omelesshascertainattrasthatareirresistibletome．Theirlifeishardandnotmanypeoplestarialsandtributions,butdon’tyouthinkthehomelessarethefreestpeopleoh，unhamperedbyventionsandwhoseetricitiesattractlittleattention?"Megginnnoddedhalfprehendingly．"IwilltiolivemypresentmodeoflifeuntilIgoblind．Iwanttohavemystglimpseatthisworld,sobeautifulthatIotstandleavingit.”

"Youwillgoblind?OhDimitri,othingbedone?"Dimitrilookedatthestars．

"Itisthewillofheaven,ordainedfromonhighandotbeged.”Apregnantpausefollowed．

"It’sok，Dimitri,”saidMeggily．"I’llwaysbewithyou．Iwillbeyoureyesandtakecareofyoufortherestofmylife.”

Dimitriturnedhiseyestoheaveningratitudethatbeforethedreadeddayarrived,hewasabletomeetthisgealentedbeauty.Notonlywasherappearaiful,butmostimportantofall,shehadaki．HecouldentrustherwiththemaofhisKingdom．

"Megginn，IhopeyouwillbeemberofmyKingdomofDreamsandbeeitsgeneralexecutiveadministrator.”

14

"YdomofDreams?Whatisthat?Isitfarfromhere?"

"It’sfar,faraway，butI’msureyou’lllikeitthere．Itisprettierthanparadiseandisinhabitedbymanytalentedbeautieswhowouldbeentedtohaveyouastheirnewpanion．I’msureyou’llbegoodfriends.”

"Istherereally?Oh，howwonderful!"Megginnjumpedforjoy．"Oh，takemethere，takemethere.”Thensherememberedheroldfriend,thecar.“ButIwillhavetomakearrasformycarfirst．I’tleavejustlikethat.”

"Therearemanythingsiareiable,Megginn．Sometimesyouhavetomakepainfulchoidgiveupwhatyoumust．Onedayyouwillhavetoleaveevenyourfleshbody，nottosayyourcar..."Megginndidnotreply．Tolightenthemoodahesilence，Dimitrisaid，"I’msureyou’dloveitthereandI’llgdlytakeyou，butyoumightfindthingsunventional．Mypeoplebelieveinkeepinglifesimple，preservingthee,innodcarefreenature，sothebeautiesintheKingdomhaveallgonebaature,asitwere，regardingclothingassuperfluous，anencumbrahefleshbody.”Dimitrigherandsawshehadtake．Hereyesgrewroundinastonishmerit．

"Youmeantheygoaroundnaked?"

"Yes，mydear，"saidDimitri，"andsowillyouwhenyougothere.”Megginngavehimawhiteeye．"Don’tyouwanttogo?"

"I’dliketo，butyou’tgiveupeverythingherejustlikethat..."

"Ifyouwon’tgo，I’llbeleaving,”saidDimitriandmadeasiftogo．

"Ididn’tsayIwon’t"saidMegginnhastily．Theedseductivelyandsaid，"Butmylegsaretirednow,soyou’llhavetocarryme.”Dimitriswungherupandcarriedhertothebeige-coloredCadilclikeanewly-wedcouplecrossihresholdandthendroveoffintothedeepofthenight．ThatwashowMegginheKingdomofDreams,tookoverIleen’sdutiesandbecameanimportantmemberofDimitri’sKingdom．

Thewarmautumnsunshoheearth．Tendergreengrassgraduallyturnedbrownandfallenleavesandflowerscoveredtheground．Formerlylusciousfoliageweregone，leavingonlybaldbranow．Dimitrihadresumedhisoldhabits．Wearinghisraggedgarments，hewaslyingzilyontheparkbench,halfasleep,halfawake,hazilysciousofhissurroundings．Intheskies,thegesofnightanddaysucceededeachotherandlifewentonwakeandsleep,wakeandsleep,inthesamerepetitiouscycle．Thedailyroutinedeepenedhisimpressionswhichwereasnaturaltohimashisownsteadybreathing．Moreandmore，hefeltlikeafish，nowswimminguptothesurfaceofthewater，nowsinkingdowntothedepthofthesea．Thisyear，timereallyseemedtoflyanditwasautumnagain．Butthespeedoftimecouldactuallybetrolledbyoions．Dimitriletnaturegoonitsownstableschedule，frtosummer，fromautumntowinter，whilehehimselflivedinhisownever-ging，creativeimpressions，acctohisowne．Nowsunlightwaswarminghisbody．Howdifferentwasitfromthewarmth?Dimitriopenedhisdrowsyeyesandlookedaround．Suddenly,hefounditringagain．Thegrasswasgreen,theflowerswerebloomingonthebranchesamidgreenluxuriantleavesandbutterfliesweredangamongthemall．Yes，helivedinhisowntimeframe，differentfromtheoutsideworld．Iance，hesawMark’sfatfigurewalkingtowardshimwithausedinhishand,whichhewasblowinglikeaballooburst,hetosseditaway．Abutterflycaughthisattentionandheraheagileflutteriure,hisbulkybody,freeandhappy,movedclumsilyintherapidfloodoftime．Heybecausehedidnothavetousehisbrains,justlettinghislimbsmoveindulgently,howeveritwould,inthefloodoftime．DimitriuoodMark’shappiness，buthissciousnesswasgrowingblurredasleepy．Howwonderfulitwasnottohavetothink．Hazierandhazier．Howwonderfulitwasnottohavetothink．Mark’sclumsybodymovinginthefloodoftime．Hoy…Hoy..．Didn’thavetousehisbrains…Dimitrigrewdrowsieranddrowsier.HappyMarkyboylettinghislimbsmovecarefreeinthefloodoftime…indulgently，howeveritwould．Dimitri’ssciousnesswasgettingblurred,gettingblurred．

14

Justashewasdroppingofftosleep，heheardsomeonecalling，"Dimitri!Dimitri!"andhewokeupwithastarttoseebeforehimthebeautiful,smilingfaceofayounggirl．Herbrightmoisteyesandslightlyswellisshowedthatgolden-hairedMaryhadgrownupintoayoungdynow.

