23. Med. Sea: 7th Philosophical Meeting (17 pgs.)

ACT I - CHAPTER 23

7th PHILOSOPHICAL MEETING

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Saturday April 7, 2018

Between Barcelona and Palmas de Mallorca Spain

Alexandre was with the team on the bus back to the hotel after losing three to two to Los Caballeros de Madrid on their own court. They had played in the morning, something unusual, but it was no excuse for the defeat. He thought Victoria would wait for him at the bar to be together for a couple of hours before Yellow picked him up after lunch. She would stay at his apartment until Monday.

When he arrived, he saw that she was very animated talking to Francisca in the lounge in front of the bar. He approached and greeted them with a kiss.

“Our destinies cross again. Victoria told me that you won’t stay, what a pity,” Francisca said.

“How is your father?” he asked.

“Completely recovered.”

“That’s good news.”

Then they talked for a long time, laughed and drank champagne until Alexandre looked at the clock.

“I’ll be late, sorry for leaving like this,” and he said goodbye to both of them. He put on his hood and sunglasses and left through a side door, walking away at a fast pace.

“I’ll buy you another champagne,” said Francisca.

“No, this time I invite,” Victoria responded calling the waiter.

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“No. We better go to the presidential suite, which is now unoccupied. Do you like the idea?” Francisca asked.

“Oh, I’d love to! But now let me invite you. Why don’t you come to Alexandre’s apartment and we’ll have some lunch? I have everything to cook.”

“I love the idea! Wait for me here. I’m going to go get something and I’ll be back,” Francisca said in her sweet voice.

Victoria felt triumphant. It was her chance to confront the enemy on her own territory. Sometimes it seemed to her that Francisca was getting defensive so as not to give her the opportunity to ask her anything. At other times she felt loved and understood. It was a mixture that made her curiosity and tenderness towards her increase, but along with a dose of distrust and fear.

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“Where are we going Yellow?” Alexandre asked.

“To the airport.”

“I can’t go far, I promised Victoria I’d be back tomorrow!”

“Don’t worry, the trip only lasts 45 minutes. We are going to Palmas.”

Mr. Walker’s new plane was an 18-person executive plane and had been remodeled with all safety measures. It had a large living room and a suite at the back.

From the window he saw the streets of Barcelona receding and then they entered a group of clouds. The plane began to move due to turbulence.

When they arrived at the Palmas de Mallorca Yacht Club Yellow drove him to the dock. It was quite windy. They boarded a white three-deck yacht.

“It’s a Mellendi from the Prince of Neptune series,” Yellow told him.

“How long is it?”

“Its length is 48 meters and the beam is 12,” Yellow responded.

“I see that we will have the meeting here at the Yacht Club,” Alexandre said after greeting Ricardo.

“We will do it on the high seas.”

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“It doesn’t seem very wise to me with this weather,” said Alexandre.

“The crew is prepared and the weather forecast says there is no risk of a storm,” Ricardo said.

“Why take the risk?” Alexandre asked.

“We will do it for safety. I was informed that the same people who wanted to kill us on the plane want to kill us here on the island. On the high seas we will be safer.”

“I heard Mr. Walker is fine, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“How many crew members are there on the yacht?” Alexandre asked.

“Eleven plus the three of us.”

“I think we should stay here in the marina,” said Arturo, seeing that the sea was rough and the wind was increasing.

“Gentlemen, don’t worry, these are typical Palmas winds, but on the high seas it will be like a cup of milk, I know this sea like the palm of my hand,” said the captain who had heard them.

“Then set sail captain!” Arturo said, pretending to be brave.

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Francisca appeared in the hotel hall with a large pink suitcase.

“What have you got there?” Victoria asked.

“It’s an artistic surprise. I hope you like the idea,” Francisca said and they went to Alexandre’s apartment.

“Look, you have shrimp! Let’s make garlic shrimp! They go very well with that white wine!” Francisca said fascinated and happy when they had arrived at the apartment.

