Dario: For Claudia
-A tale of one man’s journey to claim an unknown treasure from
the grips of the Mongol empire. With Marco polo’s Il
milione as his guide and with the aid of his comrades, Dario dares to challenge the great Khan and commit the ultimate heist.
By Patrick Skelding
Anno 1330, in the city of Rome lays the foundation for our tale. Dario Crispino
appears to be a well-to-do upper classman. He has received the title “Chaplain
of his Holiness” through some rather daring backroom negotiations in which he
bribed the Archbishop of the local diocese into bestowing the title on him. In
return he would not disclose some rather revealing letters that had come into
his possession. Dario, having positioned himself in the right place at the right
time, has made himself trusted enough to walk the halls of the Vatican basilica
unaccompanied.
His plot is simple. He will slip into the coffers of a young bishop of the Borgia
family. The Borgia was slowly gaining power, and Dario, like any good Roman,
knew that the quickest way to gain power was wealth. He had his dim-witted
assistant Folco waiting at a back entrance with a carriage disguised to carry
papal dignitaries to help upload the massive fortune he was soon to plunder. But
as he turned the corner to approach the easily circumvented lock of the bishop’s
coffer, he overheard a conversation that would drastically alter the future of
the young rogue. A Cardinal by the
name of Father Elvino was speaking to the young bishop and Dario over heard the
words, “the Bowl of Adam…” Dario felt a drip of sweat drip off his head as he
thought “the Bowl of Adam, it cannot be, this is myth, this is roba da matti”.
Dario had known as everyone had, that the bowl was lost centuries ago. “Could it
be?” he thought to himself. Dario leaned in more to lay eaves on the
conversation. Cardinal Elvino said “I was going over the tale of messier Marco
when I discover that the great Khan was in possession of the relic…”
Dario
quickly leaped into action. He realized his ruse would only last so long and he
needed to get back to Folco, before the moron ended up divulging the entire plan
to some courtesan to simply impress her. Dario thought to himself, “I swear one
day I am going to get killed so that Folco can get a bocchino”. He made three
quick trips without being spotted but on the fourth trip back to the coffer he
heard screaming. “Merda!!! I’ve
been robbed!!! Bastardo!!!”screamed the young Borgia bishop. Dario took this as
his cue to move on to bigger and better things. He jumped onto the carriage with
Folco who was deep into a trance counting how many ladies he could buy if the
profits from the heist were only spilt one way; his way. Dario slapped him on
the back and said“Scemo, hurry up and plot my demise another time or we will
both spend our lives in a Vatican prison!” Dario thought to himself “Now I’ve
just got to get my hands on a copy of Il Milioneand maybe I can
finally become ricco sfondato”.
Dario
and Folco rode quickly back to their hideout. Once there Dario jumped off the
carriage and landed with a thud. He was still dressed with the regalia of the
papacy. He loved wearing costumes and assuming the life of others but somehow
this particular costume just seemed to ride up in all the wrong places. “I’ve
got to get out of this monkey suit, I feel like a maiale” Dario exclaimed. Folco
shook his head and let out a fake laugh. Folco tended to laugh at comments he
didn’t understand, an age old defense of the ignorant. Dario went to open the
door to his abode and noticed the splinter he left against the door to see if
anyone had been inside his place was missing. Dario decided to keep this fact to
himself; Choosing to hold his cards instead of playing them. He has never fully
trusted Folco but he was sure someone else a lot less threatening was attempting
to spy on him. They entered the foyer and Dario decided to divulge part of his
plan to Folco. Only what he needed to know to do his part and enough to tease
out the spy.
“Folco! I need you to obtain a copy of messier Polo’s tome. You know Il milione.” Dario declared.
Folco didn’t know what a tome was and chucked. “What do you need a grave for?
Do you have plans that I don’t know about? I’d be glad to help you out.” Folco
jested. “Scemo, I need the book!” Dario said resentfully. Go to Ralpheo de
Venice and ask for exactly what I have told you. “What’s it for” Folco
inquired. “We are to make a voyage for which we cannot endure without the
knowledge of messier Marco Polo. Once you have the book we will be off and
shall not return for several years but it will make us both ricco sfondato.
Compredi?” Folco trusting Dario about as far as he could throw him said one
word “si”.
Dario
paced the room as he waited for Folco to return. “I wonder where my sister is
hiding” he thought. Dario had assumed his sister was the one who had tripped his
alarm to see what he was up to. Claudia was a natural tom boy. She was built
tough but used her head to get out of trouble, unlike her brother. Long jet
black hair and a brilliant min, Claudia was a women of determination. She was
ready to take on anyone about anything. Dario failed to see this latter trait in
its full breadth and would pay the price.
“Come
out sister I’ve something to tell you!” Dario exploded.
Claudia popped her head out from behind the long red curtains of the
window. “Yes brother, I am listening” she blurted out. Claudia was quite taken
at how easy her brother had known someone was there and that it was her. How did
he know she thought? She had been so perfect in her execution. He must have had
a trip somewhere.
“Claudia, pay attention. I am leaving for some time. I need you to stay.
I am going on a trip that will make it so we can buy our own villa. Villa de
Crispino, we will call it. I will be leaving in the morning. Compredi?” Claudia
knew that Dario was hiding something from her. She had no intention of letting
him go by himself, but she would play along. “Si, brother. I will miss you.”
Claudia sulked. She often played the fool and acted as if she didn’t understand.
Both Dario and she had grown up alone, without parents. Dario was as much a
father as he was brother to her. Dario could read her but he let her play her
games. He didn’t think she would completely disobey him. Dario would shortly
learn the first of many lessons from his little sister.
The
next morning Dario went to the market and loaded up on supplies. Folco
had been successful in his acquisition of the legendary book by Marco Polo.
They jumped onto their carriage with an extra donkey tied to the back. They
would need to trade the carriage and donkey for camels along the way. Dario
told Folco to head for the city of Constantinople. This would be their first
destination on the trip.
Constantinople
was one of the most important centers of commerce and culture at the time. The
city flourished and survived off trade. (Bergreen p13) Constantinople was a city
of jewels of great beauty and price. (Humble p27) This proved too much of a
distraction to Dario and he told Folco to stop. They slowed down on the
outskirts of the bazaar. Dario leaped into action. This is when he blooms.
Wheeling and dealing, and trying to burn the other man worse than he tried to
burn him. Dario was mid-conversation with a merchant trying to haggle a deal on
some rare metals he had on him for some of the gems and jewels he had, when he
realized that something wasn’t right. Usually by this time Folco would have
secured the carriage and been quick to be at his heels, questioning everything
about the trip and the plan. He must be up to
something.
Dario’s
head darted around. “Huh” he blurted out. Dario finished the transaction feeling
he had bested the merchant.“Saccente Byzantines” Dario scoffed. Dario headed
back to the carriage assuming Folco had returned as well. He was nowhere in
sight. Dario began to worry. Not for his half-friend and half-foe compatriot but
for the success of the expedition. Without Folco, he would have to do all the
grunt work himself. Also logistically he’d have to rethink a lot of the plan for
a one man con-job. Dario continued searching the bustling side streets. He
started thinking that Folco’s libido was overcome by the byzantine courtesans.
Then
Dario heard a most peculiar sound. He heard what he thought was water bubbling,
but it didn’t sound right. Maybe it was someone gargling. He rounded the corner
and saw Folco slumped over against a wall. “Folco!! Get up you fool, we must be
off” Dario demanded. Folco made only the gargling noise. Dario bent down and
lifted Folco’s head. His throat had been slit. Blood was gushing out and Dario
was shocked. In all his years of conniving and scheming he had never seen a man
die like this. Dario ripped Folco’s sleeve and tried to stop the bleeding but
before he could look Folco in the eyes, he was gone.
Dario
assumed he had tried to pick up a woman and was robbed for his trouble. Dario
did not have any love for Folco but he was the closest thing he had to a
partner. What was he to do now? He thought of giving up and going back to Rome
with the jewels he had just scored. This should hold me over for a few months he
thought. I could just go back and search for another score. What other score? He
thought to himself. What am I going to do with his body, and how could I explain
it. I can’t just say to the local official excuse me I found this dead guy in
this dark alley and I had nothing to do with it. But can you help me bury the
body?
“Merda!!
Folco you scemo!! Now what!”Dario left Folco in the street not wishing to get
involved with the authorities. He knew it was wrong to leave a Christian man to
rot in an alley but he himself was no good Christian and for that matter neither
was Folco. He chalked up the whole event to fate. Dario climbed up onto his
carriage and headed east. If Folco died alone then there was a reason. He must
have been against me. I am destined to bring back the treasures of the Khan and
live a life of luxury. I will press on he thought. It’s amazing how the mind
will reason its way out of guilt and make room for hope. This is what Dario was
best at. Failing to see the obvious and looking to the future to forget the
past.
Off
to the Middle East he was; Bound for glory. First he would have to pass through
both lesser and greater Armenia. Dario began reading Il
milione in reference to these places. Marco detailed them as kingdoms
far past their prime. With the gentry a bunch of great drinkers, mean-spirited,
and worthless. (Komroff p23) The land itself is filled with an abundance of life
but the air itself is most unhealthy. (Komroff p23) Dario looked around and said
to himself“huh, this land does appear to be past its prime” Dario felt assured
that this was an accurate description.
Dario
had crossed both lands without incident. He then arrived in the ancient city of
Babylon now known as Baghdad. Dario opened Marco’s book to this part and read of
the people. “… they pay reverence to Mahomet and are called Arabians. In the
mountainous regions there are a people named the Kurds and …” (Komroff p29)
Dario paused. Once again something didn’t feel right and his senses were telling
him to be cautious. He got off his carriage. He went around back and noticed
that some of his supplies had been moved around. He noticed this kept happening
for the past couple weeks of his journey but nothing was ever missing. He wanted
to get to the bottom of this little conundrum. He began unloading his carriage’s
bed. He saw some red fabric popping out of the back of the bed.
“Bastardo”
he shouted. He knew who it was. “Claudia get out of there. I know it’s you, how
did you…” At that moment
Claudia jumped out and said“I’ve come to join my brother on his most foolish
journey!” She looked around and inquired “Where’s
Folco?
Dario
was infuriated and decided to ignore her comment altogether. “This is
ridiculous! How did you do this without me noticing and why!!” he griped.
“Brother, where is Folco? She pleaded. “He’s dead okay, and you gonna be too if
you don’t answer my questions!”
“You
killed him, oh my.” She replied.“God no, but I’d like to move on, how did you
get here?” he replied with somber mortality. “I’ve been with you since Rome. I
hide in the chest for most of the way but I wondered around at night while you
slept. You not as clever as you think. That’s why I have come to help you.”
