Chapter 10
The Cornucopians capture Sarah
Evening fell quietly in The Court as the dancers took the final steps into that metamorphosis from fantastically athletic boys and girls to creatures of wondrous skill and artistry. Soon The Court was alive with anticipation as everyone felt the energy of upcoming performance. The musicians addressed their practice with another level of energy, the designers mused over their creations, and everyone felt the pull of drama.
At Bountiful-Towers Orcutt consulted his watch and threw a hawk-like glance nervously out into the opaque darkness beyond the service entrance at the lowest street level. He knew that Vivienne understood that this was to be a surreptitious visit but they were late and he chafed at the possibility of some unforeseen hitch in the plans. Moments later he was very relieved to see dim headlights curving down into the space before him and wink out beside the dock.
Orcutt opened the portal on the sounds of movements below and four hooded duster-clad figures detached themselves from the car and hurried up the steps. Without a word he led them to the secure elevator, keyed in his code and the assembly rose swiftly and silently into the Olympian heights of Bountiful-Towers. When the elevator doors opened the figures followed him into the spacious anterooms of the Grotto Theater.
"Welcome to Bountiful-Towers," he announced. We are most pleased to entertain you this evening and I will be at your service should you need anything. Seating will begin after the first chime and the performance five minutes after the lights dim twice. May I relieve you of your wraps?"
"This is for The Patron," Sarah responded, handing Orcutt the carrying case with her latest canvas in it. "Be careful the paint is very fresh."
"Ah," Orcutt sighed and itched to open the case. "I'm sure he will be most interested."
Cliff was the first to doff his robe emerging as Ares, God of War. He appeared robust with his sword by his side, and relaxed in his chiton and the bronzed half mask that concealed his upper face. Zack cradling the caduceus in his arms seemed vibrant under his mask and winged helmet, his lean tall form equally well suited to the role of Hermes.
Normally there was little that gave Orcutt pause in these fetes at Bountiful-Towers but when he relieved the women of their dusters his eyes betrayed his lingering interest in their display. His expression held a definite cast of approval as he absorbed the way their dually erotic appearances heightened their charms. They each offered a sensuous appeal keyed to the differences in their beauty, and each complimented the other in the subtle harmonies of their obvious attraction to each other, a relationship Orcutt immediately sensed as intensely appealing.
Their hair had been dressed in the ancient Grecian style and bound with ribbons complimenting their costumes. They were obviously naked under the ancient dresses molding to their breasts and throwing their nipples into relief. Soft silken half-masks hid their upper faces and Orcutt's would have lingered over such revelations as he could see, and those he wanted to discover, except his admiration was cut short by the dulcet sound of a chime.
"Ah. If you are ready," he announced, "I will seat you."
Side by side Sarah and Vi, followed by their consorts, strolled in Orcutt's stately wake through the lobby of the Grotto Theater, which they found to be full of characters not only as curious as themselves, but from the looks cast in their direction, even more curious to discover who they might be. Without pausing Orcutt ushered them into the amphitheater giving onto the softly lit stage below and led them to a long ample cushioned couch in the center just a few rows from the stage. He gestured and Cliff followed by Vivienne and then Sarah and Zack seated themselves. Together they viewed their surroundings affording them surprising privacy.
Jagged partitions of rockwork and plantings separated the scattering of couches from one another throughout the amphitheater without impeding the view of the stage similarly flanked by wings of rocks and trees. Evening sounds of birds, crickets, and softly rustling leaves filled the air tempered to that of a soft summer evening.
Spectators voices came to them as the audience, small and select, trickled into the theater and was ushered to the couches by a corps of graceful young women in the scantiest of Grecian dress. Below and barely out of sight between them and the stage a jagged crevice served as an orchestra pit giving forth the sounds of instruments being discretely tuned. Sarah and Vivienne exchanged glances of awed approval and settled back into the soft cool leather of the cushions with little wiggles of excitement as the house lights winked twice.
"Do you know this ballet?" Vivienne whispered to Sarah who shook her head. "Briefly it's about the threats to innocent young love. Daphnis and Chloe are young lovers who suffer first the flirtations of young maidens with Daphnis, then Chloe's jealous encouragement of a young shepherd, and then the crude Dorkon's advances to Chloe. Daphnis falls asleep and is seduced in his dreams by the temptress Lykanion, and while he is sleeping pirates seize Chloe and carry her off to their chief Byraxis who intends to rape her. The god Pan intervenes to save Chloe and she is reunited with Daphnis in a dance of love."
"It's all about fucking then," Sarah laughed happily.