“Look,that’sthetextthatMeggime.Howotgooutofmymindwithworry?”Thenhequicklytookhishandbadsmiledawkwardlyiembarrassmentsaying,“Sorry.Sorry.IamsoworriedthatIfotyouotsee.Letmereadittoyou.”Thenheread,“Ihaveestablishedanewfoundationcalled“TheDream-Maker’sFoundation”andputallKingDimitri’sastronomicalwealthentrustedtomeintoit.IthinkKingDimitriwilgreetothestepsIhavetaken.SignedMegginn.”Dimitrifellintoareverieafterhearingthosewordsandmuttered,
“Astronomicalwealth.Astronomicalwealth.Howmuchisthat?Howmuchisastronomicalwealth?DuringmylifetimeIseemedtohaveownedalotofwealth.Butitwasaccumutedandthenlost.Lostandgainedbackagain.Lostandgainedback;gainedbadlostforIknownothowmanytimes.However,nowIseemtohavebeeedfromthefihisastronomicalwealth.Howmuchreallyisastronomicalwealth?Ithinkitmustbeozero…”Dimitriroaredwithughteratthethought.Hecppedhishandsandshouted,“That’swonderful.Iamfreeagain.Iwasinallyavagabond.Noweverythinghasebacktozero!”
Chapter5WhereMyDreamIs
Thegentlespringbreezeblewonsoftly,overandover,badforthwithnooneknowingfromwhecame.Itveeredaboutasifithadlostitsdire,laimlesslyandleisurelyarouanttoleave.Thegentlespringbreezeblewonsoftly,overandover,badforthcaressingthepoor,barreh’switheredbrowngrass.Itblewonsoftlyaitivelyuntilthegrassndwascoveredwithdifferenthuesofgreelespringbreezeblewonsoftly,overandover,badforthlikeabeautifulgirl’sevehing;herswellisroseandfellfaintlywitheahalingandexhalih,exudingthefragranceofflowers.Nooneknowsfromwhenceshecame.Itonlyloiteredaroundaimlesslyandleisurely,reluttoleave.Perhapsitcamefromthevalleyorthefarawayo,orevenfromtheotherendoftheworldbeyondthehorizon.Perhapsithadlostitsdireandhadgoneadrift,Soitwaslaimlesslyaroundthepinsandprairie,loathetoleave.Thegentlespringbreezeblewonsoftly,overandover,badforth.
Thespringbreezewaslikeanaughtyuronhisfirstdayofadventuringtotheoutsideworld.Everythingwascurious,freshandohim.Atthemoment,herowlingaroundfreelyinAisha’sbackyard.Look!Anever-wideningcircleofripplesmarredthesmoothsurfaceofthewaterintheswimmingpool.Thatnaughtyurmustbestoopingbythesideofthepoolrufflierwithhissmallhandsforfun.Theswingbytheeroftheayingrhythmically.Itmustbehimagainoscilting,flyinganddangintempowiththebreeze.’tyouhearhisgurglingughterresoundingintheair?Inthegarden,buddingflowersswayedanddahespringbreeze,asifthenaughtyurwasshakingeveryoheirbranches,shouting“Springishere!Springishere!Whyaren’tyoushowingyourbeautifulfaces?”Thatmeddlingisquitesuperfluousofthelittlefellow,foryouwouldthinkthosebeautifulbuddingflowersalreadyknoringwashere!Thespringbreezeflewhighintothesky.Thenaughtyurflewwithittotheroofofthehouse,hiseyescaughtbythechimeshangingontheeaves.Outofcuriosity,heshookandhitatthemwithhislittlehands,fillingtheairwiththetintinnabutionofthemusistruments.Thetinklingsoundofthesemysticalchimeswaslikeabuglecalltotheflowers,tellingthemspringwasreallyhere;sotheyallbloomedatononeaccord,floodingthegardenwithblossomsofnumerousshapesandcolors.Thespringbreezehadreallyheraldedtotheworldtheadventofentingspring.