Claudia was extremely intelligent and Dario knew she out shinned her. But she
wasn’t ruthless and cunning. But this latest little episode showed him he didn’t
know his sister as well as he thought he had. “Ok, you can stay, but only
because I fear sending you back will result in your death. Marco’s book speaks
of many ills in this land”
“What
kind of ills?” Claudia blurted out. “well for starters he speaks of a legendary
order of assassins that are based out of Alamut to the north” (Humble p79) “He
speaks of Karaunas marauders and a diabolical mist they use to kill their
victims” (Humble p68) “Not to mention the environment itself, he tells of the
heat of Hormuz, that it turns men to dust from thirst” (Humble p71) He
exclaimed. “That’s ridiculous brother. To dust?” Claudia said with disbelief.
“That’s what is says” Dario said with defiance. Claudia the eternal
skeptic also doubted the marauders and their “mist”. She kept her mouth shut for
now though, thinking it was better to see it for herself. The Crispino’s started
on their way to Hormuz. The deserts were vast but luckily Dario had traded the
carriage and donkey for two camels and a pack mule. Dario had read ahead about
how the camels had a secret understanding of springs and sources and that the
camels would help them find water in the vast deserts that lay before them.
(Bergreen p53)
Traveling along their path to Hormuz was dangerous enough with the heat
and exhaustion that beat on them like a hammer on a nail. But all of a sudden
Dario felt the ground rumble. He remembered Marco’s verse on the Karaunas
marauders. “When they have brought on the darkness, they ride side by side,
sometimes as many as ten thousand of them together…” (Bergreen p 50) Dario leapt
into action noting Marco’s avoidance of these thieves and their mist. There was
an out-cropping of cliffs a hundred feet to their right and he corralled Claudia
and the pack mule toward it. He jumped of his camel and tied all three animals
together and he and Claudia ran for a small cave and hid. The sky was filled
with sand, whipping and whirling through the sky.
“See! It is the mist Marco spoke of; once again he has proved a wise
guide!” Dario said with confidence. Claudia now choose to speak up. “Mist? This
is a sand storm!”she mocked. True there was no diabolical mist, but the
marauders were near. The ground trembled as their numbers passed. They had been
lucky, much the same way Marco had .They were endangered not by enchanted mist
but by a horde of thieves.
They soon regrouped and were off to Hormuz again. Dario had learned from
Il milione that taking the
sea route with the Sareceans would be fatal but felt that it was a safe haven
prior to their entry into the Pamir’s. (Bergreen p 52) Claudia still felt the
story of the heat of Hormuz was myth but with the sun attacking her like a
vicious dog she felt it was a battle best saved for another time. For now the
two of them would officially be leaving the domain of Europe and entering into
the kingdom of the Khans. Claudia bubbled with anticipation. She felt fear but
not of death or of failure but of the unknown. She had studied on her own for
years about the far east. She knew not everything Messier Polo said could be
true. As clever as Dario was he accepted all that the legend of Marco Polo had
to offer. It was all facts to him. Ignorance is the crutch of the weak. Claudia
would need to set him straight.
In Hormuz they baked in the sun but drank like kings. Dario’s mind was
swimming in wine. Claudia sipped mint tea and contemplated the next step of
their Journey. The roof of the world she thought. Was it truly as desolate and
unforgiving as Marco had painted it? Dario interrupted her thought by slapping a
donkey on its back side and said “Have you ever seen ass like this?” Dario said
drunkenly. Claudia didn’t event
give a response she simply thought to herself. What a scemo! Dario went on to
say“Marco spoke of these asses. He said that these are the best in the world and
that they can fetch up to 200 sterling a piece!” (Komroff p39) “We ought to get
one so at least we have one suitable beast of burden, these camels smell
awful!’ Dario slurred almost the whole last sentence and then puked.
Men, Claudia thought to herself, but it was a fine animal. Maybe Marco
wasn’t completely full of it. She had hoped he was because of his description of
the Pamir’s sounded almost unbearable. She had snuck a peak at Dario’s tattered
copy. He had read it now twice through. If he was as dedicated to the bible as
he was this book he could have really been a bishop instead of having to fake
it. She had left Dario down in the courtyard and made her way to bed. Claudia
laid restless in their room waiting for him to come to sleep. She would pass out
waiting for him and wondering what wonders lay before them.
The next morning came and Dario was not in the room. He had slept in the
courtyard as the staff of the inn would not let a drunkard in.
Claudia didn’t think he had cared much as he probably couldn’t feel his
body anyway. They once again regrouped and went to market. There they got the
remaining supplies they would need to venture to the roof of the world. Marco
had laid out theirjourney almost forty years prior and now they were just
following in his footsteps. But to Claudia this was a truly original journey.
She only knew that her brother had intentions to steal something from the Khan
but what and how still lay outside of her sphere of knowledge. That would not
last much longer.
They started on their way to Talikhan via the Pamirs. Dario began to
recite the section on this route “Twelve days heading east-north-east.
Sufficient water and game en route, but a deserted country, no ready food.”
(Humble p79) This was just the beginning. They would suffer for eighteen days of
painful climbing (Humble p83) Around the fifteenth day of climbing another fact
Marco had mentioned also became obvious as truth. Claudia out of breath and
ready to end it all. Collapsed and said “No more! No more! This is roba da
matti!” Dario became emboldened by her momentary weakness. He once again read
from Marco’s manuscript “There is no human habitation. There are no birds. Even
fire itself changed. It was a different color, not as bright and didn’t cook as
well. (Humble p80) Hah so my tome of myths has truth within it!” Dario declared
half out of breath himself. Claudia was too put out to fight back and said “Yes,
it does appear to be true. I just hope we don’t get stuck her in the winter we
will be frozen in on all sides. (Wriggins p167) But can we rest here for a
time?” she whimpered. Dario relented seeing his sister in such a defeated state.
They would make camp for the night.
Dario began to think about the legendary treasure that he had initiated
this journey to get. How many men also knew of the bowl of Adam? How many knew
that Marco had laid eyes on it? He was hopeful that many had dismissed it out of
hand. While undercover in the Vatican he had learned of the treasure in an
ancient tome. In it was outlined
that In a distant land on an island was a monument in the center of it known as
Adam’s peak. (Humble p180) There was, and all faiths agreed, the teeth and the
hairs and the bowl of Adam; The father of all men. (Bergreen p283) The bowl was
a food bowl. It was made of very beautiful green porphyry. (Bergreen p284) He knew how the church had traditionally
obsessed on relics of saints. If he wear to bring the teeth, hair, and the bowl
of Adam he would be set for life if not made a saint himself. Dario began to
question his motives. He wondered if he deserved to acquire the treasure.
“Bah!” he scoffed out loud. If a non-Christian like the Khan can hold it
then a quasi-Christian like me can wield it. He opened to il
milione’s passage on the bowl. “…if food for just one man is placed in
it, five men shall have enough from it. Seeking proof the khan had it filled
with a portion fit for one, and then declared that it did, indeed, feed five!”
(Bergreen p284) Dario reveled in
the glory that was to be his. He would be king of a huge Christian kingdom just
as Prester John! Dario began to fall asleep, dreaming of legends and myths. To
him it was all true. To him it was his destiny.
The next few days were some of the most brutal terrain they would cross
the entire journey. Claudia began to doubt her decision to join her brother,
although she never vocalized it. As they began to descend they eventually came
upon the province of Kashgar. The land was fertile compared to the roof of the
world. (Humble p88) Here they were able to replenish their supplies and breathe
their first full breath of air in weeks.
Dario reflected on what Marco said about the people. “They seem to live
poorly and are down trodden even though the land is great just like messier
Marco said” Claudia said with the
voice of reason “it’s probablely because of taxes or other burdens we cannot
see” (Humble p88) Dario replied “maybe”.
As they trekked toward the desert that was to be their home for the next
few weeks Dario asked a question out loud. “Where is the kingdom of Prester
John? We should be right in the thick of it.” Claudia chuckled to herself. She
knew where he was getting this from and didn’t believe a word of it. She had
heard of the “letter of Prester John” that outlined the goodwill of his splendid
Christian empire in the east towards the Christian west. (Humble p98) She felt
the whole letter was dubious not to mention a “hidden empire”. Dario believed
that Marco’s account of the legendary battle between the Khan and Prester John
could not have been a lie. Messier Marco wrote that the great Khan killed
Prester John and took his empire! (Komroff p87) “There must be some remnants of
the empire somewhere” Dario squawked.
“Sorry dear brother, I find there is no evidence of it ever existing let
alone conquered by this “great khan”. If such an empire existed do you not think
at least one trader would have come back with unique goods from this mighty
kingdom? Do you not think that if such a large Christian kingdom existed they
would have paid tribute to the pope? Would they not have a cardinal or
Archbishop in the Vatican? Does it not stand to reason that some of the
residents of the great kingdom would migrate to new cities or at least visit the
kingdoms of the west? If we are here, why couldn’t they come to our home?” After
Claudia’s rant she stood and stared at her brother who looked as if the candle
on his birthday cake had been blown out by someone else before he could make a
wish. Dario stood silent thinking of a retort. He tried to pull out something
from il milionebut it
only talked about the battle and fall of Prester John. Claudia spoke again this
time with even more exuberance. “See my dear brother the words of your messier
Marco are not the same as those spoken to Moses at mount Sinai! These are the
words of a man. A man whose words were written by a professional writer named
Rustichello. The stories he tells cast light on the reality of the east but
should not be taken as gospel.
Compredi?”
Dario was dumbfounded. This was his sister. She had never spoken to him
like this before. But she had never disobeyed him and traveled half way across
the world. She made some good points but he sided with Marco. “Well I don’t
think you have any proof to the contrary?” That effectively ended the argument.
Not that Dario had a convincing argument but that Claudia had been too
aggressive in her attacks. Dario had chosen to close his mind and defend his
guide and not side with his mouthy sister. However, they both knew she was
right. Claudia thought to herself. Next time I’ll be more tactful. And with that
they continued their journey.
They had begun to enter the Gobi desert. This massive expanse was to be there
home for the next few weeks until they would arrive at Suchon.
They traveled during the day and during the night. The sun was like an
ever present parent watching and judging them. It beat down with rays of fire to
test their resolve. The night was no better of a friend. It was frigid and the
wind slashed like a saber that cut them down. Two weeks had gone by and they had
yet to find a fresh source of water. Dario started to lose his grip on reality.
“Claudia!! Claudia!! We are going the wrong way, I heard voices from
behind. It must be the town. We must turn around.” Dario wheezed. “Nope. We just
came from that way and I hear nothing” she countered. “Don’t’ you hear them
calling us? They speak my name and beckon me!” (Humble p94) Dario began to dart
off in the direction he heard the voices. For all his careful study of messier
Marco’s book he forgot the whole passage on the songs of the sand. In it he
warns that it is a well-known fact that the desert is abode of many evil spirits
which amuse travelers to their destruction with most extraordinary illusions.
