ngthecetostopagreattragedyfromhappening.Sihepersonshewaslookingforwerenotthere,RichardproceededtoothertemplesDwarfMickeywasknowntofrequent.HedidhewordsDwarfMickeywroteohickdustontopofthealtar.Itsaid,“Ihavecapturedthelittletrouble-makerMr.FingerandamonmywaytotheKingdomofDreams.IwillleavehimwithhiswifeVio,whoistheonlyoheworldwhotronddisciplinehiydutyisdone.IwillbegoingbaytreasuresandwillsinkdowntothebottomofSunMooogetherwiththem.Myfavoritepastimeishavingagoodtimewithmyfrieianddrinkingwine.Ihatealltragientssuchassayinggoodbyetooldfrieoseeeachain.ThereforeIamleavingthesewordstobidyouallfarewell.Adieumygoodfriends”Itwassigned“DwarfMickey.”Inhishurry,RicharddidhehereforewasnotabletoinformDimitriofthisabruptandsuddenturnofaffairs,causingirreversibleaerinthemindsofDimitriandallthepeoplearoundhim.

    Themoonleaningtowardsthewestshonedhtasday.Asmalleflyihemirror-likewaters.Thebulgingmusclesonthearmsofthemanattheoars,flexedashepaddledfastandfuriously.Why,wasn’tthatMr.Finger?Hehasoncemorerevertedtothefigureofatalndbrawnyman.ThewomanattheotherendoftheoewasthewildlygeousVio,butherexpressionnowwasgehanandnotaswildasbefore.WhenshefirstgotbacktotheKingdomofDreams,sheclimbeddownthesheerclifftothedepthofGahannatovisitherparents,whonowspenttheirdaysferventlypraying,deeplytriteoftheirsins.Viowasextremelyhappytofindthattheirlifewasthesameasitwasthesttimeshewashere,withnogesatall.HermotherAileen’sbodywhichhadbeentwo,hadmiraculouslybioone.JustasDimitrihadpredicted,asthefireofrevengeinherheartdimitlebylittle,herbodyrecoveredandetogetherlittlebylittleaswelndthedaywouldewhenshecouldwalklikeanormalhumanbeing.WhenViovincedherselfthatallithherparents,shewentbacktoherownlittleireehole.Whensheclimbedontothelevelpartofthehole,shesawMr.Fingerlyingonthebed,thrashingandshouting,

    “Iswear…Iswear…Ididnotkillhimonpurpose.Heismygoodfriend…IswearthatifIcouldexgemylifeforhis,Iwoulddoit...Iswear…IswearItrulymeanit…Ididnotkillhimonpurpose…”Hewaslyingonthebedbuthishandswereswingingaroundandhisfeetwerekigfrantically.Viosaidnothing,butwalkinguptoMr.Fingerbegansppinghimhischeekshard.Mr.Fingerwokefromhisnightmarefeelionhisface.HeopenedhisdrowsyeyesandsawViohandsonhipsstandingbeforehim.Twistingoneofhisearswithherhand,sheasked,

    “Whatbadthinghaveyoudonenow?Youkilledsomeone?Whohaveyoukilled……?”

    “No,no,no…”stutteredMr.Finger.“HowIkil’snothinglikethatatall…”aoldViothestoryfrombeginningtoend.“Youknow,it’sallyourfaultfmeintoatinyfigureandthesoIcouldn’tgebacktehumanfain.Icouldeasilyhavebeealforthergewildcat.Itwasreallyscary.”

    “Nowyouknowmypowers.Don’tfetyousworeanoathandsoldyourselftomewhenyousigheiurepapers.Yourbodyandsoulbelongsolelytome.YouliveifIletyouliveanddiewhenIwantyouto.”HerfingersowistedharderandMr.Fingercriedoutinpainsaying,

