Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第79/246页)

ngawholeseriesofquiprehensiblemotions,whilehisfeet,too,movedinharmony.Hedancedforawhile,thenpghishandsoopofDimitri’sheadhesaid,

    “Allyourwealthwillbescattered,butIpromisethatyouwilgainamassevenmoreriches.Letthatbemyreimbursementtoyou”Thesilentlybythesameroute.

    Thewhite-beardedoldmanwasthegodsofwealththatDimitriworshippedonhisownprivatealteranditwasunknownwhyhecametobeherewithpatchesofhisbeardsingedbyfire.Whathadhappenedwasthis:Oneday,Dimitritookoutawhitecottonbagandputintoitalltheloosehehadaccumuted,mostlynickelsandpenniesandsomedimes.Itfeltprettyheavyinhishands.Hetooksomehamsandwichesandbroughtthemalongtoo.Thentakinghiswhitee,heheadedfortheerwheretheoldmanusuallyloitered.Hewaitedforawhilebutsawnotra,soDimitrileftthebagthereandmadehiswaytohissmallstudioapartment.Actuallytheoldmanwasatanotherernotfaraway,ilywatgDimitri’severymove.WhenDimitrileft,theoldmancameback,tookoutapaper-edsandwidbegantowolfitdowiculousDimitrihadevenincludedaofbeerinthebag.Sotheoldmanateanddrailyuntileverymorselwasgotinghisfullstomach,heburpedinsatisfaandthoughtabouthowtopensateDimitriforhispresentkindnessandforalltheshehadenjoyedovertheyearswhenhewasonDimitri’saltar.Hetookthebagofloosegeandtransformedthemintopricelessagolds,whichterbecamethecapitalforDimitritousetomakeaeback,areturntopower.Onthesurface,Dimitri’sKingdomofDreamswassafeandsecureasusual,butinaimeandspace,theKingdomwasbeginningtocolpse.Thoughhisbeardwassingedbyfire,thewhite-beardedoldmanmadehisescapeandranoffbeforetheKingdompletelyfelpart.

    Chapter8WorldBank

    Thestarlessandmoonlessnightseemedtobedyedinbk.Thewideexpahekewasrockedbysavagewindsandferociouswaves.Thepacewasveiledintotaldarkness.Itwaste.AcloakofmalevolentmysteryenvelopedtheKingdomofDreams.Medusawasonhighalert.Fromtimetotime,shewouldsoarupintothedarkskiesandencircletheKingdomtomakesureallwaswell.CortezandKojak,Dimitri’stwotigerswhoybeforehisthrone,alsokeptclosewatdmadetheirroundsofthepacegrounds.Theprojeakingandinstallingabasetoshootawebofarrowsfromhighhilltopvantagepointshadbeenpletedandbandsofwarriorswereassigoguardthestrategiclocations.Thoughthetwinnymphs,Charmaineaine,hadreturheseventhheaven,itwasnoguaratheever-jealousZeuswouldnotiheKingdomofDreams.

    Itreeholeatadesoteareabythesideoftheke,VioandMr.Fingerweresleepingserenelyontheirflower-strewnbedwhenViosuddenlysatupandsaid,

    “Listen!That’smymothercallingme!”

    6

    “No,you’rewrong”saidMr.Fingeropeninghiseyesdrowsily.“That’seitherthewindhowlingorthewaveshittingtheshore.”

    “No,it’smymothercalli’sgettingcloserandcloser.Sheisrightbytheke!”Sayingso,shegotoffthebed,climbeddowrunkuntilshecametotheexitbytherootofthetreeandrushedmadlytowardsthesideoftheke.Mr.Fingercoulddonothingbutfollow.Viodashedaroundthekesidehystericallyshouting,

    “Mother!Mother!Whereareyou?IamVio.Iamyouronlydaughterwhomyoulefthereintheworld.Mother!Mother!Arewetobeseparatedforever,omeet?No.No.No.Ifeelyouarestillthere.Youarestillive!Mother!Iwanttocrossthiskeandetoyou,butit’sharderthantryingtogo