(Komroff p 72)
Claudia not amused by her brother’s actions or that of the “evil spirits”
cajoled her Bactrian camel to follow her brother. His camel refused his change
of direction and he was off on foot by himself. As he ran he ripped off his
cloths believing that an oasis was ahead. “It’s right over the hill, they are
calling me. Hundreds of beautiful women. I am going to fall inamorato!” Dario
shouted out as he ran butt naked in the desert heat. All of sudden he collapsed
and started throwing sand into the air as if he was in a luxurious pond. “Oh
what great luck god has shown me! It’s so beautiful.” Dario said with exuberance
of a child on Christmas morning. Then he passed out. Claudia slid down the side
of her camel and threw a blanket around her brother to cover his shame. She
decided to set camp until he awoken. She would need to corral the other camel
and the donkey.
After the sun had set and her brother had risen from his momentary
insanity she began to illuminate the situation for him. “What had happened dear
sister? Why am I naked? Where are
all the women who called to me?” he stated most depressingly. “Sorry again
Dario, there were no women. The desert played tricks on you.” She explained. She
went on to say “At times sad and plaintive notes are heard and piteous cries, so
that between the sights and sounds of this desert men get confused” (Wriggins
p179) “Don’t worry I had marked our original spot with some animal bones before
I chased you so as to keep our route assured” (Wriggins p179)
Dario sat once again bewildered and confused. He wondered if there wasn’t
more to the story but left it at that, mostly out of embarrassment of losing his
pants. The next day Dario acted as if nothing had happened and he and Claudia
were off to Suchon. Only a week remained but their water supply was too low.
They needed some sort of moisture or the journey would surely be over. Dario
became resolute and killed the donkey. They ate the meat raw and strained the
beast of every drop. Claudia thought to herself that this was the most barbaric
thing they had done the entire trip but Dario assured her it was the only
choice.
Almost three weeks had gone by and they had finally reached the oasis
town of Suchon. Dario noticed that the town was full of religious pilgrims as
Marco Polo had indicated. There were Muslims, Nestorian Christians, and
Buddhists. There were many monasteries and abbeys. (Komroff p73) Dario reflected
on the experience to Claudia. “is it not amazing that a people who live in such
a harsh land still pay reverence to their gods for the life they live?” Claudia
responded with her usual wit “not all men have such a thin veil of faith as you
brother”. Dario felt attacked but thought it was a fair jab and let it go. He
would strike back later.
They would rest in Suchon for a few days before moving on to Cambulac and
the goal of their journey. Dario
felt the time was right to cue his sister in on the intent of his expedition.
“Now listen sister, I will open your mind to a reality you have never known.”
Dario said confidently. Claudia scoffed in her mind but knew instantly not to
challenge him outright on this one. “I have learned of a treasure, one that
makes all others pale in comparison. It is the legendary bowl of Adam! And I
know where it is and how to get it!” Claudia thought to herself Bowl of Adam?
What is my brother talking about? I’ve never heard of bowl of Adam. Dario could
tell her head was full of doubt so he grabbed il
millioneand began to read. ““…if food for just one man is placed in it, five
men shall have enough from it. Seeking proof the khan had it filled with a
portion fit for one, and then declared that it did, indeed, feed five!”
(Bergreen p284) “It is a relic of more than a saint. It is a relic of the first
man, the father of all mankind.” Dario said with such excitement it began to
affect Claudia.“Where is it?” Claudia exclaimed with visible excitement. “Inside
the great Khan’s fortress in Cambulac” Dario said as if it was an obvious fact
that Claudia had simply forgotten.
“You are mad brother! How are we to get in?” She said with disbelief.
“Well that was where Folco came in but I have made new plans. We must …” Claudia
interrupted her brother mid-sentence and said “Wait, Wait, what is the story of
this treasure? Why has no one heard of it?” She demanded. She went on to say “It
sounds as if it’s superstitious magic”.
“Magic, no it is the power of god. It is a relic of the patriarchs and
even if it does not feed the world the church will pay me for it as a relic of
Adam, the first patriarch.” Dario defended. “I don’t know, it sounds as if Marco
was embellishing again. Are there any other sources that can back up this claim”
She said this knowing full well that even if there was Dario surely did not know
about them. “I need only the word of messier Marco to back me up! If he says it
then it is true!” Dario said defiantly. “Well we will see but I think we should
grab something a little more reliable, like gold or silver or even a ruby or
two” she reasoned. Dario replied with a stiff retort “I will only take what can
fit in my pockets, and the wisdom of messier Marco will guide me to the most
valuable of all treasures. I will take the bowl, teeth, and hair of Adam!”
Claudia looked puzzled and said “Teeth and hair, where did that come from”.
Dario turned and walked out the room, the conversation was over. Claudia thought
to herself, “merda, I need to be more strategic if I am to get him to see
reason."
Well anyway he didn’t say I couldn’t grab some
gold.
Dario went into town to finalize their provisions and prepare to set off
to Cambulac. Claudia decided that she would assist her brother in this madding
scheme if only to assure that he doesn’t get himself killed. Dario had become
blinded by his mission and couldn’t see the obvious. Claudia believed that while
Marco Polo did travel to the Mongol court, that none of it should be taken
literal and most likely he did not do or see everything he describes. To tell
Dario this would only further infuriate him. She resolved to continue to attack
him on specific parts as they viewed their discrepancies. Maybe this way he may
be made to see reason.
The next morning they were off on the road to Cambulac. Their first stop
along the path was Dunhuang. There was a massive shrine covered in fine
paintings and sculptures. The shrine had a library and gallery dedicated to
Buddha. The shrine was called the cave of a Thousand Buddha’s. (Wriggins p183)
Dario stopped along the road to view the spectacle. “Such beauty in a shrine. It
must be centuries old if not tens of centuries.” Dario observed. Claudia stated
that she too agreed but that Marco had failed to mention the temple by name.
“Messier Marco obviously felt it was better to see then to hear about.” Dario
said with confidence. Claudia scoffed in her head but once again bit her
tongue.
They continued onward. Dario was so determined that they didn’t stop for
three days. After a couple weeks of backbreaking trekking across the tail end of
the silk road they reached the Mongol Capital of Cambulac. The featured eleven
gates guarded by imposing three story towers that serve as observation
platforms. (Bergreen p141) Dario
had planned on being able to sneak into the city. Marco had described the city
as being enclosed with a wall and deep ditch. (Komroff p126) But he made no
reference to three story tall observation posts. He does describe the gates and
states that the smaller ones on the sides are always kept open for the use of
common passengers. (Komroff 126) “Well Messier Marco states that if we travel to
the side walls there will be gates open to us to enter” Dario detailed but
purposeful excluded the fact that Marco had failed to mention the towers. “Let
us be off and enter the city unrestricted” he said with pride thinking that the
whole voyage would be concluded soon enough. Claudia followed quickly behind.
They both now wore garb more accustomed to the region. They had long ago ditched
their European wears and now sported a more traditional attire of travelers of
the silk road. Dario had copied the attire of a Sogdian merchant when they were
in Dunhuang. He now wore a Phrygian hat which was conical with the top turned
forward. He had a knee length, belted over jacket of deep-blue silk brocade
woven with decorative roundels enclosing two deer facing each other. He wore
trousers tucked into calf length brocade boots with leather soles. (Whitefield
p29) Dario fit right in the multicultural city of the Mongol empire. Claudia had
adopted the attire of the Uighur women she saw when they were in Kashgar. She
wore a black velvet embroidered skull-cap on her head. She donned a striped
dress that was made of shaded ikat-weave silk. (Wood p23) She chose a more
modest dress so not to bring attention to herself.
Dario and Claudia entered the city without incident. However, that’s not
to say they were not noticed. When they walked through the gate a Soldier with a
red sash around his neck eyeballed Dario. He stared long into his eyes. Dario
felt as if this man knew what he was up to. Dario began to panic. He grabbed his
sister’s hand and scurried off. The soldier did not follow them but continued to
stare until they were out of sight. “What was that about” Claudia inquired. “I
don’t know but I don’t want to bump into him again” Dario replied.
They continued to scout the city as they looked for an Inn to stay at.
Dario noticed the palace off in the distance from Marcos description of it.
Dario began to think out loud “the palace is square in every way. First there is
a square circuit of wall, and each face is eight miles long, round which there
is a deep moat, and in the middle of each side is a gate by which all the people
enter. Then there is a space of a mile all around which is stationed with
soldiers.”(Bergreen p144) Marco was impressed by this massive fortress but it
plain near knocked Dario’s socks off. “Amazing isn’t it sister?” he queried “Yes
brother, but how are we to break in?” Claudia countered. “Well that is the
question isn’t it? But what we must be asking ourselves is how we get out.”
Dario said devilishly.“What have you planned?” she responded. Dario looked at
his sister and said “It will be a team effort but we will go in disguise”. Dario
had been practicing his Mongolian and felt he had sufficiently mastered the
language. His major problem would come if someone spoke Chinese to him. He had
yet to speak with any Han Chinese and knew nothing of their language. Claudia
also had learned Mongolian but was confident she had learned some basic Chinese.
“This
will do!” Dario exclaimed as they passed an inn. They entered then paid for the
night and went straight to the bar. Dario guided his sister to the back of the
room. Dario was planning to try and located a Mongolian court guard. The inn was
extremely upscale and was covered in ornate dragons. Surely someone of position
would reside within he thought to himself. Dario began to detail the plan to
Claudia but as usual he would keep key facts to himself until the time was
right. “I will switch places with a guard of the court. I will then infiltrate
the great Khans treasure palace and secure the bowl. You will need to help me
acquire the necessary attire of a Mongolian royal guard” Dario said as he
outlined the basics of his plan. “How am I going to do that?” She asked.
“Well I haven’t figured that part out yet.” He replied. However, Dario
was lying. He knew full well what part she would play in this. If she were to
find out beforehand she would be furious and might say no. Dario would continue
with his plan with her in the dark for the time being. He advised his sister
that she should go to the room and wait for him. “Okay, but remember not to go
out in the city after dark. Marco spoke of nightly guards in parties of thirty
to forty. I wouldn’t want to test and see if he was right.”(Komroff p132) She
warned. Dario remembered that
little excerpt and was weary of the streets. He would wait in the bar till the
right fella came to him.
Hours
went by and Dario continued to sip on his glass of Koumiss. Koumiss is the sour
fermented beverage made from mare’s milk. It is a staple of the Mongol diet.
(Bergreen p101)Dario thought it tasted horrible but it did work well as an
intoxicant. He waited patiently for anyone with the right outfit to come into
the bar and finally to his surprise the soldier with the red sash came in. He
sat down at the table right next to Dario. This time however, he did not make
eye contact. Had he not noticed me, Dario thought? Well I guess I should
introduce myself.
“Hello their glorious soldier of our great leader Temur Khan” Dario said
in Mongolian. He had only learned the new Khans name a few hours
ago in passing conversation with the barkeep. “Ahh yes, the man with the
beautiful wife. What do you want?” The soldier replied with a surly attitude.
Dario knew instantly why he had stared so much. He wasn’t staring at him but his
sister. Perfecto he thought. His first part of his plan had fallen into his lap.
