“YouknowAmalia,Iwentbackseveraltimestothezootoobservethatchimpanzee．Sometimes，helookedsadandthoughtful，butatothertimesheseemedhappyandpyful．I’veetotheclusionthatheisphilosopher．Hemusthavefoughtlikeaeredbeastwhenhewasfirstcaptured．Butthen，hefoundmanwasstrohanhe，andthatescapetothewildwherehecamefromossible．Hegedhisattitudeandbecameaic．Iwasstruckbythesimiritybetweenus．Theretioweenhimandhiscellisthesameasthatbetweenmyfleshbodyandfate．Onlyhisassiveandimposedonhim，whileminewasactivelyimposedonmyselfofmyownfreewill．Iwillinglyboundmyfleshbodysothatitwouldnotdoanythingmorallyoutoftracktoatoneforyoursins，Amalia.”

"Whydon’tyouturnonthelight?"sheasked.

"It’snotyourfault….”Therewassileheroom，butitwasafortableandpanionablesilenwhichtheirsoulsunicatedandtheyuoodeachotherwithoutwords．herofthemwasveryvolubleandtherewasusuallymoresilehantalkwhentheyweretogether．AfterawhileMariannasaid．"Wellgoandlookforanapartmentforyou．Youneedapcetostay．I’lltakecareofitallforyou．Ihatetoseeyoulivethelifeyoudidwithnopermashelterorfood，exposedtotheheat，thecoldandtherain．Inmyeyes，youareanobleureate.Youshouldhaveawarmwhereyoudreamandwriteyourpoems，enjoyyourwineandassociatewithwomen，notnecessarilyme.”TearsshimmeredinDimitri’seyes.Noonehadevercaredthatmubefore．

"Iknowasecretpassageintothefortress．Iwillleadtheway”shesaid．"Butonlyononedition：Youmustkilleverylivingthinginthesemountains，menandanimals．"DonKaffeewaseted，butDimitriwassorrowfuedtofindthatforallhispainstIleentolifeagairedforhimwasashighasthemountainsandasdeepastheos．

Chapter3Amalia

“That’sterrible”hethought，“I’vebuandmadethingsworse．NowIleenhatesmemorethanever．Imusttrytofindanopportunitytoexpinitalltoher.”

"Yes，I’msorry．Ishouldhaveknownyouweremarried．Ishouldhaveasked．"

"Mommy!Mommy!ehere．Iwonnagohome.”MariannalookedatDimitrisilentlyforanothermihenwalkedslowlyaway,furtivelywipinghereyes，repeatedlylookingbackasifloathingtogo．Dimitriwavedgood-byetoherandwatchedassherejoinedherfamily．

ThechurchbellstookDimitri’sthoughtstoheaven．Helookedattheskiesandthought．"Dotheresidentsofheavehesamewayaswedo?Dotheygotowork?Dotheirchildrengotoschool?Dotheyhavetraffis?Dotheirchildrenpyintheparkafterschool?Whatareyoudoing,Amalia，mysweetmother?Arethereanychurchesinheaven?Doyougotochurchthere?Theysaylifeinheavenistheultimatebliss,wherenooneworksackfornothing．Everyonehasfood，hesandliveleisurely．Liveleisurely?Whygotoheavenforthat?Iliveleisurelyenoughhereoh!Iwoheyvoteinheaven，whothechiefexecutiveisandoliticalsystemtheyhave．Dotheyhaveintricatewslikewedo?Dotheyhavewars?Iftheydon’t,whatdotheydo?Justloafaround?OrisheavenlikeahugemonasterywhereeveryonelivestheaustereandSpartanlifeofmonks?Nooneeverdiesthereandeveryooliveooeternity．Isn’tthatablife?OrperhapsheavenislikealuxuriespadmysweetmotherAmaliaislivingtherelikeaqueen,wearingexquisitesilkdressesembroideredwithgoldenthreads，surroundedbyherdies-in-waiting．Musicwouldbepyedbyroyalmusiswhilefragranceofrareinsestedhersurroundings．Intoxicatedbythemusic,shewouldinvoluntarilyrisetodance，herbeautifundvoluptuousfiguregracefusthewillowswayinginthebreeze．Butno,thatmaynotbepossible．Sheleftthisworldiricchair．Wouldshebeabletoehegatesofheaven?”

“Somethingmustbeupiftheysendoutthisurgentcallforme!”hethought．"Imustarrahisfleshbodyofmineinasuitablepdgobaydreamndatonce.”Dimitriiddownhisgardeningtoolsabacktothehouse．Ah,thereerthatMariannahadboughtforhimwouldbethebestpce,hethought．Heybaitandfelsleep．

Faint,faintfeelingstanglinginthemind，

"Iwillferohetitleof“QueenofmyKingdomofDreams”．Herfigureisontheplumpsideandsheisnolongeryoungasmyotherbeautiesare，buthermannersandbearingaredignifiedandimpressive．She’dmakeaperfectroyalspouseforme，myequandnotmysubordinate．Unfortunately,sheismarried．Butsowhat?It’sonlymyfantasy．Shealwaysbethequeenofmydreams”．Seeinghimstaringathersoily，Mariaembarrassed．Sheblushedandsaid，

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Dimitrisatonthebenchtalkingtohimself.

wnawomanofMarianna’sagecouldhoutafamily．Howstupidofmenottohaveasked．HowunfortunateofmetohavemetthewomanIloveonlytofindsheisanotherman’swife!”Hekwashisownover-simplisticcharacteratwaiookanotherlookatthetwoiosenseofremorse.Hehadwrohesesimple，trustingpeoplewhowouldneverhaveimaginedevenintheirwildestdreamthatMariannawaslivingwithanothermanandhavinganuninhibitedsexualretionshipwithhim．

Ohirdday，thetenthousandthfighterwascreated．heseemedtoknowhisdestinationandrantojoinhisrades-in-armsimmediately．Thetwenty-fournudebeautiessighedinreliefandcppedtheirhandsinjoyathavingfulfilledtheirseeminglyimpossiblemission．Butthreedaysofceaselesshardworkhadtakeolndtheyalllookedlusterless，disheveledaodropwithfatigue．Dimitricamegedandkissedeaesaying"Nowgoand．Youhavedoneawonderfuljob．Itistimetosleep,restandrecoveryourbeautyandenergy.”

"IfIcouldlivemylifeagain,Iwouldspenditinhappinessandenjoyment,happyandcarefreeasthoseteen-agers,”hethought．Nearhim,ayoungmotherandherone-year-oldboywerepyingtogetheronthegrasswiththeirgolderiever．Thelittleboy，justlearningtowalk,chedhischubbyfistsandmadeboxingmovements，whithisdotingmotherintopealsofmerriment．Suddeumbledandfell．Hismotherrushedtohisaid，buthesatonthegrassandugheduproariously．Thedograojointhefunandlickedhisface．Themotherpickedhimupandhuggedhimtightlytoherbreastsandhecspedhisarmsaroundhernedkissedhersmilingfacerepeatedly，hisughingeyesasbrightasthetwinklingstars．"IfIwerehe，hoy1wouldbe!”thoughtDimitri.“Icouldembracemymotherandkissher．Inprimitivetimes，thatlittleboycouldeasilyhavebeeapreyofwildbeasts．Mankindhasealongwaysihen,afteranarduousjourneyofbillionsofyearsofevolutioleone-year-oldboyisnowohresholdoflife，learningtowalk，butananimalofhisage，likethegolderiever，isalreadyabletoproliferate．Perhapstheheanimal，themoretimeitogrowup.”

Amistymoonpeepedoutfrombehindsomeclouds,graduallysendingouthertranslutrays．Onastrusite，rowsoflong-neckedes,sturdybulldozers，dredgersandrollersstoodsilentandmotionless．Fromafar,theyresembledtheenormousdinosaursthatruledtheearthbillionsofyearsago．Nowthesegiganticcreatureshadlongdisappearedfromthefaceoftheearth．Inthespaceofanight，theworldseemedtohaveturopsy-turvy．Arethesesteendironmaestheirmodernterparts?Drowsily，Dimitrifelgainintohissweetdreams．

"Whenyouseeher，tellhertoruhesedaystherewillbedrastigesinherhousehold.”

