iveseversincesheetdom.”Aisha,yingwithDorna’shair,saidspecutively，

"Ihaveafeelingthatthingsweren’tquiteright．Medusahasalmostdisappearedfromsight．Duringtheday，she’sobeseenandatnightshestandsguardonourrooftoporflieslowaroundthepace．Ismelltensionintheair.”Deannainterruptedhersaying，

"Iknowwheresheisduringtheday!Isawherdrillingtheyoungnativesihoftheforestasifpreparingforanemergency.”Elinasatonthecouch,herlegscloselycmpedtogether,presentingagracefulposture．Thedoused，

"IfIhadace，I’dliketodoaphysicalcheckuponCyclopstoseehowdifferenthisouterphysicalstruandinternalansarefromthoseofhumans.”Deannawasaghastandsaidagitatedly，

"Dohinkofit!HeisamohatevenMedusahasahardtimetrolling!"Aishainterposedsaying，

"Keepcalm．Thingsarenotthatseriousyet．AtleastMedusaknowssomethingisbrewingandhastakenmeasures．Thebestwayforustohelpherwouldbetokeepcalm，bealertandnotbeeanadditionalburdehequietandtaciturnLotuswasseateddemurelyonthecircurreer，legscurledupbehher,hersoft,silkenhairfreshandlustrousasarainwashedflower．Shehadbeensittingthere，silentlybutattentivelylisteningtotheversation,whileshebentoverherembroidery．Nowsheraisedherheadandsaid，

"Iagree．ThebestwedoisnottohamperMedusaitleagainststrongenemies．Wethinkofasafepcetoretreatto,putourmostpreciousandimportantbelongingsintoabag,putonpracticalclothingsothatwewouldbereadytoevacuateatamoment’snotice．Also，IheardthatCyclopsisacruel，leonster．Wemusttakeottofallintohishands.”Aishanoddedinagreement．

"Right!Let’stransferourhelicopterstothecourtyardinfrontofthepace，readytotakeoffatanytime.”Dornajumpedforjoy．

"Leavethattome!Ilovetoflyhelicopters.”Whilethesenobleandmostbeautifulofanimalswereexgingideasivoices,theph．Pigupthereceiver,Elinasaid,"ThisisElina...Verywell,I’llberightthere.”Everyonelookedatherquestioninglyandasked，

11

"Whowasthat?"

"Ileen．Shesaidshewasn’tfeelingwelndisattheic．Shewaogothereatonce.”Dornapulledfearfullyatherarmsandsaid，

"Don’tgo．Itmightbeatrap.”Elina，posedandimperturbable，pattedhercheeksandsaid，

"Don’tworry．ThetimeisnotripeyetandIwon’tbehermaintarget.”Thebeautifunimalsscattered,eachtoherownroomtopreparefortheworst．

Stronglightswerefocusedonthelowerpartofafullyexposed,voluptuousfemalebody．ItwasIleen，lyingspread-eagledonthemedicalexaminationtable，legswidelyparted,whileElina,maskedandglovedbutotherwisestarknakedlikeherpatient,wasgivingherapelvicexam．

"Haveyoubeenmissingyourperiodstely?”sheaskedassheprobedandpushed．"Feenyhem?"

"Ihaven’beenfeelielyandwasafraidImightbepregnant,soIwaobesure.”IleensatupandwatchedasElinastrippedoffherglovesandtookoffhermask．Thedoctorturoher,smiledandsaid，

"gratutions!Youare!"AslightshadowflittedoverIleen’sfadwasgoneinased;butitdidnotescapethesharpeyesofthesmartdoctorwhosaid，

"Youarenothappy?Youshouldbe!Inourpacetherearesomaies．Theyallhavefertileuteruses,butcktheirrigationofKingDimitri’ssperm．Youarenewhere,butalreadycarryhisheir．Youarefortunateindeed!"Ileendidherbesttokeepherposure，forshehadneverhadanyintercoursewithKingDimitri．ItwasCyclop’sseedthatwasgrowingwithierus．Shehadalwaystakenthepills,butCyclops’spermmustbeultraobstinateandimmuohumantraceptives．Atwhatevercost,shemustpretendtobehappyandavoidsuspieanwhile,Elinawassaying，

"Youmusttakecare，Ileen，andyourselftoomuchbecausetheearlymonthsnancyarethemostsusceptibletomiscarriage．Callmewheneveryoufeenydisfort．ThisistheheirtoKingDimitri’sthrone，soit’sagreatresponsibilityforyou．

11

Payattentiontodietandexerciseandeaseofftheworkforthemoment.”

"Thankyou,Elina”smiledIleenandgotofftheexaminationtable．Thiswasherfirstvisittotheic．Asshewalkedoverthemarblefloors，shewasheavy-heartedahejoysofaantmother．Shezigzaggedherwayamoandmostexpensivemedistrumentswhichfilledtherooms.Theywereawe-inspiring,bulkyandplicated,whoseveryexteriorshowedtheywereprisedofthetestandhighestteology．Humaedlifeforthesemaes,andiurnthesemaesprotectorprolonghumahusformedanamaziionshipbetweewo…Butthetwenty-fourbeauties,forwhomallthesewerepreparedwerelikebloomingflowersandtheirhealthditioilthighnoon．Therefore，forthetimebeing，theyhadnoneedforthesemaesandthemaeshadbeenlyingthere,uselessasapileofwasteiron．Movingtowardstheelevator，Ileeheneedforseclusioniosortthingsoutandetoadecision．

