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Gorean Graphics
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After we had
kissed we swam together, and then again kissed and swam.
Afterwards, Nela gave me the first rubbing, with coarse oils,
loosening dirt and perspiration, and scraped me with the thin,
flexible bronze strigil; then she gave me the second rubbing,
vigorous and stimulating, with heavy toweling; then she gave me
the third rubbing, that with fine, scented oils, massaged at
length into the skin. After that we lay side by side for a long
time, looking up at the bluish translucent dome of the Pool of
Blue Flowers. There are, as I mentioned, many pools in the
Capacian Baths, and they differ in their shapes and sizes, and
in their décor, and in the temperatures and scents of their
waters. The temperature of the Pool of Blue Flowers was cool and
pleasing. The atmosphere of the pool was further charged with
the fragrance of Veminium, a kind of bluish wild flower commonly
found on the lower slopes of the Thentis range; the walls, the
columns, even the bottom of the pool, were decorated with
representations of Veminium, and many of the plants themselves
were found in the chamber. Though the pool was marble and the
walkways about it, much of the area was planted with grass and
ferns and various other flora were in abundance. Three were many
small nooks and glades, here and there, some more than forty
yards from the pool, where a man might rest. I had heard the
Pool of the Tropics was an excellent pool in the Capacian; and
also the Pool of Ar's Glories, and the Pool of the Northern
Forests; there was even, of recent date, a Pool of the Splendor
of the Hinrabians; I myself, however, with one arm about Nela,
who nestled against me, felt content with the Pool of the Blue
Flowers. |