esouhpealsofmusic,elegantandsoothing．

"It’stimeforprayer．Wouldyoucaretojoinme?"

"I’dbehoo.”

DimitriwalkedwithWhiteFairytothecourtyardbeforethetemple．Eaglesflewdowlingonroofsandwalls．Serpentscrawledfromthegrassawihemselvesaroundthepilrsofthetemple．Frogsleaptfrompondsandfishesswamtothesurfaceofthewater．Allkindsofbirdsflewdownaledonroofsandwallswiththenowdocileeagles．Sheep,rabbitsanddeercameintothecourtyard．Bears,wolvesandtigersbecamegentle．Predatorsstoodpeacefullytogetherwiththeirprey．DimitrisatdownamidthenumerousdisciplesofWhiteFairyandlisteoher．Hersermonwasasgeableastheillusive,multi-coloredclouds．Herfshingeyesreflectedherwisdom．

"Survivalofthefittestisanaturalw,”shesaid,"butitisnottheabsolutetruth．Inhumans,therearethingsthatgoagainstthenaturalw．Oed，itispassion-thepurestandmostsublimefeeling．Ihopeyoutoowillpractipassionandnotbullytheweak．Donottakejoyinkilling,evenifitisforfood．Begoodtoyourownkindandtoothersaswell．Iwillweleyouwheninyourlifeyoubeehumans．Thenyouthere,andthroughprayerandgooddeeds,buildabetterfuture.”

Dimitriwasmovedandsatthereimmersedinthought，oblivioustothefactthatthebirdsandanimalsaroundhimhaddisappeared.WhiteFairyandhermonkeyscametowardshimandshesaid，

"Dimitri,youotstayhere．Itisteandyoushouldbeonyourway.”Dimitriwasunwillingtopartandwouldmuchprefertobeasmallmonkeyandwate-keeperforthetemple．Asifknowinghisinnermostthoughts,shesmiledandsaid，

7

"No，thishermit’slifeisnotforyou．Youaredestinedfreaterthings．Youmustgoforth,andthroughtrials,tributionsandadventures,buildupyourownempire．Hereisaswordandbowandarrow，SoonItoowilleandhelpyouinthebuildingofyourempire.”

"ThankyouWhiteFairy,”saidDimitri,gratefullytakingtheonsfromherhand."Hopetoseeyousoon.”Hebowedrespectfullyaonhisway,buthecouldurninghisheadtolookbackatthegracefulfigureofWhiteFairy,standinginthemidstofhermonkeys,herwhitehairflowingandrufflingintheeveningbreeze．Soonnightfelndhecouldnolongerseethetempleoritsmysteriousaherealmistress．

ThemanandtheoefloatedsilentlywiththetidetiantMountain．Dimitri’shandtouchedthehiltofhissword．Thatandthebowandarrowonhisbackgavehimfullfidenceofvictory．Uhemoonlight,themountainranges,whichsoresembledagiganticTitanlyiandhelplessonthehorizon,stillseemedtobestrugglingtomove，musclestautedinthisfutileattempt．Astheyapproachedtheshore，powerfulwingscouldbeheard,bringingwithitgustsofwind,asthemonstercircledtheittinghair-raisingscreamsandcroaksoftriumphasitpteditsvictim,whowasshiveringwithfear．Thenitpounceddown．Atthatpreomenthearingthegirl’scry，Dimitrishotoutfrombeheoeonabackstroke,floatingfaceupwardstowardsthesky．Hesawanenormousbirdwithawoman’sheadandsnakesforhairsnatchupDeannawithitslong，sharpdtakeofftowardsthesky．Dimitrishotatitwithhismightybowandheardanagonizingshriekasthearrowpiercedthevulnerableareabetweenthebodyandthewing．ThemogoofitspreyandDeannafellintothewater．Ohereshewasinherelementandlostnotimeinesgtosafetyfrombehewaterwithoutleavingatrace．Seriouslywouhebirdtookoffforthemountainsandfellintoadenselywoodedarea．Dimitriswamtoshoreandwalkedtowardstheforest．Ontheway，hesawmanystonesinvariousuninglylife-likeposes：someswordinhandiionofstriking；someiionofpullingbacktheirbows，otherscrawlingontheground．Herealizedtheseweretheyouhemonsterhadturostohherevileye．

Medusa:

Sworduhed,Dimitriwalkedtowardsthedenselywoodedareaintowhichhehadseenthebirddisappear．Ashemadehiswayintothatvirgi,hesuddenlycameupontwoembragtreesgrowingsidebyside，whoserootsweresoenmeshedthattheywerehardtoentahetrunkofthetreeowasstrongandsturdy,resemblingavirilemale．Theoherightwasslenderandcurving,likeagingfemale．Thesetwotreescoiledawinedhadstoodthereembrageachotherforthousandsofyears．Dimitri’sheartstoppedforamomentatthesight，butthenbeforehimwastheimmiaskofkillingthemonsterandsavingthepeopleofthearea，soheputallotherthoughtsasideandproceededwithhissearch．Asheeartheedgeoftheforest,hewasattractedbytheracketcreatedbydistraughtbirds,chirping,gandflyingalloverthepce．Goingtowardsthenoise,hesoooanopenclearingwherehundredsofbirdscouldbeseencirgaimlesslyoverheadasifinpaniddistress．Butadensefogpermeatedtheclearingandhecouldscarcelyseeafewfeetahead．Fromtheheartofthefog,camethesoundofgroans,soDimitrimadehiswayslowly,stepbystep,intothefogwherehesuddenlysawbeforehimasnake-hairednakedbeautylyingonthegroundbadlywounded,withanarrowprotrudingfromtherightsideofherbody．Sheullingherselfstrenuouslytowardsaotfaraway,leavingatrailofbloodonthegrassasshedraggedherselfover．

Dimitriwalkedtowardsher,swordraisedreadytostrike,whenheheardherspeakinahumanvoice．

"Beforeyoukillme,willyouanswermeoion?Howcouldyoushootandwouhoutbeingturostone?Didn’tyoulookatme?"

