《关闭小说畅读模式体验更好》

        Shefirststoppedattheleftpeak,wheretheese-stylepacewaslocated.Landinginfrontofthepacegate,MedusapausedforamomentbeforewalkingintotheHall.Thoughbrilliantlylitasusual,thegrandandsplendidHallwaseerilysilent.Theslimgracefulfiguresthatwerenormallysomuevidehere,werenowhereinsight.Missingalsoweretheirmelodiouschatterandughter.Theonlysoundtobreakthedeadlysilehefeeblechafingofthesandinthehssasitdribbledon,keepingtrae.Thewholepceseemeddesote.Afteriingeverynookanderforfirehazardsahateverythingwasinorderandthattherewasnothingtoworryabout,sheleft.MedusacrossedoverthesuspensiebetweewinPeaksandcamethtpteau,theadministrativemateroftheKingdom.Hereeverythingwasultramodern,effitandstifidiretrasttothepace-likebuildingopteauwithitsstressonaraditionalstyle.Herewasthehospital,nuclearpowerpnt,helicopterndingfieldandhugeunicationssatellitedishestokeepintactwiththeoutsideworld.Mostimportantofall,theAdministrativeBuildingwastheheadquartersofKingDimitri’simmensefinancialempire,withenougheighttomakehavocofglobaley.Onendingheriionandabouttoleave,Medusawassuddenlyhitwithastrange,unexpinableforeboding.Itwasasifshewasbiddingafinalgoodbyetothesefamiliarsurroundings,insteadofjustmakiinenightlycheckupaswasher.Tohavethisstraurbingpremonition,especiallyonthis,KingDimitri’sfirstnightback,wasinprehensibleandMedusadidnotwishtodwelnylohisannoyingfeeling,sintoahugebckbird,sheflewacrossthewideexpanseofwatertiantMountaiernskywasjustthenstartingtoturnbright.

        AsshedrewnearGiantMountain,strainsofmelodiousmusiccouldbeheardfloatingoverfromthegoldpace.KingDimitrihadledthebeautiesdownfromtherooftopgardentothegreathall.Seatedonhisthrone,hewasattentivelywatgthedanceperformedbyNatalieandWhiteFairy,whiletheotherbeautieswerebusyapanyiheirmusistruments.Thedahebrilliantproductofitsterformers,underwentintense,long-termrehearsal.Eaent,eachgestureerfectlychraphedtobeeexquisiteasasculpture,andsmoothlystrungtogetherwithsuperbgraetimestheirtwomovementswereidentical,recisionthatmadetheirfiguresseemtobeoverppingeachother.Atothertimes,theirmovementswereseparateanddifferent,asifusingbodynguageasameansofunication.ThiseciallytrueofWhiteFairy,whoturnedfromhumanformtolightsmokeatwill.Theirtwofiguresmaintainedasuitabledistaneachother,apartaogether.Theywouldbedanginperfectco-ordinationwhensuddenlyWhiteFairywouldturnintoapuffofsmokefloatinginmidair,whileNataliewouldspinalrouageasifchasingthewhiffofintangiblelightsmoke.KingDimitriwatched,deepinthought.HeseemedtohavegraspedthehiddenmessageofthedaheCloudandI”.Themovementsseemedtobeexpiniionshipbetweenthecloudandohecloudseemedtosymbolizeman’sgoalinlife,beitlove,wealthorpower;orperhapsallthree.Butitissouableandgeable,sometimesingtogetherandsometimesdispersing.KingDimitrithought,“Whyismyimpressionoflifesovagueandhazy?Thepainfulexperiencesbandedinmymemoryaicpassii,andtheinnumerablevisitationsofLadyLuckgavemeunfettableimpressionsoflife.IhadthoughtIhadaperfedprofounduandingoflife,buttheseridvividimpressiohoughtheybe,couldnotwithstandtheerosionoftime.AlreobliteratedandIamleftiasaninfant,ignorantoftheperceptionoflife,apletebnk.Perhapslifeislikeacloudfloatingintheair,carefreeandlight-hearted,withorememberanyimpressions.Itwouldbebestteteveself.”Whenthedancewasover,thedayhadbeguntodawnandthesplendidgoldpaceglitteredwitheye-dazzlingbrilliaonhisthrone,KingDimitriwasstilldeepinhisturbulentthoughts.

