rueltytooneself’iscorrect.”Jamazcurred,

    “Iwouldratherliketogointoface-to-fabatwiththemandfighttothedeath.Iotstandthishidingandlurkingaround!”

    “Yes.Yes.”Richardsaid.“Giveusyourorders,Dimitri.Wewilldoasyouandehellhwater.”

    “Patieience.”answeredDimitri,rexinghismilitantexpression.“Thetimingisright.Wheimees,Iwillgetbackthepositionsofpresidentandvice-presidentofWorldBankforyouagain.”

    Richardhesitatedandthensaidslowly,“Gettingourpositionsbackagainisreallynotimportant.Ihavetastedwhatitistohavepowerandriches.That’senough.Iamlikealittlestickthathasbeenignitedandgaveofflighta.IfeelIammostsuitedtobeathief,blendingintocrowdsingamblinghallsandbar-rooms.”

    “Me,too”saidJamaz.“Iamnotsuitedtobevice-president.EverydayIhavetodressupformallyandtalkaboutthingsIdon’treallyuand.”Hetensedhismuscles,showingoffhisextremelytonedbody.“Iliketousemymuscle.”Thenhepoiohishead.“Idon’tliketousemybrains.”

    “That’sforter.”Dimitrianswered.“We’lltalkaboutitwheimees.Atthemoment,wehavetothinkaboutstayingalive.Youtwopleasebecarefundtrytobeinvisible.OnceOliverKaffeeandhisgasstofyou,therewillbetrouble.Butthingsarenotthatbadyet.Atthemoment,OliverKaffeewillnotdaretokillyou.Butbecarefulnottofallintohishands.Ifyoudo,thingswillbehardtopredict.”

    Richardsuddenlythoughtofsomethingandasked,

    “Dimitri,howeyouareundersuchstrictsurveilnce?Whoarethesepeople?”

    “Idon’tknow.”Dimitrianswered.“ButIbelieveit’snotKaffee.BecauseIamundersurveilnce,IbelieveIamsafe.Kaffeeandhisgangwillnotbeabletogetthroughtome.Soforthemoment,formyowyIdonotwanttoberidofityet.Iknowhowtodealwithit..NoonekeepmedownunlessIletthem.”Jamaztiltedhisbottleandtulp.

    2

    “Butpeoyoureyes?Howdiditbeeblind?”

    “It’sGod’sWill.”sighedDimitri.“It’sGod’sWill.Si’ddiviervention,itlybeacceptedandnotrebelledagainst.”

    “othingbedone?”

    “Heavenknows.Butdon’tworryaboutme.Solongasmystomachisfulndthereareafewpnkstoshieldmefromtheweather,Iamsatisfied.Mybrainwillweavewonderfuldreamsforme.IfIspeofmylifelikethis,isn’titverystylishandromantic?”

    “Don’tfetthere’sus.”answeredJamaz.“Wewilltakecareofyou.Weareyoure.”

    “That’sgreat”saidDimitri“WhatmorewouldIhethreeofthemughed,helduptheirgssesandswiggedhappily.Theydrankmerrilyinthedarknessofnightinthedesertedrosegarden,apaniedbyjazzmusidthesoftingfemalevoithisnookofthegarden,themoohterandtherosesseemedtobemoredelicateandfragrant,buttheycouldnotalleviatetheayinDimitri’sheartabouthisKingdomofDreams.

    ChapterSixBestowaloftheTitleofQueen

    Dimitriwokefromhisdreamsyawningdrowsily.Heopenedhisheavyeyelidsandlookedaround.Theblueskiesoutsideweredottedwithafewclouds.Bythewindow,Lotusinningcottonwiththeelegant,unhurriedandleisurelypacecharacteristicofher.The“YiYa”soundofthesoftlywhirlingspinningwheelwastheonlysoundintheroom.Byherfeetwasasmallredstoveotonit,givingoffthedelicateandrefreshingfragranceoflotusseedstew.Everythingwascalmandquiet,withnohintofdisturbaurmoil.Dimitri’sheartcalmeddowninreliefasifaloadhadfallenoffhismind.Herememberedclearlydrink

rueltytooneself’iscorrect.”Jamazcurred,

    “Iwouldratherliketogointoface-to-fabatwiththemandfighttothedeath.Iotstandthishidingandlurkingaround!”

