vetobewatgourbacksallthetimeguardingagainsthismurderousattacks.”

    “That’sforsure.”saidRichardenthusiastically.“Notonlythat,Dimitriwillevebackourjobsaspresidentandvice-presidentofWorldBank.”

    “Idon’treallywanttobevice-president.It’smeaningless.I’dmuchprefermypresentlifeasafree-ncegardener,leisurelyandcarefree,livingbythesweatofmybrowwhenIfeellikeit.”TherewasasilehenRichardsaid,

    “Ihavebadnewsforyou,too.”

    “What?”

    “IfoundDimitrihasgonepletelyblind.”

    “Blind?Sowhat?Theimportantthingisheisalive.”Jamazansweredcalmly.HegrewupintheAfrigrassndsandwasusedtoseeinglifeahstruggles,sophysicaldisabilitywasnobigdealtohim.

    “Fromnowon,”saidRicharddecisively“weshouldtakeuptheresponsibilityofsuppDimitri.”

    “Naturally.Naturally.That’swhatfriendsarefor!”saidJamaz,ingaphrasehehadjustlearnt.

    “Yht.”saidRichardsmiling.“Yht.”

    2

    Theydroveonanddisappearedinthedarknessofnight.

    TheVesperhours.Wildpigeonsperchedontherooftopsseemedtobeunusuallyrestiveandfidgety.Uheeaves,Dimitri,fiohiscellofaroom,couldfindnosafewaytoleaveit.Ayghisheartashesatsurroundedbydarknessandgloom.Philosophicallyresigned,Dimitrithought,“Sihingbedone,Ihadbetternotwastetimeandenergyinthinkingaboutit.Theykeepwatyfleshbody.theymonitorwhatgoesoniandsoul?No.Ofcoursenot.Soletthemdowhattheywant!”Oncehereachedthedecisiontodonothingandthinkofnothing,itwasasifaloadhadbeenliftedfromhisheartandhismoodlightened.Hehalfreedonanold,dipidatedsofa,litacigaretteandpuffedonitserehesofahadevidentlyseeerdays.Hereandthereyellow,discoloredfillingsburstthroughrupturedseamsandholes,butoldusedthingshaveawayofexudingfortandease.Occasionally,scrapesofhumanversationfloatedinthroughthewindows.Ireetoutsidecarsdrovebysoundlessly.Buttheroomwasfilledonlywithquietness.Butquietnessisthetimewhenmiraclesoftenhappen.

    Thoughblind,withonlyanexpanseofdarknessbeforehim,thecharming,geous,enormouspeaagainappearedbeforehiseyes.Infrontofabackdropoftheeretchofdarkblueoftheuniverse,timelessandinfinite,amysteriousandbrilliantnoflightshoraightattheflower.Dimitri’sheartwasfullofasensatioleness,sweetnessandserenity.Buthewasonlyaspectator,quietlywatgandwithoutdisturbingit.Theflowerturnedandturnedslowlyandunhurriedly.Itsappearancebegangraduallytogetoonesimirto,butnotreallyamagnolia,thoughjustasgeousandcharming..Perhapsthisisauniqueflower,neverbeforeseeh.Uhedirenofthemysterious,brilliantlight,theintriguingblossomhappilyabsorbedthenourishmentoftheuniverse,everypetalwreathedinsmiles.Thewholefloearedmoreexquisiteandvigorousthanever.AwarmstreamseemedtocircutethroughDimitri’sbody,reageverydthetinerves,resultinginafeeliernalhappiness.Buthewasstilspectator,quietlywatg,andnotdisturbingtheflower.Astheflowertinuedonitsslowrotation,itsappearancebegangraduallytogeagain,untilfinallyitbecameaerlily,thepurewhiteandsacredlilyDimitriwasfamiliarwith.Intheeretchofdarkblueofthetimelessandinfiniteuniverse,thisflowerbloomedonacoordihemiddleoftimeandspace.ItsexactpositionhappeobespottedinDimitri’sbraihemysterious,brillia

vetobewatgourbacksallthetimeguardingagainsthismurderousattacks.”

