“ShewenttoGiantMountainwithMegginnandRomi”saidDeanna“toseehowCyclopsisgettingonwiththeconstructionofthegoldpalace.Theprojectislaggingbehindscheduleandtheywenttoseehowtheycouldhelpthissimple-mindedgiantofHerculeanstrength,hopingtohavethepalacecompletedbeforeKingDimitrireturns.”

        “IheardAishaisgoingtocallameetingtonightaboutthis.”addedDorna.

        “Ihaven’tseenAishaalldaytoday,”Lotussaid,lookingatDorna.“Doyouknowwheresheis?”

        “Whereelseexceptherstudy”poutedDorna.“flippingthroughthoseinnumerablebooksonhershelvesforathesisorreportorsomethingofthekind?Sheisturningintoarealbookworm.Notonlyisshebecomingabookworm,sheisforcingallofustobecomebookwormsjustlikeher!”Beforeshefinishedspeaking,everyonewasbentoverinlaughter.Aishawasafamousscholarandslightlyolderthantherest,sothejobofsupervisingthestudiesoftheyounggirlsnaturallyfellonher.ThoughDornaoutwardlycomplained,inherheartshehadagreatloveandrespectforthismaturewoman,whowasbothamotherandabigsistertoher.

        “Don’tbemad,mylittleprincess,”Lotuslaughinglysaid.“Itwillaffectyourappetiteandthat’snotworthit.I’llgoandgetsomethingforyoualltoeat.”

        Lotuswalkedovertothechoppingblockbythestove,tookapieceoftendergingerandusingaspecialtechniquequicklychoppeditintoverythinshreds.Thesesheputintoseveralsmallsaucersandpouredvinegaroverthemassauceforhersteameddumplings,whichaddedgreatlytotheirflavor.Thegirlsbuzzedaround,helpingsetthetable.Soon,everythingwasreadyandtheysettledaroundthechoppingblocktoenjoytheirsnack.Lotuswashappytoseethemeatingwithsuchrelish.Suddenly,shefoundthatthehairofallfourgirlswerewet,especiallyMary’slonggoldenhairfallingtoherwaist,wasnowcloselyplasteredtoherneckandherback,makingherlookslightlydisheveled.Sosheasked,

        “Whathavethefourofyoubeenupto,togetyourhairallwet?”

        “Dornatookuspearldiving.”Sheilaproudlytoldher.“WithmycrippledleftlegIusedtohavetroublewalking.WhowouldhavethoughtthatnowIamabletoswimlongdistances?”

        “Isawalargewhitefishinthewater,asbigasahumanbeing.”Marysaid.“Thesunlightshiningthroughthewateronitsdensescaleswhichcovereditswholebody,gaveforthdazzlingsparks,makingitlooklikeawarriorinacoatofmagnificentarmor.”

        “What’sstrangeris,ithastwoswellingbreastsjustlikeawoman!”Dornaadded.“Itswamallaroundusandwouldnotleave,asifitwantedtoleadussomewhere.”

        “Itissaidthatthatfishisthemotherofalllivingthingsinthewaterandithasbeensightedfloatingonthesurfaceofthelake.”Deannasaid.“Peoplerespectitasagoddessandwouldneverlayafingeronitorharmitinanyway.Itseemedtowanttoleadustothedeepwatersattheheartofthelake.Iwasafraidthattheswimmingtechniquesofthegirlswerenotquiteuptoswimminglongdistancesunderwater,soweturnedbackhalfway.Wewouldregretitforeverifanythinguntowardaccidentallyhappened.ButifIshouldseethatwhitefishagain,Iwillfollowittothedeepwatersattheheartofthelakeandseewhatit’sallabout.”Deannawasanativegirlwhogrewuponthispieceofvirginsoil,untouchedbycivilization.Shecouldswimlikeafishandwasfreeandcomfortableinwaterasshewasonland.

        “Iwanttogo,too”criedDornarebelliously.“Idon’tbelievemyswimmingisworsethanyours!”

        “Nowdon’tbenaughty!”interruptedLotus.“Thisisnolaughingmatter.BecarefulthatAmaliadoesn’tsmackyouwithherflyingbroom.”

        内容未完，下一页继续阅读