Book2:KigdomIteDreams(2/106)
“Also,”addedthehealthyswimmerDeanna“itissaidthenew-erClementiobeafairyfromheaven,willingtoedowhandliveasahuman.Isn’tthatstrange?”
“Whydidn’tyougirlsinviteClementinehere?”askedLotus.“Sinceshegotafleshbody,sheisgreatlyiedinhumancuisihinkseverythingistasty.Perhapsshewouldenjoymydumplings.Ifanyofyouseeherter,tellherIinviteherovertotrymytestco.”
“ShewenttoGiantMountainwithMegginnandRomi”saidDeanna“toseehowCyclopsisgettingonwiththestruofthegoldpace.Theprojectisggingbehindscheduleandtheywenttoseehowtheycouldhelpthissimple-mindedgiantofHerculeah,hopingtohavethepapletedbeforeKingDimitrireturns.”
“IheardAishaisgoingtocalmeetingtonightaboutthis.”addedDorna.
“Ihaven’tseenAishaalldaytoday,”Lotussaid,lookingatDorna.“Doyouknowwheresheis?”
“Whereelseexceptherstudy”poutedDorna.“flippingthroughthoseinnumerablebooksonhershelvesforathesisorreportorsomethingofthekind?Sheisturningintoarealbookworm.Notonlyisshebeingabookworm,sheisfallofustobeebookwormsjustlikeher!”Beforeshefinishedspeaking,everyonewasbenthter.Aishawasafamousschorandslightlyoldertha,sothejobofsupervisiudiesoftheyounggirlsnaturallyfellohoughDornaoutwardlypined,inherheartshehadagreatloveandrespectforthismaturewoman,whowasbothamotherandabigsistertoher.
“Don’tbemad,mylittleprincess,”Lotusughinglysaid.“Itwilffectyourappetiteandthat’snotworthit.I’llgoasomethingforyoualltoeat.”
Lotuswalkedovertothechoppingblockbythestove,tookapieceoftendergingerandusingaspecialteiquequicklychoppeditihihesesheputintoseveralsmallsaucersandpouredvinegaroverthemassauceforhersteameddumplings,whichaddedgreatlytotheirfvor.Thegirlsbuzzedaround,helpihetable.Soohingwasreadyatledaroundthechoppingblocktoenjoytheirsnack.Lotusytoseethemeatingwithsuchrelish.Suddenly,shefoundthatthehairofallfirlswerewet,especiallyMary’slonggoldenhairfallingtoherwaist,wasnowcloselypsteredtohernedherback,makingherlookslightlydisheveled.Sosheasked,
“Whathavethefourofyoubeenupto,togetyourhairallwet?”
“Dornatookuspearldiving.”Sheiproudlytoldher.“WithmycrippledleftlegIusedtohavetroublewalking.WhowouldhavethoughtthatnowIamabletoswimlongdistances?”
“Isawargewhitefishier,asbigasahumanbeing.”Marysaid.“Thesunlightshiningthroughthewateronitsdensescaleswhichcovereditswholebody,gaveforthdazzlingsparks,makingitlooklikeawarriorinaagnifitarmor.”
“What’sstrangeris,ithastwoswellisjustlikeawoman!”Dornaadded.“Itswamalroundusandwouldnotleave,asifitwaoleadussomewhere.”
“Itissaidthatthatfishisthemotherofalllivingthingsierandithasbeensightedfloatingonthesurfaceoftheke.”Deannasaid.“Peoplerespectitasagoddessandwouldneveryafingeronitorharmitinanyway.Itseemedtowanttoleadustothedeepwatersattheheartoftheke.Iwasafraidthattheswimmingteiquesofthegirlswerenotquiteuptoswimminglongdistaer,soweturnedbackhalfretitforeverifanythinguntowardactallyhappened.ButifIshouldseethatwhitefishagain,Iwillfollowittothedeepwatersattheheartofthekeait’salbout.”Deannawasanativegirlwhogrewuponthispiesoil,untouchedbycivilization.Shecouldswimlikeafishandwasfreeandfortableinwaterasshewasonnd.
“Iwanttogo,too”criedDornarebelliously.“Idon’tbelievemyswimmingisworsethanyours!”
“Nowdon’tbenaughty!”interruptedLotus.“Thisisnoughingmatter.BecarefulthatAmaliadoesn’tsmackyouwithherflyingbroom.”
Amalialookedlikethetraditionalwitfairytales,butsofarasherbehaviorinDimitri’sKingdomofDreamswased,shewasreallyakiedelder.Herasweresometimessobizarrethatthebeautiesdidn’tquiteknowwhethertoughorcry.Butshewasveryprotectiveofthem,andtheywillinglycametobeonintimatetermswiththissinister-lookingbutkiedoldwoman.Sometimesshewasfusedandsilly,butsometimesshrewdandcapableandthebeautiestreatedherliketheiroldgrandmother.Yoko,theAsiayairofentigdimplesonhercheeks,eciallyclosetoAmalia,whopickedherupfromthestreetsaftershewasdesertedbyherparents,andpracticallyraisedherfrominfancy.Butthatwasinthebygonedaysofthesmokypast.OnhearingLotus’wordsDornasaid,
“Don’ttrytoscareme.Amalialovesmeandwouldneverliftafiome.Anyway,sheisnotinthepaceatthemomentandhasgoneroamingsomewhere.Whensheesback,Iwilskherwhereshehasgoneandwhyshehadn’ttakehher.Thatwillmakehersorepentantthatshe’llnevereventhinkofspankingme.”