"WherehaveyoubeenDimitri?Ihaven’tseenyouthesestfewdays.”

"I’vebeenbusy.”

"Iknow,youmusthavebeenmakingdreams,right?"

"Well，maybe．Idon’tquiteknowmyself.”

"Look!Ibroughtyousomedoughnutsfordinner.”shesaidandhandedhimabroerbag．Maryhadworkedasasalesgirlinanearbydoughnutshopeversinceherearlyteeitbynature，shealkedmuchaboutherself,sonooneknewfromwhenceshecameorwhereshelived．Theonlythingtheywerecertainofwas,shewaswherwaythroughschool．ShehadasoftspotinherheartforDimitriandofteforhimsomeoftheday-olddoughnutswhichwerenormallythrownaway．

"ThankyouMary.”Justtheherewasanirlbehihetaheywereridingtogether，bothofthemdressedexactlyalikeinshort-sleevedwhiteblousesandfadedbluejs．

"HiDimitri!"thegirlsaid，"Doyourememberme?"Dimitrilookedatherandsawacuteteenagegirl，whoseemedsomewhatfamiliar，thoughhecouldn’trecallwheretheyhadmetbefore．

"I’mShei．Wemetinthesewer,remember?"Dimitrisuddenlyrecalledthecrippledyoungprostituteheoheundergroundsewer．"ButI’mnolohatbusinessandI’vequitdrugs．NowI’mwatthesamedoughnutshopasMaryandwe’regoingtoschooltogether.”

"Howwonderful!"excimedDimitri．"I’msogdforyou!"

14

"We’vejustgottenoffworkandhavetogototheeveningcssestonight．Good-bye!"

Dimitrilookedatthedepartingformsofthetwogirls，freshandlovelyastwodewyroses,withbrightfuturesaheadofthemareallyhappy．

"Thesestfewdays，I’vebeendreamingtoomuch,”hemutteredtohimself．"Evenafishthatcrouchestoolongiersoffantasyotwithstandthepressure,soIhadbettereuptothesurfadexperiencemoreofreallife．Lifewithoutdreamsisb，buttoomuchofitwillputmeoutoftouchwithreality．Yesterday,IdreamedofattendingafabulousballwithaicbeautyonmyarmsthatturnedeveryheadandIevendowobilliondolrstocharity!"Heughedinderision．"HeavenknowsIamjustapenniless,homelesspersohought．"IfIweretheKingDimitriofmydreamswithahugefortuneandaharlemofbeautiesallihme，IwouldnothaveasmuchqualmsaboutthedayIbeeblind．Butas,Ihavenothing.”

ThegesofDimitri’sfacialexpressionwereasmercuriashistrainofthoughts．Hisiablebliouchedhimtothequidsunnyughterfaded,tobecloudedoverbyadeepgloom．Thefuturewassouain．AnymihehaironwhichtheswordofFatewashungmightbreak，cuttingoffforeverhisvisuallinkstothisbeautifulworld．Andthesadpartwas,hlypowercouldavertthistragedy．Theonlythingtodowastolivefromdaytoday．Yes,itwasbettertogoandhideinthedeepwaters,awayfromitall,andstaythere．Dimitri’shearttractedwithpaihoughtofhowhisvisionwasgettingmoreandmoreblurryeachday．Yes，heneededahaven,aquiet,darkpcetohideforeverfromthiscruel,cruelworld.Rubbinghiseyes,Dimitrilookedatthemulti-coloredcloudsscatterediwilightsky：e，fieryredandlightpurplelihthegoldenglitterofthesettingsun．Hesuddenlysawaslim，fairy-likefigure，dressedinaflowinggownofthefi,flimsyce，jumpingfromcloudtocloudanddisappearing．Shewastoofarawayandmovedtoofastforhimtomakeoutherfeatures．Wasthisfantasyorreality?Herubbedhiseyesagain．Wastherereallyafairyorwashesteepedinhisfantasyagain?

Suddenlyasweetvoicebrokeintohisreverie."Excusemesir，buthaveyouseenayoungmaninhistwenties，aboutsixfootfour，threehundredpounds,dressedinayellowT-shirtandbckscks?Heisalittleretarded.”DimitriwokewithastartandsawbeforehimLaverhebeautifulgirlhefirstmetinthehalf-burnthouse．

"YoumeanMark?Hewashereawhileago.”

"Thankyou，sir．I’vebeenlookingforhimallday．Ifyousawhimawhileago，hemuststillbearoundsomewhere．I’llgoandlookforhimaroundhere.”

"Waitaminute,Laver’sgettingdarkandthispceisfullofprostitutesanddrugtraffickers,notasafepceforayounggirllikeyoutowanderaroundin．You’dbettergetintothatoldbeige-coloreddletmedriveyouaroundslowlyasyoulookforhim.”

"Howdoyouknowmyname?"

"IwassleepingintherosegardeerdayafternoonandoverheardyourtalkwithMark.”Laverneblushedwithembarrassmentassherecollectedthatseintherosegardenofthehalf-burnthouse．Butthemanbeforeherlookedkinda．However，shewashesitantaboutgettingintoacarwithastranger，notawisethingforayounggirltodo，shehadofteold．Dimitriseemedtodivihoughts．

14

"Don’tbeafraid．Ijustmeanttobeofhelp．Youdrive．Here’sthekey．Iwon’tevein,ifyouprefer.”Lavernesmiledherthanks．

“Thereshouldn’tbeanyproblemifshewasintrolofthewheels”shethought，sotheygotintothedshestartedtheengine．

"Becareful,"warnedDimitri．"Twoofthedersaredead,sothecaroftenstalls，that’swhyIdidn’twantyoutodrivealoraosay，inLaverne’shands，thecarstartedoutassmoothlyasifitwereabrandnewoseemedtohavealifeofitsownahatthisyoungwomanatthewheelwaslighterthanitsmistress，Megginn，andhadbetterandnimblerdrivingteiques．

"Wow!Yourdrivingisreallyimpressive!Youworkwondersevenwiththisalmostunserviceableoldcar.”