“Bhah, she is not my wife but in fact she is one of my wares. Would you like to
give her a try? Only a few of your paper bills.” He bargained. Dario had also
learned from Il milionethat
the great Khan had set up a paper money system and that the currency of the Khan
was worth ten times its weight in gold. (Bergreen
p129)
“Good that she is not your wife, because I would have taken her anyway!” The soldier
said with great malice. Dario was angered by that comment. I’d like to see you
try he thought. He however, kept that quiet and quickly said “Three bills and
she’s yours for the night” he blurted out. “Where is she?” he inquired. “I have
her in a room waiting for a costumer.” Dario told him the room’s location and
told him to ask for Claudia. The deal was done and Dario quickly followed
behind. The soldier knocked on his room’s door and called out his sister’s name.
“Yes” She replied and opened the door. Just as Dario had hoped the soldier
didn’t say a word but forced his way in the room and began disrobing. “Oh my
lord, what is going on, someone help” she began to shout. She then saw Dario
creeping from behind the man and he shut the door behind him.
Culetto, she thought to herself but then she began to play along. She
grabed the man and began to act as if she were going to take off his pants. As
her finger touched the cusp of his trousers Dario hit the soldier over the head
with the soldiers own boot. The soldier collapsed onto the floor in a heap.
They quickly disrobed the soldier and tied him up.
“We
are not going to kill him are we? Claudia asked. “Not if we don’t have to, let’s
finish binding him and stuff him in the closet. If all goes according to plan we
will be out of the city tomorrow night.” Dario said reassuringly.
Claudia was furious with her brother for putting her in such a situation.
“What the hell is wrong with you” she demanded. “I apologize but it was kind of
spur of the moment” he said timidly. “Spur of the moment my culetto!” She
roared. Dario pleaded for her forgiveness and the two bickered back and forth
for several hours. Finally Claudia gave up and the two went to bed for the
night.
The
big day had come and Dario had assumed the costume and role of the guard. The
red sash of the soldier meant Dario could now go into any of the royal palaces.
He woke up early in the morning and stationed himself outside the palace he was
going to heist. He paced for hours watching the guard rotations. Claudia stayed
at the inn to watch the soldier and make sure he didn’t escape. As the morning
passed by and Dario continued to case his target, Claudia began to doubt the
validity of their journey. She spoke to the soldier as if he cared to listen.
His mouth was gagged so it remains to be seen whether he wanted to hear it or
not. “I don’t understand how he can read Marco’s book and see it as the god’s
honest truth? Why doesn’t Marco mention the great wall we saw on our way through
Chang’an? It was massive; he had to have seen it. (Whitefield p121) The dates
and times do not match up on when he said he was in the court of Kublai Khan.
(Whitefield p123) No man could have seen all he wrote about. This bowl of Adam
sounds like more fantasy. It sounds like the tales of the Heat of Hormuz were
men turned to dust. (Komroff p46) It sounds like legend and lore. How many times
now on our journey has “Messier Marco” steered us wrong with embellished or
mythical descriptions of this far away world. I have seen enough to doubt it
all.” Claudia paused and looked at the soldier who was visible infuriated. She
thought to herself “if he gets loose I won’t be able to contain him, Dario you
better hurry up, and don’t forget to grab some gold
too”
Dario
had finally got the soldiers rotations down and was now slinking around the
palace. Dario began to make note of the things he saw inside the palace. “The
walls of the halls and of the rooms are all covered with gold and with silver,
and there are portrayed dragons and beasts and birds and fair stories of ladies
and knights and other beautiful things.” (Bergreen p145) Dario moved like a
viper with determination through the palace. He perfectly meandered away from
the guard patrols. Even if caught he reasoned he could talk his way out of it.
He finally came to a court yard. He remembered Marco’s verse on this area
“Within the courtyard there were large houses, rooms, and halls, in which are
the private things of the lord, all his treasure, gold, silver, precious stones,
and pearls.” (Bergreen p145) This must be where the bowl is kept he thought with
exuberance. Dario walked with confidence to the first large house. Two guards
were on either side of the door. They were dressed the same as him with light
armor and the red sash. He ignored them and walked right up to the door and
began to open it when one of the guards grabbed his hand. “It has been checked
already this hour” he said with irritation. “ I was sent by the captain to
double check, it seems certain items have been going missing when you two are on
duty” Dario replied with the tact of pro. The two instantly backed down and
looked at each other with suspicion. Dario walked into the room and searched the
room with his eyes like a hawk hunting a field mouse in an open meadow. Nothing,
he thought. Well there’s plenty of other rooms but this ploy won’t last much
longer.
Dario
turned and left the room. He went onto the next two houses without incident and
on the third found a treasure room completely empty but one box in the center.
This must be it he thought. When he opened the room he found a soldier standing
directly behind the treasure. He didn’t know what to do. Was this the bowl of
Adam or just some other prized treasure? He decided to play a game with the
soldier to tease it out of him.
“Pretty
boring post, isn’t it?” He inquired. “Nope, I find great pride with my duty. I
get to stand with the patriarch all day. I alone know what it looks like” He
said with purpose. “I’ve never seen it; do you think I can take a peak?” Dario
inquired. “Sorry the bowl of Adam is off limits to all except the great Khan”
The soldier said with obvious contempt. Hah, he had him. But now he’d have to
dispose of the guard. Dario bowed
to the guard. The guard returned his bow. As he bent over Dario grabbed him by
the head and wrapped his arms around his neck. He put him into a sleeper hold
and the soldier passed out. There was no time he opened the box and there it
was. The bowl of Adam, complete with molars and hair. He grabbed all the items
and tossed them into his hip pouch. He turned and slowly walked out of the
treasure house. He walked quietly back to the main corridor and began to exit
the palace. As his foot touched the last marble step of the palace entrance, he
heard a commotion. “Thief! Thief! Someone has robbed the khan! No one is to exit
the palace” The captain in the background began shouting. Dario finished his
last step and continued walking out. To panic now was to commit suicide. He kept
walking as hundreds of guards began rushing by him straight for the palace.
Dario
ran the last couple miles back to the inn. As he turned the corner he saw
several city police in front of the inn. Dario hid behind some crates and
listened in. “The women is dead and the soldier claims he was robbed of his
cloths. Be on the lookout for a man returning wearing the royal sash.” The
officer stated coldly. What was
going on, Dario thought. Then he saw the soldier walk out the door of the inn.
He was wrapped in a bed sheet and was covered in blood. Then Dario saw a man
come out backward and in his hands were two frail arms. Then the body of his
beloved sister followed out the door with another man holding the legs. “Merda!
Merda! How could I be so foolish to tempt fate! Dear sister what had I done!”
Dario stood frozen. The soldier had broken out of his bondage and killed Claudia
in a fit of rage. Her face was barely visible under all the blood. Dario kept
thinking to himself how could he have allowed her to die like that. And now he
can’t even bury her body. He felt as if his heart had been ripped out. The
police just stood there with her body lying on the ground. “Those vultures are
just taunting me with her body” He said with absolute furry. Dario couldn’t
handle it anymore and turned and walked away. He left the better part of himself
in that street that day. He died too as the vultures examined her body.
The next few years of the journey back to Rome tasted bitter to Dario. He
felt a sick heavy pit in his stomach. He grew angry and resentful of the bowl.
He blamed god and Adam for the death of his sister. He had however, resolved to
make a new life in honor of his sister. He traveled by water through the
Melaka’s round the tip of India. He landed at the port of Hormuz where he was
so many years ago. He remembered Claudia and her ability to doubt and analyze
everything. He remembered her sneaking into his carriage and the anger he felt
finding her. He remembered that as angry as he was that day he felt relieved
that she would be there with him. Her above all others he trusted and now she
was gone.
Dario
finally made it back to Rome. He arranged a meeting with a high ranking papal
official. He now looked like a totally different man. His hair had turned to
gray and he had a definitively eastern way about him now. He had stopped
drinking and was now more determined to make his sister’s death mean something.
“Now
what do we have here Martello?”the official inquired. Dario had assumed a
different identity after returning to Italia to avoid his previous record. “It is the fabled bowl of Adam and the
teeth and hair of the first Patriarch.” Dario said confidently. “How do you
know?” the official questioned.“I have journeyed to the east with messier Marco
Polo as my guide. With his knowledge I located the bowl and retrieved it for the
Christian world.” Dario replied. “For a substantial profit I am sure, but how do
you know these items are the ones you speak of?” the official was really pushing
Dario and he could feel it. “They fit the description of messier Marco
perfectly.” He responded almost incredulously. “Well how do you know that Marco
was right, there are no other references to it in western culture? Isn’t it
possible that the items are just pieces to an ancient myth that Marco just heard
and put into his novella?”The official went on to say “I cannot vouch for the
authenticity of something the church knows nothing about. Get us proof that
these objects are what you say they are and I will inquire of their value”
Dario
was visible upset by all of this. He endeavored to prove to the official their
validity. He took an apple and some dates and put them it the bowl. “Now watch
it will make enough for the two of us to eat and it will even have left overs.”
Dario looked almost insane as he piled the fruit into the bowl. Nothing happened
though. He thought back to Claudia. Superstitious magic she called it. He knew
what she meant by that. She meant it was non sense. Why had he failed to listen
to her? He grabbed the bowl and parts of Adam and stormed out of the official’s
room.
What
was it that she had said about the kingdom of Prester John? Oh yeah “See my dear
brother the words of your messier Marco are not the same as those spoken to
Moses at mount Sinai! These are the words of a man. A man whose words were
written by a professional writer named Rustichello. The stories he tells cast
light on the reality of the east but should not be taken as gospel”. Why had he
taken so long to learn this lesson his sister taught him so long ago. What could
he do now with his trinkets? At least he had a bowl for begging now he joked.
His sister had taught him so much but it had taken him years and her death to
see it. Dario walked for several hours. He eventually stumbled upon the remains
of the coliseum. Thousands of Christians had died at this place and he thought
of their memories. Men forced to battle to the death for the simplicity of
entertainment. Dario worked his way to the top of the structure. Lions, bears,
and tigers were used to kill his ancestors. Exotic animals from far off lands
pitted against the dregs of roman society so the masses wouldn’t see the evils
of their emperor. Dario stared off the ledge at the ground. Claudia I should
have listened, he thought. There was more than just the words. I wish I could
have seen the world through your eyes and not with the blindness of ignorance.
The ground got closer. What wastes I have made of both our lives he thought. He
could see the blades of grass as he said his last word.
“Claudia.”
Bibliography
Bergreen, Laurence.
Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu. New York: Vintage Books, 2007. Print.
Humble, Richard.
Marco Polo. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1975.
Print.
Komroff, Manuel. The
Travels of Marco Polo. New York: The Modern Library, 1941.
Print.
Whitfield, Susan. Life
Along the Silk Road. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999.
Print.
Wriggins, Sally H. The
Silk Road Journey with Xuanzang.
Boulder: Westview Press, 2004.
Print.
Wood, Frances. The
Silk Road: Two Thousand Years in the Heart of Asia. University of California
Press, 2004. Print.