"No,Ididnot．Iamtraiellingdireanddistinguishingspeedofmovementajustbymysenseofhearing．Itargetedyoubymyears,noteyes.”

"SuchisFate．ThefirsttimeIwaskilledbyPerseus,whoslewmebylookingatmyrefleinhisbronzeshield．Afterthat,Iwasonmyguardsoasnottobetakeninagainthatsameway．Ineverdreameditossibletosubstituteearsforeyes!Andthisunseasonablefoghasbrokenmyspellmentostoisihewillofheaven!"Dimitri,whowasabouttostrike,slowlyputdownhisswordandaskedincredulously，

"What?Doyoumeantosaythatyouhadbeenbeheadedbefore?"Thinkisthathappehousandsofyearsago,shesaidinapensivevoicethatseemedtoefromanotherworld，

7

"MynameisMedusa,daughteroftheseagodPhodhissister-wife,Ceto．Iwasverybeautifundhadmanyadmirers．OnedayIwascaughtmakingloveiempleofDelphiandwastransformedintoanuglymohserpentsforhair,cwsofbronzeandstaringeyescapableanyonewholookedatmeintostone．IshouldnothaveprofaheTemple,butevehousandsofyears,Istillthinkthepenaltywastoosevere.”Shepaused,mulliheinjusticeofthesentence．

"Manydiedbecauseofme;andintheeyesoftheworldIbecameamoobedestroyed．DidaoptothiherIwaogepeopletostones?Didtheyeveraskwhoputthatpowerihoutmyeverwantingit?Thehero,Perseus，beheadedmewiththeaidofsword,shieldandwingedshoesborrowedfromthegods．HepresentedmyheadtoAthenatothankherforlendinghimtheshieldwithwhichtokillmeamyheadonitasatrophy．ButbefivingmyheadaerseusshowedmyheadtooldAts,whowastiredofhavingheavenonhisshouldersandaskedtobeturostoneasarewardfortellinghimwhereIwas.”Medusapattedthegroundshewaslyingonandsaid，

"That’shim!Oncehegedintostoneandcouldnolongermoveevenafinger，heregrettedhisrashrequest,butitwastoote．He’sbeenstrugglingeversitonoavail.”Exhaustedbyherlongspeech,Medusaanting．Sheysidewiseonthegrouedforawhileandtheon．

"Beautyisnotasin，butitprovedtobemyundoingandbroughtmeonlymisfortuneanduedpunishment.Perhapsthegodswerejealousofmybeauty．Theseriesofeventsthathappeertheygedmeinton,allthosepeoplebeingturostoneordyingbecauseofme，werebeyondmytrol．Ifeltlikeapuppetonastring，withnopowerwhatsoeverovermylifeandwishes．Sedandpersecuted,IwasbeheadedbyPerseus．NowIamabouttodiebyyoursword．Butnomatter，Iamtiredoflifeanyway．Letmybloodwashawaymysins.”Sheidhercheeksonthegroulyruffledthelusciousgrasssaying，"’tyoufeeltheslightpalpitationsoftheheartbeatandthewarmthofthetemperatureoftheearth?Itisgentleandsoothing．Itmaybeablessingtoendmysinfullifeandlieasleephereforeveraerintotheeternaldreamnd!"

AfterhearingMedusa’sstory,Dimitriwasfilledwithsympathy．Hewalkedowhereshewaslyingandstoopeddown,nolardingherasaobeexterminated．Forthefirsttime,helookedatherfacetofadwasshakeraordinarybeauty,whoseradiancewasundimmedbythefog,thewildernessandherseverewound．Herfasatingeyes,rgeandeloquent,werenowlusterlessandtired;andsheseemedtobestrugglingtokeepthemfromclosing．Hesaidgently,

"YouareonlyavictimcheatedbyFate,Medusa．SoamI．Soiseveryofateotpredominateyourlife．Youhavetorealizethatnomatterwhatdirestraitsyouareforto,youstillhavesuffitstrengthandtrolwithwhichtoredirectyourlife．Thereareuntrolbleforces,butthereinisstillinyourownhands．Fewpeoplerealizethis;sowhenstruckwithadversity,theytendtodriftwiththetideaeandmisfortuakeoverthecourseoftheirliveswithoutastruggle．ButonceyouuandyourpositioweenFateay,youadjustittothemostdesirablepitdassumeand．Throughingeniousmaneuversyouregaintrolofyourowbygonesbebygones．Fromnowon，Iwanttohelpyoushakefreeoftheropesandsthatbindyouandbeginanewlife.”

