{"id":7607,"date":"2021-10-13T10:00:42","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T08:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prod-2018.frictions.co\/?p=7607"},"modified":"2022-05-25T14:48:42","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T12:48:42","slug":"la-ou-tout-a-commence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prod-2018.frictions.co\/english\/love-better-s2\/back-where-we-began\/","title":{"rendered":"Back Where We Began"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"vce-row-container\" data-vce-boxed-width=\"true\"><div class=\"vce-row vce-row--col-gap-30 vce-row-equal-height vce-row-columns--top vce-row-content--top\" id=\"el-95f1fe49\" data-vce-do-apply=\"all el-95f1fe49\"><div class=\"vce-row-content\" data-vce-element-content=\"true\"><div class=\"vce-col vce-col--md-auto vce-col--xs-1 vce-col--xs-last vce-col--xs-first vce-col--sm-last vce-col--sm-first vce-col--md-last vce-col--lg-last vce-col--xl-last vce-col--md-first vce-col--lg-first vce-col--xl-first\" id=\"el-7e5d1ae4\"><div class=\"vce-col-inner\" data-vce-do-apply=\"border margin background  el-7e5d1ae4\"><div class=\"vce-col-content\" data-vce-element-content=\"true\" data-vce-do-apply=\"padding el-7e5d1ae4\"><div class=\"vce-text-block\"><div class=\"vce-text-block-wrapper vce\" id=\"el-4a0c872f\" data-vce-do-apply=\"all el-4a0c872f\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Granite and marble strewn haphazardly across the hillside, a flimsy gate and a bent wire fence, assured Meltem she\u2019d reached the archaeological site she was looking for. Her task that day was to find a location and arrange permission for the production company she worked for to film a fashion shoot. She\u2019d seen pictures and thought the pillars among the terraced ruins would offer a startling contrast to the graceful models in their ethereal outfits. Her first step was to get in and look around.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She parked her car in the shade of a silver-grey olive tree and saw a young man sitting at the entrance \u2013 the guard, she guessed. With a touch of lip-gloss, a tweak of her long auburn hair and a quick glance in the mirror, she was ready. Black camera bag slung over one shoulder, she walked towards the guard who was now leaning on the closed gate, squinting into the sun as he watched her approach.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Morning,\u2019 he said. \u2018Can I help you?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Hi. Would it be okay for me to come in? I just want to take a few photos.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Sorry, the site\u2019s closed to the public.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018That\u2019s a pity.\u2019 She put out her hand to shake his. \u2018I\u2019m Meltem by the way.\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He reciprocated, saying, \u2018And I\u2019m Kadir. Pleased to meet you.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Kadir, there\u2019s just me. I\u2019m not a crowd of tourists.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Again, I\u2019m sorry, but only the team from the university\u2019s allowed in.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem glanced back at the car park, empty except for her car and a motorbike.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Please?\u2019 Meltem treated him to her widest smile. \u2018Just give me thirty minutes. We both know there\u2019s no one here.\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kadir hesitated then nodded towards the motorbike. \u2018That\u2019s Daniel\u2019s. He\u2019s an Englishman employed by the university to work on site preservation.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem unzipped a side pocket on her camera bag and pulled out her card. Pointing at the wording she said, \u2018That\u2019s me <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Artistic Director <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and I\u2019m here to check this place out for a film shoot.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kadir straightened up. \u2018Wow. You\u2019re not going to believe this but I\u2019m an actor \u2013 just here till I find work.\u2019 He ran a hand over his cropped hair and smiled at her. \u2018I know what you\u2019re thinking. A skinny youth with a bad haircut \u2013 not exactly silver screen material \u2013 but I\u2019ve only just finished my military service and\u2026\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waouh ! Vous n\u2019allez pas le croire mais je suis acteur \u2013 je suis seulement ici jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce que je d\u00e9croche un contrat, il passa la main dans ses cheveux courts et lui sourit. Je sais ce que vous pensez. Un jeune homme maigre avec une mauvaise coupe de cheveux \u2013 pas vraiment fait pour le grand \u00e9cran \u2013 mais je viens de finir mon service militaire et\u2026<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem waited patiently while he rattled on.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018You couldn\u2019t get me a job, could you?\u2019 he ended. \u2018Even if it\u2019s just helping out on the set.\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Well, I could put in a good word for you\u2212\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018That would be great.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018\u2212if you let me in,\u2019 Meltem continued.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kadir pulled back the gate and said, \u2018Would you like me to show you around?\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018That's so sweet of you, but I\u2019ll be fine. Here,\u2019 Meltem leaned towards Kadir and slipped her card into his shirt pocket. \u2018Call me if you need any advice.