"There’snothingtoitreally．I’musedtotakingcareofsickpeopleandItreatthiscarasifitatientneedingtender,gentlecare.”

"You’reahen?"

"No.”Fromtheirrandomversatithedrive,DimitrigottoknowthatLavernelivedwithandtookcareofablind,paralyzedoldmother,aninvalidfatheraardedbrother．Theamazingthingwastheywerenobloodretionsofhers．Hemarveledathislumeetingagaianoodheartedyoungwoman．Hervoicewassweet,herwordsthoughfewwerecise,fullyexpressingherbrave,stoiccharacter．

"You’resokindandgenerous，Laverne．Aren’ttoomanypeoplelikeyouaroundanymoreinthisworld.”

"Notreally．TheybroughtmeupaheleastIcoulddowastoteheiroldage．It’snothingtabout.”Thecarcruisedaroundtheblocksasthenightgotdarker,butnotraarkwastobefound．Lavernebeganwaboutherparentsathomeneedientionandsobecamemoreandmitated．

Thenightbefore，theJohnsonssataroundtheirdiningtable，enjoyingasumptuousmealofprimeribs,cmchowder,bakedpotatoes,boiledonion,creamedandFrenchrollswithbutter．Mark,whoseappetitewasenormous,felltoravenouslyandfinishedhissharequickly．Lavernesmiled，cuthalfofhersandputitonhispte，gdtoseehimenjoyinghisfoodsomuch．Mr．Johnson，meanwhile，hadcuthisportionintosmallpiedfromtimetotimefedorselstohiswife．Shecouldmuch，butwasinanexcellentmoodanddrankquiteabitofwine．Mr．Johnsonstaredattheredwineinhiscup,onwhichthewaveringdlelightflickeredlikeanimageofparadise.Drinkinghiswialkedandjokedwithhisfamilyatthediningtable,fullofanamiableatmosphereofhappiness．Littledidtheyknowitwastobetheirstmealtogether．AfterdinnerLavernehelpedtheoldcouplesettledowiredlingallday，theyoenjoyasweetslumberiledarkheyfelttirednotbecauseofover-exertion，butfrombeinguretdextendtheirlimbs．Markclearedawaythetableanddumpedeverythinginthesink,hishugeshadowfluctuatinginthedlelightashemovedabout，andthendisappearedfromviewwheuptohisroom．Lavernesthedlesandthehousewasagaincloakedindarkness，litonlybytheluminousmoonlight．Shemadeherwaysoftlyupthestairsinthesemidarkness,carefultoavoidthecreakyspotsonthewoodensteps,preferringnottointerruptthepeadquietbroughtbythemoonlight．Shehadhadaharddaytoo，andwishedonlytorexihtubaobed．

150页

Subduedvoices,hoarseandhusky,couldbeheardingfromtheroomoftheoldcouple，soundingmoredesoteandsorrowfulthahequietnight．Lavernecouldnotquitemakeoutwhatwasbeingsaid，butretlyshehadoftenheardMr．Johnsonsay，"Thehumanbodyislikeatoolthatnotonlyknowshowtouseitself，butknowsandco-retewitheachother’sneeds．Itisthisco-retionthatstituteshumansociety.”ShehadheardMrs．Johnsonsay，"Fateislikeafactory，welldesignedandwellequipped，butnomatterhowgoodqualitytrolis，thereisboundtobesomeroduct.”ButLavernecouldnotfullyuandthesewordsandtheirsignifice．Shedidnotbothertoturnonthelightsassheehemastersuite，formerlythebedroomofMr．andMrs．Johnson，whichtheycouldnolongeroccupysiheirinfirmitywouldnotallowthemtoclimbupstairsanymore．Forvenience’ssake，theyexgedquarterswithLaverne,whousedtosleepinaroomdownstairs．Brittle,artificiallightwouldonlybringmorefatigueandshewasexhaustedafterhavingtakehreesickpeopleallday．Sheaowledgedsadlythatherparentswereslidingswiftlyonthedoathandneededherfulttention，sothatshenolongerhadenougheodomuchforherbrother．Sheptedtheideaofsendinghimbacktothespecialschoolforthementallydisabled，wherehehadattendedbefore，sothatshecouldtrateonthecareofherparents．Butunfortunately,Markdidnotlikeitthereandranbaeasoftenashecould．Toforcehimtoliveinaninstitutioedwouldnotbefairtohim，butthehimgounsupervisedwhereverhefanciedwasjustasirresponsible．Lavernewasinaquandaryanddidnotknowwhattodo，soshepushedtheproblemtothebackofhermindaedthetemperatureofthewateriubwhichwasalmostfull．

Inthedimnightlight，shebeganstrippingoffthefabricumberingherbody．Sheyawnedandstretchedinfrontofthefull-sizemirrorbehihroomdoorandexaminedherrefle．Yes，herfatherwasright，shethought，humanbodieswereliketools．Therewasagreatsimiritybetweenhernakedbodyandabaremetaltool,forhadn’tsheusedherbodytodoalotofworksincem?Shecaressedhercurvaceouslyproportionalfigureaawarmsensitivityupontouch，asifthevigorandvitalityimprisohatbodywasreadytoburstout，likeawet，saturatedspongewherewateroozedoutwhensqueezed．Yes，shethought，thehumanbodynotonlyknewhowtouseitself，butknewandcouldco-retetoanothermaletooltofulfillitsneeds．Shesteppeddaintilyintothebathtubandyinthewarmwater，lettiensemusclesrexandloosen，releasiigueoltheday．Spshingwateragainstherbodytowashawaytheperspiratiohoughtofhermother’swordsonhowFatewaslikeawelldesigned，wellequippedfactory，butshethoughtthatthehumanbody，too，waslikeafactorythatcouldproduotherlifejustasintricateasitself，butcouldnotguaraheperfeoftheproduct．