DimitriwasabouttopulloutthearrowandhelpMedusabindherwound,whenhewasstartledbyahoarse,lowvoiingfromthecave,saying，

"I’msothirsty．Blood!Givemethevirgin’sblood!"Hewasatohealertagain．SwordinhaintothecaveandsawCyclopswithhandsafastenedbyironstothewallofthecave．OnseeingDimitri,heflewintoatempestue，shrieking，shoutingandrushingathim,onlytobepulledbackbythes．Fromoutsidethecave，Medusa’svoicecouldbeheardimpl，

"Don’tkillhim!Heishelplessandi．Ifyoumustkill,killmeinstead!"Seeirugglingmonsteredandhelpless,Dimitrikcoulddonoharm;soheretreatedtoMedusa’ssideandasked，

"Whoishe?Whydoyouwaosparehim?"ButMedusawassoweakthatshecouldhardlyspeakandytherepaleandpanting．

80页

"Thestorywait”saidDimitri,"Wemusttreatyourwoundsfirst.”Takingholdofthearrow，hepulledatitwithhisrighthand．Thearrowcameoutwholeand，butbloodgushedoutofthewoundlikeanunstoppablestreaminspiteofhiseffortstostopit．WatgitflowonandonandseeingMedusagrowevenpaler,Dimitrididnotknowwhattodo．Hebenthisheadandkissedtheflesh，tornandmutitedbyhisarrow．Tohissurprise，thebloodflowslowedandhecouldseethewoundclosingandmendinguntilithealedpletelyandseemedasifithadneverbeeninflicted．

Afterrestingawhile，MedusaopenedhereyesandsawDimitrisittiendingherwound．

"YoumustbecuriousaboutCyclops．Wouldyouliketoknowhisstory?"

"Areyoubetter?Doyoufeeluptoit?"Medusanoddedpliantly．

"OnthedayIwasstrugglingwithPerseusaoffmyheadandfleithittoOlympus,Cyclopshappeobepassingby．Hesawawingedhorse，Pegasus，springupfrommybloodandjumpedonitinpursuit．HewaitedpatientlyarouempleofAthenauntilonedaywhennoonewasguardingmyhead,heslippedinandcameawaywithit．HeputitbayheadandIwasresurrected.NotonlywasIaliveagain，Ihadregainedmybeauty．Buttherewardhecimedwasmyhandinmarriage.Ididnotwanttomarryhimbecausehewasduglyandtookpleasureinkillingandplundering．Ionlywishedtomarryakind,clevermortandliveahappyandpeacefullife.ButIfeltIowedhimmylifeandthereforeshouldmarryhimoutofgratitude．Oormynight,hewasstruckbylightningwhilehuntingandwasmortallywounded．Icouldnotabandonmysaviorinhishourofneedandleavehimtohisfate，thoughIdidmakeuseofthatextraordinaryopportunitytofastenhimtothewallofthecavewithstrongheavys．Hehadtohavevirgin’sbloodeveryyearforthe100yearsiocurehiswound,soIgotitforhim.99yearshavegonebyandthistimewouldbethest．ButImetyou,whotookarey．SuchisFate!Butnomatter．Iamwillingtousemybloodtotakethepceofthevirgin’storepayhimforsavingmeandkeepingmealive…”

Uponhearinghersideofthestory,Dimitriwassilentforawhile,lostinption．Thenhesaidemphatically

“Cyclopsgaveyoubackyourlife.Heisyoursavior.Youhaverepaidhimbystayingwithhimfor99years，tendingtohishoughmanyhavediedbecauseofyoutwo，theultimatefaultdoesnotliewithyou．Iwillsparebothofyou．ButletCyclopsremaininthecaveuntilIthinkofawaytotamehisirascibletemperandferociousnature.ThenIwillsethimfree,too.”Medusastruggledtositupsaying，

"Imustseehimoncemore.”Dimitrihelpedhertoherfeetandgaveherasupparmwhileshewalkedfeeblytowardsthecave,stillweakfromtheenormouslossofblood．OnseeingDimitri,Cyclopsagaieandrushedtowardshim,shriekingandshoutingferociously，onlytobellowandstamphisfeetinfrustrationwhenheulledbackbythes.

“Calmdown,Cyclops”saidMedusaasshewalkedtowardshim．Sheputherhandsonhisfadrepeatedthewailyandsoothingly．Athersofttoudgentlewords,Cyclopsstoppedstrugglingandturneddocileasifhypnotized．

"MydearCyclops,”shetinued.“IknowyouhavelovedmeeversinceyousawmeinthedaysbeforeIwasturon．Butloveisspontaneousandotbeforced．Istayedwithyouforalmostaturyoutofgratitudefivingmeasedlife,andiurnIhavehelpedyouasmuchasIcouldinyourhourofneed．ButnowIhavemetamanworthyofmyloveandIamgoingtofollowhimwhereverhegoes．Youmuststayhereforthepresent．Iwilleandseeyouandtakecareofyoufromtimetotime．Ifyouarewillingtogeyourferociousnatureandexplosivetemper,you,toowillbefreeioodistantfuture．"ThisgenerosityoofDimitriwastocausehiminnumerabledisastersoneday,whichwillbedealtwithter．

8

MedusafollowedDimitrioutofthecave．Thethickfoghaddispersedanddawnlighteduptheskies．Shelookedupattheinfretchoftheheavensandwasdeeptymovedbythemajesticsplendorofnature.Sheclosedhereyesforamoment，thinkingofherpastlife，toofullofhate，sinsaoenjoytheseverysesthathadalwaysbeentherebeforeher．Nowherheartwasfullofpeadquiet．Itwasasifshehadbeehirdceatlife．Whensheopenedhereyesagain，theywerefilledwithexuberantbrilliaheedgeoftheforest，therewasarowoftrees，extremelyfeminineandgracefulinshape，showingwomay，slenderanddelicate．UnderMedusa’ssweepinggheyturnedbatobeautifulvirgins,dazedandfused,asifjustwakingfromadeepslumber．Thesewerethehumansacrificesofformeryears,turotreesafterCyclopshaddrunktheirblood．Handinhand,theyfollowedDimitriandMedusaohtowardstheseaside．Ontheway，whereverMedusa’sgngered，thestonefiguresbecamealiveiwinklingofaneyeandjoiheranksofthenewlyresurrected，excitedlyquestioningeachotherandughingunbelievingly．

