Knight of Quality

"Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength." - Sun Tzu

My second summer in Vancouver was quite enjoyable. I had a multitude of events going on. Dance lessons, pre-approval for a mortgage, and most importantly, I was dating a former Miss Vancouver. A spontaneous meeting brought us to a patio overlooking the ocean. It was a beautiful evening, warmth tempered by the ocean and a completely clear sky. It was quiet and peaceful. I was a bit weary from a lengthy walk around downtown, gazing at the stars and admiring the city. I had worn dressier shoes and my feet were hurting a bit. I was content to sit and have a pint or two of imported lager and snack on some crazy beans that seemed to be the rage around town.

It was our second evening out, and I could tell I had peeked her interest. I was conveying some odd stories from my past and the strange events I seem to get subjected to. I was interested as she told me of her work and events in her life. We were simply enjoying each others company. The lighting was very cozy. Then unexpectedly, a man rode up on a bike, snatched her purse from the rail, and sped off into the darkness. I felt absolutely wronged and decided to correct the situation. I stood and very calmly asked if she would like me to deal with the situation. She was speechless and trying to grasp what had just happened. Every second passing was making the task more difficult, so I told her I would return in a few minutes and ran after this man on a bike.

I rounded the building and there were two paths he could have taken. One up the long well lit alley, the other further around the corner leading to a park with a gazebo and beyond. Two men were smoking on the back steps for the pub. Dressed in white I could only assume they were the dishwasher and cook. I looked up the alley. It was well lit and I didn't see him in the distance. I questioned the men on the step and they hadn't seen the bike pass up the alley. I continued down the street as it rounded toward the park. The park was in complete darkness except for the gazebo. I immediately knew this would the place where he would stop, if he was going to stop.

As I entered the park, the gazebo appeared deserted and the ground was extremely dark around it. The gazebo itself was illuminated on the inside, leaving the ground outside black by contrast. I made my way up the path realizing the precarious

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