Thespringbreezewaslikeapettythief,aremarkablyskillfulohat,capableofclimbingwallsainginsidehouseswithoutmuchado.Therewasnowallintheworldthioughtostopher;nowindowshecouldhrough.Afterall,windowshavecradthespringbreezegetthroughalpertures,howevernarrowtheymaybe.Butspringbreezeneverhadtouseitsspecialtalentsinthisrespectforintheseasonwhenallthingsappearfreshandgayandtheairiswarmandfragrantwiththestofflowers,allwindoentoweletheing.Aishaisnoexceptiontotherule.Likeotherpeople,shehadopenedherFrendowstolettheringbreezeblowinsideherhouse.Whitecycurtainsflutteredinthespringbreeze,likethehemofsomebride’seborateweddinggown.Thespringbreezecircledaroundeveryroomlookingatthehundredsofbooksfillingthebookcasesaroundthewalls.Actually,itdidnotreallywanttosteanythingbutwasonlycurioustofindoutwhatthemistressofthehousewasdoing.Shewasnotputtingonmake-upbeforethemirror,butwasreadingquietly.Thespringbreezewasreallytoonosy!
Aisha,wearingherlonghairlooselycoiledinaonbun,wassittingtranquillyonthesofabeforeawindowleisurelyreadingabook,withherhairlooselySheoftenliftedherheadtolookatthewhitecycurtainsflutteringinthespringbreezelikethehemofsomebride’seborateweddinggown.Slightwriheersofhereyesonlyaddedtohermatureandentiyandlimpidandlucideyes,deepasacrystalclearautumnpoheverysymbolofwisdom.Lookingdown,shebegantoreadAngelica’stestbookofpoems.Aishareadonslowlyandatteryioutthemeaniweenthelineswherethepoetessusuallyunwittinglyrevealedthesecretsofherheart.AishaseemedtouandwhatAngelicawastryingtosayandgainedpleteknowledgeofherthoughts.Angelicawasaverytalentedpoetess;butherquestforperfectbeautyalwaystahself-destruwhichleaowardsasuicidaltendency.KingDimitrioftenwarnedAishathatAngelicawaslikeanexquisitelybeautifulbutfragilecrystaleasilyshattered,soAishawasveryatteoallAngelica’swordsanda.ShewasgratifiedtofindthatAngelica’stestpoemswerenoledwitharming,terrifyingorshogsensations,butoraryrevealedtypicallyfemiimentssuchastenderness,elegandrefi.Hermodeofwritinghadges,whichmeantthatherwayofthinkinghadgedaswell.FormerlyintheKingdomofDreams,AishawastheQueenoftherealm,belovedbyallhersubjeowbathemundaneworld,sherevertedbacktothestatusofaoncitizen,butstillkeptintactwithalltheyoungerbeautiesofthekingdoheyalwayssultedherwhenfrohproblemsorunhappinessandAisha’sadvicewasalwaystreasured.Aishaalwayssetasidesometimefromherstudiesandresearchtospendwiththebeauties,takingseriouslyhermotherlike+positionastheirfriend,sisterandfidant.Shespeimeonattendingventionsandrefusedallopportuogoabroad.ThatdayshehadmadeanappoiohavebreakfastwithAngelicasotheycouldhaveaabouthowthebeautifulpoetesswasdoing.Aishalookedattheclothewall.Itwaseighto’clocksharp.Thedoorbellrang.AishakmustbeAngelicawhowasalunctual.Shestooduptoopenthedoor,neverimaginingthatoutsidethedoortherewasastrahAngelica,ayoungwomanshehadbefore,holdingacleverlittledog,Maureenonaleash.