\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem followed a narrow path that cut along the side of a hill and found the setting she was looking for. She stood on the stage of a small Roman theatre studying the semi-circle of tiered seats. Behind her, like a backdrop, was a line of broken pillars, their shadows lengthening in the mid-afternoon sunlight. Perfect. She left her heavy camera bag on one of the five throne-like marble chairs in the first row, ran up the steps to get an overall view of the space and pulled her phone from her pocket to take some notes.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A slight flicker in the sun\u2019s slanting rays made her look up. There was a man standing perfectly still on the stage as though a statue had been placed there when she wasn\u2019t paying attention. His hair, ruffled by the breeze, was the only thing that seemed alive.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They stared at each other for a second or two, before he lifted a hand above his head and called out, \u2018Hello there!\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Hi,\u2019 she replied and nodded at him.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She continued with her notes and when she looked up again, he\u2019d disappeared. Puzzled, she walked down slowly, turning her head to take in the whole theatre. She\u2019d nearly reached the bottom step when she caught sight of him again. Broad shoulders relaxing into the curved back of the central throne, a sandaled foot balanced on his other knee, he looked as though he was waiting for the show to begin.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He turned to her, \u2018I didn\u2019t know anyone else was on site today.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem smiled, \u2018I have special permission to be here.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018You charmed young Kadir, did you?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Maybe.\u2019 She picked up her camera bag and sat down looking across at him. \u2018How\u2019s preserving the site going, Daniel?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018So you did win Kadir over and he told you my name.\u2019 He laughed. \u2018And may I learn yours or do I have to trek down to the gate and ask Kadir?\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Meltem,\u2019 she smiled. \u2018Have you finished your work?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Not yet, a few more days or even a week or two, if I can spin it out. What are you here for?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018I\u2019m seeing if this place works as a possible location for a film.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018What sort? I guess not a soap opera, not here.\u2019 He waved his hand at their surroundings. \u2018Maybe a history epic?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Just the new season teaser for a well-known fashion house. And don\u2019t ask,\u2019 she said, putting a stop to his next question. \u2018Client confidentiality means I can\u2019t tell you who it is.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018I don\u2019t know anything about fashion, but I know a bit about Roman ruins. Shall I tell you?\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem stood up. Although she would have been happy to listen to this man talk all day she needed to complete her work.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Lovely chatting,\u2019 Meltem took out her camera, \u2018but I need to get on.\u2019 She walked across the stage. \u2018Sorry, would you\u2212\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018\u2212get out of the way? Of course. I\u2019ll wait in the wings, shall I? And then, when you\u2019re done, maybe you\u2019d like a guided tour?\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem didn\u2019t reply. Her attention was fixed on her camera screen.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018By the way, just a guess but probably you need to measure this area?\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem nodded, it was next on her list.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018You\u2019ll have to get permission to film here,\u2019 he continued. \u2018Do you know who to contact?\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She straightened up. \u2018Daniel <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the nicest possible way <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> please shut up. I know how to estimate a few measurements and I can easily find a contact. It\u2019s my job.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Okay then.\u2019 He leant against a stone support giving Meltem a moment of blessed silence but as soon as she put her eye to the viewfinder he called out, \u2018It\u2019s just that I have all the dimensions here.\u2019 He held up an iPad. \u2018And I know the person you need to talk to.\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem turned to look at him. \u2018Really?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Yes, really,\u2019 Daniel smiled, \u2018Me.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They burst out laughing and Meltem decided to give in. \u2018Okay. Hand over the information, and I\u2019ll come with you. But only tell me the good bits. Don\u2019t bore me with dates and details.\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OK. Je viendrai avec vous si vous me donnez les informations. Mais je veux seulement savoir ce qui est vraiment int\u00e9ressant. \u00c9pargnez-moi les dates et les d\u00e9tails. \u00bb<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Half an hour later, they neared the end of Daniel\u2019s tour. He really was knowledgeable, entertaining too, and Meltem felt at ease with him.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018And for the grand finale\u2212 \u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He led her under an arch, their footsteps thudding on the wooden walkway, through two bathing houses and down to the furnace room where the fires to heat the water had been.