“Ido”repliedhenturningtoMr.O’Brian,heasked,
“DoyouRobertO’BriantakeNovelSilkestobeyourwfullyweddedwife,tohaveandtoholdfromthisdayforward,forbetterorforworse,forricherorforpoorer,insiessandih,toloveandcherishtilldeathyoudopart?”
“Ido”repliedMr.O’Briaakingtheringfromhisbestmanwhohadtakenitfromtheringbearer,Mr.O’BriantookNovel’slefthandacarefullyohirdfinger,saying,“WiththisringItheewed.WithmybodyItheeworship.WithmyworldlygoodsItheeendow.Inthehefather,andofthesonandoftheHolySpirit.”Withthatthepastorblessedthebrideandthegroomandannounced,
“Bythepowersiedinme,Inowpronounanandwife.”HesmiledatMr.O’Brianandsaid,“Youmaynowkissthebride.”Mr.O’BrianturoNovel,carefullytookherveilbythehemandturowardsthebackofherhead.Whenthebridewasunveiledandfacedtheguestswithherbeautifundgeousfeaturesinfullview,murmursofpraiseandexcmationsofsurpriseroseandfellinthechurch,turningtoughterandhandgwhenthegroombenthisheadtokisshisblushingbride.MusicstruckupagainasMr.O’Brian,withNovelonhisarm,walkedbackdowntheaisletowardstheentrahechurchamidwhistles,gofhandsandtossingofrice,fetti,rosepetalsandweddingpoppers.Theybeganrunningdowepsofthechurchasthetossingbecamemorous,quicklygotintothefleetofcarswaitingatthefroranddroveaway…Theguestsmingledforawhileandtheinanorderlymannerwhentheirnameswerecalledastheircarsweresentoverfromtheparkinglotacctothetimeoftheirarrival.Elenadidnotleavewiththebridalparty.MakingherwayaroundthegardenasMarkdid,shereachedthebatrandenteredherassigrailer.
Outofrespectfodandthesanctityofthechurovel’sfleetofcarsdroveawayslowlyandsolemnlyinpletesilenceforquiteadistancebeforelettinglooseandalltwelvecarsbredtheirhorhusiasticallyinjoyfubandoinganoisybuthappy,fiesta-likeatmosphere,muchlikethewaytheesepeoplecelebratetheirLunarNewYearbylightingupalongstringoffirecrackers.Thebridalfleetdrovebackthewaytheycame,followedcloselybythecarsoftheVIPguests.Thecrowdsofonlookerswereagaiedtoafreecarshowandhadaneye-fulloftheparadeofname-brandluxurycarsfromdifferenttries,rareenoughtocauseasensationwheheyappeared.DimitrikhenthatNovel‘sweddingceremonyhadendedandtheguestswereallleavingthechurch.Stuacrowdofgawkingonlookersbehindstrictlyenforcedpolicesecuritylines,hewasrestlessasaahottinroof,knowingthatasedceremonywasabouttobegin.Thiswasthestrangeandunheardofweddingwheresixteeiesweremarryihesamegroom.Ifhedidnotappearintimeforit,thebeautieswouldbeextremelydisappointedanddeeplyembarrassedbybeingjiltedatthealtar,whichwassomethinghedidnotwanttohappehinking,“Inmylifetime,Ihavebrokenthroughmanyphysidpsychologicalboundaries,suchasdreamsay,richesandpoverty,blindnessandsight...Ithoughttherewasnothinginthisworldthatcouldbindmyfleshbody.ButnowIamstoppedbyawhiteropesetbythepolicethatIotleapover…”
“Hey,KingDimitri,don’tworry”fortedCreativity.“I’llwalkaroundahereisaspotsomewherethatwegetthrough.”
“Don’tbother”repliedDimitrismilingwryly.“It’sahopelessendeavorbecauseIhavethisfleshbodythatotescapedete.HowIenvythetwoofyouwhohavenofleshbodyandthereforehideintheair.Becauseyoutwohavenofleshbodyyoudonothavetodealwiththetroublesthatewithit,suchasaging,illnessesah.Myenvyofyouisnotwithoutreason.”
“Oh,don’tdespair,KingDimitri”saidImagination,suddenlythinkingofsomething.“Westillhaveasttrickwehavenotusedyet.”
Retiringtothevestryroom,theoldpastorsatdownbehindhisdesktotakeabreak.Butbeforehecouldquenchhisthirstwithadrinkofwaterortakeabreatherhesaidtohissecretary,
“Quick…Catchtheanistbeforeheleavesahimknowtherewillbeanotherweddingtofolloheweddingwouldloselusterwithanmusidalso,askthejanitorstosweepawaytherice,fetti,rosepetalsandweddingpoppersonthegroundahemtoopenallthedoorsandwindows.Thechurchwascrowdedtocapacityandthesmellofperfumewasoverp.ItmightsmellIfeelitisnotpatibletothesanctityandsolemnityofthechurestthing,havethemnotifythepartiesofthesedweddingthattheceremonieswilleimeinthirtyminutes…Letmeseeifthereisanythingelse…No,Ithinkthat’sit.Pleasegoaoeverything.”Thesecretarywasayounggraduateoftheseminaryaraiheoldpastor..Heansweredastringof“Yes,sir.Yessir”totheordersandrushedtocarrythemout.Theoldpastorseemedtobegreatlyiedinthissedweddinghewasaskedtoofficiateat.Itwasnotthathewasn’tiedinNovelandMr.O’Brian’sweddinghehadjustperformed.Orary,hehadputagreatdealofthoughtandeffortintotheceremony.Thegroom’sillustriousfamilybackgroundehattheweddiswerefromtheeliteofiionalsociety.Thesenormallyhardtomeet,distinguishedandrenownedpersonageswereallgatheredtogetheriowithisgrandandmagnifitweddingofthetury.Thefactthathewastheparsonwhodirectedandofficiatedtheceremonycouldnothelpbutgivehimasenseofgreatsatisfa.
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