ewherefewpeopledeigovisit.Ithadbeenoutofrepairforalongtimeandidatedandcoveredwithfeathersandfecesofbirdswhichreekedofanoffensiveodoruhesunshine.Dimitrilovedthequiettranquilityofthekesideaoehereoftentopteandbealohhisthoughts,neverseemingtomindthefoulsmellorthefilth.Butonedayaresourcefulentrepreneurcameuponthepce,sawitspotentiandappliedforapermittoredevelopthepierintoabusiness.Hespentalotofmoneyoningthepceupaifiedboththepieranditssurroundingenviro.HeisotedtheaquaticbirdstoapcefurtheraroceededtotransformtheptoaEuropeanstyleoutdoorcaféwhichbecameafavoritehauntofresidentsandtouristsalike.Onsunnyafternoonsinspringandsummer,thetablesuhemulti-coloredumbrelhesetupwereusuallyfullofers,dressedincolorfult-shirts,shortsandsandalswhichaddedyouthfulvigorandvitalitytothese,breathingnewlifeintothelonelykesidemakingitintoasicspot.Charinasatunderanumbrelasblueastheblueskiesatthefarendofthepierwhichprotrudedalmosttothemiddleoftheke.Shewaswearingasleevelessyellowshirt,narrowbckskirtandapairofGreeksandals,serenelysippinghercoffee,lookingverycool.Thepanionshewasversingwithwasnootherthanthehomelessman,Dimitri.Hewasstillwearinghisdipidateddarkbrownjacket,loosebcktrousersandill-fittingblock-headedshoes.Hissafarihatwassoolditwasalmostintatters,buthenevergedhisoutfit.Straosay,thoughhisclotheslookedshabbyaheynevergaveoffanyunpleasantodor.CleverandintelligentMaureensatonhisplisteningtotheirversation.Dimitrihadbeenwanderingaimlesslyaroundtheke,notreallyknowingwherehewaogo,lettieeinhishandguidehimonhisway.Maureen’ssharpnosecaughtthestofhisnewfriendandledhismistresstohim.

    CharinaledDimitritothefarendofthelongdockwhereitwasnotsocrowded.Afterthewaiterhadbroughtthemtheircoffeeandredwine,shebegantotellhimthehappeningsofthestfewdays.

    “Thatnightafteryouleft,that’salmostthreedaysagonow,Isuddenlysmelledanintoxigfragranceofflowersandimmediatelylostsciousness.WhenIcametoIfoundthatIwaspletelynakedandedinab.OpeningmyeyesIsaolianwassittingnearbykeepingguardowasthenthatIrealizedsomeonehadbrokenintomyhomeandattemptedtorapeme,andthatagoodSamaritanhadetomyresdroutedthesdrel.ThebrokenwindowsanddoorsshowedsignsofafiercestrugglebuttherewasoallthisotherthanmycleverlittledogMaureenhere.Heotspeakourhumannguageandthereforeisuobearwitopehepoliantookmytestimonya.Shecautioomakesurethatallmywindowsanddoorswereclosedandlockedatnightbecauseaserialrapistseemedtobetargetingthearea.”Dimitri’shandreachedcarefullyaantlyfssofwiulpbeforesaying,

    4

    “Thatnight,itwasyourcleverlittleMaureenwhofouhhisextraordinarysenseofsmelndmademeuandsomethingwasamiss.ButIamahelplessblindman,utterlyuselessinanemergency.IsuddenlythoughtofMedusa,theguardianofmyKingdomofDreams,soIsummonedherandtoldhertodealwiththecrisis.ItwasMaureenwholedhertoyourhome,anditisyourlittledogyoushouldthankforsavingyou.”

