Thepygmyinhisexoticcostumewaswalkinghand-inhandwiththeseductiveandnakedMedusa．Itwasevening．Thebrightmoonlightwasreflectedontheripplingwavessoftlypattingtheshores．Thetwosanganddancedandfrolickedhappilyalongthelake．Thepygmylaughedhisstrange，squeakylaugh．Thewomanheldthepygmyhighaboveherheadandspunaroundmadly，likeamotherplayingwithherson．Dimitrishookhisheadagain．"No,no.Thisisn’twhatIwanted.”andhesettledhimselfdowntodreaminearnest．ItwasadenseforestintheheartofAfricaaspitchdarkasmidnight．Therhythmicbutmonotonousbeatofthedrumarousedinpeopleabarbarousimpulseandtheshoutsofthenativeslentitamysterious，primitiveandterrifyingatmosphere．Dimitriwentintotheforestandcameacrossatemple．Therewereshadowyfiguresofthenativesbeatingdrumsanddancingaroundafire．Everynowandthen，theyshoutedtheirbattlecry．Dimitrisawhumanskullsscatteredalloverthefloorandknewitwasthehabitatofman-eatingcannibals.Therewereskullsofallkindsofanimalsdecoratingthewalls，includinghumanskulls．Itwasafestival，thebirthdayofthegodofFate，andlivesacrificesweretobeofferedtohim．Thegodsatinthemiddleofthetemple，anticipatingagoodmeal．Hehadthebodyofamanbuttheheadofamonster．Therewasarhinoceroshornatthetopofhishead.Onhisright，stoodanakedshe-monsterwithaspearinherhand，whoservedashisattendant．ShehadthebodyofaseductivewomanbuttheheadofaMedusa．

        Dimitriwastakenaback．"Oh，it’sthosetwomonstersintheotherdream．I’vemetthembefore.”AnAfricannativecameinwithbothhandssupportingahugesilverplatebalancedonthetopofhishead．Therewasanenormousbamboosteamerontheplate,freshfromthekitchenwithsteamcomingfromunderthelid．Hekneltrespectfullybeforethem，placedtheplateonthenarrow,longtableandtookoffthelidofthesteamer．Initwasthebodyoftheyounggirl，Sheila，nakedasashelledhard-boiledegg．Shelookedasthoughshewasasleep，butactuallyshehadbeensteamedtodeathasasacrificetothegodofFate．Theshe-monster’seyesshonewithviciousgreed，andsalivabegandrippingfromthecornersofhermouth．ThegodofFatetookaknifeanddissectedaleg．Aftertakingabite，hehandedittotheshe-monsterwhograbbediteagerlyandviciouslydevouredittothebone．

        Aheart-rendingscreampiercedhisdream．Dimitriwokewithastartle．Lookingaroundinthedarkundergroundsewer，hecouldseeahuskyblackmanrapingSheila．Herhandsweretiedbyaropeandhewasontopofher．Dimitricouldseetherapidup-and-downmovementsofhisbodyasthoughhewasgallopingonahorse．Hethrustonrelentlessly，occasionallytakingadrinkfromatiltedbottle,whileSheilascreamedinpain．Hehitherface．Hiswhiteteethgleamedinthedarklikethoseofaskullandsaid，"Youbitch，youdidn’tgivemeanymoneytodaysoyouhavetopayforit.”Hebithernipplesharduntilshebled．"Goddamnyou，youdevil,“shecursedstrugglingfutilely，"IwishI’dneverseteyesonyou.”Dimitri’sbloodboiledatthesight．Hegotupsoundlessly，grabbedapieceofsteelpipenearhim，andmadeaswipefortheblackman’shead．Thepainoftheimpactmadehimdrophisweapon．Heshookhisheadandlookedagain．Noblackman．NoSheila．Itwasadream．Hehadhitthenarrowladderwithsuchforcethatthepartofhishandbetweenthethumbandtheindexfingerwastorn．Sheilahadnotcomeback．Shehadneglectedtoclosethelidoftheman-holeandthefaintgraylightofdawnfilteredthrough．Itwasanotherday．Dimitrisatontheground，dazed，holdinghisinjuredhandnotknowingwhethertocryortolaugh．