TheelevatorwithitssolidgolddoortookIleentothetopfloorandshewalkedbacktoheroffideadsilence,pastthevishlyextravagantroomswhichsilentlyexhibitedtheexorbitantrichesofthemysteriouskingdom．Shewenttotheivorydesk，herheartinturmoindhermindfusedandchaoticasatangledweb．ThedecreesofFatewereunfathomable．Sheneverdreamedshewouldetothispathewilderness，beeoneofKingDimitri’sbeautiesainalmostsolechargeofhishugefinancialempire．Ifthingsprogressedsmoothlyandsheborehimanheir，herpositionwouldbesolidated，andshewouldautomaticallybeistressofitall．Butno,whatshewascarryingwastheseedofone-eyed,single-hornedmonster,Cyclops．Couldthingsbedoneain,shewouldwillinglybeeohegentle,fortablebeautiesinsteadofatraitor．Butheraswereunredeemable．WhatwasdonewasdoneandcouldnotbeuheunrulyCyclopswasfreeandroamedtheareaatnight，whichcouldnotpossiblyescapethesharp，observanteyesofMedusa．Thedisappearahebowandarrowhadherworried，foritshowedthatMedusawasalreadyuard．Shemustactatonceorhertreacherywouldsoonbeexposed．

Theringingofthefaxmaesignalinganiningmessage,interruptedhertrendofthoughts．Shepickedupthepaperwhichsaid，

1．TonightDimitriandsomeotherswillbegoingtoWorldBank．Iionsunknown．

2．PleasesendioryofallKingDimitri’sassets．

Nosender’snamewasgiven，butIleewasfromMr．Kaffee．Herbrowsknittediion,aough,ambitiouserwhowahewholeofKingDimitri’sriches!ShehadbettereupntouseMr．Kaffee’shandstokillKingDimitriandthendisposeofMr．Kaffeeter．IleenwastryingtofigureoutwhyDimitriwouldwanttogotoWorldBankandwithwhatotherpeople，whenaheinouspomind．Whynotmakeuseofthisopportunitytogetridofhim?Overjoyedatceivingthisingeniousplot，shetookoverafaxsheetandwroteswiftlywithationwhatever，

1．MakegooduseofthisGodsentopportunityandkilll．Leavenolooseends．

2．WilldivideKingDimitri’sentireassetswithyou．

Shefaxeditbackwithnonamegiven．Shewalkedovertothewindorayed，

11

"OhGod!Ifyoudoexist,pleasehelpme!Myasareimmorandaresuretobepuerbyyou，butIhavenootherchoice．IknowIamwrong，butthere’snback．Ihavetoghwithittotheend．Tonight,pleaseletthekingdomagainbecoveredwithfogsothatIact．OhGod,ifyoudo，fivemypresentfoolishness．Letbloodahwashawaymywickedas!"

Ohyes!whywouldDimitriwanttosneakintotheWorldBank?Whowerehispanionsandforurpose?Thestorywasthis：Thatafternoon,thefivefriefrandcelebration,butas,totheirsternation,Richardhadlosteverypennyhehadandtheycouldnotaffordtodoso．Thegroupofpennilessvagaboreatedtothecampsitebytheke,litabzingfireandsatgloomilyaroundit．Asthefirebzed，dimmedandthenbzedagain，theirshadowsflickered，movedandmergedintoawhole．AttheterwastheglowingfireintowhichRichardthrewinhisspecialty-“Beggar’sChi”-whichhereparingonebyone．Hehadstolenthechifromtheneighbfarms，foroutofymanwoulddoanythingiosurvive．Bythesideofthefire,someeseShao-shingwinewasbeied,forthisparticurbrandwasatitsbestwhentakenwarm．Everyonewassilent．Richard’sbadluckatthetablesaffectedthemall,aswithitwentalltheirhopes．Richardhimself,however,assumedanontattitude,aupalivelychatterashepreparedhischi．

"WhenIcametoAmerica,IbroughtwithmeamilliondolrsinU.S.currency，hopingtosettledownanddosomebusiness．ButasIwaslookingaroundtoseewhichfieldIshouldiin,Ihappeogototheoonedayandtrymyluck．Iwournedandwonagain．Ithoughtthatwasasgoodawaytoimymoneyasanyother，soIbegantoplungeinwithavengeanedaysIwaslucky,butothersIlostheavilyandbeforeIk，mymilliondolrswasallgone；andIbecamethepennilessguyyouseenowbeforeyou．Suchislife!"Meanwhilehewasingouttheiihechi，leavihersintact．Hestartedtospriheinsideofachiwithwineandsaltandthencoateditwithwetmudfromthebanksoftheke．Hethrewthemud-coatedchiintothefireandworkedonanotherone．Whenhehadfihthestone，hesmiledandsaid，"That，myfriends，isthefamous“Beggar’sChi”iedbypeoplelikeusoutofy．It’seasytoprepareaastytoo，asyoushalljudgeforyourselfsoon.”

Theairgraduallyfilledwiththeappetizingfragranceofwarmwine,andthecookingofchiwhichwhettedtheirappetites．Ifthetreescouldfeelhuheytoowouldbedroolinginenvy．Richardpriedoutthefirstthhlybakedchi,whichwashardasarodcrackeditopenbythrowingitontheground．Thefeatherscameoffwiththedrymud,revealingthejuicywhitemeatwithin．Richardtorethefullycookedchiintofivergeportions,handioeachofhisfriends．Jamazdevouredhisportionravenously，teariwithhissharpwhiteteeth．Dimitriatewithrelishawogentlersexesretaiheirtablemanners,eatingandchewingslowlyandenjoyably．Richardcrackedopenhisspecialtyonebyoneandservedthemtohisfriends,happytoseethemenjoyinghiscookingandthenpouredoutbowlsofwineforeveryoheyateanddrankhappily，fettingtheirsorrow．Soonthegroundwasstrewnwithchibones,likescatteredtoolsinanautoworkshop．Chiwingslookedlikepliers，thighboneslikehammers，whilethesmallerfragmentslookedlikenailsandscrews．Piecedtogether，theywouldbeeawholeskeleton,nowtheywerescatteredalround．

