film? I am surprised. I suppose thereâs a Seven Dwarves neuro game.
Apprentice
You got it.
Inspector of Wrecks
I look out of the window at the sea. It sparkles, like my hatred. There are porpoises rolling in the bay. And a ship. A Spanish vessel by the look of her.
I watch her anchor in the lee and wonder what goods they have aboard. Iâm hungry for figs, fine wines or satin for dresses.
Apprentice
Youâre getting really good at being a woman!
Inspector of Wrecks
Behave, or Iâll make you be her again.
Apprentice
Iâll be quiet.
Inspector of Wrecks
Not too quiet, I hope. I need a womanâs eye on this to make sure I donât miss a nuance or fact to do with being female.
I have a telescope at the window and I train the lens on the caravel with her bright, trailing flags. Two men are working on deck. What are they doing? Are they making clothes? I ask the servants.
Shoemakers from Seville, they say.
Go out to see them, ask what they have that would interest a lady.
So out they row. I watch the Spaniards talking as, slowly, the ship turns with the tide. Back comes a servant, with a bundle of something clutched to his chest.
Cordovan leather, so finely cured it folds like silk. Itâs tooled with gold.
Apprentice
Any girl with sense would kill for a pair of handmade Spanish shoes. Put your bare foot on a piece of paper, trace the outline and send it to the shoemakers with your choice of texture and colour.
Inspector of Wrecks
Back to the telescope. I watch the pantomime of servants rowing out with the tide. Up on deck. Long conversation with the craftsmen, who set to work with great flourish.
Servants row back. Ah! My shoes.
Apprentice
They look very big, as if they were for a man. Try them on, but Iâm certain.
Inspector of Wrecks
Thereâs plenty of roomâ¦
Apprentice
Far too big. They should be snug here. And here. If youâre paying for handmade shoes, I shouldnât be able to put my thumb in between your heel and the shoe.
Inspector of Wrecks
They do slip when I walk.
Apprentice
Send them back, no question. Make them do it again.
Inspector of Wrecks
You do learn some unexpected things on this job. OK, I do what you say. Servant comes back. The shoes had better be right this time, or else.
Thatâs better. Bit of a struggle to put them on. They look good!
Apprentice
Come here. Let me look. Can you feel your big toe against the end of the shoe?
Inspector of Wrecks
Yes.
Apprentice
Theyâre too small. These shoes will never keep their shape. Walk over to the wall. Are they comfortable?
Inspector of Wrecks
No. The heelâs digging in at the back.
Apprentice
Hopeless! These guys are amateurs. Only one thing to do. Go out to the ship yourself.
Inspector of Wrecks
Come with me, will you? I need your opinion. Come on! Before evening falls. Remind me, Nona, which part are you?
Apprentice
I thought I was Gwydion. But thereâs been nothing to do. Might as well come along with you until I get the cue.
Inspector of Wrecks
Row, row, row out to the caravel. Take an imperious tone of voice with the shoemakers. Tell them the shoes are all wrong. Here, they can measure my feet. Iâll wait while they work.
The old manâs bowed over his work and the fair-headed boy stands, restless beside him. The kid toys with a bow and arrow.
I hear the trickle of the tide soothing under the hull. Late afternoon sun, low in the sky, makes me drowsy. The breeze tugs the fine hairs at the nape of my neck.
Suddenly a tiny bird â a wren â lands on a stanchion.
Apprentice
Campion, look out, Iâve found my part.
Inspector of Wrecks
Be quiet or youâll startle the bird.
Apprentice
Campion, you need to knowâ¦
Inspector of Wrecks
Donât speak unless spoken to. Iâm watching, entranced.
Apprentice
Butâ¦
Inspector of Wrecks
When, suddenly confident, no longer slouching, the boy
Apprentice
You got it.
Inspector of Wrecks
I look out of the window at the sea. It sparkles, like my hatred. There are porpoises rolling in the bay. And a ship. A Spanish vessel by the look of her.
I watch her anchor in the lee and wonder what goods they have aboard. Iâm hungry for figs, fine wines or satin for dresses.
Apprentice
Youâre getting really good at being a woman!
Inspector of Wrecks
Behave, or Iâll make you be her again.
Apprentice
Iâll be quiet.
Inspector of Wrecks
Not too quiet, I hope. I need a womanâs eye on this to make sure I donât miss a nuance or fact to do with being female.
I have a telescope at the window and I train the lens on the caravel with her bright, trailing flags. Two men are working on deck. What are they doing? Are they making clothes? I ask the servants.
Shoemakers from Seville, they say.
Go out to see them, ask what they have that would interest a lady.
So out they row. I watch the Spaniards talking as, slowly, the ship turns with the tide. Back comes a servant, with a bundle of something clutched to his chest.
Cordovan leather, so finely cured it folds like silk. Itâs tooled with gold.
Apprentice
Any girl with sense would kill for a pair of handmade Spanish shoes. Put your bare foot on a piece of paper, trace the outline and send it to the shoemakers with your choice of texture and colour.
Inspector of Wrecks
Back to the telescope. I watch the pantomime of servants rowing out with the tide. Up on deck. Long conversation with the craftsmen, who set to work with great flourish.
Servants row back. Ah! My shoes.
Apprentice
They look very big, as if they were for a man. Try them on, but Iâm certain.
Inspector of Wrecks
Thereâs plenty of roomâ¦
Apprentice
Far too big. They should be snug here. And here. If youâre paying for handmade shoes, I shouldnât be able to put my thumb in between your heel and the shoe.
Inspector of Wrecks
They do slip when I walk.
Apprentice
Send them back, no question. Make them do it again.
Inspector of Wrecks
You do learn some unexpected things on this job. OK, I do what you say. Servant comes back. The shoes had better be right this time, or else.
Thatâs better. Bit of a struggle to put them on. They look good!
Apprentice
Come here. Let me look. Can you feel your big toe against the end of the shoe?
Inspector of Wrecks
Yes.
Apprentice
Theyâre too small. These shoes will never keep their shape. Walk over to the wall. Are they comfortable?
Inspector of Wrecks
No. The heelâs digging in at the back.
Apprentice
Hopeless! These guys are amateurs. Only one thing to do. Go out to the ship yourself.
Inspector of Wrecks
Come with me, will you? I need your opinion. Come on! Before evening falls. Remind me, Nona, which part are you?
Apprentice
I thought I was Gwydion. But thereâs been nothing to do. Might as well come along with you until I get the cue.
Inspector of Wrecks
Row, row, row out to the caravel. Take an imperious tone of voice with the shoemakers. Tell them the shoes are all wrong. Here, they can measure my feet. Iâll wait while they work.
The old manâs bowed over his work and the fair-headed boy stands, restless beside him. The kid toys with a bow and arrow.
I hear the trickle of the tide soothing under the hull. Late afternoon sun, low in the sky, makes me drowsy. The breeze tugs the fine hairs at the nape of my neck.
Suddenly a tiny bird â a wren â lands on a stanchion.
Apprentice
Campion, look out, Iâve found my part.
Inspector of Wrecks
Be quiet or youâll startle the bird.
Apprentice
Campion, you need to knowâ¦
Inspector of Wrecks
Donât speak unless spoken to. Iâm watching, entranced.
Apprentice
Butâ¦
Inspector of Wrecks
When, suddenly confident, no longer slouching, the boy
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