Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第88/327页)

orelely?Dimitri’sdispleasurewasdiffusedbyhisownthoughts.Hewasnolryandwishedthetwoofthemthebestoflutheirunion.

    Fromafar,DimitrisawhismagichorseLightningfreelygallivantingonthesmoothpins,stoppingnowaomunthefreshgrass.Asifsensinghewasbeingwatched,thehorseraiseditsheadandsawDimitrismilingathimsomedistanceaway.Ecstatiperceivinghisbelovedmasterwhomhehadnotseenforalongtime,Lightniloudaedneighsandgallopedtowardshightningimmediatelyleaptintotheairandwithjustafewfpsofhismightywingsstoppedbeforehismaster.Dimitripattedhisnecklovinglyandthehorsenudgedhimaffeately.Dimitrisawthathismagicswordwassafelytuckedbythesideofthesaddleashejumpedontothebackofhismagicsteed.Dimitritookupthereinsandsaid,“Let’sflyuptotheKingZeus’sseventhheavestoseemeforsomethi’sgoahadhappened.”Lightningfppedhismightywingsandmanandhorseflewupintotheskies.SuddeoppedandflewbackbecauseDimitrirememberedheseemedtohavepromisedtotakeCharinawithhim.

    Maureen,whohadbeenlyingquietlyonDimitri’spasifasleep,suddenlyraisedhishead.Earserect,helookedvigintlytowardsthefrontdoorandjumpeddowntothegroundbarkingferociously.DimitrihadbeenreminisgandretioriesoftheKingdomofDreamsandCharinawaslisteningilywhiletakingnotes.Maureen’sfranticbarkingfollowedbythedoorbell’sinsistentringinginterruptedtheirdreamliketrance.Charinalookedoutthewindowandsawitwasgettingdark.Thenlookingattheclockshesawitwasalready8:05p.m.

    “Howtimeflies!uestsarehere”excimedCharinaandhurriedtoopenthedoor.Shefoundfourandahalfmenofdifferentshapesandsizesstandingoutside.ThefourtalndmuscurmenwereofcourseRichard,Jamaz,Mr.KaffeeandBig-O.WhenCharihedoor,thehalf-manwhowasstraddledpiggybaRichard’sneck,whowasofcoursethewhite-beardedDwarfMickey,squeakedinhishighpitchedvoicesaying,

    “Hi,wearetheoneswho,asyousay,looklikevaudevillians.Wearehereatyourinvitationandhopeyouhavelotsofgoodiesforustoeat.Gothemout.Ha,ha…”ChariheseweregoodfriendsofDimitri’s,sosheopehedoorwideandwarmlyweledthem.RichardandJamazshehadseenbefore.DwarfMickey,likeMr.Finger,wasnotoocareaboutnormalcourtesiesandtheiesofsociety,sideringtheserulesaionsvulgarandmeaningless.HestrodeintothelivingroomandwassoonchasingafterhisoldfriendMaureewoofthempyinghappilytogether.DimitricameoverandintroducedCharinatoMr.KaffeeandBig-O.Mr.Kaffeewasdressedinanexpensivedarkgraysuit,welldofsuperiorqualitymaterial.Hehadapolishedmahatbespokeamanofsequence,abigshotridiial.WhenCharinaheldouthersnow-whitehandtoBig-Oforahandshake,shesuddenlyrealizedthathewasaformercold-bloodedassassinwhokilledwithoutremorseandthathishaaihblood.Theverythoughtbroughtshiverstoherbodyandherskincrawled.Mr.Kaffeeuoodthedelicacyofherfeelingsandsawherfear,sohesaidgently,

    “Ah,miss,don’tbeafraid.Thatwasalli.Big-Ohasreformedandisnowabenevolentmonkandspendshistimeinprayerandhelpingothers.Ifyoudon’tbelieveme,sphimonthefadhewillnotbeangry.”Mr.Kaffee’swentleandicatthesametimediffusedthesituation,fullyexhibitinghisdiplomaticcapabilities.Dimitriledhisgoodfriendsintothelivingroom.Richardwasnotoandonceremoverymuchathomeandmadestraigh