Hungerandthirstsatisfied，Richardtookogulpandsaid，

"Lifeisweird．Theri，eventhoughtheydon’tparticurlycareto;whilethepoorwhowantitsobadlyinvariablylose．EventhoughIlostmyshirttoday,Idon’treallycare．I’vebeenthroughupsanddownsbefore．WhatIhatedwaslosingtothatrichbutslimyMr.Kaffee.”Maratriedtoforthim，

"Poororrichmakesnodifference．Lifegoesonasusual．Wehavenomoneynow,butwestillhavethispiicwithfoodandwineandenjoyourselves.”ThenaiveandartlessYokoadded，

"Right．Whatifyoudidlose?Nightislikeahugebckbag．Ifyou’donlyputyourhandinit，you’resuretoeupwithsomething.”Shemeantofcoursethattheycouldresorttostealingastheyusuallydidwhenbroke．ButthistimeRicharddisagreed，

"Steal?No，that’schifeed．Youaremybride.Iotletmywomaheuainlifeofanomad．Ihaveagreatpn．Ifitsucceeds，I’llbeabletoprovideallofyouwithafortableandhappylife.”HelookedatJamaz，bigandbad，sittiatuesqueasamountain．

"Iknowwhatyouwantmostofalloutoflife．Withmoney，yougetanywomanyouwant.”TurningtoDimitrihesaid，

11

"You，Dimitri，behomelessanymore．Withunlimitedwealth,wewillllivetogetherasahappyfamily.”Maraaskedeagerly，

"WhatisyourpnRichard?"Heansweredsimply，

"Robabank!"

"Robabank!”YokoandMaraexcimed．"Howcouldyoueventhinkofsuchathing!Youmayloseyourlifeifyou’renotcareful!”Richard’sexpressionwasstrange．Heseemedtobesmiling,butactuallywasnot．

"Howelsewegetrich?"heasked．ThenturningtoJamaz，hesaid，

"AreyouwithmeJamaz?"

"Whynot?”answeredJamazslowly.“InthedesoteAfriwildernesswhereIgrewup，Isawtoomanylifeahstruggles．Inthejuiskillorbekilledandonlythefittestsurvived．Ofcourse,therearealsonaturaldeathsaswell,soallinall，Idonotreallysettoomuchstoreonlife．YouhaveagoodheadonyourshouldersRichard．I’llfollowyouanddowhatyousay.”Richard’seyesturoDimitri．

"WhataboutyouDimitri?"DimitriwassurprisedthaRichardwouldsuggestrobbingabank,butheassumedabnkexpressionandsaid，

"Robabank?That’sagameI’veneverpyedbeforeandI’mwillingtotryanythingonce．Doyouhaveaailedpns?"

"No,”saidRichard,shakinghishead.“It’sjustathought.”

11

Dimitri’sbrainswerewhirlingbehindhisbndlook.Hewasthinking，

"Robbingabankwouldbecdangeranddisaster．ItwouldbebetterifIletthemrobmybank．Goldandcasharepiledhighinthevaultthere,whynotsharethemwithmyneedyfriends?"HishandtouchedthepsticmastercardinhispocketwhichMr．Kaffeehadgivenhimandsaid，

"Ifyoudon’thaveapn,whynotfollowmine?"

"You，Dimitri?”excimedRichardtakenaback．”Youhaveadetailedpnforrobbingabank?Idon’tbelieveit!Youwouldneverspendtimefiguringoutsuchthings!"AlleyesturoDimitriinsurprise，buthesaid，

"Don’tbesounbelieving．HaveyottenhowIgotyouallthatmoneyht?"Thewordswerelikeafshoflightninginthedark．Eyesoheystaredhopefullyathim．Richardasked，

"Howdidyougoaboutitthattime?"Dimitrididnotwanthistrueidentityknown，sohedecidedtomakeupapusiblestory．

"Well，Ihappeopickupthiscardonthesidewalksoneevening．ItrieditontheWorldBankandfounditopenedeverydoor,includingthevault．That’showIgotthemoney．Isn’titwonderful?Ifyouallfollowme,I’llguaranteenoneofuswillbehurt．Withnoriskandnodanger，you’llgetallthemoneyyouwantandlivehappilyeverafter．How’sthat?"Richardwasgreatlyexcitedattheprospectofgettinghishandsonalotofmoneyagain.Heexcimedimpatiently，

"Great!I’llgamblemylifeoncemore．Whenshallwestart?Wemustdoitassoonaspossiblebeforetheydiscoverthelossofthecardandgethecodes．Whatabouttonight?"DimitrithoughtforamomentanddecidedthatacalltoMr.Kaffeehimtopulloffallsecuritythatnightandleavehebankwoulddothetrick．Soheagreed，

"Whynot?Tonightitis!"Thefivefriendsscrambledupfullofthespiritofjoyandadveheydashedaboutputtingoutthefireandgotintothecar．

"Hey,waitaminute!"Dimitrisaid，"We’vefottehing!"