“Yes, good idea! Alexandre and I have become experts in that dish. Let me cook for you,” Victoria said.

“It’s an aphrodisiac dish!” Francisca exclaimed. “I like how Alexandre has decorated the apartment, it is simple and elegant. Hey! What a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea!” she added as walked over at the same time that Victoria set the table and uncorked a bottle of champagne.

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“Actually, I decorated it. We have the same tastes,” said Victoria, taking the shrimp out of the plastic bag.

“And I also have the same tastes as you,” Francisca added.

“Sit down, I’m going to serve the table,” Victoria said after finishing cooking and thought, Now I’ll unmask you!

“Oh no! Let ‘me help you!” Francisca said and thought, How cute she is!

“Nothing of that. Today you are my prisoner and I will be your host.”

“Oh! Alright! I want to be your prisoner! I’m so happy! Were you having fun here with Ronald?” Francisca asked.

“That’s right, the three of us have dinner here many times.”

“And you were talking about philosophy?”

“Yes.”

“If I had known him before. Maybe he needed a woman like me.”

“I think you would have understood each other well,” said Victoria.

“I hope so. So, you philosophized in the kitchen?” Francisca asked.

“Yes. Here they were looking for all kinds of metaphors and analogies.”

“Do you remember any?”

“Yes. Once they came to the conclusion that the only philosophy that explained things about football, and vice versa, was the philosophy of Aristotle,” said Victoria, placing two plates of garlic shrimp on the table.

“Yes, it’s true. Me and my father love it too. Let’s drink to Aristotle,” said Francisca at the same time that she placed her right hand on Victoria’s left thigh.

“Cheers to Aristotle!” Victoria said.

“And for Ronald and Alexandre!” Francisca added.

“Cheers!”

“Tell me what else you did!” Francisca begged.

“Sometimes they lost track of time talking. Several times Ronald stayed here to sleep. Once we had had enough drinks, we all slept in the suite.

“And you just slept?”

“Well… It all started because we had never tried any drugs. We were curious to try something light, so we decided to use a marijuana water pipe that Alexandre had as decoration.”

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“And where is it?”

“In the bedroom.”

“Let’s go to see it.”

“I’ll show it to you later, but the shrimp are getting cold now,” Victoria said and thought, How impulsive!

“Cheers to the shrimp!” Francisca said and thought, Will you fall, little bird, will you fall?

“Cheers!”

“And what happened next? Did you have a good time with marijuana?” Francisca asked.

“Yes. We smoked and started dancing. Everything was spinning around me so I went to bed. I put on my summer pajamas, silk shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt, and I fell asleep face down on top of the bed without covering myself because it was hot. Sometimes I would wake up and hear their voices and laughter coming from the living room.

Their laughter began to contagious me and I began to laugh with them from afar, I didn’t know what about it, but I was crying with laughter there alone on the bed with my naked legs.

They had turned on music when they both entered the bedroom. They walked like Egyptians and when I saw them, they made me laugh until I cried. I stood up on the bed and started imitating them. They were fits of laughter, so great that sometimes we fell; them, to the ground; me, to bed. Then I got off and we continued dancing in the suite. Alexandre approached me and touched his body with mine, but I backed away until at one point I felt my legs touch Ronald’s legs. He was behind me and I felt something other than his legs. It was when they made me the first sandwich and I felt the virility of both of them in my body. We danced and they squeezed and released me, and I surrendered to the pleasure, but nothing more than that happened,” said Victoria.

“How exciting what you’re telling me,” Francisca said, taking a sip of water to calm down.

“That’s right, I got very excited and I would have slept with both of them, but it didn’t happen that way, so we continued dancing and laughing like children.”

“Ronald was like a naughty funny child, right?” Francisca asked.

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“Yes. He was adorable. I wanted to make love to him. His mind was brilliant. The three of us ended up sleeping in the bed that night. When I woke up Ronald was no longer there,” Victoria finished the story and took off her shoes.

