3: Oranges, perfume, the Bactrian dancers

Seventh hour (12:46)

Elena took the orange from the bowl and cut it in half for them. Then she cut her half in wedges and gave the knife to Tita, as she started to eat and suck the pulp from the rind.

“Thank you… What a curious texture.” Tita noted how the rind felt smooth and bumpy at the same time. She cut her half into wedges also and followed Elena’s example, biting into the pulp and sucking it from the rind. The juice was sweet and tart, and she found it delicious, even better than the lemon water. She chewed on the pulp, savoring it.

“By the grace of Pomona, this is very good. Where do oranges come from?”

“From Seres,” said Elena. “We have some exotic fruit trees at the villa. Some years ago I brought seeds to Aurelia and we were lucky they took root. The soil in Pompeii is very rich. We have six orange trees but only three are flowering, so our fruit supply is a bit limited. But the other three should start flowering next year.”

“They have a lovely bright color. It is a perfect mix between yellow and red,” said Tita.

Elena nodded. “They look beautiful growing in the trees as well.”

“Do you also roll lemons and oranges on your skin?” Tita asked, curious about Elena’s scents.

“I used to roll fruits many years ago. Now I prepare a potion of lemon, quince and orange oils and other spices. And no, I will not tell you what the spices are. They are one of my special secrets.” Elena smiled broadly.

“Why do you keep the spices… Oh.” Tita understood, as she sucked on her orange wedge.

“If I told what spices I use, then all the girls would use my potion and it would no longer be my own special perfume. A perfume should be as unique and mysterious as the woman.”

“Yes…” Tita thought for a moment. “Is that a lesson?” she asked.

Elena looked at Tita. “Very good, Tita.” She smiled. “You are a quick student.”

“Thank you.” Tita smiled in return, pleased with Elena’s compliment.

“Yes, it is a lesson. We will discuss perfumes later. I will show you the general process of how I make a potion, and some possible ingredients you can use. But everyone is encouraged to develop their own perfume or range of perfumes. Remember that the sense of smell is strongest, most powerful sense we have been given. Stronger than taste, touch, hearing or vision.

“Smell can instantly capture your mind, trigger memories and generate strong feelings. I am sure you have felt the profound disgust from the smell of a cadaver of an animal. Or the delicate pleasure from smelling a certain flower. The natural world provides us with an enormous variety of smells. Since you have a choice in how to present yourself, you also have a choice in deciding how a perfume can reflect, reveal or enhance you and your psyche.”

Tita remained amazed at how Elena seemed to know every aspect of womanhood. Tita was curious to know Elena’s education, but she knew Elena would tell her at the right time. Tita finished eating her orange wedges and finished her fourth cup of lemon water. She poured herself a fifth cup.

“Did you enjoy your trip from Rome to Pompeii with the Bactrian dance troupe?” asked Elena.

“Yes. Very much,” replied Tita, smiling. “When I sent the courier message from Rome, Zarina- she is their leader- Zarina thought the trip would only take ten days. But then they made more stops than anticipated. And I preferred to stay with them. I did not want to travel alone.”

“You made an excellent choice. Aurelia and I were very happy when Claudia read us your courier message.”

“You were?” Tita was surprised.

“Certainly. I think staying with the dance troupe was a perfect way to start your training. You made the right choice to travel with a group of women you could trust. There are many who travel the Appia road, including those with malicious intents. So you chose very well to stay protected. I would have made the same choice.”

“Thank you,” said Tita. She felt proud of Elena’s indirect compliment. Tita finished eating the last part of her bread. She noticed Elena alternated between a bite of bread and a bite of the orange wedge, chewing slowly, taking her time to relish the taste. Tita made a note to eat more slowly next time and savor the taste.

“It is a troupe only of women?” asked Elena between bites.

“Yes, there are thirteen women who dance regularly. Then there is Zarina and her son Adza. They also have two male slaves to take care of the animals and set up the tents, and four women slaves and four other children. One of them is a baby. Three of the dancers are mothers. Well, really four, but Kushana’s children are grown up and live in Parthia- her daughter is in Rey and her son in Maracanda. The women slaves help prepare food for everyone and take care of the children. Two of them also teach the children.”

“Ah, a large group. Very good. And the husbands?” asked Elena.