11

"What?"theyalsked．

"Somethingtocarrythecashin.Whydotakedow?"Theyallughed．

"That’sagoodidea!"Theytookdow,foldedit,threwitirunkandallfiveofthemhurriedlypiledbatothecar．Laughingjoyfully，theydroveaway．Thus，theydecidedonacourseofa，rashlyandflippantly，asiftheywerepyingagame．Lifeactuallyislikeagame，butallgameshavetheirrules．Ifyougobeyondthem,youentertheued．Suchwasthecasehere．Dimitriwasleadinghisfriendsintoatraphesetforhimself，owasfraughtwithdangerah．

Thecarwentonitswaytediously，passingroadsignafterroadsignonthearrhtfreeway,itswheelsrollingpastthefshingroadbubbles．Theedandturnedinataself-servegasstationlocatedoskirtsofthecity．Itwaste,theattendantshadgonehome．Fewcarsstoppedthere，sothepcelookeddesoteaed．Abigbeige-coloredcararkedatoneside,ohoseluxurymodelssopopuriies．Infrontofthevendingmaewastheslimfigureofayoungdyfeedingsintotheslot．Theplopofasodarollingoutsoundedloudandcleariylot．Dimitriwalkedquicklytowardsthepayphone，whiletheotherswaitedinthecar．Hepuhenumbersprihedavoiceimmediatelyanswered．

"..."

"OliverKaffee，please.”

"..."

"MynameisDimitri.”

"..."

Themumblingofthundersouhedistaheweatherhadbeenstrahesedays,allthunderandlightningbutnotadropofrain．

11

"..."

"ThisisDimitri．AreyouMr.Kaffee?"

"..."

"Listen．Pulloffallsecurityandnightshiftclerksfortonight...Don’taskwhy,justdoit!"

"..."

AcrashofthunderdrowwordsattheotherendandforcedDimitritoraisehisvoice．

"Imaybeingintoheadquarterstonightwithsomeofmyfriends．Iwanttoshowthemaround,sogeteveryowithinthirtyminutes.”

"..."

Hehungupandwasturningtogowhenhesawacharmingblonddyinfrontofthevendingmaesmilingathim,saying，

"Wemetthisafternoon,remember?Itoldyouwewouldmeetagain.”

11

"Ohyes．Isn’tthisace!"

Therewastheembarrassedsilenceofacquaintaalossforwords．

"Theweatherhasbeenstrahesestfewdays,hasn’tit?"Dimitritinued.Ablindingfshoflightning,sharpasasword,tothedarkclouds,followedbyadeafeningcrashofthuheweatheristurningnasty．Youshouldbebayourcozyhomelisteningtomusisteadofbravingtheelementshere.”

"Istoppedtogetsomegasformyoldfriend,”saidMegginnpointingtohercarparkedatthecurb,andIneededsomerefuelingmyself,soIthoughtI’dgetasodaaswell.”

"You’dbettergohomenow．Whatifyetsstuckagain．Itisn’tsafeforayoungdylikeyoutobeoutherealonight.’

"Iknow．ButIhavefinallydecideditwastimetoretirethisoldfriendofmine．Iwaakehimfororidebeforeleavinghimatthejunkyardtomorr．Overtheyears,ithasrunovereveryinchofthefreewayandroadsaroundhereagainandagain，keepingallthetrafficrulesandhadneverbeeninanact．I’msureitwillbesorrytoleaveandthefreewaywillmissittoo．They’vebeengoodpartners.”

"Youarereallyacharmingandgood-hearteddyfullofimaginationaiment．It’sbeenapleasuretoknowyou.”ThethunderkeptonrollingandMegginnasked，

"Whyareyououtsoteandyouseemtobeinahurry.”

"Ihavesomebusioattendto．MyfriendsandI..."Richardwashonkingimpatiently，soDimitrisaid，"Myfriendsarewaiting．Gottogonow．Hopetoseeyouagain．"

Megginnwavedandnoddedhergood-bye,butDimitriturnedbackalmostimmediatelyandsaid，

11

"I’dbetterseeyousafelyonyourwayfirst．Youmayneedanotherpushorshove.”

"Thankyou.”saidMegginnsmiling．"Ireallyappreciateit.”

Thegustywindblewherfullskirtaboutasshewalkedtohercar．Dimitristeppedforehecardoorforhersolicitously．Shequicklygotinandtotheirsurprisethemaestartedsmoothly．

"Adios,myfriend!"Megginnsaid．"I’msurewe’llmeetagain.”

Thesoon-to-be-junkedcarcarrieditsbeautifulmistressloyallythoughboriouslydownthefamiliarroad．Dimitriwatcheduntilthetaillightsdisappearedandhesaidsoftly，

"Hopeyouhaveagooddrive．Maybothofyouenjoyyourstdrivetogether.”

Thethundermumblediandthenrollednearerandilitculminatedinadeafeningcresdo．Lightningfshedrighta,asifwishingtosplitahedarkcloudsapartahebrilliantmoonandtwinklingstarshiddenbehindthem．Dimitrifeltamomentofpanic,asifsomethinguntowardwasabouttohappeninhisKingdom，buttherewasnotimetoloseinidlespecution．Richard’shonkinghornwashasteninghimonhisway．Hewalkedswiftlybacktohisgoodfriendsandledhislittlegroupintotheunknowndarknessofthenight．

ThereseemedtobeaGodinheaven,whoheardtheprayersofthevilinousIleenandgrantedherrequest,fortethatafternoonathickfogroseandwasgettingheavierandheaviereveryminute．Shestoodatthewindow，herheartpoundingwildlyiementandexhiration．