"HowcouldyoustandthiseorturedayafterdayAmaliamysweetmother?"thoughtDimitri．"Hoefullynowandthenyoucouldleavethefierywatersandclimbashoreforalittlerespite，eatsomethingandhideforamomentinaerbeforebeingpiercedbyaforkandthrownbatothefmesbytheguardsoftheUnderworld．OhAmalia，mysweetmother，doyoueverthinkofmethewayIthinkofyou?Me,youronlysonwhomyouleftalohisworld．No，shewouldn’t"thoughtDimitrisadly．Whenhevisitedherforthesttimeinhercellthedaybeforeshewastodie，shewasuntamed，abusiveandshrewishasever．Sheturnedonhim，snarling，

Dimitriwasrudelyawakeheinsistentringingofthephoillhalfasleep，hehadnotquiteshakenoffthemencholyeffectofhisdream．HeheardthefamiliarvoiariannatellinghimofwhathadhappeheKaffees,thatshewasatthegaragefixingherdwouldbehomesoontogoapartmenthuntingwithhim．Heansweredinmonosylliublesofonly‘OK’and‘yes’andhungup．Hesatthereforawhile，adjustingtotherealworldhehadebacktoandthought，"Thehappeningsofthesestfewdaysarereallylikeadream，butmydreamsthoughbazarre，seemsoreal!However,realityorfantasyitisallpastanddoh．IhaveruinedIleen’slife;IakethesamemistaketwidruinMarianna’saswell．Iamadreamer,bestsuitedtothecarefreelifeIhadbeenliving．WhystayonhereunfortablycoopeduparoyingthelifeofthewomanIlove?Dreamsmaybetrueoritmaynot，butmybittersweetentawithIleenisover，soisthecrisisinmyKingdom．Myfuturedreamsshouldbesweetohinkingso，hisspiritslifted．LeavingahecoffeetableforMarianna，hepushedouthisshoppingcart,stillintactwithhisbelongings,aonhisway,light-heartedandcarefree,thoughalittlepeheonlythingofMarianna’sthathetookwithhimwastheredscarfshehadknittedespeciallyforhim．

"Tellherthatanyway”insistedDimitristubbornly．

IoftheChiefturionoftheRomanLegiomospherewastense．DimitrisawDonKaffeewithhisdarkgssesandexpressionlessfacediscussingpnsofattackwithhisgenerals．Thediscussionhadevidentlybeengoingonforquitesometime．TheRomangeneralswereadamant．

"Whatdoesyourhusbanddo?"

"Soyouknow"shesaiddully.

"Scramyousnivelingbastard！Idon’twanttoseeyourface．Iwouldn’thavebeenhereifIwasn’tburdehyou.”Herviciousandfiendishexpressionrosebeforehimandhecouldalmosthearherhissoutherstvenomouswordstohim“Iregretnothing.Eveniftheyyhead，it’sonlyabowl-likescar．Scram，youbitch’sbastard！GettheFKoutofhere!”Shespitoutthesespitefulwnashieethasthoughtosplihem.Dimitri’shearttractedinpainasherememberedthatpartingse.

"HowhaveyoubeenDimitri?”sheaskedchokingwithemotion．"I’velookedeverywherebutcouldn’tfindanytraceofyou．Isthishowyouhavebeenliving?"Shelosttrolofhervoidwasalmostsobbing．Dimitriwasremorsefulforhavinghurther，butheonlyremainedsilent．Amiddle-agedmanandaboywerestandingbyaparkeddtheboywascalling

AfterthegreatbattlewiththeRomansoldiers，thiuronormandDreamndwasrestoredtoitsinalpeadcalm．ButKingDimitrihadmysteriouslydisappearedandhadnotbeenheardofsince．Usedtohisetricways，thetwenty-fourbeautieslivedtheirleisurelylives，pursuingtheirowsastheyhadalotofidletimeontheirhands;buttheycouldn’thelpfeelingalittlelostandlonely．Ianceahelicopter，silveryandshiny，wasseenflyingtowardsthendingfieldontherighttipoftheTwinPeaks．Aishalookeddownatthegoonwithitssurroundingmountains，attherefleoftheglitteringyellowtilesoftheesepace-likebuildingaawarmsenseofhomeing．Shendedhercraftpreciselyandaccurately，fullydemonstratingherskilerity．Shesteppeddownposedlyfromherhelicopter，carryiwobooksshehadgonedowntothevilgepostofficetoget．Theflightmeicsrushedovertothesmallpactflyingmaewithitstransparentbodyfullyexposingitssilveryinterior，designedespeciallyforthetwenty-fourbeautiesasameansoftransportation．Theypusheditawaytotheairbaseforrefuelingandmaintehereavarietyofheliceandsmallwereassembled．

"I’mafraidIdidn’thaveanystnight.”

"ImetMrs.KaffeetheotherdayandsheaskedmetocateradinnerforMr.Kaffeeandhisfriendstonight．Iwasjustgoinguptoaskthemaboutthemenu．"

“Manisonlyawarm-temperaturedanicbody，nodifferentfromanimals，withthesamesexualhebeginningoflifestartedwiththeunionofthespermwiththeovaryiheuterus.Thesinglecelltookthreebilliooevolveintohumanlife．Moderellsusthatthegrowthofafertilizedcellintoababyisarepetitionofthesameprocessofevolution，butittakesonlyhs．Ithinkthattheelementoffateisaddedatthemomentofception．Withoutthiselement,everyonewouldbethesame．Theywouldlookalike,havethesamelifespanandtherewouldbenosuccessesorfailures,justlikeproductsfromafactoryassemblyliheexterioroftheembryosofallmammonlookthesame，butthedifferentgehemmakethemgrowintodifferentanimals：cows，sheep，pigsetc.WhatIcalltheelementoffateisiainwaysretedtogenes．Ofcourse，thisisonlymydaringassumptionwithoutmuchevideosupportit．Butlifeisamysterynoonehasbeeosolve.”

Justthen，familiarfootstepssouhededthefigureofMariannaappeared，sailinginfromtheopendoor．WhenshesawDimitrisittingaloneagainstthewindowinthemoonlight，sheclosedthedoorandcametositbesidehim．

"Thesemountaiuralgeographicbarrier.Justlikeafortress，theyareeasytodefendbuthardtoattack.Wemustsendoutscoutsandmakeroughmilitarymapsbeforedegonapnofattack.”

"ThankyouSireforlettingmeliveagain.”shemurmuredkneelingathisfeet．

"Iamgrowingoldinthespringbreeze．IfIhadknownhowhardlifewouldbe，I’dhaveledinmymother’swombforeverandneverhaveetothisworld．Itmusthavebeensnugandcozythere,hertoowarmnortoocold，likelyinghalfasleepandhalfawakeonahammock，swayinginthespringbreeze，lostidreams.”Later，DimitrifinallyfoundhislonglostmotherandweledhertohismysteriousKingdomwhereshelivedhappilyeverafterwiththefilialdevotionandpanionshipofDimitriandhisbeauties．Butthatistobedealtwithintheepilogue．

AttheAdministrativeter，thetwenty-fourbeautiesreportedthehappeningsofthepasttwodaystoKingDimitri．Theradarshadpickedupsignalsearmyofabout200,000soldiersoftheaRomanEmpireadvangandsurroundingthemountains．Theyhadbeenastooseethoseaghostsmargtowardsthem，armleaming，spearsshiningandpennantsflyinginthewind,theirhorsestrottingandsnimpatientlyontheway．Onourside，detepneshadbeeand500ablebodiedyoungnativesfromthemountainshadbeestrategicspots，buttheyneededKingDimitribacktotakeandofthedangeroussituation．Dimitriwasaghastatthisturs．Hepacedtheroomwithaheavyheart，browsknitted，regrettinghisimpulsivedecisiontopunishDonKaffee,whichresultedinthisuedattackbyRomantroops-theDon’spatriots．Hekhattheenemyoverwhelmedhiminnumbersandoheykheyofthend,theywouldattack．Thateanthepletedestruofhisnewlyestablishedempire.Allhishopesandpnswouldetonothing．Butthen，hisproudandstubbornnaturecametohisaid．"No，Iwon’tgiveup．Notwithoutagoodfight！Imustknowwhattheenemy’spnsare"hedecided．Hewentbacktohiscouddreamed．