-A tale of one man’s journey to claim an unknown treasure from
the grips of the Mongol empire. With Marco polo’s Il
milione as his guide and with the aid of his comrades, Dario dares to challenge the great Khan and commit the ultimate heist.
By Patrick Skelding
Anno 1330, in the city of Rome lays the foundation for our tale. Dario Crispino
appears to be a well-to-do upper classman. He has received the title “Chaplain
of his Holiness” through some rather daring backroom negotiations in which he
bribed the Archbishop of the local diocese into bestowing the title on him. In
return he would not disclose some rather revealing letters that had come into
his possession. Dario, having positioned himself in the right place at the right
time, has made himself trusted enough to walk the halls of the Vatican basilica
unaccompanied.
His plot is simple. He will slip into the coffers of a young bishop of the Borgia
family. The Borgia was slowly gaining power, and Dario, like any good Roman,
knew that the quickest way to gain power was wealth. He had his dim-witted
assistant Folco waiting at a back entrance with a carriage disguised to carry
papal dignitaries to help upload the massive fortune he was soon to plunder. But
as he turned the corner to approach the easily circumvented lock of the bishop’s
coffer, he overheard a conversation that would drastically alter the future of
the young rogue. A Cardinal by the
name of Father Elvino was speaking to the young bishop and Dario over heard the
words, “the Bowl of Adam…” Dario felt a drip of sweat drip off his head as he
thought “the Bowl of Adam, it cannot be, this is myth, this is roba da matti”.
Dario had known as everyone had, that the bowl was lost centuries ago. “Could it
be?” he thought to himself. Dario leaned in more to lay eaves on the
conversation. Cardinal Elvino said “I was going over the tale of messier Marco
when I discover that the great Khan was in possession of the relic…”
Dario
quickly leaped into action. He realized his ruse would only last so long and he
needed to get back to Folco, before the moron ended up divulging the entire plan
to some courtesan to simply impress her. Dario thought to himself, “I swear one
day I am going to get killed so that Folco can get a bocchino”. He made three
quick trips without being spotted but on the fourth trip back to the coffer he
heard screaming. “Merda!!! I’ve
been robbed!!! Bastardo!!!”screamed the young Borgia bishop. Dario took this as
his cue to move on to bigger and better things. He jumped onto the carriage with
Folco who was deep into a trance counting how many ladies he could buy if the
profits from the heist were only spilt one way; his way. Dario slapped him on
the back and said“Scemo, hurry up and plot my demise another time or we will
both spend our lives in a Vatican prison!” Dario thought to himself “Now I’ve
just got to get my hands on a copy of Il Milioneand maybe I can
finally become ricco sfondato”.
Dario
and Folco rode quickly back to their hideout. Once there Dario jumped off the
carriage and landed with a thud. He was still dressed with the regalia of the
papacy. He loved wearing costumes and assuming the life of others but somehow
this particular costume just seemed to ride up in all the wrong places. “I’ve
got to get out of this monkey suit, I feel like a maiale” Dario exclaimed. Folco
shook his head and let out a fake laugh. Folco tended to laugh at comments he
didn’t understand, an age old defense of the ignorant. Dario went to open the
door to his abode and noticed the splinter he left against the door to see if
anyone had been inside his place was missing. Dario decided to keep this fact to
himself; Choosing to hold his cards instead of playing them. He has never fully
trusted Folco but he was sure someone else a lot less threatening was attempting
to spy on him. They entered the foyer and Dario decided to divulge part of his
plan to Folco. Only what he needed to know to do his part and enough to tease
out the spy.
“Folco! I need you to obtain a copy of messier Polo’s tome. You know Il milione.” Dario declared.
Folco didn’t know what a tome was and chucked. “What do you need a grave for?
Do you have plans that I don’t know about? I’d be glad to help you out.” Folco
jested. “Scemo, I need the book!” Dario said resentfully. Go to Ralpheo de
Venice and ask for exactly what I have told you. “What’s it for” Folco
inquired. “We are to make a voyage for which we cannot endure without the
knowledge of messier Marco Polo. Once you have the book we will be off and
shall not return for several years but it will make us both ricco sfondato.
Compredi?” Folco trusting Dario about as far as he could throw him said one
word “si”.
Dario
paced the room as he waited for Folco to return. “I wonder where my sister is
hiding” he thought. Dario had assumed his sister was the one who had tripped his
alarm to see what he was up to. Claudia was a natural tom boy. She was built
tough but used her head to get out of trouble, unlike her brother. Long jet
black hair and a brilliant min, Claudia was a women of determination. She was
ready to take on anyone about anything. Dario failed to see this latter trait in
its full breadth and would pay the price.
“Come
out sister I’ve something to tell you!” Dario exploded.
Claudia popped her head out from behind the long red curtains of the
window. “Yes brother, I am listening” she blurted out. Claudia was quite taken
at how easy her brother had known someone was there and that it was her. How did
he know she thought? She had been so perfect in her execution. He must have had
a trip somewhere.
“Claudia, pay attention. I am leaving for some time. I need you to stay.
I am going on a trip that will make it so we can buy our own villa. Villa de
Crispino, we will call it. I will be leaving in the morning. Compredi?” Claudia
knew that Dario was hiding something from her. She had no intention of letting
him go by himself, but she would play along. “Si, brother. I will miss you.”
Claudia sulked. She often played the fool and acted as if she didn’t understand.
Both Dario and she had grown up alone, without parents. Dario was as much a
father as he was brother to her. Dario could read her but he let her play her
games. He didn’t think she would completely disobey him. Dario would shortly
learn the first of many lessons from his little sister.
The
next morning Dario went to the market and loaded up on supplies. Folco
had been successful in his acquisition of the legendary book by Marco Polo.
They jumped onto their carriage with an extra donkey tied to the back. They
would need to trade the carriage and donkey for camels along the way. Dario
told Folco to head for the city of Constantinople. This would be their first
destination on the trip.
Constantinople
was one of the most important centers of commerce and culture at the time. The
city flourished and survived off trade. (Bergreen p13) Constantinople was a city
of jewels of great beauty and price. (Humble p27) This proved too much of a
distraction to Dario and he told Folco to stop. They slowed down on the
outskirts of the bazaar. Dario leaped into action. This is when he blooms.
Wheeling and dealing, and trying to burn the other man worse than he tried to
burn him. Dario was mid-conversation with a merchant trying to haggle a deal on
some rare metals he had on him for some of the gems and jewels he had, when he
realized that something wasn’t right. Usually by this time Folco would have
secured the carriage and been quick to be at his heels, questioning everything
about the trip and the plan. He must be up to
something.
Dario’s
head darted around. “Huh” he blurted out. Dario finished the transaction feeling
he had bested the merchant.“Saccente Byzantines” Dario scoffed. Dario headed
back to the carriage assuming Folco had returned as well. He was nowhere in
sight. Dario began to worry. Not for his half-friend and half-foe compatriot but
for the success of the expedition. Without Folco, he would have to do all the
grunt work himself. Also logistically he’d have to rethink a lot of the plan for
a one man con-job. Dario continued searching the bustling side streets. He
started thinking that Folco’s libido was overcome by the byzantine courtesans.
Then
Dario heard a most peculiar sound. He heard what he thought was water bubbling,
but it didn’t sound right. Maybe it was someone gargling. He rounded the corner
and saw Folco slumped over against a wall. “Folco!! Get up you fool, we must be
off” Dario demanded. Folco made only the gargling noise. Dario bent down and
lifted Folco’s head. His throat had been slit. Blood was gushing out and Dario
was shocked. In all his years of conniving and scheming he had never seen a man
die like this. Dario ripped Folco’s sleeve and tried to stop the bleeding but
before he could look Folco in the eyes, he was gone.
Dario
assumed he had tried to pick up a woman and was robbed for his trouble. Dario
did not have any love for Folco but he was the closest thing he had to a
partner. What was he to do now? He thought of giving up and going back to Rome
with the jewels he had just scored. This should hold me over for a few months he
thought. I could just go back and search for another score. What other score? He
thought to himself. What am I going to do with his body, and how could I explain
it. I can’t just say to the local official excuse me I found this dead guy in
this dark alley and I had nothing to do with it. But can you help me bury the
body?
“Merda!!
Folco you scemo!! Now what!”Dario left Folco in the street not wishing to get
involved with the authorities. He knew it was wrong to leave a Christian man to
rot in an alley but he himself was no good Christian and for that matter neither
was Folco. He chalked up the whole event to fate. Dario climbed up onto his
carriage and headed east. If Folco died alone then there was a reason. He must
have been against me. I am destined to bring back the treasures of the Khan and
live a life of luxury. I will press on he thought. It’s amazing how the mind
will reason its way out of guilt and make room for hope. This is what Dario was
best at. Failing to see the obvious and looking to the future to forget the
past.
Off
to the Middle East he was; Bound for glory. First he would have to pass through
both lesser and greater Armenia. Dario began reading Il
milione in reference to these places. Marco detailed them as kingdoms
far past their prime. With the gentry a bunch of great drinkers, mean-spirited,
and worthless. (Komroff p23) The land itself is filled with an abundance of life
but the air itself is most unhealthy. (Komroff p23) Dario looked around and said
to himself“huh, this land does appear to be past its prime” Dario felt assured
that this was an accurate description.
Dario
had crossed both lands without incident. He then arrived in the ancient city of
Babylon now known as Baghdad. Dario opened Marco’s book to this part and read of
the people. “… they pay reverence to Mahomet and are called Arabians. In the
mountainous regions there are a people named the Kurds and …” (Komroff p29)
Dario paused. Once again something didn’t feel right and his senses were telling
him to be cautious. He got off his carriage. He went around back and noticed
that some of his supplies had been moved around. He noticed this kept happening
for the past couple weeks of his journey but nothing was ever missing. He wanted
to get to the bottom of this little conundrum. He began unloading his carriage’s
bed. He saw some red fabric popping out of the back of the bed.
“Bastardo”
he shouted. He knew who it was. “Claudia get out of there. I know it’s you, how
did you…” At that moment
Claudia jumped out and said“I’ve come to join my brother on his most foolish
journey!” She looked around and inquired “Where’s
Folco?
Dario
was infuriated and decided to ignore her comment altogether. “This is
ridiculous! How did you do this without me noticing and why!!” he griped.
“Brother, where is Folco? She pleaded. “He’s dead okay, and you gonna be too if
you don’t answer my questions!”
“You
killed him, oh my.” She replied.“God no, but I’d like to move on, how did you
get here?” he replied with somber mortality. “I’ve been with you since Rome. I
hide in the chest for most of the way but I wondered around at night while you
slept. You not as clever as you think. That’s why I have come to help you.”
