I had the traditional modesty of a girl-moon and was distressed at my full exposure in the heavens
My full charms were there for all to see
The darkness no longer protected me
So I sought concealment behind a cloud
I was bare in the vault of the heavens
But the cloud I chose concealed the limbs of the goat-god
I was ravaged and offered the price of an eclipse
Which I took gratefully as I was soiled
I lay under a white sheet on the night platform of a busy station
The sheet partially covered my nakedness
A crowd dressed in their winter furs had gathered around me
A young boy lifted the sheet to look at my breasts
He received a slap from his father and retired
Another Tolstoy heroine I suppose
Poor creature how very sad
Do not cast doubts on her
I wanted to shout at my spectators
I am alive my name is LUNA
But the words would not arrive
A doctor revealed my face and felt for my pulse
Did you say that this poor woman fell under that train?
I did sir
But her body has not been disturbed
Here look there is not a mark on her
The doctor pulled back the sheet and I closed my eyes
What is the history of this poor woman?
A priest stepped forward
Please cover her and I will reveal my witness
I was covered with the sheet again
This woman did not fall under the train
That is obvious
She was riding on the train and alighted when it stopped
Naked?
Yes she was as naked as you can see her
What did you do?
I covered her with a laundry sheet
And then?
She fainted
This woman is dead she is cold and I cannot find a pulse
I am telling you that she stepped from the train and was very much alive
Let that rest please remove her to your station masters office and I will call the authorities
As I was carried towards the office the moon broke free of the night clouds and lit up the railway station
Its clocks stopped and began to melt
Time was soft once more
The platform was now empty
I was no longer being carried
Opposite the platform bathed in strong sunlight was PAN the goat-god
He was smoking a cigar and laughing at me
Many cannot see you but I am watching your every move
When the clock reaches nine night will be upon us
I will share the luxury of your body as I did before
The clocks have melted
Time has stopped
I looked at the railway station in its dereliction
Windows were broken
Posters peeled
The railway lines were rusty
They had not seen trains for many years
Unashamed of my nakedness I stood up
The goat-god smiled
See you have a shadow now
I looked at my shadow which was rigid against the decaying building
See even you shadow reflects your beauty
Why do you hide yourself?
I am modest
Then surrender your modesty to your shadow
I looked at my shadow again deep in the bright sunlight
See how she covers her breasts
She is far more modest and you
As the goat-god finished his sentence the main chimney of the railway station fell with a thunderous crash onto the deserted railway tracks
In the dust thousands of coloured dragonflies flew in gay abandonment
We do not have long as you can see the bones of this once great station have become brittle its tissues have hardened
Everything is becoming rigid
If you remain here it will happen to you
If that is your desire I will take my leave
You cannot leave
You are as trapped as I am
I can leave when desired
Then do so
The goat-god lit another cigar and rubbed its predecessor into the dusts of time
I tried to leave this station in my finest clothes but I returned naked and was presumed dead
We cannot leave
I looked at my shadow which appeared to be weeping
Go go now my faithful friend the heavens will be the poorer without me but you will be an able substitute
Do not care about your modesty as I did and when clouds pass do not accept their hospitality otherwise you will return here
You will rest during eclipses
Do attend to your toilette during these phases
And tell those who choose to listen the sad story of the girl-moon and her false modesty
My shadow departed and I looked at the goat-god as he fought tears
A dragonfly landed on his shoulder and it crumbled a little
Soon others joined their companion and slowly the great goat-god crumbled to dust
When night arrived shortly after nine I looked up into the heavens and saw my shadow moving brightly across the sky
She was naked as I was but there was no modesty in her journey