Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:08 -0700
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Arden 54

Sorry about the delay but I have been at the Olympic Games.

Arden
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


54:  Changes and More

1319, 10th month, day 27:

Immediately after my breakfast I went to the Argonaut dormitory.  I don't
think these 10 and 11 year old boys were to happy.  I know they were fed,
warm and bathed.  I also know they were not given opportunity to play games
or socialize with the Argoanuts.

I called each one to me in turn and asked again for his account and
reasons.  That is when I discovered the problem lay where I thought it
might, with the parents.  It turned out one group had attached the other
but it was not unexpected.  When pressed, none had any real animosity
toward the other.  It had to do with perception and preconceptions on the
part of the parents.  Each group, christians, Muslims, pagans of several
types, tended to associate together.  Some of the attitudes and
misconceptions that were expressed were most upsetting to me.

In court I quickly metered out atonement for the offenders.  They would
work in pairs for the next 7 days, assisting the Argoanuts in the public
garden each afternoon.  During the time they would go to school as normal
but were to sleep and eat, do sports and so on with the Argoanuts.  What I
did not say in court but to the Argoanuts was, these boys should be paired
not with friends but with their supposed enemy.  Each day a new paring.  I
knew we would see friendships grow from this but told them not to mention
it, let it happen.  Each Argonaut would supervise a different pair each
day.

It struck me too that these boys and probably all boys in the city needed
to be involved in sports and other activities.  I began formulating a plan.

My most beloved Iason returned to us today.  He will spend most of his
privet time with his wife but not today.  Iason was insistent that we spend
as much time as possible fucking and sucking each other.  For us this was
love of course but at that moment of time it became pure lust.  I sat on
the floor and Iason straddled me, presenting his penis to my open and
desirous mouth.  He placed his hands on my head and proceeded to fuck my
mouth.  I know he enjoyed sex with his wife but some things a woman just
can't seem to do as well as a man.  I did not make love to his member, I
took it in my mouth and throat and let him thrust into it, as if an anus or
vagina.

Iason is always a most gentle lover and even with his accumulated desire he
was most considerate of me.  I found it best to hold his small buttocks in
my hands, to moderate his ardor and allow me to feel him deep in my throat.
When spent he collapsed onto me and we kissed and hugged for some time.  I
than took the standing position and he ministered to my throbbing erection
is the same way.  I still feel Iason is the better lover, as when I spent
it was as if for the first time.  I was filled with pleasure and
wonderment.  Later we satisfied each other again in our bed.  I filled his
anus and he mine with seed.

In those intimate privet moments before sleep, we both agreed that no woman
can give either of us the satisfaction that our asses give each other.  The
love and intimacy between men and women is great and wondrous but lacks
something that only our male beloved partner can provide.  I think it is
because we are men and know from experience exactly how and what each other
are feeling and experiencing, at least on a physical if not emotional
strata.

Iason told me how envious he was of me, for he missed a stiff cock, mostly
my cock sliding in and out of his ass, more than anything.  In the morning
we will need service our boys as they too have needs to be met.  Needs that
no other boy can quite fill, only your mentor.  Dios is most in that need.

It will be important for Iason to keep his intimate relationship with our
brothers and the others in our family.  While he is a consummate lover, it
will be impossible for him to service them as much or as often as anyone
would desire.  His fine mouth will see much application but his most
beautiful ass will see most of the pleasure.

Father told me it took my Uncles about 4 years to return to his bed, on a
most frequent interval.  The first year will be the most difficult for me,
as Iason and Alex both need bond to their wives.  Alex will probably never
be as frequent visitor as he had been but Iason will be returned to you and
us as his father and uncle did to Karyakos.


1319, 10th month, day 28:

After explaining my plan to the others, they seemed to cease the idea.  The
Argoanuts would organize sports for boys through out the city.  They would
work from the various public baths, schools and the castle.  Eudoxia
thought the Eagles should do the same for girls.  We thought that a good
idea.

I called a meeting of all the religious groups for three days hence.
Kastor ask that he do the talking as his words would be sweeter than mine.

The lamp project reported today.  Good progress is being made on most parts
of it.  Mohammed asked for more testing, to better refine some of his
estimates.  The ingegneres wanted to work on ways of measuring the light
produced from lamps or any other source.  They were in discussions with
several professors at the university.  None had any good idea how this was
to be done objectively.  None had any good ideas how to do this even
subjectively.

Helo pulled me aside after the meeting and told me he thought mother was
having problems with her heart.  He learned this by overhearing a
conversation between two of her ladies.  I am not sure he completely
understands what this means.  I am not sure I do either.


