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well-rounded woman from Portugal who had been thrown out of a
convent
on account of temptation (which she had both committed and
succumbed to).
The Saviour had forgiven her. Her trespasses were themselves
her penance and her penitence. Now she took in wayfarers for a modest
charge. Her name was Maria. She spoke some English. She was not young,
her makeup was thick, but her knees were shapely and her breasts
unrestrained. In the tender furrow that crossed the neckline of her dress
a pendant hung, two fine silver lines running down till they met at a cross
that appeared and disappeared and reappeared
at the opening of her dress whenever she moved or laughed or bent over.
The L-shaped room contained only some mattresses, a
low
cupboard,
a washbasin, an earthenware jug, some tin mugs. The four Dutchmen,
Thomas, Johan, Wim and Paul, drank a strange, sluggish beer
brewed locally from a mountain shrub known as monkey marrow. Rico
sipped it curiously: it was tepid, thick and rather bitter.
For a modest fee she would grant them "grace and favor" in her room.
One
at a time, twenty minutes each. Or else all five of them at once,
at a discount. She had a weakness for really young, woman-hungry men
coming down off the mountains: they always gave her such a soft,
maternal feeling. For all she cared they could see her at work. Let them
watch, it would be more exciting. For them and for her. She guessed
at the pent-up rivers of desire accumu lated by mountain climbers
up there, in the empty snowfields and stark valleys. There were five of
them
and she was a woman, and their desperation
made her feel compassionate too. Now you, come close and just touch me
here, then back off. Now you. Now wait. Watch.
She took off her dress slowly, swaying her hips, her eyes lowered, as
though
to some sacred chant inaudible to them. The little green cross
hanging on her chest quivered on its silver thread, caressed by her breasts.
Paul snickered. At once she covered up with both hands: no.
This would not do. She insisted: no laughing. Anyone who had come here
to mock could have his money back and go elsewhere. Here
everything was decent and unsullied; there was room for aching bodies
but not for filthy minds. This evening she had a yen for a wedding night:
