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“My life would be so much
richer, if only I were free I were free and with Mezyana. If only we could
express our love in the way most lovers can without fear. All I can ever think
of is Mezyana and how much I yearn to be near her.” Binta sighed. “If you’ve
never loved, you can never know how much pain this separation causes. Whenever
I think of love or comfort or devotion - and that is so often - all I can think of is Mezyana.
“I want to
live with her when I leave here. To share all my moments with
her. Especially those little moments: the ones which mean so little when
experienced alone and so much more when I’m with the one I love. We’d have our own
home. We’d sleep in the same bed. Kiss each other as we left for work in the
morning. Sit arm in arm, watching the television, feeling the comfort of our
embraces. Laugh over shared memories over a beer or a meal out. Be as
inseparable as the best of heterosexual couples. These are such innocent
desires. And they so utterly overwhelm me.”
Binta ran
her hands through the long strands of her hair and gazed sadly at her naked
lap. Ana smiled wanly. Her emotions were curiously unfocused. She was reassured
by Binta’s commitment to someone else. She’d never felt so strongly towards
someone as Binta had, but she appreciated and rather envied the yearnings.
She was
about to comment, when a knock distracted her attention towards the door. A
broad smiling woman’s face was peering round. Like Binta, she wore no clothes
and her very long hair reached down to just below her waist. She was deeply
sun-tanned and her hair was bleached blonde by the sun. She was much taller
than Binta, - who wasn’t especially short, - and built proportionately. She
boasted round breasts, a taut stomach and muscular thighs. Ana was acutely
aware of the incongruity of her interview clothes and the nakedness of her
companions.
“Hiya!”
their new companion called out breezily. “How’s it going?”
Binta
noticeably responded with less enthusiasm. “Hello, Ketaba. Have you met Ana? The director’s new secretary.”
“Pleased to meet you, Ana!” Ketaba
grinned warmly, approaching her and kissing her tenderly on the lips. “So
you’ve not come to join our profession? Well, I’m sure that like Inta you’ll
soon see its advantages. It’s a good life! Very healthy and curative! As I’m
sure Binta’s been telling you...”
“Of course
I haven’t, Ketaba! I’m no more likely to endorse prostitution than you are to
endorse alcohol or tobacco.”
“There’s
just no comparison, you silly girl!” rebuked Ketaba, sitting by Binta’s feet on
the end of the bed. “But you’re, well, unnatural.
So you’re not likely to have a very balanced view on the profession.” She
smiled warmly at Ana. “Don’t believe all the perverse advice our pretty little
dyke might give you. She hasn’t exactly chosen this career. She doesn’t know
how lucky she is that the government has deemed this an appropriate punishment
for her criminal behaviour. She’s got a chance in life she’ll be inestimably
grateful for the rest of it.”
“I just
don’t understand how you can possibly imagine that the torment of being mauled
and abused by strange men can ever be something to be grateful for.”
“Don’t
listen to her! She’d never have opinions like that if she enjoyed normal
unperverted sex. Prostitution is a good career. It’s the only one where a woman
can be physically active, give pleasure to others, earn a respectable salary
and still never have to leave her bed. It’s kept me healthy and if I were
skinny and malnourished like Binta I’d be more grateful. Still, despite her
admirable devotion to naturism, she rather compromises her healthy image by her
carnivorousness and sloth.”
“There
really can not be very many women who advocate prostitution as healthy. It’s
not just a way to keep fit and healthy on the punters’ expense.”
“Don’t be
so facetious, Binta! What do you think Ana must think hearing your sarcasm
about a career which most people here have freely chosen? I take pride in my
work. I like the physical exercise it gives me. And I like it when clients
appreciate a good job done well. And a man cannot disguise his appreciation: I can tell you!”
“Don’t
disgust me, Ketaba! Any lingering enthusiasm I ever had for men before I worked
here has been more than eradicated by rather too frequent and intimate
association.”
“Don’t deny
that you enjoy it!”
“Of course
I do. I can’t understand how women could ever voluntarily put themselves
through this ordeal. What do you think, Ana?”
Ana’s
composure was disturbed by the question. Her natural sympathy inclined her
towards Binta, but she didn’t wish to disagree too strongly with this large
naked woman to whom she’d only just been introduced.
“I just
don’t know enough to hold an opinion.”
