; ; A peasant with a donkey-cart passed me on the road, taking a load of ; grain to market. "Greetings, friend," I said. "Who lives in that house ; at the top of the hill?"
; ; The peasant was as brown and gnarled as an ancient root, and he ; spat. "They call her the Gorgon," he said. "She turns men into stone!"
; ; "Oh?" I said, amused. I had traveled the length of Hellas while this ; man had probably never been more than a day's journey from home, and I ; knew that Homer's tales of nymphs and chimaerae were patently ; false...though once I had seen a monster's bones preserved in layers ; of rock. "If that is so, why don't the people of the town rise up ; against her and drive her away, hiding their faces as Perseus did with ; his shield?"
; ; He had no answer; just spat again and moved on.
; ; I glanced up at the villa again. It was odd to find such a large ; dwelling here, as we were many miles from Corinth. There was nothing ; special about this area to attract the wealthy: no great natural ; beauty, no cave-dwelling oracles, no mineral springs. Perhaps the ; house belonged to an ancestral family of this land. I touched my heels ; to my horse and rode into town.
; ; The town was called Agrinon, and it was a bustling place. I bought a ; meal from a vendor and looked over the goods, as I needed certain ; items: new leather sandals, metal pins, a sack to replaced the patched ; one that carried my belongings. The vendors had never seen an Amazon ; before and they were eager to serve me. I am tall and well muscled, ; free of scars for the most part, and my face still looked ; youthful. Lovers remarked on the sensual curve of my mouth, the lean ; lines of my hips and belly. My breasts were still as large and firm as ; two wineskins, visible even under the worn mail armor I wore. As I ; took care of my business, I asked the townspeople about the house on ; the hill.
; ; "A gorgon? Ridiculous!" a tall wine merchant said. "A young girl lives ; there, cousin to a great family in Corinth. A fair maiden, cultured, ; demure; yet sharp with her business dealings. Her name is Medusina. I ; had dinner with her only last week, and I assure you she is no ; monster."
; ; "She manages alone?"
; ; "Her parents left her their olive groves and their vineyards, and they ; turn her a profit. She could marry, I suppose; but none of the young ; men about here have caught her fancy. I've heard she pines secretly ; for a youth in the city."
; ; "I've come from Corinth," I said.
; ; "Then she will be pleased to see you and exchange gossip. I would pay ; her a visit if I were you. The comforts of her house are far better ; than any you'd find in town."
; ; I thanked the man and, having made my purchases, set off for the ; villa. The road snaked up into the hills through the vineyards the man ; had spoken of. The vines dangled grapes of dark amethyst that would ; make a rich wine. A crumbling wall of plastered brick, much mended, ; surrounded the house. I passed through the gate and two slaves paused ; to look up at me, caught in their chores. "I've come from Corinth," I ; said. "My name is Hippolyte, and I am an Amazon mercenary. I hear your ; mistress is anxious for news of the city."
; ; "She is," one said cautiously. "Wait here. I will fetch her for you." ; I dismounted and let the other slave lead off my horse. The villa ; looked smaller than it had from the road, and though its edifice was ; still grand, it was in need of repair. Weeds grew between the paving ; stones of the courtyard, and the marble columns had been cracked and ; whitewashed. Butterflies flitted about the flowering vines, and the ; scent of sage and verbena hung heavy in the air.
; ; The slave reappeared at the door. "I've told my mistress you are ; here. Come with me to the bath, where you may refresh yourself."
; ; I followed him inside. The cool stone walls gave a delicious shelter ; from the sun. The bath was a small room cordoned off by curtains. A ; design of nereids and porpoises had been worked into the tiles of the ; floor. I shrugged off my mail, leg greaves, and chiton and settled ; into the pool. After I had soaked and scrubbed to my heart's content I ; put on the clean robe the slave had left me, then brushed and bound my ; hair. I then left the bath for the parlor of the house.
; ; The mistress of the place, Medusina, was already there, fingers idly ; plucking at a cithera. I caught my breath. She was fair, and young; as ; fresh as the blooms in the courtyard garden. She raised her eyes to ; look at me as I came in, her long, thick lashes darting up. They were ; as black and heavy as soot, and her hair, too, was black...a full head ; of lush, coiled ringlets the beribboned elegance of her chignon could ; barely contain. Her dewy lips parted like the petals of a ; rose. Indeed, she was no monster. Quite the opposite.
