Introducing Melchior, a central character in David Morisset’s
dystopian novel, ‘The New Settlement’ … available from most online book retailers including here and here and
here …
It was almost dusk and the shadows of the two men
stretched many metres in front of them.
Their tailored charcoal suits and matching fedora hats seemed out of
place in the seaside setting.
Melchior preferred to discuss sensitive matters in the
open air away from prying technology and other potential eavesdroppers. A walk along the beach was perfect on a cool
day. The sea talked and talked with
itself as the waves massaged the wet sand.
Squawking birds filled any temporary silences.
Tall and slim, Melchior looked slightly younger than
his alleged 70 years. His face was thin,
bordering on emaciated. He had oversized
dark eyes and always appeared to be looking over the prominent bridge of his
aquiline nose. This idiosyncrasy was a
byproduct of Melchior’s habit of tilting his head back to find the sweet spots
of his black-rimmed multifocal eyeglasses.
His platinum hair was surprisingly thick and he was clean-shaven except
for a carefully trimmed dappled grey and white moustache that presented as if
it was a series of milky smears across the edge of his thin upper lip. He seldom if ever smiled and nobody had ever
heard him laugh.
“Tell me, is the woman a risk?” As he spoke, Melchior removed his glasses and
studied one lens as if he suspected a flaw.
His eyes twinkled slightly as he peered into the transparency.
“His mother? Of
course not.”
“Not his mother.
The one that he left near the old capital. Tell me, what was her name?”
