The man slowly walked toward him. Passing by the basket of mushrooms, he picked it up without taking his eyes off Deniska, then found a stick by touch and immediately broke into a run. He rushed towards him. His running resembled hurdling because when he encountered an obstacle, he would swing his leg forward and jump over the bumps at high speed. Mushrooms fell out of the basket on both sides, but he paid no attention to them. He held the stick like a spear at his side. At times, he could see a white strip of belly because his clothes bounced up as he ran and covered his face. Deniska froze and, before he had time to be frightened or surprised, a man stood in front of him and smiled broadly. It turned out to be a very pretty young woman. She immediately tilted her head to one side, took off her hair clip, and let her blond hair fall onto her shoulders. "It's her! The tall woman from my dream," Deniska thought. Deniska looked up at her. Her height reminded him of Zinaida, his chemistry teacher at the technical college. Her face had regular features, and she radiated power and kindness. A soft smile appeared on her face.
-Hello. Don't be afraid of me. I'm lost. Who are you here with?
-Hello. I'm not afraid.
Only now was Deniska able to get a better look at her. Her body was clad in a blue tracksuit. Her high hips were a slender group of muscles that transitioned into broad glutes and curved beautifully into her waist. The white zipper on her tracksuit was unzipped almost enough to allow him to see the dividing line of her breasts, whose lush forms protruded through the fabric and caught his attention.
"Such large breasts. They bounced as she ran and covered her face," he noted to himself. Noticing his gaze on her chest, she pulled the zipper up. After fastening it, she straightened up and tried to compose herself. She took his hand and shook it. Deniska was flustered and silent, as he was still impressed by her figure. Seeing Deniska's frozen gaze, the woman continued to question him.
Maria: youtube.com/
-I am Maria Vladimirovna. Are you local?
Deniska took a breath to answer, but couldn't and just looked at her with admiration. Her body proportions were evidence of years of training and gave her elegance and grace. Her appearance expressed not only physical strength, but also femininity, which manifested itself in beauty and self-confidence. Seeing that Deniska had frozen and was confused, she sat down, and when their heads were at the same level, he felt a pleasant floral scent coming from her hair. "Yes, she's even taller than Zinaida. She's definitely an athlete. She has such shoulders and breasts, and her face is very pretty," Deniska noted to himself.
-No. We're here at the dacha to relax.
-Oh, how nice. I'm also relaxing at the dacha. I went mushroom picking this morning and haven't been able to get home. What's your name?
-Denis.
-Denis, who are you here with?
-There are three of us here.
-Well, let's go. May I hold your hand? I still can't believe I've met a person.
She stood up, and they walked together, holding hands. Vera and Ira waited for Deniska and immediately heard a conversation in the distance and recognized a woman's voice.
-Well, here's Verchik. You weren't wasting your time looking through your monocular all day today, sensing that we would meet someone.
-Yes. I know myself that this is what I was waiting for.
They became curious about who it could be and went out to meet Deniska. From their hiding place in the hazel bushes, a tall woman of about 37 was walking toward them. She and Deniska were holding hands. Vera couldn't determine her exact height. "Six feet, six feet, no less," she thought. Her athletic and at the same time large build could not fail to surprise. "She's a coach, probably," Ira thought.
-Hello. Here I am, holding on to my savior's hand, afraid that it was all just my imagination and that I will be left alone in the forest again.
-Are you lost?
The woman came very close to Vera and Ira and held out her hand for a handshake.
-Maria Vladimirovna. Just call me Maria. Yes, I'm lost. I left home at seven in the morning and have been wandering around the forest ever since.
-Vera, this is my friend.
-Ira.
They shook hands. Everyone stood in a semicircle. Maria looked closely at Vera, then at Ira, and turned to Vera.
-Are you his sister? You look alike.
Vera felt her face flush. She was pleased to be mistaken for Deniska's sister.
-Mom.
-You're both so young, it's easy to get confused. Which line are you on? I'm on the 2nd line, 3rd Dachnaya Street, 7.
-I see. You're from the new village, where the new dachas are. And we're from the old village.
Vera gave the address of their house.
-It's a twenty-minute brisk walk from our house to the beginning of the new dachas.
-Your village is behind the store. That doesn't scare me. I'm just glad I met you. I was already thinking I'd have to spend the night in the woods. I felt someone looking at me, turned around, and saw Denis staring at me. At first, I thought I was imagining things, but then I ran up to him and realized it was real and I was saved.
She pulled Denis toward her, hugging him by the shoulders, and he fell on her like a feather.
-My savior.
Ira replied.
-Yes, that's how he is. He's there when you need him. Maria, I'll walk you from our house. It's very close from the store we go to the new country village.
Continuing their conversation, they set off on their way back. When they reached the lake, Maria stopped and looked around.
-My God, how beautiful. This is an untouched forest. I've never been here before.
-Yes, it's very beautiful here, and the water is warm. We come here to swim and sunbathe.
Deniska did not participate in the conversation, but only listened. At first, he walked behind them, carrying nothing. His mother and Ira took his bag and basket. Ira walked in front, followed by Maria. For a while, Mom and Deniska walked side by side, or she let him walk ahead, bringing up the rear. At such moments, Deniska couldn't help but notice Maria's large buttocks. He couldn't take his eyes off them, as the two halves moved so unusually before his eyes. Thanks to her tall and strong legs, Maria's figure looked perfectly athletic. In those moments, Maria probably felt his gaze, she turned around and looked him in the eyes, and he was embarrassed and blushed. He tried to switch his thoughts to other topics, but he was not very successful. Maria worked as a pediatrician in Yegoryevsk and was the head of the pediatric department at the clinic. When asked about her physical condition, she replied that she had been involved in professional sports since childhood and had been a member of the Soviet Union's national athletics team during her student years. She specialized in shot put. After getting married and having a daughter, she decided to graduate from medical school. Then came work. Her daughter is already an adult. She got married and moved away with her husband. Her son-in-law is in the military. Now she is alone. Her husband has another family. She is on vacation at her dacha. She also often comes to the dacha on weekends. Deniska noted the very pleasant velvety tone of her voice and her correct speech.
Mom and Ira also talked about their dacha and their work. Deniska immediately understood that they would become friends. As they talked, they passed the place where they crossed the stream to the other side as they approached the first lake. They stopped.
-Iri, we can't cross here. I can't jump.
-Yes, we'll have to go back. I got distracted and missed our crossing.
-So we need to get to the other side? Let me help you.
She approached Deniska.
-Deniska, you're the lightest. Hold me around the neck.
Deniska didn't have time to answer. She picked him up like a child and sat him on her arm. Vera opened her mouth in surprise and wanted to object, but she didn't have time. Denis hugged her neck, and she carried him across the dry islands to the other side and set him down. Then she carried their things in one trip.
-Now it's your turn, one at a time.
She squatted down with her back to Vera and Ira.
-Hold on to my neck and lie on your back.
