Strangely enough, I began looking forward to visiting these people. There was a certain amount of hardship one must endure before entering their fastness, he said, but after that, it was the nearest approach to heaven he had ever known.
And so I found myself eager to get under way; something about the whole affair interested me. I cared nothing for the so-called hardship. He did not say what this entailed, so I paid it little mind.
Three day's travel by cart and stage brought us close to the river Danube, an area that is famous for its delightful climate. Safe in Rumania at last, we felt more secure. We had shaken off the police-forever, I hoped.
Two days travel by the most primitive carts brought us far into the mountains, and here our drivers refused to go further. They shook their heads and gazed off toward the distant hills; nothing we could offer would entice them further.
"We will leave our baggage here,” Ferry said, “and take with us only the clothing we are wearing. Come."
We made our way on foot. I had faith in Ferry; I knew he would never sanction this trip were there any possible danger connected with it, and since I had agreed to do and say everything he suggested, I followed him up the steep paths through the dense wood. We had started early that morning, and it was mid afternoon when we were suddenly confronted by what I believed to be the most bloodthirsty creature I ever had the misfortune to meet.
He came forward and I had the opportunity to study the man.
Large and slightly darker than I had expected, he had black, curly hair beneath a wide leather hat, and great gold rings in his ears. He had a wicked cast to one eye. Overall, he was the most murderous-looking person I had ever seen.
"Be not afraid,” reassured Ferry. “He is but one of the guards, and as soon as he learns our business here, we will be conducted further into the wood where we will meet an escort who will take us directly into their camp."
The brute-for that's what he looked like to me-asked many questions, and finally, having been convinced that we were not police, he conducted us along the path to a clearing in the dense forest. Directing us along, he pointed out the path we must follow. Without warning, we came to a bend in the wooded path and here, directly before us, was a stream.
Ferry saw the look of mystery in my eyes. Laughingly, he said, “This is the first hardship I referred to,” and nodded toward the water. “We have got to cross it."
I had hardly expected this. I said. “But it's deep, darling! How shall we ever cross without wetting our clothing?"
He laughed and kissed me. “One doesn't cross without wetting one's clothes, my dear,” he said. “If we were to enter the stronghold of these hospitable people wearing dry clothing, we would be laughed to scorn, and I wish to impress them with your willingness to comply with their customs."
I looked down into the water at my feet. It looked black, and I could swim but little. Ferry, I knew, was a good swimmer, so there would be no danger of anything happening to me. I recalled the delight I had had back home, and how I had often gone into the pond fully dressed. I recalled how one Sunday, returning from my singing lessons, I was overcome with the desire to go into the pond, and how, without waiting to remove my little jacket, I splashed my way in! The thought thrilled me! Why not? It was dreadfully warm, and the water would feel good on my body!
All these thoughts passed through my mind in a flash. Raising my eyes to his, I said, “Very well, my dear. I am ready when you are."
"Can you swim?” he asked. When I told him that I swam very little but was not afraid of the water, he said, “That will make it ever so much easier. I'll go first, and then I'll assist you down, and by resting your fingertips on my shoulders, I will be able to get you across. Ready?"
Nodding my answer, I watched as Ferry turned and dove in. It was all very unusual, I'll admit. We were like two wild children bent upon doing something devilish, and I, for one, was as eager as any child could have been. Coming up and shaking the water from his hair, he came back to the steep bank directly beneath my feet.
"All right, honey,” he said, smiling up into my eyes. “Lower your pretty little feet and I'll help you down."
"You won't!” I cried, a daring thought coming into my mind. “I'm going to jump! Catch me!” and without another thought I leaped down! I thought I would never come up, but at last I did, and then I found Ferry's strong arms about me. Happy, my eyes bright with the novelty of the thing, I laughed and shook the water from my hair. A moment or two later we were across and standing upon the sandy bottom near the opposite shore. Turning to look at the far side, I saw the villainous-looking creature we had first encountered staring at us. Raising my arm and waving to him, I was surprised to see him smile. I had thought him incapable of smiling, and after gazing at us for another moment, he turned and walked out of sight.
Standing tittie-deep, I unloosened my hair, letting it fall about my shoulders. “Like it?” asked Ferry, smiling and coming close by me.
"I love it!” I cried, kissing him rapturously, “I could stay right here forever and ever! Oh, Ferry!” I cried, “I'm going into every creek and pool I ever see! No matter what the occasion or what manner of dress I'm wearing."
You have heard of a person having a fetish? Well, going into the water fully dressed had become a fetish with me. Then and there, standing in that unknown stream, I had become a slave to my strange desire!
I told Ferry of it. He said, “You'll have plenty of chances, my dear. Remember, we've got to return through this same stream."
Climbing out and standing upon the sandy shore, my thin clothing clinging to me, I looked a sight, every line and curve of my standing stood out in bold relief. “You might as well be naked, my dear,” Ferry said.
"That's the way I wish to be,” I answered. “I want your friends to see me just as I am."
"I want them see you just as you are, too, my dear. I want them to see your beautiful body, and I want you to display it willingly. And above all, I want you to surrender to them; I want you to do as the others do. In a few moments, we shall come upon their camp. The chief will embrace you. I want you to return his embraces, lend yourself to him in every possible way, accept any suggestion he might make. In short, you should enter there with an open mind; give yourself to them body and soul."
"And supposing this man, whoever he is, wants to fuck me?” I asked smiling.
"You are to do that, also,” he answered.
"Then,” I said with a toss of my head, “I hope he's better looking than the brute back there,” pointing over my shoulder. Then moving along toward the sought-for camp, I said, “And you? I suppose you will flirt madly with some black-eyed damsel and fall victim to her charms?"
"You don't understand, my dear,” he said. “A man and woman entering here never violate an unwritten rule-that of fucking their own lover."
"Indeed,” I smilingly answered, “it sounds interesting. But even though I surrender to another man, my dear, I will try to think that it is you I'm clasping between my thighs!"
Happy and contented, we hurried along the path, chatting every step of the way, and soon we came into a clearing. We were instantly surrounded by a score of chattering children. One that was more handsome than the others made his way to us. Like the others, he was naked save for a cord about his neck. There was a gold piece dangling from it.
His eyes brightened at the sight of us. This, I was to learn a moment later, was the boy Ferry had rescued from a great bear, and after a most affectionate greeting, during which Ferry and the boy exchanged several kisses, he ran off shouting at the top of his voice. The other children, seeing the welcome, began dancing and shouting about us. Amid this happy, carefree mob we were led into the camp proper.
A giant of a man stepped out. He was handsome, his black hair hanging in clusters of curls about his well-formed head. About his hips he wore a great bearskin. He had it arranged in such a manner that it covered but one leg. Otherwise, he was naked.