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whose armory no weapon is so potent as the propagation of further mankind into
this bodily world, which he wholly rules. Therefore it is ordered that when
one who has reached the diaconal estate is overcome by the desires which the
god of Evil has placed in all flesh, he shall seek out the Myonessae, choose
one, and cohabit with her for as long as they both will. It is a matter of
free choice and no compulsion. Yet during such time, the diaconal is not
allowed to continue his studies, thus standing in danger of never becoming
Initiate, but of dying and being reborn into some ugly form, as a serpent or
an insect."
Said Lalette, nipping a lip in her little white teeth; "And what of us, who
merely satisfy the lusts of these men?"
From severity, the mattern's face turned to astonishment. "Why, this is the
very service of love, that we offer our bodies, not in exchange for the
sustainment a man gives us and the satisfaction of our own desires, but in the
name of the love of God, that all may benefit by learning the vanity of
earthly wishes."
"I was not told of this, and I do not think I like it."
Dame Quasso's face turned stern again. "Very well," she said in an iron
voice. "There are some who will not accept instruction. I will have the
account made up of what you owe for the passage here. When it is paid, you
may have a porter take your box wherever you please."
(Where, indeed? And how pay? Panic mingled with the anger that boiled
anew in Lalette's mind.) "Ah," she said, "you talk of love and holiness, and
 " then burst into tears, leaning forward with her hands covering her face.
The mattern came around and placed a surprisingly gentle hand on the girl's
shoulder.
"My child," she said. "It is not I nor the Initiates of Mancherei that place
you under hard compulsion, but this material world, in which the god of
Evil has all power. All you have learned, all you have gained through
witchery is straight from hell. Return to your room; meditate what I have
said until supper, when some of the diaconals will come, and see for yourself
whether it is as sour a fate to be of the Myonessae as you now think."
II
Rodvard had no meal at noon (lacking money), his eyeballs ached from toiling
under lamplight, and the others had finished their eating when he reached the
Gualdis' shop. The dame's voice was not very pleasant (the Blue
Star told him she hoped he was not going to be as much trouble as  something
he could not make out). But Leece and Vyana, the oldest daughter, reheated
for him some of the stew in a casserole, and made to entertain him by asking
him about his work. (When he told them it was casting accounts for the
Myonessae, there was something behind Vyana's eyes that came to him as a
shapeless whirl of fear and desire, but he could neither draw her thought more
clear, nor cause the subject to be pursued.)
Now the talk turned to Dossola, and especially to Count Cleudi, for the whole
family became much excited when they learned Rodvard had actually seen that
famous person in the flesh and even worked for him. It took him several
moments to realize that here in Mancherei he need not withhold his tongue, for
these people thought the Count as great a villain as did the Sons of the New
Day. Rodvard related the trick Cleudi had played on Aiella of Arjen (keeping
his own name out of it for a reason he did not quite know), whereupon Leece
asked innocently what a "mistress" might be, and the elders laughed.
His own room was very small, with the window right over the bed and only space
for a garderobe, a cabinet and one chair. The next morning the girl brought
his breakfast very early, and it needed no Blue Star to see that she wanted to
talk, so he made her sit on the chair and took the tray across his knees, as
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he asked why Vyana had been so strange about the Myonessae the night before.
"Her sweetheart is a learner who has now become diaconal and wishes to join
the sisterhood. But father and mother want her to marry in the usual way."
She leaned close and in a voice that was little above a whisper said;
"You won't tell, will you? . . . But we are afraid he'll bring an Initiate to
persuade them, and then he'll find out that father and mother really believe
in the old religion, and he ll send both of them away for instruction, and all
three of us will have to go into the Myonessae, and I don't want to."
(So many questions whirled in Rodvard's head that he could not find words fast
enough; and all his senses were tingling with the sudden nearness of
Leece's red lips, the swelling breasts and the message that darted from her
eyes, saying she was pleased with the same nearness, but not as Damaris the
maid, she held herself high and. . . .) He said, rather stupidly, not
thinking of his words; "And why not? I would think  "
She leaned back again; (the eyes went dead) the thick brows came together.
"Ah, but you do not think like a woman. We  we  want  "
"What, charming Leece?"
She flashed a smile which accepted his tiny apology and announced they two
would play the game so set in motion. "We want to be loved for ourselves,
here in this world. There! I have said it. Now, when you make your
fourth-day report before the stylarion, you have only to complain that I am
out of the law of Love, and they'll send me somewhere for instruction, and you
won't have to be bothered with my questions about Dossola."
"Defend the day! But tell me, Leece, is it contrary to the law not to be
Amorosian?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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