For the Pleasure of Men Read Online Free PDF Page B

belonged to her sister Hagne, a small gold necklace that Gaia had given her as a child, two worn and tattered books and her meager earnings that she had made from her paltry share of client fees. At least Gaia gave the women shares, most brothel owners did not.
    Gaia was waiting for her in the hallway and Kalliope looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. Gaia hugged her tightly and pulled her into her room. The small room made Kalliope’s heart ache as she thought of the years she spent sleeping there beside Gaia.
    “You are not my blood, but you are my daughter,” Gaia said. She had a package wrapped in tissue paper. “Take these dresses. They have been hidden in my closet. They were my mother’s.”
    “Gaia, I can’t –’’
    “Take them,” she insisted. Kalliope took the package and peeled back a sliver of tissue.
    She gasped.
    “Gaia! I can’t take these!” she exclaimed.
    The dresses were made of the finest fabric she had ever seen.
    “Yes, you can. They are much too fine for this place.”
    Gaia never spoke of her past and Kalliope was now desperate to know how Gaia’s mother had come to own such riches.
    Gaia produced a pouch from the inside of her dress. “This is your share for your purchase.”
    Kalliope looked at her quizzically. “I don’t get a share.”
    “Yes, you do. The soldier paid me more money than I have ever seen before. He was determined to have you, a sentiment of how special you truly are. I took more than enough, and if I choose, I can walk away from this brothel at any time and I will have no financial worries.”
    Kalliope stared at Gaia in disbelief. Could her strange customer truly have paid that much for her?
    “Take your share, Kalliope, and hide it well. It is a sizeable amount. I’m sure you will make good money in Athens. Guard your money wisely and you could become quite wealthy one day.”
    Kalliope took the heavy change purse and she thought of how obscene it sounded to consider herself wealthy. All of her anger quickly faded and she threw her arms around Gaia.
    “I love you, Thea Gaia,” she whispered. Gaia pushed Kalliope’s hair from her face and kissed her forehead lovingly.
    “I love you, my kori”
    Kalliope choked back a sob as she turned away from the woman who had raised her and loved her, and she slowly made her way outside.
     
    * * *
     
    The soldier was waiting for her outside, and a handsome brown horse stood behind him.
    “Good morning,” he said, as he took Kalliope’s bag from her and carefully hung it over the side of the horse.
    “Good morning, sir” Kalliope said shyly.
    The man chuckled. He looked younger and less serious in the daylight. “You do not have to call me sir now.”
    He hoisted Kalliope onto the horse and then he pulled himself up beside her.
    “I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Orestes.”
    “Nice to meet you.”
    Orestes flashed her a bright smile and then kicked the horse, which promptly took off.
    It had been quite some time since Kalliope had been on a horse, but she held on tightly to Orestes and watched her small village fly by. Soon, they had left the outer limits of her village and Kalliope knew they were heading towards the sea. Kalliope had never seen the sea, but she knew the direction in which it lay, and she had to admit that she was excited to lay eyes on the water.
    Within an hour, the sea came into view and Kalliope made a small sound of excitement.
    “Have you ever seen the sea?” Orestes asked, leaning his head back to hear her answer.
    “No!”
    Orestes hurried along and soon they were dismounting at the water’s edge. The water lazily lapped at the shore and Kalliope moved closer to examine it. The water was bright and calm and she longed to touch it.
    “Go ahead,” Orestes said, “wade in. But not too far since you obviously can’t swim.”
    Kalliope kicked off her sandals, and pulled her peplos up. She waded into the water and she shrieked when the cold water surrounded her