Claudia was extremely intelligent and Dario knew she out shinned her. But she
wasn’t ruthless and cunning. But this latest little episode showed him he didn’t
know his sister as well as he thought he had. “Ok, you can stay, but only
because I fear sending you back will result in your death. Marco’s book speaks
of many ills in this land”
“What
kind of ills?” Claudia blurted out. “well for starters he speaks of a legendary
order of assassins that are based out of Alamut to the north” (Humble p79) “He
speaks of Karaunas marauders and a diabolical mist they use to kill their
victims” (Humble p68) “Not to mention the environment itself, he tells of the
heat of Hormuz, that it turns men to dust from thirst” (Humble p71) He
exclaimed. “That’s ridiculous brother. To dust?” Claudia said with disbelief.
“That’s what is says” Dario said with defiance. Claudia the eternal
skeptic also doubted the marauders and their “mist”. She kept her mouth shut for
now though, thinking it was better to see it for herself. The Crispino’s started
on their way to Hormuz. The deserts were vast but luckily Dario had traded the
carriage and donkey for two camels and a pack mule. Dario had read ahead about
how the camels had a secret understanding of springs and sources and that the
camels would help them find water in the vast deserts that lay before them.
(Bergreen p53)
Traveling along their path to Hormuz was dangerous enough with the heat
and exhaustion that beat on them like a hammer on a nail. But all of a sudden
Dario felt the ground rumble. He remembered Marco’s verse on the Karaunas
marauders. “When they have brought on the darkness, they ride side by side,
sometimes as many as ten thousand of them together…” (Bergreen p 50) Dario leapt
into action noting Marco’s avoidance of these thieves and their mist. There was
an out-cropping of cliffs a hundred feet to their right and he corralled Claudia
and the pack mule toward it. He jumped of his camel and tied all three animals
together and he and Claudia ran for a small cave and hid. The sky was filled
with sand, whipping and whirling through the sky.
“See! It is the mist Marco spoke of; once again he has proved a wise
guide!” Dario said with confidence. Claudia now choose to speak up. “Mist? This
is a sand storm!”she mocked. True there was no diabolical mist, but the
marauders were near. The ground trembled as their numbers passed. They had been
lucky, much the same way Marco had .They were endangered not by enchanted mist
but by a horde of thieves.
They soon regrouped and were off to Hormuz again. Dario had learned from
Il milione that taking the
sea route with the Sareceans would be fatal but felt that it was a safe haven
prior to their entry into the Pamir’s. (Bergreen p 52) Claudia still felt the
story of the heat of Hormuz was myth but with the sun attacking her like a
vicious dog she felt it was a battle best saved for another time. For now the
two of them would officially be leaving the domain of Europe and entering into
the kingdom of the Khans. Claudia bubbled with anticipation. She felt fear but
not of death or of failure but of the unknown. She had studied on her own for
years about the far east. She knew not everything Messier Polo said could be
true. As clever as Dario was he accepted all that the legend of Marco Polo had
to offer. It was all facts to him. Ignorance is the crutch of the weak. Claudia
would need to set him straight.
In Hormuz they baked in the sun but drank like kings. Dario’s mind was
swimming in wine. Claudia sipped mint tea and contemplated the next step of
their Journey. The roof of the world she thought. Was it truly as desolate and
unforgiving as Marco had painted it? Dario interrupted her thought by slapping a
donkey on its back side and said “Have you ever seen ass like this?” Dario said
drunkenly. Claudia didn’t event
give a response she simply thought to herself. What a scemo! Dario went on to
say“Marco spoke of these asses. He said that these are the best in the world and
that they can fetch up to 200 sterling a piece!” (Komroff p39) “We ought to get
one so at least we have one suitable beast of burden, these camels smell
awful!’ Dario slurred almost the whole last sentence and then puked.
Men, Claudia thought to herself, but it was a fine animal. Maybe Marco
wasn’t completely full of it. She had hoped he was because of his description of
the Pamir’s sounded almost unbearable. She had snuck a peak at Dario’s tattered
copy. He had read it now twice through. If he was as dedicated to the bible as
he was this book he could have really been a bishop instead of having to fake
it. She had left Dario down in the courtyard and made her way to bed. Claudia
laid restless in their room waiting for him to come to sleep. She would pass out
waiting for him and wondering what wonders lay before them.
The next morning came and Dario was not in the room. He had slept in the
courtyard as the staff of the inn would not let a drunkard in.
Claudia didn’t think he had cared much as he probably couldn’t feel his
body anyway. They once again regrouped and went to market. There they got the
remaining supplies they would need to venture to the roof of the world. Marco
had laid out theirjourney almost forty years prior and now they were just
following in his footsteps. But to Claudia this was a truly original journey.
She only knew that her brother had intentions to steal something from the Khan
but what and how still lay outside of her sphere of knowledge. That would not
last much longer.
They started on their way to Talikhan via the Pamirs. Dario began to
recite the section on this route “Twelve days heading east-north-east.
Sufficient water and game en route, but a deserted country, no ready food.”
(Humble p79) This was just the beginning. They would suffer for eighteen days of
painful climbing (Humble p83) Around the fifteenth day of climbing another fact
Marco had mentioned also became obvious as truth. Claudia out of breath and
ready to end it all. Collapsed and said “No more! No more! This is roba da
matti!” Dario became emboldened by her momentary weakness. He once again read
from Marco’s manuscript “There is no human habitation. There are no birds. Even
fire itself changed. It was a different color, not as bright and didn’t cook as
well. (Humble p80) Hah so my tome of myths has truth within it!” Dario declared
half out of breath himself. Claudia was too put out to fight back and said “Yes,
it does appear to be true. I just hope we don’t get stuck her in the winter we
will be frozen in on all sides. (Wriggins p167) But can we rest here for a
time?” she whimpered. Dario relented seeing his sister in such a defeated state.
They would make camp for the night.
Dario began to think about the legendary treasure that he had initiated
this journey to get. How many men also knew of the bowl of Adam? How many knew
that Marco had laid eyes on it? He was hopeful that many had dismissed it out of
hand. While undercover in the Vatican he had learned of the treasure in an
ancient tome. In it was outlined
that In a distant land on an island was a monument in the center of it known as
Adam’s peak. (Humble p180) There was, and all faiths agreed, the teeth and the
hairs and the bowl of Adam; The father of all men. (Bergreen p283) The bowl was
a food bowl. It was made of very beautiful green porphyry. (Bergreen p284) He knew how the church had traditionally
obsessed on relics of saints. If he wear to bring the teeth, hair, and the bowl
of Adam he would be set for life if not made a saint himself. Dario began to
question his motives. He wondered if he deserved to acquire the treasure.
“Bah!” he scoffed out loud. If a non-Christian like the Khan can hold it
then a quasi-Christian like me can wield it. He opened to il
milione’s passage on the bowl. “…if food for just one man is placed in
it, five men shall have enough from it. Seeking proof the khan had it filled
with a portion fit for one, and then declared that it did, indeed, feed five!”
(Bergreen p284) Dario reveled in
the glory that was to be his. He would be king of a huge Christian kingdom just
as Prester John! Dario began to fall asleep, dreaming of legends and myths. To
him it was all true. To him it was his destiny.
The next few days were some of the most brutal terrain they would cross
the entire journey. Claudia began to doubt her decision to join her brother,
although she never vocalized it. As they began to descend they eventually came
upon the province of Kashgar. The land was fertile compared to the roof of the
world. (Humble p88) Here they were able to replenish their supplies and breathe
their first full breath of air in weeks.
Dario reflected on what Marco said about the people. “They seem to live
poorly and are down trodden even though the land is great just like messier
Marco said” Claudia said with the
voice of reason “it’s probablely because of taxes or other burdens we cannot
see” (Humble p88) Dario replied “maybe”.
As they trekked toward the desert that was to be their home for the next
few weeks Dario asked a question out loud. “Where is the kingdom of Prester
John? We should be right in the thick of it.” Claudia chuckled to herself. She
knew where he was getting this from and didn’t believe a word of it. She had
heard of the “letter of Prester John” that outlined the goodwill of his splendid
Christian empire in the east towards the Christian west. (Humble p98) She felt
the whole letter was dubious not to mention a “hidden empire”. Dario believed
that Marco’s account of the legendary battle between the Khan and Prester John
could not have been a lie. Messier Marco wrote that the great Khan killed
Prester John and took his empire! (Komroff p87) “There must be some remnants of
the empire somewhere” Dario squawked.
“Sorry dear brother, I find there is no evidence of it ever existing let
alone conquered by this “great khan”. If such an empire existed do you not think
at least one trader would have come back with unique goods from this mighty
kingdom? Do you not think that if such a large Christian kingdom existed they
would have paid tribute to the pope? Would they not have a cardinal or
Archbishop in the Vatican? Does it not stand to reason that some of the
residents of the great kingdom would migrate to new cities or at least visit the
kingdoms of the west? If we are here, why couldn’t they come to our home?” After
Claudia’s rant she stood and stared at her brother who looked as if the candle
on his birthday cake had been blown out by someone else before he could make a
wish. Dario stood silent thinking of a retort. He tried to pull out something
from il milionebut it
only talked about the battle and fall of Prester John. Claudia spoke again this
time with even more exuberance. “See my dear brother the words of your messier
Marco are not the same as those spoken to Moses at mount Sinai! These are the
words of a man. A man whose words were written by a professional writer named
Rustichello. The stories he tells cast light on the reality of the east but
should not be taken as gospel.
Compredi?”
Dario was dumbfounded. This was his sister. She had never spoken to him
like this before. But she had never disobeyed him and traveled half way across
the world. She made some good points but he sided with Marco. “Well I don’t
think you have any proof to the contrary?” That effectively ended the argument.
Not that Dario had a convincing argument but that Claudia had been too
aggressive in her attacks. Dario had chosen to close his mind and defend his
guide and not side with his mouthy sister. However, they both knew she was
right. Claudia thought to herself. Next time I’ll be more tactful. And with that
they continued their journey.
They had begun to enter the Gobi desert. This massive expanse was to be there
home for the next few weeks until they would arrive at Suchon.
They traveled during the day and during the night. The sun was like an
ever present parent watching and judging them. It beat down with rays of fire to
test their resolve. The night was no better of a friend. It was frigid and the
wind slashed like a saber that cut them down. Two weeks had gone by and they had
yet to find a fresh source of water. Dario started to lose his grip on reality.
“Claudia!! Claudia!! We are going the wrong way, I heard voices from
behind. It must be the town. We must turn around.” Dario wheezed. “Nope. We just
came from that way and I hear nothing” she countered. “Don’t’ you hear them
calling us? They speak my name and beckon me!” (Humble p94) Dario began to dart
off in the direction he heard the voices. For all his careful study of messier
Marco’s book he forgot the whole passage on the songs of the sand. In it he
warns that it is a well-known fact that the desert is abode of many evil spirits
which amuse travelers to their destruction with most extraordinary illusions.
