Just finished a chapter. Taking a breather, editing some other people's stuff. The chapter I just finished centers on the rise of a young, Persian Corsair. It basically sums up his rise from hoodlum, to Corsair (which we have seen some of that career), to drug trafficker (hasheeh and opium, which we see greatly in the book), to a very prominent, and ironically legitimate, businessman. All this comes at a price, however. This Persian Corsair, a minor character, is known at sea as The Water Demon. Interesting to note, we meet him early in the second part of the book, as he seeks employs one of the main protagonists (a childhood friend) to help him with a dispute against an Italian 'businessman' nicknamed The Squid, which makes for an interesting scene. The events set off a chain reaction that culminates in cloak-and-dagger assassinations. Though minor, this character's interaction plays significantly in shaping events that involve the main characters and the city they govern. While the book is steeped in political intrigue, and cloak-and-dagger dilemmas, this character adds a sense of Romantic adventure with the recollection of his exploits, and his rise to moderate power. Again, it does come at a price, but this character (the Water Demon as they call him on the open seas), rights the wrong that is done -- though he is definitely not the instrument behind the wrong. Ironically, it's what helps him get into a modest position of power.
Kinda cool ... or sad. Either way, it's an adventure.
The character reminds me of a hardcore Lando Calrissian. What's also cool about the character is that life is fun to him; he lives an adventure, for better or worse. He is not tied down too much by politics as are the main protagonists. However, this lack of understanding the consequences of his actions bites him in the ass more than once. He does begin to fear the consequences a politically powerful protagonist weilds when the consequences to his actions haunt him.
The current chapter also focuses on the politics of potential war and slavery, something that within the time period of the book is beginning to blanket Africa. The subject of slavery is actually dealt with in chapter two, as several of the story's protagonists are sentenced to slavery in the American colonies. The current chapter is short, with little dialogue. It's all narrative. Yeah, it's a bridge, but it's fun to cross. The end justifies the means. It sets up turmoil ready to strike.
b write black.