1319, 11th month, day 1:

I met with Mohammed at the university the other day, he briefed me on his
studies of zero.  I am impressed with the idea.  At this point I am not
sure how it will be used in practice.  I was not impressed but when he
explained further I started to understand. (TN: see
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Zero.html or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0_(number) for a lucid discussion)

Mohammed explained, "Zero is the integer between 1 and -1.  Zero was
identified before the idea of 'negative integers' was accepted. Some still
do not but in algebra it is important as in geometry and coordinate systems
we use.  Zero is an even number.

Zero is a number which quantifies a count or an amount of null size; that
is, if the number of your brothers is zero, that means the same thing as
having no brothers, and if something has a weight of zero, it has no
weight.  If the difference between the number of pieces in two piles is
zero, it means the two piles have an equal number of pieces.  Before
counting starts, the result can be assumed to be zero; that is the number
of items counted before you count the first item and counting the first
item brings the result to one.  And if there are no items to be counted,
zero remains the final result.  All that makes sense to me.

While many of us mathematicians accept zero as a number, some
non-mathematicians and some mathematicians would say that zero is not a
number, arguing that one cannot have zero of something (for example, 'zero
oranges').

"The value or number zero, as in the "zero brothers" example, I just used
is not the same as the digit zero, used in numeral systems having
positional notation.  The Roman and old Greek systems had no zero as such
but us and others do use a place holder where we put a zero or mark, but
you know that.

Successive positions of digits have higher weights, so inside a numeral the
digit zero is used to skip a position and give appropriate weights to the
preceding and following digits.  As you know the place between 1 and this
zero can be represented by fractions of one but not written as a fraction
in our numeral system.  I am looking at proving or disproving that the
space between zero and negative 1 is also occupied."

I told him I thought I understood this but would need read his proof.  He
smiled.  We talked about his other work.  He is trying to develop equations
in simple algebra.  He wants to set the terms, that is the unknown value as
Alpha and the un-knows as Gamma, Delta and so on.  We also talked about a
measure of light intensity.

We reasoned the brightest object we know of is the sun.  All other things
are lesser and by a great amount.  We further speculated, knowing the
intensity of a light diminishes with distance from it, the sun is either
extremely large or far away, probably both.  This provided no help since
the sun is so much brighter than other things, nothing can truly be
compared to it.

We could compare a candle to the Koallime gas flame, of the same size and
the same distance, by placing one in each of two different windowless rooms
of the same size, each the same distance from the observer.  If the rooms
were next to each other and the observer could see into them at once, some
kind of subjective scale could be invented.

I suggested that the koallime flame will be brighter than the candle.  If
we make the candle a value of 5 the koallime flame might be a 10 but an
olive oil lamp with the same size wick as the candle, might only be 4.  We
also reasoned, if text of standard size were viewed at different distances
from the sources from a fixed position and moved in fixed increments until
it could no longer be read that to could form a standard.  Mohammed said
that is exactly the kind of numbers or values he needed for his equations
to work.  He went off to see the ingegneres and I to the council meeting.

The next day Kastor and I met with the religious leaders of all faiths.  I
wanted to know why it is that those boys thought it acceptable to hurt
another boy, for no valid reason.  Having examined all of their dogmas,
with our scholars, it would appear none would suggest or condone this.
Although many cultures looked on neighboring groups or strangers to be
inferior and often unclean.

Kastor was our spokesperson.  He did his job well.  None of the clergy
would relent, in that they could all find some obscure passage of text or
extended reasoning, to show non believers were some how lesser persons and
therefore could be looked down upon.  That those admonitions to `love your
neighbor as yourself', almost all have some identical saying, were only for
believers not others.

I argued that the public peace and harmony in our society were higher goals
than obscure passages from ancient texts.  I also reminded them those texts
were written for their time and place, not for today or in Parga.  None
would accept my analysis, however.  I also showed that those admonitions,
were not qualified by words or context, they are being interpreted by them,
in light of other texts.

Kastor was forced to defend me, as they all attacked with vengeance.  He
pointed out the Jews for example were giving the same weight to clear rules
such as the laws of Moses as to obscure passages in poems, songs, plays and
stories.  He also reminded them, their scholarly writings in the Talmud
often qualified or even set aside some of these interpretations.  I was
impressed with his knowledge of these texts, as they seemed almost as great
as mine.  I knew I was correct, when these people agree on anything, it is
usually in anything but the citizen's interest.

