“Painting of a Woman”

“Intrigued by the technique that had accomplished this feat, Skylar bent forward to examine the paper more closely. The woman resembled Dusky but differed from her as well. More sensual, callipygian, fuller breasted, she bore a family resemblance to her creator, but added a voluptuous dimension. Her hair, full and thick but darker hued than Dusky’s, lent her something of leonine power; her breasts, erect and shapely, had size enough to convey female potency, but were not so large as to express licentiousness; her limbs and torso showed the curves of a courtesan but the grace of a queen; and her countenance anticipated strange ecstasies. Skylar could see, on close examination, how Dusky had created her convincing illusion. Portions of the figure were mere suggestions: the left side of the woman’s body, for instance, being hardly more than a faint line cracking the paper’s surface. Other portions, the extremities, torso, and shoulders, had been partially filled out. Still other parts had been dramatically called forth: the eyes pierced their viewer; the hair possessed almost tangible texture; and the mouth simultaneously invited and forbade a lover’s kiss.”