illedaedWhiteFairywasabouttogetoapuffofsmokeandleavewhenDimitristoppedhersaying,

    “Justamisofast.IheardyoumentionthatQueenAishasentyoubackheretolookforRomi.Whatisallthatabout?”WhiteFairyfrownedandsaid,

    10

    “TheminingandfofironisalmostnonenowandweeologyonhowtogilditontothegoldpaiwassenttolearteologybuthavenotbeenheardofsiherehasbeennonewsofheratalndQueenAishaisrestlessandagitated,nervousasanantonagriddle.SheseoseeifIcouldfindoutpeoher.Iwillgonowahemthegoodnewsofyourimmireturheirmindsatease.ThenIwillebadtiolookforRomi.”Sayingso,WhiteFairyturoapuffofsmokeaothenight.AfterWhiteFairyleft,thebeautiesweretootiredtoup.Theyblewoutthedlesandtrudgedupthestairswithheavyfeetaobed.Dimitritookuphisold,dipidatedbrownjacketandwalkedtothebackyard.Heydownonhisloungechair,gettiosleepwheawarmlittlehandpushhimontheshouldersaying,

    “SorrytobotheryouDimitri,butIhaveamomentofyourtime?”

    “IsthatMarcel?”heaskedturninghishead.“Whatisit?”Marcelhesitatedforamoment.

    “There’ssomethingIshouldtellyou.”saidshe.“It’sRomi’sprivateaffairsoIdidn’twanttomentionitinfrontoftheothers.That’swhyIeprivatelytotalktoyou.Perhapsitwillhelpusfindher.”

    “Oh,isthatso?”Dimitrisatuponhiswnchairtolisteentively.

    “Thatday,IwassingingonastreeterwhenIsawawomanlookingverymuchlikeRomi.Shewaschidexpensivelydressedbutlookedverysad.ItwasalookthatwassoRomi.Atalndsuavemanwasbyhersideiailoredsuit,lookingstylishandfashionable.HehadhisarmaroundRomi’swaistaobeonintimatetermswithher.Surroundingthemwere6-7menalsodressedinbcksuits,lookinglikebodyguards.Peopletoldmethatthetallsuavemanwasthenewmafiaboss.IfthatwomanwasreallyRomi,howcouldshebemixedupwithsuchaman?SoIthoughtIshouldletyouknowaboutthis.”Dimitrinodded.

    “ThankyouMara,”hesaid.“Ihavetakehis.Itiste,andyouaretired.Gotobed.Iwilldealwiththis.”Aftersheleft,Dimitrithoughttohimself,

    “IttookalongtimeandalotofeffortformetouheGordianknotinRomi’sheadandreleaseherfromthedarkshadowsofherunfortunatemarriage.Herthirdex-husbandwaslikeademonknowingatherheartandbody.Ihelpedherescapehimandledhertoasafehaven–theKingdomofDreams.Shejustwentbaundaneworld.Couldshehavefallenintoafall?Isthatherdestiny?No.No.Eveniffatehadordaiobeso,Iwillsaveheroncemorearicateherfromtheclutchesoffate.Whoisthattall,darkandhandsomeman?Imusttrytogettothebottomofthis.RichardandJamazarealwayshangingaroundstreetersandknowabouteverythingthat’sgoingon.Iwilskthemaboutitandhaveageneralideaofthesituationbeforedegonwhattodo.”Haviledonapnofa,Dimitriydownonhisloungechairanddrowsilyfelsleep.

    Them,everyoneearlyaintoabecausetheshelveswereemptyaoberepleheywouldalsohavetodealwiththebriskbusinessinthefrontoftheshop.Everyonewasbusy.Dimitrigotupat4:30a.m.doingthepreparatorywork.Hemixedandkhedough,leavingittoriseinthebucket.Theurheovensothatitwouldheatupgraduallytothenecessarydegree,whichwouldtakesometime.Oof6:30a.heothersallbegantheday’swork,busywiththeirallottedtasks.By8o’cloeoftheirproductswerealreadyontheshelvesandYokoopehedoortobusiness.SheandAmaliaworkedinthefronttaking

illedaedWhiteFairywasabouttogetoapuffofsmokeandleavewhenDimitristoppedhersaying,

    “Justamisofast.IheardyoumentionthatQueenAishasentyoubackheretolookforRomi.Whatisallthatabout?”WhiteFairyfrownedandsaid,