Vera and Ira exchanged glances. It had been a long time since anyone had carried them in their arms. Ira approached first. She wrapped her arms around Maria's neck and leaned against her back. Maria took her under the knees and stood up. Ira wrapped her legs wide around Maria's torso, trying to grasp Maria's broad buttocks. With the same quick jumps across the dry land, she carried Ira to the other side and lowered her feet next to Deniska. A minute later, Vera was standing next to them. Ira smiled as Vera sat on top of Maria with her eyes closed.
Opening her eyes and seeing that she was already next to Ira, Vera tried to thank her.
-Thank you, Maria. You are so strong.
Maria smiled and looked down at the whole group.
-Don't mention it. Everyone has been saying that to me since childhood. That's why they took me up in athletics. Let's be informal. It's easier to communicate that way.
Ira approached her and shook her hand.
-Thank you. If we had been alone, we would have had to go back because of my yawn.
Deniska realized that he also needed to thank Maria. He found her hand and shook it.
-Thank you.
Maria also shook his hand and smiled. He didn't dare to address her informally. "It's easier for me to address her formally for now," he decided. After crossing to the other side of the stream, they all took a great liking to her. Near the first lake, after finding their baskets of mushrooms, they decided not to go for strawberries so they could get home faster. Deniska remembered how Maria had run to him. Half of her mushrooms had spilled out then. He looked at her basket of mushrooms. There was less than half left. On the way back, he walked alongside everyone, but slightly to the side. He picked mushrooms. He was very lucky, and by the time he left the forest, he had no less than twenty new honey mushrooms. Approaching the house, Vera and Ira showed him where they lived.
Ira placed her basket on a bench near the well and was about to see Maria off, as it was her first time in this part of the village. Deniska approached Maria and reached for her basket of mushrooms.
-May I?
Maria, wondering why he wanted her basket, handed it to him. Deniska squatted down and placed his basket next to it.
-I picked these mushrooms for you on my way back, since yours spilled out near the lake.
He transferred all the new mushrooms into Maria's basket. All the new mushrooms were large, and the basket was filled to the brim.
-Denis, come on. Well, thank you for the mushrooms and for finding me in the forest. I owe you one.
He noticed that she was calling him Denis. "That's fine. I like it," he thought. She pulled him toward her by the shoulders and hugged him, pressing him close. Vera, seeing this affection, did not object. She liked Maria. They said goodbye. Maria and Ira walked toward the center of the village, and soon they were out of sight. At home, they immediately took the mushrooms to the room near the shower and placed them near the benches. After washing her hands, Vera started preparing dinner. After thinking for a moment, she decided to boil some pasta and make a salad with onions, boiled eggs, and sour cream. Standing by the stove, she remembered how Maria had mistaken her for Deniska's sister. "I think she wanted to compliment me. She succeeded." Deniska hung up his wet clothes to dry, emptied his bags, and went outside.
Vera took her pocket mirror and stood in front of the window. She examined her face carefully. "The skin on her chin and cheekbones was tight. Her eyes? Clear. So, what do we have under them? She stroked the skin around her eyes with her fingers. There were no wrinkles or unevenness. Her forehead? She raised her eyebrows. Small wrinkles had appeared, but they looked completely different from a couple of months ago in the city. Lips?" She pursed them and turned her head from side to side, and was very pleased with the result. Her face was fresh, her skin clear with a pleasant tan. Her eyes were particularly expressive. The whites of her eyes were white and her irises were bright and shiny. Deniska came in. Seeing his mother in front of the mirror, he didn't distract her and went to his bed. He remembered the way to modernize his bed, which had suddenly come to him in the forest. He crawled under the bed, lay on his back, and began to look. "This is how I'll fill the boards. Opposite, there will be a long one for the entire length of the bed, and the boards from my bed will slide into it. I move the bed, the boards come out and remain on the longitudinal board. Everything should work out." Deniska approached his mother. Vera, seeing Deniska, quickly finished her examination. Her heart was rejoicing. She was very pleased with her appearance. "Ira is right. All the new exercises, fresh air, and walks in the forest contribute to rejuvenation." She thought about the female Yin and male Yang, the interaction of energies.
"Deniska, we owe him so much. He doesn't even realize it himself." She sat down by the window, put the mirror aside, took Deniska by the hand, and pulled him toward her. She buried her face in his T-shirt and pressed him close to her. His friend pressed against her chest and stomach. She felt the bulge under his clothes. Lifting her head, she looked into his eyes.
-Son, did you want something?
Deniska saw that her eyes were shining with tears. He hugged her shoulders.
-Mom, what's wrong? Is it because of me?
-Everything's fine. No, don't be silly. Everything has changed so much lately. But I like it.
She pulled him close to her.
-Mom, I wanted to tell you that I know how to make the greedy fish practice so that it's comfortable for you. I suddenly had an idea in the forest.
-Really? How?
He told her about his plan.
-When the beds are pushed apart, you can put a pillow or blanket between them. I'll lie there, and you can get closer to each other without lying on me, and I'll be between you.
-Son, I think I understand you. I don't even know if we have any boards. You'll have to saw so much. Can you do it? In principle, I don't mind.
-Mom, I can do it.
-If you need my help, call me.
-Yes, okay.
Ira came soon after.
-I walked her to the store. Honey, Maria sent you her thanks again. How did you find her in the forest?
-I wasn't looking for her. I was returning to our spot and saw her in the distance. It was her tracksuit, with the letters "USSR" in large letters. She turned around and started looking for who was watching her. She saw me and then ran towards me. I didn't even have time to figure out who she was and why she was running. She rushed by like lightning and sat down next to me. It was her in my dream. I recognized her immediately.
-Really!? That's amazing. It's easy to get lost in our forest. Irina, wash your hands, everything is ready.
They had dinner. After dinner, Ira and Vera quickly cleaned up and went to clean the mushrooms. Deniska worked out on the horizontal bar, practiced the latest moves shown to him by
Ira, and then joined them. After hanging the mushrooms to dry, they were completely free by eight o'clock in the evening. Vera stretched out on the bed.
-It's nice when there's nothing left to do.
In the evening, they watched the news and then settled down on a blanket on the floor.
-Son, come and do some asanas with us.
-Yes, I'll be right there.
Deniska sat down on the floor and started with the mudras that his mother and Ira had been doing. Each time, Ira gave them fewer and fewer hints. They had already mastered the technique and simply froze in the pose, holding their breath. After finishing the exercises, Deniska was the first to take a shower. As soon as Deniska came out, Ira and Vera got ready and went to the second room.
-Verchik, you go first, and I'll sit on the bench and do the Bhadra asana.
-Yes, okay. I won't be long.
-Don't rush. Honey, you can do your male exercises on the bed for now.
She pulled him closer and whispered softly in his ear.
-Don't be lazy, do them. They are very good for male health and male strength.
-Yes, Ira. I understand. I'll go do them.