Faintduskfogbyfaintgreenpins，

Thewallsofthestudywerelihbookcasesfromfloortoceiling，allfilledwithbooks．Theylookedalittledisorderly，butwiththedisorderlinessoffrequentusage．Onthepinkcarpetcthefloor,werepilesofbooks，someonanthropology，someoernreligionandsomeooryofcivilization,carefullyselectedbythemistressofthestudy．hewindow，therewasargewhiteiniddeskgildedingold，madewithexcellentcraftsmanship．Itwasfortusuchabeautifulpieceofarthadfoundamistresswhoplemeawell．Atthemoment,shewasgatheringmateriandpreparinganimportaobereadattheiionacademicmeeting，justasshehaddonemanytimesbefore．Asshewalkedintoherroom，Aishabegantotakeoffherclothes．Shewasawomahirties，withskinpureaswhitejade，wearingaesestyleknotatthenapeofherneck．Whenshewaspletelynaked，shesatdowntowork．Toherclotheswereusedtoresistcoldandnottobewornwhenunnecessary．Shehadastronggreedforthefullestsensationofherbodyandtobefreefrombohereforenottobehamperedbyanyclothingwhilereseargwasheretricity．Sopreoccupiedwassheonherreadingthatanythingelsewasoblivious；andtheonlysoundsintheroomweretheturningofpageswhileshesedthroughherbooksforwhatevershewahenshewouldtypepartofherthesisnimblyandswiftly．Aishastoppedtypingforamoment，leanedbaherchair，frowningintration，thinkingofhowbesttoexpressherideas，whenhereyeshappeofallooofamiddle-agedmanonherdesk．Hewasanordinary-lookingman，amutto，withnospeciallydistinguishablefeatures，wearinganolive-coloredsafarihattiltedatanangle．Hisftnose，darkbrowneyesandolddisarrayedclothingseemedmoresuitableforajanitorthanKingDimitri，buthissmilewaskindandendearing．

Battlecriedresounded．KingDimitri’ssoldierswerenakedandweldedonlyprimitiveons，butitdidhem.TheselioedwarriorschargedferociouslyatthefullyarmoredRomanLegions．Totheirastonishmentandbewilderment，thewarriorsfoundthatthoughtheRomanswerefullyequipped，theywerenotsolidshapes，butonlyillusionaryphantoms．WhentheyrushedheadlongintotheranksofthestatelyRomanLegions，theirattackbroughtwithitagustofwhirlwind,onimpactofwhichthephantomsdispersedinalldires．Amidtheturmoilofbattle，allthatcouldbeseenwasonesolitarywoman,uglyanddeformedbymultiplescarstryingtoescape．Medusa，mountedobcksteed，reizedhertobethetraitorIleen．Takinganarrowfromherquiver，shetookaimatthepreyandwithoneinfallibleshotpiercedherthroatbeforeKingDimitricouldstopher．Dimitriimmediatelyspurredhishorseandgallopedover,butIleenwasalreadydead．Hereyeshoweverwerewideopenandfullofhate．Helookedatherregretfully,rememberingtheirpastretionship．Shehadbeenhisfavoriteeformanyyearsandhadtributedmuchtowardshisempire.Thusherundyinghatredforhimwasinaway，justified．

Ah!Whyshouldn’tthefleshbodygrowold?Wearebutmortal，so’tisimpossibletotheerosionoftimebeimpregnable．Wearebutmortal，so‘tisquitenaturaltofindbeguilingcaressesirresistible．Sincewearemortal，we’remadeoffleshandblood．Howmanytimeswemakelove?36,000timesatthemost，I’vebeentold．More，ofcourse，ifyou’remadeofsteruff．Whyshouldn’tthefleshbodygrowold?Activeschoolchildrenjustoutofcss，run,jumpandpyonthegrass．Thereinmyskullfreshideasdance,imp-likeandpyful,justlookingforacemysweetdreamstoenhance．Dreamsaremylife,Ilovethemdear．Foradventure,loveandsatisfatheyhavenopeer．Butthewarmcozydaysarenotforever，that’sclear．PerhapsIshouldenjoythemwhilethey’rehere．WhenIdreamIwilldreamofAmalia-mymotherwhoseldomgavememuchear．YouleftmealonewhenIneededyoudear，butthenyouwereboundtoyourelectricchair．Withyou,youtookoldJaIfear．Areyouthere?IwonderasIlookatthesky．Orareyoudownbelow?Butwhereveryouare，Ifeelthetie．I’llsearmydreamshighandlow．

"Pleasedon’tworryaboutme，Marianna"hemurmured．"Imayappearpennilessandhomeless，buttheearthandtheskyallbelongtome．Iseempoor，butIamrichbeyondimagination．IamKingDimitri!"Asthecardroveaway，Mariannalookedbackathimoutofthewindow，eyesmoistwithtears．ShesawDimitristillstandingtherewavingatherwiththebrightredscarfsnuglyaroundhisneafsh，hisfigureseemedtovanishlikealonelywildbird，flyingacrosstheskiesiwilighttounknowinations．

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Aisha’sthoughtsflewbacktotheirfirstmeetingattheluxuriousboardroomoftheFoundationofAnthropologyandHumanCivilization．ThoughAishawasyoungaiful，herresearchhadwoernationalfameandtherespectofschorsallovertheworld．Sonoonewasgreatlysurprisedwhenshewasaskedtoleadateamofstists，whoweretodoextensivereseardestablishapleteandexhaustivefileonthedifferenttribesofhumansthathadexistedorstillexistonthisearthofours，includiprimitive．Itwasastaggeringproject，requiringhundredsofpartitsaensivefunding．Shewaschosenbothforherexpertiseandherdedicationtoherwork．NowAishalookedatthemansittingoppositeheratthetable．HeresidentoftheFoundationandmainfinancialbackeroftheirproject．buthewasshabbilydressedandcouldeasilyhavebeentakenforajanitor．Hisspeechshowedhisckofformaleducationandtainednostificjargon，butitwasciseandtothepointahdeepintellectualpowerswhichbeliedhismediocreappearance．Hisopeningspeechwasverysimple．Hesaidthereasonhewasfundingthisprojectwasbecausehebelievedtheevolutionofhumancivilizationwasnotasmysteriousasmostpeoplethought．Fromhisobservationofchildrenatpy，hecametotheclusionthatitwasmorelikethepurposelessgameschildrenpyed．Onlyaftermillionsofyearsofzigzaggedges，diditetobewhatitwastoday．Hecludedbysayingthatittothoseesteemedstistsandschorspresenttotrace，researdexpinthosedeviousges．AsAishalistened，herrespeincreased．Inafewwordshehad1aiddowntheprinciplesforthereseardmadeaplexprojectseemsimple．Asshegottoknowhimbetter，shewasmesmerizedbyhimandvoluntarilyfollowedhimtohisKingdominthesecludedmountains．GraduallyKingDimitribecamehergreatmentorandsheroudtobeeoneofhistwenty-fourbeauties．

"Impossible!”saidMr.Kaffee“That’soutofthequestion．Timeisoftheesseackatallcost!”

Them，Dimitriatdawnandsittingontheparkbenchdrinkingcoffee．Themfogturnedeverythingiaoawhitemass．ThereflesoftheswayingbraheweepingwillowsoilesswavesofLakeMerrittseemedtopersonifyadnguidwoman,half-yielding,half-resisting．Dimitriwasgroggyandsufferingfromahangroanedandsaidtohimself，"NowwhydidIhavetogoanddrinksomuight?Thatwasreallystupidofme．Butwhat’stheharmofanoccasionalfling?IwonderwhatAmaliaisdoingnow．Perhapsshesleepsonacloudandrefreshedfrht’srestisnowsittingbeforehermirror，bingherhairandmakingherselfbeautifulfortheday．IwohereisstillthedifferenceofsexesinHeaven．Ifthereis，isAmaliastilsiedinsexualintercoursewithmultipartnersasshewasoh?Perhapstheyallliveonclouds,lightlyfloatingalroundtheuniverse．Whentwoeet,theywoulduniteinapassionateandcrushingembradmakeloveoherybuoyantcloud,theiriyandenjoymentincreasingwiththelullingandslightlyrogmovementofthecloudasitfluctuateswiththewind．Afterthatbriefunion，theywouldfloatapart，eachgoinghisownway.IfAmaliaisasiedinsexassheusedtobe，thatwouldbeidealforher．Oh，heavenlyresidentsmuststillhavesex，orAmaliawouldbeboredtodeath!”

