The Potter

By Elliot Lord

Viktor is a middle-aged man who has lived his life in an isolated house near a small village in Czechoslovakia. He has kept himself busy by creating bespoke pottery for many people in the area and his reputation spreads far and wide. One day, he is visited by a shop owner who is amazed at Viktor's talent and makes him an offer that would take him out of his comfort zone.

The potter considers it deeply, but is unsure of what he should do. Another villager, Marianna, who has very little of interest happening in her life, pays him a visit upon hearing his news, which unexpectedly leads them to have a close working relationship, that continues even when they soon become separated.

This novel is an exploration of emotions of uncertainty, change and adaptation to different circumstances.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elliot Lord
• Release date: Jul 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393749356

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The Potter

by Elliot Lord

© 2020

All rights reserved

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Cover art by Elliot Lord

Table of Contents

1. The Unexpected Visit

2. Something To Consider

3. Marianna

4. A Different World

5. A Decision To Be Made

6. A Big Change

7. Silvia

8. The Markets

9. Suspicious Practices

10. The Investigation

11. The Realisation That Life Is Represented By The Fragility Of The Master's Work

12. The Trial

13. Returning to Stankovany

1. The Unexpected Visit

It was a bright, late spring morning. A gentle breeze was caressing the grass in the field and the flowers that stood above it were swaying gently. Nightingales could be heard chirping as they flew overhead and the unmistakable pecking of a White-Backed Woodpecker could just be detected in the distance. If you stood still and listened carefully, you would also hear the rhythmic resonance of something machine-like not so far away. This was coming from an old hut at the side of the road which passed between the fields. The sound was that of the lever that Viktor Javorek's foot pressed, turning his potter's wheel.

Viktor was in his meditative state as he worked the clay. The slight squeak of the crankshaft to him was as natural as his heartbeat. With his shirt sleeves rolled up, his weathered, but still nimble hands and forearms were covered with dark brown stains from the water that inevitably splashed onto him as he worked through the day.

Viktor was fifty-six years old and although he walked more slowly than he used to, his mind was still as active as it had always been. He kept himself clean shaven, due to the mess that he worked in and his grey hair was also kept quite short for the same reason. He had been a potter since he was ten years old, when his uncle had methodically passed on his skills to equip him with what would become his life's work. Viktor had been an attentive student and applied himself to his trade from a young age, with few distractions in the desolate area where his family lived. The only things he had known when growing up were how peaceful it was here. Stankovany was a tiny, remote village in the north of the Slovak region in what was now Czechoslovakia. Largely a farming village, its inhabitants numbered just over sixty and life ticked along very slowly. It was situated on the north bank of the large River Váh, that carved its way through the countryside all the way south to the Danube. There were houses that mostly overlooked the river, which on a clear day produced a spectacular view with the Low Tatra mountains beyond it in the distance. Behind the houses was the farmland. Many of the families here had one or two fields and their successive generations were brought up to be next in line to take over the duties of working the land. The vegetables, fruit and livestock provided for everyone who lived there and they traded with other villages and nearby towns.

Viktor hadn't been into the village for some time. Everyone knew him, but they also knew that he was to be left to himself. He lived his life at his own pace, taking on jobs whenever someone came to ask him for a pot or a vase or whatever they wanted at the time. His reputation spread far and wide and people would come from different towns in the region to place an order. Nobody rushed him to get the commissioned piece done as they knew how he worked and they respected him. He had never let anyone down with their order and they knew that they would receive it when he had it ready. It was as straightforward as that. He didn't need to go looking for business; he had a quiet life and had grown very used to it over the decades.

He finished shaping the pot he was making for Mrs. Sasková and would fire it that afternoon. He put it on the table with a couple of other items he'd made and got up to stretch his legs. He walked over to the door, which was already open and letting in the fresh summer air, and he leaned against the frame to make his connection with the outdoors.

The workshop was behind his house, which was as modest as you would expect for someone of Viktor's character. He had a small living room, which was sparsely decorated with furniture he had had for decades, a kitchen with a small dining table and pots and plates that were as old as he was, a bathroom with a sink, a bathtub and a shelf for his toiletries, while upstairs he had his bedroom that looked out onto the river and a spare room at the front, which was intended as a guest room, although it had been so long since he had guests staying over that it was now used to house boxes, whose contents he was now forgetful of and some examples of pottery from his younger days.

As Viktor smoked his pipe in the doorway, Pavel arrived from another village to pick up an order that he had placed two weeks ago.