Slender，nimblefingerskeptspshingwateronherbody，causingripplesier，whichremindedherofhowsheandMarkwentrowinginaboatonesummerdaywhentheywereyoung，slowlypaddlingonthequietriver．Mark’sstrongarmseasilymaniputedthetwooars，whileshesatquietlyenjoyingtheseryonbothshores，withastrarotectherfromthesun．Inhermemory，Mark，solidandstaleasamountain，wassomeoneshecouldalwaysrelyon．Butthatwasyearsago．Nowtheyhadbothgrownup．Notonlyhadherbodydevelopedandmatured，herthoughtstoobecamemoreplex．ButMarkwhilephysicallyhuskyandrobusthadretaiheIQofachild，stillrevelinginfairytales．Wasthatatragedyorablessingindisguise?Thefeeble-mindedMarkdidnothavetofacetheplexproblemsofmodernsociety，buthercouldheexperiehesatisfaandhappinessofsolvingthoseproblems．RetlyneighborshadtoldhertheyhadseenMarkfooroundwiththehookersinthepark，whoteasedandpyedpracticaljokesonhim,gettinghimtoshowhispenisinpublidtellinghim10 10=21．Theseithatafternooohermind，causingherhearttobeatfasterandherbreathtoequicker．Straionscametoherandthesalivainhermouthseemedtomultiplyonitsown．Mark’srgepeniswasonlyapartofhishugebody,likehismuscurarmsorelephantinelegs，whythendiditmakeherheartflutterandcausehersuchrestlessfusion?Lavernequicklysatupiubandwashedoffthesoapsuds．Asshedriedanddressedherself，puttingonherunderajamas，shethoughtthatshemusttryandprotectMarkfromfallingahaplessvictimtotheAIDSviruswhichreadingatanarmihatafternoonshehadboughtsomeextrargesatthedrugstore,butdidnotknowhowtoteachhimtousethemforhisownprote．Thebestsolutionwas,ofcourse，forMr．Johnsontodoso，butgivenhispresentstateofhealth，hemayoit．Shehadmadeuphermind，thatshouldtheoccasionrise，shewaswillingtomaketheultimatesacrifidgiveherselftohimasanoutletforthenaturalsexualurges,whichmightotherwiseleadhimtounsafesexoutsidehome．

Thecoldraysofthefullmoonemphasizedthesizeainessofthespaastersuite．Laverontheedgeofthekingsizebed，whichhadoheintimateloveandslumberofayoungcouple，nowpushedrelentlesslybyTimetowardsthefinallihefloodoflife,theironceyoungandsupplebodiesnowparalyzedorhalf-paralyzed．Theirhoarse，indistinctmurmurscouldstillbeheard，likeapairofsleeplessphantoms,versinginthedeepofthenight．Sittingtherealoneuhemoonlight，Lavernesuddenlyhadtheeeriefeelingthattherewasanotherheartbeatingnearby．Shelookedsharplyaroundandinaerwherethemoonlightdidnotreach，shedisedapairofpiergeyeswatgher．

"Mark！"shecriedout，"Whatareyoudoinghere?"Thenpattingthebedshesaid，"ehere．Whyaren’tyouinbed?"Markwalkedoververyslowlyandstoopeddowninfrontofher，puttinghisbeseeghandssilentlyonherknees．Lavernelookeddownathistroubled，yearningeyesanduoodtheplexurgesraginginsidehim，whichhecouldheruandnorexpress．Shetookhiminherarmsandpattedhiswideshouldersasifshewasfafavoritepet，saying"PoorMarkyboy!"thinkingitwastimetogiveherselftohimandsosaiddecisively，"Youmaydowhateveryouwanttodo.”Mark’shugewarmhalycaressedhersoft，yieldingbodyandshegavethemfullreiingthemroamwherevertheywould．Iy，Markhimselfwasnotsurewhyhehadetoherroom．Hisviolebeatswerelikebattledrumshasteninghimon．Perhapshehadeforaothepuzzliionsthathadtormentedhissimplemindafterlookingatthepraphicmagazineshefound，suchas

"Whydon’tfemaleshavepenises?Howthendidtheytakealeak?"

"Whydidthemalepeerthefemalebody．Itwaslikeakeyfittedintoa1ocktoopenitup”．

”Howdoesitfeel?"Whereverthewarmhandstouched,thefabriherbodyfelway,remindinghere,beautifulbutterflyMarkcaughthtspringmandwhosewioreoffonebyone．Shefeltlikethatbutterflybeingdismantledwhehimripoffhertiny，gingpanties．Markpartedherlegsarated．Shefeltwetbutpainful．Painfulbutsweet．

WheelsscreechedasLavereppedonthebrakestoavoidcollidingheadlongwithanoningmotorcycle，whichflewbywithrecklessspeed．Astheriderspedaway,heturnedhisheadandsneered，"Areyoublind?Wannaitsuicide?"Inthatinstant，DimitrireizedthehideousfaceofBig-O，theringleaderwhowasstrongasanox．Theskywasalmostdark，withonlyanetibythesettingsun．Thecarcruisedonroundandround，butnoMarkwastobeseen．ActuallyMarkwasattheerofthepark．Itwasgettingdark，justthetimewhehenightemerge，andhemingledhappilyamongthem，gdforsomuchattentionandpany．Lastnight，hearingLaverionshewassideringsendinghimbacktothespecialschoolwhichhehated，heclimbedoverthewallsofthehousewheneveryonewasasleepandranaway．Helovedtoroamaboutaimlessly，lettinghislimbsriseandfallwiththetideoftime．Nownightwasagainabouttofall．Hewassittingonaparkbenchtalkingtoabrazenlydressed，ultraexposedwoman，

"Whatareyoudoing,Mark?Doingyourbeaverpatrol?"