Aishasighedasshelookedatthephotoonherdesk．Hisnatural,iwanderlustwasastrangecharacter

Likesleeasingfingersontheharpstrings，

"Hi，Mr．Sandman．Youdidn’tsendmeanygooddreamsstnight．Whatmagnifitdreamsdidyouhavethatyousharewithme?"

"Inaimes,longbeforemaheearth，springwasalreadythebesttimeforproliferation．nights,numerousanimalswouldseektheirmatesandcoputetoperpetuatetheirbreed．Maninallydidthesame，butnowthathehasprogressedfarbeyondtheanimalkingdom,sexhasbeoreofaphysijoymentthantheneedofnaturefeion.Inthecoverofdarkonight，doyouknowhoeoplearedoingjustthat?”

ThenDimitri’smindbecamebnkayasthemmist,butafamiliartuteninhisyouthpersistentlycroppedintohissciousness：

"Isn’titbettertositinthemoonlight?"repliedDimitri.

AssoonasMaria，Dimitribeganw．Helovedgardeninganderfectlyhappypruningandtrimmirees．Ataboutnineo’clockheheardaslightbutinsistentnoiseinhisears，simirtothehummingofabee．Hestoppedwandlisteently．Thenoisebecamemoredistinctthoughstilldistant．Itkeptrepeating，

Suddenly，golden-hairedMary，hertightbluejeansandwhiteblousecameontothese，carryingabackpadrunningtoherpanionsatthebus-stop,hergoldenhairflyinginthewind．Dimitrigazedatthefamiliarform,puzzled,searghismemoryforwherehehadseenherbefore．Suddenly，aseatthezoofshedintohismind.Itwasmany,manyyearsago,whenDimitriwasstillinhisearlyteens．OnedayhewenttotheOakndZootokilltime．Suddenlyheheardwomenscreamingandsawacrowdgatheringatthecageofthechimpanzee，jostlingandexg．Feelingcurious，heweoo．Thechimpanzeewasmasturbatinghimselfvigorously．Agirlinthecrowdcoveredherfacewithherhandsbutwasstillpeekingthroughherfihechimpanzee，whichheldsomewaterinhismouth，sprayeditather，wettingherfadhair．Justthen,theschoolbusarrivedaeen-agersscrambledoncallingtooher,jostlingandughingastheycrowdedthroughthesmalldoor．Thatgirtthezoowasthesplittingimageofgolden-hairedMary，butthenofcourseitcouldn’tpossiblybe，becausethree，fourdecadeshadpassedsihen．

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"Do!Getup，zybone，andseehowyoulikethenewscarfImadeforyou.”Goingtothecloset，shetookoutaburgundyredwoolensuitsuitableforwinterwearaoge．Herfigurewasfullbutbeautiful．Dimitrilookedatherandthought，

2

"ButIhurttwoipeople.”

Self-pitywelledupandhealmostcried．"Whydidymeintothisworld?Why?IcallmyselfDimitriJa,butwhoknowswhatkindofbloodflowsthroughmyveins.NotoldJa’s，that’sforsure．Awholevariety!"Theangerfredupagain．"Pyaroundifyouwant，butyoushouldn’thavegottenyourson-of-a-bitch’slovertomurderoldJatopayyamblis．Hewasdettous.Youdeservedtodie．Youdid．Youdid．Yhtallthisonyourself．Ihadnothingtodowithit，youbitch!Bitch!Bitch！！！"Dimitriraisedhisvoidwasshoutinghysterically．Suddenly，hestoppedtalkingaosphimselfonthecheek．"WhatabumIamtotalklikethisaboutmyownmotherwhohasbeendeadalltheseyears．Ifshewasbad,sheunishedforitandpaidherdues．WhoamItobeheriudge?HowgoodamI？WhohaveIinthisworld?”Hebawledlikeachild,huddledinaeroftherosegarden.Butthen,hisfiouchedthebottleofliquorandhemumbledtohimself"Yes,Imightaswellgetdrunk!Mightaswellgetdrunk!”

1

Withthat，Dimitritookouthisunfitleofliquorandtookanotherquaff．TheactivitiesofDimitri’sbrainweregraduallysloweddoorbytheliquor．buthismother’sstwordstohimresoundedrepeatedlyinhisearuntilhecouldstanditnomore．

"Iwouldn’tgoifIwereyou．Strahingshavebeenhappeninginthathousethesestfewdays．Itwaslikegustsofwindbeforeastorm，forebodingevil．Mr．Kaffeetookhisyadsailedawaywithoutsayingwherehewasgoingorwhenhewouldreturn.ItalllookedfishytomesoItooktheearanddroveoff．Idon’twanttogetinvolvedinthismess．Ifyou’rewise，youwoher.”Withthatshedroveawayhastily．Mariannakobeanavariciouswoman，alwaystoadyinguptoMrs．Kaffeeandsteppingonothersforherownadvaothepostofjewelry-keeper．Watghercarswiftlydisappearing，Mariannathoughtically，"Sheprobablyabsdedwiththejewelrytoo!Thiswholebunchmaybeentangledinadog-fight，whoknows?"Theurnedhercararoundabackthewayshecame.Policesirensscreamedandsquadcarswhizzedby．"Somethingmustreallyhavehappened!"shethought．

Dimitrisuddehathisbdderwastoofull，soheslippedintoaclumpoftreesago．Theflowwentonandonandsurprisedhimbythequantityofurinehehadbeenholdingin．Suddenlysomethingthathadbeentroublinghimsincehisyouthcametomind．"Thedesignofaman’sbodyisnical，"hethought．"Whyisaman’ssexualansandhisurinatingahesame?Theyshouldbeintwoseparatepces．Butwhereshouldthesexualahehead?No,that’stooexposed．Iwouldputitonthehand,likeasixthfinger．No，thatwon’tdoeither．Itwouldhamperthehandthathastodoheavymanualworksometimesandthatwouldhurtthepeniswhichissosensitive．Ohwell，Isupposetheinaldesignisthebest．Itkillstwobirdswithoosocarriedawaywithhisthoughtsthathestoodtherefingeringhispenis,fettingtoputitbatohistrouserslongafterhehadfinishedurinating．

Aisha:

"HowItellherthat?Youhavenoprooforevidenceexceptforyourintuition.”

"Why，Katheri’syou!What’sthehurry?"Katheriookasedlookandsaid，

Boredwithwaitingiohavehercaratteo，Mariannastrolledleisurelyacrossthestreetforacupofcoffee．Shelookedatthediamsparklingerandwaseted．Butasshesatthere，shewasonceagainstruckwiththeunfortablethoughtthatsomehowDimitriseemedtohavehadfhtofwhatwasgoingtohappeuprestlesslyandcalledhimathome．Hisidabsentmindedrepliesarmedherstillmore，soshethrewdownsomemohetable，crossedthestreet，tookhercarfromthewaitinglihegarageanddrovehastilyhome．

Daylightdemurelyclosedhereyesandacceptedthekissoftheprinight．Gradually，almostimperceptibly，nightanddaymergedintoone．Whenthefullmooninhersilvery,luminoussplendorshoherosegarden,shesasyDimitrimakinghiswaybackafterthhlydrowninghissorrowsinliquor．Hehadfottenabouthischildhoodtraumaandy．Normallyretit，winemadehimtalkativeaasthoughhehadalottosay．Hespokealoudtothegeousrosesthatseemedtonodwiselyiintheslightbreeze．Suchareceptiveaudiencedhimtorambleonandon，walkingabout，gesturingexpressivelyonunsteadyfeet．

"Whysorry?"shegavehimherwarmhands．"Loveneedsnoapologies.”