    11

    “Yes,yes,yes.Iwilllistentoeverythingyousay…Iwillliveifyouletmeanddiewhenyouordermeto.I’lldowhateveryousay,please,pleaseletgoofyers…”VioloosenedherhandandsatdownbesideMr.Fiheysatsidebysidelikeanyotherordinarycoupleandtalkedaboutthin

ngthecetostopagreattragedyfromhappening.Sihepersonshewaslookingforwerenotthere,RichardproceededtoothertemplesDwarfMickeywasknowntofrequent.HedidhewordsDwarfMickeywroteohickdustontopofthealtar.Itsaid,“Ihavecapturedthelittletrouble-makerMr.FingerandamonmywaytotheKingdomofDreams.IwillleavehimwithhiswifeVio,whoistheonlyoheworldwhotronddisciplinehiydutyisdone.IwillbegoingbaytreasuresandwillsinkdowntothebottomofSunMooogetherwiththem.Myfavoritepastimeishavingagoodtimewithmyfrieianddrinkingwine.Ihatealltragientssuchassayinggoodbyetooldfrieoseeeachain.ThereforeIamleavingthesewordstobidyouallfarewell.Adieumygoodfriends”Itwassigned“DwarfMickey.”Inhishurry,RicharddidhehereforewasnotabletoinformDimitriofthisabruptandsuddenturnofaffairs,causingirreversibleaerinthemindsofDimitriandallthepeoplearoundhim.

    Themoonleaningtowardsthewestshonedhtasday.Asmalleflyihemirror-likewaters.Thebulgingmusclesonthearmsofthemanattheoars,flexedashepaddledfastandfuriously.Why,wasn’tthatMr.Finger?Hehasoncemorerevertedtothefigureofatalndbrawnyman.ThewomanattheotherendoftheoewasthewildlygeousVio,butherexpressionnowwasgehanandnotaswildasbefore.WhenshefirstgotbacktotheKingdomofDreams,sheclimbeddownthesheerclifftothedepthofGahannatovisitherparents,whonowspenttheirdaysferventlypraying,deeplytriteoftheirsins.Viowasextremelyhappytofindthattheirlifewasthesameasitwasthesttimeshewashere,withnogesatall.HermotherAileen’sbodywhichhadbeentwo,hadmiraculouslybioone.JustasDimitrihadpredicted,asthefireofrevengeinherheartdimitlebylittle,herbodyrecoveredandetogetherlittlebylittleaswelndthedaywouldewhenshecouldwalklikeanormalhumanbeing.WhenViovincedherselfthatallithherparents,shewentbacktoherownlittleireehole.Whensheclimbedontothelevelpartofthehole,shesawMr.Fingerlyingonthebed,thrashingandshouting,

    “Iswear…Iswear…Ididnotkillhimonpurpose.Heismygoodfriend…IswearthatifIcouldexgemylifeforhis,Iwoulddoit...Iswear…IswearItrulymeanit…Ididnotkillhimonpurpose…”Hewaslyingonthebedbuthishandswereswingingaroundandhisfeetwerekigfrantically.Viosaidnothing,butwalkinguptoMr.Fingerbegansppinghimhischeekshard.Mr.Fingerwokefromhisnightmarefeelionhisface.HeopenedhisdrowsyeyesandsawViohandsonhipsstandingbeforehim.Twistingoneofhisearswithherhand,sheasked,

    “Whatbadthinghaveyoudonenow?Youkilledsomeone?Whohaveyoukilled……?”

    “No,no,no…”stutteredMr.Finger.“HowIkil’snothinglikethatatall…”aoldViothestoryfrombeginningtoend.“Youknow,it’sallyourfaultfmeintoatinyfigureandthesoIcouldn’tgebacktehumanfain.Icouldeasilyhavebeealforthergewildcat.Itwasreallyscary.”

    “Nowyouknowmypowers.Don’tfetyousworeanoathandsoldyourselftomewhenyousigheiurepapers.Yourbodyandsoulbelongsolelytome.YouliveifIletyouliveanddiewhenIwantyouto.”HerfingersowistedharderandMr.Fingercriedoutinpainsaying,

    11

    “Yes,yes,yes.Iwilllistentoeverythingyousay…Iwillliveifyouletmeanddiewhenyouordermeto.I’lldowhateveryousay,please,pleaseletgoofyers…”VioloosenedherhandandsatdownbesideMr.Fiheysatsidebysidelikeanyotherordinarycoupleandtalkedaboutthin