back.”ThreepairsofhandsworkedontheropesandinnotimeDimitriwasfreeagain．TheyallhurriedintoYoko’soldddroveawayintothenight．Thecarpassedthebrightlightsandhustlingcrowdsoftheurbanareaandmadeforthebleakvalley．Soonitdisappearedfromsightinthenarrow，windingtrails，hasteningtowardsYoko’sweddingandanuablefuture．

    10

    Mara

    Uheglowofthesettingsun，theshadowofayoungLatinogirlcouldbeseeninthewoods．Thetinybellsatherainkledandjistintinnabutionegfaintlyiwildernessasshewalkedaboutgatheringdrytwigsandbranchesforthecampfire．ShewasMara,Yoko’sbestfriendandfidante，whohadbeeoeandhelpmakepreparationsforthewedding．Yokohadtoldhershemightbebringingtwofriends,soMarabusiedherselffindingacampsitebytheke,setupatentagatheringdrywoodforthecampfire．Asshewalkedabout，shecouldfeegitationbrewinginthedry，parchedforest,wheretreesonceflourishedandthrived．Leavesandbrancheswerealldriedandshriveled，barelyabletosurvive．Theyseemedt，"Ifweothavewatertosustainourlives,giveusabzingfiresothatwedanamerrypyre.”

    Marasatbytheentrahetenttowaitfortheingoftheweddingparty．Shetookupherguitarandstrummeditwithhernimblefingers,fillingtheairwithstrandsofmelodiousmusic．Shesometimeslookedfarintothedistance，eloquenteyesfullofmencholy，likethestghesettingsunloathingtopartfromthisearth．Theheathaddiminishedsomewhat,buttheagitation,insteadofabatinghadactuallyheightened．Shadowsflittedhereandthereintheforest,unwillingtoendurebeinghalfdead．Theywaoreviveinthefireanddahebreeze，waitingfortheingofthewindanddirefortheirresurre．Theshadows，alreadyfullyaroused，couldnotwithstandtheprovocationofthewhisperinglulby．Everynowandthen，Marawouldgheagitatedforest,atthebranchesblownaboutharassingly,atthedryleavesflutteringinthewind．Theyremindedherofatraumatie．Uhebzingspotlights,trapezeartistsintheirglitteringeswereswingingandflyingintheair．Alleyeswerefasteheseflyingfiguresandtheexcitedaudience，heartstrag，watchedentranced，exgattheirdangerousexploits．Suddenlyohemmissedbyahair’sbreath,bouncedofftheedgeofthebelowaotheground,hisyounglifesamidthehorrifiedcriesoftheaudiewasherfiancé.Marahadalwaysbeenastreetmusi，livingoffthestydonationsofpassingmusiclovers．Herhopesoffindingasafehavehherfiaragicact．Shetiolivefromdaytoday，insecureastheleavesandbranchesswayinginthewind,uainofwhatmightbefall．

    Darknesscoveredtheeveningskies.Leavesrustled,thewindroseanddarkcloudsgathered.Thedangshadows,excitedbytheirdesireforrevival,watchedexpetly．Apprehensive,asifwatdpryingeyeswerepeepingatherfromthedarkenedforest,Maratooksomebranchesshehadgathered,idthecampfireandlitit．Asitburstintofmes，therestlessshadows，disregardingalldangers,rushedoutughinggleefully．ThefiguresofDimitri，RichardandYokojoinedandmixedwiththisjubintcrowd，singinganddangaroundthefire．Bottleinhand，Richarddrankwithgustoandthenpouredtherestoftheliquoronthebze，makingitintoarfire．Theshadowsrevivedinthefireanddahewind，knowingthatatsuhisfreedomwoulddisappear．Theyabahemselvestorevelryandjoyandwaosquaheirenergyandpower．Whatiftheydied?Theywouldhavediedinmidnightrevelry．Perhapsthepurposeofli

back.”ThreepairsofhandsworkedontheropesandinnotimeDimitriwasfreeagain．TheyallhurriedintoYoko’soldddroveawayintothenight．Thecarpassedthebrightlightsandhustlingcrowdsoftheurbanareaandmadeforthebleakvalley．Soonitdisappearedfromsightinthenarrow，windingtrails，hasteningtowardsYoko’sweddingandanuablefuture．

