The Great Regatta

Chapter Three

After the snails Burgundian style (baked in the shells covered with butter mixed with garlic, shallots, parsley, lemon juice and spices), Blaise ventured to order brioches and coffee. The four Englishmen liked this French dinner very much. Then Blaise said energetically:

'Now let's look at the historic centre of Bordeaux? There are many excellent medieval churches there. And, do you see this tower that can be seen even from here? It's the bell-tower of Saint Michel in the very heart of Bordeaux. It is three hundred and fifty-seven feet high.'

'You don't say!' Justin said.

'Yes it is,' Blaise said. 'It is Gothic and very beautiful, at that.'

'You persuaded us, Blay.' Justin smiled.

'It is the bell-tower of the Saint-Michel Church - St Michael's in English,' Blaise said. 'And then there are Saint-Croix, Saint-Seren, Saint-Andre Cathedral with the Pey-Berland bell-tower, Saint-Eulalie...'

As they went to see all these churches, Blaise sighed:

'Ah, my friends, it is a pity that Prague isn't on the Mediterranean Sea!'

'Why?' Algie asked.

'Because then we could visit yet another fair city, for Prague is a great capital, and they would have to arrange a stop there.'

'Oh, I see,' Algie said, bemused.

'I was there on a conference, and will never forget it.' Blaise added.

Then they went to look at the colossal Roman theatre, the Esplanade de Quinconces, the Great Theatre with its cupola and impressive double stairway, the monuments to Montesquieu, Montaigne and the Girondins, the classic City Hall, the Romanesque churches of Saint Croix, Saint Seren and Saint Eulalie, and the Gothic St Michel and Saint Andre with the Pey-Berland tower, the old city walls, the gate of Caillot, the suburb of Pessac that was designed by Le Corbusier, the nineteenth-century bridge to the suburb of La Bastide on the other bank of Gironde...

'You know, this city was known even in the pre-Roman times, as Burdigala, the capital of the Celtic people of Bituriges,' Blaise said. 'Then it was the capital of the Roman province of Aquitaine, and after the Roman Empire fell - of the Kingdom of Aquitaine. Then the land became the Duchy of Aquitaine, one of the dukes was William, the first troubadour ever, and his granddaughter Eleanor married the English king Henry the Second, thus the land passed to England. The city became very prosperous under the English rule; the Black Prince held his court here for twenty years and gave many liberties to the city. He is still honored in Bordeaux. Then, of course, the city entered decline, but in the times of colonial trade it prospered again. Now it receded to the background again, but is still a rather important centre. Its wealth was always in the trade, and it still is. It is famous for its claret, also called Bordeaux wine. There are vineyards on the plain all around the city, I'm sure you saw them all right. I am rather partial to red wine, so this city is twice dear to me.'

'You are rather partial to red altogether, aren't you Blay?' Justin said, looking at Blaise's crimson robes.

'Yes, I am,' Blaise said calmly. 'Red is the loveliest of colors.'

'Red is symbolic of energy and buoyancy, you know,' Trevor suddenly said. 'I always thought it fitted you very well, Blaise.'

'You'll make my face fit my robes, Trevor,' Blaise said. 'Justin, I didn't seem to find a salamander in your household?'

'Why would I need one on the ship?' Justin asked.

'I don't mean the creature,' Blaise said. 'I mean, you know, an iron disk on a long handle, that is made red-hot and held over, say, a cake to make it brown?'

'No.' Justin shook his head in bewilderment. 'I don't go much for cooking, you know. It's porridge or bacon and eggs for me, or, well, muffins and jam.'

'This must be changed,' Blaise said resolutely. 'I'll buy a salamander.'

'Blaise, have you decided to be the cook as well?' Justin teased.

'Well, I have an inclination for it,' Blaise said.

He marched resolutely off to find an ironmonger's. His friends had no choice but to follow him. At last he found what he sought and emerged from the shop with a medium-sized disk on a handle, wrapped in paper.

'Here you are,' he said with great satisfaction.

As it was pretty late, the five friends returned to their ships after that.

'And Avery is probably dining with some posh friends of his,' Algie said.

'And let him,' Blaise said. 'We are far better off than he. He doesn't have such a pleasant company.'

'Right you are, Blay,' Justin said.