        Afterthreewholedaysandnightsofuninhibitedrevelry,thenativesoftheKingdomhadfullymaedtheirloyaltyanddemonstratedtheirjoyattheirsurnthroughsonganddanoweverythingieriousKingdomhadreturheirinalpeadundisturbedtranquility.Intheheavyfog,soundsoffishermancastingtheirscameclearlyoverthewater.Onthenarrowtrailsinthemountainscouldbeseennativesshoulderiheirwaytoworkohenativeshadreturheirsimple,primitivewayoflife,upatsunriseasu.KingDimitrididnotgobacktohissplendidluxuriouspace,wherehisbeautieshadbeenwaitingsoeagerlydayandnightforhisreturn.Theyhadhopedtosharethesepreomentswithhimfromdawntodusk,buthesettledhimselfinthesmallhutbythesideoftheke.ThisstrawthatchedhutwithmudwallshadinallybeenbuiltforLotustosoleherhomesiess.NowithadbeethehermitagewhereKingDimitrilivedalohoughsometimeshestillwentbacktothepacetospendtimewiththebeauties,andoccasionallytheywouldetovisithimathistranquilretreat,onthewholeKingDimitri’slifewashardw,livingonthefruitsofhisownborbythesweatofhisbrow.Inhisheart,thereseemedtobeascale.The‘me’iyandthe‘me’inmydreamsaretwopletelydiffereies.Butsometimesthesetwobeeone.Imustfindapointofbaweenthem,herfavoheother.Iotletthereal‘me’enduredirepovertyandbodilytormentwhilethe‘me’inmydreamsliveinunheardofluxuries,enjoyingfame,fortuheundyingloyaltyofmysubjects.Thisistoounjustandisagainstmymoralsce.KingDimitriwasaninnatelykindandbenevolentman.Notonlywashepassioohisfellowhumanbeingsandanimals,hewasequallysympathetictohisotherself,lefttosufferinthemundaneworld.Hethoughtthatthemoreextremetheluxuryheenjoyedinhisdreams,thesoonerwouldhisdreamsendandhewouldrelutlybebareallifeagain.Therefore,inhisdreamshedeliberatelychosetoliveasecludedandlonelylifeibytheke,hopingtherebytoextendthelengthofhisdreams.Butiy,whereisthedreamthatdoesnotend?Uiseter.