    “Yes.Yes.”Richardsaid.“Giveusyourorders,Dimitri.Wewilldoasyouandehellhwater.”

    “Patieience.”answeredDimitri,rexinghismilitantexpression.“Thetimingisright.Wheimees,Iwillgetbackthepositionsofpresidentandvice-presidentofWorldBankforyouagain.”

    Richardhesitatedandthensaidslowly,“Gettingourpositionsbackagainisreallynotimportant.Ihavetastedwhatitistohavepowerandriches.That’senough.Iamlikealittlestickthathasbeenignitedandgaveofflighta.IfeelIammostsuitedtobeathief,blendingintocrowdsingamblinghallsandbar-rooms.”

    “Me,too”saidJamaz.“Iamnotsuitedtobevice-president.EverydayIhavetodressupformallyandtalkaboutthingsIdon’treallyuand.”Hetensedhismuscles,showingoffhisextremelytonedbody.“Iliketousemymuscle.”Thenhepoiohishead.“Idon’tliketousemybrains.”

    “That’sforter.”Dimitrianswered.“We’lltalkaboutitwheimees.Atthemoment,wehavetothinkaboutstayingalive.Youtwopleasebecarefundtrytobeinvisible.OnceOliverKaffeeandhisgasstofyou,therewillbetrouble.Butthingsarenotthatbadyet.Atthemoment,OliverKaffeewillnotdaretokillyou.Butbecarefulnottofallintohishands.Ifyoudo,thingswillbehardtopredict.”

    Richardsuddenlythoughtofsomethingandasked,

    “Dimitri,howeyouareundersuchstrictsurveilnce?Whoarethesepeople?”

    “Idon’tknow.”Dimitrianswered.“ButIbelieveit’snotKaffee.BecauseIamundersurveilnce,IbelieveIamsafe.Kaffeeandhisgangwillnotbeabletogetthroughtome.Soforthemoment,formyowyIdonotwanttoberidofityet.Iknowhowtodealwithit..NoonekeepmedownunlessIletthem.”Jamaztiltedhisbottleandtulp.

    2

    “Butpeoyoureyes?Howdiditbeeblind?”

    “It’sGod’sWill.”sighedDimitri.“It’sGod’sWill.Si’ddiviervention,itlybeacceptedandnotrebelledagainst.”

    “othingbedone?”

    “Heavenknows.Butdon’tworryaboutme.Solongasmystomachisfulndthereareafewpnkstoshieldmefromtheweather,Iamsatisfied.Mybrainwillweavewonderfuldreamsforme.IfIspeofmylifelikethis,isn’titverystylishandromantic?”

    “Don’tfetthere’sus.”answeredJamaz.“Wewilltakecareofyou.Weareyoure.”

    “That’sgreat”saidDimitri“WhatmorewouldIhethreeofthemughed,helduptheirgssesandswiggedhappily.Theydrankmerrilyinthedarknessofnightinthedesertedrosegarden,apaniedbyjazzmusidthesoftingfemalevoithisnookofthegarden,themoohterandtherosesseemedtobemoredelicateandfragrant,buttheycouldnotalleviatetheayinDimitri’sheartabouthisKingdomofDreams.

    ChapterSixBestowaloftheTitleofQueen

    Dimitriwokefromhisdreamsyawningdrowsily.Heopenedhisheavyeyelidsandlookedaround.Theblueskiesoutsideweredottedwithafewclouds.Bythewindow,Lotusinningcottonwiththeelegant,unhurriedandleisurelypacecharacteristicofher.The“YiYa”soundofthesoftlywhirlingspinningwheelwastheonlysoundintheroom.Byherfeetwasasmallredstoveotonit,givingoffthedelicateandrefreshingfragranceoflotusseedstew.Everythingwascalmandquiet,withnohintofdisturbaurmoil.Dimitri’sheartcalmeddowninreliefasifaloadhadfallenoffhismind.Herememberedclearlydrink