Chapter 12

As soon as they reached the turnpike they were lucky enough to pick up a Greyhound bus. They sped on through the night and then suddenly in the middle of nowhere Mary stopped the bus and they got off. The night was dark and moonless and Richard was wondering exactly where they were...

Mary took him by the arm and they went up a lane which skirted shadowy fields...then to the left and then to the right; he was already wondering how long they were going to keep on walking when Mary let go his arm and murmured into his ear:

"Here we are, just wait a bit."

Richard looked, his eyes had by now become used to the darkness. There was a little door in front of him, concealed by overhanging foliage on a wall which seemed to spread out into infinity on both sides.

Mary pressed what looked like a door bell and the door opened automatically. They went in and Mary softly closed the door behind them.

"Follow me Richard, give me your hand." Several minutes later, after having walked through dark passages and come to a sudden bend, Richard saw a stone stairway and an open door at the top of it, letting out a large shaft of light, while a woman's voice from the top of the stairs said:

"Is that Mary?"

"Yes darling, and I've brought a friend."

Richard and Mary went up the stairs, and Mary was immediately kissed by the other woman who seemed to be waiting for her.

"Oh honey, darling, I've been waiting for you, come on in, you know everyone I think..."

The door closed behind him and Richard found himself in a very elegant salon, decorated with pictures, sketches and sculptures which denoted which female cult and which feminine grace was honored in the house...

"Sit down and rest, you must be tired after walking so far."

"Oh, it's not really that long and besides my tiredness will soon wear off among so many beautiful things."

"I must congratulate you on your admirable choice and taste in setting out this decor, it is really quite superb."

"You are really too kind, Mr...?"

"Oh how stupid of me, let me present Richard the famous painter."

"Really, do you mean to say that you painted the 'Innocent Girl' that I have admired for so long?"

"The same, at your service."

"But then I do know you, and I have known you for some time, since I have always heard people talking of you, and always in most flattering terms."

"And let me introduce you my dear. This is Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who is as beautiful and lovable as she is charming."

"Oh, Mary please!"

"Yes she is, and to prove it, a look at this, Richard."

Quite naturally and as if she was a longstanding friend in the house, Mary had unbuttoned the soft robe which Mrs. Fitzpatrick had thrown over herself to open the door. She was simply dressed in a silk girdle which although black was extremely transparent. It was like a bikini at the top but cut away so that the breasts were set off to full advantage, their pink tips thrusting forward. As for the bottom part it ended at the top of the thighs and was a kind of billow of floating lace.

Long silk stockings of the same color held up by red garters completed the picture.

"Look Richard, don't you think that she is wonderful? And just look at her hair, let me unpin it, you can do it up after. Isn't it wonderful?"

Mary had quickly unpinned the hair and it fell down on her shoulders in long luxuriant waves.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick smiled and let her go ahead, her breasts swelling. Richard did not say anything but his eyes showed his admiration.

They understood what was going on inside him and both women did not speak but waited as the three graces had once waited for the judgment of Paris.

At last Richard spoke:

"Quite superb, you are marvelous, just like a living statue...and you add so much natural charm to your physical perfection that I seem to be dreaming all this."

"What did I tell you Richard? And even then I was underestimating the reality when I said it. Ah, you'll find your master with her, my darling."

"Will you stop Mary, what is Richard going to think of me afterwards."

"Richard is worthy of you my dear. He is as amorous and sensual as he is beautiful, for he is really beautiful, he has the body of a woman which you will soon see. But that does not mean he has no strength, he is very strong."

"Mary, will you stop it..."

"Well it's true Richard."

"Let's get more acquainted, cut out this Mrs. Fitzpatrick stuff and call me Jo."

"Well we are both artists so perhaps the familiarity can be excused."

"Yes, do you know that Jo is a very talented artist but her specialty is flowers and not women like you. But Jo you have some other people to attend to so you go off to the salon and I'll show Richard around the house."

"If you will my dear, since I do have quite a few people. See you both soon."

Before going out through a small door which Richard had not yet noticed, Jo stopped for a moment and looked at him quizzically, making a little gesture of familiarity and saying again: "See you soon, Richard."

When she had gone, Mary took Richard by the hand and said:

"Don't you think that she is pretty, my darling? And you know when she and I get together we really make a pair! And she is so gracious and so lovable."

Richard did not reply since he was concentrating on where they were going...and perhaps thinking of the beautiful creature whom he had just seen.

"Look Richard, down there is the bathroom. Come I'll show it you."

Mary opened the door and Richard went into a sumptuously arranged bathroom. Apart from the tub, the room was disposed in an extremely artistic way...

I'll leave you now Richard, that little door there is the John...you'll find all that you want in here...and remember that birthday suit is the order of the day. Anyway I'll come and fetch you in a half hour. Now I'll leave you, and watch out, the water is very hot."

Mary went out and closed the door, going to a nearby bathroom which she knew well.

A half hour later, after having used the John, Richard got out of the tub not before having let the water out by pulling on a chain and cleaning it with a sponge. On the dressing table there was a little regiment of bottles and pots; he looked at them and saw apart from the inevitable eau de Cologne many different perfumes, beauty creams, and the whole arsenal of preparations necessary to feminine beauty.

After drying himself he rubbed perfume over the whole of his body, then seeing a large pot of cream he anointed himself all over and especially over his thighs and buttocks which had now a satiny white sheen.

He had just finished when Mary knocked on the door and came in.

"Oh Richard how beautiful you are...that perfume...and how soft your skin is...you're really going to send everyone tonight."

"Are there many people here tonight? What do they do here anyway?"

"I had better tell you now then. This is a temple of love as Jo has conceived it, but everyone is completely free to follow their own feelings."

"Then they have snow..."

"No there isn't any snow, or any morphine either. It's just letting go with the body, and allowing one's senses to become drunk with the perfume and the touch of so many other bodies."

"And what kind of people are they mostly?"

"There really aren't that many, and they are very rigorously selected. Mostly men, but men from the artistic world and extremely refined...as for the women they are equally well selected and well proportioned. And you will see that the men are all worthy of you, not as beautiful admittedly for you are without equal, but they have all got good instruments and they are disposed to all kinds of lovemaking. Now Richard your education will be complete."

"But what do you want me to do with these stockings?"

"Put them on...that's right...yes pull them up tight...now you really look like a woman...and your waist is so tiny. Turn round and let me look at you. Honey you look great. Now I know why everyone falls in love with you. Leave your things in the bathroom, it's Jo's so no one else w' come in here. Now put this robe on. Oh you are quite magnificent. Come, let's go."