what some of the other carvers told him, and from his own tests in his work
for the Order's palace, that if carved properly, then smoothed and polished
to a high luster, quality marble could take in the indian escorts light and give it back
in a way that seemed to liberate the stone from its hardness, softening it,
so that it assumed the look of flesh. If done properly, the marble could
seem to indian escorts almost come alive.
"I've seen it done before, Victor. I'indian escorts ve carved before. I've learned how to
do it. I've thought about it for months. Ever indian escorts since I started carving for
them, this indian escorts purpose has kept my mind alive. I've used my work for the Order
to practice what indian escorts I've seen, what I've learned, and what I've thought of on
my own. Even before, when they questioned me . . . I thought about this
stone, about the statue indian escorts I know is in it, to keep my mind from what they did
to me."
"You mean it helped you to endure their torture?"
Richard nodded. "I can do it, Victor." He lifted a fist in firm
conviction. "Flesh in stone. Indian escorts I only need the proper tools."
Victor rattled the gold in his fist. "Done. Indian escorts I can indian escorts make the proper tools
for what you want to indian escorts do. Indian escorts this is what I know. I don't
know how to carve,
but this will be indian escorts my part - what I can do to bring the beauty out."
Richard clasped indian escorts forearms with Victor to seal their agreement.
"I have one thing I would ask indian escorts you - as a favor."
Victor laughed his indian escorts deep belly laugh. "I must feed you lardo so you may
have the strength to carve this noble stone?"
Richard smiled. "I wouldn't
ever turn down lardo."
"What is it then?" Victor asked. "What is the favor?"
Richard'indian escorts s fingers tenderly touched the stone. His indian escorts stone.
"indian escorts No one is to see it until it is done. That includes you. I would like to
have indian escorts a canvas tarp, so I can cover it. I would ask that you not look at it
until it is done."
& indian escorts quot;Why?"
"indian escorts Because I need it to be mine alone while I carve it. I need solitude with