That sounds just fine to Monique but Moi laughs. “You’ve no idea what hot water that can get you into.”
“When I was searching for some way to get it under control, my mind went back to some of my island’s childhood myths; our parents didn’t have the same hang-ups about talking to their kids you get in the West. My mother used to recount the story of the Hjetari, a mythical cult exclusive to women, whose founders had been driven from their privileged positions as priestesses on Lesbos. After a long and dangerous voyage across the Indian Ocean, they had become marooned on our islands where they had devoted themselves to mastering control of the sexual functions through meditation and extraordinarily disciplined exercise. Their High Priestess was reputed to be a hermaphrodite who could rejuvenate or age at will. Although one story maintained that they procreated exclusively amongst themselves, another said that they seduced faithless young men, used them to father their children before disposing of them. The latter was most often told to boys as a warning, the former to girls though everyone had heard both.
This might all seem far-fetched but many mystics through the ages have tried to influence the workings of their physical systems through the power of the mind; pain control is the one you will most likely have heard of. If the Hjetari still existed, perhaps they could help me.”
“I take it you succeeded,” interrupts Monique.
“Yes, and no. To cut a long story short, I got no help or encouragement from the high priestess who feared the temptations of modern life. I had given up all hope when Shoda simply came knocking on my door. She was a recent initiate to the highest level of the priesthood who, unknown to me, had quarrelled with the high priestess over whether my discoveries should be used or ignored. She risked all to escape and since then she has been my guide, teacher and friend."
"So the answer to your question is months,years of intensive training under the guidance of Sensei Shoda during which you will gradually learn to control your own reproductive and sexual systems and indeed those of others. I suspect you will find you have talents which even I have not dreamt of. But we shall see! You start tomorrow."
Mon Jul 12 07:11:03 1999