“OK.OK,mylittleprincess!”ughedLotus.“Stoptalkingamoreofthesedumplings.Afteryouhavefinished,goandaforawhile.It’steandIheardAishahassomethingimportanttoannouonight.”
Thefirlssataroundthechoppingboardaowithzeal.AsDeannaate,shewasthinking,
“Imustswimtothedeepwatersinthemiddleofthekeassoonaspossibleait’salbout.IfDorna’scuriosityisnotsatisfied,thestrong-headedgirlwillbesuretosetoutbyherself.Ifanythinghappenstoher,itwouldbebecauseofmeandIwouldneverfivemyself.”Theirappetitesfullysatisfied,thefirlseatherownway.Soon,otherbeautieshearingofLotus’freshandtastyrefreshmentscameintwosandthreesfollowingoneachother’sheelstotrythesteamingdumplings,whicheveryohemdecredtobeuniqueanddelicious.Lotus,everthegracioushostess,talkedtothemandsawtoitthateveryonewasserved.Soonitwasduskandthebeautieshadallleft.Therewerestillthreebamboosteamersleftoove,whichLotuskeptwarmingfinn,RomiainebecauseshekhattheywouldsurelybehungryafteradayofiiononGiantMountainandwouldneedasnack.Also,theever-vigintMedusa,whoflewaroundtheskiescarryingoutherdutyasGuardianoftheKingdom,wouldbehungry,too.
JustasLotuswasclearingawaythetables,ate-iywalkedin.ItwastheAsiay,Yoko,witheyesfullofafasatingsmile.TheytalkedwhileLotuswentonwithherworkathandandYokosatdowntotrythevegetabledumpling.
“Yoko,Amaliahasbeengoneforquitesometimenow,hasn’tshe?”
“Yes,”sighedYoko,andherbeautifulfaceclouded.“Itoldhertimeandagainthatshewasgettingoldandshouldtakebettercareofherselfandnotgoroamingabout.Butshewon’tlistentome,andkeepsdisappearingfperiodsoftime.Itworriesme.”
“HercharacterissomewhatlikeKingDimitri’s”observedLotus.“Theybothlovetoroamaroundtheworldanddon’tliketosettledownathome.”
“Whydidn’tyougirlsinviteClementinehere?”askedLotus.“Sinceshegotafleshbody,sheisgreatlyiedinhumancuisihinkseverythingistasty.Perhapsshewouldenjoymydumplings.Ifanyofyouseeherter,tellherIinviteherovertotrymytestco.”
“ShewenttoGiantMountainwithMegginnandRomi”saidDeanna“toseehowCyclopsisgettingonwiththestruofthegoldpace.Theprojectisggingbehindscheduleandtheywenttoseehowtheycouldhelpthissimple-mindedgiantofHerculeah,hopingtohavethepapletedbeforeKingDimitrireturns.”
“IheardAishaisgoingtocalmeetingtonightaboutthis.”addedDorna.
“Ihaven’tseenAishaalldaytoday,”Lotussaid,lookingatDorna.“Doyouknowwheresheis?”
“Whereelseexceptherstudy”poutedDorna.“flippingthroughthoseinnumerablebooksonhershelvesforathesisorreportorsomethingofthekind?Sheisturningintoarealbookworm.Notonlyisshebeingabookworm,sheisfallofustobeebookwormsjustlikeher!”Beforeshefinishedspeaking,everyonewasbenthter.Aishawasafamousschorandslightlyoldertha,sothejobofsupervisiudiesoftheyounggirlsnaturallyfellohoughDornaoutwardlypined,inherheartshehadagreatloveandrespectforthismaturewoman,whowasbothamotherandabigsistertoher.
“Don’tbemad,mylittleprincess,”Lotusughinglysaid.“Itwilffectyourappetiteandthat’snotworthit.I’llgoasomethingforyoualltoeat.”
Lotuswalkedovertothechoppingblockbythestove,tookapieceoftendergingerandusingaspecialteiquequicklychoppeditihihesesheputintoseveralsmallsaucersandpouredvinegaroverthemassauceforhersteameddumplings,whichaddedgreatlytotheirfvor.Thegirlsbuzzedaround,helpihetable.Soohingwasreadyatledaroundthechoppingblocktoenjoytheirsnack.Lotusytoseethemeatingwithsuchrelish.Suddenly,shefoundthatthehairofallfirlswerewet,especiallyMary’slonggoldenhairfallingtoherwaist,wasnowcloselypsteredtohernedherback,makingherlookslightlydisheveled.Sosheasked,
“Whathavethefourofyoubeenupto,togetyourhairallwet?”
