Michael Moore was sitting on a wooden seat at the foot of the Bell Rock Lighthouse<\/p>\n
His cousin Miranda was swimming in the sea<\/p>\n
His sister Siberia was photographing the smiling crabs in the many rock pools that surrounded the beach<\/p>\n
At the base of the lighthouse a wag (possibly a soldier)<\/i> had carved a Japanese proverb into the weathered stone<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Darkness<\/b><\/p>\n
Reigns <\/b><\/p>\n
At The <\/b><\/p>\n
Foot <\/b><\/p>\n
Of The <\/b><\/p>\n
Lighthouse\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The wag-wit had added his initials<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
JC<\/b><\/p>\n
1943<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There was no darkness at the foot of the lighthouse that day<\/p>\n
Every inch of the beach<\/p>\n
The rocks<\/p>\n
And the sea<\/p>\n
Were bathed in the most beautiful light<\/p>\n
Although the day was quite young<\/p>\n
There was a languid heat<\/p>\n
That inhibited the pace of the morning<\/p>\n
Siberia climbed the steep path to the lighthouse occasionally turning to photograph her cousin in the sea<\/p>\n
She took a photograph of Michael Moore<\/p>\n
Are you bored of the rock pools?<\/i><\/p>\n
No<\/i><\/p>\n
Then why are you photographing me? <\/i><\/p>\n
Because you do not smile <\/i><\/p>\n
And the crabs do?<\/i><\/p>\n
To a crab<\/i><\/p>\n
Why did you not join Miranda in the sea?<\/i><\/p>\n
Because of the light <\/i><\/p>\n
Were you here in 1943?<\/i><\/p>\n
I was not born in 1943<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
In the June of 1943 a deserter from the British army was hiding in the small town of Bell not far from the lighthouse<\/p>\n
He had deserted for love<\/p>\n
And was hiding in Spain<\/p>\n
He had assumed the identity of his girlfriend\u2019s brother<\/p>\n
John<\/p>\n
John also lived in the house and they both shared the bed of Agota<\/p>\n
Agota was of medium height but was dwarfed by both her brother and her lover<\/p>\n
John was over six feet tall<\/p>\n
As was John<\/p>\n
They often swam together in the sea near the Bell Rock<\/p>\n
And sunbathed on the beach or on the rocks afterwards<\/p>\n
Although they did not possess a camera<\/p>\n
They often though about photographing the smiling crabs<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Miranda had finished her swim and had joined Siberia and Michael Moore by the lighthouse<\/p>\n
Let us go to the beach <\/i><\/p>\n
No I am staying here<\/i><\/p>\n
Why? <\/i><\/p>\n
Spoilsport<\/i><\/p>\n
Because I can see the ships passing <\/i><\/p>\n
You can see the ships from the beach <\/i><\/p>\n
But they cannot see me <\/i><\/p>\n
Is it important that they see you?<\/i><\/p>\n
Very <\/i><\/p>\n
Why? <\/i><\/p>\n
So they can record the sighting of Michael Moore in their ships log <\/i><\/p>\n
That way I can travel the world <\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
Agota was carving a quote from<\/p>\n
Izumi Shickibu<\/p>\n
On to a stone<\/p>\n
Found on the beach<\/p>\n
She was naked<\/p>\n
Agota was always naked near to the lighthouse<\/p>\n
To her the lighthouse was a spiritual place<\/p>\n
Neither her brother or her lover objected<\/p>\n
She was not a classical beauty<\/p>\n
But possessed a femininity<\/p>\n
That attracted them both<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Those were sad times <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
When without you <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
I watched worlds and days <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Come up <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
And then again go down <\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When she had finished her carving<\/p>\n
Agota walked away from the lighthouse<\/p>\n
Taking\u00a0 the steep path that led to the beach<\/p>\n
When she reached the point of the path nearest to the sea<\/p>\n
She stopped and threw the rock into the deep blue waters below<\/p>\n
As she did so John noticed a group of soldiers on the beach<\/p>\n
They cheered as Agota walked towards them<\/p>\n
Soon they were swimming together<\/p>\n
The Englishman opened the lighthouse door and hid inside<\/p>\n
He did not want the soldiers to see him<\/p>\n
Her brother made himself visible on the Bell Rocks<\/p>\n
The soldiers enquired of him<\/p>\n
We are in charge of the lighthouse <\/i><\/p>\n
But why are you naked?<\/i><\/p>\n
Because the lighthouse demands it <\/i><\/p>\n
Behind Agota one of the soldiers placed his finger on to his temple<\/p>\n
Mad girl<\/em><\/p>\n May we visit the lighthouse?<\/i><\/p>\n No it is not permitted <\/i><\/p>\n Why does your brother not join us?<\/i><\/p>\n Because he is simple of mind and your uniforms alarm him <\/i><\/p>\n We are not wearing uniforms <\/i><\/p>\n He is simple of mind <\/i><\/p>\n Why do the crabs smile? <\/i><\/p>\n Because they are happy <\/i><\/p>\n Mad girl<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Michael Moore watched as his sister and cousin ran in and out of the waves<\/p>\n He had slept with his sister the previous night<\/p>\n As it was the sixth of the month<\/p>\n He was planning to sleep with his cousin in twenty-two days<\/p>\n On the twenty-eighth of the month<\/p>\n He did this in attempt to cure his homosexuality<\/p>\n Which tormented him<\/p>\n He watched as a naked Algerian dived into the sea from the low rocks<\/p>\n How he wanted to swim with him<\/p>\n Michael Moore could not swim<\/p>\n He had decided at an early age<\/p>\n To forgo the pleasures of swimming<\/p>\n To forget the pleasures of swimming with naked Algerians<\/p>\n Miranda and Siberia had returned from their swim<\/p>\n They lay on their towels in front of Michael Moore<\/p>\n The towels were white<\/p>\n Which was the colour of the lighthouse<\/p>\n As he watched the Algerian swimming Michael Moore noticed a large ship<\/p>\n Crossing the narrow straight<\/p>\n He immediately picked up his semaphore flags<\/p>\n Where to?