"Thisisthegoodomenwhichprovesthatheaveniswithme!SuchthickfogisthebestcealmenttoblockthesharpeyesofMedusa!"Inherheart，shebegantopnhercampaign．InthewholeoftheKingdom，theonlyoneshefearedwasthefierdferoedusa，herworstenemyandthehardestpersontotah．IfMedusacouldnotbedealtwithatorokeasformerlypheonlyalternativewastotakethebeautiesashostagesandforceMedusatoetoterms-toforfeitherlifeinexgeforthebeautieswhomDimitrihadleftinhercare．ShedecidedtousetheelementofsurpriseandstormthepaightwithCyclops,soastocatchthemalloffguard．Thisway，shewouldbeabletotakeallthebeautiesashostages．KnowingCyclopsinsatiablelust,shewouldfeedhimowobeautiesatatimetokeephimhooked,satisfiedandensved,whileshewouldgraspsoletroloftheKingdom．Butherscesmoteher,telliwaswrongtodountootherswhatshedidnotwishthemtodotoher．Shehadgohewrongpath，whyforceoalongthesamerouteandehedegradationandphysicabuseatthehandsofamonster?Ifshecouldonlyliveherlifeain,shewouldhavechosenotherwise．Ifsheakerestitutionforhersins，shewouldwillinglydosoandbegihaste.Butshehadfoolishlyputallhereggsinonebasketandtherewasnootherroadopentoher．Justthen,thefaxmaebeepedagain．Theiningpapersaid，

"KingDimitriwillbehereinthirtyminutes．Everythingpletelyunderourtrondsurveilnce．Willkilll．Needcooperationonyoursideaswell.”

1

Ileenhardenedherheart．Therewasnback.ShecouldonlygoolesslyLeavingtheadministrativebuilding,shemadeherwaytowardsthebridge．Wavesofhretandambitiedwithinher,leavinghermindinturmoindvanquishedwhateverdetinstinctsthatwereleft．Thedemonsofgreedtorturedher，sothatshecouldnolongerfacethepaditsinhabitantsascalm,effitandcollectedasshewaswanttobe．hercouldshelivecarefreeandhappyastheotherbeauties．Crossingthedrawbridge，shelookedatthevastexpanseofwateranddecidedthatthiswasnotthewaytoe．Theycouldeasilybetargetedaroyedbytheever-vigintMedusa，withherhuge，powerfulwingsandsharpironcwswhensheswoopeddownonthemfromabove．Hermindturheforestatthebackofthepace,withitstall，derees．Thatwouldbetheideallocation：easycealmentandhardtobemarked．Shelookedbackatthepace．Allwascalmandquietasusual．Lightsfromthewindowsflickeredinthefogandmerryughtercouldbeheardfrombehindcloseddoors．Outwardly，allseemednormal，theonlydifferencebeingherplexstateofmind．Shewasgdnodefensemeismwasseenandswiftlywalkedtowardstheke．Takingasmalloe，shepaddledtowardstheoppositeshore．Oncemore，sheturolookatthemajesticpavelopedinfog．

"Tomorrowwhenthesunrises,allintheKingdomwillbemine!OhGod!Willtherebeatomorrowforme?"Thewomanandtheoesoondisappearedinthefogoverthestillwater．

WhentheslimfigureofIleenreemergedfromthedensefogatthemouthofthesecretcave,shewasnolongeralone．ShewasapahestalwartCyclops,hertoolfortakiheKingdomofKingDimitri．Helookedmoreimposingandawesomethahthemagicswordbyhisside．Theycameoutofthecaveandwasmovingtowardsthebackofthemountains，whileIleeeratedherpnsandstrategies．Suddenly，hereyesfellonahuge,whiteEasterlilybloomingnearby．Thatwasthefourthtimeshehadseenit，anditsmysteriousandunseasonableappearancejarredonheralreadyultra-sensitivenerves．Shewasflustered．ClutgCyclops’arm，shesaid，

"Quick!Usethatswordandcutthatlily．It’sevil!"Cyclopsobedientlysteppedforwardandwasabouttostrikewhentheflowerdisppearedinacloudofsmoke．

"Ik!ItwasasIfeared!Ourpnsareexposedandthere’snotimetolose．Let’shurry!"

Thetwoquiedtheirstepstowardsthebackofthemountains．Thecloudofwhitesmokestreakedswiftlyacrossthekewhicholishedasamirror．ItwasWhiteFairy,frantictoreporttheurgentnewsofanimmitaedusa．Atthepacegardens，shegedbacktoherbeautifulfeminineshapeaothemeetiheyhadagreedupoiclosedonallsidesbyabeautifullycarvedptformwithrowsandrowsofbonsai．Medusawasnotthere．Shelookedalround，butcouldnotfindthewhereaboutsofheroldfriend．Savagebattlecriescouldbeheardfromthebackofthemountains，increasingherayandapprehension．Shewaswringingherhandstryingtothinkofwhatshecoulddoinsuchacrisis,whenthefppingofpowerfulwingsannouhearrivalofherfriendwhodesdedtotheverandainherhumanform．WhiteFairyrantowardshersaying，

"Wherehaveyoubeen?Iwaslookingeverywhereforyou!YouknowaboutIleen?"

"Yes.Thatslytraitor!Iftheycamebytheke．Icouldswoopdownfromaboveandkillthemier，eventhoughtheyortallywouhthemagicsword．Buttheychosethemountainroute．Iotseeanythingfromabovebecauseofthefog，andifIflylower，thetreeswouldhampermyflightandevenbreakmywingsifIamnotcareful.”

"Oh,whatshallwedo?Whatshallwedo?Mybowandarrowarealsouselessinthefoggyforest.”

Medusapattedherfragilefriendontheshoulderandtriedtofortherbysaying，

12

"Don’tpanic．Iwasafraidofsomethinglikethis，soIhavetraihenativestroopsjustforsuemergency．Theyarenowpositionedinstrategicspotsinthemountains．Iorderedthemnottoattack,fortheyarenomatchforthemightyCyclopsandhismagicsword.Todosowouldonlybesacrifigtheirlivesinvain.Itoldthemonlytousetheguerriltacticsofdistragandhamperingtheeoslowdowntheirprogressasmuchaspossible．I’mhopingforthefogtodispersesoonandetoashoiththemwhentheydashfromthemountainstothepace．Thereisasmalldistaweewopoints,whichwillgivemespaovearoundin．Ihopetodestroythematthatcrucialspotatwhatevercost.”