Justthentheairresouhhailsofexcitementayughter．Thenativeswereoverjoyedatthehatthemonsterhadbeenshotdown．Theyswarmedoutoftheirhutsandintotheirboatstogreettheirsaviorandtoseewiththeirowhedownfalloftheiraremy,whohaddemahesacrificeoftheirdearestoneseveryyear．ButsuchwasMedusa’soverpthreatthatnonedaredtoventureashorebeforethenewswasfirmed;soamassofboatsandoesseemedfrozenmotionlessinthemiddleoftheke．WhenthefigureofDimitriappearedontheshorewithasnake-hairedbeautybyhissideainueofyoungmenandwomenbehindhim，gleefulshoutsandughterroseupandafervorofjoyaementpermeatedtheair，astheboatsandoesracedeachothertoetoshore．Anativegirl，impatientwiththedey，divedintothewaterandswamtoshoreaheadoftheboats．ItwasDeanna,thegirlwhosonarrowlyescapedatragicdeaththenightbefore．Shescrambledupthebanks,fellonherkneesandkissedDimitri’sfeet．AhetribewalkedsolemnlyashoreandbowedlowinobeisaoldDimitrithatingratitudeforhisheroicact，allthetribesofthatdistricthadagreedtouogetherunderonekingdom,withhimastheirking．Underhisreigntheywouldbuildanidealkingdomfromthebarrenmountainsandaridwilderness．

RomiandDimitriwokefromthesamedream，ahoughtswerestillinthatwildaherealdomain．Thelong-tailedbirdwithmagnifitfeathersperchedontheembragtree，gotholdofthestouttwigthatshottowardsthesky．Itflewupanddowiwigwithitssaliva，likeasilkwormspinningaco，creatihemostexpeiicsoftheEast．DimitrirefreshedhimselfwiththedeliciousjuicesfromtheFountainofLife.SunbeamsshohroughRomi’swebofbrownhair，whichswayedinthesunshine．Likethematingoftwoclouds，allhappeurallyandhadadreamlikequality．Theywerelikeapairoffish，swayingrhythmicallywiththesoftmotionsofthewater，orliketwohungry,ferociousanimals,snarlingandfightingtodevoureachotherinhandtohandbat．Sooillhathadexistedintheforestformillionsofyearsreturned,whereeventheslightestrustleofafalliougthegroundwouldsurprisetheoldandsileh．RomiofferedDimitriherwetpetal-likelipsandsaid，

"ThedreambroughthometomethemeaningofFate，justasmakinglovewithyougavemeadeeperuandingofhowtousemyfleshbody．Iamtiredofalltheothermenintheworldexceptyou．Yht．Wemustlearntouseourthoughtasthereintoharnessandtrolourfleshbodythatislikeawildhorse．Ifwemaneuverourfleshbodywell，Fate,whichisbutashadowofourfleshbody,alsobetrolled.”Dimitrinoddedinagreement,buthewasnotasoptimistic．Whileheagreedthattheretionofthefleshbodyandthoughtwaslikethatofawildhorseandthereiherthoughtweshouldnotonlylearnhowtousethereinofthoughttotrolourfleshbody,butshouldalsolearntoprehendhowthewildhorsecametobetamedbythereinofFate．Thus,theretionofthefleshbodyandFateisthesameasthatofthehorseandtherein．Lifeseemsplicatedanduablebutcutdowntotheessentials,itisbasicallytheinter-retionshipbetweenfate,fleshbodyandme．

CHAPTER6LifeStoriesofYoko,IleenandMara

Itwasalreadymid-afternoonwhenDimitrileftRomi’shome．TherainhadstoppedandtheypartedwiththeuandingthatthreedaystershewouldeheKingdomofDreams．Dimitriwasentedthatthroughpureotherbeautywouldbeaddedtohisfold．Thesunwasout,butitsradiancewasdimmedandhiddenbythinclouds．Lookingatthefaintshadowofthesun，Dimitrifeltuneasyremonitionthatmisfortunewasawaitinghim,thoughhekwhenorwhere．Hewalkedoreetsasusual，buthesuddenlyhadanetoihisarmsaoseeiftheyweremaniputedbystrings．Hetriedstretgthem．Theylookednormalenough，buthehadtheunfortablefeelingthattheyweretrolledbyuringsthatmadehismovementsclumsyandawkuppet．Hethoughttohimself，

"Manisastrangeanimal，differentfromtheothersinthatthoughvulnerabletothepullsandtugsofFate,itpreservesitsownvolitionandlivesbetweenheaveh,betweenFateay,equallytrolledbyFateandSelf．Whenhiswillisinpleteaccordwiththoseinvisiblestrings,heislikeapuppetdanghappilyinpleteharmonywithFate．Butwhenhefindshimselfatoddswiththoseinvisiblestrings,theslightestmovementcouldcausehimtobeentahemorehestrugglestoextricatehimself，themorehopelesslyfetteredhewouldbee,untilfinallyhefindshimselftobeapuppet.”