After completing all the exercises, he was free and waited for Vera and Ira. Deniska assumed that since they had done a lot of exercises at the lake, all that would be left for them to do in the evening was massage. That's how it turned out. Vera lay down at Ira's feet and gave her a massage, and then they switched places. Vera said it was easier for her that way. Ira didn't object. She was always ready to help her friend. Deniska did not interfere with them. He lay there and recalled the day. He was filled with a feeling of warmth and desire to do something for his mother and Ira. It had to be something good, very good. He did not understand himself. He remembered how Maria zipped up her sweatshirt, hiding the open slit at her chest. He remembered her buttocks moving as she walked in front of him. He caught himself thinking that he wanted to touch everything with his hands. While he was figuring himself out and thinking whether it was good or bad, he didn't notice his mother approaching.
-Son, are you awake?
-I'm getting ready to sleep.
-We're going to bed too. Thanks to you, we did all our exercises in the forest today. We are very grateful to you. She leaned over and kissed him.
Ira crawled over to Deniska from her side of the bed, and he felt her hand under the blanket and her squeeze of his hand.
-Good night, honey.
-Good night.
Vera turned off the light and lay down in the middle of her bed. "Today was a busy day." Vera remembered what had happened to her during the day. She closed her eyes and tried to look at herself from above. "Nothing works. Why?" She couldn't find the answer. She remembered her meeting with Maria. As she went over the events of the past day in her mind, she fell asleep. Ira also remembered the events of the past day. She remembered her conversation with Maria when she saw her off. Such a kind and hard-working woman. When she was left alone, she continued working on her dissertation and defended it. Ira didn't ask her why she and her husband had separated, but Maria herself said that he had left her for a young student she was coaching. In the morning, Deniska's mother woke him up.
-Densika, wake up. We're going for a run, are you coming with us?
Densika sat up and didn't immediately realize that it was already morning. For him, time had passed in an instant. He had fallen asleep, and now they were waking him up.
-Yes, Mom, I'm coming with you.
He looked around. Ira was putting on her sweatpants and pulling them up by the elastic waistband. They fit her figure beautifully and snugly. The sight of her woke him up completely, and he went outside. There was no sun. The sky was covered with a gray veil. After washing, he quickly got dressed. Vera closed the door and put the key in a secret place.
Before the run, Ira drew their attention to the following.
-We know two centers and before, we concentrated first on the lower Dan Tian, and then on the stomach. Now we are conducting energy through these two centers in a circle. Almost everything is the same as before, only the concentration on the centers. Honey, do you remember the path of energy flow?
-Well, yes, sort of.
Denis hadn't fully woken up yet and was having trouble thinking clearly.
-We start at the coccyx and follow the Back Middle Meridian to the top of the head, and then follow the Front Middle Meridian from the top of the head to the coccyx. We focus mainly on the stomach and the lower Dan Tian.
-Ira, I understand.
-Yes, Irina. I don't know much about it, but now I understand everything.
-Excellent. All ancient texts indicate that there are three gates on this path that are difficult for energy to pass through. I'll tell you about them right away so you know. When the energy is in the tailbone, we must squeeze the perineal muscles so that the energy does not pass into the legs. Do not stop at the point on the back opposite the heart when accompanying the energy, that is, try to pass through it faster. The back of the head also requires extra attention to get the energy through it. That's all. Let's run.
After the run, they did some stretching, and then they all went to the cottage, where they did the "Sun Salutation" exercise. While Mom and Ira were making breakfast, Deniska was doing exercises on the horizontal bar. After breakfast, they agreed on a plan of action for the day. After going to the store, they planned to stop by Kuzmich's place and pick up a cat hook from him. Before leaving, Vera turned to Deniska.
-Son, if you're going to be doing any crafts, be careful. Take care with your hands when using cutting tools.
-Yes, Mom. Okay.
-Honey, what do you want to build?
Deniska briefly told Ira that he was planning to slightly modernize the bed, which would allow them to do the fish exercise that Ira had told him about. After listening to him, Ira gave him some advice.
-Get your boards ready, and we'll attach them together. You can't work under the bed alone. Maybe we'll have to turn them over completely.
-Yes, you're right. It will be easier with two of us, of course. I won't attach them myself.
-Ira, that's good advice. I didn't think it would be inconvenient to attach them alone.
Ira and her mother left. First, Deniska took a tape measure from the box under the sewing machine. He climbed under the bed with a flashlight and began to figure out if it was possible to improve it. He measured the width and length of the lower part of the bed. Sitting down at the table, he transferred the measurements to paper. He measured the width of his body at its widest point at the bottom. That was how far the boards should extend, with part of them remaining and held by a long longitudinal board. After making a drawing, he checked everything again. "Okay, now it all depends on the size of the boards. Mom said to look for them on the roof of the barn on the side, somewhere near the roof." Climbing onto the roof, he found what he needed surprisingly quickly. Lowering the boards to the ground through the upper door for loading hay, he settled down near the barn and marked them for sawing.
To make sure they were evenly spaced, he measured out ten pieces so that they would fit snugly along the bed. When Ira and Vera came through the gate, Deniska heard their voices. By that time, he had finished sawing and was sitting down to rest. He was hot. In fact, it was the first time in his life that he had done so much sawing. Luckily, the saw was sharp, and he got the job done pretty easily. He went out to meet them and took their bags.
-Son, we're out of luck. Kuzmich came, but he doesn't have a hook. He gave his to Grandma Polina, but hers broke too. He was going to go to the workshop himself and order a new one. The workshop used to be at our train station, but it closed this year, so he put off the trip.
-Too bad. Then we'll have to look in the old wells. No one needs them there anyway.
-We'll have to.
-Honey, Maria says hi. We saw her in the store. She invited us over and wants to treat us to some pie.
-Really? Cool! We can go, the weather's cloudy anyway.
-Let's go for four hours. I'll take her a jar of cherry jam. Son, be ready by half past three, we'll be leaving." It's not good to be late.
-Yes, I understand. I'll be ready.
Ira asked how he was doing with sawing the boards. Seeing the blanks, Ira touched them with her hand.
-They're rough. I suggest wrapping them in cloth and securing it on the sides with small nails with wide heads.
-Yes. That would be great. I didn't think that was possible. At first, I thought about sanding them down, but I've never really worked with a plane before. I don't even know if we have one here. This way, we'll cover up all the unevenness.
That's what we decided. Ira made a sample cut and used it to cut the fabric into pieces. Deniska found some suitable nails and started attaching the fabric to the boards. Ira and Vera took their hoes and started working on the flower bed. The flowers they had planted had sprouted, and they decided to spruce everything up. They replanted some things to make it look nicer. The time flew by until three o'clock. Deniska put his unfinished work aside.
-Verchik, I think we should probably make some salad and take it with us. We'll treat Maria and eat ourselves. We haven't had lunch yet.
-Yes, Irish. Definitely.
They loved salad with green onions, eggs, and sour cream, so they decided to make it and take it with them. They added parsley to the salad, which grew abundantly in their garden. Vera took some cherry jam to put on the table with tea. Having managed to prepare the planned meal, they quickly decided what to wear. Putting on light summer dresses, they were ready. Deniska admired their slender figures as they quickly changed, pinned up their hair, and looked in the mirror. They left on time. By 4 p.m., they were already on the second line. Streets branched off to the left and right at intervals. They reached 3rd Street.