Abrandnewimposinglookingbcklimousinedroveslowlyuptothegasstationandcametoastop.Nooneknewwhichbigshothadarrived.Thepersonwhopushedopenthecardoorandsteppedoutwasnotaliveriedchauffeur,butasvelteyoungwomanwithaigfigure.Shewasdressedforthesummerinaminiskirtandatanktop,exudingthevigorandvitalityofyouthandthesophisticationofthecitydweller.Shestoodbeforethegaspumplookingabitperplexedasshehadn’thadtodriveherselfforquiteawhilenottomentiongasupthecarbyherself.Shewassurprisedthatshehadfottenhowtodosuchasimpleandfamiliartaskandwasn’tsurewheretobeginnow.Perhapsitwasbecausethesestfewdaysherheartwasbesetwithplexandinprehensiblesesmakingherfeeltense,uneasyandfearful.Shelookedupatthewideexpanseofblueskiesaboveherhead,asifonlyitableofcalmiroubledspiritsahermindtorememberiepsoaddgastohercar.Takingacreditcardfromherhandbag,shepusheditintotheslotbesidetheputersandtypedinherzipcodeandpocketedthecreditcardwhenitslidout.Thentakingthelonggaspipenozzleinherhandshewalkedtoherdwasaghastthatshecouldn’tfindwheresheposedtoplugitinto.ThelimousinewasboughtexpresslyfinnbyMr.KaffeewhensheasdedtothethroneofCEOofWorldBank.Thelimousinewasforherownprivateuseandcamewithitsownchauffeurtodriveheraround.Afterall,thecarwasnotonlyameansofveyaalsoastatussymboswell.Therefginnneverhadtodriveherselfaainlydidnothavetogetgasforit.Shewalkedaroundiingthedatstfoundanopeningontherightsidejustbeforethefrontdoor.Sheuncappeditquicklyandpluggedthegasnozzleintotheholeagasflowintothetank.Thehecaptightlyonandrepcedthegaspipeonitshanger.Shetoreoutherreceiptfromthemaeandwalkedtothedriver’ssideofthelimousiintothecar,steppedonthegasanddroveslowlyoutofthegasstatiohewideexpanseofclearblueskies.
Megginndroveonhandsclutgthesteeringwheel,eyesontheroadstraightaheadandfootsometimessteppingontheaccelerator,thhlyenjoyingtheexhiratingexuberanceofspeed.Thelimousineperformedspectacurly,maintainingasmoothandevenbahroughout.EverynowandthenMegginnwouldlookupattheblueskiesaboveasifafraiditwouldhavedisappearedwithoutherknowingit.Retlyshehadbeenexperiengsuchfeelingsofrestlessuneasinessforquiteawhile,afraidthattheblueskieswouldsomehowsuddenlyescape.“Whywouldtheskies,sohigh,sodeepandhugeandsofar-reagthatitcoversthewholeearth,wanttodisappear?”shethought.“Wherecoulditgo?Ithasoescapeto!ButwhywouldIwanttodisappear?Everythingisgoingsosmoothly...TheownershipandmaofWorldBankhasbeentakenback.AllDimitri’sformerindustries,paniesandpropertieshavealsobeenrecovered.Hishugefinancialempirehadnotonlysufferednoloss,buthadoraryexpandedquiteabit.WhateverIpainstakinglydesignedandcarriedoutmyselfworkedperfectlylikeclockwork,sowheredidthisfeelingofuanduneasinessefrom?”Shediagasherownpsychologicalditionedreflex.Theonewhowishedtoescapewasherself;onlyshetransferredsuchfeelingstotheblueskiesaboveherhead.Justthentheprofound,psychologidinsinuativewordsAishaoncesaidtohersuddenlycametomind.