TheBayAreaattwilightwasaseofpandemoniumtraffigestion,typicalofopolitancities．Thefaintshadowofthesuobemurmuringaprophesyofsomeimmimisfortuhedeingtemperatureofthesuellingtheapproaightfall,broughtachilltotheair．DimitriraisedhisheadtolookattheskiesandwonderedwhetherthemisfortuobeinhisKingdomofDreamsorinhisreallife．Hewalkedondeeplyimmersedinhisownthoughts．

"WhatisFate?Horoveitsexisteuallyitisverysimplebecauselife，ourdailyroutinelife,isaomeanddevelopmentofFate．Everysinglei.everyrandomthought,provesitsexistence．CarefulobservationoflifewillbringaboutintuitiveprehensionoftheexistenceofFate．Dimitriughedathimselfandthoughtitwasofficiousofhimtowantinformationandforeknowledgeofthefuture．Itwouldbebettertogoonashewas．Hedidn’tknowhowlonghehadbeenonthisearth,buthewassurehewouldbehereforquitesometimeyet．SogiveuntoFatethatwhichisFate’s,anduntolifethatwhichislife’s．

"Ourfleshbodyisamiraculousgiftfromheaven．OnedayitwouldhavetobereturoNaturefromwhecame．Butduringthebriefyearsitisallottedtous，whileusingittothebestcapacity，weshouldalsopreserveitwell，foritisoursonlytemporarilyasaloan．Whenmyfleshbodyissleeping，IamthatomnipotentkingintheKingdomofDreams，richasCroesus，andmypeoplearenaiveandprimitive．Theyneednoclothingbecausetheyhavenosenseofaffectationorevindtherearenuesbecausenopowerstruggleexists．Butwhenmyfleshbodyisawake,Iamahomelessperson,astreetcat,amaecreatingexcrement．Daybyday,yearafteryear,solongasIlive,lifeislikevintagewine，mellowedandmrantastimegoeson．Everydayisapagetoremember,asfvorfusapoemirospect．Mylifeisdividedintotwosegments．pariwo，mypreferenceisbeingavagabondonthismuhtobeingakinginmydreammylifedriftonthusuntiltheendofitsnaturalyears．

8

Yoko

Dimitriwalkedamolingcrowdlikeafishswimmingleisurelyier．Lookingatthehurryingcrowds，hethoughtdetachedly，

"Minutebyminute,hourbyhour,thesepeoplehurrytowork,eat,sleepandmakelove．Alwaysinhaste,alwaysonthemake．Superficially,theyseemtobemakingfulluseoftheirfleshbody;buttheydonotrealizethefullvalueofthismiraculousgift．Dotheyhaveaoretreattowhentheymeetadversityormisfortune?Orisitjustavoidofemptihehustleandbustleofthecrowdsuddenlyseemedtointensifyuntilitwasadeafeningcrashofthuhemulticoloredandevergingneonlightsfshedlikelightening．Dimitriwasfrightehisbabelieandstoodtherefbbergasted．Fromtheerofthestreet，atimidvoiceronouncedatwasasking．

"Areyoufoolin’around?D’yawonnadate?"DimitriturnedandsawanAsiangirlinayellowblouseandsoiled,white,pleatedskirt,shylyanddiffidentlyapproaghim．Herblushingcheeksanddowncasteyesobviouslyindicatedhertobeagreenhooker．ingtowardsthemwasafierce-lookingbullyofaman．Thoughhewasdressedinasuitahetiecertainlywasnotsuffitreintocheckhisbeastlynature．Catghisdesigningandtrivinggazeashelookedatthegirl,Dimitrikhatifherefused,thatmanwouldtakeherawayanditwouldbelikeambtoalion．Sohesaid，

"...yes．Whatisyourname?"

"Yoko.”Thegirlcameforwardandtookhisarm,andtheywalkedaway．Attheerofthestreet,Dimitrisuddenlylurchedforward,trippedbythecurb,buthedidnotfall．

"Areyouallright?"askedYokoanxiously．Dimitristeadiedhimselfandfoundhewassurroundedbydarkness．Hisheadwhirledaallyhishearttractedinpainandanguish．Hisonlythoughtwastogetbacktohishedipidatedhut,tobealohhisgriefandhaveagoodcry．Buthereoreet,hemustmaintainhispoiseanddignity．Yokowavedherhandsinfrontofhisfadasked，

"pened?AreyouOK?"

"Ihavelostmysight．Iotsee.”

"I’lltakeyouhome.”Thegood-heartedgirlwasfullofsympathy．

8

"Thankyou．WouldyoupleaseseeifthereareanylongstickorpolelyingaroundthatIuseforae?"

Astheywalkedon,Yokokepthereyespeeledandsuddenlygaveatriumphantcryasshecaughtsightofalongpoleinapileofdebris．Sherushedotitforhim．Itwasabitlong，butserviceable．Holdiick，Dimitritappedhiswayforwardaskinghimself，

"IsthishowIamgoingtospeofmylife?Iamlikeacrippledbirdthatolongerfly,likethedimsunthatfallsintoadeepabyssoriseagain.”Butamidsthisdespairandpaiainedhissensitivity．Hefeltwarmhandssupphimauralfragranaiden’sbodyreachedhisnostrils,bringinghimfortaement.

“ImustkeepcalmuntilIgetbayhutandliedowtellinghimself．Soontheyleftthenoiseandcrowdsbehindandturoanarrowalley．

"Hereweare．Iyself．Thankyouverymuch.”