    10

    “TheminingandfofironisalmostnonenowandweeologyonhowtogilditontothegoldpaiwassenttolearteologybuthavenotbeenheardofsiherehasbeennonewsofheratalndQueenAishaisrestlessandagitated,nervousasanantonagriddle.SheseoseeifIcouldfindoutpeoher.Iwillgonowahemthegoodnewsofyourimmireturheirmindsatease.ThenIwillebadtiolookforRomi.”Sayingso,WhiteFairyturoapuffofsmokeaothenight.AfterWhiteFairyleft,thebeautiesweretootiredtoup.Theyblewoutthedlesandtrudgedupthestairswithheavyfeetaobed.Dimitritookuphisold,dipidatedbrownjacketandwalkedtothebackyard.Heydownonhisloungechair,gettiosleepwheawarmlittlehandpushhimontheshouldersaying,

    “SorrytobotheryouDimitri,butIhaveamomentofyourtime?”

    “IsthatMarcel?”heaskedturninghishead.“Whatisit?”Marcelhesitatedforamoment.

    “There’ssomethingIshouldtellyou.”saidshe.“It’sRomi’sprivateaffairsoIdidn’twanttomentionitinfrontoftheothers.That’swhyIeprivatelytotalktoyou.Perhapsitwillhelpusfindher.”

    “Oh,isthatso?”Dimitrisatuponhiswnchairtolisteentively.

    “Thatday,IwassingingonastreeterwhenIsawawomanlookingverymuchlikeRomi.Shewaschidexpensivelydressedbutlookedverysad.ItwasalookthatwassoRomi.Atalndsuavemanwasbyhersideiailoredsuit,lookingstylishandfashionable.HehadhisarmaroundRomi’swaistaobeonintimatetermswithher.Surroundingthemwere6-7menalsodressedinbcksuits,lookinglikebodyguards.Peopletoldmethatthetallsuavemanwasthenewmafiaboss.IfthatwomanwasreallyRomi,howcouldshebemixedupwithsuchaman?SoIthoughtIshouldletyouknowaboutthis.”Dimitrinodded.

    “ThankyouMara,”hesaid.“Ihavetakehis.Itiste,andyouaretired.Gotobed.Iwilldealwiththis.”Aftersheleft,Dimitrithoughttohimself,

    “IttookalongtimeandalotofeffortformetouheGordianknotinRomi’sheadandreleaseherfromthedarkshadowsofherunfortunatemarriage.Herthirdex-husbandwaslikeademonknowingatherheartandbody.Ihelpedherescapehimandledhertoasafehaven–theKingdomofDreams.Shejustwentbaundaneworld.Couldshehavefallenintoafall?Isthatherdestiny?No.No.Eveniffatehadordaiobeso,Iwillsaveheroncemorearicateherfromtheclutchesoffate.Whoisthattall,darkandhandsomeman?Imusttrytogettothebottomofthis.RichardandJamazarealwayshangingaroundstreetersandknowabouteverythingthat’sgoingon.Iwilskthemaboutitandhaveageneralideaofthesituationbeforedegonwhattodo.”Haviledonapnofa,Dimitriydownonhisloungechairanddrowsilyfelsleep.

    Them,everyoneearlyaintoabecausetheshelveswereemptyaoberepleheywouldalsohavetodealwiththebriskbusinessinthefrontoftheshop.Everyonewasbusy.Dimitrigotupat4:30a.m.doingthepreparatorywork.Hemixedandkhedough,leavingittoriseinthebucket.Theurheovensothatitwouldheatupgraduallytothenecessarydegree,whichwouldtakesometime.Oof6:30a.heothersallbegantheday’swork,busywiththeirallottedtasks.By8o’cloeoftheirproductswerealreadyontheshelvesandYokoopehedoortobusiness.SheandAmaliaworkedinthefronttaking