“Listen to
the less perverted employees here and you’ll get a much more balanced view. One
of the advantages of the profession is that it understands and caters for
naturists. I just don’t think Binta at all acknowledges how lucky she is to
live and work where clothes are optional. It’s a healthy, life-giving freedom
you just can’t find anywhere else. Much as I might criticise Binta for her
unconstructive attitudes and criminal tendencies, I must admit to a kindred
feeling to a colleague who shares my enthusiasm for a natural untrammelled
life.”
“Our
similarities there are extremely shallow,” sniffed Binta. “You’re just a
fanatic”
“At least
I’m not a pervert!” snorted Ketaba in return. “Honestly, Ana, I don’t know how
you can sit in the company of someone who so blatantly
disregards the natural order as Binta does. Surely the very notion of her crude
perversions disgusts you! How do you know she’s not going to try and seduce
you?”
“Don’t
scare Ana with your crude homophobia. I’m no more likely to try seducing her
than you are to seduce every man you meet...”
“Don’t be
sarcastic! What could be more natural than the active pursuit of sexual
intercourse? What do you think, Ana?”
Ana’s
experience of sex was far too inadequate for her to express an opinion. She
stuttered a few non-judgmental words before her face burnt into a blush.
Fortunately, neither of her companions chose to comment on her virginal
embarrassment.
“I detest
all unnatural practises, especially homosexuality. The purpose of sex is to
reproduce, and women who practise it with other women, and men with other men:
Why! It’s as disgusting and unnatural as murder, drug-taking, sodomy and
cannibalism! Our government recognises this and does its best to suppress such
activities. The president has frequently spoken of his intentions to stamp out
it out, and although I disagree with him on most things, on this I am in full
accord.”
“I’d have
thought that President Marmeluke would be very unlikely to share your opinions
on naturism,” challenged Binta. “I imagine he considers it every bit as
perverse as sado-masochism and incest.”
“There
really is no comparison! Naturism is nothing more than a return to the natural
order. It is a healthy and commendable relaxation of the individual in the
unfettered body. The other things you mention are all totally contrary to the
natural order. If everyone were homosexual then the human race would very soon
be extinct. If everyone were naked, then everyone would be much healthier and
more fulfilled. I’m shocked to hear a fellow naturist even hint of any
comparison. The only reason naturism isn’t widely practised in this country is
consideration to those misguided people who have an unnatural disgust for their
own bodies, but if it were so bad why is it permitted in a state institution
like this Brothel?”
“Entirely for the titillation of the clientele!” Binta bitterly responded.
“Unlike
you, Binta, I see no contradiction in the instinctive delight a healthy
heterosexual man gets from looking at a naked woman and the pleasure I get from
displaying my body. Would you prefer it if men derived no joy from seeing you
unclothed? There is nothing more natural than the naked human body, and it is
equally as natural for a man to enjoy regarding it. It’s just your dykish
tendencies that make it impossible for you to treat it as anything other than a
selfish indulgence.”
“There
aren’t very many places where nudity is commonplace...” began Binta.
“That’s
where you’re wrong! Well, not totally wrong. There are quite clearly not enough
such places. It would be far better if Alif were a place like Agdal, where a
woman can freely walk down the streets of the capital city wearing nothing more
than a contented smile and sandals, carrying all her possessions in a handbag.”
“Agdal again!” Binta smiled. “I wondered how
long it would take for you to raise your favourite subject again. Everything’s
so much better in Agdal!”
“But that’s
because it is. And a well-kept secret in Alif it is too!” retorted Ketaba. She
leaned forward and placed a hand on Ana’s knee. “What do you know about Agdal?”
“Not a
great deal!”
Ana knew
only that the neighbouring republic supplied consignments of fruit and
vegetables to Alif and that its principal mountains were large enough to be
seen from
“Exactly! The government of Alif is
embarrassed to have such a much more liberal neighbour. They just don’t want
people to know that just over the border there is a country where naturism is
widespread and unexceptional. A country where there are no restrictions as to
how many or how few clothes one can choose to wear. A country where there are
people naked in the city streets, in the countryside, working in offices,
driving tractors, and doing all the other everyday things that one can do
without the tyranny of clothes. For naturists like me it is truly a paradise.
Whenever I have a holiday, I’m on the first train there with my exit visa and
just the clothes I need to get to and from the border.”
Ana had
never suspected that Agdal, or any other country, could possibly allow people
to wander freely in the nude. Surely people would object! Perhaps Ketaba was
simply telling an elaborate joke.