In the morning all the yachts were readying for start in the bay before the Yacht Club. Helga dashed ahead of Stella Maris and Manticore. She passed the forests, vineyards and hills on the banks of Gironde, and the little towns like Blay-et-Sainte-Luce and Saint Emilion. The estuary grew wider, and then they sailed into the open sea. Soon the low coast of Aquitaine left behind. They sailed at full speed across the Bay of Biscay, gliding on its dark blue water. But then wind suddenly ceased to blow completely.

'Darn!' Justin said.

'We're becalmed,' Blaise said.

'Yes,' Justin said dismally.

'What, sorry?' Trevor asked.

'We're in a calm,' Blaise said. 'We can't sail right now.'

'Oh, dear,' Trevor said.

'But remember that Avery is becalmed too,' Blaise said. Justin brightened.

'True.' He nodded.

'And we can occupy ourselves meanwhile,' Blaise said. 'I'll test the new salamander!'

'Right. And we'll go to the saloon and listen to the WWN,' Justin said. 'Come with me, Mr. Entwhistle?'

'Certainly,' Trevor said. Blaise retired to the kitchen, and Justin with Trevor went to the saloon. The saloon had oak-paneled walls, a Persian carpet on the floor, cozy orange armchairs and sofa, a little polished table and a great fireplace. They sat down into the armchairs.

'Do you play Rithmomachia, Mr. Finch?' Trevor asked.

'I'm afraid not,' Justin said.

'I'll teach you,' Trevor said. 'It's a very interesting pastime.'

'Well, if you will...' Justin said.

Trevor went out and then returned with a folding board. He opened it and poured out of it to the table many flat round, triangle, square and even some pyramidal pieces with numbers on them. Trevor put the board on the table and the pieces on the board and said:

'The round ones are multiples, the first row multiples of one, the second the numbers of the first row multiplied with themselves. The third row, triangles, is the preceding number and a fraction. The fourth row, the squares, is the preceding number and a multiple fraction. The pyramids are the sums of the neighbor pieces, the white one is 91 and the black one is 190. The aim is to arrange a harmony of three or four pieces in the opponent's field. I have the tables of the combinations that are harmonies. The pieces move into an empty space and cannot jump. Black starts because white has better possibilities. The circles move into the second field, forwards, backwards and sideways, but not diagonally. The triangles move into the third field, only diagonally. The squares move into the fourth field, in all directions, diagonally too. The pyramids move according to their components. When moving, both starting and finishing fields are counted. Pieces may capture by meeting, that is, when a piece can take the place of the opponent one with the same number, by ambush, when several pieces of yours can move into the field of an opponent piece and the sum or difference equals the number of the opponent piece, by assault, when a piece can meet an opponent piece and its number equals by multiplication or by division the number of fields between them, or by siege, when an opponent piece is encircled by pieces of the other party in such a way that it cannot move or be set free. The pyramids can be captured by their components and their total sum, but cannot capture by their total sum. For the harmony, pieces must be arranged into an ascending row, in a right angle, or in a square. Now what pieces will you take?'

'Black ones,' Justin said.

'Excellent,' Trevor said.

When Blaise returned with a tray loaded with a covered dish, three plates, three forks and some slices of bread, he saw Justin and Trevor playing Rithmomachia with abandon. He said:

'Gentlemen, will you give a place for the tray?'

'Oh? Yes, certainly, certainly,' Trevor said. Justin nodded:

'Sure, Blay, we will.'

They put the board on the sofa, and Blaise solemnly put the tray on the table and said:

'Gentlemen, I want to present to you - the Apricot Omelette!'

'Apricot omelette?' Justin said in surprise.

'Yes. It is made with eggs, butter, sugar, salt, powdered sugar and apricot jam. You spread a large frying-pan with butter, whisk the eggs, sugar and salt together, pour the mixture on the frying-pan and fry, constantly stirring, and when it is yet liquid on top, put the apricot jam in the middle, and then sprinkle the omelette with the powdered sugar and glaze it with the salamander, and voila!'

'Yummy,' Justin said.

'Glad to hear it.' Blaise smiled. 'I see Trevor taught you to play Rithmomachia? It seems I did a good thing when I introduced you.'

'Sure,' Justin said. 'It's an interesting game. And Trevor is a very good fellow.'