"Whatdowedointhemeahen?Weotjustwaitherefordevelopments.”

"No．Yougotothefront,scoutfornewsabae．Iwillgotothepadfortthebeautieswhomustbescaredtodeath，notknowingwhat’sgoingon.Idonotwaorunoutinapanidscattereverywhere．Thatwouldbedisastrous!"

"Right．I’llmeetyouhereter.”Thusthetwofriendsparted,eachtoherowntask．

Shadowsofswiftlyorstealthilymovingbodiesappearedanddisappearedinthedensefog．TheskiesresouhheroicshoutsofthebravewarriorsastheysurroundedCyclopsandfoughthimwiththeirprimitiveons，attemptingtoblockhisprogress．Thenon-humanshoutsthatcamefromthemohroatwerelikeroarsofanarousedlionashefoughthiswaythroughtheforest,besetbythenatives’trapsandons．Alreadythegroundavedwithbleedingcorpses，buttheystilttackedwithrenewedforce，watgwithunbeliefastheirswordsahrustintoCyclops’bodyandmadebiggapingwounds,onlytoseethebleedingstopandthewoundcloseinamatterofseds．ButCyclops,oherhand,couldcutthroughshieldsandarmorsasiftheyweremadeofpaper．Suddenly,onebravemancameforwardandmadeamightythrustatCyclops．HisspearsankafewioCyclops’chest．Withanangryyelp，themohrewawaythespearandcutofftheman’sheadinoneswipeofhissword．Hisrade-in-armsrushedtosavehim．Afewsshesofthemagicswordandheadscouldbeseenrollingallround．Bloodspurtedasheadandbodyseparated．IleenhidbehindCyclops，direghimwheretogo，howtofight，whattrapstoskirtandpointingoutwheretheymightbeambushed．

Oive,whoseleftarmandshoulderhadbeencutoffbyCyclops,hadfaintedandymotionlessamongthedead．Now,ingtoandseeingIleen’straitorousbehavior,hestoodup,raisedhisswordwiththerighthandandwasabouttoluher,whenCyclops’backeyecaughtsightoftheattack．Turningaround,hegaveamightyshoutandchargedstraightatthemanwithloweredhead．Hishornpiercedtheman,sstomach,leavinghisiinesallroundhimwherehefell．Hediedinapoolofblood,histeethchedinbitterhedeathtollrose,butthenativesstildvanced,waveafterwave,surroundingthecouplelikeahumanwall,willingtogivetheirlivesjusttohampertheenemy’sprogress．Theykhattreetrunksandtrapswereofnoavail，thattheonlythingthatomentarilystopthemonsterwastheirfleshandblood．ThenativesbattledonceouslyagainstalloddsinloyaltytoKingDimitriandtoprotectthecelestialnymph-likebeauties．Theydiedindroves．Acloudofsmokehungintheskyabovethebattlefieldandwithitcouldbeheardsuppressedandindistinctsoundsofmuffled,passionatesobs．IleenwasimmediatelyonthealertandpoiouttoCyclopssaying，

"Thatcloudofsmokeistheembodimentoftheevilflobythecave．Cutitwithyoursword!"Cyclopsthrust，stabbedandcutrighta，butthemetalswordcouldnotcutthroughtheintangiblesmoke．Theworld’ssharpestswordthatcouldpiercethehardestmetalotecameintotactwiththesoftestandlightestofsubstahesmokeparted，onlytoetogetheragain．Thecloudofsmokedriftedtowardsthepace,weepingforthenoblewarriors．Thebattlewagedon．

Thebattlewagedfiercerthanever，andtheuproariousshouts，thedinofgonswhichfilledtheair,earerandheedgeoftheforest．Cyclops’violentroarscouldclearlybeheard,butthebravewarriorsstillfoughttothedeath．Medusaandthebeautiessteppedoutontotheattiedwithbonsai,andwaitedtheretenseandworried．Butallremainedcalm,withnotraceofhysteria，fortheyhadetoaresolutiontoliveordiewiththepace．Justthen，acloudofsmokeflewswiftlytowardsthemandgedintoabeautifulhumanshape.Whenitgottotheattic,Medusasaid，

"ThisisWhiteFairyIwastellingyouabout.”Everyonecppedtheirhandsinwele．Natalie,thebeautifulballerina,eciallyhappyandsaid，

"Iknewyouwouldetoourrescue.”

12

"OfcourseIwould,”repliedWhiteFairy．"MylifewascreatedbyKingDimitriinthatballet．Icouldn’tpossiblyremainapassivebystander．IhadtoeandhelpdefendhisKingdom.”Shetinuedsorrowfully"Thenativesaredefeated,buttheirselflessbraveryanddedicationisunbelievable．TheythrewthemselvesatCyclops，attaghimlikehumanwaves，regardlessoftheirlivesorsafety，impedinghisprogressbysheerheirbloodhasdyedthesoindtheirbodiespavedthebattlefield,fortheypittheirfleshandbloodagainstthemonsterandhismagicsword．Thoughtheyareforcedtoretreat,theyhavedoheirbest．"

"Oh，whydidtheyhavetodothat?"Medusacriedinexasperation．"ItoldthemagainandagainthattheywerenomatchforCyclopsandthesword，sotheyshouldnotfighthimfacetoface，asitcouldonlymeah．Iorderedthemtodotheirbesttopreservethemselvesandhampertheenemywithguerriltactics．Whydidn’ttheydoasItoldthemto?Thecostistooheavy!”Theshoutsearerandheedgeoftheforest,andMedusatriedtofortherpanionsbysaying，

"Thereisstillolineofdefense,awidebeltoffire．Wecouldnothopetostopthem，butwiththehelpofthewinds，wecouldatleastslowthemdown．Ouronlyrealhopeisforthefogtodisperse，asonlythendoIhavethecetofighthimooone.”

