Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第179/246页)

ouldwedothen?”murmuredQueenAisha,whoseheartwasoncemorefilledwithay.“IfIannouCyclopsisnearby,itwouldbesuretocausesternationanday.Iotbarthebeautiesfromleavingthepace.Itwouldbelikeimprisoningthem.ButifIdohem...Ohdear!WhatshouldIdo?”Shethoughtforamomentandthensaid,“Fromnowon,whehebeautiesleavethepace,theymustbeapahetwotigersandtheirsphereofactivitymustbecurtailedtotheviityaroundthepanoditioheytovehewildernessacrosstheke.”

    “Yes,yourmajesty”repliedMedusa“thatwouldbealright.ButtheviityaroundthepaceisstillrathervastandiftheyshouldenterCyclops,thosetwotigersarenoprote.Youhaveseenhisamazingstrength.Hecouldeasilytearthetigersintwo.Ithipnistoaskthebeautiestocarryawhistlearrowwheheyleavethepace.TheyjusthavetoshootitintotheairwhehereisanemergendIwillgototheirrescueimmediately.”

    “Good.Good.That’saverygoodidea.It’sthebestwaytodealwiththisandthesafest.”Afterawhilesheaskedagain,

    “DoeseverydaytothestrawhutbythekewhereMr.Fingerhasbeenexiledto,tfoodanddrinktohim.WhatifshemeetsCyclops?Shewouldbeindanger.”

    “Don’tworry,yourmajesty.NaughtygirlDornaisfulloftridshehasAmalia’sflyingbroom.EvenifCyclopsseesher,whathedotoher?”QueenAishanodded.AfterawhileshethoughtofsomethingelseandaskedMedusa,

    “DornaandDeannainvitedWhiteFairytogowiththemaheirnewfriendVictoria,Didyouseethem?”

    “Yes,Idid.Isawthemearlyinthem.Thefourofthemwerechattinghappilyandanimatedlyinthewildernessbytheke.”

    “Quick.Quick.Tellthemtoebackhereandnotstaytherebytheke.It’snotsafe.”saidQueenAisha,beinganxiousagain.

    “It’sOK,yourmajesty”fortedMedusa.“Justthink.Dornahashermagi.WhiteFairyisapuffofsmokeouch.DeannaisslipperyasafishinwaterandVictoriaISarge,whitefish.Cyclopslythrowhisweightaroundonnd.Heishelplessier.EveniftheymeetCyclops,whathedotothem?”QueenAishawasfortedbyMedusa’swordsandhersmilereturoherface.

    Tranquilityreighefoggykeside.Soundsoffishjumpingoutofthewatercouldbeheardhereandthere,provingthisoolofwateralivewithmarinelife.Soonthefogliftedandbrightsunshiuptheworld.Aflockofbirdsflewbytowardsafaroffdestination.Normally,thispartofthekewaslonelyandsecluded,withlittlesignofhumanactivity,butthismfournakedwomenwerefroligintheshallowwaters,talking,ughinganddashingwaterateachotherinfun,addinglifetothelonelysery.ItwasDornaandDeannawhohadinvitedWhiteFairytomeettheirnewfriendVictoria.

    17

    “Let’sstopnowadowntobusiness”saidDornafinallyandthefourofthemsatdownierwhichcoveredhalftheirbodies.

    “Iknowyouwereinallyaflower”saidDornatoWhiteFairy.“Yougetoapuffofsmokeortohumanformatwill.WeinvitedyouheretoaskyoutoteachVictoriathesecrettoyourpracticeofasceticismsothatsheeashoreandlivewithusinthepaeon,telluswhatthesecretis!”

    “Thepracticeofasceticismotbehurried.Ittakestimeandisatransitionthatfollorescribedorder.”

    “Time?Howlongatime?”askedDorna.“Look,KingDimitrihastakehanhalfthebeautiesofthepacedowntothemundaneworld.Thepaceisalmostemptyandverylonely.Won’titbegoodifVictorialeavethewaterandelivewithusinthepaceassoonaspossible?”

    “Don’tbeinsuchahurry.Iuandyourfeeling