The Two Big Ones
Chapter twelve - Museums and Architecture
Rennes, Bretagne, Earth
June 2263
Spock
When they eventually got to Rennes, they tied up at the first empty spot they came to. Since it was barely long enough for the boat to fit into, Nyota wisely asked Spock to do the parking. He assured her that she could do it, but she insisted that he take over. "I don't want to spend the next hour trying to park this thing! Now get over here and take the wheel." And so he did, and parked quickly with no problems at all. When he cut the motor, she was already on the bench at the back, ready to jump up on the walkway and tie up. He quickly went to the front and threw the other rope up to her. And then he went and locked the boat and jumped up onto the walkway beside her. Taking her hand in his, they set off to see the ancient city. Although not a walled city like St Malo had been, nor as ancient as Dinard, still the city was hundreds of years old and full of architecture from past eras.
They wondered up and down the streets, looking at buildings that leaned by ten or fifteen degrees, leaning their heads sideways and wondering how they did not fall over. They found a museum that had a whole Renaissance bedroom set up inside it, all the dark wood paneling and built-in furniture set up just as had been those hundreds of years ago. They marveled at all the carving on the panels, which must represent hundreds of hours of work, all by hand. They found another museum of clothing, arrayed on mannequins, case after case of temperature and humidity controlled air so that the cloth did not disintegrate. Delicate hand made lace, lovely embroidery, tiny, tiny pleated fabric so fine they could see through it. They were fascinated.
When the museums began to close, they strolled the streets bathed in the glow from the setting sun and found a cafe with tables outside where they could sit and look about. They tried haricots verts and pomme frites and salade d'épinards and crusty bread. And sat and drank the sharp apple cider recommended by the waiter and talked until the sun was almost set. And then they walked back to the boat and went in and shut the door. But they didn't go to sleep for quite some time.
Instead, they explored each other's bodies as though they had never seen them before. Each inch was tasted, touched, stroked, caressed until the flames burnt so high they could not wait any longer. So he lifted her and slid her down upon his length, slowly, slowly, while she wailed above him, wanting all of him, now! And then them moved together, rocking, and he lifted her hips, up and down, undulating his hips against her until she splintered apart into a billion pieces, dragging him along with her to bask in the heat.
***
The next morning they found a bakery and bought a bag of croissants that they ate as they walked, pointing out the different patterns on the half-timbered houses to each other. To their amazement, they found a portion of the original fortifications of the city, plainly labeled as having been built in the third century. Spock examined the stonework with great interest.
They visited several very old churches, admiring the soaring architecture and the lovely stained glass windows. At one of the churches, someone was playing an organ and looking up they saw the tremendous pipes that produced the sounds that filled the space so completely. It was hard to turn and leave.
They found another sidewalk cafe and ate quiche and salad with more of the cider. And then they turned back to the riverside and cast off and headed down the river again, stopping that night at another small town.
***
In the morning when he awoke, he nibbled and teased her until she awoke, pulling her out of bed to come and run with him. Down the path beside the river they went, in the bright morning light, running side by side, content with life. And when she thought she had gone far enough, she stopped and waved him on, telling him to run hard. And he set off at such a pace that she only shook her head. She watched him for a moment, admiring his body, until she caught his amusement through their link, and then she smiled and turned and set off towards the town again. He caught up with her before she got there, slowing back down to her speed. It reminded her so much of those mornings on the Academy track that she had a sudden pang. And he was there, sending her so much warmth and love that she smiled at him and all was well again.
They came to the edge of town and slowed to a walk, joining their fingers as they looked for the bakery that was sure to be there, somewhere on the main street. And then they were walking back to the boat, munching on pastries hot from the oven, a long baguette in a bag for lunch.
Before long they were on the water again, headed on down the river. The land was flatter now, and the locks further apart. There was more farming on the banks of the river, and more people walking on the pathways. It was interesting how the land changed.
***
Their last morning on the river dawned bright and sunny. And before lunch they were at the place where the canal boats were docked. Once again, Nyota demanded that Spock take over as pilot. "There is no way I'm going to try to back this thing into one of those narrow slots. Get over here and take care of business, mister!" And so he went and nibbled on the back of her neck. "That's not the business I meant and you know it!" But she was laughing at him as he took the wheel from her.
When they had shut off the motor and tied up, they took one last sweep through all the rooms, checking to be sure they had not left anything behind. And then they took their duffels and stepped off onto the dock for the last time. She turned and looked back once, just for remembrance, and then they were headed down the long dock toward the transit station at the far end.
A quick transit and they were at their final destination in France. Another semi-island - Mont San Michel. They stood at the end of the long causeway, looking at the rock climbing to the sky, and the building perched at the very top. And then they went back into the building and rented a locker and stashed their duffels. Setting off hand in hand, they walked across the long causeway, commenting on the salt flats on either side. They passed through the arched gate and started the long series of switchbacks.
They traversed the narrow cobblestone streets lined with shops. It had been this way since the time of the Crusaders, and before. History was all around them. Up and up the path led, becoming steeper the further they went. And then there were stairs - and stairs - and stairs. Her legs were beginning to ache when they came at last to the building at the top. Fascinated, they entered the monastery through the basement, surely a very strange way to enter a building. They followed along in the wake of a group of tourists, reading the plaques on the wall and marveling. Spock spent some time examining the cart on rails that went straight down the side of the mountain, hanging far out to look down while Nyota jittered at his side.
And then they walked the cloistered paths, delicately carved semi-walls casting shade upon them. There was calm everywhere. They found a corner no one else seemed to find, a bench in the sun with a magnificent view, and they sat there for some time, Spock slipping lightly into meditation, just as the monks must have done, hundreds of years before. Nyota found herself following him, so peaceful and calm.
When they drifted back to alertness, they began the descent. They did not go fast, they wished no injury on the narrow stone stairs, dipped in the middle from thousands of feet passing over them. And so they came back to the area of shops and cafes when they were ready to eat. And found much to sample there.
Leisurely they walked back to the transit station and removed their duffels from the locker. It was time for Africa again. And they both found themselves looking forward to the heat. As they stood in line, awaiting their turn, he bent his head to her. "Tomorrow morning we will run."
She looked up at him, grinning. "Oh, I think we'll run every morning we are in Africa. I'm looking forward to it."
And he remembered the soft dirt under the bright trees and what they had done there and sent her such a surge of lust that her knees buckled and she blushed darkly. He looked at her and smirked. Yes, indeed, every morning they were in Africa.