(Komroff p 72)
Claudia not amused by her brother’s actions or that of the “evil spirits”
cajoled her Bactrian camel to follow her brother. His camel refused his change
of direction and he was off on foot by himself. As he ran he ripped off his
cloths believing that an oasis was ahead. “It’s right over the hill, they are
calling me. Hundreds of beautiful women. I am going to fall inamorato!” Dario
shouted out as he ran butt naked in the desert heat. All of sudden he collapsed
and started throwing sand into the air as if he was in a luxurious pond. “Oh
what great luck god has shown me! It’s so beautiful.” Dario said with exuberance
of a child on Christmas morning. Then he passed out. Claudia slid down the side
of her camel and threw a blanket around her brother to cover his shame. She
decided to set camp until he awoken. She would need to corral the other camel
and the donkey.
After the sun had set and her brother had risen from his momentary
insanity she began to illuminate the situation for him. “What had happened dear
sister? Why am I naked? Where are
all the women who called to me?” he stated most depressingly. “Sorry again
Dario, there were no women. The desert played tricks on you.” She explained. She
went on to say “At times sad and plaintive notes are heard and piteous cries, so
that between the sights and sounds of this desert men get confused” (Wriggins
p179) “Don’t worry I had marked our original spot with some animal bones before
I chased you so as to keep our route assured” (Wriggins p179)
Dario sat once again bewildered and confused. He wondered if there wasn’t
more to the story but left it at that, mostly out of embarrassment of losing his
pants. The next day Dario acted as if nothing had happened and he and Claudia
were off to Suchon. Only a week remained but their water supply was too low.
They needed some sort of moisture or the journey would surely be over. Dario
became resolute and killed the donkey. They ate the meat raw and strained the
beast of every drop. Claudia thought to herself that this was the most barbaric
thing they had done the entire trip but Dario assured her it was the only
choice.
Almost three weeks had gone by and they had finally reached the oasis
town of Suchon. Dario noticed that the town was full of religious pilgrims as
Marco Polo had indicated. There were Muslims, Nestorian Christians, and
Buddhists. There were many monasteries and abbeys. (Komroff p73) Dario reflected
on the experience to Claudia. “is it not amazing that a people who live in such
a harsh land still pay reverence to their gods for the life they live?” Claudia
responded with her usual wit “not all men have such a thin veil of faith as you
brother”. Dario felt attacked but thought it was a fair jab and let it go. He
would strike back later.
They would rest in Suchon for a few days before moving on to Cambulac and
the goal of their journey. Dario
felt the time was right to cue his sister in on the intent of his expedition.
“Now listen sister, I will open your mind to a reality you have never known.”
Dario said confidently. Claudia scoffed in her mind but knew instantly not to
challenge him outright on this one. “I have learned of a treasure, one that
makes all others pale in comparison. It is the legendary bowl of Adam! And I
know where it is and how to get it!” Claudia thought to herself Bowl of Adam?
What is my brother talking about? I’ve never heard of bowl of Adam. Dario could
tell her head was full of doubt so he grabbed il
millioneand began to read. ““…if food for just one man is placed in it, five
men shall have enough from it. Seeking proof the khan had it filled with a
portion fit for one, and then declared that it did, indeed, feed five!”
(Bergreen p284) “It is a relic of more than a saint. It is a relic of the first
man, the father of all mankind.” Dario said with such excitement it began to
affect Claudia.“Where is it?” Claudia exclaimed with visible excitement. “Inside
the great Khan’s fortress in Cambulac” Dario said as if it was an obvious fact
that Claudia had simply forgotten.
“You are mad brother! How are we to get in?” She said with disbelief.
“Well that was where Folco came in but I have made new plans. We must …” Claudia
interrupted her brother mid-sentence and said “Wait, Wait, what is the story of
this treasure? Why has no one heard of it?” She demanded. She went on to say “It
sounds as if it’s superstitious magic”.
“Magic, no it is the power of god. It is a relic of the patriarchs and
even if it does not feed the world the church will pay me for it as a relic of
Adam, the first patriarch.” Dario defended. “I don’t know, it sounds as if Marco
was embellishing again. Are there any other sources that can back up this claim”
She said this knowing full well that even if there was Dario surely did not know
about them. “I need only the word of messier Marco to back me up! If he says it
then it is true!” Dario said defiantly. “Well we will see but I think we should
grab something a little more reliable, like gold or silver or even a ruby or
two” she reasoned. Dario replied with a stiff retort “I will only take what can
fit in my pockets, and the wisdom of messier Marco will guide me to the most
valuable of all treasures. I will take the bowl, teeth, and hair of Adam!”
Claudia looked puzzled and said “Teeth and hair, where did that come from”.
Dario turned and walked out the room, the conversation was over. Claudia thought
to herself, “merda, I need to be more strategic if I am to get him to see
reason."
Well anyway he didn’t say I couldn’t grab some
gold.
Dario went into town to finalize their provisions and prepare to set off
to Cambulac. Claudia decided that she would assist her brother in this madding
scheme if only to assure that he doesn’t get himself killed. Dario had become
blinded by his mission and couldn’t see the obvious. Claudia believed that while
Marco Polo did travel to the Mongol court, that none of it should be taken
literal and most likely he did not do or see everything he describes. To tell
Dario this would only further infuriate him. She resolved to continue to attack
him on specific parts as they viewed their discrepancies. Maybe this way he may
be made to see reason.
The next morning they were off on the road to Cambulac. Their first stop
along the path was Dunhuang. There was a massive shrine covered in fine
paintings and sculptures. The shrine had a library and gallery dedicated to
Buddha. The shrine was called the cave of a Thousand Buddha’s. (Wriggins p183)
Dario stopped along the road to view the spectacle. “Such beauty in a shrine. It
must be centuries old if not tens of centuries.” Dario observed. Claudia stated
that she too agreed but that Marco had failed to mention the temple by name.
“Messier Marco obviously felt it was better to see then to hear about.” Dario
said with confidence. Claudia scoffed in her head but once again bit her
tongue.
They continued onward. Dario was so determined that they didn’t stop for
three days. After a couple weeks of backbreaking trekking across the tail end of
the silk road they reached the Mongol Capital of Cambulac. The featured eleven
gates guarded by imposing three story towers that serve as observation
platforms. (Bergreen p141) Dario
had planned on being able to sneak into the city. Marco had described the city
as being enclosed with a wall and deep ditch. (Komroff p126) But he made no
reference to three story tall observation posts. He does describe the gates and
states that the smaller ones on the sides are always kept open for the use of
common passengers. (Komroff 126) “Well Messier Marco states that if we travel to
the side walls there will be gates open to us to enter” Dario detailed but
purposeful excluded the fact that Marco had failed to mention the towers. “Let
us be off and enter the city unrestricted” he said with pride thinking that the
whole voyage would be concluded soon enough. Claudia followed quickly behind.
They both now wore garb more accustomed to the region. They had long ago ditched
their European wears and now sported a more traditional attire of travelers of
the silk road. Dario had copied the attire of a Sogdian merchant when they were
in Dunhuang. He now wore a Phrygian hat which was conical with the top turned
forward. He had a knee length, belted over jacket of deep-blue silk brocade
woven with decorative roundels enclosing two deer facing each other. He wore
trousers tucked into calf length brocade boots with leather soles. (Whitefield
p29) Dario fit right in the multicultural city of the Mongol empire. Claudia had
adopted the attire of the Uighur women she saw when they were in Kashgar. She
wore a black velvet embroidered skull-cap on her head. She donned a striped
dress that was made of shaded ikat-weave silk. (Wood p23) She chose a more
modest dress so not to bring attention to herself.
Dario and Claudia entered the city without incident. However, that’s not
to say they were not noticed. When they walked through the gate a Soldier with a
red sash around his neck eyeballed Dario. He stared long into his eyes. Dario
felt as if this man knew what he was up to. Dario began to panic. He grabbed his
sister’s hand and scurried off. The soldier did not follow them but continued to
stare until they were out of sight. “What was that about” Claudia inquired. “I
don’t know but I don’t want to bump into him again” Dario replied.
They continued to scout the city as they looked for an Inn to stay at.
Dario noticed the palace off in the distance from Marcos description of it.
Dario began to think out loud “the palace is square in every way. First there is
a square circuit of wall, and each face is eight miles long, round which there
is a deep moat, and in the middle of each side is a gate by which all the people
enter. Then there is a space of a mile all around which is stationed with
soldiers.”(Bergreen p144) Marco was impressed by this massive fortress but it
plain near knocked Dario’s socks off. “Amazing isn’t it sister?” he queried “Yes
brother, but how are we to break in?” Claudia countered. “Well that is the
question isn’t it? But what we must be asking ourselves is how we get out.”
Dario said devilishly.“What have you planned?” she responded. Dario looked at
his sister and said “It will be a team effort but we will go in disguise”. Dario
had been practicing his Mongolian and felt he had sufficiently mastered the
language. His major problem would come if someone spoke Chinese to him. He had
yet to speak with any Han Chinese and knew nothing of their language. Claudia
also had learned Mongolian but was confident she had learned some basic Chinese.
“This
will do!” Dario exclaimed as they passed an inn. They entered then paid for the
night and went straight to the bar. Dario guided his sister to the back of the
room. Dario was planning to try and located a Mongolian court guard. The inn was
extremely upscale and was covered in ornate dragons. Surely someone of position
would reside within he thought to himself. Dario began to detail the plan to
Claudia but as usual he would keep key facts to himself until the time was
right. “I will switch places with a guard of the court. I will then infiltrate
the great Khans treasure palace and secure the bowl. You will need to help me
acquire the necessary attire of a Mongolian royal guard” Dario said as he
outlined the basics of his plan. “How am I going to do that?” She asked.
“Well I haven’t figured that part out yet.” He replied. However, Dario
was lying. He knew full well what part she would play in this. If she were to
find out beforehand she would be furious and might say no. Dario would continue
with his plan with her in the dark for the time being. He advised his sister
that she should go to the room and wait for him. “Okay, but remember not to go
out in the city after dark. Marco spoke of nightly guards in parties of thirty
to forty. I wouldn’t want to test and see if he was right.”(Komroff p132) She
warned. Dario remembered that
little excerpt and was weary of the streets. He would wait in the bar till the
right fella came to him.
Hours
went by and Dario continued to sip on his glass of Koumiss. Koumiss is the sour
fermented beverage made from mare’s milk. It is a staple of the Mongol diet.
(Bergreen p101)Dario thought it tasted horrible but it did work well as an
intoxicant. He waited patiently for anyone with the right outfit to come into
the bar and finally to his surprise the soldier with the red sash came in. He
sat down at the table right next to Dario. This time however, he did not make
eye contact. Had he not noticed me, Dario thought? Well I guess I should
introduce myself.
“Hello their glorious soldier of our great leader Temur Khan” Dario said
in Mongolian. He had only learned the new Khans name a few hours
ago in passing conversation with the barkeep. “Ahh yes, the man with the
beautiful wife. What do you want?” The soldier replied with a surly attitude.
Dario knew instantly why he had stared so much. He wasn’t staring at him but his
sister. Perfecto he thought. His first part of his plan had fallen into his lap.