King Iason had enough of this foolishness and he forcefully said so.  "This
is not the university philosophy department or a debating society, although
the sophistry is heavy.  Every citizen of Parga is of equal value, that is
not an assumption based on faith, it is fact based on our reality.  We are
all of one clan.  Can our clansman be unclean or of lesser value because he
prays to a different god?  I say no.  I do not wish to tell you what to
believe, where or how your faith is directed.  I will tell you how the
citizens of Parga are to act toward one another; that is clearly laid out
in our civil code.  The hypocrisy displayed in this room today is as great
or greater than I have ever seen.

No citizen has leave to attack another.  No citizen has the leave to force
his beliefs on another.  If you can not or will not, teach your followers
these simple lessons, I suggest you find some other place to live.  The
religious communities of Parga have two choices; you either learn to live
with each other or ignore each other, which is a way of living together, or
leave.

None of us are Diogenes, we do not live in tubs and we do not extoll the
virtues of the dog.  In one respect we are like him, we all search, in
vain, for an honest man.  Some would say none exist and the search is
fruitless.  Others the opposite.  I suggest many exist but since few if any
are themselves honest, they are not recognized.

Diogenes held up a mirror to Athenian society and they often did not like
what they saw.  This incident of young boys disturbing the public peace, is
a mirror to us.  I do not like what I see, my princes do not like what they
see.  Do you like what you see?

If such an incident happens again, Prince Arden will not allow the parents
of those involved to go undisciplined, for they have failed to teach proper
citizenship.  I warn you also, that a clear distinction must be made, in
your teaching, between that which you believe is in the eyes of your god
and that which is in the eyes of this society.

You too are obligated to teach proper citizenship.  I do not ask you to
kiss your neighbor.  I do demand that you respect his sovereignty, as he
must respect yours.  If you are unable to make your orthodoxy accommodate
the civil laws and customs of Parga, I suggest you find some place else to
live.

The four middle princes have proposed that all boys and girls, above the
age of 8 are welcome to participate in sports, music, singing and other
activities, sponsored by the Argoanuts and Eagles.  I do not expect any
opposition from the religious community.  I would hope you would encourage
participation.  I believe this type of activity combined with our secular
schools, will demonstrate to all our children, the worthiness of good
citizenship and understanding between all parts of our society.

My Grandfather would often say, `because we are tolerant of each others
ideas and traditions, our lives are all richer.'  His message was a rich
life is possible, perhaps even preferable, to baron wealth or power.  I say
we can not and must not be our brother's keeper, we can and should be his
companion.  Given our geography we have little choice."

Today we princes met all together, along with the princesses and several
Argoanuts and place boys and girls.  Our meeting was the first of several
to look at sports not related to the military skills.  We wanted things
young people could do for recreation (TN: he wrote avapsmche) mostly in
teams or groups.  Most of the guilds have sports such as running, archery
and so on for their members.  The castle and advanced schools also have
them.

Children pay games of tag, hide and go find, activities such as that.  Most
others, like foot races or even wrestling and athletics (TN: he means
gymnastics) tend to be solitary.  Not that they are not done with others.
They are not true group activities.

Polydeukus described a game we saw in Constantinople called polo.  It is
played with horses but we did see boys practicing on foot.  He suggested we
could invent our own game, based on this idea, with rules designed for boys
and girls of different ages.  "We could call it Parga Polo.  We will just
run instead of ride horses, so the playing field can be smaller.  Each
player has a stick with a small basked at the end.  The object is to run
toward the opponents goal and throw it into his net.  The opposition tries
to stop the attacker's progress and take the ball away from him, by hitting
his stick with his own, so the ball is dropped or lost.  The attacker can
flip the ball to another player on his team, if blocked and so on.  His
flip or pass can be intercepted.  (TN: pholo meaning ball or ball game in
the Balti language of Tibet, came to Greece in the first or second century
CE as an equestrian sport.)

The ball is made of leather and is hard, it is about 3 inches in
diameter. (TN: 1 daktylos or digit =±19 mm, about the width of your
finger. See http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Measurements.htm) The sticks are
all the same length with the same size basket, about twice the size of the
ball.  The sticks used by riders are long enough to reach the ground.
Runners would use a stick about 3 feet long.  The baskets are made of
animal gut woven into a web. (TN: Polydeukus is describing what we today
would call Lacrosse.  The Byzantine Polo he talked about was played more or
less as described.  I have read descriptions ±1366 that back this up.
Like all polo, it needed horses and was only played by the nobility or the
very rich.)