Inthedensefog，theflickerefmescouldbedised，heraldingthatthewarriors，uoresistanylonger，hadlitthefirewhiedakindofbelt．Theyretreatedioprepareforandformanewonsught．Theirmoodwastenseaehemihefmesjumpedhigherandhigher．Everyonebracedthemselvesforthefinalfrontation．Medusastoodthereattheforefrontofthebeauties,motionlessandexpressionlessasastatue，withhereyesgluedtotheprogressofthebattle，thinking，

"IfKingDimitriwerehere，howheartbrokenhewouldbetoseehisloyalsubjectsfallinpoolsofblood，hisbelovedbeautiesworriedandfrightened，andhishard-wonKingdomgoingupinfmes．HewouldbeespeciallyaggrievedandhurtbythetreacheryofIleen，whomheentrustedwiththemaofhisentirefinancialempire，Shehasbeenspiringwiththemonster，Cyclops，totakeovertheKingdomandiscausingsuchdamageanddisaster.”

Medusawaslookingatthewidebeltoffireburningbrightly．Itseemedtobestoppingtheprogressoftheeleastforthemoment，giviivewarriorsabriefrespite．ShewasthinkingofhowbesttodealwithCyclops,whensheheardthefaintbutinsistentvoiitricallingtoher．Medusashudderedandexcimedagitatedly，

"KingDimitriisiroubleandcallingforhelp．Imustgotohimatohenlookingathersurroundings，shepausedandsaid，"ButhowIleavenowwhenthingshereareinsuchacriticalstate?Oh!heaveodestroyusthen?ForhowcouldIgotoKingDimitri’saidandsavethesituationhereaswell?WhatshallIdo?WhatshallIdo?heaveodestroyusthen?"Aisha,whowasusuallycalmandcollected,said，

"KingDimitriismoreimportant．Solongashelives,thereishope．Ifheisnolohus,everythingwillreturntonil.Evenifwewin,itwouldonlybeahollowvictoryandtherebyinsignifit.”Allthebeautiesagreed．

"GoMedusa!"theysaid."Go!Go!Wemaynotbeabletofightaswelsyou,butwithourbielligence,wemayeupwithsomething.”Medusanolongerhesitated．Transfintoahugebird，sheflourishedherpowerfulwingsandwassoonoutofsight，leavingtheceouswarriorsandmatchlessbeautiesinthepacesurroundedbyfire．Inthemidstofsuchchaosandapprehension，Medusagaveprioritytothecimsofhermaster．

Medusasoaredupforaermiailshefinallydashedthroughthedensemassoffogandsawbeforeherasplendidarrayofsparklingstars．Shegedherangleandflewbehemtowardsmankind．Themagnifiaturemovedherdeeply．ThebrilliantstarsandtranslutmoonwerearrangedinsointricateapatternthatshecouldnotbutbelieveienceofaSuperiorBeingwhowasresponsibleforallthis．Sheseemedtohearpsalmsaialmusiccirgamidtheheavenlybodies，butoncloserscrutiny，itwasonlythethunderingsouedbypsrotatingontheirorbits．Assheflewon，Medusaprayed，

12

"OhGod!Iamamonsteroh．Ihaveittedevindabhorrentcrimesanddeservetobepunished．Letyourwrathbeonmyheadalone．Ibegyouplease，pleasespareKingDimitriandsafeguardhisKingdom!"Medusaneverprayedinherlife,butnowundersuchcircumstances，prayingwastheonlythingshecoulddo．Gradually，shesawbelowher，themyriadoflightsofhumans．Shewasamazedattheprogressmadebyman’sevolution．Thoughhumanlifespanwasshort,theyhadaccumutedknowledgeandhadowionaftergeiontoposterity,overingthelimitationsofmortality．Manistheanimalthatbestusehismentalpowersandistherefod’smostperfectcreationofwhichhemustbeveryproud．Butuptothepresent，manhasnotbeeooverethethreatoffate，illnessah．Swiftasthewind，Medusapassedthefactorieswhereworkwentroundtheclock，passedthemazeoffreewaysextendinginalldires，untilshecametotheviitywhereKingDimitri’scallforhelpinated．Shehovereduponhighforamoment,makingatopographicalsurveyofthearea．Then，havingascertaiarget，sheplungeddownintothehighlycivilizedsocietyofhumanbeings．

SinceDimitriandhisfriendswereonlygoingtohisbanktogethismoney,whyshouldtherebehindranceseriousenoughforhimtosummonMedusa?penedwasthis：Afterpartingfromthegolden-hairedMegginn,theyleftthesuburbangasstationanddroveswiftlyoverthesmoothfreeway．Thundercrashedandlightningfshed,momentarilylightingupthedarknight．Richard,theoperatorofthemovingvehicle,seemedalittledauheelements．Hismeagerfadbody,whiallyemittedboundlessenergy，seemedabnormallynervousandtehewasstillinhighspirits．Hekeptgingnesandsteppingonthegas,drivingaggressivelytopassthefrontofhim，butheneversucceeded．Thecarsbehindhim，however，passedhimonebyone，causinghimtocryoutinexasperation，

"WhenIamrich,Iwillbuythefastestsportscarthereis,andwatchmeshowthemathingortwo!"

