This is an image from the Convento de Cristo (Convent of Christ) in Tomar; more precisely, a detail from a wash basin in a refectory. The sculptured heads are thought to represent local dignitaries of the time, most likely benefactors of the
monastery. The Convento de Cristo was one of the last strongholds of the Order of the Knights Templar in Europe after their expulsion from France. After the order settled in Portugal and the Knights Templar ceased to exist, a new order was born and named Knights
of the Order of Christ. The monastery is stunningly beautiful, its architecture an interesting and odd mixture of styles that was built and added onto over centuries.
The actual image was created by severly over-exposing photographic paper at high contrast. Following normal development, the resulting image was chemically bleached by oxidizing the metallic silver again to its colorless ion. The procedure also leads to a staining
of the gelatin in the paper, which the oxidizing agent does not remove, leaving behind a warm, orange-brown tone.
The image provided another anchor for one of Julia's stories. In fact, it started a whole new project. She asked me to whom the heads
belonged and I told her the story as I knew it. The next thing I saw was a four-page piece of writing, which Julia called a short
story. I called it the first chapter of a much longer story, perhaps even a novel. Grumbling - as is her wont - Julia went back to write some more.
It was the second chapter of the book. At my last count, she has written 14 chapters with
no end in sight. Understandably, she doesn't want to put it here since it may really be a book one day. But I asked her
to write a vignette that focuses on some of the characters and I hope you, the reader, will like it as much as I do. What you should probably also know
is that the main protagonist of the story is called Nathan. The character of Nathan is loosely - very loosely - inspired by another faculty
member of the chemistry department,
Dr. Nathan Grove. I think it is a great compliment. I must assure you, though, that in contrast to the fictional Nathan, the real Nathan is a very law abiding citizen and has never shown any discernible tendencies toward monkhood. But like his fictional
double, the real Nathan loves music, books, and good food among many other things.
