Suddenlyasmallboatcameflyingtowardsthemfromthedesoteisndontheoppositebankoftheke.Afigurewithclothesfppinginthewindwasstandingatthebowgesturingwithbothhands.UheluminousmoonlightIleensawthatitwasnootherthanherbeloveddaughterVio.ThestrongmuscurmanrowiwasVio’shusbandMr.Fihetwoofthemhadbeenlivinginseclusionireehouseonthisdesotelittleisndeversiheycamebatheirtriptothemundaneworld.Amanandawomanlivingtogetherforasubstantialperiodoftime,naturallybecameacouple.AtfirstMr.Fingerwasnotabletoadjusttothemonogamousretionshipofonehusbandandonewife,andpinedincessantly,butbecausehehadnotroloverhisbodywhichVioakeasbigasshewantedorassmalsafiherwhim,hehadnochoicebuttocapitute.Butastimewenton,Mr.Fingerhadbeehepointthathewassubmissiveandobedient,nolongerpinedaoenjoythehappylifeofahen-peckedman;ortobemoretothepoint,henolongerdaredtopin.Astheylookedovertotheothersideofthekethatevening,theysawnumerousopenfiresburningbrightly,hundredsofpeoplewalkingbusilytoandfroandcouldsometimesevenhearsoundsofshoutingiance.Viokhatsomethingimportantmustbehappening,especiallysinceshehadheardhatthegoldpacethathadbeensunktothebottomofthekewasgoingtedup.“Couldthatbehappeningtonight?”shewondered.Viohadalwayslovedthemagnifitgoldpace,sosheimmediatelyhurriedMr.Fiowardsthewaterawoofthemmadeswiftlyfortheoppositebank.
Viorushediher’sarmsandIleenkissedhertenderly.“Isthegoldpacegoingteduptonight?”sheaskedurgently.“...Istonightthenight?”
“Yes,yesitis…”repliedIleen.“Yourfatherisdownthere.Itwillberaisedupfromthebottomofthekeverysoon.Areyouhappy?...”Vionoddedandsaid,
“That’sgreat!MyheartisthumpingfasterthaneverwhenIthinkofhowthegoldpacewouldsoonberaisedfromthebottomofthekeahelightofdayagainsparklingwithradiantbrillianderthedazzlingsun.”Mr.Finger,whowasstandingnearby,saidfawninglytoIleen,
“Whydidn’tyoutellusbeforehandaboutthismagnifittaskbeingcarriedouttoday?IfIhadknownIwouldhaveeovertohelp…Butastheysay,‘bettertethannever’.Iamherenowanditisn’ttoht?”Ileehimandsaidsfully,
“Youwanttohelp?...Therearehundredsofthousandsofbravestrongnativewarriorshere.Whoneedsyou?...youflytotheheavensoryouswimtothebottomoftheke?There’snothingyoudotohelphere.Youjuststandasideandwatch…”WheneverIleenwaswithMr.Finger,shealwaysthrewherweightaroundandhimfeeltoofortablebecauseshewasalwaysafraidthatasamanhewouldtakeadvantagehterandnottreatherwell.Mr.FingeruoodIleen’sfearsahatherattitudetowardshimwasjustaposesheaffectedandthatinherheartshereallylovedhimtoo.IleenturnedandaskedVio,“Howhashebeenagtely?Didhebullyyouordoanythingtomakeyoumad?Ifhedid,justletmeknowandIwilltellCyclopsahebigguywilldealwithhim.Cyclopswillshakeallyourboneslooseayouhaveatasteofhissuperhumahandmatchlessenergy.”Vioshookherheadandsaid,
“Ohnomother,he’sbeenquitegoodretly…Hedoesn’tdarebullyme…”
“That’sgood”saidIleen.“That’sgood.”
“Bullyher?”mumbledMr.Finger,mutteringunderhisbreathasifspeakingtohimself,butalsoasifhewaherstohearwhathewassaying.“DoIdare?Ithankheavensandregardmyselfveryluckyifshedoesnotbullyme!NeverinmywholelifehaveImetanyonewhodarestointimidateme.EvenKingDimitrineverdoesthat.She’stheonlyodarestodoit…”Thewomenstandingaroundcrackedupathismumbledpint.EvenMedusawhowasnormallyseriousandsolemncouldn’thelpughingoutloud.
IleeuneasyandhereyeskeptseargthewatersurfaderingwhyCyclopshadbeeerforsomugerthanhenormallydidandhopingnothingadversehadhappeohim.Medusatoofeltrestlessashersharp,anxiouseyessearchedtheshadowsofGiantMountain.Suddenlyallthesnakehaironherheadstohtuponendsandherpiergeyesopenedwideasifshehaddetectedtracesofenemyinvaders.gingintoahugebckbirdshesoaredhighupintotheskiesandhoveredthereilyseargtheareabelow.WhiteFairydidnotuandwhyMedusawassuddenlysoalert,soshefollowedsuiteandflewupintotheskytoo.SoonMedusamadeoutfive,sixshadowsstandingonasmallhill,lookingtowardsthekepointingauring.Medusaimmediatelyuhedhersharpironcws,foldedheroutspreadwingsuntiltheywereclosetoherstreamlinedbodyandmadereadytodivedownaheseuniruderswithahead-onattack.WhiteFairysaasgoingonandshouted,
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