“There are three husbands. Two of them are cousins. I saw them in Rome, for a day and night. And again in Neapolis, also for a day and night. The husbands travel ahead to advertise, get advance payments and make arrangements for the troupe. They are now travelling to Salernum and then Brundisium, which is where the troupe is heading next.” Tita reflected on her two weeks with the dance troupe, absently sipping her cup of lemon water. She continued.

“They took very good care of me. They were very open and honest with me. They kept me with them at all times and let me sleep in their tent. We became very friendly. They wanted me to join their group. I mean, to be a dancer with them.” Tita smiled, “Every night after eating together they asked me to join them. Many, many times. They would do little dances just for me, to tempt me to say yes. I was very tempted to stay with them. In the past few days, I considered it very carefully. I became very fond of them.

“I liked two of the dancers especially, Zina and Zine. They love each other very deeply. They have been a couple for many years. But they liked me very much also, I guess. They were very sweet with me and shared everything they had. They would not even accept my payment for the food they gave me. Every night they spoke of how we could become a dance trio. How I could be a part of their dance routines. They showed me dance moves that I could do. We would practice…

“But I am very clumsy with dancing. I mean, I have no eroticism or grace. I do not know how they are so sensual in their movements. I mean, they were just wonderful to watch. Not just the whole group, but Zina and Zine especially. They dance as a pair in their routines. They reflect each other in slow, sensual movements and very fast movements. It is like they are dancing twins. I envy their abilities. It would probably take me years to learn what they do…” Tita looked at Elena. “That is why I decided to leave them and continue as we had planned with Claudia. To work here in Pompeii, I mean.” Tita paused again, reflecting.

“Zina especially did not want me to leave. Of the whole group, she knows Latin best, so we talked often. Zine knows Greek, but I only know a little Greek. So I talked to Zina most of time. She was my translator for the group. We became very close. I will miss her a lot. Her and Zine…” Tita sighed. “I will miss all of them a lot.” Tita surprised herself at how easily she could confess these things to Elena.

Elena had finished eating and looked at Tita with a warm, steady gaze. Tita sensed Elena listened intently to every word she said, which made her feel special. Elena smiled and leaned forward, very gently caressing Tita’s arm so that her skin bristled. “I imagined they loved your skin,” she said in a low quiet voice.

Elena’s deduction surprised Tita, and she felt a wave of emotion as she remembered the nightly ritual the Bactrians did for her. Tita teared up. “Yes…” she paused to hold back her tears and dry her blue eyes with her shawl. “I am sorry. But… It… I have never been admired that way. By anyone. Never. Not even my parents or brothers. Claudia is the only one who always gives me compliments. And Uinda, many years ago.

“But with Zina and Zine and the others, there were fourteen beautiful women who really admired me. Who really wanted to touch and caress my skin. Me and my spots. I…” Tita sighed heavily. “I just loved it. I loved it a lot. Every night they had a ritual… I really wanted to stay with them...” Tita teared up again, overwhelmed by her sadness as she regretted not being able to see them again. “I am sorry,” said Tita, trying to stifle her sobbing.

Elena clasped Tita’s arm. “There is no need to apologize. It is normal to feel sadness for the loss of such strong affection. Let the tears flow. It is good to release negative feelings.”

Tita appreciated Elena’s encouragement and she quietly cried for a bit and then quieted down, sighing repeatedly. She dried her eyes again and drank more lemon water. Elena picked up an orange rind from the table.

“Close your eyes, hold this close to your nose and breathe deeply. The smell can help calm your feelings.”

Tita followed Elena’s advice and held the orange rind close to her nose, breathing in the sweet and tart orange scent. She found it relaxing and good.

“They are staying in Pompeii today?” Elena asked after a few moments.

Tita snapped out of her orange reverie. “Yes, thank you. Thank you, Elena. Thank you. Yes, I think so. I just left them at the forum. They will go to Salernum and Brundisium, but I am not sure exactly when. They were saying perhaps in a few days, or perhaps tomorrow, depending on what they hear from their husbands.”

“Ah, excellent. Then after you finish your drink, if you do not mind, I would like to go meet them.”

Tita was surprised. “Really?” She was immediately overjoyed by the idea.