“You’re right, let’s get more comfortable,” Francisca said, taking off hers.

________

They had set sail from the Palmas marina five minutes ago when Alexandre looked at his watch.

“These pills are against motion sickness,” Ricardo said, handing them out and taking one. Then he gave each of them a gun and added, “Keep them with you until we get to Barcelona.”

“Until we get to Barcelona? Do you plan to cross the Mediterranean Sea with this storm?” Alexandre asked looking at his weapon.

“It’s the safest thing and the captain said it won’t take more than ten hours,” Ricardo responded.

The luxurious 20-suite yacht was illuminated by distant lightning. Alexandre turned on his recorder when they were in the living room. Yellow kept watch outside. They all wore bulletproof vests and life jackets. They had their weapons loaded and at hand.

After an hour of philosophical topics, they decided to go up on deck and take the recorder. They sat on a terrace looking at the waves that at times seemed terrifying.

“The weather conditions have changed, we may have a little more movement than usual, but nothing to worry about,” said the captain who approached them. “Keep your life jackets on you at all times,” he added and walked out calmly, wearing his impeccable captain’s cap and white suit.

Half an hour later, when Arthur was telling them that Greek sailors sacrificed horses to please Poseidon, so that the god would assure them a safe journey, one of the crew members appeared.

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“The captain prefers that you go down to the deck. It is possible that the tail of the storm will hit us, but don’t worry, just as it comes, so it goes,” he said when a gigantic lightning bolt illuminated the stormy Mediterranean Sea, and all the way to Barcelona.

________

“Don’t you find the force of nature fascinating?” Francisca asked after the colossal lightning had illuminated Barcelona when it was already dusk.

“I love it.”

They were both sitting on the same sofa drinking champagne and looking out the large windows at the great spectacle of lightning falling into the sea.

“Can you imagine what I have in the suitcase?” Francisca asked.

“No. What’s there?”

“Wait for me here and I’ll be back in a minute,” Francisca said.

“Okay,” Victoria replied and saw that Francisca took her pink suitcase and headed to the suite.

Victoria sat on the sofa watching the spectacle of lightning and thunder waiting for the opportunity to unmask Francisca. Had she slept with Alexandre? She had to find out. After a few minutes she heard a voice.

“Are you sitting on the couch?” Francisca asked from the bedroom.

“Yes.”

“Now close your eyes.”

Victoria closed them and a few seconds later she felt Francisca’s hands covering them from behind.

“Do you trust me?” Francisca asked.

“Yes,” Victoria said with some fear.

She felt that Francisca was blindfolding her with a silk scarf. Then she took her hands and helped her to stand up.

She made her walk a few steps and Victoria let herself go.

“Stay still. I’ll play music,” said Francisca.

The music was a smooth and melodic jazz pop, very relaxing, suggestive and mixed with the occasional thunder from the storm.

“I will put you in the position of a Greek goddess,” said Francisca, moving her arms and body until she looked like a sculpture.

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Victoria wore a one-piece dress that covered the middle of her thighs and her statuesque figure was highlighted by her high heels.

“Do you want to play to perceive sensations?” Francisca asked.

“Yes,” she said expectantly and playing along.

“We will be two goddesses. Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Just enjoy your body. Do you agree?”

“Yes.”

“Do you promise me that you will remain still no matter what happens and what you feel?”

“Yes,” she said and thought, Now I will unmask you!

“I’ll start now,” Francisca announced and thought, Will you fall, little bird, will you fall?

Victoria felt tickles in her calves that ran up to her thighs. They were the feathers with which Francisca caressed her body. She made an effort not to move as she walked around her torturing with tickles.

“Can I undress a goddess?” Francisca asked, whispering in her ear.

“Yes,” Victoria said after a long pause, looking for an opportunity and asked. “Are you another goddess?”