"Areyousureyoudon’twaakeyoutoyourdoor?"

"No,thankyouYoko．Youhavedoeenoughbygoingoutofyourwaytmehome．Butbeforeyouleave,willyoutakeapieceofadvie?"

"Ofcourse.”

"Youareaverylovelyyounggirl．Thefemalebodyisbeautifundsacredandyouareluckytohaveanexquisiteone．Doformoney．Don’tdesecrateyourselfbyallowinganystrangemaopeeinandoutofyourbodyatrandom，justasyouwouldnotallowastraoenteryourhome.”Yokowassilent，butDimitrifeltshewasnoddinginagreement．Soonheheardherquietstepswalkingaway．

Familiarwiththeneighborhood，Dimitrihadnotroublefindinghisway，buttheechoofhissticktappingonthepavementbroughtasenseoflonelinessaiohoughtofthehookershesaworeets,wuhecoverofdarknessliketheshadowsofghostsflitteringinthegraveyard．Iftherewaslifeafterdeathandthesoullivedon,thesepeoplewouldsurelyregrettheirexcessiveabuseofthefleshbodywithsexanddrugs．Thosethatusetheirmoobuysexfromtheseunfortunatewomeherealculpritswhodeservetobecastratedandburiedalive．Lostinthoughtaswashis,Dimitriransmotoanirohabang．Inthatinstant，heseemedtoseestarsanddoubledupinpain，holdinghisrightcheekandgroaningaloudinvoluntarily．Hefeltbloodrunningfromhisnoseawasaseriousimpact．Hecouldonlyhopethatnoboneshadbeenbroken．Afterrestingforawhile，Dimitristooduptogo，onlytofindthathehaddroppedhisstiewhereduringtheact．Uotihoutit，hestoopeddownandgropedalroundthegroundforit．Suddenly，hishandstouchedsomethingsoftahreateninggrowlthatapaoldhimthathehaddisturbedastraydoginitsslumber．Hequicklywithdrewhishand，buttheangrydogfellonhimbitinghimwhereveritcould．Dimitridodgedandfehebesthecouldbuttonoavail．Finallyafterndingaviciousbiteonhisinnerrightthigh，thevengefunimalwentaway．Dimitrisatontheground，overewithemotion．Tolosehissight，bumpintoaniroheenbyawilddog．What?

8

Feelingthesmartingbiteohigh，hewonderedhowdeepitwas，andthenughedhystericallywhehoughthowluckyhewasthatthedogfeltithadhaditsrevengeanddidnotbitehish，therebyleavinghispenisintact．Hegropedagainforhisstidasluckwouldhaveit，thereitwasrightbesidehim!Hestoodupweakly,supportedbyhisre-foundstiotknowingthathiseverymovewasbeingwatchedbyapairht，piergeyes．Justashewasturningtogo，amalevoicewithastrongAsiasaid，

"Wheredoyoulive?I’llhelpyouhome.”

"Thankyou．Iliveinadipidatedshelterattheendofthealley.”

"I’lltakeyouthere.”Apairhandshelpedhimtohisdestination．"Youlivehere?"

"Yes.”

"Takethis.”Dimitrifeltatinboxbeingthrustintohishands．Heope，feltitstentsandrealizeditwashisownbox,inwhichhekepthissandmoney.

“Sorry,oldman．IdidnotknowyouwereblindorIwouldneverhavetakenit.”Dimitriwantedverymuchtoseewhatthismanlookedlike,amanwhostolehismoneyaurohim．Heseemedtoseeaglimmerofmoonlightandlookedtentativelyupatthesky．Tohisintensedelight,hesawmyriadofstars．Hedroppedhisstidshouted，

"Oh!Iseeagain!"Hiseyesmovedtothemaninfrontofhim,anunsavorylooking，middle-agedAsianman,withahawklikenoseandsunkencheeks．

"Well，I’mgdforyouthatyouseeagain．Sorryabouttakingyourbox,man．I’mnotreallyathief．Iwasjustforcedbycircumstances.”

"Why?What’sthematter?"

8

"Well,it’slikethis．Thisfriendofmine,Jamaz.He’sfromAfrica．Hefelldownandisinthehospitalforcussionandbrokenbonesandneedsalotofmoopayhishospitalbills.Iamtryingtohelphim．Ihopedtowinatthegamblingtable,butnoluck!Ilostmyshirt．Sotheonlyceleftformewastosteal.”

"Jamaz?Youmeantheservantinthathousebythekewhofelldownthedder?"

"Yes．Doyouknowhim?"

"No.”Themanwasathief,thoughtDimitri，buthewasloyaltohisfriendsandthereforeworthhelping．"What’syourname?"

"RichardChao.”

"eheretomorrowintheeveningandImayhavesomemoneyforyou.”

"Really?Youwill?"

"I’lldomybest.”