15

"What’sabeaverpatrol?"askedMark.Theotherprostitutes,boredwithnopotentialersaround,walkedatheredarouheyknewMarkwasretardedandlovedtoteasehim,sotheybaitedhimtopassthetime．

"Itmeanslookingforat,Mark"ohemexpinedughingly．Theneveryoartedtalkingtogether,jokingandpguinghim,takingadvahesimplicityofhismind．

"Doyouhavemoney?Ifyouhavemoney,I’vegotholes.”Theygiggledandughed．

"Ihavenomoney”,heunzippedhistrousersandtinued，"butIhaveapenis!Doyouhaveone?No,youdon’t．Ifyouwanttomakelove,you．WhyshouldIgiveyoumohatmadethemughuproariously．

"Whythebastard’sgettingclever!"Theycrowdedaroundhim,pinghisbulkyabdomen,punghisfatbellyandpyingwithhisexposedpenis．Justthen,soundsentrunniwereheardandahuskymanwithasmokingguncamerunningtowardsthem,lookingbadfiring．ItwasBig-O,theirheadpimp．

"Scram!It’sabust!Thecopsareing!"

Thewomenscreamedandshouted,dispersinglikeaflockofscreeg,fppinghensandweresoonoutofsight,leavingMarkstandingtheregapingwoodenlyandunprehendingly．Big-OthrustthesmokinggunintoMark’shandsaying，

"Here!Here’satoygunforyoutopycopsandrobberswith．Firewhenyouarefiredat."Withthatheranaway．Marklookedattheguninhishandandwhoopedforjoy,fornoboycouldresistatoygun.Hejumpedupanddoily,aimingattreesandbushesandghtwhenhepulledthetriggeranditwentoffwithabrightfshelightandabigbang.Thebackshscaredhim,funsnevergaveofffsheslikethat!Thefour，fivepoliwhocameonthesesawonlyoall,huskymanfiringagunaoo,returnedfire．Beforehekneashappening,severalbulletsreachedtheirtargetandMarkfellinapoolofblood,thoughnotmortallywouhisdistractedthepolidgaveBig-Othecetoslipawayunnoticed．

MeanwhileLaverneandDimitriwerecruisingaroundthequietblodweresurprisedwhenpolicecars,sirensinfullbst,surroundedaseofthepark．Therewasfuriousaasofficersgotoutoftheirpatrolcarswithgunsdrawnandferredtenselyviatheirwalkie-talkies．Theysawthemallruntowardsonedire,heardanexgeofshots,thewailofsirensandfinallysawamanbeingcarriedouttotheambunastretcher．LaveragitwasMark,andwithoutgettingoutofthecar，immediatelyturnedaroundandtailedtheambuheemergenofthehospital．Markhadfaintedfromlossofblood，butluckilyhadnotbeenmortallywounded．HedidnotfallvictimtotheAIDSvirusasLavernefeared,butbecamethesacrificialmb,thefallguyofthegangster，Big-O．Afterhewasdischargedfromthehospital，Markutincustodyofthespecialschoolfortheseverelyhandicapped，apcehehadalwayshated．Butstraosay,hewastofindnewadvehere．HeattractedtheattentionofMrs．Simpson，hismiddle-agedsigninstructor，awomaninherforties，highlyintellectual，withamaturebeautythatmadeheramuchsoughtafterwoman．Shewaslikeapeonyinfullbloom,neariheristilleye-catgandattractive．Afterthreefailedmarriages,shehadlostallfaithinmen,vihatevequalifiedamongthemcouldrustedtoremainloyaltoherasthisretarded,bigboyMark．Finally，shemarriedhimandMarkgotahomehecouldcallhisown．Sothesimple-mindedMarkprofitedfromhismisfortune．Heusedthecorrectkeytoopeanotherdoor．

SeeingMarksettledinhishospitalbed，andknowingthatasseriousashisditionwas，thewoundswerenotfatal，Lavermoreatease．Shedrovequicklyhometoattendtoherparents，gratefulfortheuseoftheoldditsowner，withoutwhosehelpshewouldnothaveknownwhattodo．Asshenearedhome，herheartbeatdrasticallyaccelerated，asifsurmisingsomethinguntowardhadhappehefeelingintensifiedwheurothenarrowstreetandsawthatthefacadeofthefamiliaroldhouseattheenditchdark，asifitwasdeserted，withnosignoflife．Normallythelightsatthefrontdoorwerealwaysonbeforeshereturned．Lavernesprangoutofhercarwithoutbtoparkitcorrectlyandmadestraightforthedoor，whichwouldnotopen，howeversherattledit．Thedoorwasneverlockedtofacilitatethetwooldpeople．Thepremonitionofdisasterheightenedassherantothebatrance，followedcloselybyDimitriwhoalsofeltthingswerenotquitenormal．Whenshefoundthatthebackdoorwasalsolocked，sheexcimedindismay，

15

"Ohno!Somethingmusthavehappened!"