; ; I bowed before her to show my respect. "My name is Hippolyte. I've ; brought you news from Corinth, my lady, as I was told you would want ; to hear it."
; ; "I do," she said, her voice firm but girlish and high. She looked ; about seventeen, but I could have been wrong. She set aside her ; musical instrument, her lithe white arms tracing a graceful ; motion. Underneath her chiton, her body looked slim and pliant. I ; smiled. I had fine appreciation of a woman's body, from the years I ; had spent on the isle of Lesbos. "Phaedrus, fetch the Amazon a chair."
; ; One of the slaves brought back a chair and I sat, arranging my long ; robes. I was not used to woman's clothing. The other slaves brought us ; cool wine from the cellar. We talked. Her manner was self-assured yet ; elusive. I found myself becoming more and more attracted...as if she ; was a small, wild animal, shy yet strong, that I might capture in my ; hands and caress in its fierceness.
; ; It had been afternoon when I arrived, and now the sun touched the ; hills in the west. Soon it would be dusk. Smells of cooking came to ; me--meat, cinnamon, bread. "We shall dine in the garden," Medusina ; said, rising from her chair. "I would like to continue this ; conversation into tomorrow. You may stay the night if you wish."
; ; Through an arch we came out into a walled garden with a balcony that ; overlooked the sea. Dates and palms grew there, and citrus trees with ; yellow fruit. Flowering shrubs sent their perfume into the air. But ; what really drew the eye were the statues. There were about a dozen of ; them, all nude, and of a superb comeliness. All seemed to be caught in ; some sort of erotic bliss. Here was a wide-eyed young woman, her head ; thrown back; there a handsome man, his organ raised, his arms ; outstretched as if clutching an invisible lover. All details had been ; rendered with exquisite care: the wrinkled buds of the nipples, the ; curls of the loins, the parted lips with the hint of teeth and ; tongues.
; ; "You must be wealthy indeed, to afford many fine statues," I said, ; choosing to overlook their prurient nature for the time being.
; ; Medusina only smiled. "It was my mother who made them. She became a ; libertine after my father's death. Every time she left a lover, she ; would hire an artisan to carve them in stone. I had a strange ; childhood, growing up at the feet of these silent giants."
; ; Strange indeed, and even stranger yet to eat dinner surrounded by ; them. Torches were lit as the twilight deepened, and the flickering ; shadows made the statues seem to move in the corners of my vision. I ; would turn my head, expecting to catch them in motion, but they ; remained as still and silent as before. No wonder the townspeople ; called her the Gorgon. How could they not, on seeing these frozen ; figures?
; ; "Do you go into town much?" I asked.
; ; "Rarely." She took a sip of wine, the quiver of her long lashes ; betraying her agitation. The torchlight made sketches of warmth across ; her flawless skin. "The people don't understand me, that I prefer to ; be alone, with my servants and slaves."
; ; "They tell stories about you."
; ; She smiled without amusement. "I know. That I am a witch, that I am ; deformed. As if the veil I wear is anything other than the veil a ; noble lady wears to protect her skin. That and my name, which can only ; mean *Medusa* to them..."
; ; How wrong it was for the townspeople to shun her. She was a strong ; personality, independent of spirit. I could see why she would not be ; forced into taking a husband she did not want merely to give herself ; respectability. Men make the laws that give them charge of women, and ; they are enraged when a woman defies their expectations. Women, too, ; are just as cruel. They see another woman's freedom and wish to ; destroy it, because it only demonstrates to them their own chains.
; ; "I too, have fought that battle," I said quietly. "I left Themiscyra ; at the same age as you. When I started on my career of war, rarely did ; I see another Amazon. Rarely did I make a friend amongst the men I ; fought with. They respected my sword, but they saw only my ; breasts. The closest companions I've had are the fey youths in the ; pleasure-houses. We are of little use to each other, so no rivalries ; or resentments can develop."
; ; Medusina smiled at that, a true smile. My heart warmed to see ; it. "Perhaps you've made another friend," she said.
