The sun is hot and I decide to spend a little time lazing in the garden. I grab a cold beer and a trashy paperback before wandering outside . . . only to be hit by a wall of dense, hot air. Almost immediately perspiration beads my skin - I figure that maybe I'll just stay outside for a short while after all, but it is a shame to waste the opportunity . . .
After what seems mere minutes the beer is starting to take its toll - the words on the page just don't want to stay still. Realising the futility of continuing, I fall back onto the grass with the book covering my face - light sleep is close behind.
As my body relaxes and soaks up the heat, my mind wanders on an exotic journey full of sensuality beyond my worldly experience. I'm in some moorish pleasure palace surrounded by deep velvets, silks and satins. The air is hot, spicy and carries half heard whispers and songs - words are hard to pick out, but there is a definite feeling of otherness - the foreign - to their rhythm. Slowly I start to try to stand up, my body is lethargic but energy soon returns. A little warily I try to orient myself, but my eyes are filled with lush colours, intricate geometric patterns and occasional flashes of piercing sunlight. Overwhelmed by visual stimuli, I try to fix on other indications of life and I single out a female voice apparently coming from behind wallhangings somewhere off to my left. I move in its direction, stumbling slightly on something colourful, eventually reaching the rich depth of the wallhanging. Drawn on by the lilting voice, I try to find a way through the folds of the fabric, gradually losing myself as my mind refuses to truly comprehend my situation. Still the voice acts as a magnet, leading me through the darkness and eventually out into a shaded corner of another room.
As my eyes adjust to the lighting level, I finally view the grail, the prize, the reason for my quest . . . a young woman lying on the floor facing away from me. Without knowing, I feel the need to stay hidden . . listening and watching. The woman seems to be singing, but the words don't make any sense to me - well actually, the words don't make sense but the song somehow does. I can't help but think of "Someday my prince will come" from an old Disney picture or something. There seems to be a longing to it's sound. As I watch her, she runs her hand through her long dark hair . . . I can almost feel it tumbling silkily through my fingers. Her hand moves idly to her neck where she starts a slow massage, her body visibly slackens at her own touch. Somebody seems to be enjoying themselves!