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They stopped in front of a black-crusted mound, almost as high as Meltem\u2019s shoulders and as wide as her arm span.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018This,\u2019 said Daniel, \u2018is compacted ash from the furnaces. It doesn\u2019t look like much, does it?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018I guess not.\u2019 Meltem didn\u2019t want to dampen his enthusiasm.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Feel it.\u2019 He took her hand, and together their fingers sank into the ashes.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Untouched for two thousand years,\u2019 Daniel said, smiling at her. \u2018We\u2019ve reached into the past!<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Together they gazed at the fine film of ancient grey dust on their fingers.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018What\u2019s next?\u2019 Meltem asked.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">* * * * *<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Daniel moved into Meltem\u2019s apartment, it changed her life. After she\u2019d been away finding locations and negotiating permission for access to markets or minarets, underground cisterns or ancient towers, she longed to be with Daniel again. Bottle of fizz in one hand, take-away sushi in the other, she\u2019d head up to their first floor apartment anticipating the sheer joy of time to spend with the man she loved.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She was aware life could be hard for Daniel as jobs in his field were few and far between. When he wasn\u2019t working, he was with archaeologist friends or people he knew from the local museum. Usually, whenever she returned home after even one night away, he opened the door before she could unlock it and hugged her.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet her return after a week in Cappadocia was different. She ran up the stairs to their apartment and let herself in. Hurrying down the hallway, as she passed the open bedroom door she noticed some of Daniel\u2019s folded clothes next to his open suitcase.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was standing with his back to the window, wearing his leather jacket. Meltem flung her arms around him and kissed him, but he didn\u2019t return her kiss or hold her close.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Daniel? Are you okay?\u2019 Meltem let go and stepped back.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Sort of.\u2019 Daniel\u2019s face was pale and tight-lipped.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018What\u2019s wrong?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018I didn\u2019t expect you back so soon.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018What do you mean? Have I\u2026?'<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel didn\u2019t respond.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Your suitcase. Are you going somewhere?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Yes\u2026no, I don\u2019t know what to do. I\u2019m in a mess.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018What\u2019s going on, Daniel?\u2019 Meltem took his arm and led him to a chair. \u2018Come on. Sit down and talk to me.\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The run up the stairs, and now this, meant her heart was pounding. Desperate to make sense of the situation, she reached out towards him,&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Go on.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018There\u2019s a note for you on the table.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018I\u2019m not reading a note when you\u2019re here in front of me. What\u2019s this mess you\u2019re in?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018It\u2019s complicated.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Complicated?  You\u2019ve found another woman so you wrote me a\u2212\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018No, Meltem.\u2019 Daniel raised his voice. \u2018It\u2019s worse than that.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Worse?\u2019 She half-smiled. \u2018You haven\u2019t murdered someone have you?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Don\u2019t joke, Meltem. I\u2019m scared.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Then tell me.\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel sighed. \u2018Remember the Stargazers?\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Tu te souviens des Stargazers ? \u00bb<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem remembered seeing them in a special exhibition. Translucent mother-goddess figurines with their heads tilted back so their dotted eyes were gazing into the sky. Sculpted out of marble over four thousand years ago and used in burial rituals, Stargazers were exceptionally rare.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Well, this bloke I know \u2013 I\u2019ve done some work for him before \u2013 he was at that international conference in Antalya.\u2019 Daniel avoided looking at Meltem. \u2018He asked me if I knew an expert who could discreetly verify that an object he owned was genuine.\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem felt the slow creep of dread settling in.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018You know this man from some previous dealings?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018He\u2019s my friend and he trusts me. I\u2019m just helping him out, Meltem.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018For a fee, right? No questions asked about provenance?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Right. A small fee.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018What was the object?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018The container it came in was sealed and I didn\u2019t know what was in it. Better not to ask questions. I arranged to hand it over to my contact.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Which period of history is this contact an expert in? Hellenistic? Ancient Roman?