“Certainly. We could use some exotic dancing at the villa. And I am sure they can give excellent dance lessons to the girls. But most importantly, I would like to know about them and what they think of you. It seems that they already started your training in a good way!” Elena laughed as Tita blushed. “And since they treated you so well, it is good if you continue to enjoy their company a while longer as you do your training. It will be a good transition for you.”

“Oh thank you! Thank you!” Tita smiled grandly, bouncing on the bench. Then she realized she was acting like a child. “I am sorry.”

“As part of your training, we will have to correct your apologizing,” said Elena, grinning. “You do not need to apologize for feeling happy or sad, unless you are disrespecting someone.”

Tita laughed. “I… Oh!” And she caught herself. “Yes maestra.” She sipped more water. “When do I start the training?”

“Now! Aurelia is anxious to get you in circulation with some clients. She has already scheduled to introduce you to some of our better clients in six days.”

“Oh! But I am not ready! I just arrived!” Tita was immediately worried about what the introduction would require of her.

Elena laughed. “Do not worry. One step at a time. The first part of your training, today and most of tomorrow, is for you to tell me about yourself. Tomorrow we will tour the villa and Pompeii and you can learn about the city as you talk about your life. The more I know about you, the better training I can give you. Then based on what I learn about you, we can arrange the schedule for the following days.

“But I can already see you have quiet determination and inner strength, with warm, gentle manners and healthy fears and concerns. You are open to evaluating important opportunities as they arise. All of that is very good, Tita.

“Most importantly, you have good appetites when you need them. That is key. Always trust your body. Your body is your best and only asset. Without your body, you cannot live, love, think or feel. That is my most important lesson for today. Remember it well.”

Tita was stunned by Elena’s incisive analysis of her character. “I-….”

Elena smiled again and gently caressed Tita’s arm. “I am sure your introduction will go very well. You have a bright future here, so long as you do not lose faith in yourself.”

Tita looked down, feeling embarrassed at how Elena understood her so well. “Thank you, thank you,” was all she could say. Tita finished her fifth drink, feeling full and refreshed. She was eager to go back and see Zina, Zine and the other beautiful dark-skinned Bactrian women she had come to know so well. Tita noted Elena also had darker skin. “You come from Bactria also?”

“Noooo. My history is long and complex, and a topic for another time. But getting back to your dancing friends. How did all of you arrive in Pompeii this morning? Through Porta Herculaneum?”

“Yes,” said Tita, remembering. “We went down that road to the baths and the forum, and then Zarina, Mene and Dukht- Mene and Dukht help Zarina manage the group- they all went to the city office to get permission to perform in the forum and also find out where they could camp by the Sarno river. The official told them the best place was east of the commercial port that is south of the Stabia gate. But because we were a caravan, the official directed us to go out through the Porta Marina and then follow the road past the military port and around the southern city walls to the commercial port. And by following that road further east, we would find a good camp site.

“So we did as instructed and we went to the Porta Marina. That is where I saw the big and lovely Venus temple complex. Then we went out the gate and past the military port and around the southern city walls by the warehouses. And we stopped just before the commercial port buildings. Then the dancers and I went to eat at a tavern in the port area while the slaves watched the animals and goods. Then we stood guard while the slaves went to eat.

“Then afterwards Mene and Dukht lead the caravan east of the port to find the camp site, while Zarina, the others and I, we went back into town through the Stabian gate. We went up the cardo and then west down the decumanus to the forum. We stayed there for a while to chat and say goodbye and that was where I left them. They were going to see the forum baths.”

“Excellent. Do you know about the Stabian baths?”

“The Stabian baths? No.” Tita tried recalling. “Oh wait, we noticed some people coming out of a building at the intersection of the cardo and decumanus, the northwest corner. Are those the Stabian baths?”

“Yes. Very good Tita. You have a good sense of observation. I do not expect your friends will be in city at this hour. I imagine they went to their camp. But we will check the forum baths, the forum and then the Stabian baths just to make sure. Then we will go to the Stabian gate and proceed east along the Sarno. I know the camping spot suggested by the official. There is a good tree line.”

Tita nodded. “It is true. They often try to find a tree line for shade for the tents.”

“Certainly!” said Elena with a grin and Tita giggled. Tita saw Elena look behind her and she slowly stood up as Tita heard someone approach them. Tita also stood up.