'You are even on the first name basis now?' Blaise smiled.

'Yes. It just came naturally,' Justin said. 'Sort of happened.'

'And very good it is.' Blaise smiled. 'Now, gentlemen, will you judge my skill?'

'Sure,' Justin said.

'Certainly, Blaise,' Trevor said.

Blaise lifted the cover from the dish. On the dish was a round snowy omelette with sparkling surface and an orange circle in the centre.

'Some dish!' Justin said.

'Looks delightful,' Trevor observed and put a fair share of the omelette on his plate with his fork. Blaise and Justin followed suit.

'You really know how to cook, Blaise,' Trevor said.

'Agreed!' Justin said.

'Thank you, gentlemen,' Blaise said, rosed with pride.

The alchemist and the yachtsman ate up the omelette. Trevor said:

'You truly know how to get right proportions, Blaise.'

'Thank you, Trev,' Blaise said.

'Thank you, Blaise,' Trevor said. Then Blaise carried the tray back to the caboose. When he returned, Justin and Trevor installed the Rithmomachia board back on the table. Justin looked at Blaise and said:

'Will you play, Blaise?'

'No.' Blaise smiled. 'I'll just look at you playing and give you both advice.'

'All right.' Justin smiled, 'Let's continue, Trevor?'

'Certainly,' Trevor said.

They resumed playing. Blaise gave them advice. He remarked:

'You play very well, Justin.'

'I was rather good at Arithmancy in school.'

'Justin is talented,' Trevor said. Justin blushed.

'But you are, Juss,' Blaise said.

Meanwhile the newsman on the WWN was saying:

'And the first stage of the Grand Prix of Europe in yachting is finished. Justin Finch-Fletchley is the winner, Lord Avery is the second, and Algernon Wymondham is the third.'

'Just imagine how pale Avery is with anger right now!' Justin said

'Yeah. One can't sail if there is no wind.' Blaise said. 'Even if one is flying.'

'That's right,' Justin said.

'And we have no reason to have kittens,' Blaise said. 'The wind will blow again, and we are comfy together, aren't we?'

'Sure,' Justin said.

'Indeed.' Trevor nodded.

'We are. Three is a company,' Blaise said.

Justin and Trevor nodded.

'I say, Blaise, I'll cede my place to you,' Justin said. 'Surely you are better at this game than me.'

'Thank you, Juss,' Blaise said. 'But no need to be so humble. Now, Trevor, how about a game?'

'I would be very glad.'

Blaise and Justin changed places, and the playing resumed to the sound of Celestine Warbeck singing:

'I rose up early at the break of day,

To find me a yarrow in the new-mown hay,

So that by its charms my true-love to see...'

Then Trevor changed places with Justin, and after that it was again Blaise's turn to be the spectator. He went to the caboose again and some time later he returned with a tray bearing three glasses with brown liquid.

'What is it, Blaise?' Justin asked.

'The Milk Grog,' Blaise said. 'Very little rum, mostly milk, strong tea and syrup boiled together.'

'Sounds tasty,' Justin said. He took a glass and sampled the drink.

'I say, Trevor, it is wonderful!' he said.

'Indeed? Then I'll taste it too,' Trevor said.

He took a sip and exclaimed:

'Excellent indeed!'

'I am flattered,' Blaise said. 'Now I'll taste my own concoction.'

He took a glass too.

Some time later Blaise went to a window, looked and said:

'My friends, the wind resumed!'

'Very well,' Justin said, springing to his feet. 'Then my place is at the wheel.'

'And ours - by your side.' Blaise answered.

They went to the deck resolutely. Justin stood at the steering wheel, Blaise and Trevor stood by his side. Justin saw at once that Lord Avery started, and rushed after him, Blaise and Trevor giving him their support.

Justin shot forward very quickly and dashed off across the Bay of Biscay, Avery on his tail. But no matter how hard Avery tried, he couldn't pass Justin. Soon the mountainous indented coastline of Galicia emerged ahead. Justin headed for the bay of A Coruna at full speed and sailed into the harbor, an island with a fortress aside and the belvederes of the town houses on the shore.

'This is the fortress of San Antan, the regional museum,' Blaise said.

Justin sailed into a small bay near the town and dropped anchor.