Life and Times of a Priestess : Ch.13 : New Friends In Dumis : Part 2 : Communication (Section 2)

Ch.13 : New Friends In Dumis : Part 2 : Communication (Section 2)

 

     “So you still think the life of Prancir is better than the life of Pirion,” she enquired of them.

 

     “I will confess that I have managed very well in Prancir despite its difficulties,” stated Valery, laying his cards on the table.  “I have also prospered in Prancir and to an extent which would be impossible in Pirion.  I have a few good houses and many servants and employees and not only in Prancir.  I would not exchange my life here for a life in Pirion, why should I want to.  But I will admit that if I were not so rich I would have found my way with women more difficult, although I would even so have been able to enjoy myself very well.  If I were poorer I probably would find myself besotted with the idea of Pirion, knowing and believing what you have told me.  Men in Prancir work to survive, but beyond that pure survival they also work so that they may afford a wife.  They work the harder in order that they may choose a good wife, as beautiful as it is possible as well as kind and loving.  Many men work also that they may earn enough to attract a mistress or if they are not so lucky or desire else besides they earn to afford the whores which line the red quarters of Dumis and other cities.  Females of one sort or another are the major motivation for the men of Prancir after their basic living.  They work harder for it.  In Pirion you tell me sexual love is freely given.  Droves of Priestesses as well as ordinary women await the attention of men at any time.  And the work is not hard.  It does seem then that compared to Prancir, Pirion is a kind of paradise.”

 

    “Very good”, Danella commented, pleased that her explanations appealed to a man who claimed such power and importance in Prancir.  “Then why do you not withdraw the production of your weapons from your government and use your influence to stop the war.”

 

    “Aha” he laughed good-humouredly, “I knew you were coming to something.  Well you have a point but maybe I will tell you why some other time”.  She was disappointed to hear that he still maintained reasons for continuing his business activities as before, but she conceded that perhaps now was not the time to argue that.  She wanted first to impress the ways of Pirion and its Goddess upon them.

 

     “I do have a point, but I will, as you seem not to want to consider it at the moment, draw my fire for the moment.” She turned to Jeanette. “And you attractive lady, what do you think of what I have told you?”

 

    “I think its disgusting,” she laughed in apparent humour.  One minute calm and disinterested, the next cold and judgmental, and then full of humour, but a humour not of mockery but genuinely amused, like a naughty idea which appeals but seems absurd. “Half the population as Priests and Priestesses going around behaving as if they are prostitutes, and it’s all legal.  Women volunteering to do this ‘work’ and its not for money.  It is incredible.  I have heard about Pirion but I never knew your sickness went so far.”  She broke down again in fits of laughter, her sides shaking as she expressed herself, and yet there was a sense in the way that she said it which was not judging Pirion to be sick.  Pirion was rather ridiculous, absurd, impossible, not wrong.

 

   “It surprises you.  You never believed this kind of society could exist.  I tell you it does exist and I am the product of it. Am I sick?” asked Danella. “Admit it Jeanette you are attracted by the idea of it.  You always wanted to express yourself physically with many others and now you hear about a place where that is possible”.  All eyes turned to Jeanette, some who probably knew her very well, intimately perhaps, certainly in the case of Valery, and others who suspected her unusual poses and attitudes might be the evidence of a deeply sexual personality.

 

     “It is a quaint idea.  But I am still not sure this place can really exist.  I am not even sure that you are real,” said Jeanette.  She was more sober now but she pretended the humour still racked her.  Her derision was not sincere.  The defence of humour was the defence of someone who would not admit to a fascination with the subject of the humour.

 

    Valery saw it too.  “Why not admit it, as I have Jeanette.  Pirion has a sexual freedom which is attractive.  I know you.  I have seen you in action. You love men.  You have hunger for them which is insatiable and if you could you would behave like a Priestess.  I know you, and love you for it.”

 

    Danella wondered that this man of Prancir could be so free with his own views and so revealing of Jeanette’s secret life.  There was now no doubt, if there had been any before, that Jeanette had been one of Valery's lovers.  It seemed that Jeanette’s adventurous life went far beyond Valery, but would she admit it here amongst her friends.

 

   Jeanette’s humour was gone.  She glared back at Valery as if betrayed, publicly reduced to a spectacle.  Wordless in her public humiliation, Danella worried that she might create a storm or just leave silently.  Valery had cut too deep into her secret life.  A woman’s secrets were inviolable in Prancir unless she were a common whore which Jeanette did not believe she was.  “There is nothing to be ashamed of Jeanette.  I have slept with many men and I am proud of it,” Danella said quickly in an attempt to appease her.  She was reminded of Ravelleon’s sudden anger when she had once stepped too far before and did not wish to see such an explosion again.

