Rudi and Gerti went sailing
But Heinrich Muller did not
As he had broken his leg
After falling from a horse
It was a fine day
But a husk of black cloud
Hung over the distant horizon
Which promised later storms
Heinrich had written a short letter
From Dante Gabriel Rossetti
It read
Poor old Ned’s affairs have come to a smash altogether….the Greek damsel beating up the quarters of all his friends from him, and howling like Cassandra…
She tried to drown herself in the water in front of Browning’s house & c – bobbies collaring Ned who was rolling on the stones to prevent it, and God knows what else
Heinrich turned to Maria who was hiding amongst the almond trees
You are really the most complete bitch
Rudi had anchored the sailing boat about a mile from the shore
Why did you wear such a ridiculous outfit Gerti?
I just thought it would be usual as we were sailing
You will not be able to swim
Why?
Because your clothes will drag you down and you will drown
The mermaids will hold you under
Then I shall remove my clothes
What about the boat?
What do you mean?
Well if we both swim and the boat tides away then we will both drown
Rudi was wearing a pair of loose canvas trousers and Gerti watched as he busied himself with the sail
He was standing close to her when he removed his only garment
Gerti pretended not to notice and bagan to watch the mermaids frolicking in the shallow rising waves
As her friend adjusted the red sail she felt his penis brush against her cheek
I will swim now do not follow me just stay in the boat as the waters around here can be quite unpredictable
Rudi dived into the lake and Gerti watched as he swam strongly away
She could not move as her body was in spasms
Her cheek felt like that a hot knife had scarred the skin
Her thighs felt damp
But the expected pleasure was false
Her bladder was full and she needed to express herself
What are you doing Gerti?
Why is your position so strange?
Are you unwell?
No I have a full bladder and am pissing
In the boat!
Well where else was I supposed to go?
You told me not to leave the boat
I will clean up my mess when we are ashore
You are such a savage
No just natural
Maria was paddling in the shallows
Do you love me?
I hardly know you
Then why do you write about me
I have not written about you
It was not my creation
Today is a hot day
Each day is hot
Do you like hot days?
I find them pleasant
Would you like to be in the sailing boat with your friends?
Yes
Then why did you beak your leg
I did not break it deliberately
I was thrown from a horse
Rudi was back on board the sailing boat and was drying in the sun
He had remained naked
Gerti looked at her pool of urine which had collected in the lowest part of the boat
She ran her foot through it making random patterns
Heinrich Muller had slept in the fine sun and when he awoke Maria was not within view
Maria where are you?
Do not play games
If you are in the waters come out immediately as you cannot swim
If you become troubled then I will not be able to rescue you and my friends are distant so you will drown
You are not entertaining me
You are becoming tedious
With difficulty Heinrich rose to his feet with the aid of his wooden crutch
My crutch has more care than you
It cares for me
It enables me to move
You are such a bitch I do not know why I ever liked you
Rudi and Geri were sailing towards the shore
You have not taken your eyes off my balls for the whole duration of this trip
They are not for you
I have promised them to another
Please dress
I will dress when I reach the shore
Then I will look away
Please do
Attached to an almond tree was a note similar to Rossetti’s
Only one word had been written on it
Geometrical
Heinrich limped as he walked between the almond trees
Why are you playing games Maria?
The jetty was quite near when suddenly Rudi threw the anchor into the lake which startled Gerti
Why did you do that?
Because Heinrich has lost Maria again
You can see him almost in tears looking for her amongst the almond trees
Then we should help him
No let us watch
I do not care if you are gone Maria I am well rid of you
I shall return to my relaxation and my care for you will cease
I do not care if you have drowned
Really I hope you have drowned
Everybody should swim
I can swim
Rudi can swim
Gerti can swim
Maria cannot swim
Maria is a bitch and is also very stupid
Only stupid people cannot swim
Rudi had dived from the boat again and was swimming towards the jetty which he reached a few minutes later
Gerti resisted the urge to join him and watched as he walked towards Heinrich
Maria has gone missing again
She is most probably hiding amongst the almond trees watching us
Where is Gerti?
In the boat
Why did she not swim ashore?
Because she pissed in my boat
Why?
The usual reason
Why do you not just love her?
I do not desire her
Then touch her
She repulses me
But many find her beautiful
Oh yes she is beautiful but I still find her repulsive
Would a normal maiden spoil your sailing boat?
Perhaps it was an accident
No I accidently brushed my penis against her face and she caught fire immediately
That is a funny way of showing desire
She wanted to spoil what she could not have
Gerti was watching her friends talk
She was sitting against the mast of the sailing boat
I will not hide amongst the almond trees
He will love me
The trees are naked
They should not be naked but full of blossom
He should have embraced me and kissed me
Without removing her sailors suit Gerti dived into the lake and began to swim away from the shore
Within a few minutes she began to tire and soon the waters began to claim her
A mermaid pulled her towards the bed of the lake where her sisters were gathered
We will return you to the shore but for a while you will be an almond tree
Maybe a season or a season or two will elapse before your lover touches the bark
He will then embrace the tree and in turn embrace you
The tree will blossom
You will be loved
And one day when you are very tired you will walk naked into this lake and you will become as we are
Sisters of the deep
A summer later both Heinrich and Rudi visited the lake again
Their loss was great
But they had returned to the exact summer spot
They looked at the ragged sailboat at anchor away from the jetty
Poor sad boat
It experienced no love
The almond trees were naked as they had been the previous summer
Sad almond trees
Never loved
They bore no fruit
Heinrich who was well again walked towards the trees and touched the nearest one
It moved and he found himself touching a woman’s nipple
Touch me embrace me
He embraced the tree with all his strength
Hold me tighter
In his arms he was holding Maria
Love me for an hour and we will abandon to the lake side
Rudi had followed his friend
He hugged a tree
There was no response
Hug all the trees bar one and the tree that you do not love will be Gerti
If you do not love her then do not assist
Heinrich and Maria waked towards the lake shore where she lightly bathed being careful not to swim
Come to me if you care for me
I find you repulsive
You do not find me repulsive
You adore my beauty
That is why I drowned myself
So that I might have you
Rudi looked at the furthest tree which exhibited its feminine shape in the dappled summer light
Come to me
Touch my breasts
Caress the blossom of my being
Without thinking Rudi touched the furthest tree and found Gerti in his arms
He ran his hands over her rough skin
It will change in minutes do not fear
The silk of my skin will return
Rudi waited for an hour and carried Gerti towards his friends
Heinrich was sitting on the grass next to splendid picnic
Maria was still in the shallow waters but was wearing a light shift
Gerti sat down next to both Rudi and Heinrich
She ate thinly and spoke to both men
In a relaxed manner
At times during that hot afternoon
With her hand resting calmly on her chin
Gerti occasionally looked at me
As I wrote single words
On many sheets of paper
And pinned them onto the almond trees