athandhadnotfallenvictimtothesharpdteethofthergewildcat.Hepulledhimselftogetherandlookedaround.Hewasinasmallroomwithanaltar,onwhichtwoflickering,almostburntoutdlesgaveoffaweaklight.Therewerealsoseveralstatuesofgodsoar.Thergewildcat,angryatbeingdeprivedofitsmealwashowlingindignantlyoutsidethedoorandscratgthewoodendoorwithitssharpafiteatnotbeingabletopousvictimandbiteitwithitsrazor-liketeeth.herwasMr.Fingeroakethingslyingdown.Oncehewasreasonablyassuredofhissafety,hegotupfromthegroundandwalkedtothedoor,kickeditwithhisfeetandagainbeganhistirade,

    “Youdar,youanimalyou.NormallyIcouldeasilychokeyoutodeathwithjusttwofingers.YouthinkyougetthebetterofmenowthatIamonlythesizeofafinger?Waitandsee!”Helookedaroundtoseeiftherewasanythinghecoulduseasaon,buttheonlythingshefouhetwoalmostburntoutdlesoar.Ifhethrewthematthecat,theanimalcouldeasilydodgethem.Ifhesetfiretothissmalltemple,thebuildingwouldburndownwithhiminitbutthecatwouldhaverunawayandescapedallharm.That’snotworthit.Hehunghisheadindespairandthensuddenlyhisangerspiltinanotherdireahought,

    “YouDimitriyou!Youcallyourselfmygoodfriendandsaywearecloserthanbrothers,butwhereareyouwhenIamintrouble,beingpreyeduponbyacat?Whatkindoffriehatyoudon’tetomyaid?Screwyou!Wewon’tbefriendsanymore.”ThehoughtofRichardandJamaz.“Andyoutwo,RichardandJamaz.Youalsosayyouaremyfriendandbrother.Weeatanddrinktogether,gogamblingandwhtogether.Yousaidwewillsticktogetherinlifeah,throughthidthin,butwhenIamintroublenooneisheretohelp.Whatkindoffriendareyou?”Suddenlyabloodysefshedthroughhismind.Jamazwasmortallywouhbloodgushingoutoftheseveralwoundshehadinfli.Thehrustthepairoflonggardenshearsfiercelyintohischest.Jamaztotteredbackafewstepaotheground.RichardrushedtohelpandMr.FingerrememberedcuttingRichardonthearmwiththeshearsaswell.ItwasthenthatMr.Fingerrememberedwhathehaddone.Largebeadsofspeduponhisforehead.Hepacedtheroomgreatlytroubled,rubbinghishandstogetherinay.Hehithimselfonhisfaceg,

    “Iamreallymuddle-brainedandthick-headed.WhathaveIdone?IhavekilledmygoodfriendJamaz!Iamworsethanananimal…IwonderhowJamazisnow.Couldhehavedied?Oh,whatamoronIam,worsetha…”Heraisedhisheadandlookedatthestatuesoarandthought,“ThereisnothingIdonow.Letmepraytothegodsandhopeamiraclewillhappen.”Hekdownbeforethestatueinthemiddleandkow-towedrepeatedlysaying,“Ohgodhighabove,IamyourundeservingdiscipleMr.Finger.InafiteIcouldnottrol,ImortallywoundedmygoodfriendJamaz.Hemayevenhavedied.Ifhehasdied,mysinisinexcusableandunfivable.Pleaseprotecthimahimlive.Ididnotkillhimonpurpose.Iswearit.Iamwillingtogiveupmyownlifeinexgeforhis.Really,really,Ididnotdoitonpurpose.IwillswearanoathtoyouthatIdidodoitandIamwillingtogiveupmylifeifyouwouldsparehis…”Mr.Fingerlookedupatthestatueherayingtoandsawthatitlookedaloof,unmovedandindifferent,andhadthesamewoodenexpressionshowingnosignofhavingheardhisdesperateprayers.Heagaiveryangry.Jumpingupandpointinghisfithestatue,heburstintowordsofdiscriminationandnation.“Whodoyouthinkyouare?Ikdownbeforeyouandpouredoutmyheart,beggingfivenessandmercy.B