“Amalia,myattitudetowardsfateislikethatofwater,whichflowsoverthesurfaceoftheearth,huggingtheriseandfalloftheterrainwithoutpromisingitsownnature．Ifitmeetswithobstacles，itwillstop，detourandtakeah；butwillstilltinueflowingtowardsitsdestination.Obedierebellious,thatisthesecretofgwithfate,heractivenorpassive．Thismayseemobscure，butinmylife，theyarepatibleandexistinperfectharmony．Inmyobservationsofthechimpanzee，Irealizedthathehadgivenuprebellionandhisownfreewill．Hebowedtothefutilityofresistandsowasnolongerrebellious．Hiseyesweredocilebutsly．Tomakethebestofabaddeandfindjoyamidhardship,hepyedpracticaljokesonhumans．Iwouldliketoreverttoman’snaturalprimitiveeaurntotheanimalstatewewereinbeforeevolution．ThatdoesnotmeanIwouldgosofarastomasturbateinpubliclikethechimpahatisimpossiblebecausemillionsofyearsofcivilizationhadpassedandIainstfateasthhlyashe．SoIhaveshapedmyownattitudetowardsfatelikethetheoryofwater，geamebuttenacious．Yourattitude，Amalia，istheexactopposite．Youwerelikefire，untrolbleaating．Thatisthemaindiffereweenyouandme．Oh，Amalia，tellmehowIatoneforyoursins."

"WhydidhesaythattherewouldbedrastigesintheKaffeehouseholdinadayortwo?WhydidhewaellMrs．Kaffeetorun?Howdidheknowhername?"Justthen，awhiteRollsRoyce，whichMariannareizedasbelongingtoMrs．Kaffee，camerushingdownthemountainroad,swayingdrunkenly．

"OfcourseIwill，Marianna．Ihavenothingtodoanyway.”Mariannaheldupthescarfshehadfihaflourishandsaid，

TheteautumnsunwasstillpowerfundshonewarmlyonDimitri’sseeminglymotionlessfleshbodylyingfortablyonthereer．Buthisbrainwaswhirlingwithactivity．Thecragofdryleavesastheywerecrushedbypassingautomobilesandthedroningofairpnesoverheaddidnotdisturbhisslumber．Ifhecouldsleeponforeverlikethis，itwouldactuallybeablessingbecausethenhewouldbeabletoliveforeverinhisdreamswithouthavingtofacereality．Thefragranceoffreshly-madecoffeepermeatedtheroomandblendedexcellentlywiththeclear,crispautumnair．

"He’sacarpenter,anexcellerustworthyandhardwman．Mysonisaffeateandlovable．You’lllovehimtooifyoumeethim.”Thereregnantsilence．Mariannasnuggledclosertohimandleanedherheadonhisshoulder．"IpromisedtocaterasupperforMrs．Kaffeetomorrow．soI’llbebusy．OnSundaywe’lllookforanapartmentsomewherearoundhere，nottoofarawaybutnottooher.”Sheraisedherlipstohisandtheykissed．Soontheirbreathbecameshorterandtheirbodiesfusedtogetherinapassionateembrace．However，theytrolledtheirdesiresforfearthetwopeopleioonceagaihoughtheywerefarawayinItaly．

"WhatshallIdo?"heaskedhimselfdesperately．Histhoughtsthenturohisdreams．"WhatrighthaveItoexecuteIleensocruellyforadulterywhenIhavebeendoingthesamethingmyself?"Heseemedtobesailingaloheclearicywatertothepceofexecution．

Twomonthster，Dimitri’ssolitaryfigureappearedoncemoreathisfavoritehaunt-LakeMerritt．ItwasabusySundayevening;theparkinglotwasfulndwholefamiliesofshopperswerehurryinghereandthere,stogupfortheingweek．Dimitriwasrummagingthroughthegarbage,hiscartfullofemptys．Heybecausethescouldberecycledforanickepiedhecouldlookforwardtoagoodmealtheday．"Moneyiseverywhereifonlyyouwouldlookforit"hethought．Inthegarbagefrontebakery，hefoundabagofpartiallyeatendoughnutsandbuns．"Whatawaste!"hethoughtashebitintohisdelicioustreat．Hefinishedoneandputtherestintohiscartforfutureenjoymentbeforetinuinghissearptys．Suddenlyhebecameawareofthepresenceofanotherperson.Apairofwomaindarkbrowoppedinfrontofhimandstoodstill．Dimitri’seyestraveledupwardsfromthoseshoestothefadsawMarianna,eyesmoist,standingtherelookingathim．

"Amalia，Idon’treallyknowwhenmylifeonthisearthbegan，butit’sbeenalong，longtime．Myfleshcamefromyou，andwiththatbodycamefate，soul，thoughtandalltheotherattributes．Theseexistonlythroughandinapaofthefleshbody，withoutwhichfateaed．Withoutthefleshbody，alltheseattributeswouldbemeaninglessandinsignifit．Fate,forexample,hasalwaysbeenatroversiandunanswerablequestioralstatebetweeentandent．Lookingbathepast，youwillfindanobviousbuthelessexistingtrack,whichyouthinkwouldbeentbeforeyoufindit．Fateandfleshbodyareactuallytwo-in-oneandone-in-two．Ah，Amalia!myfleshisyourfleshandmyblood，yourblood．SinceIamyourfleshandblood，Imustacceptthepainthatfatehasimposedonmyfleshbody．ButyourlifeisoneofsinandIwishIcouldusemyfleshbodytoatoneforit．OnlyIdon’tknowwhetherthatispossibleornot”．

1

Itwasgetting1ate．Thedaywasdrawingtoacloseandtheskiesgraduallydarkened．Dimitriytherezilyonhisbench．Hisdayhadgonebyhazily．Inhissubsciousness,hehadbeenawareofshadowsofpeopleingandgoing：Twomountedpoliceofficersambledbyandhadtiedtheirhorsesuheshadeofsometreeswhiletheytooktheirbreakbeforeresumingtheirpatrol．Amadoldassedbymungonabunchofbananas，whichshepeeledonebyoossingtheskinsintothegarbagewhenshehadfinished．Nooneeverknewhername．Wheninagoodmood，shewouldturnprankish，puttingapsticbagoverherfadmakefacesatpeople，ughinghappilywhenshefoundtheywerescared．Butwhenshewasangry，shewouldshoutandcussatthetopofhervoice，gesturingvehemently．Dimitriadmiredhergreatlyforherlifestyle，forabandoningherselffreelyairelytohermoodswings．Otherpedestrianshadpassedbytoo，butnowallweregonehekwhere．

Leavingtheclumpoftrees，Dimitritinuedonhisway．Heraisedhisheadandsawthatnotfarawayfromhimabedofblood-redroses,brilliantandgeous,werebloomingvigorously．Hereproachedhimselffornotnotigthemearlierduringhiswalksaroundtheke．Itwouldhavebeenapityifhemissedthemintheprimeoftheirbeauty，hethought．

Chapter4LifeStoriesofAisha,Stephanie,Angelica,

"Whymentionallthis?Youshoulduandme．Iretmeetingyouwhen1amnolongerfree."

"Dimitri，wouldyoudomeafavorandworkintheyardtoday?The1awnneedsmowingareeshavetobeprunedandtrimmed．Iknowyoulovegardening，sowouldyoustayhometodayanddoitforme?"

ThecoldaeousMedusawaswaitingtotraiheartofwar．Attractedbyherbeautyandshakenbyherseverityandsterheybecamewillingpupilsahroughherrigoroustrainingscheduledocilely．DimitriwatchedallthisandwasfortedbythethoughtthatthoughIleenhadbetrayedhim，themajorityofthebeautieswereloyandwillingtosharehisfatewhichwasatstake．Shoutsofbattlecouldbeheardingfromthevalleyandmessengerscametoreportonthecourseofthebattle，butDimitriwasnottroubledbecausehekhatohesecrettunnelreparedforwar,itregnable．Newsoldiersjoihebattleaftertheirtraining，bringingwiththemrengthandvigor．Dimitriwatchedthemandthought，"Thesearetheonlybeingsnotbornofthehumanuterus，thestraandmostmysteriousofhumanansforreproduwhilywomehislookslikeamaledominatedworld，butiyitistrolledbywomen.”

