The Lecture: Chapter 5
I.
She wavered between annoyance and sheer slothful indulgence. This was her second day of "guesting" at the Lotus compound. She couldn't truthfully say she was bored, but the unseen restraints constantly rubbed her nerves. Walking down a corridor she would be abruptly reminded of her status when she would be suddenly kept from entering a room or when absently picking up the phone to be met with a pleasant inquiry instead of a dial tone. If she had been present voluntarily, as a real guest, she knew she would be fascinated.
The rooms and grounds she was allowed to see all spoke of long residence, and settled comfort. She marveled at what had been accomplished in the bare two weeks she knew the compound had been occupied. None of the confusion or debris associated with a recent move was present. Someone had either had a lot of help or spent money like water.
Her first day had been confusing. Waking late, after a surprisingly restful night (she had to ask about that mattress, it had held her as comfortably as a lover's embrace), she had barely managed to sit up, half asleep, when a young woman had bowed herself into the room, placing a breakfast tray across her knees. Then silently bowing herself out. The silver service had revealed pancakes, eggs, bacon, cooked just the way she liked. The poured cup of coffee sugared and creamed to her most exacting taste. The coffee set her mind questioning, even as she consumed the meal.
"This is getting curiouser andcuriouser as Alice said. How did they know? How I like my eggs, what I like for breakfast, how I want my coffee. What kind of rabbit hole have I fallen into and why don't I remember it."
"Why worry? You gave your word, remember, so you're stuck for a while. As long as you're here, enjoy!"
"Don't like it."
"Liar, when was the last time you were this pampered."
"Ok, but parole or no parole, I see a white rabbit and I am so out of here!"
After finishing her breakfast, she set aside the tray, rose to pour another cup from the silver carafe, changing her coffee just a little when she tried the creamer.
"This isn't milk, this is real cream!"
She wandered back into the sybaritic salon, again puzzled by the cabinet's contents. How did they know her favorite toiletries? What was going on around here? After freshening up, the mystery deepened even further.
Throwing open the walk in closet door, her chin had struck her chest.
"What is this, all these clothes? They're all in colors that compliment my coloring; they all look like my size. What is going on?"
"Maybe you really did fall…"
"Shut up."
A sudden thought propelled her out of the closet to search the chest of drawers.
Opening the first drawer, her cheeks flamed, getting only brighter at each opened drawer.
"Some perverted cottontail is going to get bobbed! This is just...just"
"I don't know, someone has pretty good taste."
"That's not… he's dead."
"How do you know he's a man, why not a woman?"
"That isn't underwear, panties and bras, that's lingerie! And no panty hose, just silk hose, real silk. And those…those…foundations!"
"Oh you are going to be a walking wet dream alright, especially with those gowns."
"I'm not wearing that stuff."
"Going commando, huh?"
"In those clothes, no way."
Growling Kim selected the most conservative set of silk garments, storming back to the closet. She finally settled on a high necked kimono style dress. Selecting a matching pair of shoes, she returned to the bedroom to discard her nightgown and change. She had barely dropped the dress over her head when a knock presaged the entry of the earlier young woman.
"Good morning, Miss, was breakfast satisfactory?" She began gathering the dishes.
"It was delicious, thanks. Who are you?'
"You may call me Diana, Miss. I have been assigned to assist you with your hair and attire."
"I don't need help; I've been dressing myself my whole life. And it is Ms., not Miss."
To her surprise, the young girl had almost laughed. "The sensei does not allow it."
"I beg your pardon?"
Diana did giggle then, "I believe you call it a 'pet peeve'. He says it sounds like a mad bee with a sore throat. So the only honorifics allowed are Miss or Mrs."
"Why that arrogant…"
"No, no, Miss, you misunderstand. He said it at dinner one night, and we have accepted his opinion."
"So, the master dines with the servants?"
"Miss," Diana appeared angry, "You must not speak of the Chosen One in that manner. There are no masters or servants in this house. We are friends, students and teachers."
Realizing she had seriously offended the girl, she backed off obliquely, "So, there's more than one teacher?"
"All who have knowledge share." Diana finally smiled, "But you are keeping me from my tasks. Sit and I will fix your hair."
Wanting to maintain the truce, she turned to the vanity, only to see herself in the floor length, three way mirrors.
"I can't wear this!"
"Why not, Miss?"
The dress fit her like a second skin, slit high on her left thigh, exposing a long slender leg.
