Devil May Care - Sebastian Faulks [39]
The pipe was offered to Zohreh, who laughed
and shook her head. Darius smiled. ‘Our women are
‘‘liberated’’, but not quite that liberated yet, James.’
‘Who are the girls swimming in the pool beneath the waterfall?’
‘Celestial virgins,’ said Darius, and began to cough. Bond couldn’t tell if he was laughing or whether it was the opium smoke.
Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, Darius said, ‘ They are paid by the management to disport themselves in the water. I expect when they have their clothes on they are hostesses, like Salma. I think the setting is meant to represent heaven. If you have been a very good boy on earth, the Prophet promises that you will be welcomed in heaven by numerous virgins. I forget whether they merely serve you drinks or perform more intimate functions. It’s a long time since I read the Koran.’
‘But you used to believe it?’ said Bond.
‘Of course,’ said Darius. ‘I was a well-brought-up little boy in a proper Muslim household. My father had spent a good deal of time in America but that doesn’t mean he’d lost his roots. Anyway, once upon a time I dare say you believed in Father Christmas.’
‘Yes,’ said Bond. ‘ The evidence was more immediate. Coloured packages. Half-eaten carrots left by his reindeer on the hearth.’
Darius shook his head. ‘And to think that all we had was faith.’ He got to his feet, a little unsteadily.
‘I believe Salma would like to show us the hammam now.’
They went first to a bar in the main room, where Zohreh ordered gin and tonic and the men had whisky. Salma invited them to bring their drinks and follow her. They went down an open internal staircase until they were alongside the turquoise waters where the ‘virgins’ splashed. Bond found himself being taken by the arm. ‘Come along, Mr Bond,’ Zohreh whispered. ‘ There are more good things to see.’ She gave a tinkling laugh.
Through another iron-studded wooden door, they came to a tiled area where a young woman in a white robe welcomed them and handed Darius, Bond and Zohreh two large white towels each.
Zohreh pointed to a door with a figure of a man, then went through the women’s entrance.
‘ This is where we take our clothes off, James,’ said Darius.
‘Are we joining the virgins?’
‘I should explain,’ said Darius, removing his shirt to reveal a deep chest covered with black and grey hair. ‘ The hammam plays an important part in Persian life. We are a clean people. Everyone must wash
their hands and face before praying, but in certain circumstances – for instance, after sexual activity –
a Grand Ablution is necessary. Even the meanest village will have a bath-house where such things take place. Men and women go at different times. For the women it’s generally during the day, when the men are meant to be at work. Of course, it’s a very easy way for women to keep tabs on one another. A young bride generally goes every day until she’s pregnant. Then – sadly – rather less often. If a woman in her forties still goes regularly you can be sure the others will be gossiping like mad.’
‘So we’ll be going to the men’s section?’ said Bond.
‘Not exactly,’ said Darius. ‘Wrap your towel round your waist and take the spare one with you. As I understand from Zohreh, the idea of the Paradise Club is that you find heaven already on earth. And this is it: a mixed hammam. Shall we see?’
They went through a door and found themselves on a balcony that overlooked two large baths. Around the walls there were open steam rooms of differing temperatures and between them private cubicles with doors.
Although the whole area was clouded by steam and the lights were low, there was no mistaking the fact that in the main baths men and women bathed
naked together, laughing and occasionally drinking from the long glasses set down on the edge of the baths by girl attendants in white tunics.
Traditional music was playing, and the scent of roses and geraniums was carried on the steam. The tiled walls were