2024/085: The House of the Red Balconies — A J Demas

2024/085: The House of the Red Balconies — A J Demas

"Men like you and Loukianos are a great boon to women like me, you know."
"W-we are?" He'd have thought it was the opposite.
"Oh, yes. One can't do all one's politicking in bed. It's handy to have men to deal with who don't expect it." [p. 98]

Hylas Mnemotios has come to the island of Tykanos to build a much-needed aqueduct. He's something of an innocent, in more ways than one, and is dismayed to find that he's been assigned a lodging in a tea-house, the eponymous House of the Red Balconies. Tykanos' tea-houses are its pride and joy: places where one can enjoy good food and drink, conversation and music -- and, for a consideration, the charms of the companions. ( Read more... )