seven and a half, – the vendor said.
– Alright… what is he counting so much for?
I scrutinized the appearance of this vendor. Why was I staring at him like I was petrified: he was hunched, squinting eyes, a sharp beard, a cunning look, sorting through his scarab beetles and various trinkets. It struck me: he resembled Mephistopheles or a demon. His movements were quick, and he was always lying. I bargained with him, but he still tried to deceive.
It’s definitely an evil one, a demon…
I hurried out of the shop, I wanted to turn around and go back to the hotel; but the dark-skinned Arab from the neighbouring shop was inviting me with his gaze. I didn’t want to offend him; I should go into his “tent”.
I felt the odours with all my being; they were the scents of wonderful herbs, perfumes, everything sweet and oriental, like the scent of orgasm.
The seller – a young handsome Arab with a straight face, slowly moving his hand as in some kind of theatre invited: “Look here, and here…". He took a bunch of unfamiliar herbs from a box on the counter and held it out to my nose. I was in a halo, a haze, a cocoon; I felt light, the sexiest, I was a glowing goddess, a warmth spreading through me, in my belly and in me, like in the bosom of passion. There were a lot of herbs in the boxes on the showcase and I was like in a stupefaction – a dream – inhaling everything at once.
– And this… a special aroma, – offers again a handsome Arab.
– Sit down here, I’ll offer you tea, – and the incense seller gently touched Marianne’s hand.
Marianne, fuming with herbs and perfume scents, sat down on a sofa in the shop.
The Arab sat down beside her and began to carry on a conversation.
His words floated a slow elixir of voluptuousness and ecstasy. It felt good to just sit on the sofa and feel like a goddess. I had fallen to the God Eros, the God of pleasure and voluptuousness.
From the shop I could see the neighbouring empty buildings in the next street. It’s just him and me. I’m the brave one.
– I want to invite you to my palace tonight. I have a house, – the Arab pointed towards the deserted streets. I’ll love you, we’ll have sex. О.. I will love you for a long time.
Marianne choked on her tea.
– You’re afraid … – cautiously Arab.
– I’m in the evening, a bit busy…
– We can go now… – unobtrusively persuades the Egyptian.
– О… you’ll love it. I’ve got a huge one, it’s not like everyone else’s, it’s a giant, – pointing to the bottom of his trousers. I’ll love you for hours, I can love you for 24 hours with my huge one. Marianne became afraid, he will love…; one can die from such a thing, how such a thing can be endured… A normal man, he once – twice and everything, well, a minute there sex, fidgeted and everything, but here strength, a huge cock, you can die just.
And if you really agree and now go with him… in a deserted house… and her fragile body can’t take his love and I won’t come back. They’ll be looking for me all night. I think I’ll pass, and we should get out of here, Marianne looking at the road.
– Thank you, you’re very nice, but I have to go, I’ll come back tonight, I’ll come back for sure. Marianne jumped out and walked quickly past all the counters towards the hotel.
– I’ll be waiting… – Eros’ voice came from behind Marianne.
Marianne quickly rushed past the smiling Mephistopheles who was standing outside his shop.
A Heart-to-Heart Conversation
Sharm El Sheikh. Half past midnight. Marianna is sitting at a table in the hotel’s night bar. She notices Lucia at a table behind her. As she is about to leave, she approaches Lucia:
“Have a seat, sit with me,” says Lucia.
Marianna sits at Lucia’s round table.
“Help yourself,” says Lucia.
Marianna notices Dr. Badya’s figure slipping by in front, looking at Marianna and her companion. Watching, probably (Marianna’s thoughts).
“Bring me some whiskey,” Lucia says, pointing to a glass.
Marianna goes to the bar and brings back a glass of whiskey. She notices that there are already three half-drunk glasses of whiskey on the table and that Lucia isn’t drinking any of them.
“Bring more whiskey,” Lucia commands.
Marianna goes to the bar and asks for more whiskey, noticing how Lucia watches her stand in line for the bartender. After Marianna returns with another glass of whiskey, a quite satisfied Lucia gives Marianna a smile.
“Can’t sleep at all tonight,” Marianna says to Lucia.
Muted Arabic music comes from the bar. Marianna notices some people still sitting at other tables. She didn’t notice how time flew by: with Lucia, it was so fascinating and interesting… Lucia would talk about her girlfriends, then the conversation would shift to women’s issues, her clients, and the secrets of a psychologist’s clients.
“For example… a man comes to me, obviously very wealthy. He says that to be happy, he absolutely needs to have a mistress. And I understand that. And when things didn’t work out with the mistress, the man suffers.”
“Yeah… I wish I had their problems, the rich,” Marianna says.
***
Morning. At breakfast in the restaurant, Marianna bumps into Lucia, almost tripping over her chair.
“How are you?” Lucia smiles and looks into her eyes.
Witch… Marianna sarcastically says and smiles.
She saw a chubby Arab bring coffee to Lucia, say “please, your coffee,” and sweetly smile, licking his lips, lingering and waiting for Lucia’s reaction.
“Thank you,” Lucia nods to him.
“Did you see that, did you see?” Lucia says to Marianna. “He didn’t just bring the coffee; this chubby guy wants me to pay attention to him. To make him feel good, you understand…”
“Well, yeah, I understand.”
I told you, she’s a witch, she knows everyone’s motives.
Emerging from the Sea
Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh. Hotel.
Something woke her up at five in the morning. Marianna got up, gathered her swimming gear, and headed towards the beach. There was no one around at this time, which felt a bit eerie. As she walked to the sea, she had to descend a bit and go down some stone steps. And here Marianna saw the Sun! My God… The glow was rising from the sea, very quickly, it seemed, first a semicircle, then bigger and bigger… Marianna pointed her phone and captured it, this – the sunrise. Through the phone’s screen, Marianna watched the reflections of the fiery Sun.
This glow of the enormous Sun rising above the sea – a true miracle, like the dawn of life, like everything rising from the depths, breaking through the abyss and darkness, the soul lifting with piercing all-encompassing force. This is important, Marianna felt the rising Sun with all her heart and being. Then Marianna walked along a path between beautiful bushes and found herself at the pier. Looking through the clear sea, Marianna saw many exotic fish. It turns out there are many in the morning. Approaching the pier’s railings,