“Bhah, she is not my wife but in fact she is one of my wares. Would you like to
give her a try? Only a few of your paper bills.” He bargained. Dario had also
learned from Il milionethat
the great Khan had set up a paper money system and that the currency of the Khan
was worth ten times its weight in gold. (Bergreen
p129)
“Good that she is not your wife, because I would have taken her anyway!” The soldier
said with great malice. Dario was angered by that comment. I’d like to see you
try he thought. He however, kept that quiet and quickly said “Three bills and
she’s yours for the night” he blurted out. “Where is she?” he inquired. “I have
her in a room waiting for a costumer.” Dario told him the room’s location and
told him to ask for Claudia. The deal was done and Dario quickly followed
behind. The soldier knocked on his room’s door and called out his sister’s name.
“Yes” She replied and opened the door. Just as Dario had hoped the soldier
didn’t say a word but forced his way in the room and began disrobing. “Oh my
lord, what is going on, someone help” she began to shout. She then saw Dario
creeping from behind the man and he shut the door behind him.
Culetto, she thought to herself but then she began to play along. She
grabed the man and began to act as if she were going to take off his pants. As
her finger touched the cusp of his trousers Dario hit the soldier over the head
with the soldiers own boot. The soldier collapsed onto the floor in a heap.
They quickly disrobed the soldier and tied him up.
“We
are not going to kill him are we? Claudia asked. “Not if we don’t have to, let’s
finish binding him and stuff him in the closet. If all goes according to plan we
will be out of the city tomorrow night.” Dario said reassuringly.
Claudia was furious with her brother for putting her in such a situation.
“What the hell is wrong with you” she demanded. “I apologize but it was kind of
spur of the moment” he said timidly. “Spur of the moment my culetto!” She
roared. Dario pleaded for her forgiveness and the two bickered back and forth
for several hours. Finally Claudia gave up and the two went to bed for the
night.
The
big day had come and Dario had assumed the costume and role of the guard. The
red sash of the soldier meant Dario could now go into any of the royal palaces.
He woke up early in the morning and stationed himself outside the palace he was
going to heist. He paced for hours watching the guard rotations. Claudia stayed
at the inn to watch the soldier and make sure he didn’t escape. As the morning
passed by and Dario continued to case his target, Claudia began to doubt the
validity of their journey. She spoke to the soldier as if he cared to listen.
His mouth was gagged so it remains to be seen whether he wanted to hear it or
not. “I don’t understand how he can read Marco’s book and see it as the god’s
honest truth? Why doesn’t Marco mention the great wall we saw on our way through
Chang’an? It was massive; he had to have seen it. (Whitefield p121) The dates
and times do not match up on when he said he was in the court of Kublai Khan.
(Whitefield p123) No man could have seen all he wrote about. This bowl of Adam
sounds like more fantasy. It sounds like the tales of the Heat of Hormuz were
men turned to dust. (Komroff p46) It sounds like legend and lore. How many times
now on our journey has “Messier Marco” steered us wrong with embellished or
mythical descriptions of this far away world. I have seen enough to doubt it
all.” Claudia paused and looked at the soldier who was visible infuriated. She
thought to herself “if he gets loose I won’t be able to contain him, Dario you
better hurry up, and don’t forget to grab some gold
too”
Dario
had finally got the soldiers rotations down and was now slinking around the
palace. Dario began to make note of the things he saw inside the palace. “The
walls of the halls and of the rooms are all covered with gold and with silver,
and there are portrayed dragons and beasts and birds and fair stories of ladies
and knights and other beautiful things.” (Bergreen p145) Dario moved like a
viper with determination through the palace. He perfectly meandered away from
the guard patrols. Even if caught he reasoned he could talk his way out of it.
He finally came to a court yard. He remembered Marco’s verse on this area
“Within the courtyard there were large houses, rooms, and halls, in which are
the private things of the lord, all his treasure, gold, silver, precious stones,
and pearls.” (Bergreen p145) This must be where the bowl is kept he thought with
exuberance. Dario walked with confidence to the first large house. Two guards
were on either side of the door. They were dressed the same as him with light
armor and the red sash. He ignored them and walked right up to the door and
began to open it when one of the guards grabbed his hand. “It has been checked
already this hour” he said with irritation. “ I was sent by the captain to
double check, it seems certain items have been going missing when you two are on
duty” Dario replied with the tact of pro. The two instantly backed down and
looked at each other with suspicion. Dario walked into the room and searched the
room with his eyes like a hawk hunting a field mouse in an open meadow. Nothing,
he thought. Well there’s plenty of other rooms but this ploy won’t last much
longer.
Dario
turned and left the room. He went onto the next two houses without incident and
on the third found a treasure room completely empty but one box in the center.
This must be it he thought. When he opened the room he found a soldier standing
directly behind the treasure. He didn’t know what to do. Was this the bowl of
Adam or just some other prized treasure? He decided to play a game with the
soldier to tease it out of him.
“Pretty
boring post, isn’t it?” He inquired. “Nope, I find great pride with my duty. I
get to stand with the patriarch all day. I alone know what it looks like” He
said with purpose. “I’ve never seen it; do you think I can take a peak?” Dario
inquired. “Sorry the bowl of Adam is off limits to all except the great Khan”
The soldier said with obvious contempt. Hah, he had him. But now he’d have to
dispose of the guard. Dario bowed
to the guard. The guard returned his bow. As he bent over Dario grabbed him by
the head and wrapped his arms around his neck. He put him into a sleeper hold
and the soldier passed out. There was no time he opened the box and there it
was. The bowl of Adam, complete with molars and hair. He grabbed all the items
and tossed them into his hip pouch. He turned and slowly walked out of the
treasure house. He walked quietly back to the main corridor and began to exit
the palace. As his foot touched the last marble step of the palace entrance, he
heard a commotion. “Thief! Thief! Someone has robbed the khan! No one is to exit
the palace” The captain in the background began shouting. Dario finished his
last step and continued walking out. To panic now was to commit suicide. He kept
walking as hundreds of guards began rushing by him straight for the palace.
Dario
ran the last couple miles back to the inn. As he turned the corner he saw
several city police in front of the inn. Dario hid behind some crates and
listened in. “The women is dead and the soldier claims he was robbed of his
cloths. Be on the lookout for a man returning wearing the royal sash.” The
officer stated coldly. What was
going on, Dario thought. Then he saw the soldier walk out the door of the inn.
He was wrapped in a bed sheet and was covered in blood. Then Dario saw a man
come out backward and in his hands were two frail arms. Then the body of his
beloved sister followed out the door with another man holding the legs. “Merda!
Merda! How could I be so foolish to tempt fate! Dear sister what had I done!”
Dario stood frozen. The soldier had broken out of his bondage and killed Claudia
in a fit of rage. Her face was barely visible under all the blood. Dario kept
thinking to himself how could he have allowed her to die like that. And now he
can’t even bury her body. He felt as if his heart had been ripped out. The
police just stood there with her body lying on the ground. “Those vultures are
just taunting me with her body” He said with absolute furry. Dario couldn’t
handle it anymore and turned and walked away. He left the better part of himself
in that street that day. He died too as the vultures examined her body.
The next few years of the journey back to Rome tasted bitter to Dario. He
felt a sick heavy pit in his stomach. He grew angry and resentful of the bowl.
He blamed god and Adam for the death of his sister. He had however, resolved to
make a new life in honor of his sister. He traveled by water through the
Melaka’s round the tip of India. He landed at the port of Hormuz where he was
so many years ago. He remembered Claudia and her ability to doubt and analyze
everything. He remembered her sneaking into his carriage and the anger he felt
finding her. He remembered that as angry as he was that day he felt relieved
that she would be there with him. Her above all others he trusted and now she
was gone.
Dario
finally made it back to Rome. He arranged a meeting with a high ranking papal
official. He now looked like a totally different man. His hair had turned to
gray and he had a definitively eastern way about him now. He had stopped
drinking and was now more determined to make his sister’s death mean something.
“Now
what do we have here Martello?”the official inquired. Dario had assumed a
different identity after returning to Italia to avoid his previous record. “It is the fabled bowl of Adam and the
teeth and hair of the first Patriarch.” Dario said confidently. “How do you
know?” the official questioned.“I have journeyed to the east with messier Marco
Polo as my guide. With his knowledge I located the bowl and retrieved it for the
Christian world.” Dario replied. “For a substantial profit I am sure, but how do
you know these items are the ones you speak of?” the official was really pushing
Dario and he could feel it. “They fit the description of messier Marco
perfectly.” He responded almost incredulously. “Well how do you know that Marco
was right, there are no other references to it in western culture? Isn’t it
possible that the items are just pieces to an ancient myth that Marco just heard
and put into his novella?”The official went on to say “I cannot vouch for the
authenticity of something the church knows nothing about. Get us proof that
these objects are what you say they are and I will inquire of their value”
Dario
was visible upset by all of this. He endeavored to prove to the official their
validity. He took an apple and some dates and put them it the bowl. “Now watch
it will make enough for the two of us to eat and it will even have left overs.”
Dario looked almost insane as he piled the fruit into the bowl. Nothing happened
though. He thought back to Claudia. Superstitious magic she called it. He knew
what she meant by that. She meant it was non sense. Why had he failed to listen
to her? He grabbed the bowl and parts of Adam and stormed out of the official’s
room.
What
was it that she had said about the kingdom of Prester John? Oh yeah “See my dear
brother the words of your messier Marco are not the same as those spoken to
Moses at mount Sinai! These are the words of a man. A man whose words were
written by a professional writer named Rustichello. The stories he tells cast
light on the reality of the east but should not be taken as gospel”. Why had he
taken so long to learn this lesson his sister taught him so long ago. What could
he do now with his trinkets? At least he had a bowl for begging now he joked.
His sister had taught him so much but it had taken him years and her death to
see it. Dario walked for several hours. He eventually stumbled upon the remains
of the coliseum. Thousands of Christians had died at this place and he thought
of their memories. Men forced to battle to the death for the simplicity of
entertainment. Dario worked his way to the top of the structure. Lions, bears,
and tigers were used to kill his ancestors. Exotic animals from far off lands
pitted against the dregs of roman society so the masses wouldn’t see the evils
of their emperor. Dario stared off the ledge at the ground. Claudia I should
have listened, he thought. There was more than just the words. I wish I could
have seen the world through your eyes and not with the blindness of ignorance.
The ground got closer. What wastes I have made of both our lives he thought. He
could see the blades of grass as he said his last word.
“Claudia.”
Bibliography
Bergreen, Laurence.
Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu. New York: Vintage Books, 2007. Print.
Humble, Richard.
Marco Polo. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1975.
Print.
Komroff, Manuel. The
Travels of Marco Polo. New York: The Modern Library, 1941.
Print.
Whitfield, Susan. Life
Along the Silk Road. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999.
Print.
Wriggins, Sally H. The
Silk Road Journey with Xuanzang.
Boulder: Westview Press, 2004.
Print.
Wood, Frances. The
Silk Road: Two Thousand Years in the Heart of Asia. University of California
Press, 2004. Print.