"Ok．I’llbeheretomorrowevening．Thankyousomuch”saidRichardahenarrowalleyresumeditsaryserenity．

Thecold,refreshingraysofthecrystalclearmoonshohroughtheopeningoftheshelterontoDimitri’sold,patched-upbedding,buttohim,histhreadbarewasmorefortablethanMrs.Love’ssoftluxuriousbed．Hestretchedandrexed,pletelyatease,andsighed，

8

"Ah!There’snopcelikehome!IfIamtoyeyesanddienow，Iwouldfeelperfectlyfortable.”Butthen,thewoundonhischeekandthevariousdogbitesbegansmartingagain.Dimitrithoughtsadlythatthefleshbodycouldgivepainaswelspleasure．Hereflectedonhisbriefboutofblindnessandhisheartwasfilledrehensionandtrepidation．Buthefortedhimselfwiththethoughtthatthefleshbodywasonlyatrapossessionthatwillturnbacktodustonedayfromwhecame．Blindnessmightbeagreatloss,butanimpairedbodywasstillserviceableandhewouldjusthavetooveretheinveniendmakedowithwhathehad，forwithoutit，hewouldnotbeabletoappreciateandenjoyhisamusingandadventurouslifeinthisuniverse．Thinkingso，Dimitri’smimoreatease．Thepainwouldsubsideinadayortwo,hethought,andhewouldbeasgoodasnew．ewhatmay，hewoulddealwithitwheimecame.Hewasdriftingoffdrowsilytosleepwhehoughtofthehappeningsoftheday．WasYokosafe?Didshetakehisadvidgohome?HehadpromisedRichardChaothathewouldtakeaz’shospitalbills．Wherewashetogetholdofsuexorbitantsumofmoney?Accostedbytheseproblems,alltracesofdrowsinessfledandDimitritossedandturnedonhisbed,uosleep．

Thebeautifuathleticfigureofanakedwomanfshedbyuhemoonlight．Bowingherbeautifulbody,sheehedipidatedshelterabesidethebed，kowtowingrespectfullyandsaid．

"YourMajesty.”ItwasMedusa．Dimitriwasoverjoyedatthistotallyuedvisitor．HehoughthewouldseeMedusaatthistimeandpce．

"Howdidyougethere,Medusa?"

"Thesedays,Ierturbedbyunexpinableapprehensionsthatallwasnotwellwithyou．Theotherbeautiesalsohadthesamefeelings．TheyseoeandseeyoubecauseIamtheonlyoflyanduteeasilybetweewopherealworldandydom．Areyouallright，KingDimitri?"

"Iamfine．Don’tworry.”

"Everyonehasbeenthinkingofyou．Thegrandpaceissilentayandthebeautifulflowersandtreesinthegardenshavelosttheircolorsandappealbecauseallthebeautiesaredoingissittingaroundandmopinglistlessly．Theyhavenoiindoinganything．LifeintheKingdomisdulndlonelywithoutyourpresence．Whydon’tyoueback?"

"Tellthemtobepatient．Myreturnisimmi．Oh,didRomiarrivesafely?"

"Yes．Romicame，butshedidn’tknowofyourwhereaboutsexceptthatyoureyeshavebeenhurtingyou.”

"Howissheadaptingtohernewenviro?"

8

"ShelikesAisha，awogetalongverywell.”Aisha’smature,schorlyandfasatingfigurerosebeforehiseyes,andDimitrismiledandnoddedinsatisfaedusa’sbright,mysteriouseyesgazedatDimitriandaskededly，

"KingDimitri,areyoureyeshurtingyou?Elinasaidyouwillgoblindoneday.”

"Whatwillbe,willbe．Fateisungeable,butIamabletotakeyself.”

"Oh,howIwishIcouldgiveyouoneofmine!"

"As，themedicalfieldhasadvaosuchheights;butIamsureitwilletopassoneday.”Medusasuddenlyrememberedsomethingandsaid，

"YourMajesty,Iwanttoreporttoyouthatretlyonmynightlypatrols,Idetectedstraricwavesingandgoingfrdom．Isuspecttherearespiesatwork.”Dimitriwassurprisedatthenews．Hehimselflivedthelifeofahermitandhisremotekingdomwasfarawayfromcivilization,inaworldofitsoouldbeiedenoughtospyonthem?

"Thenbealertandbeonyuard,Medusa.”

"Yes,yourMajesty.”Medusa’sexpressiveeyeslookedathiminshyandtimidinquiry．Dimitriuoodandrepliedtoherunspokenrequestbypattinghisbedandsaid，

"Keepmepany.”Medusasmiledinsatisfa．Dimitrifeltastrongsexualdesirerisinginhim，butheeredbythekhatCyclops,stillimprisohecave,wouldgomadifhekhatthewomanhelovedwasmakinglovewithsomeoneelse．Domihecravingsofhisfleshbody,heputasidehisapprehensionsandtoldhimself，"Letmyfleshbodyhaveitsindulgeonight.”

Theemptylotseemedtohavemushroomedhtintoanamusementparkwithrollercoasters，merry-go-roundsandtrainridesfullofeicchildren，teenagersandotheryoung-at-hearts，screaminginwildexcitement，whiletheparentsoftheyoungoneslookedonsmilinglyattheiroffspringorcharges．Otherstallsprizesfetshooting,ballpung,fortuellingandallkindsoffood，wereequallybusy．Thebrilliantlylitlot，fullofughter，noise，musidchatterseemedtobeapcewherehumancivilizationsuddenlysurfacedoutofnowhere．Later,wheherturnedcold，thistemporaryamusementparkwouldbemovingtowarmerlocations．Wouldthisillusionofcivilizationalsobegone?Whocouldtell?Yokostoodbytherollercoaster,lookingatthewhirlis,herheadayvoid,whereDimitri’spartingwordskepteginhermind.