-Now look to the right so Maria explained.
-Mom, here are the numbers.
Each gate on the property had a diamond-shaped sign with a number on it. Here is the diamond with the number 7.
They stood behind the gate and looked for Maria behind the fence. There was no doorbell. They knocked on the gate. Silence. Ira decided to draw attention to herself.
-Maria, are you here?
Maria appeared from behind the porch door. Seeing everyone, she smiled warmly.
-Come in. There's a latch on the other side, open it and come in." I'm here, behind the stove. I was just checking the potatoes. They're almost ready.
They climbed the steps and entered a small corridor that also served as a kitchen. There was a small refrigerator, a two-burner stove, and a table where Maria cooked. She was wearing an apron over a blue and daisy-colored housecoat. Deniska couldn't help but notice her gorgeous figure again. Every movement she made exuded strength.
-Hi, Deniska. Come into the room, I'll be right there.
-Hello.
Deniska turned right and entered the room. Vera whispered to Ira that she should go with Deniska, and she would help Maria here. There wasn't much space, so two people could pass each other in the kitchen, but not three. In the room stood a table set with plates and forks. Denis immediately noticed the shelves with cups engraved with texts about victories in various competitions. On the walls were certificates and diplomas. On some of the cups, medals hung in bundles of several pieces. There were many first places here.
"Diploma. Awarded to..." The surname and first name were written very illegibly. He couldn't read the surname. If he hadn't known Maria's name, he wouldn't have been able to make it out. "...Maria For first place in the Workers' Spartakiad..."
-Maria is so athletic. So many awards.
-Yes, well done.
Deniska's mother called him.
-Son, help us, put it on the table.
Deniska went to his mother. Vera handed him the plates, and he took two steps, one of which was across the threshold, and put the plates on the table. Ira was nearby, adjusting the plates. Hot potatoes with butter, salted cucumbers, pickled tomatoes and cabbage, several salads, sliced sausage and cheese. Maria put a bottle on the table. It looked like homemade wine or liqueur. Deniska commented.
-It's like a birthday.
Maria smiled.
-Well, yes, almost. We're celebrating the day I was saved.
Maria was a hospitable hostess. She helped everyone fill their plates with food and only then served herself.
-Son, pour us all some. Pour yourself some too, but if it's strong, just take one sip, no more.
-Mom, I'm not a honey anymore. I can have some.
Denis poured everyone small glasses. It was homemade grape wine. Everyone liked it very much. Its ruby color was mesmerizing, and the pleasant aftertaste made them take frequent small sips. There was only one toast, and then everyone washed down their food with this wonderful drink.
-Maria, what kind of wine is this? What kind of grapes is it made from?
-The grape is called Amursky. I really like it too. It's a northern grape variety. It easily withstands our frosts and bears fruit well.
Ira, hearing the word Amursky, continued.
-I know this variety. Where I used to live, this variety grows right in the taiga. If it climbs a cedar tree, it reaches the very top. As far as I know, it's a medicinal grape.
-Yes, that's quite possible.
-Iri, what does it treat?
-It is considered one of the best for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The local elders in the Amur taiga use the leaves, twigs, and seeds to prepare food and infusions.
Unnoticed amid the conversation, the food was gone. After drinking her second glass, Vera felt a certain lightness and distraction in her head.
-I think I'm tipsy. I don't remember this happening to me before.
-Let's go out for some fresh air, Maria suggested.
-I'll show you the grapes and the plot itself.
They left the table and followed Maria one by one. Maria led them along the path and showed them where and what she was growing. She answered questions and led them further. She showed them the grapes, which grew on a homemade metal square mesh and rose almost to the height of the chimney of the cottage. The dacha plot was six acres. In the opposite corner from the cottage, diagonally across, was a shed. It housed garden tools, a toilet, and a bathhouse. Everyone looked inside the bathhouse. It was lined with wooden planks and smelled unusually fragrant from the scent of pine. Vera sighed.
-It smells like pine resin. Wow, it's beautiful. I've never been in a bathhouse before.
-Come in.
Maria entered the dressing room first, inviting them to come in. Immediately to the left was a bench that stretched all the way to the wall. At the end were shelves and a hanging cabinet with closed doors. Loofahs and brooms hung on hooks. Soap dishes and other accessories lay on the shelves. The door to the bathhouse was in the middle on the right. In the far right corner was a stove for heating the bathhouse. Behind the bench opposite the stove was a small oblong window at head level. Everything was covered with wood except for the stove. It was made of brick. In the bathhouse, to the left opposite the stove, was a cast-iron vat for water. At its very edge was a tap with a rubber hose that allowed water to be poured from it into various containers. Behind the vat, closer to the stove, was a mesh containing stones that rose up between the brick wall of the stove and the bathhouse itself, almost to the ceiling. Maria explained that they were heated and used to generate heat and steam in the bathhouse. Water was supplied to the bathhouse from a common tank near the well. Deniska liked how it all worked and decided to figure out what was wrong with their bathhouse. "Mom said that the bricks in the stove needed to be replaced. I've decided everything, it needs to be restored." Opposite the tank, in the corner, there was a bench against the wall. On it were a wooden ladle and two wooden buckets. Maria said that the benches in the bathhouse are located in different temperature zones.
Opposite the door, across the entire width to the right, was a narrower bench, and right next to it was a passage to the top wide shelf, where two people could comfortably sit or lie down. Deniska noticed that the ceilings in the bathhouse were high and made for tall people. Opposite the door, on the opposite wall at the top, there was a small rectangular window, just like in the dressing room.
-I'd turn on the light, but it doesn't work. I keep meaning to call an electrician, but I keep putting it off. The bulbs blew out, and I can't screw in new ones.
-Will you take a look, son?
-Yes, of course. I'll bring some tools from home tomorrow and come and fix it.
-Really? You know how? Thank you. Come over, I'll be waiting. There's a bench on the right too. This is the coolest area.
-Vera, if you want, come to my place, all of you, and we'll have a bath day. You won't regret it. At home, my mother used to say, "On the day you bathe, you don't age."
For Vera, this was a compelling argument in favor of the bathhouse.
-Yes, but is that okay? There are a lot of us, it's too much trouble for you.
-What trouble? Just help me prepare the firewood. And get some water, there's a pump that pumps water into the tank, and from the tank it flows into the vat. Just turn on the tap and that's it. Come, don't even think about the inconvenience.
Ira herself wanted to take a steam bath.
-Maria, thank you for your offer. We'll be happy to come to your place. When can we come?
-I think we'll decide tomorrow. I hope we'll fix the lights at home and in the bathhouse, and we'll agree on a time.
After inspecting the bathhouse, they went to the country house. At the table, they talked about various topics, from different recipes for preparing berries for the winter to health and raising children. Maria was an interesting conversationalist. She talked more about her work and a little about her student years, but very little about her family. She was interested in Vera and Ira's work. Deniska noticed that she called Vera's mother Verochka and Ira's mother Irochka. She most often called him Denis.