“Yes, and as beautiful as you,” Francisca responded, whispering in her ear with her lips pressing against them. Victoria felt an electric shock of pleasure when her breath touched her skin, but she didn’t move. She was waiting for an opportunity to act.

“If one goddess undresses another, will you keep the name of the god I love a secret?” Victoria asked softly.

“Yes. Trust and speak,” said Francisca.

“Alexandre is my Apollo,” said Victoria.

“Oh! Is that what you call your god?”

“Yes.”

“Thanks for trusting me! And what is the name of the goddess who loves him? What is your name?

“I am Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and sensuality, the most beautiful in the Olympic pantheon; married to Hephaestus, lover of the gods and Ares, my favorite. But now my heart belongs to Apollo, the most beloved of Olympus, son of Zeus and Leto, the most revered in the arts, the bow and arrow, the most feared of the gods and contained only by Zeus; my beloved Apollo, the god of music, beauty and perfection, of harmony and balance, of reason and respect for nature, protector of sailors and archers,” said Victoria, waited and asked. “And you, can you pronounce your name?”

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“Venus is my name. I am the daughter of Uranus and his mutilated manhood thrown into the sea, which when mixed with the foam of the waves housed me inside a large sea shell that opened by chance when hitting the rocks of the Mediterranean Sea, and thus I was born. I am the most beautiful, fertile and revered goddess of the Roman festivals; irresistibly desired by all the gods, even by the powerful Jupiter whom I rejected and as punishment forced me to marry Vulcan, the god of fire, the lame and ugliest god. Mars, Poseidon and Mercury are my lovers who enjoy my naked body, who wherever I walk creates life and makes the forests grow and the flowers bloom, I am the one whose anger destroys those who do not adore me.”

“Aphrodite suffers because she doesn’t know an answer,” Victoria said and thought, Finally my opportunity is here!

“Venus wants to relieve your pain. What question does torment you?” Francisca asked when another lightning bolt struck the Mediterranean.

“Can two goddesses share a god?” Victoria asked.

“Yes,” Francisca answered.

“Have you slept with Apollo?”

“No. Do you think he’s hiding something from you?” Francisca asked and thought, “She couldn’t be cuter!

“Yes.”

“If he does it, it’s because he loves you,” said Francisca.

“And should I trust him, even if Venus’s lips seal the message she put in his pocket?” Victoria asked.

“Have you read it?”

“I have seen the seal of Venus.”

“Mercury’s messages are written on two sides,” Francisca said and thought, Oh no! She read it from one side only! Sweetheart!

“I read only one. What did the other said?” Victoria asked surprised.

“The place where Apollo was supposed to go.”

“Where did he go?”

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“None of the gods will answer that question.”

“Why?”

“Because you are Aphrodite, the most beautiful of the goddesses, and we love you and want to take care of you.”

“Take care of what?” Victoria asked and thought, What is happening? What does she and Alexandre want to protect me from?

“Don’t ask and trust! Oh! beloved Aphrodite, you must know that the gods love you and protect you!

“So, can I trust Venus?”

“Absolutely,” said Francisca, She couldn’t be sweeter and more innocent! she thought and her eyes filled with tears.

“Thank you, Venus. Aphrodite no longer suffers,” Victoria said and thought, feeling immense relief, I don’t know what they want to protect me from, but at least I know that they didn’t sleep together. Case closed.

Victoria knew that Alexandre had not cheated on her, behind her back. They had been such painful months that she was on the verge of crying, but she contained herself and remained motionless like a statue, with the black blindfold over her eyes. Francisca observed that her body was trembling. As she watched her attentively, she saw a tear emerge from between her black bandages and fall down one of her cheeks to the ground and, like a missile, it shook Francisca’s soul, causing her eyes to fill with tears as well. Little bird! Little bird! Forgive me! I fall on my knees before you! Francisca knew how to deal with corrupt people, but Victoria’s innocence and integrity had disarmed her. She had to make a great effort to contain the tears that were still overflowing. She felt trapped. She was afraid of falling in love and she fought not to.