8

"Youarealovelyyounggirl．Thefemalebodyisbeautifundsacredandyouareluckytohaveanexquisiteone．Doformoney．Don’tdesecrateyourselfbyallowinganystrangemaopeeinandoutofyourbodyatrandom，justasyouwouldnotallowastraoenteryourhome.”Thetemptingsmelloffreshlybroiledhotdogswaftedtowardsherandintensiftedthegnawinghungeriomach．ShetookoutthemoneyDimitrihadgivenherandtedit．Wow!63！ShedidnotknohatMrs.LovepaidDimitrifortheyardworkhehaddoneforherandhehadgivenitalltoYoko．Takingout3sheboughtacupofcoffeeandahotdogbunandtheontotopherhotdogwithseltzer，onionandmustard．Walkioatabletoenjoyhersupper，shecouldn’thelpfirstsmellingitsappetizingaromaaingoutasighofsatisfam-m-m!"andthenlickeditsjuicyexterior．Altonce，shewassmotewithitsresembhehumanpenis．racticaljokeriedsudoffood,thesize,shapeandcolorofwhichsuggestedsuobseresembYokoblushed．Herheartskippedabeatandshewasalmostashamedtoeatit．Buthutheupperhandandshewolfeditdownravenously,andthenleanedbatentedly，hercherrylipssippingthescaldingcoffee．Herhungerappeased，Yokofeltmuchbetterandlookedzilyarouhejostlingcrowdandnumerousactivities．

SuddenlyYokofeltherbowelsmoveandheardnoisesinherabdomen,andbeforeshek,outcamealoudfart．Acutelyembarrassed,shelookedaroundandwasrelievedtofindnoonehadnoticeditinthenoisyoutdoorenviro．Shestoodupandmadefortherestroom．Itwasn’ttoobadsofaraspublicrestroomsgo,andhadgoodlightingandmirrors．Shehasteoohestallsandpeeledoffapaperseatpadtocoverthetoilet．Thenshehoistedupherskirt,pealeddownherredpantiesandsatdowntorelieveherself．Asshesatthere,feeliy,smellystoolleaveherbody,shethoughtofthecyaastyfoodbecamefoulsmellingexcrement，delicioushotdogsbecamestool，simirinshape，butthensodifferent!Humansneedfoodtolive．Theyusetheirfleshbodytoworkiogetfoodtoeataoexcreteit!Suchistheendlesscyanlife!Ifshebecameahooker，shewouldacceptaman’spenisascasuallyaseatingahotdogandascasuallyusethemoneysheearobuyfoodandthenexcreteit．ShelookedatthelowerportionofherbeautifulnakedbodyexposedtherebeforeherandDimitri’swordscamebacktain，"Donotallowanystrangemaopeeinandoutofyourbodyatrandom，justasyouwouldraeryourhome.”Hewasright．Suchabeautifulbodyshouldhrownawayatrandom．Fullyrelieved，sheedherselfwiththepaperandflushedthetoilet．Shepulledupherpanties，adjustedherskirtagratifiedasshewatchedallthesmelndfilthgodownwiththeswirlingwater．Sheleftherstalowashherhandsatthebasin．Shesmiledattheimageinthemirrorasshepowderedherfadaddedatouchoflipsticktoherlips,whichhadbeenrubbedoffbythehotdog．

"HowstupidIwas!Ialmostittedaninexcusablemistakethatwouldhaveruinedmywholelife!"The,theheflushingtoiletstillwhirlingbehindher．

PhysicallyYokofelthappyandrexednowthatshehadetoadecision,buttherewasstilheavyburdenonherheartbecausethequestionofherlivelihoodremainedunsolved．Shehurriedtowardsthegamblinghouse，hopingAmaliahadaluckystreaktoday．Amaliawasanoldwomaniies．Herpastwasanenigmaandapuzzle．Nooneknewanythingabouther,exceptthatshehadasoncalledDimitri，whomnoonehadeverseenandshehadfottenhisstname．Forthepastfiftyyears，herlifehadbeeeredaroundthegamblinghouse．Yokowasanabandonedbabyshesaworeetonedayandenerousimpulse,tookherhomeandraisedher．Thougholdenoughtobehergrandmother,sheinsistedonbeingcalledbyhernameonly,soYokogrewupcallingher，Amalia．Thetwomadetheirlivingbygambling,theonlywayoflifetheyknew．Retly，theyweredownontheirluck.ThatwasthemainreasonwhyYokothoughthooker．ShewaogetholdofsomemooprovideAmaliawithgamblingfundstotryherluckagainatthetables．Whentheywerelucky，theylivedverywellindeed．Butwhatcameeasy，wenteasy．Theylivedextravagantlyandsplurgedasiftherewasnotomorrow．Eveheirluckwasbad，itwasn’thardtogetbyinthegamblinghousewheretheywere"oldtimers"andknewmostoftheregurers．Yokowouldrunerrandsforthem,fetakephonecalls,pickuportakehomeersinherjalopy．Thoseontheirwinningstreakswouldmagnanimouslygiveherfattipsfromtheirwinnings．Theywerekindredspiritswhohadknownthemisfortuneoflossesthemselves．Butretly，Amalia’sluckhadbeenverybad，andasshehurriedalong，Yokohopedtherewouldbeaturnforthebetterthatday．

Asshegotnearherdestination，shesawRichardChaolattheentranjoyingthecloudofacigarette,asmugsmileonhisface．

"Hi,Richard!Youseemtobeinagoodmood．Doioday?"

"Notbad.”hereplied,pattingthebulgingpocketsofhisjacket.

"Theownerofaeserestaurantwasgettingnervousasthestakesgothigherandhigherandbeggedmetositandgambleinhispce．Idid．Andyouknowwhat?Iwohreehuhousanddolrsforhim!"