-Verochka, how much sugar do you add to the cherries? What is the ratio?
Vera shared her secrets, and everyone enjoyed talking about various topics.
The table was square and small, because under the table Deniska kept feeling Maria's soft thighs and his mother's touching his legs. It even seemed to him that Maria was trying to touch him more often without being noticed. Ira sat opposite him. While talking, they unknowingly drank more wine with their meal, and then with the pie. Deniska felt a slight dizziness when he finished his glass of wine. A slight blush covered his cheeks. Vera looked at Deniska and, seeing that he had blushed, asked.
-Son, are you okay? The wine is strong.
-Mom, everything's fine.
Having said these words, he did not recognize the intonation of his voice. It seemed to him that his diction had changed. He remembered his drunk father sitting in the kitchen and muttering some nonsense. His crying mother trying to explain to him that they had a son. "No, I will never be like that. One glass of wine and not a drop more, and that's forever." Uttering these words in his mind, he felt a calm confidence within himself. When everyone had finished their glasses, Deniska offered to pour more.
-Son, give me half a glass.
-Me too, honey.
-I'll join you, I'll have a drink. I can't handle much either, I get drunk quickly. Deniska, half a glass for me.
Denska poured them. He left his glass empty.
-That's enough for me. I'll have tea.
-Denska, let me take care of you.
Maria poured him tea and offered to add some brewed mint. She moved the raspberry, gooseberry, and sea buckthorn jam closer to him.
-Yes, thank you, I'll try some.
It was getting dark unnoticed. Maria turned on the table lamp. As it turned out, there was no light in the house either, due to an accident on the line, after which they changed the electricity meter. Deniska asked if Maria had any light bulbs. He realized that the sockets themselves weren't working and Maria couldn't screw in the bulbs. He checked all the switches and found that one needed to be replaced. "I'll have to fix everything for her. I'll do it tomorrow."
Everyone liked the tea. It was Indian tea with mint. The apple and currant jam pie was quickly eaten. Deniska noticed this and thought it was because the tea and pie went well together. Vera and Ira thanked Maria and said it was time for them to go. When everyone was at the gate, Maria asked them to wait a minute. She went into the house and came out again. She walked around it and disappeared from view. They heard the sound of a door opening, then something rattled and the door closed. Maria reappeared and walked towards them. She was pushing a bicycle with one hand.
-Denis, this is for you. It's almost new. My daughter rode it for two summers, and then she got bored with it and lost interest. I think one of the tires is flat. Can you fix it?
Surprised, Denis managed to squeeze out a reply.
-I can.
-I'm glad. Enjoy riding it. It's a gift.
-Really?! Thank you.
-I'll wait for you tomorrow at around 12 o'clock. Will you help me with the lights?
-Of course, I'll definitely be there. We'll try to get all the bulbs working.
They said goodbye. They thanked Maria again for the treat and hurried home. Denis walked ahead, pushing the bike with both hands. He didn't have time to see the name written on the frame. "I'll look at it near the store, it's brighter there." On the way, Vera became sad. She remembered how Deniska had asked her to buy him a bicycle. She had to refuse him. For her, with her salary as a technical college teacher, it was impossible. Vera sighed.
-Verchik, what's wrong?
She moved closer to her friend and quietly, so that Deniska couldn't hear, told Ira about her worries. Ira reassured her, giving an example from her childhood when they had only one bicycle in their yard and all the children took turns riding it. Near the store, Deniska sat down and read "Kama." "Well, of course, how could I not recognize it. It's 'Kama'." There was a small bag under the seat. Opening it, he saw keys and a bundle. Deciding to look at the contents at home, he closed it. A pump was attached to the frame tube.
-Honey, how do you like the bike?
-It's very good. I didn't expect such a gift.
-Maria gave it to you from the bottom of her heart. She was as happy to give it to you as you were to receive it.
On the way, Deniska found out that Ira knew how to ride, but his mother did not. Deniska promised to teach his mother how to ride. Vera refused, saying that she was afraid and did not know how to turn the handlebars in the right direction. They decided that Deniska and Ira would hold the bike while Vera learned. When they got home, it was already around ten o'clock. Deniska brought the bike in and placed it against the wall opposite his bed. He took a bundle out of the bike bag. It was a bike repair kit with pieces of sandpaper, oval rubber patches, and a small tube of glue. "Great. If the wheel deflates because of a damaged inner tube, I'll be able to patch it up."
-Mom, where can I find a small rag? I want to wipe the dust off it.
-Yes, right now.
Vera gave him a piece of cloth, and he dampened it slightly and began to wipe down the bicycle, which then shone like new. Remembering his promises to Maria, he gathered his thoughts. He thought that it might come in handy tomorrow. "It will probably be dark somewhere, and I'll need to shine a light and check the lamp base." He put the flashlight on charge. "So now I need to gather my tools." He went to the utility room and picked out the tools he would need for tomorrow. When everything was ready, he decided to see what was in the boxes on the top shelf. There was a knock at the door, and his mother peeked in.
-Son, Ira and I are going to take a shower and then go to bed. Will you be long?
-Not long, I'm almost ready for tomorrow. I'll be free soon and come to you.
-Okay, son. Don't stay out too long.
Deniska didn't waste his time rummaging through those boxes. In one of them were two brand new light switches and a new outlet. Deniska was delighted. "Just what I need. Maria needs to replace one switch, and I don't know if they have them in the store." Satisfied, he put everything on the table so he could come back tomorrow and take it with him. When he entered the room, his mother and Ira were not yet in bed. He heard them talking in the room near the shower. He took his towel and went to them. Mom was sitting on a bench, and Ira had apparently just gotten out of the shower. She tilted her head to the right, left, and down, drying her hair with a towel, pressing it with her hands on both sides. They were naked and felt calm when Deniska came in.
-Hey, did you get everything ready for tomorrow?
-Yep. I got lucky. I found a brand new switch to replace it. No need to waste time looking for one at the store.
-Don't you have any clean clothes? Do you need to do laundry?
-No, Mom. Everything I have is clean.
Deniska went to take a shower. Ira and Vera went to their room and started getting ready for bed. Vera rubbed cream on her hands. Ira sat on her heels on the bed and lay back. She raised her arms and put them behind her head. She closed her eyes and spread her knees slightly apart. She was completely relaxed.
-Ira, I've never seen this exercise before. What is it for?
-This is the Fish pose. It's a very effective exercise. It improves bowel and lung function. By bending your head back, you stretch the cervical spine and stimulate the thyroid gland, which is considered the gland of youth.
-Oh, I want to try it too.
Vera lay down on her bed and sat up like Ira. She leaned back. Her head touched the bed, but she couldn't lie down freely on her back. Their breasts protruded, and if Deniska had walked in at that moment, he would surely have been delighted to see everything.
-Verchik, don't rush. Lie down like this every day. Try to stretch gently and carefully and try to lie on your back. And then do your neck like this and back. You'll never get wrinkles on your face.