“I’m afraid of falling in love,” Francisca said in her ear.

Victoria stood still, not knowing what to do. She felt Francisca’s warm hands on her shoulders as they landed behind her and began to slowly lower the zipper of her dress.

When her body was left with only the blindfold, Francisca made her hold a scale in her left hand and a sword in the other and thought, Are you acting little bird? Do you want to trick me?

She looked at her and took photographs that she could use to blackmail her if necessary as she had done on other occasions. Lightning illuminated her naked body and Poseidon’s lust celebrated her beauty.

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“If this is the tail, what will the storm be like!” Arturo exclaimed, entering the salon of the yacht.

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“We have to finish this chapter today!” Ricardo exclaimed, raising his voice due to the noise of the wind.

“And who says otherwise?” Arturo stated white as paper.

“Here you have more!” Ricardo said, handing them more pills for motion sickness.

Ricardo had become the group’s nurse. Alexandre continued recording and despite the storm they still got the job done. One of the themes they saw was that rational morality began with good selfishness, the decision to seek one’s own happiness first without initiating the use of force or deception with anyone. They differentiated good-selfishness from bad-altruism and compared Machiavelli’s political vision with that of Aristotle.

Arturo said that altruism was not the same as instinctive empathy, but rather a rational ethical error that convinced people to sacrifice the benefits of their actions to give them to strangers.

Alexandre said that man’s happiness was an end in itself and that his moral duty was to achieve self-esteem rather than social status.

The recorder continued recording and Poseidon looked furious.

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Venus’s whisper in Aphrodite’s ear had sent a ray of pleasure through her naked body. Victoria was not afraid and wanted to continue, but she did not expect Francisca to fall in love with her.

Francisca continued with the sensual game, caressing her body with the feather.

“I will take away the scales and the sword and dress you like a goddess, do you agree?” she asked, whispering in its ear again.

“Yes.”

She did it delicately and slowly while, with each lightning bolt, Poseidon bathed Aphrodite in light until she was dressed.

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“You can’t move. One goddess will greet another,” she said, and Victoria felt her lips rest on hers. The game was going too far, but she would hold on a little longer, and without moving a muscle, until she knew more about her. “Now open your eyes,” said Francisca.

Victoria saw that they were both wearing ancient Greek costumes. There were four red candles illuminating the room. Both were standing barefoot on a rug. There were containers of olive oil and honey surrounded by rose petals and seashells.

“This is the altar of the goddess Aphrodite,” Francisca told her. Can I make you an offering?” she asked.

“Yes,” Victoria said and Francisca made her offer speaking.

“Beloved Aphrodite,” she said, “I proudly give you these offerings of honey, roses and olive oil, coming from our land, as well as these shells that come from your marine kingdom.”

“Aphrodite has returned to life thanks to your love and offerings. You have freed the goddess out of the marble!” Victoria said improvising. She walked slowly towards Francisca looking into her wonderful calypso eyes, took her hands and knelt down. Francisca did the same.

“I, Aphrodite, pray to Venus to take my place on my altar,” said Victoria, standing up and guiding Francisca.

“Do you want to be the sculpture of Venus?” Victoria whispered with her lips touching her ears and thought, Here’s your own medicine.

“Yes,” Francisca said, letting herself go and thought, Will you fall, little bird?

“Can I undress your beauty?”

“I wish it.”

Victoria, taking the opportunity to get revenge, didn’t know exactly what, slowly undressed Venus. Her skin was smooth that of a living sculpture that glowed in the candlelight.

“Can I make you an offering? Oh! Beloved Venus!” Victoria asked.

“Yes, you can!” Francisca said and then Aphrodite spoke.

“Oh, beloved Venus,” said Victoria, “Roman goddess of beauty and pleasure, I offer you these offerings of honey, roses and olive oil and these shells that come from your marine kingdom. Can I offer you, my body?” Victoria asked again, improvising and letting herself be carried away by an impulse, but at that moment she remembered her promise and demand for equal conditions to Alexandre.

