says Ness will be used for initiations when someone is ready to join Regina in the priestesshood. There are lots of rumours about Ness, about his, you know, prowess.”
“So now I understand the giggles I heard over the porridge. They said he’s a recovering heroin addict.”
“That’s one version. I heard it was murder, or manslaughter at least. There was a fight and someone died. The one thing everyone agrees on is that he’s a big man in every respect.”
“But you said no-one’s seen him.”
“No, but we’ve heard him. The grunts of him practicing and working out come up out of the goal pit at night. Those are his shaving things by the sink.”
“What a strange life,” said Robert.
“Oh, I could live quite happily down here,” said Georgina. “It’s got everything I need. I suppose the bed is a bit uncomfortable.” The bed of the rack had two rows of spikes across the middle.
“Have you tried it?”
“I had to once when I overstepped. It’s not too bad if you can relax.”
She struck a match on the brick wall, lit up, and inhaled deeply, and blew smoke in his direction.
“Won’t you get found out?”
“The nicotine police don’t come by this way very often. There’s a no smoking rule on the island but it’s not a capital crime like having an orgasm outside of the moon ceremony. Only two days to go. I’m hoping I’ll get in touch this time, but if necessary I’ll practice at home and come back for the solstice.”
“Have you seen the giant pussy?”
“Joni says I must call it a wild cat. No. But the spirit helpers are different for different people. I’m sure mine is a dog. It has long white hair and floppy ears and it encourages me to be cheerful. But then sometimes I think it’s a fish.”
“Couldn’t you just have a real dog?”
“Not in my line of work. I fly all over the world for shoots. Last month I was doing bikinis in Mauritius.”
“Somebody has to do it,” said Robert, having no difficulty picturing Georgina in a bikini.
“It’s not glamorous like you think. It’s bitchy and boring. And I’m hungry all the time. That’s why I smoke.” She waved ineffectually at the smoke around her head, stubbed out the cigarette, and put the butt down the sink.
“Do men have any role to play in day to day practice?” asked Robert. “I mean, are you allowed to have sex with a real man?”
A gust of wind dispersed the cigarette smoke. “I think someone’s coming,” said Georgina. “Can you give the cups a quick rinse and I’ll hide the coffee?” She scooped up her contraband and Robert swished the cups under the cold tap. She still had the cafetiere and cigarettes in her hand when two apparitions wearing wimples appeared at the bottom of the stairs with a tearful woman sandwiched between them.
“Hello Jocasta,” said Georgina. “Are you all right?”
“No,” she sobbed. “It’s happened again. I’ve begged Regina to let me stay and she says I can as long as I learn my lesson.” Regina was a few steps behind the miscreant and her spooky guards.
“And your lesson starts right now,” said Regina. “This way.” The guards, who appeared to be draped in white net curtains, marched Jocasta into the dungeon. They shot a bolt across the door behind them.
“I’m sorry, Regina. I’m really sorry.” Robert strained to hear Jocasta’s muffled voice, then Regina’s.
“What do you have to do to show you’re sorry? That’s right… just there.”
It went quiet for a minute and then Regina continued barking orders.
“It’s no good. Your tongue’s not strong enough. Take your robes off. Wimple One, unlock the stocks.”
Robert and Georgina looked at each other.
“That was a lucky escape. Regina didn’t even notice the cigarettes,” said Georgina.
“What sin has Jocasta committed?” said Robert.
“She’ll have gone into the red zone again, third time. Regina’s being very understanding to let her stay.”
They heard a shriek and a
“So now I understand the giggles I heard over the porridge. They said he’s a recovering heroin addict.”
“That’s one version. I heard it was murder, or manslaughter at least. There was a fight and someone died. The one thing everyone agrees on is that he’s a big man in every respect.”
“But you said no-one’s seen him.”
“No, but we’ve heard him. The grunts of him practicing and working out come up out of the goal pit at night. Those are his shaving things by the sink.”
“What a strange life,” said Robert.
“Oh, I could live quite happily down here,” said Georgina. “It’s got everything I need. I suppose the bed is a bit uncomfortable.” The bed of the rack had two rows of spikes across the middle.
“Have you tried it?”
“I had to once when I overstepped. It’s not too bad if you can relax.”
She struck a match on the brick wall, lit up, and inhaled deeply, and blew smoke in his direction.
“Won’t you get found out?”
“The nicotine police don’t come by this way very often. There’s a no smoking rule on the island but it’s not a capital crime like having an orgasm outside of the moon ceremony. Only two days to go. I’m hoping I’ll get in touch this time, but if necessary I’ll practice at home and come back for the solstice.”
“Have you seen the giant pussy?”
“Joni says I must call it a wild cat. No. But the spirit helpers are different for different people. I’m sure mine is a dog. It has long white hair and floppy ears and it encourages me to be cheerful. But then sometimes I think it’s a fish.”
“Couldn’t you just have a real dog?”
“Not in my line of work. I fly all over the world for shoots. Last month I was doing bikinis in Mauritius.”
“Somebody has to do it,” said Robert, having no difficulty picturing Georgina in a bikini.
“It’s not glamorous like you think. It’s bitchy and boring. And I’m hungry all the time. That’s why I smoke.” She waved ineffectually at the smoke around her head, stubbed out the cigarette, and put the butt down the sink.
“Do men have any role to play in day to day practice?” asked Robert. “I mean, are you allowed to have sex with a real man?”
A gust of wind dispersed the cigarette smoke. “I think someone’s coming,” said Georgina. “Can you give the cups a quick rinse and I’ll hide the coffee?” She scooped up her contraband and Robert swished the cups under the cold tap. She still had the cafetiere and cigarettes in her hand when two apparitions wearing wimples appeared at the bottom of the stairs with a tearful woman sandwiched between them.
“Hello Jocasta,” said Georgina. “Are you all right?”
“No,” she sobbed. “It’s happened again. I’ve begged Regina to let me stay and she says I can as long as I learn my lesson.” Regina was a few steps behind the miscreant and her spooky guards.
“And your lesson starts right now,” said Regina. “This way.” The guards, who appeared to be draped in white net curtains, marched Jocasta into the dungeon. They shot a bolt across the door behind them.
“I’m sorry, Regina. I’m really sorry.” Robert strained to hear Jocasta’s muffled voice, then Regina’s.
“What do you have to do to show you’re sorry? That’s right… just there.”
It went quiet for a minute and then Regina continued barking orders.
“It’s no good. Your tongue’s not strong enough. Take your robes off. Wimple One, unlock the stocks.”
Robert and Georgina looked at each other.
“That was a lucky escape. Regina didn’t even notice the cigarettes,” said Georgina.
“What sin has Jocasta committed?” said Robert.
“She’ll have gone into the red zone again, third time. Regina’s being very understanding to let her stay.”
They heard a shriek and a
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