The girls did not like this but thought if they had a ball that rolled on
the ground and could be directed by a stick, they would like it better.  It
could be played by boys too.  We know our ancestors played a game not
unlike this but it died out long ago.  We saw several similar games in
France and Genoa.  None of us know what the Greek name for this old game
was.  We will call it Parga Ball.

Boys are always batting stones and the like around, it is fun but one needs
be careful not to harm others.  A leather ball, if hit hard can hurt but
not like a stone.  We think if the leather covers cork, which we import
from the Spanish anyway, and the cork has a core formed by a small round
piece of lead, it might work quite well.  The polo ball need be smaller and
perhaps it could have a larger lead to cork ratio.  We will experiment with
this and making the sticks. (TN: This is field hockey, or hockey in most of
the world.  As Arden points out, hockey is very ancient and probably had as
many names as their are languages.)

Harpastum was a Roman game that kicked a ball between players.  We saw a
number of these games on our western travels and we even played a few; the
size of the ball and the rules seemed to be different in each place.  We
thought that too had some potential.  Here a light, leather covered ball
with a cork center would work; the ball would need be much larger than for
the other games but no stick would be needed.  Perhaps a boot with a hard
sole, that was firmly strapped on would be useful.  We would call this game
Parga Football.

Once in our bath the talk was centered on these games and soon all around
were talking about what was possible.  The older boys thought the rules
should allow for considerable body contact.  The rougher the better.  We
did not think the females would like this as much but they could have
different rules.  Helladios suggested that young boys should not be as
rough.  He thought the body contact and hitting each other with the sticks
would discourage some, perhaps many and that was not our purpose.

The size of the teams, the shapes and size of the goals and many ideas
about rules of play were talked about.  It seemed everyone wanted to
participate in some way.  The guilds could have teams that played against
each other and so on.  I think everyone was getting excited about the
possibilities.

Father thought we should try to hold some demonstrations of these sports at
the solstices sports day.  Poly suggested the university fraternities might
make up teams to play each other.  Not many students are dedicated athletes
but most desire some form of physical recreation.  As this was daddy and
son night, many of the younger boys were with us.  They all thought these
sports ideas most wondrous.  The only one who was puzzled and expressed no
interest was Thoren.  He chided me that I may teach the blind to run but a
team sport like those we described, was probably not possible.


1319, 11th month, day 3:

Yesterday after my classes I went to the plaza, partly to visit the statue
and partly to inspect the work.  I was a little late in doing this.  The
Argoanuts were hard at work along with the team of boys doing service, for
breaching the public peace.  Edward and Philon were also in attendance
giving advice on plant care in the gardens.  It seemed that everyone who
passed by knew me and wanted to stop and talk.  What I thought would be a
short visit was now taking hours.

This would be the last day for the young peace disturbers.  They would
return to their families in the morning.  From what I could see and was
told, we would not have any further problem from these boys.  As I walked
among them I spoke to each and every one.  I think they were impressed that
I remembered all of their names and the name of every Argonaut.  Volos
whispered in my ear that one of the boys obviously wanted to talk to me but
was to shy, "the little one in the yellow tunic."  I nodded and slowly
walked back toward him.  I could see he was already flushed with
embarrassment.  Akakios, I said, would you come with me for a moment, I
need your assistance.  He was at my side in an instant.  I took his hand
and strode toward the statue.  I had an idea to pick a flower and having
him sit on my shoulders, reach up and fix it in the outstretched hand of
the figure.  Pyrros lifted him up and sat him on my shoulders.  When taken
down Pyrros and Volos moved a bit away, giving the boy a chance to speak to
me.

"Why did you put that flower on the statue's hand?"  I took his hand and
moved to the statue's base and sat down.  Do you know the story of this
statue, I mean how and why it was erected, I asked?  He told me what he
knew.  That is correct but perhaps just a bit incomplete.  I suspect few
know the missing part.  My beloved Iason the Crown Prince said to me that
we will never know how many boys were lost at sea that day and if we did
not morn and remember them, they would be forgotten.  That flower is my way
of remembering them, of honoring their lives and accomplishments, even if
others forget or died with them.

"Why did you pick me to help you?"  Because I suspected you want to talk to
me but were to shy.  "No Prince, I was not to shy, I was afraid."  You do
not seem afraid.  "Not any more, I know now you are everything they say."
That is?  "The bravest, kindest, most loyal of all."  I think that is a bit
of exaggeration, it sounds like Odo's poems.  "Yes, but all agree, even the
other princes, Price Helladios told me."  My little brother and family poet
are perhaps not the most reliable of sources, they are not objective.  We
both laughed at this.  "Prince Arden, I want to come and live in the
castle."  What will your parents say?  "My parents are both dead and I live
with my uncle's family.  I have five cousins.  They are good people but I
know it is difficult for them to have me."

