Book2:KigdomIteDreams
ing.Justthen,apuffofsmokestreakedacrosstheskiesandcametoastopbeforeastrawhutbythesideoftheke,whereitgedintotheformofaslimandcurvaceousyoungwomanaiefishthought, “Shewasinallyonlyapuffofsmoke,butcouldgeintohumanform.Ifshecoulddoso,why’tI?Fromnowon,IwillprayferventlyandbegGodtoletmegeintoabeautifulyoungwoman.IfIcouldbebyDimitri’ssideandkeephimpanythatwouldbeallIaskoflife!”Thergewhitefishhappilyflippeditselfoutofthewaterandjumpedintotheair.Thenshedivedagainbatothewateranddisappearedfromsight. WhiteFairypushedopenthedoorofthestrawhutandsawthequietaleLotussittingtherewithherheadbentlow,mendingabrokenfishi.ShekhatallthepeopleoftheKingdomhadbeencalledtotheminesandLotuswastryingtohelpthefishermenbydoingsomesimplechoresforthem.WhenshesawWhiteFairywalkin,shesmiledandsaid, “Whatwindblewyouhere?Howeyouhavetimetoeaoday?” “Iamnotreallyheresocially,Lotus”saidWhiteFairysittingdown.“Iamheretoinformyouaboutsomethingthathappenedindom.” “Really?pened?” “Alittleafternoooday,ouractivelittleDornatookKingDimitri’stwotigersawanderinginthemountain.Suddenly,sheheardawoman’svoiceshriekingandgshrilly.Soshecalledthetwotigersaoiigate.Inthedenseforest,shefoundourpoetessAngelicafallenonthegroundinafaint,surroundedbysevebarbarians.TheirfaceswereferociouslypaiattooedtolooklikedevilsandtheywerebusytearingoffAngelica’sclothestostripherwasnotknowhertheymeanttorapeherorbutcherher,foryouknow,thesetribesareknowntobeibals.OurceousDornawieldedAmalia’sbroomandregardlessofherowyfoughtthebarb