PROLOGUE
You approach the river that flows through the middle of the town. The nascent comes from above a sheer wall, and flows downwards towards the cliff-edge that borders the town. You see then that the water is a reddish brown, for it flows carelessly through the mud.
You follow it heading towards the nascent, and you do reach it. What is that?
You see that besides it lies a woman; lying on her side, at the edge of the left bank - she caresses the falling water with a gentle hand; entranced by it almost, you feel, talking to it.
The woman turns to face you. She smiles with perfect white teeth.
She is hopelessly beautiful. Her hair, you see, is as black as a raven's pelt but her skin, she is ghostly pale; and her eyes are like two gleaming green jades that fill you with a sense of calmness and unease.
She is not one of the whore nymphs. Maybe she's just a nymph...
"Are you a nymph? Are you going to take me away if I love you?"
"Why are you here in this shoddy town?"