    10

    Mara

    Uheglowofthesettingsun，theshadowofayoungLatinogirlcouldbeseeninthewoods．Thetinybellsatherainkledandjistintinnabutionegfaintlyiwildernessasshewalkedaboutgatheringdrytwigsandbranchesforthecampfire．ShewasMara,Yoko’sbestfriendandfidante，whohadbeeoeandhelpmakepreparationsforthewedding．Yokohadtoldhershemightbebringingtwofriends,soMarabusiedherselffindingacampsitebytheke,setupatentagatheringdrywoodforthecampfire．Asshewalkedabout，shecouldfeegitationbrewinginthedry，parchedforest,wheretreesonceflourishedandthrived．Leavesandbrancheswerealldriedandshriveled，barelyabletosurvive．Theyseemedt，"Ifweothavewatertosustainourlives,giveusabzingfiresothatwedanamerrypyre.”

    Marasatbytheentrahetenttowaitfortheingoftheweddingparty．Shetookupherguitarandstrummeditwithhernimblefingers,fillingtheairwithstrandsofmelodiousmusic．Shesometimeslookedfarintothedistance，eloquenteyesfullofmencholy，likethestghesettingsunloathingtopartfromthisearth．Theheathaddiminishedsomewhat,buttheagitation,insteadofabatinghadactuallyheightened．Shadowsflittedhereandthereintheforest,unwillingtoendurebeinghalfdead．Theywaoreviveinthefireanddahebreeze，waitingfortheingofthewindanddirefortheirresurre．Theshadows，alreadyfullyaroused，couldnotwithstandtheprovocationofthewhisperinglulby．Everynowandthen，Marawouldgheagitatedforest,atthebranchesblownaboutharassingly,atthedryleavesflutteringinthewind．Theyremindedherofatraumatie．Uhebzingspotlights,trapezeartistsintheirglitteringeswereswingingandflyingintheair．Alleyeswerefasteheseflyingfiguresandtheexcitedaudience，heartstrag，watchedentranced，exgattheirdangerousexploits．Suddenlyohemmissedbyahair’sbreath,bouncedofftheedgeofthebelowaotheground,hisyounglifesamidthehorrifiedcriesoftheaudiewasherfiancé.Marahadalwaysbeenastreetmusi，livingoffthestydonationsofpassingmusiclovers．Herhopesoffindingasafehavehherfiaragicact．Shetiolivefromdaytoday，insecureastheleavesandbranchesswayinginthewind,uainofwhatmightbefall．

    Darknesscoveredtheeveningskies.Leavesrustled,thewindroseanddarkcloudsgathered.Thedangshadows,excitedbytheirdesireforrevival,watchedexpetly．Apprehensive,asifwatdpryingeyeswerepeepingatherfromthedarkenedforest,Maratooksomebranchesshehadgathered,idthecampfireandlitit．Asitburstintofmes，therestlessshadows，disregardingalldangers,rushedoutughinggleefully．ThefiguresofDimitri，RichardandYokojoinedandmixedwiththisjubintcrowd，singinganddangaroundthefire．Bottleinhand，Richarddrankwithgustoandthenpouredtherestoftheliquoronthebze，makingitintoarfire．Theshadowsrevivedinthefireanddahewind，knowingthatatsuhisfreedomwoulddisappear．Theyabahemselvestorevelryandjoyandwaosquaheirenergyandpower．Whatiftheydied?Theywouldhavediedinmidnightrevelry．Perhapsthepurposeofli