-You've got me intrigued. I'll do it.
-Do it. Control your heart. You should feel comfortable. Relax and stretch, and don't force yourself.
-Yes, I understand. How many minutes should I stay in this position?
-Depending on how you feel. Start with half a minute. Work your way up to 15 minutes.
After lying in a new position, they left the lamp on in the center and lay down. Vera thought about today. Maria is such a kind woman, but she's alone. What is it that men are missing?
-I don't feel like sleeping yet. We're not practicing today. We stayed too long at Maria's. Irish, why is Maria alone?
-I didn't really ask. She briefly told me that her husband left her for a young woman he was training. As soon as their daughter came of age, they divorced.
Vera sighed and didn't ask any more questions.
-Irish, does the bath really rejuvenate a person?
-Yes.
Ira began to tell Vera about the effects of the bathhouse on people. When Deniska came in, Ira was talking about the effect of hot steam and the impact of birch branches on human skin. Vera met Deniska's gaze and put her finger to her lips. Deniska understood that he shouldn't talk and interrupt Ira. Since Ira and Vera were lying on pillows, Vera pointed to the lamp and waved her hand down. Deniska turned off the lamp and lay down, listening to Ira's story. As he listened to her, he recalled the events of the day. He still couldn't believe he had a bicycle. "And Maria is a doctor and a master of sports. I would never have thought so. Yes, but she is so strong. She has such a beautiful figure." He remembered how they sat drinking tea and how Maria's thighs touched him. "They are so soft." These memories aroused his fighter and increased its size.
Deniska decided to quietly crawl under the blanket from his mother's feet, then Ira's, and get closer to their mounds. It was very dark. He leaned over and slid off the bed. Reaching the outlet, he pulled out a flashlight and crawled toward his mother. Now he was on the bed and lifted the edge of the blanket. He covered himself with his head and began to make his way up. "Now I can turn on the flashlight," which he did. In front of him was his mother's foot, and her leg was raised at the knee. Her other leg lay slightly apart next to it.
Vera listened to Ira and thought about her own thoughts. "So we need to go to Maria's with our brooms. We can pick some St. John's wort and chamomile on the shore and make brooms. I'll ask Ira tomorrow." She heard the edge of the blanket lift and move on top of her as Deniska made his way toward her. She didn't even think to stop him. For her part, she lifted the edge of the blanket to see where he was. At that moment, a light came on inside. Seeing the top of Deniska's head between her legs, she figured out where he was and decided to help him.
Thinking about how to get closer, Deniska saw that the knee of the second leg was also starting to rise. When the feet were approximately at the same level, they spread apart and he saw his mother's mound in front of him.
Deniska lay down right in the center and moved his head as close to him as possible. He turned off the flashlight to save power and pressed himself against the exposed mound. The fact that he wasn't chased away made him happy and inspired him at the same time. He stroked the soft areas of her inner thighs with his hands and tried to do everything slowly to maintain control over himself. Then he placed both palms under her buttocks and, pressing her cheeks with his fingers, pulled her toward him. The mound moved from side to side and toward him.
Ira, seeing the reflected beams of the flashlight on the ceiling, raised her head and saw that the blanket at Vera's feet was lifted. She immediately guessed that it was Deniska playing around. She fell silent and closed her eyes. She heard the rustling of Vera's blanket and her quiet movements. Then she felt Vera's hand reaching for her. She touched her thigh and began to search for her hand. Ira gave her her hand. Vera took it and pulled her hand toward her. Ira crawled over and laid her head on the pillow next to Vera. She whispered.
-Verichka, I'm here.
-Iri, Deniska is kissing everything there. Can I massage my breasts myself? And then how do I do the energy movements? I forgot.
-Put your hands on your chest and start massaging. I'll show you the energy movements with my hand.
Ira placed her hand on her stomach and ran her hand down to the beginning of the mound, then up almost to the solar plexus and back. She reminded her of the Qi Cave, the mound, and the mixing of energy in Dan Tian.
-Then repeat it. Got it?
-Yes, I understand everything now. Can you stay close? Or maybe you can help Deniska?
-I can lie down under Deniska and take his fighter and caress him. I can give him a massage too. Then we can switch places.
-Yes, I think that would be better for him.
Ira found Vera's nipple with her lips, sucked it in, caressing it with her tongue. After a few movements, she let it go.
-Then I crawled over.
Vera only whispered from such caresses.
-Yes.
Ira moved down, lifted the blanket, and reached under it. She found Denis. It was the top of his lower back. Sliding her other hand under him, she found his soldier, which was pressing against the sheets. With both hands, she began to lift his torso up. As soon as the distance allowed, she slipped her head into the space and found his soldier with her lips and took him inside her. Now she took his nearest knee and began to pull it up. Deniska understood what they wanted from him and lifted her up. Ira squeezed under him and laid him on top of her. Deniska was still sitting on his knees, bent at the legs, only now his body was above Ira, and her head was under him, and his fighter reached all areas associated with the elongated body of the brain.
She placed her palms on him and began to press down on him and release. Deniska, guided by her hands, began to move up and down. Ira, as always, thought first and foremost about Deniska. She listened to his every movement and adjusted the pressure.
Deniska was grateful to Ira. When she sat him on top of her, he felt intense arousal. He felt the gentle touch of her tender hands guiding him. With their help, he gained control and began to control himself.
Vera had completely mastered the path of her energy. She felt Deniska's finger. At that moment, Deniska was truly exploring the Gate of Life. Receiving the strongest impulse from Deniska's caresses, she immediately directed the energy upward, where it mixed with the energy of the Qi Cave. It was like a needle massage with very fine needles. Thousands of goose bumps pricked her stomach and moved up and down. Her thoughts were confused. "Maybe this is how the elixir is prepared? It feels so good. I don't want to leave this state." She wanted it to last as long as possible.
Ira subconsciously estimated the time. She freed herself. Pulling her feet under her, she moved down between Deniska's legs and found herself outside the boundaries of his body. She crawled towards him.
-Honey. Can you give your treasure to Vera? Just turn 180 degrees.
Deniska heard Ira, but he was in a state where it was difficult to think clearly. Seeing that Deniska was hesitating, Ira prompted him.
-Your head stays the same, but you turn around and lie down on Vera, just like you were lying on me.
Vera realized that Ira cared about her. She took her hands off her chest and spread them to the sides. At that moment, Deniska tried to turn around. Vera helped him. She took him by the waist and pulled him toward her. When his friend was opposite her mouth, she gently pulled him toward her, immersing him in herself. Ira kissed him on the side of his cheek and whispered affectionately in his ear.
-Good boy. You're the best in the whole world.
Her whisper tickled his ear, and her words were pleasant to him. However, in this position, it was difficult for Deniska to reach the parts of the mound that he had been kissing before.
-Ira, can you put a pillow here to make it higher?
Deniska showed her where he wanted the pillow. Ira understood him.
-Right now. Wait a second.
Ira moved closer to Vera's head. She passed on Deniska's request. Vera let go of her friend and shook her head.