        Dimitrifoldeduphissleepingbagandputeverythingintoalargeplasticbag．Heclimbedupthestepsandfoundthathehadhititsohardwiththesteelpipethatitwascrooked．Hesmiledgrimlyasherecalledthesceneinhisdream．Ifhehadreallyhitthedevil,hewouldhavebashedhisheadin．Ohwell!Heputhisbelongingsbackintohiscartandpusheditinfrontofhim．Thelightswerestillonintheshops，butthedawnwasgraduallydrivingawaythedarkness．Therewasnoonearoundyetinthedesertedstreets．ItwastooearlyandDimitrireallydidn’thaveanywheretogo．Pushinghiscart，hefeltasearingpaininhishand．"ImustgoandfindMariannatobandageit,”hethought．Thenhefeltashamed．Whydidhealwaysthinkofherwhenhewashurtorhungry?Heagainpassedtheparkbenchwheretheoldcouplehadsatthenightbefore．Theoldladymusthavebeenaprettygirlwhenshewasyoung，andherhusband，ahandsomeyoungman．Yes，theywereanidealcoupleandhavehadaperfectlife，hemused．ThenhisthoughtsturnedtoSheila，theyoungprostitute，whoseprofessionwastosellcheaplytheuseofhersexualorgans.Dimitrididnotlookdownonher.Hewasconcernedaboutherwhereabouts．Prostitutionwastheoldestprofessionintheworldbecausesocietycouldnotdowithoutit.Itwasneededtobalancetheunbalancedpartofhumannature，justasacommunityneededsewerstodrainitswastewaterandraintopreventflooding．Sheilawasapoor，unfortunateyounggirlbutherprofessionwasaformoflife．herbodywasbutasacrificeonthealtarofFate．

        Dimitripushedhiscartaimlesslyalongthestreets,whichgraduallybrightenedastrafficandpedestriansincreased．Thenoiseandclamorofcitylifehadbegun．Theslim，nymph-likefigureinblackappearedintheearlymorningsunlightandarrestedhiseyes．Itwasanun．Dimitrihadagreatrespectfornuns，lookinguponthemasangelsexpelledfromheavenfortheirsinsandsentdowntotheearthtoatoneforthem．Touchinghiscapwithhishand，hesaidgruffly，"Goodmorning，sister.”Thenunblessedherselfandsaid，"Goodmorning，sir,"inamelodiousvoice．Inthebrighteninglightofday,Dimitrisawshewasyoungandprettyandherveilflutteringinthebreezegaveheranunworldlyairofspiritualintelligence．AsDimitriturnedtogo，thenunnoticedfromthecornerofhereyethathishandwaswounded，tornandbleeding．

        "Youhavebeenhurt！"sheexclaimed．Shesearchedfranticallyforsomethingtoputoverthewound．Thenshethoughtofherhandkerchief．Pullingitout，shewrappeditaroundhishandandsaid，"Youshouldnotleaveitlikethat，itwillgetinfected．Gototheclinicandhaveittakencareofproperly.”Meanwhileherslendernimblefingerswereworkingbusily．Dimitrilookedatthementranced，feelingnopainatall．Insteadhestoodtherewithhishandout-stretched，enjoyingtherareoccasionofbeingmademuchof，feelingascomfortableaswhenhisearwasbeingscratchedbyaQ-tip．"Thereyouare!”thenunsaid，"That’lldo．Godblessyou!”Shetappedhimslightlyonthearmandwalkedbrisklyaway．

