orusthere!”

    “WasthattheBuddhisttemplebyLakeMerritt?Myformer#1assassinisnowamonkinthattemple.Hehassworakeasiepoutofthetemplewhilehelivedahed,andsecludedhimselftheretospeofhislifeinprayeranddoingpe’sreallyunimagiohavesuchperseveranless...”OliverKaffeelookedatDimitriandsaidslowly,

    “Coulditbethatitisalsomyfiination?”

    “Ihavethoughtofthat,too”saidDimitrismilingathimknowingly.Youuandmenohurtsyouandotherpeople.Youotkillit,butyoutameit.Hereafter,youmustbeextravigintaboutthisshatwillbeyourprimarygoalwhenyouareatthetemple.”

    OliverKaffeemulledoverDimitri’swordsandthought,

    “Heisright.Thereisavenomoussnakeinmegnawingatmysoul.Whenmyambitioncouldn’tberealizedorsatisfied,thatsnakedrovemetotrytoattainmygoatanyprice,byanymeans,whateverthesequences,evenatthesacrifiahesatisfaygreedandavaricepriority.Enmity,jealousy,envyandangerwerelikepoisonoussnakesgnawingatmysoundIneverkpoisonoussnakeishumannature.Itotbekilled,butbetamed.”Dimitrifinishedoffthebeerile,stoodupandsaid,

    “Ihavethingstodoandmustleavenow.Seeyouallter.”Heturnedandwalkedintotherosebushesandsoondisappearedintothedarknessofnight.

    RichardandJamazwereusedtoDimitri’sunventionalhabitofingandgoingashepleased,sotheydidnothingtostophiheoutthefireandeachfoundtheirownspotinthehalf-burnthousealeddownforthenight.Atdawm,thethreeofthemcametotheBuddhistTemplebythekeandkhed-Oweledthemin.Hewasnoloheugly,ferociouslookingmanheusedtobe.Hehadturoabenignandkiedmonk.Straosaythegeofhearteventuallygeone’sveryappearahefirstlightofdawn,Big-OshavedoffOliverKaffee’shairandtookhimintothetemple.Thoughhishairwasshavedoff,Mr.Kaffeewasstilypersonanddidnotjointheorder.

    7

    Dimitriwalkedonalone.Nightwasdeepandbothpedestriansandcarswerescarthestreets.Hecouldnotexpinwhyhehadleftsoabruptlyandwalkedoffbyhimself,leavinghisthreefriendsinthedesertedrosegarden.Hisintuitioointimatethatsomethingwasabouttohappen.Butwhat?Hedidnotknodonhewalked,notknowinghowmanystreetshehadcrossedorhowfarhehadgonewhensuddenlythestoflicsfilledtheair.No,itwasthefragranceofaveryexpensiveperfume.Awomanmustbestandingsomewhereahead.Justthen,hiswhiteehitsomething.Itwastheheelofawoman’sshoes.Thewomanturnedandexcimed,

    “Dimitri!Isthatyou?Itmustbeyou.Iknewyouwouldetomyrescue.”ThewomanthrewherselfintoDimitri’sarmsandhekhenitwasMegginn.Hekissedheronthecheekandasked,

    “It’ste.Whatareyoudoingherealohestreets?It’stoodangerous!”

    “Ifitweren’tso,howwouldIbeabletomeetyouagain?Youreallykeptyourpromisetohelpmewhenevermydipidatedcarbrokedown.Youareamanofyourword...”SuddenlyMeggiherewassomethingdifferentaboutDimitri.Shewavedherhandinfrontofhisface,butDimitridid.“Dimitri!“sheexcimed“What’swrongwithyoureyes?”

    “Let’stalkwheoyourcar.Theoldroutine,Megginn.Yougetintothedstarttheengine.Iwillgiveitastrongpushfromtheback.”Soon,thecarstartedupslowly.Dimitrifelthiswaytothefrontandquicklyjumpedintothepassenger’sseat.

    “IheardElenasaythatonedayyouwouldgoblind.I’msorrytofindthatdayisalreadyhere.Butthesttimewemet,youreyeswerefine!”

