Book2:KigdomIteDreams

andwasstilllightlycaressingLotus’silkenhairaifulskin,softassatinandsmoothasjade.Hisheartwasfilledwithaninexplicablesadness.Hethought,

    “EventhoughinmyKingdomofDreams,Ipossessfabulouswealth,intherealworldIhavefritteredawayhalfmylifeinaimlessdriftingandwandering.Irealizenow,tomydeepestregret,thatIhaveunsciouslywastedthegoldenyearsofmylife.EvenifIwerewillingtospendallthegoldIhave,Iotredeemasedofthetimethathasgoneby.Yes,youthhasvaimehasflownbyandotberetrieved.Springbreezeblowsohyearafteryear,butnomatterhowassiduouslythespringbreezeblowsorhowfertilethesoil,tendergreenleaveswillneverburstforthfromthewitheredbranchesofarotted,rootlesstree.”Lotus’softsmoothskincoveredDimitri’swholebodyandDimitrifeltasifhewerelyingonacloud,fettingevenhisowence.Heohetougofskinonskin.Thatsoft,smoothskinwaswarmandfresh.Dimitrifelthewaslyingbuoyantlyonacloud,floating,floatingtoafarahisheart,therewasalwaysthisinexplicablesadhathehadtrifledthroughthegoldenyearsofhislifeandthattodayhewaslikearootlesstree.Noamountbreezeailesoildudergreenleavestainonitswitheredbranches.Yes,try,tryagain;squeeze,squeezeagain;buttonoavail.Timeotberecoveredandyoutheagaihesungoesdownthehorizon,whenwhitehairgraduallyclimbupmyskull,theregretsiwillonlygrow.Inthismundaneworld,Ihavewastedhalfmylifeindriftingandwanderingaimlessly,squanderingmygoldenyears.Thenighttimeoflifewillsoonapproach.Let’shopethatinthenighttherewillbeafullmoon.ButIamonlyawitheredtree,standingalohekeside.Uhemoon,theglisteningwavesofthekeshimmerinsilverysplendor.M