-Iri, yes. I'm ready to lie down, as you say.
-Then bear with us a little longer. We'll lift you up and lay you down gently.
They didn't turn on the light. Ira found the pillow by touch and returned to Deniska.
-Honey, sit down for now and take Vera's feet near her feet and pull them toward you. I'll put the pillow under her.
Deniska sat down, took her legs, and pulled them toward him. Vera's buttocks began to rise. Ira asked him to pull them toward him even harder.
- Just a little more, on yourself.
At that moment, Deniska's soft parts descended onto Vera's face. Feeling them on herself, without understanding, she reached out for everything to kiss and tried to touch everything. She held his friend with her hand, gently squeezing it with her palm.
-Everything, honey, I did what you wanted.
Deniska felt his mother's caresses. It was a little ticklish and pleasant. He leaned toward the mound. He opened his lips with his fingers. "What about Ira? What will she do?" This thought made him ask Ira.
-Ira, can you put a pillow for yourself and lie down like Mom opposite?
-Do you want to?
-Yes, very much. Lie down closer so it's like the greedy fish.
It was the last words about the placement of the fish's lips that Vera understood. She realized what Deniska was asking and, at his request, she tried to spread her legs as wide as possible. Ira put a pillow for herself and sat down on it. She stroked Vera's inner thighs and mound with her hands. She tried to position herself as Deniska requested. She lay back and moved closer to Vera's mound on the pillow. Deniska tried to comprehend it all in the dark with his hands, but that wasn't enough for him. He moved his hand aside and hurried to find a flashlight. Finding it, he enjoyed the view. The two mounds were close together and almost touching each other. First, he leaned over and tried to touch them with one movement of his tongue.
Leaning forward, he allowed Vera to take her legs under her knees in her hands and press them against herself and to the sides, spreading them wider. Then she reached out her hand to Ira in search of her hand. At first, she touched her thighs. She stroked them. Ira gave her her hand. They held each other's hands tightly, and each began to pull them toward herself, thereby drawing each other closer. They simultaneously felt a touch like fish. Ira felt Vera tremble. Her movements were erratic. In fact, she was turning her head, allowing Deniska to reach the deepest part of her throat, while moving her pelvis forward, upward, and sideways. Her breathing became irregular. Ira began to squeeze Vera's hands in response to her movements, prompting her to do the same. Her strong squeezes made Vera realize what was happening, and she understood that she could lose control. She began to do the lower lock with pauses, during which she froze with her muscles tensed. Her breathing quickly returned to normal. Vera calmed down. She began to think about Denis, his health, and her friend. All other thoughts and desires simply faded into the background, and the heat of her heart enveloped everyone in a fiery halo, creating something radiant and at the same time impossible, when two Yins give birth to a whole third.
Deniska immersed himself in the union of the two energies of Yin and Yang and tried to become part of the silence, penetrating and returning, like day penetrates night and night penetrates day, replacing each other. With each movement of his caresses, he was filled with the light of a new perception of the world. He was the energy itself and felt deep streams of Qi within him, demanding even greater contact with Yin. He stretched his arms upward and covered Ira's breasts with them. He touched her nipples and stroked them in different directions. Ira took his hands by the wrists and pulled them up behind her. Obeying the direction of her efforts, he began to move upward. When his friend touched Vera's stomach, she took him in her hand. Then Ira's hand touched hers. She also reached for the fighter, and their hands together embraced him. Vera felt Ira's hand pulling and guiding Deniska's soldier between her mounds. Deniska's knees began to press against Vera's thighs and prevent him from moving forward. Vera took one of his legs with both hands and straightened it, then did the same with the other leg. Vera held him by the legs and began to push him forward. When Deniska's face was almost opposite Ira's, she whispered quietly to him.
-Relax him.
Deniska tried to do so. Ira, feeling the change in his hardness in her hand, guided his member down between their mounds, pressing his buttocks down with her other hand. Deniska froze.
-Honey, now try to do what I taught you. Keep your Qi up and guide it upward.
-It's difficult, but I'll try.
Experiencing such sensations for probably the first time in his life, he tried to do everything Ira taught him, and he succeeded. Vera, knowing that this practice was especially beneficial for Deniska, distanced herself even more from her pleasant sensations and focused on Ira's actions and words. Ira regulated the entire process of touching, strengthening and weakening Deniska's movements, thereby ensuring that Deniska's fighter did not overexert himself. She made sure that there was no penetration and that his fighter moved along the entire length of their mounds.
Vera lay with her eyes closed. Thoughts swirled in her head. "What clever people the Taoists were. How they knew everything. After all, I can now feel all my energy crystallizing into a pearl of immortality in my abdomen. It feels so good. I am ready to lie like this all night. What about Ira? Does she feel anything? Is Deniska receiving energy? Are we all receiving energy together or exchanging it? Should I be ashamed? Probably not. What will people say? What about people? It's our secret. We're not doing anything wrong. I'm not going to tell anyone. The main thing is that Deniska will be healthy. I'm giving him my energy. And Deniska? Will he tell? No, he mustn't. He's my son. I'll do anything for him. Ira said that in ancient times, every Taoist family made a blood oath. They kept their secret and lived very long lives, and never got sick. They passed this knowledge down through the family from generation to generation.
Deniska, leaning on his bent elbows, kissed Ira's neck. These kisses were not like ordinary ones. He touched her with his lips and froze. As he changed the rhythm of his movements, he broke away with his lips and pressed himself against her neck again. Freeing one hand, she stroked his hair. Her fingers ran through his hair, and at times she pressed his head to her and then let go again. At one point, she felt Deniska's movements become more frequent. He was making strong, deep movements.
-Honey. Let's stop. We've been doing this for a long time. We'll do it again another time. Now get up. Look, your flashlight has gone out, probably because it's run out of batteries.
Deniska reacted immediately.
-Yes, okay. I'm getting up.
Deniska lifted himself up and freed himself from the embrace of the hills.
-Move up on top of me and lie down there.
Deniska, leaning on his knees, moved up and to the side and lay down on his back. Vera helped Deniska in the dark, and he easily freed himself. Ira was still holding her hand. It was dark, and she reached out her other hand at random and stroked Ira's thighs. Ira gave her her hand. Almost simultaneously, they took each other's hands and pulled them toward themselves, moving closer together. Ira turned halfway around, and her leg rested on Vera's shoulder. Her other leg rested on the pillow. Vera realized that she was in the way and pulled her out from under her. Ira's other leg wrapped around her from behind. They fit together like a puzzle.
In this position, their mounds pressed tightly together, and they touched. They began to move spontaneously, increasing the friction. With one hand, they continued to pull themselves toward each other, while with the other, they braced their elbows against the bed, trying to push themselves away and get even closer. Both Vera and Ira were touching each other's intimate areas, and it was very sensitive for them. After lying on his back for a while and calming down, Deniska quickly found the flashlight. When he turned it on, it didn't shine. Only a thin thread of light from the bulb flashed and immediately faded. He put it aside on his bed, as it was useless. Turning on his side, toward Ira, he wanted to hug her. Putting his hand on top, he covered her shoulders and Vera's leg at the same time. They moved under his hand. He began to move his palm up her leg, toward her thighs. When his hand reached the joined parts of their bodies, he could imagine how they lay, pressed tightly against each other. With his fingers, he sought a way to go inside, but he did not succeed. Then he lifted himself up and found a free spot on her chest with his hand and pressed himself against it.
