OUTCAST

32

Three dozen women sat in two rows on chairs on the stage, playing some local stringed instruments like harps. Something soft and vibrant. The acoustics in the hall were not bad, the sound hung well under the spherical vaults, where hot sunbeams played among the blue windows. Beautiful maidens with amphoras of wine, bunches of grapes, and fruit trays were painted on the walls. And also snow-white birds, fluffy lions, huge kind elephants.

The "virgins" on the stage were dressed somehow - some in torn rags, some in jeans, a T-shirt, sneakers, some in a local long dark dress. The performers were of all ages - young, adults and old. Everyone diligently pulled the strings and rejoiced at the sound of some kind of light melody.

In the hall, children were sitting on tattered red seats, frightened, obviously hungry. The boys looked around anxiously, looking incredulously at the film crew. The girls jumped up from their seats and rushed to the journalists in a noisy crowd. They asked for sweets