        Chapter4ThreeTrueFriendsiy

        Dimitriwokefromhisdreams,hisearsfilledwiththehubbubofcitystreetsandthenoiseines.“As,Iambaybeautifulndofdreamsintoreallifeagain!”Thoughunwilling,therewasnothinghecoulddoaboutit.Amidthestreetnoises,hecoulddisthechirpingofbirds,clearandcrisp.Openinghissleepyeyes,hesawgoldenlightfloodinginfromhiswindowsawasm.Thoughbliillretainedenoughofhissenseofsighttodistinguishbetweennightandday.Thenfromtheparkinglotacrossthestreetcamethebriskstaccatoofdiesshoesonthepavement.ItcrossedthenarrowstreetandpassedunderhiswindohevoicewassofamiliarhereizeditatonceasbelongingtoMary,thesocialworkerofhisbuilding.Apictureatonceemergedinhismindofagood-looking,golden-hairedyoungwoman,enandpleasantdemeanor,walkinghappilyinthemsun.TheyoungwomanwasMary.Dimitribelievedinhisintuition,whichhadneverfailedhimbefore.Thoughblind,hereliedonittodealwitheverydaylifebecauseitcouldpiercethroughthesurfadghttotheheartofthematter.Thingsthathadhappeohimwerelikedistantpicturesdirectlyinputtohismind,likesesfromamovie,withouthavingtoghhisvision.DimitrisuddenlyrememberedhehadpromisedtobeinMary’sofficethatmtosignhisrentrelease,soheimmediatelygotoutofbedahiswayhaltinglytothebathroom.Inhispreviousnomadlife,mtoiletwasanunknownfactor,sothedailyroutineofbrushinghisteeth,takingashoweretc.cameunnaturallytohim.Finishingthesechoresashastilyaspossible,hewasgettioleavewhenhesuddenlyraisedhisheadandfoundhimselfstaringintoabnkmirror.Hestoodthereaghast,askinghimself“HoweIaminvisible?WheredidIgo?Whereismyrefleinthemirror?DidIdisappearintotheair?”Hethoughtforawhileaoldhimself“youareblindnow,sowhyisitsosurprisingthatyouolongerseeyourrefle?Whyshoulditbesohardforyoutoacceptthisstarkreality?”Hislipscurledinabitter,self-ridigsmile,Dimitrituroleave;butinhisheart,therewasstillthisnaggingdoubt“HoweIhavedisappeared?HoweIhavedisappeared?”Feelinghiswaytothedoor,heopeandwalkedout.Suddenlyherememberedhehadfottenthiswhitee,whioblindpersoncouldgoanywherewithout,soheturnedback,searchedandfoundtheewhichwastobeaninseparablepartofhimfortherestofhislife.Thenheclosedthedooraappinghiswaydownthecorridor,feeliotwofootsquareinfrontofhimtoensurehissafepassage.Thelittleiigablevoisidehimpipedupagain,“Thatbodyrelyingoeetowalksafely,isthatnotmyself?WhyshouldIlookelsewhereforit?Ididnotdisappearintotheair.Iamwalkingforwardledbythewhitee.Thereisolookanywhereelseforme.Istheretwoifme?Maybethatrefleinthemirrorthathasdisappearedistherealme.Whoknowswhichistherealme?”Heshookhisheadvigorously,hopingtogetridofthedisturbahesebothersomeideas,butinhisheartthattalkativevoiceingathimagain.“Amanoverfifty,withnoaplishmentstospeakof,totallyblindinthebargain,isn’tthatembarrassingandtroubling?Thisismysituation.Iamlikeamanwatgamovieintheema.Justatthecrucialmomehemoviereachestheclimax,powerfailureplungedeverythingintototaldarkheplotwasreallyabsurdandridiculous,illogidevennonsensical.Itislikethestoryofmylife.Isn’tmylifejustthesumtotalofpreposterousevents?Powerfailurehastemporarilycutofftheprocessofthestory.Letmesitinthedarknessandwaitquietlytoseeifthemovieendslogically.”Dimitriughed.“Ohyes!Letmesitinthedarknessahingsturnout,howfateevolves.”Hehadbeenwalkingonwhiletheserandomthoughtsfshedinhisbrainandhesoohehallwhere18thturystylefurniturewasscatteredaround.Makinghiswaycarefullyaroundthem,hecametothedooroftheoffice.Suddenlytherewasaloudhejanitorhadturnedonhisvacuumer.Abusywdayhadjustbegun.