‘Everyoneoneislikealongstringofastronomiumbers,followedbyseventeeeenzeros.It’sreallyhardtoreadoutsuumbers.Ifthefirstofthesehecapitalletter‘I’disappears,thenwhatmeaningdoallthezerosthatfollowhave?’Megginnsuddenlythought,“Why,that’sjustwhatishappeningtome!IhaveworkedtirelesslytoseethatWorldBankandallhisotherassets,whichhadstruckouttobeetheirownindepeentities,werefullyrecovered.Dimitri’shugefinancialempireisnowevenstrohanithadeverbeenbefore.Buthisastronomicalwealth,withallthezerosafterit,ismeaninglesswithoutthecapitalI,Dimitri,whohaddisappearedwithoutatrace.IworkedthishardbecauseofmyloveandloyaltytoDimitri.WhatmotivehaveItogoonwithouthim?Aishawasright.Ifthefirstofthesehecapitalletter‘I’disappears,thenwhatmeaningdoallthezerosthatfollowhave?”LastnightMegginnmadeherfinaldecisionaedittoMr.Kaffee,afterwhichallthefatigueandexhaustionaccumutedfrommonthsofhardworkcolpsedonher.Layingherheaddownonherdesk,shefellsoundasleepanddidnotwakeuntilthefollowingm.Shestareddumbfouheblueskiesoutsidethewindowlostinthought.Thenhereyesfellontothestringofastronomicalfiguresonherputers,gingeverysedasiftheywerealive.Hereyesmovedbackwardsandforwardsbetweentheblueskiesandtheputerstwoorthreetimes.Shesuddenlystoodup,asifshehadetoacertainenlighte.Walkingtoherprivateroombehindtheoffice,shetookoffhersomber,dullbutveryexpensivebusinesssuitandgedtothecasualbutlivelyandyouthfuttiresheusedtofavor–miniskirtandtanktop.ThewholebuildingwassilentwithnosoundofhumanactivityasshewalkedoutofherCEOoffice.Itwasthesilencebeforeanotherbusyaicday.Megginntooktheelevatorfromthe24thfloordowntothespaciouslobby.ShewalkedoutofthefrontdoorofWorldBank,andcrossedovertotheparkingstructurereservedfortheseniorstaff.Raisingherheadtotheblueskies,sheagaiherowninsignifioddingtotheparkinglotattendantshewalkedovertoherddroveaway,eagertotalktoAishaassoonaspossibleaboutthedecisionshehadmade.ShehadetothisdecisioninspiredbyAisha’swords,soMegginnthoughtAishawouldapprove.Asshedrove,Megginnthoughtaboutthedramatichappeningsthatenfoldediwenty-fourhours.Shedrovemoreslowlyandjustgotoffthefreewayexit,whichwasabouttenminutesawayfromAisha’shome,whensuddenlytheemergencyarminhercarsoundedandredlightsfshedonandoffonallthegaugesandinstrumentsonthedashboard.Thespeedofhercarsuddenlyslowedtoalmostastopandcrawledalonglikeanoldoxpullingabrokencart.Megginnwasgreatlyarmedandimmediatelypulledhercartoastophesidewalk.Shequicklyturnedoffalthesystemsinherdsatthereataloss,notknowingwhathadhappened.
Megginheblueskiesasifhopingtooncematherstrengthfromtheeretchofblueatmospherehighabove.Shegraduallyclosedhereyeswhilekeepingtheimpressionoftheclearblueskiesbeforeher.Shetookthisimpressiooherheartaherfearandarmquicklysubside.Shewasoncemoreatpeace,herbraincalmandcool,hersensessharpandagileasbefore.Afteradjustingherselfmentally,sheopenedhereyesandtriedagaintostarthercar.Owice.Thriothinghappehisluxuriouslimousinehadreallystalledandbrokedownbytheroadsidelikeapileofrubbish.Thestrahingwasthiscarracticallybrandnew,havingjusteofftheassemblinglisolongagoandhadbeenperffwlessly.Thebrandselfwasaguarahehighestquality.Howcouldithavebrokendownsoquickly?Fromthewayitwasagup,thetroubledidobeaminorone.Somethingwasdrasticallywrong.Butwherewastheproblemandwhydidthishappennow?Megginnagainlookedtowardstheblueskieswhilehermindracedbackfranticallytothetimeshedrovethecaroutoftheparkingstructureaovereverythingshehaddonesihen,notoverlookihesmallestdetail.Suddenlyshefoundthecruxofthematterandexcimedoutloud,“Ohgosh!That’sit!”Sherealizedthatthemistakehadbeenmadewheookthegasnozzleoffthehanger.Shehadieddieselfuelintastankinsteadurunleadedgas!Faseheinfluxequantityofdieselfuelwasdetrimental.Megginnsppedherthighwithherhandasifangrywithherselfandmuttered,
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