Two Horses for a King

I live next door to a suburb called Bertram which has a Squire Drive. Odd isn't it?

Well, it may be odd. but then again it may be a case of synchronicity. Here's another concerning this story. As I was writing the last part I had the feeling I'd given all the thoughtful lines to Saladin. But I was out of thought, yet didn't want to be saying the only reason they wanted the war to end was that they were sick and tired and wanted to go home.

So I'm at the library, and head to the classics section, which in the Paramount library is pretty small. I see the Decameron. I've considered it a few times before, it's rumored to have stories in there somewhere! (100 of them, it's over 800 pages) but I hesitate because I know it's written so long ago (1400s) it's going to be pain in the butt, and in addition, it's a translation. I stick my finger in it at random to see a selection. It's something like day three story three, and within 3 or 4 lines I find a story that is about how Saladin got money from a Jew (named in my story). Out of over 800 pages, a three or 4 page story.

I make the story Richard's story and move it to France. (Nantes) Voila, I rip off Boccaccio. He doesn't mind. He's been long gone these many years and ripped off plenty himself.

I have a question that's been bothering me for some time. Did any of you readers connect the idea that the ice was special ice? The idea was that the ice that both Richard and Saladin got their fruit in was from the spring of life that had healing powers?

"Now for some reason he was writing to the Sultan. Look, it was partially unfolded and the seal was broken. Yes, there was the word healing. Curiosity overcame the old physician and he read the contents.

Sultan of Egypt, Defender of the Faith,

As we discussed we would only need a squad of men to search for the hidden spring. It is said to be only a few camel steps from the north wall in the overgrown ruins of Old Jaffa. According to an ancient manuscript by Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi I found in Cordoba, the legend says it’s the spring of life whose waters possess miraculous healing powers. It should be located and protected before the infidels have an opportunity to gain it, or the chance you will poison it accidently yourself when you poison the wells around Jaffa to deprive the invaders of water in the same manner as Hattin.

Your servant,

Hakeem"


I mentioned the spring early before Richard got his ice, and Saladin got his ice, and both were cured, and then later when they were negotiating the truce ( a kind of healing itself). But mention of this letter and the possibility of the spring as healing wasn't in the story until later.

Did anyone get this at all? Only the readers knew of it, it was never revealed to the characters. It's driving me crazy!

Ok, I get it. Nobody got it.