"No，yourmajesty"ohemsaid，"weotrestyet．Ifthereisgoingtobefightigetthemedicalsuppliesready．Foodtofeedthetroopsmustalsobeprepared．Weotletthemgohungry.”Dimitriwasdeeplymovedbytheirselflessloyalty．HebrushedbackthetousledcurlsoftheCaucasiaywithhishands，rubbedoffspecksofcakedmudfromthefaceoftheLatiyandiedtherawandbleedingfingernailsoftheOrientalbeauty，telliogetitateoatohenhewalkedbrisklyawaytoMedusa’ssideofthehill．ThebeautieswerehappyandfortedtoseethatKingDimitriobviouslyappreciatedandcaredforthem．Theydispersedto，getdressedandthengoabouttheirdutieswithrenewedenergy．

Thehousetybutthehecoffeetabletoldhereverything．Itsaid，"Beholdthefowloftheair：theysownot，herdotheyreap；yetyourheavenlyfatherfeedththem"signed"Withlove，DimitriJaariannalookedfromthenoteinherhandtothediamerwithmixedfeelings．Shehadgainedavaluableringbuthadlostabelovedman．Hadshegainedorlost?Knowinghewouldbeonfootpushinghiscartbeforehim，sherushedoutaothepcessheknewhefrequented;buthewasobefound.Afterthatshelookedforhimdesperately,worriedthathewouldingwelndhadosleep，butfindingnotra，sheuoodthatDimitriwasavoidingheronpurpose．Hehadprobablygooanotherdistrict,awayfromhisusualroutes．Beingamaturewoman，sheuoodthewisdomofDimitri’sdecisionandbowedtotheiable．Gradually,shetrolledherfeelingsaaboutpreparingfortheingofherhusbandandson.

"Hm...Iguessso．It’smoresoothingandromantic.”Shesmiledandlookedaroundtheroom．Whenhereyesfellontheopeeraoonthecoffeetable,herheartskippedabeat．SheraisedhereyestoDimitri．Thepainonhisfacetoldherhekneweverything．

"Allright，allright,Iwill．"shesaidreassuringly．SheknewDimitrioftenfusedhisdreamswithreality，butshewasedabouttheunusualexpressiononhisface．Shewaokeephimhome，outofharm’sway，insteadofwanderingaboutinhiscurrentstateofmind，soshesaidtohim，

"Oh，it’syou,Marianna．Whatareyoudoinghere?"

"It’smyfault．I’minahurry．Thisshouldtakecareofthedamages.”ShesteppedonthegasandwasabouttodriveonwhensheheardMariannasay，

1

“Thereisnopossibilityofaquicksuccess”insistedonegeneral.

2

ThemafterDimitri1eft,headlinenewsinthepapersreportedontheexplosionatseaofaluxuryyachtbelongingtoMr.Kaffee,presidentofWorldBank;butnotracesofthemanhadyetbeenfound．Itwentontosaythatthesubsequentpowerstrugglebetweentwofasofhislieutenantshadclimaxedinagunfightinwhichthirtypeoplehadbeenkilledorwounded.AmongstthedeadwasMr.Kaffeeswife,Ileen．

Dimitrishookhisheadandcamebacktorealitythinking

2

KingDimitri’sWomen

"Whatareyoustaringat?Getup,getdressedandgoaboutyourwork!"Itwasasifshewasayounggirgainihthemanofherdreams．

Itwasonlyfivethirtyiernoon．ThefieryraysofthesettingsundyedLakeMerrittintoapoolofblood-redwater．Dimitriregrettedspendingthedayinthinkingandreminisg,asitmadehisheadache．Hismindwasn’tclearanymoreandheneededarest．Butagain,histhoughtswaohismotherAmalia．Ifshewasn’tinHeavebeinHellediernalfmesofGehenna．Hecouldalmostvisualizethedespairingandagonizingexpressiononherfaceasshestruggledtefromthescorgriver，onlytosinkdeeperintothebottomlesspit．

WhenDimitriwokeupearlythem,hefoundMariannasittingquietlybyhisbed，ionfinishingaredscarfshehadbeenknittingforquiteafewdays．Reluttodisturbher，hefeastedhiseyesonthisdomestie，butsomehowshesehathewasawakeandlookedupfromherknitting．Themeetingoftheirfoureyesbroughtonapleasureofintimadtheysmiledateachother．

2

BythehaddispersedandthebrightsunlightshiningstraightonhimmadeDimitri,whohadfullyrecoveredfromhishangover,feeldizzy．Helookedupatthevastexpanseofclearblueskieswithoutthetraceofasinglecloudandasuddenpaniccameoverhim．

BeforeMariannacouldgetoutofherway，theoningcarbrushedherfenderandstopped．Rollingdownthewindow，MariannafounditwasnotMrs．Kaffee，butKatherihewomanwhotookrs．Kaffee’sjewelryandexpeumes．ShewasabouttotalktoherwhenKatheriookadiamfrerandthrewittoMariannathroughbothoftheircarwindows，saying，

"Iwillsleepheretonight"hedecided．”Itisspringnow，soitshouldoocold．IfIcouldleavethisrealworldbehindmeandlieforeverinmydreamnd，theidealretreatwouldbeamidtheseexquisiteroses.”Sleepingalonightintheparkbroughtwithitassociationofghosts．Whenhewasaboy，Dimitriwasafraidofghosts，butlovedtolistentosepulchralstoriesofghostsanddemons．Nowthathewasgettingoninageandcloserandclosertohisfiiheearth,hewasnolongerafraidofthem．Orary，theirexistenisedaensionofthislifeinanotherworld．Inawaythistookawaymuchoftheapprehensionandfearofdeath．ToDimitri’scuriousandinquisitivemind，hewaseveastewhat1ifehereaftermeant，tolearnwhatthedifferencewasbetweenmenandghosts．

"Howdidyouknow?"sheansweredsurprised.Dimitrisatuponthebedandsaidurgently，

“Shehasnevershownanyloveoraffeforme，butIamfleshofherfleshandbloodofherblood．Thereisaninvisibletiebetweenusandmyyearningforherincreasesyearbyyear．Ah，mightaswellgetdrunktonightbecauseoipsy，allmyworriesandcaresevaporatewiththewind.”

2

Dimitriwentbacktohisbendydownlistlessly．Hethought，

"Faintbluemountains，faintredskies，

"Well，prettysoonI’llbegoingtoMrs．Kaffee’s．YourememberItoldyouIpromisedtocateradinnerforthem．Iwon’tbehometilltetonight.”

"Wherearetheclouds?WherehasAmaliagoo?"Hegotintoahystericalfrenzyandranaroundshouting，"Amalia!Amalia!Whereareyou?"Buttherewasnoanswerfromtheskies，noclouds，noAmalia．Dimitrisatdowedlyonthebendthought．"WherecouldAmaliahavegoo?PerhapsshefellfromthecloudsbacktoHell.Heenvisionedawideexpanseofdesert，torrid，dryandshadeless，withtheraysofninesunsbzingdownonthered-hotsandsofironore．Amaliawascrawlihem，pantingwiththirstandhalfdeliriouswiththeheat．Dimitricouldolookandcried，"Amalia,areyousorrynowforyoursins?Youmustbe!"Butthen，herememberedherwords，"Don’tthinktwicebeforeyouaceathingisdone,neverregret.”No，Amaliawould．Theexpressiononherfaceainful，yetrebelliousandremorseless.AhAmalia!Repent!Perhapsyouattainabsolution．TellmehowIhelpyouleaveyourpainfulenviro．Perhapswhatyouneednowisagssofcejuice,buthowIgetittoyou?Thedimensionsseparatinguseasuredbytimeorspace．AhAmalia!HowIleaveyoutosufferallone?"

