ThehallofthisChinesepalace-likebuildingwasenormous,tallandsolemn．Ithadanintimidatingatmospherethatmadeanyindividualcomingtoitseeminsignificant．ThickPersiancarpetscoveredthefloorandatriumphantgoldendragon，tailswishing，whiskersflyingandclawsdancing，decoratedonesideofthewall．Infrontofitwasanelevatedplatform．Asolidgoldthronestoodinthemiddleofthisplatform，flankedoneithersidewithalife-likespecimenofanAsiantiger，ferociousteethbared，eyesgloweringmaliciously，itsjetblackstripesstandingoutagainsttheglossyyellowfur．Twostraightlinesofplainredwoodchairs，twelveoneachside，ledtowardsthedoor-way，withspecimensofotherwildbeasts，bears，leopardsandenormousspread-wingedeaglesplacedbehindthem，givingthehallafearsomeatmosphere．

        Atdinnertime，nativesofthemountainswouldhearmelodiousmusiccomingfromthediningroomnexttothehallandtheyknew"theking"washavingdinner．Noonehadeveractuallybeeninthediningroombutgrapevinenewshaditthattwenty-fournudebeautiesofdifferentnationalitiesservedthemeal．Theywouldrotateintheirduties,butfouralwayssatwiththekingatthetable；tenwouldservethemealandtheothertenwouldplaymusicalinstrumentstoaccompanythedinneras"theking"likedmusic，andwouldorderdifferentinstrumentstobeplayedaccordingtohisfancy，sometimesclassical，sometimeseastern，sometimeswestern．Nomodernlightingapplianceswereused；theroomwaslitexclusivelybycandlesandpalacelanterns．Thetwenty-fourbeautieswereadornedwithdiamonds，rubies，sapphiresandotherpreciousjewels，lendingamysticandromanticairtothebanquet．TheCaucasianbeautiesweregracefulandelegant，theLatinobeauties，vivaciousandpassionate，theorientalbeauties,mysteriousandexquisitelyfeminine．Eachhadherindividualcharmandgracetobefullyappreciatedandsavored．

        Dimitrisatday-dreamingunderthetreeattheparkinglot．ThiswashisfirstdayatworkattheChinatowngasstation．Itsparkinglothadbeenpavedwithcementandtherewasonlyonetreeleft．TherewasaChineserestaurantacrossthestreet．Theexteriorwasdecoratedlikeapalace．withcolorfullanternshangingattheentrance，andChinesemusiccouldbeheardcomingfromit，allofwhichbecamematerialforhisdreams．Thetwootherattendants，oneVietnameseandoneMexican，stoodtalkingtoeachotherinpidginEnglishwhichtheyunderstood，accompaniedbybodylanguage，buttheirdisdainandcontemptforDimitriwerequiteevident．Theyknewhimtobeahomelesspersonwhousedtoroamaboutthedistrictandthereforetheywerealittleindignantthathewasnowanemployeelikethemselves．Sotheydidnothingtohelphimgetacquaintedwithhisnewsurroundings，butlookedonscornfullyashesattherelostinreverie．DisciplinewasforeigntoDimitri’snomadicwaysandhehadnonotionofwhatwasexpectedofhimatajob．Hewaswillingtoworkhard，buthesawnoharminsittingtheredaydreamingwhentherewasnoworktobedone．Justthen，awhiteRollsRoycedroveupforafill-up．Thetwoattendantsrushedover，smilingandobsequiousbecauseMrs．IleenKaffeewasanoldpatronofthegasstationandalwayslefthercartheretobewashedwhileshehaddimsumatherfavoriterestaurantacrossthestreet．Dimitri，however，sattherelookingonastheyfussedoverthecarandthought，"Addinggastothetankisreallylikeabloodtransfusion，andinhisimaginationthewhitecargraduallybecamepinkasitfilledwithgas.Mrs.Kaffeewasawomaninherforties，withshortblondhairfashionablycutandicyblueeyes，sharpandkeen．Hercoldthoughcharmingfeatureswerespoiltbytheexpressionofarroganceandconceit．Sapphiresadorningherearsaddedadashofrevoltanddissipation．Hervoicewaspleasantbuthercourtesywasphony．

        TheownerofthegasstationcameuptoDimitri，joggedhimwithhisfootandsaid，

        "Hey．areyouheretoworkortodream？DoyouthinkIpayyoutositthereandsleep?Youthinkmoneycomesthateasily?"Dimitriwokeupwithastartle．

        "Oh，I’msorry．Iforgot．"

        "WashMrs．Kaffee’scarandthencleanandvacuumtheseatandtherugs．Bequick!"

        Dimitrihadneverdoneanyprofessionalcar-washingbefore．Herushedaboutlookingfortherightequipmentandinstructionsonhowtousethem，buthegotlittleresponsefromhisfellowworkers．Finally，hewasreadyandbegantowashthecar，notrealizingthatthewindowswereopen．Thetwoattendantswatchedhimwithmaliciousgleeasdirtywatersplashedonthegoldenvelvetseatandcushionsandtheyrantotelltheowner．

        "Goandseewhattherookieisdoing．Heiswashingthecarwithoutrollingupthewindows.”Theownerrushedout，afraidtoloseavaluablecustomerandshouted，

        "Whatareyoudoing，youidiot!Don’tyouknowyouhavetorollupthewindowsbeforeyouwashthecar?Ifyoucan’tdothejob，youcanleave．Don‘tmaketroubleforme．"

        "I’msorry．I’llbemorecareful”saidDimitriquiteabashed.Luckily，thedamagetotheupholsterywasslight，sohecleanedupandstartedagain，sayingtohimself，"CarwashingisnotaseasyasIthought.Imustpaycloserattentiontomyworkandnotletmymindwander.”Somehowhegotthecarwashed,waxedandvacuumed．Pleasedwithhiswork，Dimitriclosedthedoorofthecar，returnedtheutensilsandwentbacktoreporttohisbossthattheworkwasdone．

        Meanwhile，Mrs．Kaffeefinishedherdimsunandwaswaitingtocrossthestreet，whenshesawthreemengetintohercaranddriveaway.Sheshoutedatthembuttonoavail．Shestormedintotheofficeandshoutedattheowner,

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