; ; We retired inside, where a slave played the cithera with a plekton, ; striking melodious chords. The night was warm and lazy outside, the ; full moon a crouching beast, tawny as a lioness. A faint smell of salt ; came from the sea, and one of old stone that had stood for a ; century. It had the taste of earth, the tang of minerals. Medusina ; read from a scroll of poetry, one of the many she owned. How virginal ; she looked, how finely made.
; ; "You die, O thrice desired And my desire has flown like a dream. Gone ; with you is the girdle of my beauty, But I myself must live..."
; ; "Are you lonely, Medusina?" I said.
; ; She stopped her recitation, looking up at me. The dim light of the ; torch was behind her and I saw the outline of her waist and legs ; through the thin linen chiton she wore. Her nipples formed two dark ; flowers under the pleated fabric. She opened her mouth, but no sound ; came out. "I--" she began, then swallowed. Her eyes were very dark, as ; dark as the sky with its glimmering of stars that could have been ; tears. "I am content."
; ; I touched her cheek, brushing a stray tendril of hair ; away. Mesmerized, she did nothing to stop me; the heavy gold necklace ; she wore rose and fell against her chest. "You are beautiful, ; Medusina." I lightly traced the lines of her creamy shoulders, ; savoring the softness, the delicate tracery of bones beneath their ; surface. She was tense, coiled as a gazelle about to leap. But she did ; not. It betrayed her passion to me, her unspoken need. "I would lie in ; love with you tonight, if you would have me."
; ; She flushed. We had both drunk much wine; that, and the intoxicating ; nature of the night, were working on us. "You don't know what you're ; asking," she said, her voice high and whispery with fear.
; ; So my young Medusina was a virgin, or inexperienced. Well, I would ; soon have a remedy for that. I unclasped her heavy necklace and slid ; it off, baring her neck to me, and moved my lips closer to her ear, ; the warmth of my mouth tickling her, teasing her, as I knew it ; would. "I am very skilled." I planted a kiss, a small one, at the ; corner of her jaw. "Did I tell you I spent two years on the isle of ; Lesbos, with Sappho and Alcaeus? The things they taught me, my ; dear. You would blush just to hear the most anecdotal of them." I took ; her chin in my hand, and turned her head around to face me. "Kiss me, ; Medusina, and you will not be alone tonight."
; ; Her lashes fluttered, dropped. Her mouth moved towards mine as if she ; was hypnotized. Her lips parted, closed on mine.
; ; Kissing her was like partaking of a spring day: fresh and new and ; wild. Her tongue was a delicate snake, slow to rouse, but pliant and ; yielding to mine. I brought my hands up to feel her young breasts, ; kneading them through the linen. The contrast of warm flesh and the ; harshly pleated yet flexible fabric made me excited. I felt my sex ; grow moist. Her nipples were like burning coals. I felt them harden ; beneath my palms, and longed to quench them in my mouth.
; ; She pressed her firm belly into mine, her mouth growing more ; demanding. She tasted delicious, and I was having a hard time keeping ; myself from pouncing. This young girl was almost half my age.
; ; "Do you think," I said softly, "That we should retire into a more ; appropriate room?"
; ; "Yes," she whispered, the tiny word hiding a universe of unexplored ; feelings, feelings she did not recognize even herself.
; ; She turned away, but it was only to dismiss her slave, who, ensconced ; behind a curtain, had not seen what his mistress was doing. We went to ; her sleeping chamber. Bowls of dried herbs gave off a spicy scent like ; that of a woman's body. Her bed had four posts that draped curtains of ; gauze, which a breeze from the windows stirred into motion. In one ; corner of the room stood a long mirror, an unimaginable luxury. I ; wondered what from land it had come. I noted the position of the bed, ; the angle of the mirror, and smiled. This night would be very ; enjoyable. As Medusina turned her back to light a few candles, I undid ; the pins of my robe to let it fall around my ankles.
; ; She gasped when she saw me nude. I was well aware of the effect I had ; on lovers. My body is athletic and powerful, a weapon of war, but I am ; a woman too--my hips and buttocks and breasts attest to that--and the ; warm glow of the candlelight traced these feminine contours, giving ; them coronas bright as the flash of shields and polished swords. Yet ; my muscles and sinews were prominent as well, standing out with ; sculpted hardness. I was no soft, coddled beauty like the one who ; awaited me. Yet I longed for her, she that was all I was not, because ; she would make me complete.
