Preparations for a dance – part two:

Radha Brook stood under the spray of the shower and wished the water were hotter.

Third shower today – hardly a conservative use of the recycled H2O… but the damn Detective had insulted her… deliberately, if her instincts were sharp. The man resented the waste of his time – so he stole some of mine. Not a Companion anymore. True. But – some of the rituals never… you get hardwired – to do… certain things. Leaning against the plexi of the unit she switched the faucet off and let her thoughts, her feelings, her morning and the memory of it, drain away.

For the briefest of moments as the droplets shook loose from her hair, from under her arms, the backs of her legs – for the briefest of moments she felt truly clean – and fresh – just an anonymous young girl – back in the Training House again.

Then the apartments external comm. buzzed and the day collapsed back onto her flesh. Exiting the shower she was unclothed but no longer naked. Distinctions, Companions learned all about them. Walking over the blow square – she picked up the phone with a warm dry hand.

“Radha here,” she said.

………………………………….

Glad as she was to be rid of the meek looking Trainee who had shown her the way, Inara wished they were still walking the hard and shadowed corridors of the inner Temple.

After an unseemly length of time, the girl had escorted Inara to a gate, ( here I go down the oubliette – Inara had thought) fumbling with the keys before opening it.

So, waiting by the High Priestess’ office door was for what? Inara had wondered, to make me sweat? Keep me annoyed? I know why I’m here – and so does She… so why all this… whatever THIS would turn out to be.

Smiling at the Trainee who was pointing her through the gate, Inara ducked her head under the heavy stone of the frame – and entered the gardens beyond.

“Ah, there you are,” the Priestess had said from somewhere in front of her. “Don’t dawdle girl, I treasure the time I get in the garden –