“You
haven’t told Ana everything about Agdal though, have you Ketaba?”
“What do
you mean?”
“You know
exactly what I mean. The country’s liberal policies don’t stop at trivial
things like nudity. It also allows other things...”
“Like
alcohol, you mean?”
“Don’t be
so coy, Ketaba! Like freedom of speech. Like trades unions.
And of course homosexuality!”
“Well, you
would focus on something like that, wouldn’t you? The most disgusting thing
about Agdal - and probably why so much about the country is kept secret in Alif
- is its tolerance of homosexuality. In fact, it almost encourages the
perversion! Wherever you go there are depraved men dressed as women, sometimes
with surgically enhanced breasts, women dressed as men, women consorting with
women, and men with men. It’s perverts paradise! It’s the serpent in the Garden
of Eden, and my fear is that if it’s not eliminated then the whole edifice will
collapse.”
“How on
earth can letting a few people live their own lives possibly cause any
disaster...” wondered Binta.
“A pervert
like you just can’t understand why...”
“Well,
you’re passionate about going around in the buff. You think it’s a big deal, and
what you like about Agdal is that it lets you do so. Whereas I really don’t
think nudity’s a big deal at all. I could quite
happily wear clothes if there were a better choice than there is here, but I
can’t change my sexuality. For me, the attraction of Agdal isn’t to show my
body off to everyone, like you do, but just to be able to lead a normal
contented life.”
“The only
way you can do that is by renouncing your unnatural tendencies. How can you
possibly think that there is anything normal or to be contented about in
lusting after other women? The whole idea makes me feel rather unwell.”
“Maybe so,
but ...” began Binta, who evidently enjoyed arguing with Ketaba, when she was
quite suddenly interrupted by a loud persistent buzz. She cursed under her breath
and then frowned at Ketaba and Ana. “I’m afraid my shift’s due to start now.
I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
“That’s
fine, Binta dear. A girl’s got to do an honest day’s work!” smiled Ketaba as
she stood up.
Ana stood
up too. “Well, goodbye then.”
“Goodbye,
Ana,” smiled Binta warmly who stood up and kissed her tenderly on the cheek,
sending a frisson through Ana’s body. She just wasn’t used to even the most
innocent kisses back home, and she was very aware of Binta’s tastes. However,
Ketaba also kissed Binta as they left, so Ana concluded that this kissing
reflected nothing more than casual affection and was bound to be commonplace in
an institution like the Brothel. As Ana and Ketaba left, she observed that the
light above the door was now set to green.
“So, what
do you think of Binta?” asked Ketaba as they walked along the corridor.
Ana didn’t
know what to say. She felt quite unsettled by their conversation and by the
continued presence of a naked woman. What was she supposed to think? People weren’t
like this in
“She seems
all right,” she answered noncommittally.
“I wouldn’t
say that. Being homosexual, there’s obviously something wrong with her. I just
hope she gets over it. What about you though? When did you start working here?”
“I start
tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow! My! You are new to the
Brothel! What do you think of it so far?”
“It’s
bigger than I thought,” Ana remarked, awed by the extent of the corridor
punctuated by red, green and yellow lights. How would she ever find her way
out?
“Well, it’s
the biggest Brothel in the country, you know! Probably the
world. You should feel proud to be working at such a prestigious place.
And while you’re here, I really urge you to seriously consider a spell of
prostitution yourself. It’s healthy, it’s good money and it’ll do you a world
of good...”
“No, I
don’t think so. I’m just a secretary. That’s all I want to do here...”
“That’s
what your predecessor, Inta, said at first. But she soon changed her mind.
Although she was only a Gamma Plus, she didn’t do too badly out of it. However,
I’d be foolish to believe you would have any concrete idea of what you really
want to do on your first day here. I’m sure you’ll see your way to a more
active career.” Ketaba paused as they arrived at a stair-case. “Erm, I don’t
suppose you really know your way round here yet. Do you know where you want to
go?”
Ketaba
escorted Ana to the foyer down a complex series of corridors and stair-cases.
She chatted away amiably, telling Ana about all the exciting things to do in
Blad: the cafés to visit, the theatres and the tourist attractions. She
interspersed her chat with references to the enjoyment and satisfaction she got
from her career and how Ana should at least consider becoming a naturist.
Ana only
partly heard what Ketaba was saying. Her thoughts retread her day so far,
returning frequently to the image of Binta lying on her bed waiting for the
male clients she so despised.
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