The bright colors of a long silk banner unfurled from a thirdfloor balcony. The silky material, light as a kiss, floated over the crowd. Lilly could feel waves of ecstatic love magick floating through the exotic Indian silk, falling softly on the lighthearted crowd below.
The world slowly stopped. For a moment, she embodied all the joy and magic of the day. Abandoning all care, she floated like a Faery above a sea of color. Soaking in the benevolent energy, she stored the scene in her mind’s eye and held the moment of perfection close. As the afternoon wore on, the magical couple decided to head for Panthea’s for rest and recuperation before the closing festivities on Frenchman Street. Sitting on the couch rubbing one another’s feet, they enjoyed some quiet time. “Where did you disappear to yesterday? I wanted you to come to our Lundi Gras celebration.”
Roland looked puzzled for a moment, “Yesterday? Oh, I was at the park.”
Lilly shook her head, “What park?”
“City Park. James told me it was filled with ancient oaks. He was right. I spent most of the day, lying on the ground beneath a five-hundred-year-old oak tree. The energy of the earth and the oaks renews my strength and my spirit like nothing else. I feel great today.”
Lilly sat up for a moment and gave him a quick kiss. “You look wonderful,”
Roland’s hands massaged her calves and thighs, moving up slowly. Suddenly he stopped. Lilly opened her eyes to see him blushing slightly.
She lifted one eyebrow in inquiry. He laughed a bit nervously and explained, “I’ve never made love to a Faery queen. I’m afraid I may fall short.”
Lilly laughed, “You? My cavalier, my musketeer, my invigorated Druid, I find it impossible to believe one little Faery could unman you.” Laughing, he scooped her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.
They awoke at twilight to voices in the courtyard. Roland made a pot of coffee and Lilly walked out onto the gallery to greet her friends below. Robin Hood, Friar Tuck and Gemma, dressed as Maid Marion, waved. Madeline, a convincing Marilyn Monroe, beaconed her to join them.
Lilly threw a kiss to her friends, leaned over the wrought iron railing and asked, “Where are the rest of the merry men?”
“Sodding drunk on Bourbon Street,” Owen replied in mock horror.
Lucky came strutting out of his apartment in full Pirate attire, announcing a pot of gumbo was available for the hungry group.
Before joining their friends, Lilly touched up her face paint and Roland straightened his lacy shirt, collar and cuffs. As they were going out the door, Lilly turned and put her hands on either side of Roland’s smoothly shaved cheeks. I almost didn’t recognize you this morning without your side whiskers. You are even more handsome than I imagined under all your hair. Rubbing her hands on his face she kissed both of his smooth cheeks.
~
The moon was rising over the Crescent City as Frenchman Street filled with disheveled, drunk and stoned revelers. Many of the bright smiles of the morning had transformed into the faces of unrepentant sinners.
They gathered in the darkness for the final celebration of the sensual pleasures. A band set up in front of The Green Man bus across from the Dream Palace. Stilt walkers and fire jugglers arrived. A man, bare except for a pair of leather chaps, put the torch to a bonfire in the center of the street.
The Krewe of Nutria added primitive drum beats to the electric rock. Primal impulses possessed the crowd, the waking world abandoned or forgotten. Consumed by a wave of atavistic resurgence they danced wildly around the fire. Costumes came off, inhibitions disappeared and discernment dissipated in Bacchanalian frenzy.
Like Cinderella’s ball, the party ended at midnight. Police riding abreast on tall horses made their way slowly through the French Quarter, crossed Esplanade Avenue and onto Frenchman Street. An authoritative policeman’s voice announced through a bull horn “Mardi Gras is over. Clear the streets.”
The department of sanitation truck followed the line of horses.
The sanitation truck halted at the glowing embers of the bonfire. Disgruntled firemen arrived from the corner fire house. They were not amused and shouted threats about jail time for whomever had built a bonfire in the middle of a city street.
Lilly and The Green Man Band, minus Bart, headed for the shelter of their bus. The rest of the Kosmic Debris scattered into the cosmos until next time.
Chapter 25
Sex Slaves = Freedom
It was after noon when Lilly slowly opened her eyes. She had to pee, but didn’t want to disturb anyone. Lying quietly, she noticed something was missing. She lay still for a moment listening. It was quiet. There were no mule drawn buggies rolling by, no sidewalk conversations or delivery trucks squeezing through the narrow street. She yawned and closed her eyes. Her mind sought the sweet rest and oblivion of sleep but her bladder broadcasted a persistent message. She slowly crawled over Roland and tiptoed to the tiny bathroom at the back of the bus. The light went on automatically when she shut the door and she let out a scream as a strange creature stared at her. She burst out laughing as she realized it was her reflection in the mirror. The face paint, so beautiful yesterday, had become a mess of streaks extending into her hair which stuck out stiffly in all direction.
One breast had popped out of her gold bodice, and where was her skirt? After a failed attempt at getting the paint off her face and out of her hair with the trickle of cold water the bus provided, she slowly opened the bathroom door and peaked around to see several people stirring.
Roland was sitting up rubbing his eyes as she climbed back into the narrow bed. He