; ; Medusina blushed. I pressed my palms against her shoulders and gently ; guided her to the soft embroidered coverlet of the bed. We sat side by ; side, I nude, she dressed, and her hands gripped the hard wooden edges ; of the frame. I touched her chin to raise it in two fingers. "Don't be ; afraid," I said. "I am gentle."
; ; "I know," she said in a quiet strangled voice. "I sense goodness in ; you. Oh I cannot--"
; ; "Hush, Medusina." I kissed her soft mouth, probing it gently. "Put ; your arms around me." I felt her hands move behind my shoulders, ; wrists crossed, defenseless. I brought up my own hands behind her and ; deftly removed the two jeweled pins at her shoulders that held the ; front and back of her chiton together. The garment fell open, ; slithered down to her waist.
; ; "Oh--" Medusina said, making a weak start to snatch it up. I stayed ; her wrists.
; ; "No. Let me see you." I held her wrists at bay in one hand, assessing ; her like a slave-trader. Her muscles trembled, but she was no match ; for my strength. Her breasts were small and high, her nipples ; contracting like buds about to open. Beneath them, a faint ripple of ; ribs shuddered with her struggles. I drew her down so we both lay on ; the bed, facing each other, and ran my hand down her flank. My tanned ; skin was a vivid contrast against her ivory flesh. My fingers paused ; at her waist, then swiftly pulled down the rest of her chiton.
; ; She was lovely, slim yet strong, her skin as pale and creamy as the ; flowers outside. How I longed to see that naked body walking in front ; of me, prancing, running, leaping, exposing to me all its variations ; of movement and attitude, but that would come later. Still holding her ; captive, I untied the silk ribbons that held her chignon together. Her ; thick black curls burst free, coiling like serpents over her ; shoulders, a lush purple-black like the ripening grapes of the ; vineyard. At her loins was a second mound of hair which hid a greater ; treasure.
; ; Her breasts swung gently as I laid her on her back. I ran my ; fingertips across her coral-colored nipples, and they puckered still ; more under my experienced pressure. "You want me to touch you, don't ; you Medusina?" I whispered.
; ; "Yes..." she said in a strangled voice. Her eyes stared at me, ; yearning, but no longer afraid.
; ; I began to explore her. I squeezed those young breasts, holding them ; like two frightened doves that beat against her ribcage. I tasted her ; face and neck, skimmed my callused hand over her belly. I gently ; parted her thighs, fingers playing with her pubic curls. I felt like a ; child with a doll, but no doll had ever given such sharp gasps of ; pleasure, such warm sighs of bliss. I bade her be still; I wanted her ; to be passive yet. I slipped my hand beneath her, caressing the silky ; mounds of her buttocks, parting them, my fingertips skimming, but not ; touching, the pursed bud of her anus.
; ; Her skin grew hot, feverish. She jerked as I touched her sex, her ; sleeping clit brought suddenly to life, hissing like a snake...the ; Medusa...her almost-namesake.
; ; I drew her hands toward my body, holding them against my ; breast. "Touch me now, darling. Take my nipple between your fingers; ; squeeze it softly, pull it towards you. Yes, that's it..."
; ; Her slender hands kneaded my breasts like sweet-bread dough. They were ; much larger than her own, without the buoyancy of youth; but the ; contrast they made with the hard flesh of my torso seemed to fascinate ; her. She pinched my nipples between her thumb and forefinger, rotating ; the nubs between her fingertips. The treatment made them harden almost ; painfully, pointing like the tips of two spears.
; ; "Suckle me, Medusina. Use your mouth..."
; ; She attacked my nipples like a hungry lion cub would its mother. The ; firm wet suction of her mouth made them stiffen further, strain ; towards the very teeth and tongue that tormented them.
; ; "Easy, young one," I said, with a warning tap on her head.
; ; But she only moved rapidly from one to the other, her hands attending ; to the unmouthed breast, squeezing its bounty, tormenting its ; protuberant single eye. Her head bobbed between my breasts as she ; suckled, the soft skin of her cheeks caressing their sides, her hair ; tickling my chest. Now it was my turn to gasp helplessly.