Dimitriforcedopenthebackdoorwithoutfurtheradoawoofthemrushedin．Pusmellofgaschokedthemaoinfiltraterightintotheirbrains．Theyheldtheirbreathsastheyquicklyopeneddoorsandwindows．Thegasstoveiwasstillgeinggas，hissinglikeamalicious，poisonousshistimethecurseofthedevildidnotefromheavenbutfromunderground．Whentheambuncearrived，thetwocorpseswerealreadycoldandstiff,nolongerneedingthephysi’scare，sotheyweretakenstraighttothemue．ThergercorpsewasJohnahesmallersizedonewasLavyrl．Uhefaintstarlight，theyweretakenonebyoothevan．Theirroleohhadended．Perhapsonanotherpheywouldenaanotherway．Ifsoulsexisted，theirshadalreadyleftthecold,stiffshelloftheirbodies．Theambuartedmovingslowly,carryingLavyrndJohn．Theyleftaftertheirstse．Theambuncecarriedthemaway．Theyhadfiheirstpy．Theambuncecarriedthemaway，alongafamiliarroad，tepce．Theyhadfiingipy．Theyleft．Theyweregoneforever．

Thehousebytheroadstoodreallyemptynow,doorsandwindowswideopeainsblownoutsidethewindowbythenightwind,flutteredandfppeddesotely．Lavernecurledupiheoldcar，forthehousestillsmelledofgasandwasinhabitable．Lookingattheoldhouseoverwhichacurseseemedtohover,sherememberedhowshedreamedofpntingtall,redmapletreesalrounditasashield，andcitwithcloudspluckedfromtheskies,ingthehouseanditsoctssafelyinsideandprotegthemfromthecurseofthedevildesdingfromabove．Sheneverdreamedthatthistime,thecursewouldefromunderground．Thesuffogfumespouredoutfrombelowthegroundinanendlessflow，likethehissingofapoisonousshedevil’scursewasinescapableandfollowedeverymemberofthefamily．Shemurmured，"Thewillbeme!"Dimitriwasholdingherinhisarms,whileherheadrestedonhisshoulders．Hepattedhersoothinglyandsaidpositivelyinafirmvoice，

"Youwillhevictimofthedevil,Laverne.”

"Whynot?"

"Closeyoureyesainpeace．Whenyoutomorrow，youwillbeinapcewherethecurseofthedevilotreach.”

Itwasdusk．Theskywasgraduallydarkeningbutiafewbrilliantlycoloredcloudsstilllingered，andamongthewillowtreesthesparklingofwatercouldstillbedised．Twonakedbeautieswereughingandchasingeachotherinthestywoods，theirmovementssowellsynizedthattheyresembledadangduet．ThelovelyfloatingwhitehairofonewaslikeacloudofwhitesmokewhenshemovedandtheincrediblegraceofthemovementsoftheotherimmediatelycaughtLaverne’seyeswhenshearrivedonthese．Shedidn’tknowthenthatitwastheworld-famousballerina，Natalie．Butiwinklingofahetwodisappearedfromsight．Walkingontowardsthewillowtreesbythewater,anotheramazingsightmethereyes：atrioofnakedbeautieswerepyingier:naughtyDorlyarrivedYoko,aivegirlDeanna.Theyshoutedandughed,spshingwateratoherandthensytagwithahugefishthatjumpedoutoftheshallowwater．Whatsurprisedhermostwastheseontheshorewhereactivitiesbustled．Othernakedbeauties，notinedtoactivesports，werebusyrunningtoandfroattheirownchosentasks．Ieroftheclearing,apileoffirewoodhadbeengatheredandasnake-hairedbeautycouldbeseenlightingthefire．Herwelldevelopedmusclesgaveoutafeelingofpowerandwildprimitivebeauty．Thegentlesilken-skinnedorientalbeautyLotus,reparingfoodonasquarelogtable，assistedbyAisha，whoasusualknottedherhaircasuallyatthenapeofhernetheothersideofthetable,thesophisticatedSamantha,amixingcocktails,wasmakingthedrinks.MusicallyinedMara,theLatiy,wastuningupherinstruments．MegginnwastalkingidlywithElina．Thenewerwasnotquiteacedtoappearingnakedinpublic,butwhenintheKingdomofDreams，"doasthebeautiesdo"，soshehaddiscardedallencumbrancesliketherest．Hermannerismsweresomewhatself-sciousandunnatural,theteositwithherarmscrossedandlegscmpedtogetherrevealedherinnershyherestofthebeautieswerescatteredaround，strollingaboutorsitting，talkingintwosorthrees，seeminglytobewaitingfortheceremonyinhonorofthenewarrivalstobegin．

Notlongafternoon-timethatday，abeautifulyoungwomaninbloodredleotard，brightyellowblouseandptformsdalsarrivedatthehelicopterairbase，carryingaworn-outsuitcaseofdotsshewasbringingbacktotheKingdomtopleteKingDimitri’sfiles．ItwasMegginn,wholookedwithwonderandaweofacity-bredpersonatthemilesuponmilesofmountainrahatsurroundedawideexpanseofcrystalcleargoon．Thepedtheshoreandasmokymistcoveredthedeep,coolwaters．Shegazedwithwohetwinpeaks,betweenwhichstretchedasuspensie,likeacolorfulrainbowlyingacrosstheskyafterrain．TheferociousbattledidohaveleftanytratheKingdom．Timehadwipedoutallfootprints,includingthoseofhumanculture．Lookingathersurroundings,shewentoverinherheadtheinstrusDimitrihadgivenher．"Gofromtheadministrativebuildingtowardsthebridge．Crosstotheesepatheoppositepeakaledownbeforedoinganythingelse.”InstantlyreizingthesepcesbythegraphicdescriptionsDimitrihadgivenher，shemadeherwaybriskly，enjoyingthesery．Shewasamazedatthespringlikeatmosphere，thebuddingtrees，blossomingflowersandintoxigbreeze，foritwasautumnwheedfromDimitri．Didtimemoveintwoways，bothclockwiseandterclockwise?As，timemovedonsoundlesslyandmotionlessly，ascarressinglyasthespringbreeze，removingalltraces，beitwarorhumanculture．Attheedgeofthesquare，Megginnstoppedinastonishmenttoenjoythemagnifitfoliageandthebewilderingassortmentofflowersofdifferentseasonswhichwereinfullbloomtogether．Roses，daffodils，chrysanthemumsandChristmasflowersrubbedshoulderswitheachother．Sheptedonthesimiritybetweenhumansandpnts．Pheirrootsdeepintothesoiltogetnutrition，andthroughamagicalprocess，itbloomedandgrew,whereasmanatefoodwhichturyforthebody.Justthen,shehadanunfortablefeelinginherabdomenandrealizeditwasthebeginningofhermenstrualcrampswhichwasabouttoebeforeitstimeandcaughtherunawares．Wasmenstruationasignoffeminiyliketheflowersblossomingonthebranches?Yearafteryear，flowersbloomedinthespringbreeze，whilemonthaftermoruatiohehumanfemalebody．Therewasakindofsimiritythere．

