makethiswine.”

    “Really?”excimedImaginatiolyied.“SothetwoofyoumusthavebeentotheKingdomofDreamsretly?DidyouseetheWhiteFairy?She’stheonewhomadethewine.I’msureshemusthavegivenyoutherecipeinsteadofrefusingtorevealhersecret.”

    “Ofcourseshewouldnotrefusetoshare;wehavealwaysbeenintimatebosomfriends.Butthemakingofthewineisaprettyintricateprocedureinvolvingmasstepsandit’snotsomethingwecouldlearninahurry;soWhiteFairyvoluogowithustotheSeventhHeavenandmakethewiherefZeus.MedusasaidmanyoftheflowersthatgointothewinewereavaibleonlyintheKingdomofDreamsandnowhereelse,sosheaheloyalpeopleofthekingdomtogooutinthewildsandthemountainstogatherthoseflowers,whichsheterhelpedustransporttotheSeventhheaven.WhileWhiteFairywasmakingthewine,sheatthesametimetaughtusstepbystepthesecretsofmakingthewiherZeussoloved.WewerecarefultohaveeverythingreadyintimeforFatherZeusgrandba.”

    “SoyousawMedusaretly,too”excimedImagination.“Howisshe?Iseverythingalrightwithher?”

    “Oh,everythingisfihher,butthedutyofprotegthesafetyoftheKingdomofDreamsisaheavyburden.CyclopsandViohavebeenveryquietretlyandmayhaveleftthearea,butMedusaneverknowswhentheywillpopupaemoremischief.hershebesureofwhatotherschemes,spiradintriguestheywillcookuptodestroytheKingdom.Medusalivesfromdaytodayoerhooks,evervigint,warya,carryingoutherjobofprotegtheKingdomwhigDimitrientrustedtoher.SheissolookingforwardtothedaywhenKingDimitriwouldgobadtakeupthereinsoftheKingdomofDreamsagain.”Afterasilence,shesaid,“MedusahopesthatyouandyourpartnerCreativitywouldbuildapace,granderandmnifitthattheoldowasburntdownallreadyforthedaywhenKingDimitrireturns.ShealsomentiohatshewouldliketomobilizethepeopleoftheKingdomtosalvagethegoldpacethatwassunktothebottomofSunMoonLakeandputitbaGiantMountain.ButthismustwaittillKingDimitrireturnsandgivetheorder.Itwasnotherdeake…“

    13

    “Oh,bytheway“interruptedCharmaine,“whywerethetwoofuscalledhere?Isthereanemergency?Father’smagnifitbaisstillongoingbig-timeintheSeventhHeaven.WhiteFairyiscupforuswhileweslipout.Sheissingle-haakingcareofthewihewholebaandIamsuresheishaviictimebutwesithereleisurelychattingwithyouguyswhileKingDimitrisleeps.She’llbeangryifshekhis.”

    “Ohno,no”repliedImagination.“Shewillneverbeangry.Weareallgoodsisters.InfactIamsureshewillbeveryhappy.ActuallyinvitingyoubothheretomeetCharinawasnotmypersonaldecision.ItwasKingDimitri’sideatoletyouknoweachotherandhaveagoodhearttohearttalk.”

    “Oh,isthatso?”musedCharmaiurningtoCharina,shesaid,“Asamatteroffact,weknewyouawhileago.MysisterandIsawyouinthebronzemirrorinourpathemoonwhenyouwerewashingKingDimitri’sthroheruinsofthepadwekhesecretwishinyourheart.Youwaogivehimahomewherehecouldsettledownandnolongerlivethenomadlifeofadrifter.Wesawitalndweuood.”Charinawasshockedandembarrassedthatthesecretintheinnermostsanctuaryofherheartwasthusexposed.Sheblushedfuriouslyandloweredherhead,notknowinghowtoanswer.Cleveraive,Charinahadguessedatthereasonfinghermeetingwiththetwonymphs.Justthen,soundsofloudshoutingandfightingwereheardatthegatetarden.