; ; She grew rougher and I squirmed on the coverlet, my hips rising up. I ; thrust my hand between my legs, pumping myself on my own ; fingers. Medusina's eager tongue continued to swirl around my nipples, ; striking them back and forth, then beginning the sweet suckling ; anew. I was her captive now. My breathing grew rapid, and hers grew ; hoarse. I was going to come. I did not often come from breast ; stimulation alone, but Medusina was very beautiful.
; ; Then she stopped. Lost in her own passion, she was fingering herself, ; squeezing her own nipples.
; ; Oh, the innocent thing, thinking two women together each played a solo ; and not a duet. I quickly clamped my lips over hers, kissing her ; deeply.
; ; She moaned deep in her throat as my tongue explored her mouth. Her ; nipples were the prisoners of my fingers now, and like any good ; interrogator, I made them give up all they knew. Her belly undulated ; against mine, and we moved as one again, sometimes face to face, ; sometimes belly to back, our hands moving, exploring, always on the ; prowl.
; ; But as our lovemaking progressed, Medusina broke off again and ; again. Indeed, she seemed actually averse to stimulating me. Her ; passions would drive her to feast on me, then, as I was about to reach ; orgasm, she would leave off that part of my body to attack another or ; stimulate herself. I put it down to her inexperience. I did not mind ; that much, as I got just as much joy out of watching her young body ; writhe, impaled on her slim steeple of her fingers, as I would from it ; straining and yearning against my own, so the frustration of my own ; abated pleasure could be borne; but still, I found it disturbing. I ; would only gently guide her attention back to me, letting my fingers ; take the place of her own.
; ; Our passion mounted, and the frustration of that passion, and finally ; sweet Medusina was on her back, her slim legs high in the air as I ; devoured her dripping sex. I ran my tongue down one fold, then the ; other, then thrust it deep inside her. She whimpered as if tortured, ; her clit as hard and pointed as a pomegranate seed. I sucked it ; harder, my nose buried in her abundant pubic hair, and her cries ; became louder, a rising ululation that threatened to wake the servants ; of the house. Her feet arched, toes pointed, her raised legs as ; graceful as the necks of two swans...and between them a tawny ; pantheress crouched lapping at a stream, long brown hair tumbled about ; its prey, talons scraping its straining thighs.
; ; Medusina's body heaved. I held her hips, grounding her. Her head flew ; back and forth on the pillow, eyes wanton slits; her own fingers ; plucked at her swollen nipples. A long wordless keen rose from her ; throat: "Oh....oh....oh...ah...AHHH!"
; ; She shrieked, her head rising off the pillow, her legs trembling. Her ; nether regions contracted hard against my tongue. Then she shrank ; down, silent, breathing very hard.
; ; I rose from my crouch and curled up against her. Her eyelids flickered ; as she acknowledged me. "Oh, 'Lyte..." she gasped. "I did not ; think..."
; ; "Your first time, my darling, is always overwhelming," I said in my ; wisdom. I poured her and myself another glass of wine. "Let's rest a ; bit, then you shall do to me what I have done to you."
; ; I felt her muscles tense, even though we did not touch. Why was this ; girl so averse to giving me an orgasm? Perhaps she was afraid she was ; not skilled enough. I drew close and kissed each nipple, which pouted ; at me, pinkish-red and sleepy, from the snowy cones of her breasts. "I ; could have twenty orgasms just watching you, Medusina. Drink your wine ; quickly. Let's not delay."
; ; She was reluctant, or perhaps just coy. But soon we were wickedly ; entangled again, Medusina with an even greater abandonment than ; before. This time, I made her give to me, and I gave back in even ; greater measure. We struggled like two beasts, though whether we mated ; or fought, I do not know. She was as wild as a Maenad, one of the ; fierce girls of Bacchus. I imagined her running through the forest in ; animal skins, tearing the creatures she met apart with her teeth. I ; sorely wished for one of the double-headed phalluses the Bacchantae ; use in their rites, but tongues would have to do. Mouth to loin we lay ; sealed together, she riding me, her sex split over my face as I licked ; her hot, tart folds. In return she hooked my clit with her tongue, and ; my hips use and fell in shallow motions. This time, I decided, she ; would give me my climax.
