Book3:WereMyDreamIs

Tohismistress,Maureenwasamemberofherfamilyandequalinpositiontoanyotherhumanbeing,sohesatatthetablewiththemandpartookdaintilyofhismeal.AsforCharina,shehadapteoffreshlettucedribbledwithsomevinegarandpepperandasliceofturkey.Shemurmured,“Womeobebeautiful.Iokeeptheirfigurestheyhavetosacrificetheirenjoymentoffood!”ShelookedatMaureenandsaid,“Itisarareopportunitythatbroughthimintothisworld.Iknowdogsarenotsupposedtoeatthesamefoodashumans,butIwanthimtoexperiehedifferentgourmetfoodwehumanshavesoasnottowastethisuniqueceofhishavinglivedinthisworldofours.”

    NowthetwoofthemweresittinginCharina’srgebrightlivingroom.Exhaustedbyhism’sadventureofrunningaround,jumpingandpying,Maureenybyhismistress’ssidefastasleep.CharinatookasparklinggsshalffullofcrushedidpceditinfrontofDimitriandthenpouredsomegoodwhiskeyintoit.Shealsopouredanssforherself,heldupthegsstoDimitriandsaid,“Cheers!”Dimitritoohelduphisgssawoofthembothtookasip.“Well”Charinathensaid,“nowweareallset.HowaboutgoingonwithyourstoryoftheKingdomintheDreams?Itmustbeaveryiingandfasatingstory.Iamallears.”“WhereshouldIbegin?”murmuredDimitri,gazingattheskyoutsidethewindow.“Let’sstartwithmytwenty-fourbeautiesthen.Theyarealldifferentandhavedifferentbackgrounds;Iwillintroducethemtoyou.”Hetookanothersipofthewhiskeyandasifreminisgaboutthepastbegantotellhisstory.

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    Theafternooabatedsomewhatandtheairbegantocooldownwiththeeveningbreeze.AthiiedtoablueballooahabranchofatreeinCharina’sbackyard.Theballoonbobbledrestlesslyinthelightbreezeasifstrug