Dimitri，whowassittiohim，noticedhisoddbehaviorandthoughts.Thingswereoutoftheordinarythatday．Eveherwasabnormal.Ithadbeenwarmandsunnyiernoon,butwherewasthedazzlingsunnow?Goheotherendoftheearthaswasthenormalorbitoftheevolvis．Astrangeideacametohismind．Thatbigbrightballseemedlikeahugemicroscopeandthesevenbillionpeoplethatpoputedtheearthwerelikewrigglingmicranisms,gingmomentarily；forinhumanpopution，birthahhappenedeverysed．Thoughthemostadvancedsdteologyhadsucceedediinglifeiubes,theycouldnotasyetaccuratelycalcutethespanoflifeofthatwhichithadcreated．Onlyohingwascertaineveryliviurecouldliveonlyonce．Hemusedontheinequalityofthelivesofthedifferentpeoplewholiveduhishugemicroscope．Hethought,

"I,Dimitri,amsuccessfundhappy,effortlesslyaccumutingincalcublewealth;butthereareotherswhleandworktinuously,yetevermergefromthedeeppitofpoverty．Everyonelivesuhesamedensinglensandeachhasonlyonelife,buttheselivesmaybeasdifferentasheavenfromearth.”

Thunderrumbledonandlightningtiolightupthedarksky．Jamaz,sittingatthebackseat,wascalmandquietasusual,buthisbroadchestheavedlikethewavesonaturbulentsea．Hisheartitatingfastandfuriously，betrayinghistensioohimsatYokoandMarcellina，whosemyhaightlycspedtogether．TheywerepainfullyawarethatinspiteofDimitri’sfidentassurahatallwouldbewell，therewasaswordofDamocleshangingoveralltheirheadsthatcouldbriothematanymoment．Afterall,theyweregoingtorobabank．Influencedbyhissurroundings,Dimitrifeltanaggingsenseofnervousness．Hescoffedathimself，sayingtherewerenogroundsforapprehension，afterall，hewasonlytakingmoofhisownpocketandgivingitawaytohisfriends．Hetriedtoassurehimselfthattherewasnothingtoworryabout．Hehadstashedupsomuchricheseffortlesslythatoneman’saccumutioncausedmanymoretockit．Therefore,hewaogivesomeofitaway．Infaedayhewouldopenuphiscoffersandwithoravagentsweepdistributeallhisrichestotheothehomelessandthedisabledwhoweremicranismsuhesamemicroscope．Forlikehim,theytoocouldonlyliveoneofthemhaveneverseenthebrilliantsun,andsomespenttheirliveslistlessandapathetialimbooftheirown．

Astheteredcitylimits,thetallimposingmajesticstructureofWorldBankcameintoview，dominatingthearea．TheydrovetothebackofthebuildingwhereDimitriusedhismastercardtounlocktheentraheundergroundparkinglot．Thegaragedoorrolledupslowly,likeanenormousmonsteropeningitsrgeandfierce-lookingmouth-aproduodernsce．Theeborateelectricsystemwaslikenervesspreadingovereverypartofitsbody-theairditioning,itsbreathingsystem；ipes，itscolossalbloodvessels；steelstructure,itsskeleton；a,itsstrongunyieldingmuscles．Intheyearsofdeeprecession，itwasleanandfamishedasawildanimal,leftdestituteihofwinter，aremitieswouldnotbeadversetoswallowingitsmaster．Usinghismastercard，Dimitriledhislittlegroupintothebuilding,magicallyopeningallthedoors．Hewasnotfamiliarwiththebuilding,buttheystumbledonuntiltheycametothebighall,hisfamiliarndmark．Notknowinganyshortcuts,hetooktheonlyrouteheknew,uptoMr.Kaffee’sofficeatthetopofthebuildingandthendownagaintothevaultviatheprivateelevator．Theyseemedtobegoingfromthestomachofthegiantmonsteralonghisspiohishead,theheadquartersofthetralnervoussystemandthendownagaintohisabdomen,whereallthericheswerestored．Whattheydidnotknowwas,assoonastheysteppedintothebuilding,theycameuhesurveilnceofvideocameras．

IroomsurrouVss,Mr．Kaffeewascloselymonittheireverymove．Behindhimwerehistrustedlieutenants,AllenandSteven．Uglyandft-facedStevenstoodthere，stodmuscur，lightshiningonhisalmostbaldhead，coveredwithonlyafewstrandsofhair．Allen’ssharpeyesweregluedtothesasfiguresflickeredby,silentastheshadowsandreflesdriftier．Theclose-uptenanitri，Richardaappearedonthesonebyone．Mr．Kaffeelookedilyatallthesedriftingfaces,whichweresilentasthephantomsfloatingaboutinthecemeteries．Hehadtodestroythemall．Itwashisstceatsurvival,ortheoofallmaybehimself．Hehadbeenjugglingwiththebookswiththehelpofhighlypaidandnotsoscrupulousgeniusesofating,sothegradualtransitionoffundshadescapedthesharpandevervigihegover．Now,hehadboughtbackallthesharesthathadinallybeloohimattheexpenseofhists,whoseatsheruthlesslyplundered．Butwhathecouldn’tpossiblyhavepredictedwastherecession，whichbotchedallhispns．Itwasn’tjustpersonalbadluck,fortheever-deepeningrecessionwasworldwideandtotallybeyondhistrol．Hisloadwasgettingheavierandheavier,andhisembezzlementwouldiablybeexposed，unlesshecouldruboutDimitri．Itwashisonlyhopeofsurvival,onewhichhecouldgo．Sohesatinthesecretroom,tautlyscrutinizilegroup．Dimitrioherhand，wassurveyingthebrilliantlylitemptyhallinsatisfa.EvidentlyMr．Kaffeehadcarriedouthisordersmeticulously．ThenaiveandvivaciousYokowalkeduptohim,linkedherfingersinhisandwhisperedsoftly，

"Doyouremembertellingmeooallersintomyhome?Aren’tyoudoingjustthatnow?"

"Thesituationisdifferent,”saidDimitri,lookingathersmilingly．"Hereyoumakeyourselvesathome.”

12