Atthatmoment，thephantomsoftheRomanlegionsevaporatedintodarkclouds．Thesedarkcloudsgatheredoverheadandtorrentsofrainpoureddown．RaindropsfellonDimitri’swarriorswhobegabatothesoilfromwhichtheyhadsprung．Ileen’sbody，whichwasalsomadeofearth，sooedtoo．Dimitriwatchedashissoldiersdisappeared，justashisenemieshad，andhewalkedonaloheraintowardsthevalleythinking，"Letwhatshoulddispersebedispersed，andwhatshouldturntodustbeturodust．WhenJehovahmademan，heordaihat‘Dustthouartanduntodustthoushaltreturn’.Afterdeath,withtheextinguishmentofthefleshbody,willloveandhatedispersetoo?Orwilltheyremainforever?"

Acrossthestreet，severalteen-agerswaitingfortheirschoolbus,ughing,jokingandengaginginhorsepy.Lookingonatthemenviously，Dimitrithoughtofhisownyouthwhichhadbeenenvelopedinapalebluemistofsorrowandmencholy．

"OhAmalia,youcheapnastywoman!”hecriedbitterly."Youuseyourfleshbodyasatoolforyourownpleasures，hinkingitistherootofallevilthatgivesrisetedies，ofwhichIamone．Youmiserablestrumpet，youcallmeabitch’sbastard．Whatdoesthatmakeyou?Abitch!”Hestrodeaboutangrily．"Abitch！Bit...hic..ch!”Hiccupsstoppedhiswords．"Bit...hic...ch!Stopthat！"hesnappedangrilyathishiccup．"You’realsoason-of-a-bitch!Hic”Hepulledouthisbottleandtriedtodrownhisannoyinghicliquor．"Oh，yes，whenIwassmallIlivedlikeawilddog，beggingformediewhenIwasill，rummagingingarbagesforfoodandclothes．Younevercaredahootaboutme，thoughItriedsohardtopleaseyou,sohard…”

"Youletmeliveonlytosufferoncemore.”JustasDimitritriedtoexpin,hewokeup．

“Manismorefortuhanotheranimalsinthatduringtheslowprocessofevolution，asedselfwasbornthatcouldthinkforitself．Thisiswhatnootheranimalhas．Itissimpletosatisfytheneedsofthefleshbody,whilyrequiresfood,shelterandsexualsatisfa．Butmaniscalledtheofanimalsbecausehehasabodywhioloisfiedwithsuchbasieedsandwhitainsasedselfthatthinkforitselfandcouldorderthebodytoperpetuallyseekenjoyment,lustandgreed．Butthatthinkingsedselfalsohasthepowersofself-examination，whichproducesthestandardsofbehavior．Withtheexistenmuhesestandardsbecameintricatewswhitrolthefleshboingoutofbounds．Likewise，moralitytrolsthesedselfsothatitwouldnothavetoomuchfreerein．Soweetothequestion‘Whatislife?’Ithinklifeisjusthowtomanageourfleshbody．Itshouldcarefullymonitorourthinkingsedselfbecauseithasthecapacitytodobothgoodandevil”．

“No,I’mfantasizingagain.IfAmaliawereliving,she’dbeasilver-hairedfeebleoldwomaninhersevehere’snowayshe’dbeabletodancegracefullyasawillow．Howdoesonegrowold?Isitthesprihatblowsyearafteryear,mperceptiblyblowingawayyouryouthandyourstrength，addingwrinklesandsilverhair?”Hesuddenlyrememberedapictureheoncesawinamagazineaboutamurdercasewhereawomanhadbeendismembered．Thepolicecollectedthepartsofherbodyandputthemintobiggsstainersofformaliheywouldbekeptasevidehouteverdeteriorating．Oainerhadagradcurvaceousarminit，anotheraperfectlyformedandwellproportioheostruckhimmostwasthetaihthehead，wherethesadtenanceseemedtstillforshecouldneverbeputtogetherandmadewholeagain．Ifalivingpersonreservedinitperhapsshewouldneverageandherbeautywouldliveonforever．Dimitriughedathimselfhalf-hysterically．I’mgettingweird．Apnezoomedoverhead．

Ah!gentlebreeze，disturbnotmysweetdreams．HowdidIgrowold?Iknownot．Wasitthesprihatblewmeold?EvenifIweretogrowoldthus，Imindnot．Letmegotodreamndamidtheflowers,thebirdsandthespringbreeze．Golden-hairedMaryesrunninghither,herlongtressesflyinginthebreeze,herbreastsslightlyswelling,hereyesbrightandmoistehegesinherbodyaremiraculous,likeadewyrosebudreadytoblossomintoared,redrose．MissSimpsonesby，punctuallyat3:30p.m.withher90-lbgolderieverSpeedy．Shetellsallwhowouldlistenthatofherthreeformerhusbands，nonewereasfaithfusSpeedy．HerfifthhusbandMarkwasamentallyretardedboy，tall,fatandobedient．Theirtwosilhouettescouldoftenbeseenintheraysofthesettingsun．OldEdwardalwayswalksbentlikeabow，hisheadonthelevelwithhisknee．Whenheseessomeoriesthtenupaendtobethemanheisn’t．Hewasobeseefewweeks．Somesayhehasdiedandgooheaven．Alllivingthingssooergoontheirgrave-boundway．Foes，knavesespasshtheages．HowdidIgrowold?Iknownot．Letmelieonthisbenthepark．Letthespringbreezeblowmeold．Letmyfleshbodydreamonamidthefragrantblossomsandthesingingbirds．Inthiswarm,cozyspringbreeze,manshouldremainforeveryoung．ButifIamtogrowoldthus，Idon’tthinkIwouldmindatall．

Walkihesuspensietowardstheesestylebuilding，Aishawasstruckwiththepletesilence．Usuallythepcewasfullofughterandactivity；butnow，withoutitsmaster,allhadbeelifelessandstagnant．"Wherehaseveryonegoo?"shethoughtassheeheemptyhallwithitsmajestiishings，meticulouslykeptupandimposingasever；butitallthemoreemphasizeditspreseion．WhenKingDimitriwashere，thehallwasfullofmusidsinginganddeliciousfoodwasserveduhedlelightandnternsbythebeautiesadorhpreciousjewels．Lifethenwasbusyafundfullofmeaning．ShewalkedupthestairstothesedfloorandpausedforamomentatthelongFrendowsoverlookingthecrystalclear，icy-coldgoon，andrememberedwithnostalgiahowKingDimitritookthemboatingsometimesuhemoonlight,sometimesinadrizzlingraintheywouldsitinthepyingmusistrumentsandsinging，drinkingwineandenjoyingthedifferentaspectsofthenightseonthegoon．Hereyestraveledtothesurroundingmountainsandrememberedhowhetookthemmountain-climbingandhunting．WhatamanKingDimitriwas！Heuoodlifeandhowtoenjoyittothehilt-anepicureanahetitheyalllovedandrespected．Aishawalkedontothestdoorandope．Itwasherprivatequarters．

Dimitriyawnedandsatupfromhisbench，stretgzily．Thetraffichadbeeheavier，thenumberofschoolchildrenintheparkhadincreased，bringingwiththemabuoyantnoisinesswhichmadesleepoutofthequestion．Dimitriwalkedslowlytowardsthekeandlookedatthewater,theskyandtheclouds．Iahechimingofchurchbellsannoungeveningvespersbroughtwithitafeelingofweariness,whieswiththecloseofday．Dimitrithought,"Imeanttotakeafortablenapuhewarmsunandspringbreeze，butinsteadIgavefreereintomythoughtsandwhiledthetimeaway．Ihaven’tcollectedanymaterialformydreamseither．Ohwell，let’sseewhatwilleintomydreamstonight．"

Iamayouthlearningtobedivine.”

Muddywaterandfragrantperspiratioogetherspottedandshoheirlongflowinghairastheiyoftheirworkincreasedinthislife-ahcrisis．Heavybreathingcouldbeheardastheywentabouttheirarduoustask．Thetwenty-fourbeautieswithslenderfingersmoldedthesculpturaltfighterswithbulgingmusclesintheirarmsandlegsandalsotheiableansassignsoftheirmasestrength．Thenthebeautieswouldblowtheirbreathintothemandtheywouldetolife-strongmuscursoldiers．Theproudcreatorwouldthenpathercreationonthebadsay，"Begood，myboy”andsendhimtotheothersideofthehill．Soonhundredsofsoldierswerecreated．

"Mrs.Kaffee?"DimitrisuddenlyassociatedthewomanwhomadetroubleforhimatthegasstationwithMrs.Kaffee，Marianna’spresenter．"IsherfirstnameIleen?IsherhusbandpresidentofWorldBank?"

