“No.No.No.Thiswhiskyisgoodenoughforme”saidDimitri.“Don’topenthisbottlejustforme.”

        “Ohno”repliedCharina“Thisisthehighestformofenjoyment.Agoodstoryshouldbeaccompaniedbygoodwine.”Sayingso,shepulledthecorkoutofthebottle.Immediatelyanintoxicatingfragranceofagedwinefilledthewholeroom.EvenMaureenwokeupandsniffedherearsuprightandhereyesbright.

        “Alright”saidDimitri“Sinceyouhavealreadyopenedthebottle,Iwillgoonwithmytale.”SohetoldthestoryofhisKingdomintheDreamsmuchasaminstrelofold.

        Itwasafternooncommutetimeandthetrafficonthefreewaywasbumpertobumper.Inthelineupwasanold,dilapidatedpickuptruckchuggingalonglikeatiredoldox.Thesettingsunblazeddownwitheye-dazzlingbrillianceontherearviewmirror,causingRichardtoadjustitsangle.Keepinghisfootonthegaspedal,heinchedalongwiththeslowtraffic.Needlesstosay,hiscompanionwasJamaz.Thetwoofthemwereidealpartnersandinseparable.TheyhadbeenworkinghardforMrs.NovellaSilkestheselastfewdays,mowingthelawn,cuttingandpruningthetreesandbushes,sprayingfertilizersandinsecticidesandwererewardedbyagenerouspayment.

        “Wegotpaidtoday”saidRichard.“Whereshallwego?”

        “Uptoyou.Youarethebrainssoyoudecide.”

        “WhatdoyouthinkofMr.O’Brian,Novella’sfiancé?”askedRichard,changingthesubject.“Iheardtheyareabouttogiveahugewedding”

        “Iknow.Heseemslikeagoodguy,veryrefined,comesfromapedigreefamily,hasanenormousfortuneandistheenvyofeveryone.But,inmyheartIfeelpretty...IfeelbadforDimitri.”

        “Why?”askedRichardinsurprise.

        “HetookoverWorldBankaswellasNovella,oneofDimitri’sbeautiesintheKingdomofDreams.Hegrabbedsomeoneelse’smoneyandsomeoneelse’sbeauty,ofcourseIfeelbad.”

        “Ha.Ha.Ha.Ha”laughedRichard.“Myoldpal,youreallydonotunderstandDimitri’sintentions,doyou?Whydoyouthinkhebroughtallthesebeautiessafelybacktothismundaneworldandthendisappearedcompletelyhimself?Hewantedeveryoneofthemtofindtheirowndesireddestination.Youmeanyoureallydidn’tunderstandwhathetookgreatpainstoaccomplish?”

        “Really?Wasthathisintention?ThenIwon’tfeelbadatall.”saidJamaz,greatlyrelieved.

        内容未完，下一页继续阅读