“Dornatookuspearldiving.”Sheiproudlytoldher.“WithmycrippledleftlegIusedtohavetroublewalking.WhowouldhavethoughtthatnowIamabletoswimlongdistances?”
“Isawargewhitefishier,asbigasahumanbeing.”Marysaid.“Thesunlightshiningthroughthewateronitsdensescaleswhichcovereditswholebody,gaveforthdazzlingsparks,makingitlooklikeawarriorinaagnifitarmor.”
“What’sstrangeris,ithastwoswellisjustlikeawoman!”Dornaadded.“Itswamalroundusandwouldnotleave,asifitwaoleadussomewhere.”
“Itissaidthatthatfishisthemotherofalllivingthingsierandithasbeensightedfloatingonthesurfaceoftheke.”Deannasaid.“Peoplerespectitasagoddessandwouldneveryafingeronitorharmitinanyway.Itseemedtowanttoleadustothedeepwatersattheheartoftheke.Iwasafraidthattheswimmingteiquesofthegirlswerenotquiteuptoswimminglongdistaer,soweturnedbackhalfretitforeverifanythinguntowardactallyhappened.ButifIshouldseethatwhitefishagain,Iwillfollowittothedeepwatersattheheartofthekeait’salbout.”Deannawasanativegirlwhogrewuponthispiesoil,untouchedbycivilization.Shecouldswimlikeafishandwasfreeandfortableinwaterasshewasonnd.
“Iwanttogo,too”criedDornarebelliously.“Idon’tbelievemyswimmingisworsethanyours!”
“Nowdon’tbenaughty!”interruptedLotus.“Thisisnoughingmatter.BecarefulthatAmaliadoesn’tsmackyouwithherflyingbroom.”
Amalialookedlikethetraditionalwitfairytales,butsofarasherbehaviorinDimitri’sKingdomofDreamswased,shewasreallyakiedelder.Herasweresometimessobizarrethatthebeautiesdidn’tquiteknowwhethertoughorcry.Butshewasveryprotectiveofthem,andtheywillinglycametobeonintimatetermswiththissinister-lookingbutkiedoldwoman.Sometimesshewasfusedandsilly,butsometimesshrewdandcapableandthebeautiestreatedherliketheiroldgrandmother.Yoko,theAsiayairofentigdimplesonhercheeks,eciallyclosetoAmalia,whopickedherupfromthestreetsaftershewasdesertedbyherparents,andpracticallyraisedherfrominfancy.Butthatwasinthebygonedaysofthesmokypast.OnhearingLotus’wordsDornasaid,
“Don’ttrytoscareme.Amalialovesmeandwouldneverliftafiome.Anyway,sheisnotinthepaceatthemomentandhasgoneroamingsomewhere.Whensheesback,Iwilskherwhereshehasgoneandwhyshehadn’ttakehher.Thatwillmakehersorepentantthatshe’llnevereventhinkofspankingme.”
“OK.OK,mylittleprincess!”ughedLotus.“Stoptalkingamoreofthesedumplings.Afteryouhavefinished,goandaforawhile.It’steandIheardAishahassomethingimportanttoannouonight.”
Thefirlssataroundthechoppingboardaowithzeal.AsDeannaate,shewasthinking,
“Imustswimtothedeepwatersinthemiddleofthekeassoonaspossibleait’salbout.IfDorna’scuriosityisnotsatisfied,thestrong-headedgirlwillbesuretosetoutbyherself.Ifanythinghappenstoher,itwouldbebecauseofmeandIwouldneverfivemyself.”Theirappetitesfullysatisfied,thefirlseatherownway.Soon,otherbeautieshearingofLotus’freshandtastyrefreshmentscameintwosandthreesfollowingoneachother’sheelstotrythesteamingdumplings,whicheveryohemdecredtobeuniqueanddelicious.Lotus,everthegracioushostess,talkedtothemandsawtoitthateveryonewasserved.Soonitwasduskandthebeautieshadallleft.Therewerestillthreebamboosteamersleftoove,whichLotuskeptwarmingfinn,RomiainebecauseshekhattheywouldsurelybehungryafteradayofiiononGiantMountainandwouldneedasnack.Also,theever-vigintMedusa,whoflewaroundtheskiescarryingoutherdutyasGuardianoftheKingdom,wouldbehungry,too.
JustasLotuswasclearingawaythetables,ate-iywalkedin.ItwastheAsiay,Yoko,witheyesfullofafasatingsmile.TheytalkedwhileLotuswentonwithherworkathandandYokosatdowntotrythevegetabledumpling.
“Yoko,Amaliahasbeengoneforquitesometimenow,hasn’tshe?”
“Yes,”sighedYoko,andherbeautifulfaceclouded.“Itoldhertimeandagainthatshewasgettingoldandshouldtakebettercareofherselfandnotgoroamingabout.Butshewon’tlistentome,andkeepsdisappearingfperiodsoftime.Itworriesme.”
“HercharacterissomewhatlikeKingDimitri’s”observedLotus.“Theybothlovetoroamaroundtheworldanddon’tliketosettledownathome.”