Page 198 (1/1)

I crumpled up the paper and thrust it into , even if I had to walk all the way into the city’s center, for Epiny’s reputation would be co alone with Spink I wasn’t sure that my presence could make it any better, but resolved that I would do what I could Spink would be culled in the co week, just as surely as I would For Epiny to be out with him, and for him then to be dismissed from the Academy, would ruin both their na place behind my books and left I wrapped my muffler round my throat as I ran down the steps

The path fro When I reached it, there were no carriages, but an enterprising boy with a pony cart aiting there The pony was spotted and the cart smelled of potatoes Given a choice, I never would have ridden in it I handed over to the boy the ridiculous fare he demanded and h the chill streets The cold wind burned pastI pulled my hat down and turned ot to the center of the city, the more evident the holiday became Streets that would ordinarily have been deserted in the cold and dark were thronged with people Holiday lanterns with cutouts of capering nightshades, the lustful andin the s or beside the doors of almost every establishment The intersections were jammed with pedestrians and the traffic thickened as every conveyance in the city see before we reached the Great Square, I could hear the noise of the crowd and see the haze of light that it put into the night sky I s notes of a calliope co about her lost love When our pony cart wedged for the third ti traffic, I shouted over the din to the driver that I was getting out and left them there

I moved a little faster on foot, but not much The crowd eddied and swirled around me, and I was often carried sideith the flow of people Many of the ed Gold chains lass jewels sparkled on wrists and throats Others had painted their faces so extravagantly that the lights glistened off the thick layers of greasepaint I saw all reat deal of undress, too Muscular young h the crowds, estive remarks to women and men alike, much to the merriment of all within earshot There o out the tops of their gowns likefro tongues and arched brows over gilded al until I felt like I ih the morass of merrymakers

A vendor bumped into rinned wildly up at ed, "Sa sir? It’s free! Take a taste" A domino mask of silver paper and her red-painted lips were her only disguise She held her tray with both hands at chest height Dark grapes, red cherries, and strawberries surrounded two i the tray at ainst my chest

I sturessiveness and foolishly said, "No thank you, e but they are surely well past their season" Everyone around me roared as if I had made a fine jest while she pursed her lips and then stuck out her tongue at ilt crown and a cheap cloak of thin velvet, his nose red with drink, pushed past me to the vendor "I’ll taste your fruit, my dear!" he bellowed, and to my shock, he lowered his face into the tray andnoises while the wohtedly A aslit scene The bodice and sleeves of her dress were painted onto her skin, with a collar and cuffs of lace to coe The "peaches" on her "tray" were actually her powdered and painted breasts surrounded by wax fruit on a ledge of stiffened fabric She was as good as naked I smothered an excla with the gawking crowd The wo hiently pinched the nipple of one in his teeth and shook it playfully as she squealed delightedly Never had I seen such a display of wanton licentiousness, nor witnessed folk gleefully encourage it Suddenly I thought of Epiny in such a place and the sotten Epiny in the pageantry of the Dark Evening holiday Now I turned and pushed my way out of the knot of spectators I knew I must find Epiny, and quickly