Vera was overcome with doubt again. "I must be crazy. What will Deniska think? What am I doing? I'm doing this for my son. Ira is strengthening our Yin so that we can pass it on to Deniska." She remembered Ira's story about a practice that was especially beneficial for men. "After all, it is the voracious fish that will be able to give Deniska a double level of Yin energy, and then, when we come into contact with each of us, we will also receive double the energy from him. And so on and on. That's what Ira said." At that moment, she made her movements more frequent and accelerated the friction. Ira, on the contrary, stopped completely and froze in response. Vera also stopped and froze. Then Ira began her movements again, but very slowly and gently. Vera began to respond with the same movements again. Vera understood that she couldn't move quickly. She completely submitted to Ira's control.
Deniska tried not to interfere with them, so his caresses were light. Then he heard a whisper.
-Honey, dear, and Vera too.
Deniska let go of the nipple and, without taking his lips off Ira's body and touching her with them, pulled his head toward Vera. He had to lift his head, but he immediately lowered it and pulled his lips toward his goal. Under her lips, he touched her breast and froze when the nipple was between his lips. Vera sighed. "He understands everything. How am I going to look him in the eye?" A new wave of pleasure washed over her. Vera lost track of time. She involuntarily quickened her movements, but each time Ira stopped her and froze. Once again, Ira froze, stopping Vera. Vera waited for the continuation, when she could move again, but Ira did not move. She loosened her grip and let go of Vera. She gently stroked her inner thighs with her hand. Vera realized that she had to pull away and lie down as usual.
Deniska also moved aside and sat down on his heels, not disturbing Ira and Vera as they settled down more comfortably. It was dark, and Deniska could only guess what the rustling sound meant. Then he felt someone's hand touching his knees.
-Honey, come closer.
It was Ira's hand, calling him to them. Deniska snuggled up to Ira. Ira put a pillow under his head, and he leaned on her shoulder and hugged her stomach. His mother's hand was on her stomach. She was hugging Ira too.
-Ira, am I abnormal?
-Why would you think that?
-I feel good and happy when we're all together. Isn't it right when a man and a woman feel good?
-You're perfectly normal. Well, that's because your Shakti energy responds to my Shakti, and they interact and reinforce each other. Since ancient times, the union of two Shaktis has been considered sacred and very beneficial. In Western culture, this union is distorted.
-Ira, how do they reinforce each other? Like fish?
-In every sense. It is believed that by spontaneously caring for each other's nature, women experience an increase in their Shakti or Yin power at every peak of ecstasy. After such interaction, women become sisters. This has been known since ancient times.
-Is this described in books?
-Yes, but they have been preserved mainly in the East. This is mentioned in the books of ancient India and China. The books of ancient Greece, Rome, Crete, and others were mostly destroyed or confiscated, and if they are preserved, they are kept in closed repositories.
-What are they about?
They describe the events, traditions, and rituals of those times. From them, one can learn how people lived. From childhood, wealthy families hired a girl servant from a prosperous and poor family in which everyone was healthy. The girls grew up and became sisters and friends. They shared their feminine energy, Shakti. Because of this, they were in excellent health. Their ability to understand the world became transcendent. They had a very close relationship. When the mistress got married, the maid also became part of her family and shared the marital bed with them.
"Did the husband bring his brother too?"
"No, honey. Male energy is the energy of Shiva, the energy of the lord and master. Only one man can be the lord. Two energies of Shiva weaken and destroy each other." In China, Shakti was compared to something soft, and it was said that when something soft touches something soft, it becomes softer and more elastic, that is, it increases its softness, while Shiva's energy is hard, and when it comes into contact with something similar, it is destroyed.
Deniska tried to imagine this touch of energies, but nothing came of it.
"I can't imagine how this happens.
Imagine two balls — this is female energy. When they touch, their sides compress, and the kinetic energy reaches its maximum and transforms into elastic deformation energy, which leads to an increase in their temperature. In women, when Shakti interacts, the internal Qi is strengthened, and the body temperature also rises. The yin of a woman doubles.
They say that a woman blossoms like a flower.
-Irish, can you quote that?
-Yes, for example, Taoist books say that "one woman, like the moon, enjoys the presence of another, just like her. The third person is different from both of them, so he can balance their power. Enjoying each other's company, all three are freed from withering and death. Both moons always exude nectar, the sun always shines". The text indicates that contact between two women is beneficial not only for them, but also for men.
Here Deniska remembered the clinking of wine glasses when they toasted at Maria's.
-I think I understand. And the interaction of Shiva's energy is the interaction of two wine glasses. If they collide, they break and shatter.
-Yes, honey. Solid destroys solid upon contact.
-Iris, why did they become sisters?
-In ancient times, it was very common for a man to marry all the sisters at once. Sisters never saw each other as rivals. This union was very strong and healthy. As a rule, only boys were born in such a union. Therefore, it became customary that if two or more women were married to one man, this union was considered to be between the man and the sisters. It is also implied that in such a union between one man and several women, the latter must have a very close relationship and must not share the man. It is said that "a situation where there are many women and one man wards off trouble and empowers the whole country".
It was believed that such families produced great commanders and warriors, and the country became invincible to its enemies.
-And how many sisters can there be?
-If they are biological sisters, then no more than five. If they are step-sisters, then no more than three. But this is all conditional, since their relationship was dedicated to internal divine principles, the basis of which was the discovery of their Shakti to a man and worshiping him as Lord Shiva and transferring to him their Yin energy, which was several times stronger.
Deniska felt his mother's hand hug Ira tighter.
-Iri, thank you. If you hadn't explained it to me, I would have been tormented by doubts and remorse that I am not like everyone else.
-No, Mom. You are not like everyone else. You are better than everyone else.
-Son, don't joke. I only ask that you remember our secret.
-I promise. I'll be like the third greedy fish, that is, silent as a fish.
He hugged Ira and his mother's hand. They lay there, each thinking their own thoughts. In the silence, Deniska fell asleep unnoticed. Ira heard him breathing.
-I think the honey is asleep. Let's go to sleep.
-Yes, let's go. We need to move him.
They very carefully moved him onto the bed. Vera settled down comfortably and closed her eyes. She remembered Ira's words about the interaction of the two Shaktis. She reached under the blanket and found Ira's hand. She squeezed it. Ira responded with a squeeze of her own. Vera lay on her side and moved her head as close as possible to Ira's.
-Ira, I don't understand, when do their Shaktis begin to interact?
-When women caress each other's three peaks and take care of each other.
-Oh, I understand. Good night.
-Good night.
Vera rolled over onto her other side and closed her eyes.
To be continued.