"Because, because…" Her mind scrambled, "It's not decent, that's why!"
Diana giggled, pushing her gently down on the vanity bench, "You made a lovely selection, do not be shy."
"Shy? I've never been shy in my life!" she sputtered.
"Then you have no problems, correct?"
II.
Sitting in a soft leather chair in the sumptuous library, she still flushed in remembrance. She had felt like a budding thirteen year old in her first two piece when she stepped out of her suite to explore. Fortunately, for the first few hours she saw only other women, dressed in the same fashion, or a few wearing gis'. The men she later met were polite, but distant.
She had thought she had gone everywhere the day before, but this morning, after Diana laid out a meditation robe, she had been taken to a lovely, austere rock garden by the woman who had interrogated her, and left by herself. She had to admit, the quiet solitude had helped her mood, even though she still had feelings of entrapment.
The woman had not introduced herself, but she seemed to be very much in charge in the Sensei's' absence. The lovely oriental seemed vaguely familiar, but she could not place her. She had the feeling her captor was laughing silently at some unknown joke. As if the woman knew something she didn't.
Over a light lunch, shared by many she had not seen before, in a room resembling more a fine restaurant than a cafeteria, she had tried to probe her 'hostess'.
"May I ask you some questions?"
"Certainly, ask anything."
"Anything?"
"Anything you like. I need only refuse to answer if you ask inappropriately."
"OoooK, who is your sensei?"
"He is the Chosen One."
"What does that mean, the Chosen One?"
"It means he has been chosen."
"Uhhuh, chosen by whom?"
"That, he may explain himself, if you ask."
She abandoned that line, "Why are you here, I mean why now?'
"To give a series of lectures, the master thought it was time."
"So not going there again." "Yeah, so you all just packed up and came to Middleton?"
"Not all, there were many who stayed."
"Stayed where?"
"That, he may…"
"Yeah, yeah, 'he may explain himself', I got that earlier."
She was sure the dark haired beauty was enjoying this game of answer/non-answer. "So, can you give me a straight answer about how long I'm to be held?"
"Yes," was the surprising answer, "he returns tonight. Your release or disposition is up to him."
"What time?"
"He did not say, when I spoke to him, but you will be informed shortly after his arrival."
Now, here she sat, unable to concentrate on her book, wondering when her call would come.
III.
Sitting on her balcony, enjoying the cool night breeze, she was convinced something had gone wrong. The hour had grown later and later, until she finally returned to her rooms to sleep. She had been met by an anxious Diana, who had insisted that she bath and change. After the girl left, she had felt like the newest member of the seraglio, awaiting her summons. Her irritation was not helped by the costume the girl had insisted on. A dark, almost black, emerald gown, form fitting, tight long sleeves, high necked, and again slit up the side, this time revealing not pale skin but black silk hose. Her feet clad in sexy heels. Her hair on top of her head in a flattering arrangement she had never worn before. Her make up applied delicately with Diana's expert touch.
She sat in the chair, debating just who she wanted to kill more, the master or the mistress of this padded prison, when her captor entered after a single knock.
"Please come with me, the Chosen one will see you now."
IV.
She followed the woman to a set of stairs at the back of the house, stairs she had been forbidden earlier. She had assumed they led up to the third half story on the back of the Spanish mansion and the 'teachers' private quarters. Now she knew she was right.
At the carved double doors at the top of the stairs, her guide turned.
"When you are ready, simply knock and enter, the master is expecting you."
She was abandoned on the landing. Steeling her nerve she knocked lightly on the door, only to have it open at her touch.
Easing through the doorway, she found herself in a semi dark room, lit only by fragrant candles. The austerity struck her strongly. Except for a few pieces, the room was almost as empty as the rock garden. Exploring further, she found a doorway leading to a second set of rooms. Again dimly lit, but she could see at the far side a display case. Unable to see its' contents, she edged forward. Ten feet from the display, a voice came from the shadows, "Welcome to my home."
Whirling, she could only make out a tall figure standing in the shadows.
"Are you the 'Chosen One'?"
The man stepped forward, revealing himself more, a tall man with long dark blonde hair and beard. "I am."
"And…and are you who I hope you are?"
He stepped further into the light, revealing soft brown eyes and the beginning of a grin. "I once hoped I could be."
She staggered forward and fell into his embrace.
Tears ruining her make up she whispered, "Ron."