The Pipe of Ecce Vino

*My own version, a hopefully modernized one, of the "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe.

Sarcastically missing my childhood friend for nearly forty years now since his silent death, and here I lay. Lucio, who was not that mischievous but has inflicted me pain for the countless injuries I’ve got to withstand with him around. “Richest?!” That evening, that single word he had said during our conversation about my family was the insult I just couldn’t take. And so, I vowed revenge. Time will come and it’s my turn to break it to him, the way he did it to me.

Years passed, and I haven’t showed signs that some things had already changed between us. From childhood friends, we became colleagues. Working in the same company which was owned by family, I smiled at him with this thought in mind that he never knew what I was thinking.

Lucio had this weak point aside from his insensitivity to some things – to consider, some personal things. He prided himself of having this exceptional knowledge when it comes to wine. In our company which manufactures the best wines to export to other countries, we were both in the wine-making and tasting department. Thus, making it understandable that we both are well-grounded of the nature of our product. But I was a successor of this company and had exposed myself in this business for a lifetime.

It was New Year’s Eve and we were about to attend the first costume party hosted by the company for their employees. Lucio and I went together in our way there. I was in a vampire outfit while he had his get-up of a clown wearing shades which was his style, according to him, and it’s weird. Upon reaching the receiving area of our building, silence dominated. This is maybe because everybody had excitedly clamped there at the rooftop where the party was to be held.

Through the silence, a memory rushed in to me unexpectedly. While we were sitting to rest, I remembered that it was in this place, in this lobby, where my friend had insulted me. It is here where I swore to give him that sweet vengeance with that taste of morbidity. And that moment I thought was the time.

I said to him, “Hey Lucio! Is it okay if we just go up after a while? I was quite tired of our walk and I think I need to rest for a couple of minutes.”

“Oh yes.” he replied. “I presume they couldn’t just start the event without us, the best employees? Haha!”

“Think so.” Silence. “Lucio, have you heard anything about the Ecce Vino?”

“That sounds like a wine huh but I just don’t know. What’s that?” he said.

“Ecce Vino is our family’s deepest secret and treasure,” I said. “You’re right. It’s a wine, the best wine to be exact, an heirloom that was passed by my great grands to my parents.”

“Really? Then..so what it’s like?”

“I haven’t actually seen it or taste it but I know where it’s hidden.”

“If that’s it, then I think we must go and see it. Come on. Ecce Vino!”

“Sure? Aren’t we going up now?”

“Oh yes. The party can wait. Ecce Vino! I can’t just wait.”

“It’s at the basement. A secret room leads there,” I said while Lucio was pulling my arm.

“Good. Then let’s go, now’s the time. The coast is clear, no one would see us. Ecce Vino!”

To the basement, he went coughing. I don’t know what it caused it. Maybe it’s the damp air that filled the area.

He was still coughing. “Are you okay? Shall we continue?” I asked. “We can still go there in another time when you’re well. I can’t afford to lose you, the company can’t you know.”

"Ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh!"

For a while then he replied as he took off his shades, “No. It’s nothing. I’m okay. I too can’t afford to see the Ecce Vino now. Let’s continue.” He added with excitement.

He hurried us until we reached the end of the alley; I stamped my feet at the left corner side where a secret button was located. Then a gadget popped out from the ceiling. It was an eye scanner. A specialized one that would examined if my blue eyes were that of the Benjamin’s. After a quick second, the wall opened. An ordinary room greeted us. It has chairs and a table in its center – more like a living room. And on its left side was an array filled with the finest wines of the world. It was a comfortable place with an air conditioner. A little bit cozy because it the cool air that packed the room which was totally different from the damp air outside. It was really the place to condition everything that was to happen.

Lucio made himself at ease. He sat down on the couch. Moving towards the array, I decided to pick the strongest wine I knew. This was part of that tactic to make my mission possible.

“Drink,” I said to him as I offered him a glass. Without hesitation and question, he took it from my hand and sipped.

“Good. Quite a strong one huh,” he said while appreciating the effect of the wine.

“Ecce Vino!” He suddenly blurted out.

“Later, Lucio. Calm yourself. First enjoy the drink,” I commanded.

While my friend was sitting and enjoying the place, I wandered around. Then I managed to find the place where the Ecce Vino was located. It was at the heart of the room, a wall separates it from the living room that is why we didn’t notice it as we entered. On an altar-like, the pipe of Ecce Vino was placed. And under it was a chair, a particular kind that I would use to complete my plans.

I went back to Lucio and persuade him to follow me. “Come. You’ve got to see something,” I said.

He followed me, leaving his glass on the table. And there as we saw it and without me telling him, he recognized the thing as the Ecce Vino.

“Ecce Vino,” he uttered with amusement. “And what’s that chair for?”

“You wanna try? That’s a special chair. It brings you down where casks of Ecce Vino are.” I told him. “Just the motto whispered twice. And it will bring you there.”

“Hmm.. So, what’s the motto?” He kindly requested.

“Repeat after me,” I said. “Ecce Vino, Ecce Homo.” Behold the wine, behold the man.

“Ecce Vino, Ecce Homo.” And then the chair went down moderately to that empty vacuum room underneath.

“Should any button be anywhere here on the chair that I could push whenever I wanted to go up? Aren’t you coming? We’d go to the party together huh, there’s so much to talk about. We had kept them waiting,” his voice called out unclearly. I ignored.

As I went back to the living room to get the glass from the table and put it back to where I got it, I heard noises – both human and machine produced. And then a clank, the opening closed and the chair’s back in its place.

And before I left, I took another glimpse of the Ecce Vino and the chair. I went near it, lowered my ear to the foot of the chair, looked into a small opening and called out. “Lucio! Lucio! Lucio!” But I heard no reply.

As soon as I closed the room, my heart grew sick. It was because of the damp air again that greeted me after being in a cool room. It’s been forty years now, silence still. In pace requiescat!