A night in the desert

" The soothsayers' perfume !
Yes, one of them was here and right by my side, leaning over me. "

His presence brought him a certain pleasure…
Bab Ilim stopped trying to defend himself.
The smell was sweet and bewiitching. Delicious.
The neophyte knew nothing on love matters but felt a pleasurable sensation when he held him down.
- He thought he was armed-
Finally the man let go of his fists.

The soothsayer still smelt delicious and sweet.
" More, more " thought the boy.

His gold bracelets were digging in and hurting him.
Bab heard him crying out with sounds of pleasure.
It was already too late.
He saw him slipping away in the moon light.
He had got something in his hand.

"- Soothsayer, are you going to tell what the mystery of tonight is about ? "

Bab Ilim could hear him sniggering away.

"The soothsayer? But which one?
And why is he sniggering in such an awful way... and alone ?
But why was he alone?

That was the very first time that the soothsayers weren't together "

Haunted by these questions, during this unexpected night, and filled with the commotion of his unquenched desire,
once again, Bab Ilim dreamt of the happiness of being a woman.  

Page 102 of the manuscript