athandhadnotfallenvictimtothesharpdteethofthergewildcat.Hepulledhimselftogetherandlookedaround.Hewasinasmallroomwithanaltar,onwhichtwoflickering,almostburntoutdlesgaveoffaweaklight.Therewerealsoseveralstatuesofgodsoar.Thergewildcat,angryatbeingdeprivedofitsmealwashowlingindignantlyoutsidethedoorandscratgthewoodendoorwithitssharpafiteatnotbeingabletopousvictimandbiteitwithitsrazor-liketeeth.herwasMr.Fingeroakethingslyingdown.Oncehewasreasonablyassuredofhissafety,hegotupfromthegroundandwalkedtothedoor,kickeditwithhisfeetandagainbeganhistirade,

    “Youdar,youanimalyou.NormallyIcouldeasilychokeyoutodeathwithjusttwofingers.YouthinkyougetthebetterofmenowthatIamonlythesizeofafinger?Waitandsee!”Helookedaroundtoseeiftherewasanythinghecoulduseasaon,buttheonlythingshefouhetwoalmostburntoutdlesoar.Ifhethrewthematthecat,theanimalcouldeasilydodgethem.Ifhesetfiretothissmalltemple,thebuildingwouldburndownwithhiminitbutthecatwouldhaverunawayandescapedallharm.That’snotworthit.Hehunghisheadindespairandthensuddenlyhisangerspiltinanotherdireahought,

    “YouDimitriyou!Youcallyourselfmygoodfriendandsaywearecloserthanbrothers,butwhereareyouwhenIamintrouble,beingpreyeduponbyacat?Whatkindoffriehatyoudon’tetomyaid?Screwyou!Wewon’tbefriendsanymore.”ThehoughtofRichardandJamaz.“Andyoutwo,RichardandJamaz.Youalsosayyouaremyfriendandbrother.Weeatanddrinktogether,gogamblingandwhtogether.Yousaidwewillsticktogetherinlifeah,throughthidthin,butwhenIamintroublenooneisheretohelp.Whatkindoffriendareyou?”Suddenlyabloodysefshedthroughhismind.Jamazwasmortallywouhbloodgushingoutoftheseveralwoundshehadinfli.Thehrustthepairoflonggardenshearsfiercelyintohischest.Jamaztotteredbackafewstepaotheground.RichardrushedtohelpandMr.FingerrememberedcuttingRichardonthearmwiththeshearsaswell.ItwasthenthatMr.Fingerrememberedwhathehaddone.Largebeadsofspeduponhisforehead.Hepacedtheroomgreatlytroubled,rubbinghishandstogetherinay.Hehithimselfonhisfaceg,

    “Iamreallymuddle-brainedandthick-headed.WhathaveIdone?IhavekilledmygoodfriendJamaz!Iamworsethanananimal…IwonderhowJamazisnow.Couldhehavedied?Oh,whatamoronIam,worsetha…”Heraisedhisheadandlookedatthestatuesoarandthought,“ThereisnothingIdonow.Letmepraytothegodsandhopeamiraclewillhappen.”Hekdownbeforethestatueinthemiddleandkow-towedrepeatedlysaying,“Ohgodhighabove,IamyourundeservingdiscipleMr.Finger.InafiteIcouldnottrol,ImortallywoundedmygoodfriendJamaz.Hemayevenhavedied.Ifhehasdied,mysinisinexcusableandunfivable.Pleaseprotecthimahimlive.Ididnotkillhimonpurpose.Iswearit.Iamwillingtogiveupmyownlifeinexgeforhis.Really,really,Ididnotdoitonpurpose.IwillswearanoathtoyouthatIdidodoitandIamwillingtogiveupmylifeifyouwouldsparehis…”Mr.Fingerlookedupatthestatueherayingtoandsawthatitlookedaloof,unmovedandindifferent,andhadthesamewoodenexpressionshowingnosignofhavingheardhisdesperateprayers.Heagaiveryangry.Jumpingupandpointinghisfithestatue,heburstintowordsofdiscriminationandnation.“Whodoyouthinkyouare?Ikdownbeforeyouandpouredoutmyheart,beggingfivenessandmercy.B