We all could be at the theatre, the movies or anywhere else contemplating a performance. — the Master added, pointing the doubts with harsh critique. Impressed by the Master’s speech, the apprentices weaved commentaries among themselves, throwing whispers into the air. Short after that, they began to exercise in diplomacy against each other, as if this would be a therapy session in shifts. Their conversations would fool anyone, due to the characteristics of them as people, their physical looks and posture. Only a few did not feel fascinated. Their discourse, interpersonal communication skills, good will, good sense, sense of diplomacy and of aesthetics would flow into a noble, wise street justice worthy of the signature of The Schools.
Rafael noticed he was just smoking the cigarette’s filter - there were ashes all over the notes. Every type of description he had access struck him. “This is to say that the apprentices would go to the street only in groups, with elegant poses, as if they were aestheticized and cop-like”— said Rafael to himself, like if he was telling secrets to himself. He felt as thrilled has surprised. He felt engaged by a romantic and mysterious perfume. That was the track of the research path. He lit up again another cigarette and focused on the dirty yellow notes. In these, next to the dialogues’ transcriptions, there were blueprints, diagrams, numbered tables drawn on permanent ink, as well names engaged in this subculture, too:
“Still on street. Many gatherings were spied but nobody knew in fact what the drive of the rallies was and what kind of conversations occurred there. Whoever researched the Complete Ones would never stay in a comfort zone from afar to speak about anyone else. Gradually, curious and interested people would knock on The Schools’ doors. Once inside, the new elements would come up with something superficial to justify their research time and thus they would join the Complete Ones at once, because when they opted to go inside, they could not say ‘no’ no more; the comradery, the respect, the good aura and the noble actions were essential. None of Complete Men would engage in rivalries within each School. The latter was a single body, a collective-mind body, something relentless. Almost everything at The School was inviting. The atmosphere, the presence, the lifestyle of the Complete ones and the wise looks exchanged and shared among them, as for example the special greetings, were intriguing for the rookies. By attending to The Schools, the rookies dreamt of achieving the position of some Complete Men, because of their words, their actions and stories.”
Rafael was speechless. He stared at the street, from within the theatre café. He was calm and insightful. His curiosity temporarily satisfied by the transcriptions and the sun warming his legs. The more he knew, the more he aspired to know. The subculture seemed fascinating to him. In that precise moment, he felt that his interest was not just all about doing research for the report he would sell along with Roberta to a media group. It was also, and fore-mostly, what he could learn about these Complete Men subculture.
After paying the bill, Rafael noticed that a sheet of paper which was in-between the many sheets of the notebook had fallen down on the table, and in that specific sheet of paper there were some more things written that obviously caught his attention. The puzzle was setting up:
“The Schools have no windows, doors, walls, ceilings, flights of stairs, rooftops; that means they do not function in any real facility. But, there is always someone presenting ideas for the remaining who listen carefully. There is a set for the meetings, though that is not what matters. In fact, it is a “School”. A School where they all learn with their colleagues and teach what is relevant for the conduct promoted in the institution. One cannot find odd the fact of how Schools become colleges, very organized ones, where upstanding men, each with a style of its own has a specific signature in terms of dress code and haircuts. Every Complete Men preserve their inner identity, even the ones at the ‘process’ of learning. There is no homogenous thing in that sense, for it would be a manner of repressing the students who attend to The Schools. Each School in itself already has a righteous look, a diplomatic ambience. The most interesting is that the students are valid to speak about just anything despite it sometimes resembles to a code. Unlike military institutions, which repress the recruits so they could unleash tension on the battlefield, the Complete Men Schools invest on courage, in the good will and in arguing techniques as the best play. That was one of the premises to persuade the Other. For them, to know the true nature of the Man was the basis for all higher education. Being a social diplomat was a humanist demand based on attention, wisdom and gratitude. Nearly every common person is ungrateful, frankly ungrateful. To acknowledge the strength of the many is not to be compliant but to be superior, instead.”
After reading these last lines, considering that the rest of the notes was all about just tables, charts, numbered tasks and lists of names with attributed codes, Rafael decided to go home where he took a shower. He had some tagliatellefor dinner and then went to a bistrotwhere he asked for an old cognac with an extremely mellow scent. He stopped a bit to think on that moment. He recalled that he had to call Sylvie to ask her how was going her day at the job, and then after smoking some Davidoffs and exchanging words with the bartender he commuted to get to the newspaper building. He paid the taxi driver some bucks he had on the pockets.
Now, at nighttime, one could stare at the neon letter sign on the 49thfloor of the skyscraper. It was on that floor that Roberta’s office was, and where Paulo Renato would be expecting him. The dark blue building with purple shades reflected the landscape in glassy stripes. It was a post-modernist symbol of reflective glass, touching the clouds high in this part of city the center.
— Good evening. Mr. Paulo is arriving — said the receptionist announcing that Paulo Renato was on his way to meet him —You can go up. You are Mr.Rafael Sterling, aren’t you? — asked the woman arching the bright lipstick-lips, as bright as the eyes half-hidden behind the Prada’s brand mark glasses.
— Yes, it is I. — he answered still tense, returning the formal smile.
— Well, he his waiting for you.
— Thank you. — he replied to the receptionist.
As Rafael crossed the office, he thoroughly observed each person getting on the elevator, trying to grasp who might be involved with the Complete Men School. Journalists, accountants, administration staff, managers, secretaries, everyone could be potentially Complete ones. The thing is that they still did not know it yet, thought Rafael. This was the way things were.
“After all how could we identify people?” he said to himself as he advanced. “My God, I seem one of the Complete ones thinking…”— he said lowering his voice when one of the people on the elevator observed him involuntarily, yet with eyes for specific details. Rafael passed his hands through his hair in an attempt to become calm which through that gesture he marked his hairlines. One woman wearing a tailleurstared at him with joy. He did not return back such charming smile because his girlfriend, Sylvie, came to his mind.
As he reached the 49thfloor, Paulo Renato greeted him and told that the pictures were already processed and that the only thing missing was to order a print of what the software had handled. They both sat down and leaned forward, looking at the black and white pictures, which by now seemed clearer. One could easily observe the faces, by the way, with perfect clarity. The software Renato used performed wonders for Rafael’s cause and the latter could not drive his eyes of the pictures.
— Rafael, as you may see, the photos are now in a much higher quality. I am a genius, right? stated Paulo in an arrogant, yet friendly tone.
— It is true that…— before Renato continued Rafael interrupted him asking him to examine a photo where the people in the picture are three men talking in a street. Someone from a flat in front must have taken these photos.
— This one is excellent.
— Yes, it is.
— Can we increase the billboard of advertising?
—