    “That’sforsure.”saidRichardenthusiastically.“Notonlythat,Dimitriwillevebackourjobsaspresidentandvice-presidentofWorldBank.”

    “Idon’treallywanttobevice-president.It’smeaningless.I’dmuchprefermypresentlifeasafree-ncegardener,leisurelyandcarefree,livingbythesweatofmybrowwhenIfeellikeit.”TherewasasilehenRichardsaid,

    “Ihavebadnewsforyou,too.”

    “What?”

    “IfoundDimitrihasgonepletelyblind.”

    “Blind?Sowhat?Theimportantthingisheisalive.”Jamazansweredcalmly.HegrewupintheAfrigrassndsandwasusedtoseeinglifeahstruggles,sophysicaldisabilitywasnobigdealtohim.

    “Fromnowon,”saidRicharddecisively“weshouldtakeuptheresponsibilityofsuppDimitri.”

    “Naturally.Naturally.That’swhatfriendsarefor!”saidJamaz,ingaphrasehehadjustlearnt.

    “Yht.”saidRichardsmiling.“Yht.”

    2

    Theydroveonanddisappearedinthedarknessofnight.

    TheVesperhours.Wildpigeonsperchedontherooftopsseemedtobeunusuallyrestiveandfidgety.Uheeaves,Dimitri,fiohiscellofaroom,couldfindnosafewaytoleaveit.Ayghisheartashesatsurroundedbydarknessandgloom.Philosophicallyresigned,Dimitrithought,“Sihingbedone,Ihadbetternotwastetimeandenergyinthinkingaboutit.Theykeepwatyfleshbody.theymonitorwhatgoesoniandsoul?No.Ofcoursenot.Soletthemdowhattheywant!”Oncehereachedthedecisiontodonothingandthinkofnothing,itwasasifaloadhadbeenliftedfromhisheartandhismoodlightened.Hehalfreedonanold,dipidatedsofa,litacigaretteandpuffedonitserehesofahadevidentlyseeerdays.Hereandthereyellow,discoloredfillingsburstthroughrupturedseamsandholes,butoldusedthingshaveawayofexudingfortandease.Occasionally,scrapesofhumanversationfloatedinthroughthewindows.Ireetoutsidecarsdrovebysoundlessly.Buttheroomwasfilledonlywithquietness.Butquietnessisthetimewhenmiraclesoftenhappen.

    Thoughblind,withonlyanexpanseofdarknessbeforehim,thecharming,geous,enormouspeaagainappearedbeforehiseyes.Infrontofabackdropoftheeretchofdarkblueoftheuniverse,timelessandinfinite,amysteriousandbrilliantnoflightshoraightattheflower.Dimitri’sheartwasfullofasensatioleness,sweetnessandserenity.Buthewasonlyaspectator,quietlywatgandwithoutdisturbingit.Theflowerturnedandturnedslowlyandunhurriedly.Itsappearancebegangraduallytogetoonesimirto,butnotreallyamagnolia,thoughjustasgeousandcharming..Perhapsthisisauniqueflower,neverbeforeseeh.Uhedirenofthemysterious,brilliantlight,theintriguingblossomhappilyabsorbedthenourishmentoftheuniverse,everypetalwreathedinsmiles.Thewholefloearedmoreexquisiteandvigorousthanever.AwarmstreamseemedtocircutethroughDimitri’sbody,reageverydthetinerves,resultinginafeeliernalhappiness.Buthewasstilspectator,quietlywatg,andnotdisturbingtheflower.Astheflowertinuedonitsslowrotation,itsappearancebegangraduallytogeagain,untilfinallyitbecameaerlily,thepurewhiteandsacredlilyDimitriwasfamiliarwith.Intheeretchofdarkblueofthetimelessandinfiniteuniverse,thisflowerbloomedonacoordihemiddleoftimeandspace.ItsexactpositionhappeobespottedinDimitri’sbraihemysterious,brillia