What
is your story?
My
story is still being written, but a portion of it is chronicled in
Indian Summer by Dellani Oakes.
Who
are you? Where do you live?
My
name is Manuel Enriques and I am confidential aid to Governor
Ferdinand Deza. I live in the beautiful town of St. Augustine in the
Florida territory.
Are
you the hero of your own story?
What
is a hero? A man who does what he must to protect that which he holds
dear. I am such a man. If that makes me a hero, then I accept this
role gladly.
What
is your problem in the story?
The
problem is that there is a pesky British spy wandering around causing
trouble. The beast is wily and sly, but I'll catch him, have no
doubt.
Do
you embrace conflict?
Conflict
is in many forms. If it is in the form of a beautiful woman, I
embrace and make love to it. If it is in the form of this annoying
little fly speck of a spy, then I spit on it and grind it to dust
beneath my heel.
Do
you run from conflict?
Never!
Face conflict proudly and fight it to the death.
How
do you see yourself?
In
my life, I have done many bad things. However, I am trying to change
to be worthy of my darling Gabriella.
How
do your friends see you?
I
haven't many friends, but those are very close. They see me as
strong, intelligent, passionate with women, stubborn and capable. How
do you see me, cariña?
How
do your enemies see you?
My
enemies never see me. They are dead long before that. If by chance
they do catch a glimpse, it is as of the face of death.
How
does the author see you?
Ah,
my beautiful Dellani. If it were not for Gabriella, such stories we
would write together! She sees me as romantic, passionate, handsome,
slightly dangerous, and very well appointed.
Well
appointed?
You
will have to read my tale to find out what I mean by that.
What
do you think of yourself?
I
am not a modest man, but even I do not like to brag. I am all that is
said of me and more.
Do
you have a hero?
Yes,
my blood brother, Sailfish of the River People. He is the greatest
warrior I know and even more brave than I.
What
are your achievements? Do you talk about them?
That
is perhaps not a question I should answer here, eh, cariña? As I
said, I am not one to brag. What I have achieved is a matter of
history. There are things I have done that I would rather forget.
But
why? Surely your accomplishments are wide ranging and very nearly
stuff of legend.
Not
all legends have a happy ending. Some things are better left unsaid.
Do
you have any special strengths?
I
am swift, strong, I speak many languages fluently. I can track prey
like an Indian and shoot a bow as well as a gun.
What
do you want?
I
want to marry Gabriella more than anything in the world. Well, there
is perhaps one thing I want more than that, but it's not polite to
discuss.
What
do you want to be?
I
am what I want to be. An honorable man who loves a beautiful woman.
One day I shall also be a father, that is my greatest ambition.
What
do you believe?
I
believe in God and my strength and abilities.
What
makes you happy?
Would
you like to me say something poetic like a beautiful sunset or the
seagulls above the water? I am not poetic man. What makes me happy is
very simple, my love for Gabriella. It drives me, moves me to be the
best I may be.
What,
if anything, haunts you?
In
a soldiers life, are there not many things to haunt him? What haunts
me, cariña, is better left forgotten.
Do
you keep your promises?
Always.
It is a point of honor.
Are
you honorable?
As
much as I am able to be given circumstances.
That
sounds like a very cagey answer.
And
it is the only one you shall get.
Do
you have any distinguishing marks?
Oh,
yes. I am very well appointed.
You
would love for me to ask what that means, wouldn't you?
No,
I would like you to read the book and find out.
Have
you ever killed anyone?
I
was a soldier, of course I have killed. And nearly been killed more
than once.
Was
there a major turning point in your life?
The
day I realized how much I love Gabriella. She was a mere child and
came to the fort to ask her father to help her find a stray cat she
had been feeding. I thought if she could have such love for a scrawny
stray, perhaps she could have love in her heart for me. I found the
cat and returned it to her the same day.
If
you were stranded on a desert island, would you rather be stranded
with, a man or a woman?
Can
you really see me happily stranded with a man? I'll only go if
Gabriella does.
How
do you envision your future?
Happily
married to my beloved.
©
2017 Dellani Oakes