Good day, Viktor, he greeted him with a handshake. It's a beautiful day, isn't it?

Good day, Pavel. Yes, it is. I was listening to the birds singing just now. How are you?

Very well, thank you. How's your work coming on?

Everything is fine as it always is, thanks. I have your bowl ready. Come inside, it's over here.

Pavel had ordered a decorative bowl to grace the home he had recently moved into with his new wife. He had done his best to explain what they wanted, but wasn't sure if he'd got his ideas across properly. Viktor showed him the bowl and Pavel's face lit up. It was glazed with flowers and leaves that was straightforward for Viktor, but Pavel was overjoyed.

That's even better than we hoped it would be! he exclaimed.

I'm glad you like it, said Viktor.

He was used to being able to understand what people wanted and was experienced enough to interpret their descriptions and produce works that he knew they would like. Pavel paid Viktor and he was so thrilled at the bowl that he decided to give him some extra payment.

Oh, no. That's alright, Viktor humbly replied. That wouldn't be fair of me to accept more than the normal price.

Pavel knew that it would be disrespectful to demand that he took the extra money, so he raised his hat as a sign of respect, shook his hand enthusiastically and walked back home with a broad smile on his face.

Viktor fired up the kiln and put the new pieces in, while he went back to his house to clean up and have some lunch.

Andrej Vancák was making the most of the fine summer by taking his son, Jozef, out for a holiday travelling around the countryside, while his wife, Maja, was taking care of her mother, who was suffering from a fever and was bed-ridden at home. He was a slim man of average height, with very dark brown hair and well-groomed but full moustache and green eyes that altogether gave him the air of someone who ought to be taken seriously. The family lived in Bratislava, the largest city in the region of Slovakia and Andrej had a shop there, which he'd left to his employee to take care of for the first time as he had proved himself capable of taking care of things alone. They were visiting villages and spending their days by the rivers that carved their ways through the many hills and mountains. Jozef enjoyed watching the ducks swimming by, the ducklings frantically trying to keep up with their mothers and learn the ways of the world.

Andrej's final destination was his brother's house. They hadn't seen each for a few months and Jozef was happy to see his cousin. The young boys were both surprised to see how much each other had changed since they last saw each other a year ago. Jozef was four years old and Radovan six and both of them had grown enough for them to notice. Andrej was not used to being away from his work for too long and they would be travelling back in a couple of days after being on their travels for a week. They had a big family meal with Slavomir, his wife and son before Slavomir suggested they went out to the local tavern for drinks that evening. They went with the two boys and sat down at a small table, while the boys amused themselves by playing with the owner's dog.

The tavern was a small building that had been built over eighty years ago. With a roughly square floor plan, it had fourteen tables, mostly of a size to fit four of five people around and two larger ones that would seat up to eight people. It had been owned for the last twenty six years by Alfréd, a calm man in his late fifties, who would generally go about his business quietly, but was easy to talk to. He had a look about him that made him seem like a knowledgeable, worldly man. His bushy hair around the sides of his head framed an otherwise bald palette and his small, round glasses, which often sat low on his nose as he looked over them gave people a warm feeling about his countenance.

His tavern was the only one in Stankovany, so he never had any worry that he would go out of business. He knew everyone who lived around him and he was such an amiable character that it was simply difficult not to like and respect him. Alfréd never gave any thought to this; this was simply the life that he knew and he carried on with it as though there was nothing particular about it.

This is a lovely little place, Andrej commented as he looked around. He noticed some plates spread out along a shelf behind the bar. Alfréd came over with their drinks.

I love your plates over there. He looked round and said Of course. They're Viktor's.

Who's Viktor?

Alfréd smiled and said You don't live in this region then?

No, we're from Bratislava and are just visiting Slavomir before we head back.

Slavomir explained that Viktor lived just outside the village and made pottery for just about everyone in these parts.

Is everything he makes as good as those? Andrej enquired.

Oh yes. He can make things that are more beautiful than those, too. Everyone knows Viktor and most people have got something he has made in their homes.

Andrej drank his wine and he pondered over this information, wondering how good Viktor's pottery must be. He looked over at his son, who didn't seem to be getting bored with spending time with the dog.

So, where can I find Viktor? he asked Slavomir.

He explained how to get to Viktor's house, which was only a twenty minute walk from the tavern.

I think I'll pay him a visit in the morning.