<\/i><\/p>\n Brazil<\/i><\/p>\n Where from?<\/i><\/p>\n Genoa <\/i><\/p>\n Do mention me in your ships log <\/i><\/p>\n We will <\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Miranda was reading a book<\/p>\n What book are you reading?<\/i><\/p>\n Robinson Crusoe <\/i><\/p>\n Do you realise that Crusoe need not have been stranded for twenty-eight years <\/i><\/p>\n No<\/p>\n He need not have been stranded for twenty-eight years<\/i>\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n Crusoe is a fictional character <\/i><\/p>\n He was not it was Defoe\u2019s humour <\/i><\/p>\n A humour that has fooled us for many years <\/i><\/p>\n That was not what I was taught <\/i><\/p>\n I never believed in my education <\/i><\/p>\n Alexander Selkirk was stranded in real life <\/i><\/p>\n It did not concern Alexander Selkirk<\/i><\/p>\n You are missing my point <\/i><\/p>\n Crusoe could have been rescued after six years you know <\/i><\/p>\n Then why was he not rescued?<\/i><\/p>\n Because the island was full of women <\/i><\/p>\n Were they friendly?<\/i><\/p>\n Very friendly <\/i><\/p>\n He actually saw the Esmeralda on that May day but did not light a beacon <\/i><\/p>\n Why?<\/i><\/p>\n Think about it <\/i><\/p>\n Was he fucking them?<\/i><\/p>\n Well I do not think they were doing crosswords together do you?<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n They was a peal of laughter from the nearest rock pool<\/p>\n The crabs were amused<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He was in paradise you know <\/i><\/p>\n Did he father many children? <\/i><\/p>\n He fathered many children <\/i><\/p>\n Do you think this is paradise? <\/i><\/p>\n Yes and no<\/i><\/p>\n Why no? <\/i><\/p>\n Because we share it with many <\/i><\/p>\n You have us <\/i><\/p>\n I use you both <\/i><\/p>\n You do not <\/i><\/p>\n We enjoy your company <\/i><\/p>\n You are gentle <\/i><\/p>\n I am seduced by the Algerian swimming below <\/i><\/p>\n He was watching us as we left the sea and touching himself<\/i><\/p>\n The Algerian was attracted to us not you<\/em><\/p>\n Then why did he dive off of the rocks below?<\/em><\/p>\n So that he could see us rise from the sea<\/em><\/p>\n Miranda and Siberia stood up so that the Algerian could see them fully<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do you not like what you see?<\/i><\/p>\n The Algerian is certainly enjoying the view<\/em><\/p>\n He is taking photographs of us as we speak<\/em><\/p>\n Would you like me to ask him to stop<\/em><\/p>\n For what reason we are both beautiful?<\/em><\/p>\n There is no denying that you are both beautiful but I feel little <\/i><\/p>\n Then we shall stop our nights together<\/i><\/p>\n As you will<\/i><\/p>\n We will invite the Algerian to share our bed<\/em><\/p>\n Although I consider him grotesque he is not complicated<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Michael Moore saw another ship on the deep horizon<\/p>\n He raised his flags<\/p>\n Where from? <\/i><\/p>\n There was no answer<\/p>\n Where from? \u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Miranda turned towards the sea<\/p>\n Hand me the flags<\/i><\/p>\n She began to signal wildly<\/p>\n Where from? <\/i><\/p>\n Brazil <\/i><\/p>\n Where to? <\/i><\/p>\n Genoa <\/i><\/p>\n Do not take this passage again or I will shipwreck you<\/em><\/p>\n Love can live in a ship or a castle<\/em><\/p>\n Miranda smiled and threw the flags into the sea<\/p>\n Be sure to rescue me<\/em><\/p>\n What is your name?<\/em><\/p>\n Ferdinand my name is Ferdinand<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n The deserter stayed with John and his sister for another six years<\/p>\n His cover was only blown when a jealous suitor keen for Agota\u2019s hand reported him to the authorities and he was expelled from the country<\/p>\n He was imprisoned on his return<\/p>\n But neither John nor Agota corresponded with him<\/p>\n After he was released he returned to Spain<\/p>\n And travelled to the lighthouse<\/p>\n But his friends were not to be found<\/p>\n He began to write a book in a nearby town<\/p>\n And changed his name to Michael Moore<\/p>\n On the advice of his publishers<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Michael Moore was sitting on a wooden seat at the foot of the Bell Rock Lighthouse His cousin Miranda was swimming in the sea His sister Siberia was photographing the smiling crabs in the many rock pools that surrounded the beach At the base of the lighthouse a wag (possibly a soldier) had carved a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2245"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2245"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2245\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}