Argentinian Nights

By AJ Cross

Set in Buenos Aires, Argentinian Nights is a fresh new novel that tells the story of a writer who lives out his own fantasy in a land that is full of mystery and wonder. A novel within a novel, the romance of Stanley and Rosalind is revealed under the shade of palms that allude to the freedom and wild desire that is innate to life in Buenos Aires and spills out into the world of a writer who is imagining the impossible. Inextricably bound by love and passion and passing through a world that is real and contrived, a new novel and epic romance takes wind that will surely please and leave hearts and minds stirred.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329342699

Book preview

ARGENTINIAN NIGHTS

A Novel

By AJ Cross

Argentinian Nights –A Novel

First published in 2014 by AJ Cross

Copyright © 2014 by AJ Cross

Editing by Chad Dixon

Published by The Knowing Café

Visit us at www.knowingcafe.blogspot.com

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise without the express written consent of the publisher.

Publishers Note

This is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Contact us at: [e-mail]

First printed in the United States of America.

ISBN 978-1-329-34269-9

Copyright © 2014 by AJ Cross

A Knowing Café Publication

I had moved to a small chateau on the outskirts of Buenos Aires that overlooked a verdant countryside where the sea met the land in a majestic way and thousand feet palms seemed to rise up and touch the sky with their wings.  I had the good fortune to rent out an entire cabin on this distant and unknown promontory that would be my home for the next six months.  I was here in this far-off part of the world that was known to outsiders as an exotic land of milk and honey to finish the second part of a book that was set in the illustrious city of Buenos Aires and would be the culmination of a career as a writer of romance novels and a book that would be my coup de grâce.

The sun was warm here and seemed to prevail with an indelible grace.  When I entered the chateau for the first time and opened the door, it revealed a home that was a remnant of a bygone time and recalled the opulent living of a distinguished family who owned the home that gave it its prominence.  The house was still a vestige of its former glory and it seemed that everything was still in its original place and showed its age only by the dust that had settled over time and was its keeper.  The house had a voice and spirit of its own that was like no other.  It was filled with natural light and shadows were cast in all directions that made it feel like a hut with a thatch roof.  The windows were open and looking out onto a vast and blue horizon.  It felt surreal to be the proprietor of such a venerable estate that would inspire greatness and high-minded thoughts that I hoped would lead to writing my best work.

I let go of my dross with a sigh of relief and sought a place for an old Remington typewriter that was indispensable for my work and a few of my favorite books that I hoped would keep me company during my stint.  These were some of the greatest works of modern literature.  Such scarce personal affects could hardly revive such an illustrious home but it would have to do and I would have to get by on modest possessions.  The cabin was a single room that covered a large space and had all the modern amenities like a kitchen and bath.  It felt like a perfect writer’s den where I could delve into the world of the mind and reach for deeper meaning and insight.  First, it was necessary to add a personal touch.  I cleared a mantle place for my books and placed them neatly in a row and looked proudly at the names of such great writers as Voltaire, Goethe, Melville and Machiavelli that had taken the journey with me to this distant land.  It was a happy moment to be among my heroes and yeomen and on an opposing wall, I cleared an old desk for my typewriter and next to it, placed my manuscript that would inspire lofty thoughts and would bring me to the brink of greatness.  With my personal belongings stowed away, I laid myself on top of the bed that seemed like a king’s throne and hoped to shake off the load of my long trek and was soon overcome by a deep slumber in the cool air of Buenos Aires that seemed to induce sleep like an aphrodisiac. 

I woke up in the afternoon and felt refreshed and filled with a new sense of vigor as the ache of a long and tedious journey had faded and long gone.  As I was slowly reprising, Martha entered at the most opportune moment to serve breakfast that was more than welcome since I had not had the chance to eat.  She was the diminutive landlady who had rented out the cabin to me and took great pride in her work and I watched her intently as she moved like a bee in a hive and worked quickly to make my accommodations more agreeable.  Martha was extremely kind and offered some advice to make my stay more comfortable.

Señor Renee.  I’ve tried to put a few things in order but please make sure that you close the shutters whenever you go out since we are very close to the sea.  When it rains, it is beautiful in this part of Argentina but we do have floods and that’s why people prefer to live up here.  The mountain air is fresh and clean.  I am sure you will like it.

Thank you, I tried to be polite and personable.  It will be perfect for my writing.

Martha went on to mention the presence of a garden in the back of the house that seemed to spur my curiosity even further. 

The people who owned the home kept a garden in the back of the house and it needs a kind person to show it care.  If you like, I can clear out the mulch and you can work on the garden in your spare time.  There is a beautiful tree in the back and when it blooms it is quite pretty.  It sheds the petals of the Ceibo, our national flower that is red like our people.  I hope it will be a source of pleasure for you and if you need anything, please ask for me or Eduardo.  He is the groundskeeper.  I hope your stay in Buenos Aires is a pleasant one.

Muchas gracias, Martha.  You are very kind.  I am very lucky to have found such a perfect spot in all of Buenos Aires.  I wondered if Eduardo might be free to canvas the real Buenos Aires.  Martha was happy to oblige.

He lives on the property in a small house that is a couple of miles up the hill and I’m sure he will be happy to give you a tour.  I will ask him when I get the chance.

Finally, I could imagine my novel as it should be told in its proper setting.  And someone like Eduardo could be a perfect guide since he was a native and could show me the true face of Buenos Aires and it would not just be a novelty for a tourist.  Martha gave me confidence.

"Señor Renee, I am certain you will enjoy your stay here and I am happy to make the arrangements. They say that at this time of year the spirit of the Indian rises in the mountains of Buenos Aires and brings good luck