        Dimitriwalkedon．Heputhishandtohisnose．Thehandkerchiefhadafeminineaurawhichhefoundverypleasant．Hehadn’tsleptwellsohewastired，buthewantedtofollowthenun．Finally，hedecidedthebestwaywastofindacomfortablespotandfollowherwithhisdreams．Hecametoatreeatthesideoftheparkwhoseleafyshadowsseemedquiteinviting．Layinghimselfdownhefellasleepatonce．Inhisdream,Dimitriwanderedintoaconventwhichlookedlikeanancientcastle．Thehallwashuge，dismalandaustere，litonlybyadimgaslight．Dimitristoodtheretryingtoadjusthiseyestothedarkness，thenhewalkedon．Hecouldhearthehollowechoofhisfootsteps．Theplacegavehimtheimpressionofaprison．Suddenly，heheardsweetyoungvoicesinharmoniouscrescendo，singinginpraiseofGod．"Howdidtheseyoungwomenlandinsuchagruesomeplace?"hewondered．Hewalkedovertothewindowwherethevoicescamefromandpeekedin．Therewereagroupofnunsthereatthealtarsinginghymns．Buttheonehehadmetintheearlymorningwasnotthere，sohelostinterestandwalkedon．

        Hewalkedaroundtothebackofthebuildingandsawawoodedareafurtherdown，sohewalkedonandonuntilhecametoaplaceinthewoodswheremistysteamrosefromtheshadowsoftrees．Partingtheexuberantbranches,hesawahotspringpondsetlikeapearlinthemidstoftalltreesandluxurianttropicalflowers．Thenunhewasseekingwasthere，gettingreadyforherbath．Shecarefullytookoffherhabitandveilexposinggoldentressesandbeautifulsnow-whitebodywithaperfectlyproportionedfigurethatwouldbetheenvyofanywoman．"Whyshouldagirllikethattakethevowandbecomeanun?"Dimitriwondered，ashestoodtheretransfixed．Shewalkedintothewateruntilitcametoherwaistandleisurelybeganherbath．Evenherbathingmovementsweregracefulandelegant．Dimitricouldseeacrystaldropofwaterrollslowlydownfromhernobleforeheadtoherflushedcheeks．Thenittraveledtoherfinelychiseledchinuntilitdroppedontoherbeautifulbreast．Itslippeddownherbreast，caressingitandclingingtohernippleuntilitcouldholdonnolongerandreluctantlydroppedbackintothewater．Justthen，twoancienttreesbythesideofthepond，whosebrancheshadgraduallyleanedclosertogetherastheywatchedherbathe，walkedtowardseachotherandembraced．Theyturnedintotwomonsters-thepygmyandMedusa．Excitedbythesightofherbeauty，theymadelove，thepygmykissingMedusa’sbody．Eventhevegetationwereaphrodisiac．Thenthemonstersturnedbackintotreesagain．Theyswitchedfromoneformtotheotherflickeringly.Dimitridisregardedthemandturnedhisthoughtsbacktothenun．"Itissuchawaste,”hethought，"Thosebeautifulbreastsweremeanttofeedbabies．Ifshecouldhaveababyinherarms，bathingtogether，itwouldbeareMarkablescene．Whyshouldsheblockuphermaternalinstinctsandturnherreproductivesystemfromitsnaturalnormintoalifeofchastityandseclusion?"HecouldunderstandthatshewantedtopreserveherpurityandofferittoGod，buthestillfeltitwascruelandunnaturalandcouldnotcondoneit，eventhoughherespectedherresolution．Heknewtheremusthavebeenalotofpainandstruggleinherresolution；theprocesswaslikecloggingapipe，forcingthewatertoflowbackwards．Justthen，ahugeleaf，freshanddewy，floatedby．Thenunclimbedontoittorestforawhile．Butassoonasshegoton，theleafcurledupandenvelopedher．ItdawnedonDimitrithenthattheleafwascarnivorous．"Takeiteasy，sister，I’mcomingtoyourrescue,”hecriedoutandrantohelpher．Hefellintothewaterandwokeup．