Akakios, do you have some special talent or interest that could benefit
from living in the castle?  "Prince Helladios said I sing like an angle,
almost as well as some boy named Alfred."  Helladios told you to ask me
about living at the castle?  He looked at the ground.  "Yes, Prince."  Well
then I guess the castle is the place for you.  His face looked up the the
biggest smile imaginable.  I suppose Helo also told you how I should make
this happen?  He smiled even more.  "He told me to ask you to be my foster
father, please Prince Arden."  I also suppose he told you that if I should
any reluctance to start crying.  "How did you know that?"

My little brother knows me but I know him even better.  You will remain at
the castle, that I can promise.  I will gladly be your foster father but I
must first ask your prospective foster mother.  It would be unfair to place
another child in her care without asking, wouldn't it?  "I guess so but I
thought a Prince could do what ever he wanted?"  Not what ever he wants, we
too must follow the laws and rules of the land.  Nikias can tell you what
happens to princes that think they are above them.  It is wise for a man to
consult the ladies of his household, before he makes major changes in it,
prince or not.

I also suppose Odo had some hand in this and that he taught you a song to
sing for me?  He proceeded to sing the song Odo had taught him, it was one
of Fathers songs with many very high notes.  He did well for an untrained
voice.  Did Odo tell you who was the author of that song.  "Yes, he said it
was Prince Karyakos and that it was one you were very fond of."

I thought, but did not say to Akakios, that I have been set up by my boys
and probably with my brothers assistance.  I asked for his uncle's name and
where he could be found and departed to make arrangements.  I gave his
uncle five gold coins and my assurances Akakios would receive the best
musical training Parga had to offer and that he would be well cared for.  I
must say the uncle did not wish to part with the boy.  His cousins and aunt
were most disappointed.  It took some persuasion on my part.  When I
pointed out that it was in Akakios best interest and that he would be
available to visit and with his family frequently the deal was struck.

I then had the task of convincing Euthalia to willingly accept him or find
another family.  I did not think this would be to great a problem if enough
incentives were provided.  I stopped to see Darkon the steward and asked if
he could arrange a larger apartment for her and the children.  He told me
that was possible but not until the new year.  My next visit was Father.
He was most supportive but also cautioned me.  "Arden you must also think
of Euthalia, a ten year old and an eight year old plus two suckling babies
is asking much of her.  This Akakios will only be with her for 19 months
from what you told me.  You must resolve and tell her so and that any more
older children you wish to foster will be girls.  I should tell you,
something you did not hear from me of course, Umar, Helo, Alfred and
Lysandros were all laughing and giggling over some mischief or another.
Your name was mentioned several times in that conversation."  Then I was
politically tricked in this.

"No son, not tricked.  Positioned to take advantage of your kind and loving
nature.  Not something you and your brothers have not done to Iason and
myself, if I remember correctly."  I know I blushed bright as Father was
most correct.  At least Helladios did not need stretch the truth this time.
"If Euthalia is not happy what then?"  Perhaps one of the musicians has
room in his family to foster him for that time.  Father pulled me to
himself and kissed me several times.  I wanted to melt into his arms,
having the sudden urge to be fucked by only him.

After our baths Akakios was brought to our apartment, Solon found him an
appropriate tunic and kilt and he was introduced to all.  Most of who he
already knew.  I am sure my brothers had some hand in this.  Karyakos came
in with his flute and with Akakios sitting on his knee played my favorite
song to accompany his singing.  I must admit it was even better then his
singing in the plaza.  Uncle Iason came off the terrace having heard the
singing and gave much praise to Akakios.

I have the feeling that this may not be the idea of just my boys and
brothers.  Alex will be pleased that we have added another voice to his
Boys Choir.  Euthalia was most understanding and appreciative of the larger
apartment.  As to my suggestion that if another child were brought to her
it would be a girl, she was just a bit skeptical.  While I played with the
children she embroidered his name and my symbol on the tunic Solon had
provided.  She told me Akakios' parents were both distant cousins to hers
by way of her father.  She has still not told me who that father is or was.

I can see we are one very large clan here.  I also wondered how she knew
about distant cousins.  It struck me that her father must be someone who is
or was important in Parga but not part of the castle or government.  It
also struck me that Akakios did not know this, as he was quite surprised to
learn it.