Norman had been wearing the robe for only minutes and was aware that the fabric the robe was made of was scratchy on any skin that came in contact with it and the weight of the garment was pulling his shoulders down, it felt like there was something heavy in the hem, he would have liked to pick the garment up to look at the hem but he was interrupted.
"Sir, It is required that you enter the refectory with the hood over your head."
"Your kidding me." said Norman.
"I am sorry sir, but His Excellency likes one to be dressed appropriately."
"And I'm guessing that it's because I'm eating in a refectory," said Norman.
"Yes sir, that is right." While Norman was left wondering exactly what the word refectory meant on this island museum, the man placed a hand on either side of Norman's head and pulled the hood up.
Norman was not expecting a confirmation of his guess, he had said it because he was tired and cranky and was wanting to get on the evening ferry back to the mainland. There was a room waiting for him in a hotel tavern ten minutes walk from the ferry terminal. The thought of a warm shower, no, a hot shower. He realized that even with the heavy robe on he felt cold, the thought of a long hot shower helped to calm his uneasiness about his current position. At the moment he felt he was hijacked and there was nothing he could do.
He did not know the floor plan of this place, he had been raced through too many corridors to find his way back to the room he was working in. This was one big museum, the building he normally worked in was big, but this place was enormous and there was something empty and unsettling about the size, he could not pinpoint. He would need this man with the polite 'sir' to navigate the warren of corridors that seemed to exist in the building.
Norman wondered how long he was expected to wear the hood up on the robe that hung over his body. The fabric was rubbing on his ears and they were beginning to itch to the point where he wanted to rub the irritated spot. But the 'sir' man was looking him eye to eye. Norman broke off the stare, there was no doubt in Norman's mind, the hood stays up and you do not scratch. He was not game to ask what would happen if he did. But the thought that he might loose his head clawed its way down his back.
"How long is this meal going to take."
"Three, maybe four hours," said the man.
"I was hoping to catch the ferry to the mainland this evening."
"That won't be possible sir, the ferry left half an hour ago."
"By my watch I still have an hour," said Norman as he looked at his watch.
"That is mainland time sir, we are one and a half hours behind the main land."
"Then I'll have to stay the night!"
"Yes sir, I will wait for you to finish. Then I will show you to your room for the night."
Norman felt that somehow, somewhere he had been in a fight, no not a fight a battle and somewhere, somehow he had lost the battle. "You are going to wait for me?" It was a silly question but Norman needed assurance.
"Yes sir, I will stand over there with the other valets and wait for you."
Norman followed the man's gaze to a row of similarly dress individuals who were standing against the wall. If he placed a lamp shade on each of them he was sure that they would pass as a light stands. Men and women stood in the order they had arrived, another assumption, the first assumption might be that these stands were human, it would make more sense if they weren't.
"Are you human?"
"Part of me is sir."
A bell rang drowning out the next words that Norman was beginning to speak. Norman had to wait for the noise to stop. When the clanging rattle became an echoing sensations in his ears Norman put his hand on the man's arm and said "For the part of you that is human, take some time off, I will wait for you, come back in four hours. Do what you need to do, eat, sleep, take a shower. I would not be able to eat anything if all I can think of is you standing here for hours and hours waiting for me."
The man looked at him with relief and maybe a tear in his eye. Norman wasn't sure. "You need to go into the refectory sir," the man paused then said "And sir, be thankful for your daily bread. Sir, you must go now, the doors are closing."
Norman rushed between the closing doors he just managed to get into the refectory before the doors closed. He hoped that the 'sir' man took some time off. He had to ask him for a name, he couldn't keep referring to him as the 'sir' man. He also hoped that the 'sir' man did not stand out in that cold hall way for four hours.
When Norman came to a stop he found himself in a room that had a table or series of joined tables, because there was at least thirty metres of table. On the table was one, he was sure there was no hidden join, white table cloth the length of the table.
About every metre there was a candelabra holding seven candles. The candelabra's could not be classed as a decoration, they were plain, designed for a purpose nothing more. The knife, fork and spoon were also plain and designed for purpose nothing more. In between the cutlery was a white bowl plate. Norman could not find the words to describe the table ware.
"Makes one wonder what the food is going to be like," said another guest who was standing next to Norman waiting to be showed to his seat.
The top end of the table had people seated, they were waiting for the last half dozen people at the doors to be seated. When the usher came to Norman, he did not show him to a seat next to the people he had been standing with. He signaled that Norman was to follow, not one word was spoken, except for the man who had just spoken to him. He was now seated at the end of the table. Norman was lead to a place that was overlooked by a large painting of thirteen men who appeared to be arguing over their meal. The usher stopped in behind a vacant chair. This had be planned, someone knew that Norman would be in the refectory for a meal? The usher pull the chair away from the table so that Norman could stand in the space waiting for the usher to move the chair in behind him. The room's quiet dinners spoke volumes, there was no argument, and invitation was issued and this was your seat, take it.
Remembering to lift his heavy robe just before sitting down on the chair that swept in behind him saved Norman from having to rise again and rearrange the garment. He had noticed that the people who were seated before him had struggled with their robes when they were seated and had to do a lot of wriggling to get comfortable.
With the people seated next to him holding their tongues, the seconds seemed like minutes and minutes were like hours. Then a bell chimed and a voice was heard to say "We bless this food we are about to eat." Then nothing, no explanation and no waiter with food, Norman wondered if they were going to eat because his eyes focused on the sparse table decor, and he thought that if the food was the same as the decor he might be in for a long hungry and quiet night.