        Dimitriopenedhiseyestofindalittleboyshootingwaterontohisfacewithhislittlewaterpistol．Hejumpedupandpretendedtorunafterhim．Theboylaughedandranaway．Dimitrifeltrefreshedbyhisnapanddecidedtowalkon．Helookedbackatthetwotreesunderwhichhehadsleptandwassurprisedtofindtheyweretheveryonesinhisdream."WhyisitthatIalwayshaveludicrousdreamsofsavingdamselsindistress,whileinrealityIlivesuchahumdrumlife？HereIam，almostfiftyyearsoldandIhaveneverbeeninlove，neverexperiencedintimacywiththeoppositesex．Idon’tthinkthere’sanothermanlikemeintheworld.”Heknewhehadadeepinferioritycomplexandfelthewasnotgoodenoughforanyofthem．Hecametorealizethatthereasonhecouldnotpursuethewomanhefanciedwasbecausehenevercreatedthenecessaryfoundationforhimselftoloveandbeloved．Therefore，heplacedthemonapedestal，outofrangeandunapproachable，onlytobelookedatandadmiredfromafar．

        Onthewayhesawpedestrianswearingallkindsofclothes：meninformalsuits，casualpantsorT-shirtsandjeansandwomeninbusinesssuits，prettycolorfuldresses，miniskirtsorsizableclothes．Therewasenoughvarietytodazzleone’seyes．Therewerealsocable-cars，muni-cars，doubledeckbusesandcarsofallbrandsandmodelsscootingaboutonthestreets．Thebuildingswerejustasdiversified，rangingfromoldVictorianmansionstomodernskyscrapers．"Why!It’slikeahugeamusementparklikeDisneyland!”hethought．Dimitriwasamanofalmostfifty，butheretainedthecuriosityofateenagerandthezestforlifeofamuchyoungerman．Theworldwasfullofinequality．Somemenwererich,somewerepoor．Dimitrikepthisequilibriumbythesimplephilosophyofbelievinginthepast，presentandfuturelives．Hethoughtthatinhispreviouslife，hemusthavebeenabesottedmillionairewhoextravagantlysquanderedhiswealthandtreatedwomenbadly，thatwaswhyhewassopoorinthislifeandnevercouldexperienceloveorromance．Hetookcomfortinthebeliefthatifhewasgoodinthislife，hewouldbehappyinthenext．ThisseeminglylogicalbeliefwasfascinatingandromanticandactuallywasquiteprevalentintheEast．Dimitricalleditasee-sawphilosophy．

        DimitriwalkedonandonuntilhefoundhimselfinthefamiliarsurroundingsofOakland，hisfavoritehangout．Feelingtired,hesatonthestepsofthepostofficeon13thstreettorest．ARollsRoycestoppedinfrontofthebuildingandawell-dressedwomansteppedouttofeedthemeter．Dimitri’seyesweregluedtotheglittering，silver-coloredshoeshehadseeninhisdreams．Agroupofboysrodebyontheirbikes；somechildrenwalkedhandinhandledbytheirnurseryschoolteachers；oldpeoplefromHotelOaklandsatsunningthemselvesinthegardeninfrontofthebuilding；acoupleinwheelchairscamebacktogetherfromtheirgroceryshopping．Dimitrisuddenlyfeltasifitwerespringwheremyriadsofflowersbloomedprofusely，andpeopleofallcolors，black，whiteandyellowwalkedaround，nude，idlychattinganddrinkingbeeronthegrassamidtheflowers，orjoyfullylisteningtomusicovertheradiointhisparadiseonearth—allracesofpeopleinperfectharmony．Flowersdonotneedclothes，neitherdoanimals，whyshouldhumanbetheexception?

        JoewalkedoutofthepostofficeandsawDimitrisittingtherelostinreverie．Helookedathimcontemptuouslyandwalkedbywithoutaword．HewentbacktotherestaurantandsaidtoMarianna：

        "Isawyoursonsittingonthestepsofthepostoffice．"

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