; ; She squealed in surprise as I quickly scooped her up, upside-down, and ; placed her on her knees on the goat's hair rug before the mirror. I ; grabbed the wineskin and poured the remaining contents over my ; belly. The rich, red wine swiftly ran down into my crotch. "This ; time," I said, half-playfully, half-warningly, "You will scoop up ; every drop of that wine with your tongue, young one, until I scream in ; pleasure."
; ; Medusina quickly snapped her head up. I expected her to say no, so I ; quickly pressed her face between my legs before she could refuse.
; ; She did not refuse, for now she was as drunk on passion as I was. She ; began to lick, and this time, she did not stop. Her tongue teased me ; up and down, vibrating as rapidly as the wing-beats of a bird. My ; fingers wound in her thick, curly hair, holding her sealed to me, the ; dress-mirror our silent witness. In its surface I saw myself ; triumphant, the delicate beauty kneeling before me subjugated, ; obedient, yet I was also subjugated to her, and I trembled on the ; spike of her tongue, at once victor and vanquished. I moaned in ; helpless pleasure, rubbing my crotch against her face. She spread her ; hands over my buttocks, steadying me, pressing me firmly against her ; mouth. My skin tingled, my limbs trembled. I was on fire and drowning ; at the same time. I brought up my hands to squeeze my breasts, molding ; them like clay, twirling the erect nipples between my fingers. I ; pressed my legs against Medusina's shoulders, pinning the slim lyre of ; her body between my thighs. Both of us were trapped in time, in space, ; and all the known world was a witness...from the furnishings of the ; room to the marble statues, now striped by moonlight, that stood in ; silent watch in the garden outside.
; ; I was going to come. My breath quickened in tiny gasps as Medusina ; sucked and licked. I felt my muscles slacken, tense...slacken, ; tense...then the pent-up tension burst forward, curling over me like a ; great wave. Shock after shock of pleasure ran through me. My mouth ; opened silently as I spasmed. The contractions seemed to come from the ; earth itself, surging up through the soles of my feet to exit through ; my head, paralyzing me, freezing me solid...
; ; ...as solid as the statues that waited outside.
; ; I opened my eyes. Medusina thrust herself away from me, sobbing ; against the tiles of the floor. A strange sensation began to suffuse ; the soles of my feet. Looking in the mirror, I saw the tanned skin of ; my toes was graying and darkening, like fabric dipped in dye, and ; changing textureÑto the roughness of granite, dark gray stone speckled ; with minute flecks of white. I was turning to stone.
; ; Sweet Artemis, no, this wasn't happening to me! I tried to move, but ; could not; I was frozen in the same awkward position the orgasm had ; left me. The grayness washed over my feet and lapped around my ankles, ; then slowly licked up the length of my legs. Above it, my skin felt ; the cool motion of air, and I registered each anxious breath I took, ; every heartbeat. But below the grayness, I felt nothing.
; ; There was no pain. No pain at all...only a numbness.
; ; A thin film of sweat broke out on my brow. It was the precursor of ; worse terror.
; ; The gray shadow whispered up my calves, transmuting them, making me ; into a stony goddess such as I had seen in the temples of Athens and ; Thebes. My feet were already immobile, planted on the tiles of ; Medusina's bedchamber as if only the most arduous of labors would ; budge them. I saw my thighs solidify into two mottled columns of ; stone. I would have screamed if I was able, but I could force only the ; faintest of whimpers from between my lips. My hard, sculpted flesh ; would be forever hard now.
; ; The gray numbness cupped my buttocks like a lover, lapping ; lasciviously between my legs. It then swirled lazily over my hips to ; my front, the soft flesh there receiving the undulations of ; stone. With horror I saw it extend a questing tendril towards my loins ; and enter my body. The sensation shot through me like a second orgasm, ; equal parts pleasure and pain, as my insides were petrified. It was a ; full, heavy sensation, rather like pregnancy, but there would be no ; child.