Theliquorsentastreamofwarmthrightdowntohisabdomen.Dimitrifelttipsyandwasetedagain．Heughedandtalkedtohisunseenaudiehisfleshbodyisamiracleofevolution，butitisalsoagreathindrahesoulcouldbeseparatedfromthebody，Iwouldrathergiveupmyfleshbodybecauseallsinsandlustsstemfromit.”Hethoughtforamomentandthenshookhishead．"No,thisbodyofoursistheproductofbillionsofyearsofgeandshouldnotbelightlygivenup．Andwhoknowsforsurewhetherthebodyandthesoulbeseparated?Iwilltiobeonthealertandwatchoverit,toseethatitdoesnoevil．IthinkIhavedoneagreatjoballtheseyears．Yes,Ihave.”Heughediationandwavedahandatthemyriadofstarstwinklingintheskysaying，"IwilnnouoallyouheavenlybodiesthatI,DimitriJa,havemanagedmyfleshbodywell．Despitemyhumbleins,Ihaveitdoanyevil,soIneedfearherGodnormaookanotherdrinkandsaidtothehostsofcrimsonrosessurroundinghim，"Doyouknow?YouandIarediffereures.0urexistehisearthofoursmakesitdifferentfromandfarsuperiortothosethousandsofstarsoutthereinthesky．Ha,ha,ha”Exultantlyjubintandalittlehazy，hesaidtothem,"Rose!Rose!Youareattheheightofyourbeauty．Pleasedon’twitherawaywhileI’masleep!"Hiswordsturoamumbleaumbledtothegroundandfellfastasleep．Heseemedtohearachorusofbeautifulsopranovoidhisagingbody,likeahalf-hollowedtree,wasinvigoratedbyitandmadefulloflifefain．

Dimitriwokefromhisdreamfeelinggloomyanddepressed，withnoreadypnsofdefenseagainstthisfatalcrisis．ForthetimebeitheothersbacktotheirsurveilsaabouttheseeminglyimpossibletaskofproteghiskingdomagainstIleerayal．Suddenly，hewasstruckwiththeideathatifhecouldbriolife，socouldhedoitwithothers．Hewasoverjoyedandgatheredhisbeautiestogether．Hegavehisordersbriskly：The500ablebodiednativeswerethtlythesecretpassagenightanddayforthreedays．Itwasalongandwindingvalley，easytoguardbutimpossibletocapture．ItwasinallysuggestedanddesignedbyIleenasameansofescapeinergency，butithadnowbeehermeansofrevenge．Heorderedboatstoberowedoutandalltheothersweretoldtocrossthekewithhimtothebarrenhillsoherside．Theyweremystifiedwhentheyweretoldtalongspadesandbuckets．Itwasgrowingdark．Campfireswerebuiltalroundthedesote,barrenhill,whichwasatoransformedintoaseofbustlingactivity．Thetwenty-fourbeautieswerebusycarryingwater，lookingforthesoil，sievingthedmixiogethertomakemudcakesforthecreationofnewlives．Theyhaddiscardedtheirloose，floatingsilkgownsastoocumbersome．Nowtheywerewnaked．Inthehardworkofcarrying，diggingormixing，theirtallslenderaifulfiguresretainednimbleelegandgrace，provingtheywerenotjustsexualsymbolsmadefortheenjoymentofmen．

Itreiterateditselfagainandagain，untilDimitricouldn’thelpsingingalongwithit．Themistgraduallydispersedandthenoiseandcmorofcitylifebeganagain．

MariannayasshedrovetowardstheKaffee’sluxuriousmansioakenashower，putonherbestsuitandwaslookingforwardtothesubstantialtipshealwaysgotfromMr．Kaffee．"SomesayMr．Kaffeeisanunscrupulousman,adonoftheMafia”shethought.“Buthelookslikeanice，generousoldmantome．Why，ifhelikedthefoodIcookforhimandhisfriends，hemightevengivemeafewthousanddolrs!"Andshedimpledatthethought．Theseryhadgottenmorebeautifusshedroveon．Theviewfromtherightsidewindowwastheowithitsppingbluewater；fromhersideshecouldseeendlessspansofmountainranges．Adeadseagullfloatedoer，iandlifeless，softlyppedbythewaves．Lifeahmightseemliketwooppositeextremes，butthedifferencewasactuallyslight．Thatsamebodyhadoncebeenalivelymemberofaflock，flyingfreelyandhappily，butnowitydesertedanddisregarded．TheroadseemedtobebuiltfortheKaffees，astherewerenootherhousesinsight．Suddenly，herthoughtsturoherhusbandandsonandherfacesoftehinkingoftheirimmireunion．ButoherhandtherewasDimitri,whomshetrulyloved．Butonceherhusbandandsoheywouldhavetopart．ThinkingofDimitri，shefrowned．

"Iwaswrong,Ileen．Itwasmyfaultand1willmakeupforit．Fromnowonyouarefree．Freetodowhateveryouwanttowithnofearofretribution.”Asifwantingtosaysomethingbutrefrained，Ileenkowtowedandturogo．ButjustthewoAsiahatwerealwaysbythesideofhisthroneroaredandrushedoutather，toppliheground．Dimitriimmediatelyshoutedatthemandorderedthemback,butthedamagehadbeendone．Ileenwasagainabloodymass,thoughstillive．Sheyonthegroundandlookedathimcoldly,hereyesfullofhate．

Lotus,Samantha,DornaandNatalie

Inthedeadsilenlythesoundofoarshittierwasaudible．Hewalkedashoretowardsthetreeonthedesotehilndthebloodysefshedoncemorebeforehim.HeseemedtoseethetophalfofIleen’sbodyhangingfromthetreewhilethebottomhalfbelowthewaistybloodyandmaheground．"WhatIdotoremedythis?"heaskedhimself．ShewasoherarebeautiesinthisworldandIorderedhertobechoppedinhalf!"HehadastrongwishtomakereparationstoherandbringherbacktolifeagaioryoftheCreatioohismind，sohescoopedsomeofthebloodysoilfromthegroundandtookittothewater’sedge,wherehemixeditwithwaterandshapeditintotheformofawoman．Hewashesitant，notquitesureifitwouldwork，butheblewonitanywayinimitationofJehovahanditgrewbiggerandbiggeruntilitmiraculouslyturoIleeifugasever．

"Whyareyousogoodtome?I’mnotworthyofyourkindness.”

"Itwillcostthelivesoftoomanyionaries!"criedanother.Justthen，itortedthattherewassomeosidethetentaskingtoseetheChiefturionwithpnstodefeattheeheDohepersonthtforthatonce．DimitriwastakenabacktofinditwasIleen，whomhehadkilledbutterresurrectedianceforhisharshness．Herfacesobeautiful，wasnowscarredbythecwsofthetigers，andhereyeswerefullofhatreday．

"YourMajesty!YourMajesty!”

Meanwhile，theiigableMedusawasthere,beautiful,imposingandstern,eyesgleaming，stillfullofenergyinspiteofthreedaysofintensedrilling．Hershiningbckskinenhancedherwild,primitiveAfribeauty．Tenthousandfightersstoodatattentionbeforeherwhilesheiedtheirranks．KingDimitristrodeontotheptformtoreviewhistroopsandsawthattheywerereadyforbattle．ThehueandthesecrettunnelhaddecreasedAftertryingfruitlesslyforthreedaystogairy，theenemywasobviouslygettingdiscedandtired．Itwastheidealtimeforaterattack．Dimitriatoransformedhimselftoasavagedeitywiththebodyofamanbuttheheadofamonster，withrhinoceroshornatthetopofhishead．Thefightersgaveashoutofjoyatseeingsuidableleader.LedbyDimitriandMedusa,theychargedthroughthesecrettutackedtheRomanLegions．DimitrifeltasthoughhewaschargingthroughtheMongoliangrassndo-footedsteed，ahoughhewasfightinginthedesertwithitsendlessexpanseofyellowsand．