They drank their wine and talked some more about their lives, which contrasted quite significantly with the respective affairs that go on in a small village and those of a bustling city. Slavomir introduced Andrej to some of his friends, who came in during the evening. They drank another glass of wine each as the friends listened intently to Andrej's tales of life in the city, which always interested those who had never been any further than the nearby towns of Ružomberok and Martin, which both had fewer than four thousand inhabitants.

The next morning, they all had breakfast together and the visitors bade farewell to the family. Andrej was impatient to visit Viktor; he had been thinking a lot about his pottery since he had awoken, so he and his son headed off early in the car to find the man he was eager to meet. They went back past the tavern and followed the road, which led directly to their destination. It wasn't difficult to work out that they had found what they were looking for as there were no other houses in the vicinity.

As Andrej parked the car and he and Jozef approached the house, they could make out sounds coming from the building that was just behind it. Someone was singing a tune under his breath in time with the rhythmic sound of the lever being pressed. It was a fairly warm day so the door to this dilapidated building was open. Viktor couldn't hear anything outside above the sounds that he was making until he heard a gentle knock on the door. He stopped the wheel and looked round.

Good day, sir. You must be Viktor, remarked Andrej.

That I am, he replied. Can I help you with anything?

I would hope that you could. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Andrej and this is my son, Jozef. We are here visiting my brother, Slavomir. Maybe you know him. Viktor nodded his head. We were having dinner in the tavern last night and I was enchanted by the display of the pottery in there that the owner informed me was made by you.

That's right. Pottery is my trade. Would you like to make an order?

Well, not so much order something, but I would like to take the opportunity to discuss a business proposition with you.

Viktor gave a look of interested surprise as Andrej told Jozef to go and have a look around the area to amuse himself while the two adults talked.

You see, I live in Bratislava and I have a shop that sells furniture and other ornaments and, to be honest, the quality of your work took my breath away and I would love to be able to sell your pottery there.

Maybe we could arrange something, but I tend to do commissions so don't have anything that you could really take with you, I'm afraid, explained Viktor.

That is not really what I had in mind, returned Andrej. I understand that the transport of your precious items would be very risky in terms of them possibly breaking due to the bumpy roads. Viktor nodded in agreement, but couldn't ascertain what Andrej was working towards. He continued, I would like to offer you the opportunity of working for me in the city. I have a pottery workshop that has more modern equipment than I see you have here. Sorry, I do not mean to condescend you. I'm sure you are able to work very... Viktor was aware that Andrej was becoming self-conscious that he thought he might have offended him but simply waved away his words implying that he should carry on with what he intended to say.

You see, we would have a much greater market for sales there, for which you would be able to earn a considerable amount of money for.

Money had never really been a concern of Viktor's. He didn't want for anything and was content with the amount that he had, which comfortably supported his simple life. He explained this to Andrej, who, in turn, felt that he needed to step up his game in order to convince Viktor to consider this offer.

Have you ever been to Bratislava?

Never.

It is a wonderful city, with so much to see and experience. This could be the chance of a lifetime for you to take.

I'm not sure I would be suited to living in a city. I've been here all my life and don't know anything different to what I have here.

My point exactly! cried Andrej, who felt he had found the key to persuading Viktor to take up the offer. Life in the city is so rich! There is always something to explore: the theatre, restaurants, the parks, the cafés and the range of wonderful shops. What say you join me, even if it's for a short time? I think you would enjoy it.

It hasn't really crossed my mind to partake in any of those things, to be honest, replied Viktor, to Andrej's disappointment. It's not something I could just decide to do like that.

Then please think it over! It could be so worthwhile to try something new. Maybe you would decide that you even preferred it and wanted to stay permanently!

Viktor wasn't giving any signs that he had been won over, but in his mind he was ruminating over it. Maybe it would be interesting just to see what life was like in the big city.

I'll be able to find you some good quality accommodation, too, explained Andrej. This wouldn't even be an issue for you. I would arrange that on your behalf.

Like I said, I couldn't just make a decision like this out of the blue. I have known you for barely twenty minutes!

Of course, you are right. I'm getting ahead of myself there. It's just that I'm so excited about the prospect of you and your work reaching a wider audience of very wealthy individuals. I know for certain that many people of high status would simply fall in love with what you can create.

That's very kind of you to say.

Listen, here's what we can do. I will write down my address and ask that you consider my offer, which would be very generous to you, and write to me when you have reached your decision.

Viktor found this an agreeable way to go about it and took Andrej's address from him.