    “W

orusthere!”

    “WasthattheBuddhisttemplebyLakeMerritt?Myformer#1assassinisnowamonkinthattemple.Hehassworakeasiepoutofthetemplewhilehelivedahed,andsecludedhimselftheretospeofhislifeinprayeranddoingpe’sreallyunimagiohavesuchperseveranless...”OliverKaffeelookedatDimitriandsaidslowly,

    “Coulditbethatitisalsomyfiination?”

    “Ihavethoughtofthat,too”saidDimitrismilingathimknowingly.Youuandmenohurtsyouandotherpeople.Youotkillit,butyoutameit.Hereafter,youmustbeextravigintaboutthisshatwillbeyourprimarygoalwhenyouareatthetemple.”

    OliverKaffeemulledoverDimitri’swordsandthought,

    “Heisright.Thereisavenomoussnakeinmegnawingatmysoul.Whenmyambitioncouldn’tberealizedorsatisfied,thatsnakedrovemetotrytoattainmygoatanyprice,byanymeans,whateverthesequences,evenatthesacrifiahesatisfaygreedandavaricepriority.Enmity,jealousy,envyandangerwerelikepoisonoussnakesgnawingatmysoundIneverkpoisonoussnakeishumannature.Itotbekilled,butbetamed.”Dimitrifinishedoffthebeerile,stoodupandsaid,

    “Ihavethingstodoandmustleavenow.Seeyouallter.”Heturnedandwalkedintotherosebushesandsoondisappearedintothedarknessofnight.

    RichardandJamazwereusedtoDimitri’sunventionalhabitofingandgoingashepleased,sotheydidnothingtostophiheoutthefireandeachfoundtheirownspotinthehalf-burnthousealeddownforthenight.Atdawm,thethreeofthemcametotheBuddhistTemplebythekeandkhed-Oweledthemin.Hewasnoloheugly,ferociouslookingmanheusedtobe.Hehadturoabenignandkiedmonk.Straosaythegeofhearteventuallygeone’sveryappearahefirstlightofdawn,Big-OshavedoffOliverKaffee’shairandtookhimintothetemple.Thoughhishairwasshavedoff,Mr.Kaffeewasstilypersonanddidnotjointheorder.

    7

    Dimitriwalkedonalone.Nightwasdeepandbothpedestriansandcarswerescarthestreets.Hecouldnotexpinwhyhehadleftsoabruptlyandwalkedoffbyhimself,leavinghisthreefriendsinthedesertedrosegarden.Hisintuitioointimatethatsomethingwasabouttohappen.Butwhat?Hedidnotknodonhewalked,notknowinghowmanystreetshehadcrossedorhowfarhehadgonewhensuddenlythestoflicsfilledtheair.No,itwasthefragranceofaveryexpensiveperfume.Awomanmustbestandingsomewhereahead.Justthen,hiswhiteehitsomething.Itwastheheelofawoman’sshoes.Thewomanturnedandexcimed,

    “Dimitri!Isthatyou?Itmustbeyou.Iknewyouwouldetomyrescue.”ThewomanthrewherselfintoDimitri’sarmsandhekhenitwasMegginn.Hekissedheronthecheekandasked,

    “It’ste.Whatareyoudoingherealohestreets?It’stoodangerous!”

    “Ifitweren’tso,howwouldIbeabletomeetyouagain?Youreallykeptyourpromisetohelpmewhenevermydipidatedcarbrokedown.Youareamanofyourword...”SuddenlyMeggiherewassomethingdifferentaboutDimitri.Shewavedherhandinfrontofhisface,butDimitridid.“Dimitri!“sheexcimed“What’swrongwithyoureyes?”

    “Let’stalkwheoyourcar.Theoldroutine,Megginn.Yougetintothedstarttheengine.Iwillgiveitastrongpushfromtheback.”Soon,thecarstartedupslowly.Dimitrifelthiswaytothefrontandquicklyjumpedintothepassenger’sseat.

    “IheardElenasaythatonedayyouwouldgoblind.I’msorrytofindthatdayisalreadyhere.Butthesttimewemet,youreyeswerefine!”

    “W