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She had promised him that she would tell him in advance when she wanted to sleep with another man, but her promise did not include women. She thought, What an ordinary loophole! It wasn’t fair that she did it behind his back. If she decided to try that adventure, she liked more the idea of sharing her with him.

“Yes, you can!” Francisca said, surprised by Victoria who was undressing. She was already used to being disappointed by men and women who on the surface seemed chaste, but were degenerates. She recalled when she was a teenager that a friend of her father had wanted to rape her when she brought him a letter to the hotel where he was staying. She pushed him and when he fell from her, he had hit his head and remained unconscious. She was seventeen years old and never told her father. “Oh, Aphrodite! Do you feel any desire that consumes you?” Francisca asked, tempting her to check if she was the same as all the others and preparing for a new disappointment, a routine to which she was already accustomed and bored.

“Aphrodite will not go further without Apollo. Can we share you?” Victoria asked.

“Yes,” Francisca said, swallowing, and her voice was barely heard when she fell to her knees in front of Aphrodite.

Francisca had verified that Victoria would not do anything behind Alexandre’s back, and he had proven that he would not do anything behind her back. Both had resisted the magic of Venus that bewitched men and women. With tears in her eyes, she thought, Perhaps the world I dreamed exists. She admired them and she wanted to have a relationship like the one they had.

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“Here’s another pill for motion sickness,” said Ricardo, trying to maintain his composure while Alexandre tried to hold himself next to the blackboard to explain the topics with drawings.

“Tell Zeus to calm down!” Arturo exclaimed after a lightning struck the yacht’s lightning rod.

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The storm was at its worst, but they did not give up.

“Did you say we were going to be safer on the high seas?” Arturo claimed to Ricardo.

“I trusted what the captain said” and they laughed until they cried, making jokes about the mistakes of the experts and the authorities.

“Let’s keep going!” Alexandre exclaimed as the yacht moved like a shaker.

They were determined to finish that meeting no matter the cost. The recorder continued recording. Why is it necessary to have a long-term goal? What is the main virtue of man?

They answered those types of questions, despite the movement of the yacht, the lightning of Poseidon and the rays of Zeus that did not stop.

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In Barcelona, the light of Zeus was of lust. He wanted to see the goddesses naked!

“Why do you kneel? Arise, beloved Venus! Do you have any desire for me?” Victoria asked.

“Yes. Oh, beloved Aphrodite! So much so that it consumes my soul, my flesh and my bones!” Francisca said with her eyes bathed in tears as she stood in front of her, “Aphrodite! Your generous and pure soul comforts and torments me! I prostrate myself at your feet!” Francisca exclaimed, she burst into tears and fell to her knees in front of Victoria again, “Do you really want to share Apollo with me?”

“Yes,” Victoria answered.

“Then I will venerate you forever,” said Francisca and kissed her insteps.

“May Zeus seal the agreement and pave the way!” Victoria exclaimed and a lightning struck Barcelona, sealing the divine agreement.

“So be it!” Francisca said still sobbing when she stood up.

Their theatrical performance was over. It had given them the opportunity to express the depths of their souls. It had been a catharsis for both of them. They felt satisfied because, in some way, they had gotten what they wanted.

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They bowed in agreement and Francisca quickly went to the bathroom, she closed the door and once again fell to her knees. I’m afraid of falling in love, she thought, sobbing. She didn’t want to be hurt, but she didn’t want to be left alone either. Will I be worthy of your love? she thought, wondering through her tears.

Victoria got dressed in the living room watching the storm. She was happy to know that Alexandre was faithful to her. She now felt a maternal affection towards Francisca and wanted to protect her, but she didn’t know from what, but at the same time she wanted to be protected by her, and she didn’t know from what either.

“Oh! How intense! Thanks for being the way you are!” Francisca said when she returned to the room.