How long do you think you would need to think about it? Andrej asked while trying not to sound too forceful.

Hmm, maybe a couple of weeks or so?

Perfect. I look forward to hearing from you. I won't take up any more of your time. I feel I have imposed on you too much already by springing this upon you! Andrej reached out his hand to Viktor, who wiped his on a cloth so as not to get clay on his guest's hand.

He left as suddenly as he arrived and called over Jozef, who had been wandering aimlessly around the field as there was very little that he could find to do. He put his hand on his son's shoulder as they walked back to the car and they went back to Slavomir's house before making their journey home after lunch.

2. Something To Consider

Viktor knew immediately that he wouldn't be able to settle back into his work. He reached for his pipe and remained on his chair, while he smoked it and gazed out through the door. It wasn't that he was necessarily thinking that maybe he should go to Bratislava, but that this was a most unexpected visit. He had had orders from people outside the village many times, but the customers simply came and picked up their item and went on their way, many of them never to be seen by Viktor again. He rubbed his clay-covered fingers on his chin as he tried to process the conversation that had just taken place. It felt like his lifelong routine that he conducted automatically had been shaken. Would I want to go and work in a big city? he thought. I have no idea what it is like there. It was at this moment that he began to reflect on was his life encompassed.

He had no desire for any material gain. The thought of earning large sums of money didn't excite him. Where he lived, he had nothing to spend that money on. It was of no real use to him. But might it be interesting to see the city? As he looked out to the emptiness through the doorway, he wondered if his life was equally as empty. He took a large puff on his pipe and blew the smoke up towards the ceiling of his small workshop, which he saw was in bad shape, but the dilapidation happened so slowly, he had not really noticed it before. It aged at the same pace that he did.

He got up out of his chair and went outside. He looked around at the landscape which he knew perfectly. He wondered what it was like to walk out of a front door and be greeted by all kinds of sights and sounds. However, from never having been there, he couldn't even conceive what he would be looking at. He turned round and looked at the bowl that he had started that day. Normally, his mind would immediately become focused on it and he would be planning what he was going to do next with it, but he looked at it blankly and couldn't fix his attention on it.

He knew Andrej's brother, Slavomir, but not to any great extent. He would know something about the city, even if it was just from what Andrej had recounted to him. Maybe he should go and talk to him to get some insight into what city life was like.

Viktor finished smoking his pipe and told himself to stop thinking about this strange offer and just get back to work. As long as he finished what he had planned to do that day on the bowl, he should perhaps go into the village and track Slavomir down.

He put the bowl in the kiln that afternoon and made himself something to eat before he went into the village. He wasn't sure where Slavomir lived, but could certainly get that information from Alfréd at the tavern. He hadn't been there for weeks and thought it might be nice to have a glass of beer anyway.

He arrived at the tavern shortly before sunset and was immediately greeted by the handful of people who were inside. Well, it's been a while, Viktor! said Ján, one of the elder villagers whom he knew quite well. To what do we owe this pleasure? - I just thought I'd get away from the house for a while. As you say, I haven't been over this way for weeks.

Hello, Viktor, said Alfréd. Would you like a beer?

You can still read my mind, Viktor replied.

It's not so hard remembering what everyone drinks around here. We don't get that many tourists!

Viktor leaned on the short bar and looked enquiringly at Alfréd. It's funny you should say that. I had something of a tourist visit me just today.

Ah, I bet that was Slavomir's brother. What was his name again?

Andrej. - That's right, I pointed him in your direction after he expressed an admiration for your plates here.

Yes, a most unexpected visit it was.

Did he give you a large order?

Not exactly. He offered me a position as potter for his business.

In Bratislava? - Exactly.

Are you going to take it? asked Alfréd, with a look of surprise, not expecting to hear something that would have registered as front page news in this part of the country.

I've been thinking about it today, but you know, I haven't the faintest clue what it's like over there.

Same here. I've never been there. I've heard it's like another world altogether. Maybe you should try it! It might be a good chance to experience something new.

I really don't know. I was thinking that Slavomir would be the best person to talk to. Do you know where he lives?

Of course. He'll probably be in here before too long, though. He often drops by during the week.

Well, why not? I've got my beer to get through. I'll see if he turns up.

Viktor chatted to Ján and one or two of other other locals and heard the same old stories about the troubles their wives gave them and things they used to do twenty or thirty years ago. Viktor had heard all this before, several times, and while he was being fed the same scripts, it occurred to him that life really didn't change around here.

As he was