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018No, a bit further back than that. Anyway he didn\u2019t turn up to the meeting. I tried to contact him but his phone was dead. So after a few days I decided to return the object to the owner.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Owner!\u2019 Meltem spat the word out.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018I couldn\u2019t find him. He didn\u2019t answer his phone or messages.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Go on,\u2019 Meltem said.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Well, today I heard he\u2019s in prison, waiting trial.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018On what charges, Daniel?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018I don\u2019t know. But I needed to find out what I\u2019d landed myself in, so I opened the container.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018And what was in it?\u2019 Meltem asked, although she\u2019d already guessed. \u2018A rare and very valuable Stargazer?\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel nodded. \u2018I don\u2019t know what to do with her.\u2019 He stood up. \u2018If I leave the Stargazer here you\u2019ll be caught up in this mess. But what if I take her and get stopped at the airport? Or I make it into Europe, what then? I\u2019m not a criminal, Meltem. I don\u2019t want to be part of some illegal trade. I just needed to earn a bit of money.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem walked over and stood in front of him. \u2018Daniel, what can I say? You\u2019re an idiot \u2013 a lovely, sweet, naive idiot, in trouble way over your head. Actually, to be precise, we could both be in trouble.\u2019 She watched as Daniel blinked away tears. \u2018I have a question. If your friend has said anything to the police, will they find that Stargazer in my apartment?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel reached into the top pocket of his jacket. \u2018She\u2019s here.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">*****<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An hour later, Meltem was driving along the motorway. Daniel sat beside her, the Stargazer back in his pocket.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018I\u2019m glad we\u2019re doing this,\u2019 Daniel said. \u2018Hiding her until we can find someone we trust, who can get her into a museum here.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018You mean someone who won\u2019t sell her for millions, or into someone\u2019s private collection. And since I\u2019m about to do something that makes me complicit-\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018I know, I\u2019m sorry.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Daniel, in spite of everything, I\u2019ll always help you because I\u2019d really like us to stay together. But I wonder if I can trust you to be open with me from now on?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel nodded.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018And seriously, if you ever do want to leave, please don\u2019t just write me a note.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018I was trying to go but I couldn\u2019t. I pictured you coming home and knew how you\u2019d feel. And how I\u2019d feel.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem parked under the silver-grey olive tree and got out of the car. She waited for Daniel to join her.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the fading evening light they walked side-by-side up a wide track, past dusty mosaics and crumbling walls. Their footsteps echoed on the walkway crossing the bath houses towards the furnace room.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel knelt on one knee so he could reach the base of the ash pile. He felt in his jacket pocket and took out the little figure, his fingers clasped tight around her. Meltem bent down beside him, easing his hand open. The Stargazer lay across his palm. Meltem placed her own hand over Daniel\u2019s and together they pushed the Stargazer into the darkness of the ashes.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In silence they retraced their steps, passing beneath the archway out onto the hillside. Walking back towards the car, they arrived at the top of the amphitheatre. Daniel placed a hand on Meltem\u2019s shoulder, then gently tilted her chin. \u2018Look up,\u2019 he said.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00ab L\u00e8ve les yeux, dit-il.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem tipped her head back and together they gazed at the beauty of the enormous stretch of night sky.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Daniel took her hand \u2018Hey, come on! He led Meltem down the steps to the stage. \u2018We\u2019re back where we began. Take a seat?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem smiled and was about to sit down when she was struck by a sudden thought. \u2018Daniel, that Stargazer. It was genuine, wasn\u2019t it? We haven\u2019t just buried a replica?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Daniel stared at Meltem. \u2018What?\u2019 He let out a relieved laugh. \u2018You\u2019re right. I have no idea! How can you love an idiot like me?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem shook her head, \u2018I don\u2019t know.\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 Quoi ? il laissa \u00e9chapper un rire soulag\u00e9. Tu as raison, je n\u2019en ai aucune id\u00e9e ! Comment peux-tu aimer un idiot comme moi ?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meltem secoua la t\u00eate.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Je ne sais pas.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><h2>&nbsp;<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Elle courait dans les escaliers, press\u00e9e de retrouver celui qu&rsquo;elle aimait. 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