“Can I hug you?” Victoria asked and she nodded. Francisca swallowed, put her head on her shoulder and began to cry.

“Why are you crying?” Victoria asked.

Francisca did not respond. They didn’t move for a couple of minutes until Victoria’s shoulder was soaked.

“I’m sorry, sometimes I’m very intense. I’m fine,” Francisca said, wiping her tears as if nothing was wrong with her.

Relaxed and encouraged, feeling loved and protected, they talked for a long time watching the spectacle of the storm that went on and on.

“Are we going to put on pajamas?” Francisca asked.

“Yes, pajama-party!” Victoria said, clapping her hands in short taps like a little girl.

Like two schoolgirls they went to the suite, put on pajamas, sat cross-legged on the bed and started talking.

“Do you realize that the Greek goddesses were sensual and erotic like us?” Francisca asked.

“Yes.”

“The Greek gods were represented in naked, erotic bodies, highlighting the beauty of the material world, which is perceived with the senses. That was their secret, they were all beautiful and sensual, how could you not fall in love with them?” Francisca asked.

“It’s true. In some way they sublimed the human libido, but the Judeo-Christian God represses it,” Victoria said.

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“No wonder humanity has declined so much!” Francisca exclaimed and she laughed at those who took vows of chastity and ended up pedophiles.

“I prefer the sensual love of Venus than platonic love,” Victoria said and Francisca looked at her intently as if she were thinking about something.

“Victoria, can I give you a gift?”

“Yes.”

She got up from the bed to his bag that was on the sofa in the suite, took something out and sat in front of her again. She showed her a thick gold chain with a calypso-colored shark’s tooth.

“It’s the color of my eyes, can I give it to you?”

“Yes,” said Victoria and Francisca put it around her neck.

“Oh, thank you,” Victoria said and kissed her hand.

“It’s so that you always remember me and feel loved and protected by Venus,” said Francisca.

Without getting up, she turned his torso to pick up something she had left behind and turned her body towards her again.

“I also want to feel loved and protected by you, if you want it… do you want it?” Francisca asked.

“With all my soul,” Victoria said with a motherly look.

“Then put it on me,” and Francisca handed her another similar gold chain, but with a shark’s tooth the color of Victoria’s eyes, who gave a short speech while putting it on.

“Oh, my beloved Venus! Receive this gift from Aphrodite so that you always feel loved and protected by me.”

The two goddesses were happy to see the shark teeth hanging from their necks. The color of Francisca’s eyes, were in the shark’s tooth that would protect Victoria; the color of Victoria’s eyes, were in the shark’s tooth that would protect Francisca. Their divine friendship was sealed and they continued talking until the next morning when the sun rose, the god of gods, Amun Ra, the one who had made life and man possible. His rays entered and warmed their bodies. The storm had passed and that intense night was beginning to demand a rest. They slept all morning and, almost at noon, Venus told Aphrodite that she was leaving, and Victoria accompanied Francisca to her car where they gave each other a long goodbye hug.

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________

They arrived at the Barcelona marina after noon. Poseidon’s fury had passed. They would never forget the topics discussed in that storm that had been written in their minds by Zeus’ lightning bolts. Alexandre had written it on a piece of paper, in the middle of a storm, and read it aloud after he had said goodbye to Ricardo and Arturo.

“Reason is a value, by choice; thinking, is not automatic; neither happiness nor self-esteem are possible, without a productive goal; to be successful in everything, you have to act according to principles; everything rational, is good; everything irrational, is bad.”

When he arrived at his apartment Victoria told him that Francisca had left an hour ago. He kissed Victoria and noticed that she was sweeter and happier than usual. She saw that a thick gold chain with a calypso shark tooth hung from her neck, making her look even more beautiful. He felt immensely in love. After lunch, they went to rest in bed and fell into the arms of Morpheus, the god of sleep venerated in the Greek oracles and temples of Aesculapius, and whom Zeus punished for revealing secrets to mortals.

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