Pilgrim Reindeer in Pisa, 1348
a free multimedia novel by
Thomas A. DuBois, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Pilgrim Reindeer in Pisa, 1348 a free multimedia novel by Thomas A. DuBois, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
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Part III. Italy. 43. Three Kings [January 6, 1348]
Okay, so I like stars. Honestly, it was incredibly hard to write this chapter in such a way that the reader could tell what constellations were being talked about without referring to the standard Classical/American names. I couldn't say "See the Big Dipper there? We call it X." Instead, I had to have each character seeing through their own eyes with their own set of reference points. A further complication is that Sámi doesn't traditionally have terms for the cardinal directions (i.e., N, E, S, W). Instead, they used terms that refer to terrain: davvi, for instance, means "in the direction of the deep water." For much of Sápmi, that is due north, but in other parts it's northwest or even west, while on the Kola peninsula it is due east. So I had to have Bávlos think in terms of Favtna rising above the sea (i.e., in the north) and so on....
The contrast and argument between Bávlos and Buonamico in this chapter, each man certain of the logic and veracity of his culture's dictates, sets the stage for a number of conflicts between Bávlos and his new friend, as coming chapters will show.
The Plague reached Pisa just after the Feast of the Epiphany in 1348. So I had to clear Bávlos and Buonamico out of there if they weren't to get sick! I liked depicting the crowded cathedral just before the epidemic strikes: for medieval people, great crowds of people were thrilling experiences, and the packed cathedral was an image of heaven. Imagine being in what would seem like a packed elevator, except for the fact that it went on in all directions for acres...Imagine and coughing and smell of it in the medieval era and the potential for the spread of lethal diseases like the Plague.
I also wanted to explore a little Bávlos's realization that Italy is a lot better off in terms of climate and resources than his own homeland. The winter is milder and brighter, and there is much more prosperity and a much larger population. Bávlos feels that his homeland is the best, but he cannot help but feel that Iesh is kinder to this land to which he has been called.