; ; Tears of fear began to flow from my eyes as the grayness rose up my ; torso. My breasts became two pears of stone, their soft buoyancy ; forever fossilized, rendered hard and immobile. The process stilled my ; lungs, forever silenced my heart. It petrified my nipples, then ran ; down my arms. My hands became gesturing sculptures, never to lift or ; sword or caress a lover again. I felt my hair become a solid mass of ; stone and fuse against my back, and understood at last here would be ; no escape for me. The process was irreversible. I had braved mighty ; warriors, sorcerers, lions and other fierce beasts. Now I, Hippolyte ; the Amazon, had been brought down by a mere girl.
; ; The gray film lapped my chin like the rising tide. *Why did you do ; this to me?* I wanted to cry. But the dark figure of Medusina only ; sobbed and said nothing.
; ; The grayness swiftly flowed over my face. My nostrils were plugged, my ; ears sealed. My mouth was frozen open on the silent scream I ; gave. Mute and helpless, I felt the numbness reach the top of my ; skull. The transformation was complete.
; ; Through a dim, grayish haze I saw Medusina stand. She wiped the tears ; from her face. She came over to me and extended a trembling hand to ; cup with her palms the solid globes of my breasts. She touched with ; her fingertip the tips of the nipples which had given her such ; delight. She ran her finger around and around the blunt little nubs, ; as if not believing what she had done. They were still erect, in the ; midst of arousal. But no coming orgasm would quake and then soften ; them.
; ; She ran her hands down my belly. I heard the slick sound of her wet ; palms on the stone. She traced the curly arabesques of hair at the ; juncture of my thighs, perhaps grieving for the soft fleece that had ; grown there, and inserted her fingers between my legs. They found no ; entrance. The stone had sealed me down there, as I knew it had.
; ; She went around to my rear to explore me further, and though I could ; not feel her, I could tell from her motions in the mirror that she was ; running her hands over my buttocks. I saw her rest her cheek briefly ; against the rounded stone, and she might have kissed me there.
; ; Finally she stood and came around to face me. Infinite sadness was in ; her eyes, and infinite regret. In the old tales the Gorgon is supposed ; to be die when her face is reflected back at her. But in the mirror ; now I saw only a sorrowful girl, and the statue of an Amazon caught ; forever in sexual climax.
; ; "I am sorry for doing this to you," she said. "It is a curse, you see, ; and one that I regret with every fiber of my being. Whoever loves me, ; turns to stone. I tried to tell you that, tried to leave you ; unsatisfied. It is the final spasms of lust, you see, that start the ; process. But I could not stop in time.
; ; "For years I have lived with this curse. I do not wish to inflict it ; on others, so I have devised ways of satisfying myself. Usually they ; work. But every once in a while, the desire for a lover grows so ; strong I must have satisfaction, no matter what the cost. I try to ; exercise caution, as you have seen, but..." her eyes darted toward her ; garden, "I fail often."
; ; I wondered what it was like for her, to live in such isolation, ; bringing such a cruel fate to the ones she loved.
; ; "I am sorry," she said again. "But you will never age, and never ; sicken or die. There may be compensation in that." She clapped her ; hands for her servants. Two men entered with a wheeled cart as if they ; expected this. My vision turned perpendicular as they grasped me, then ; placed me on my back in the bed of the cart, grunting because of my ; increased weight. I realized with awful despair I was yet aliveÑand ; trapped in the stone. A situation that would likely exist for ; eternity....or until the rain and moss and scouring wind reduced me to ; dust.
; ; They wheeled me out of the bedchamber. My last sight was of Medusina ; as she stood naked in the darkness, a tragic figure with her head ; bowed, her hands pressed against her face.
; ; ---
; ; The next day, Medusina had me mounted on a marble plinth and set me in ; her garden. Now I knew the origin of the other statues. And I knew ; that they, too, were alive, and as helpless to communicate with each ; other as I was. Day after day, night after night, we wait here, our ; only stimulation the changing seasons of the garden, the play of light ; and shadow, and the doings of our mistress.
; ; From time to time she entertains a guest in the garden, a wine ; merchant from the town, perhaps, or a passing dignitary. And every ; once in a while, I observe the special brightness in her eyes, and the ; answering response of the other, that tells me the guest will spend ; the evening in her bed, and perhaps join us in the morning.
; ; I want to cry out and warn them, but my cold, stone tongue cannot. ; ;