Darknessdesdedandthenumberofcarsontheroadlessenedsiderably.Mr.KaffeewasstilllaimlesslyoreetswhensuddenlythewindbroughttohimentigsmellofBBQmeatbeinggrilled.Hestoppeddeadinhistradlookedaroundhim.Hewasattheborderofarundownaedrosegardenah-watering,ambrosialsmellcamefromsomewheredeepiherownbushes.Onandoffhealsoheardindistinct,muffledsoundsofughterandversation.Uowithstandthelureofdeliciousfood,hefollowedthestandwalkedfurtherintothedesertedgarden.Threemensatcross-leggedonthegroundaroundabzingfireatasecludedclearingdeepihegarden.Theradiobesidethemwastransmittinglightjazzmusic.ItwasDimitriandhistwogoodfriendsRichardandJamaz.Theywereroastioverthefireaing,drinkingandtalkinganimatedlyispirits.Richardwasexultantandbeaming.HewasvolublyretingtoDimitrihowtheytookbackWorldBank.
“Ohboy!Youshouldhavebeenthere!Itwasreallygreat!Sodramatic!ThankstoMegginnwhahewholethingsometiculously,takingcareofthemidetail,wewereabletocarryoutthepnseamlesslywithoutahitch.ThiswasallduetoMegginn.”Dimitrisippedhisbeerleisurelyandasked,
“Youtwodon’twanttobepresidentandvice-presidentofWorldBank.Whatdoyouiodo?”
“Wehaven’tgivenitmuchthoughtyet”admittedRichard.“JamazandIhavespentsomuchtimeinterror,alwaysontherun,justoepaheadofassassinsthatournervousarereallyshot.Weiotakeiteasyforawhileandspendsometimerecuperating,enjoyingourfreedom,justdoingwhateverwefeellikewheneverwewantto,totallyunencumbered.Ifwedon’twanttodoanythiwon’t!”
“Great!”saidJamaz.Takingupthebeerbottleheliftedhisheadandtookaswing.“That’salsomyideaofanideallife”headded.Thensuddenly,heswungaroundandjumpedupwiththebottlestillinhishand.Pointingatthetall,darkbushesheshouted,“Who’shidingtheresostealthily?eonout!”
Fromoutoftheshadowscameatall,rgeandimposingfigure,butwithatoddling,unsteadygait.RichardandJamazcriedoutsimultaneously,
“It’syou?OliverKaffee?”
“Good!”excimedRichard.“Thisisswell!Ofallthepcesyoucouldhavegoo,youchoosetoehererightintoourhands!!You’redeadmeat,man!Whatareyouherefor?Doyou...”Dimitriinterrupted,
“ehere,oldfriend.Putdownyourheavyburdensaforawhile.Iknowyouarehungry,thirstyanddogtired.Sitwithusandfillyourstomachbeforewetalk.”Knowingthathehadalreadysunktoroandhadoturntoanyway,OliverKaffeetooka‘ewhatmay’attitude.Ignthefactthathemaybeinthehandsofdeadlyfoes,peoplehehadgreatlywronged,hedecidedtosatehishungerfirst.Hesatdownnontlyonthegroundliketherabbedapieeatandgobbleditdownies.Hedrankthirstilyfromthebottleandwolfeddowhinginsightbeforebelgloudlyinsatisfa.Thenhesighedandsaidshame-facedlytoDimitri.
“IIhavegreatlywrongedyou.Youhelpedme,promotedme,butIspiredagainstyouandtriedtorobyouofyourforturiedtokillyou.TodayIknoronganddeeplyregretwhatIhavedoit’stoote.YoutellmewhatIshoulddonow,Dimitriandevenifyouwaodie,Iacceptyourdecreewithatioment,withoutamurmur.”Dimitrismiledathim,
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