    “Yes,yes”excimedCharinaasifwakingfromadream.“ThepolidIwerebothpuzzledastowhocouldhavethestrengthtobreakdownthatthidsolidfrontdoorintosmithereens…Oh,bythewaythereissomethingImustgiveyou.Ialmostfot.Ifoundaheballoon

ewherefewpeopledeigovisit.Ithadbeenoutofrepairforalongtimeandidatedandcoveredwithfeathersandfecesofbirdswhichreekedofanoffensiveodoruhesunshine.Dimitrilovedthequiettranquilityofthekesideaoehereoftentopteandbealohhisthoughts,neverseemingtomindthefoulsmellorthefilth.Butonedayaresourcefulentrepreneurcameuponthepce,sawitspotentiandappliedforapermittoredevelopthepierintoabusiness.Hespentalotofmoneyoningthepceupaifiedboththepieranditssurroundingenviro.HeisotedtheaquaticbirdstoapcefurtheraroceededtotransformtheptoaEuropeanstyleoutdoorcaféwhichbecameafavoritehauntofresidentsandtouristsalike.Onsunnyafternoonsinspringandsummer,thetablesuhemulti-coloredumbrelhesetupwereusuallyfullofers,dressedincolorfult-shirts,shortsandsandalswhichaddedyouthfulvigorandvitalitytothese,breathingnewlifeintothelonelykesidemakingitintoasicspot.Charinasatunderanumbrelasblueastheblueskiesatthefarendofthepierwhichprotrudedalmosttothemiddleoftheke.Shewaswearingasleevelessyellowshirt,narrowbckskirtandapairofGreeksandals,serenelysippinghercoffee,lookingverycool.Thepanionshewasversingwithwasnootherthanthehomelessman,Dimitri.Hewasstillwearinghisdipidateddarkbrownjacket,loosebcktrousersandill-fittingblock-headedshoes.Hissafarihatwassoolditwasalmostintatters,buthenevergedhisoutfit.Straosay,thoughhisclotheslookedshabbyaheynevergaveoffanyunpleasantodor.CleverandintelligentMaureensatonhisplisteningtotheirversation.Dimitrihadbeenwanderingaimlesslyaroundtheke,notreallyknowingwherehewaogo,lettieeinhishandguidehimonhisway.Maureen’ssharpnosecaughtthestofhisnewfriendandledhismistresstohim.

    CharinaledDimitritothefarendofthelongdockwhereitwasnotsocrowded.Afterthewaiterhadbroughtthemtheircoffeeandredwine,shebegantotellhimthehappeningsofthestfewdays.

    “Thatnightafteryouleft,that’salmostthreedaysagonow,Isuddenlysmelledanintoxigfragranceofflowersandimmediatelylostsciousness.WhenIcametoIfoundthatIwaspletelynakedandedinab.OpeningmyeyesIsaolianwassittingnearbykeepingguardowasthenthatIrealizedsomeonehadbrokenintomyhomeandattemptedtorapeme,andthatagoodSamaritanhadetomyresdroutedthesdrel.ThebrokenwindowsanddoorsshowedsignsofafiercestrugglebuttherewasoallthisotherthanmycleverlittledogMaureenhere.Heotspeakourhumannguageandthereforeisuobearwitopehepoliantookmytestimonya.Shecautioomakesurethatallmywindowsanddoorswereclosedandlockedatnightbecauseaserialrapistseemedtobetargetingthearea.”Dimitri’shandreachedcarefullyaantlyfssofwiulpbeforesaying,

    4

    “Thatnight,itwasyourcleverlittleMaureenwhofouhhisextraordinarysenseofsmelndmademeuandsomethingwasamiss.ButIamahelplessblindman,utterlyuselessinanemergency.IsuddenlythoughtofMedusa,theguardianofmyKingdomofDreams,soIsummonedherandtoldhertodealwiththecrisis.ItwasMaureenwholedhertoyourhome,anditisyourlittledogyoushouldthankforsavingyou.”

    “Yes,yes”excimedCharinaasifwakingfromadream.“ThepolidIwerebothpuzzledastowhocouldhavethestrengthtobreakdownthatthidsolidfrontdoorintosmithereens…Oh,bythewaythereissomethingImustgiveyou.Ialmostfot.Ifoundaheballoon