AsshewasabouttohurryooppedforamomenttostudywithcuriosityahugewhiteEasterlilygrowingonarosebush．Megginchedoutherhandandwasabouttotouchitcarressingly，whensheheardavoicecallout,

"Don’ttouchme!Don’ttouchme!"Shewasstartledandgapedinfasationastheflowergedbeforehereyesintoawhite-hairedbeauty．Megginnsaid，

15

"Oh,I’msorryIfrightenedyou．Iwasn’tgoingtopluckyou．Iwasjustcurioushowaerlilycametogrowonarosebushandwaofeelifyouwerereal.”

"It’salright,”repliedthefairywhoknewMegginoharm．"IattachedmyselftotherosebushbecauseIwaoabsorbsomeoftheblood-redcoloroftherose．Ohenutritionofbloodtomakeoiful,youknow.”MegginnsuddenlyrecalledthatDimitrihadtoldheraboutabeautyintheKingdomwhowastransformedfromaerLily，ahebeautybeforehermustbetheFlowerFairy．Sheheardherasking，

"Whoareyou?Idon’tthinkwe’vemetbefore.”

"I’mMegginn．KingDimitriiojoinhisKingdom.”

"Oh,howwonderful!"theFairyreplied,gherhaedly．"Imusttelltheothersthatthere’sanothernewmember!"Shegedintoacloudofwhitesmokeandstreakedtowardsthepace．Megginntinuedonherway,enjoyingthemyriadflowersscatteredseverywhere,sorareandsobeautifulshefeltshecouldn’tpossiblydojustiall．Onthedrawbridgesuspendedinmidair，shetookadeepbreathandinhaledairsopureaseemedtoseherbody．Shefeltherselfbeingsolightthattheslightestbreezecouldliftheroffherfeet．IfaerLilycouldgeintoafairy,ossibleforhumanstobeeafairy,too?Ofcourseitwas,shedecided．

Soonshecametotheothersideofthebridgeandressedbythegrandeurandmagnificeoftheaesepacewithitsglitteringyellowtileandtiltingeavesofcarveddragons．Theenormousfrontdoorwastightlyclosed，butbythesideentrawonakedbeautiesstoodwavingandsmiling，dwarfedbytheimposingredpilrsthatoredtheentrawasWhiteFairyandanotherbeautywithherhaircasuallykhenapeofherneck．Slightlyvisiblewrihesideofhereyesonlyatedhermaturebeautyandnoblecarriage．ItwasAisha，whosaidsmiling，

"YoumustbeMegginn．KingDimitrihasalreadynotifiedusofyouring．Areyoutiredbythelongjourney，mydear?Yourroomsarereadyforyou．Wouldyouliketoliedownaforawhiletorefreshyourself?"Shechattedaffablyondoingherbesttoputthenew-erateaseassheusheredherintothehall．Beforeshecouldintroducehertohernewsurroundings,ahostofnakedbeautiesarrived．Theatmosphereatoncebecamevivaciouswhiletheyintroducedthemselvesandweledtheirnewpanion,keepingupalivelychatterallthewaytoherspaciousandexpensivelyfurnishedroomsohirdfloor．Everythingwasarraohertaste，asifshehaddesighemherself：thickcarpets，antiquefurnitureandawonderfulviewofthesplendidmountainranges．AishathenformallyintroducedMegginntotheotherswhoweledherwarmly．

Megginnwasquiteoverebytheirbeautyandfriendlinessandtriedherbesttomatchthehebeautiestothesebeautifulfacessurroundihefadnakedslenderfiguresfloatedaroundwithinhervision1ikeacloudofwaveringshadowsreflectedoer，remindihemyriadofrareblossomssheenteredoothepace．Megginnhadalridedherselfonherbeauty，buthereshesawthateveryohemwereatleastherequal．Afterawhile，Aishasaid，

"WeshouldletMeggiawhile．Whydon’tweallgoandmakepreparationsforthewelepartytonightinhonorofYoko,MaraandMegginn?"Thebeautiesnoddedinagreementaodisperse，agaieratingtheirweleandaskioetothepartyassoonasshefeltrested．Soon,theonlyowasAisha,whoalwaysactedashostessandinitiatedthenewmembers．Megginntooktothemellowandintelligentwomanatooldheraboutherayregardingherirualperiodandaskedifshecouldborrowsomepads．Aishasmoothedthehairoftheyoungwomansoftlyandlovinglyasamotherwouldandsaidsoothingly，

"Don’ttroubleyourselfaboutthesetrivialthings，Megginn．It’snoproblematall．Justrestandtakeiteasy．YouseethathereintheKingdomallofusgoaroundnaked,freefromallstraints．Everythingisnaturandcasualhere．Ifyouwish，Stephaniecouldteachyouhowtostopyourperiodaltogethersoyouwoheredwithitanymore．NowtakeanapMegginn,andwhenyoufeelrestedeandjoinusbytheke.”