 

    Like an actress Jeanette quickly regained her composure.  The look of the hurt child, the betrayed animal was gone as soon as it had arrived.  An adjustment had been made.  It was as if the moment of weakness had never happened.  “It is true that I have had some partners while I am not married.  I have betrayed no one.”  This message that she was not married and therefore betrayed no one seemed important to her as if she had not grasped that both Danella and Valery were unconcerned here with the concept of marriage.  “I do believe we should be free sexually, but it is an impossible dream.  Do you really think you can bring that dream into Vanmar?” she addressed Danella.  There was little hint of humour now but at least she seemed to have forgiven Valery for his indiscretion.  She seemed to be aware also that Danella was attempting to persuade them all of the value of her culture. The impossible dream was probably a correct statement given that Vanmar was stronger in technology and in force than Pirion and was even now, biting deep into Pirion’s territory.

 

    “If I can awaken the dream in you then why not in all the hearts and minds in Vanmar,” she asked, but she acknowledged to herself that mere dreams did not have sufficient power to stop the military and economic power of the Vanmarian nations.  Beginnings might be made in the raising of freedoms including the sexual.  Some might be converted to the idea, but to change the attitudes of centuries was surely impossible.

 

    There was silence for a while then she renewed her enquiry.  Their attention was still with her.  “Philippe you are a very handsome man. Surely you have enjoyed you life with plenty of women.”

 

     “I am married,” he stated succinctly as if it were all the answer she required.

 

    “That is not an answer to my question and you know it,” she retorted.  “Even in Prancir a married man may take other lovers.  Look at Valery here.  He has a wife but it does not seem to stop him.  And my General Ravelleon has taken me on.  And I myself, as you can see, have my own male mistress in Mireau”.  Mireau who was generally unshockable blushed at this inclusion.  “And even Mireau and Ravelleon are not enough for me.  I am used to far more than this, I am always on the lookout for another lover, if anyone wishes to try me.” She glanced without effort at Philippe and at Valery and even at Alfred whom she had not yet turned much attention to, lest he feel left out.  “You can have as many lovers as you want Philippe.”

 

   “Not here in Prancir Lady, it is not possible.” She could tell however that she had his full interest.  What man did not fancy her.  She knew she was beautiful and she basked in the confidence of experience.

 

    “But you would like it to be?”

 

    “Perhaps, but the women here do not allow it,” he said.

 

    “In Pirion they do allow it,” she said.

 

    “What do you think of Pirion then Philippe.  Would you not like to live like that.”

Slowly as if it were a difficult opinion to admit to, he paused then to think. “Yes, if I am honest I would.  It is natural for a man to want to love more than one woman.  Although it is natural also to want to cherish one or maybe two more than all others.”

 

   “In Vanmar we find that men and women need partnership,” cut in Lady Arabella, cautiously and seriously.  It was as if she felt the need to counter Danella’s well put arguments.

 

  Danella was grateful that this group were sufficiently intelligent and ‘modern’ in their attitudes to have a frank discussion on the subjects which Danella now felt the urge to explain.  It seemed to her that although she had had far reaching arguments with Ravelleon and more lately Mireau about her homeland and the failures she saw around her in Prancirian society she had been wanting to express her experience and her opinions to other Prancirians.  Ignoring the advice of both her Prancirian lovers she had now thrown caution to the wind and was enjoying the expression of her real opinions to this audience which was so much more open minded and willing at least to talk than she had expected.  Valery Valsivar had encouraged her. So had Jeanette.  And now she was full of her opinions and they came flooding out of her.  She knew instinctively that she was in no danger from any of these people.  There were all of the fortunate and comfortable classes of this society and although society and economy could be savage, they at least had been blessed with the civilisation and politeness which was perhaps the most encouraging aspect of this society.  Danella did not doubt that Valery was a hard and sometimes cruel businessman.  That was in the nature of Vanmarian business she had gathered.  But in person he was a man who was intelligent enough to listen to others, to appreciate others systems, and unless he felt personally threatened he could be trusted to respect her opinions.  She found him refreshing in his Prancirian modernity, and quite unaffected by the accepted notions of the society out of which he had grown.

 

    “Women and men need friendship, love and support of course they do.  They have all that in Pirion.  Your marriage is our ‘partnership’ but the difference is that ours restricts neither partner to monogamy, while providing for the friendship and support which may be necessary to raise children.”

 

    “But in Vanmar” Arabella said, “our family unit is an economic necessity in addition to being an emotional and spiritual home.  Usually the husband goes out to work while the wife looks after the children and home.  The couple have little time to need further sexual relationships but they need the support only they can give to each other."

 

    “Why is it then that so many men, like your soldiers whom I know well are so happy when they discover they have access to other women.  Why do so many men need your prostitutes.  Why may your prostitutes earn so much of their hard earned money.  Why are your housewives bored, unhappy and petty minded.  Don’t tell me now that you are all not at least excited and interested in what I have been saying about my homeland.  Your monogamy is a prison which devalues your lives. Evidently there are many among you who try to escape it.  But few of you find real freedom.