This choice: Turn to the Book of Exotic Cultures • Go Back...Chapter #5Turn to the Book of Exotic Cultures by: Mr. George   Selecting a largish, leather-bound book, you buy it, and are back home before you even open it. The parting smile of the owner, the only thing niggling at the back of your mind.
Even if it's gibberish, it'll look impressive on your shelves. An ornate book binding. But you still suspect it's more interesting than that. It's too expensive to be simply a joke. The pages themselves are gilt-edged.
Finding a comfy chair, you settle down for a long read. Holding it to your nose, you riffle through the pages, inhaling the aroma of old books fill your nostrils. A stray glance, as you flick through it seems to show writing you can't recognise, let alone read. But the pages skim past, you can't be sure that it's not some blurring effect.
However, when you do open it properly, you're surprised to find you can read it. It's even written in modern english. From the title page, you see a selection of tales are listed inside. Picking one, you read it with great relish. It's the tale of a Princess, in a lofty tower, awaiting a political marriage to secure peace. It's surprisingly good, giving you the promised new perspective on her life. It feels incredibly authentic.
The joy you got from the story encourages you to try another. This time, it's the story of a harem girl, who has to trade on her beauty to please her man... her owner, you realise with a shudder. Having to compete for his attention, and favours, she flaunts her body, taunting and teasing that as her only asset. It's incredibly sad, and again has that same insight that same ring of truth from it's narrator.
Flicking through you hunt for a different voice. For a male perspective on their history. You find the story of a sultan, who rules his court, city and country with wisdom. Constantly worried about courtly intrigues, and envious neighbours, it's a story of great uncertainty and intrigue. Always balancing on a knife edge, even his relief of the biddable and beddable Harem girls, have their own struggles and hierarchy.
Another tells the story of a simple peasant. Making her way through the world, she dresses and disguises herself to pass as a man. It's a cruel, heartless world with no real justice, and only the fear of violence the deterrent for actual violence.
A wave of tiredness washes over you, and you glance to the clock on the wall. You're surprised to find that several hours have passed, and you feel quite cosy and snug. The book is heavy and warm in your lap, almost pinning you in place. A yawn suprises you, and you settle back for a nap in your comfy chair. Eager to wake and read the next story, and the next, you allow your eyelids to fall, and your breathing to deepen and slow, in moments you're asleep.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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