye may be,
An' Ah'll leid ye all en th' dance," sayeth he.
[ † ] For such a large man the giant managed to be graceful in his performance of the Scottish jig, perfectly in tune with bagpipes no one else could hear. A leap and a bound, and he'd land, nearly soundlessly if it weren't for the rickety condition of the floor, causing many a creak under his weight yet still managing to stay relatively within the bounds of space given his long legs as the pleated skirts jounced and swung to the side and slightly up. [ † ]
Ah danced on th' Sabbath an' Ah cured th' lame,
Th' Holy people saed et wis ae shame.
They whipped an' they stripped an' they hung ma' high,
Left ma' thaur on ae cross ta' die.
"Dance thaen, wherever ye may be,
Ah am th' Lord o' th' dance," sayeth he,
"An' Ah'll leid ye all wherever ye may be,
An' Ah'll leid ye all en th' dance," sayeth he
[ † ] He twirled around as the formation dance seemed to take hold of his senses, carrying himself through the steps of the formation dance quicker than before, arms lifting and then systematically lowering to his waist again, careful not to miss a step and hit himself against one of the far corners. [ † ]
Ah danced on ae Friday when th' sky turned black,
Et's hard tae dance wit' th' devil on yer back.
Thay buried mey bodieh, thay thought Ah'd gaun,
But ah am th' dance, an' ah still gae on.
"Dance thaen, wherever ye may be,
Ah am th' Lord of the dance," sayeth he,
"An' Ah'll lead ye all wherever ye may be,
An' Ah'll lead ye all en th' dance," sayeth he.
Thay cut ma down, but Ah leapt up high.
"Ah am th' life that'll niver niver die
An' Ah'll live en ye ef ye'll live en ma.
Ah am th' Lord o' th' dance," sayeth he.
"Dance thaen, wherever ye may be,
Ah am th' Lord o' th' dance," sayeth he,
"An' Ah'll leid ye all wherever ye may be,
An' Ah'll leid ye all en th' dance," sayeth he
[ † ] The screen blanks as it falls at the finish of the lyrics and dance, catching a last sight of spectacles sliding off the bridge of his nose as a silhouette shadowed the door way to his room. [ † ]
M-maxwell?!