   

makethiswine.”

    “Really?”excimedImaginatiolyied.“SothetwoofyoumusthavebeentotheKingdomofDreamsretly?DidyouseetheWhiteFairy?She’stheonewhomadethewine.I’msureshemusthavegivenyoutherecipeinsteadofrefusingtorevealhersecret.”

    “Ofcourseshewouldnotrefusetoshare;wehavealwaysbeenintimatebosomfriends.Butthemakingofthewineisaprettyintricateprocedureinvolvingmasstepsandit’snotsomethingwecouldlearninahurry;soWhiteFairyvoluogowithustotheSeventhHeavenandmakethewiherefZeus.MedusasaidmanyoftheflowersthatgointothewinewereavaibleonlyintheKingdomofDreamsandnowhereelse,sosheaheloyalpeopleofthekingdomtogooutinthewildsandthemountainstogatherthoseflowers,whichsheterhelpedustransporttotheSeventhheaven.WhileWhiteFairywasmakingthewine,sheatthesametimetaughtusstepbystepthesecretsofmakingthewiherZeussoloved.WewerecarefultohaveeverythingreadyintimeforFatherZeusgrandba.”

    “SoyousawMedusaretly,too”excimedImagination.“Howisshe?Iseverythingalrightwithher?”

    “Oh,everythingisfihher,butthedutyofprotegthesafetyoftheKingdomofDreamsisaheavyburden.CyclopsandViohavebeenveryquietretlyandmayhaveleftthearea,butMedusaneverknowswhentheywillpopupaemoremischief.hershebesureofwhatotherschemes,spiradintriguestheywillcookuptodestroytheKingdom.Medusalivesfromdaytodayoerhooks,evervigint,warya,carryingoutherjobofprotegtheKingdomwhigDimitrientrustedtoher.SheissolookingforwardtothedaywhenKingDimitriwouldgobadtakeupthereinsoftheKingdomofDreamsagain.”Afterasilence,shesaid,“MedusahopesthatyouandyourpartnerCreativitywouldbuildapace,granderandmnifitthattheoldowasburntdownallreadyforthedaywhenKingDimitrireturns.ShealsomentiohatshewouldliketomobilizethepeopleoftheKingdomtosalvagethegoldpacethatwassunktothebottomofSunMoonLakeandputitbaGiantMountain.ButthismustwaittillKingDimitrireturnsandgivetheorder.Itwasnotherdeake…“

    13

    “Oh,bytheway“interruptedCharmaine,“whywerethetwoofuscalledhere?Isthereanemergency?Father’smagnifitbaisstillongoingbig-timeintheSeventhHeaven.WhiteFairyiscupforuswhileweslipout.Sheissingle-haakingcareofthewihewholebaandIamsuresheishaviictimebutwesithereleisurelychattingwithyouguyswhileKingDimitrisleeps.She’llbeangryifshekhis.”

    “Ohno,no”repliedImagination.“Shewillneverbeangry.Weareallgoodsisters.InfactIamsureshewillbeveryhappy.ActuallyinvitingyoubothheretomeetCharinawasnotmypersonaldecision.ItwasKingDimitri’sideatoletyouknoweachotherandhaveagoodhearttohearttalk.”

    “Oh,isthatso?”musedCharmaiurningtoCharina,shesaid,“Asamatteroffact,weknewyouawhileago.MysisterandIsawyouinthebronzemirrorinourpathemoonwhenyouwerewashingKingDimitri’sthroheruinsofthepadwekhesecretwishinyourheart.Youwaogivehimahomewherehecouldsettledownandnolongerlivethenomadlifeofadrifter.Wesawitalndweuood.”Charinawasshockedandembarrassedthatthesecretintheinnermostsanctuaryofherheartwasthusexposed.Sheblushedfuriouslyandloweredherhead,notknowinghowtoanswer.Cleveraive,Charinahadguessedatthereasonfinghermeetingwiththetwonymphs.Justthen,soundsofloudshoutingandfightingwereheardatthegatetarden.