15

AfterAishaleft，Megginnremaiedthere,notknowingwhattodo．Shekeptonthinkingofthenoveleventsoftheday．Whatastrangeanduniquepceshehadeto！Itringtimeinautumn,withextravagantflowers，floatingshadowsandfaceswhichdriftedaway．Whatastrahiswas！Yearafteryear，flowersbloomeduhenurtureofthespringbreeze，andmonthaftermonth，menstruationcame，abiologicalfunthatartofanaturalcycle．WearealllivinginthebosomofMotherNature．Ifthemonthlycyclestopped，wouldtimestaystill?Probablynot，shethought．Yearafteryear，thespringbreezewouldblowjustasithadalwaysdonefromthebeginningoftime．Ifthemonthlyperiodstopped，thentimewouldstopandwomenwouldnotage．Theywouldremainyoungaifustheywerenow．Perhapstimeflowedintwodires．Whatastrahiswas!Shefeltdrowsy,scarcelyabletokeephereyelidsopen;soshedecidedshewouldnotthinkofitanymore．Walkingtotheotherroom,sheydownoinvitingbedandbeingfatiguedfelsleep．

Inthefaintlightofthegloaming，Megginnwasawakenbyasoftnudge．Sheopenedhersleepyeyesandsawalovelyfacesmilingather．

"Irememberyou,”shesmiledback."YouareDorna.”

"Right．eoup!It’stimeforyourweleparty．We’reallwaitingfuestofhonor!"Megginnsprangoutofbedawoleftthesuitehandinhandintheduskytwilight．Thebuildingwasanimitationoftheaesepadlifewentonasitdidintheoldendays，withoutelectricity．Themainhallwashuge．magnifit，solemnandforbiddingandmadeohoughonewasbatheaimesthousandsofyearsago．Theseveremajestyoftheatmospherewassuffog，soifitweren’tforthesoftsprihatpermeatedtheairwiththefragranceofflowersandtherefreshingaromaofgrass，Megginnwouldhavefeltasifshewereiombofafeudalemperor．Butsoftasthespringbreezewas，itimpregnatedanimmenseinvisiblestrength．Yearafteryear，springbreezeblewoh，awakeningtheflontswhichbudded，grewandwithered，justastimesedalltrathesandsoftime，includinghumancivilization．

Thetwoofthemwalkedalongthewindingpathsamidstbloomingflowersanddroopingwillowstilltheycametotheclearingbythesideoftheke．DornasawYokoandDeannapyingierandimmediatelydashedtojoininthefun，leavingMegginntochatwiththeothers.Hergenialfriendlyattitudemadehereasilyacceptedbythebeauties，mostofwhomfeltalieheproudandforbiddingIleen，whoalwayskeptaloof．Thebrilliant，rosycloudihadlongbeenswallowedbythedarknessofnight，buttherfirewithitsdangfmeslituptheclearing．AishagatheredeveryonearoundthefireandformallyweledYoko，MaraandMegginntotheKingdom，amidstenthusiasticappuse．Onlythesnake-hairedbeauty，Medusaseemediive，herattentiondistractedbysomeslightmovementbehirees，aavigintwatchovertheareaoutsidetherahefire．ItwasLaverimidatedbytheunbelievablesebeforeher，shedidnotdaretoeforward．Toher，thegroupofbeautiesseemedtodesdfromheaventogathertogetheratthisspecificspotoh．Medusashoutedsternly，

"Who’sthere?eforward!"AlleyesteredonthedireshewasfagandsawthetimidformofLaverneeoutofhidingfrombehindatreelikeafrightenedgirlwhohadmisbehaved．

"AreyouLaverne?"askedAishakindly．"KingDimitrisaidyoumightbeing，butIdidn’texpectyousosoon．eonhere．You’rejustiojointheweleparty.”

"Yes，I’mLaverne"saidshe，asshewalkedclosertothecirclearoundthefire．Everyonecppedinweleandquicklymaderoomforhertositdown．

"Thisiswonderful!"saidAisha．"Ournumberisgrowing．Lifewouldbemerrierandmoreiingthanever.”Aseveryoleddown,Marabeganpyiar．Musicfloatedintheopenairandwinebroughtaddedcolortothealreadybeautifulplexionsmademoreradiantbytheflickeringbeamsoffme．Yoko,DornaandDeannahadbeefastfriends,andYokohadputhercityworriesandsorrowbehindher,enjoyinglifeandhappinessassheneverhadbefore．Mara’stennimblefingers,likehundredsofbraremblinginthewind,broughtforthmusicwhichdirectedeveryoions，nowsadandsorrowfulsilengthelight-heartedughterandchatter,nowurainedasagushingtorrent．

WhiteFairytransformedfromaerlily，satfarfromthebzingfire．Sheabsentedfromeating,butdrankalotofwine,givinghernormallypaleplexionarosytinge．NaughtygirlDornachatteredonwithmorethanherusualvivacity，seemingtobeslightlyintoxicated，nowandthelingforawhileinAisha’sp．Laverhemostreewer,iedbythegroup,haddiscardedherclothes,thehypocritiandatedbyadissemblingsociety,auronature,asnakedasonthedayshecametothisearth．Shehadlostherfamilyiy,onlytojoinanevenrgerandhappierone．Reassuredafteriingeveryfadfindingthemallkindaogetalongwith，sheywiththisnewhaven．Mara’stenmagigersbroughtforthspontaneousmusic．Shelivediwehtury，inasocietywhosesteel-likeessandckoffriendlinessandhumantouchhadmadeherfeellifewasunbearableaenceimpossible．ButhereinKingDimitri’sKingdom,withthebzingfire,apace，beautifulnaturalserysofamiliarandfortable,shefousuitablenicheforherself．Sheswitchedtoanoldpopurfolksongeveryoneknewandsanginapahebeautiesjoinedin．Thebeautifulfemalechoruswasthemostwondroussoundintheworld．