        DimitrisatbesideMaryatherdeskintheoffice,signinghisleaseanddealingwiththeountofpaperworkentailediingsubsidizedhousing.Hehadbeenstruckblindsuddenly,andasadisabledpersonwithoutshelter,cessionshadbeenmadeforhimandhehadmovedintohisapartmentwithoutgoingthroughthenormallytediousprocessofapplicationandtheprofusionofpaperwork.Nowhewasmakingupfortheck.Beingblind,Dimitricouldnotread,soMaryreadtheimportantpartstohim,patientlyexpiningiailthepertitentsbefuidinghishandtothepceshehadtosigheirfingerscameintotact,DimitriintuitivelyfeltMarywasakindaleyoungwoman.Mary,onherpart,hadaninexplicablegoodimpressionofthismiddle-agedblindmanonfirstsight.Theonlythingsheknewabouthimwasthatheusedtobeastreetperson,sowhythisextraordinaryfeelingofsolicitude?Itwasasubtleactivityofthemind,hardtograspitsdelicatevicissitudeandneedlesstosay,impossibletoexpinincorrectwords.Attheendofthishighstackofpaperwork,eraskingwhomtotaergency.Dimitrirackedhisbrainsinvainforasuitablename.Hehadherretivenorfriends,whocouldhe‘tact’?Thoughhehadtwogoodfriends,RichardandJamaz,hehadunfortunatelylosttouchwiththem.Intheend,heshookhisheadsheepishlyinmortificationbecausehecouldnoteupwithasinglename.MarytookupthepenandfilledinherownnameandphoneakingituponherselftobeDimitri’s‘persontotadsheseemedhappytodoit.Dimitrithankedherwholeheartedlywhehinghadbeensignedanddoneahurriedly.MarywatchedasDimitrifelthiswayamongthemazeoffurnitureinthegreathalsiflostinabyrinth.Toher,heseemedtobeafallingleaf,fadedanddriedup,floatinginacoldwind.Howcouldthisman,longembroiledinthedisappoisandmisfortuneoflife,beethetargetof24-hoursurveilncebyFBIandCIA?Wasitnecessarytohavehiseverymovement,everywordkeptunderobservationandtaped?TheysaidDimitricouldbethetrillioermindwhooveandshaketheworldofglobalfinandthathemayberesponsiblefortheretstrangeandmysteriousdisappearanceofgoldfromtheworldmarkettounknowinations.MarywatchedasDimitrimaogetoutofthemazeoffurniture,turnintothecorridoranddisappearfromsight.Retly,shehadwatchedthetaperecsofDimitri’sdailylifemadebyobservationcamerasandhadbeeremelydisforted.Thoughanunwillingpartit,shefeltguiltyaboutthebrazeninsolehisinvasionofhisprivacy,muchasanunfaithfulwifewouldfeeboutbetrayingherhusband.Butshehadtodowhatshehadtodo,forthiswasherjob.Inherheart,shekhatonedayshewouldfesstohimeverythingaboutherrelutinvolvement.Fromthevideotapes,Marysawthatinhistinyroom,allDimitrididalldayrepareasimplemeals,whichweredigestedandexcretedfromhisbody.Outsideofthathedidnothing,andtherewasnothingheodo.Muchofthetime,heyonhisbed,asifheneededalotofsleep.Inhiswakinghours,hesatbeforethewindow,dazed.Hismiobebnkwithnothoughtsatallbecausehisexpressionwasdulndwooden,likeacyorwoodsculpture,withnosignoflife.Occasionally,hewouldstandupandstalkaroundtheroomwiththepowerlessmiseryofacagedbeast.Dayafterday,herepeatedthesameroutine:sleep,sit,stalk,wastinghislife.Heseemedtobeamanwithoutasoul.Thoughhehadafleshbody,hissoulwasnotattachedtoit.Superficially,Dimitrimayseemtobeamanwithoutasoul,butthatwasbecauseithadturoabrilliantbird,fppingitsgeouslycolorfulwings,flyingintheblueskiesofhisKingdomofDreams.Butthen,thatwassomethingnoonecouldknowof.

        Dimitrihurriedbacktohislittlenicheofaroomafterfinishingsigninghislease,feelinghappy,rexedandunburdened.Actually,inhisstagnantlife,therewasreallynothingsentastorequirethishaste.Butinhisnomadlife,hewasusedtoidlenessandloafingabout,neverhavingbeenencumberedwithtrivialthingsheodo.Sohealwaysrushedtogetthesethingsoutofthewaysohecouldenjoyanabundanceofcherishedleisuretime.Hecouldnotaffordtoclutterhismindwithpettychoresanddistractitfromtheimportantthingsthatobedecidedrightaway.Hemusttratehiseffortsondealingwiththesemomentousissuesappropriatelyandsatisfactorily,astheleasthtcouldgiverisetounforeseeabledisaster.Forexample,hemustgivehisdazzlinggoldpaceasuitablenameandfindouthowsuenormousstrucouldhavebeenpletedht,aigationlongoverdue.Bysettlinginhishermitagebytheke,hiskingdomhadbeewithoutasn.Heoremedythisbyferrileof‘queen’ohebeauties.ButwhowouldbethebestdidatetoleadtheKingdomindealingwithitsdailyagendawasadecisionthatrequiredmuchforethought.AlsohewasnotignorantofthefactthatbarbariantribeshadbeenaggressivelyexpandingandwasgettingcloserandclosertohismysteriousKingdom,endangeringitssafety.Allthesewereimportahatrequiredhisimmediateattention.

        Takingabottleofgin,headdedsometohisgssejuice,movedachairovertothewindowandsatdowntoenjoythewarmsunandthecobreeze.Oldfashionedlovesongsfromthefifties,whichDimitriwasfamiliarwithinhisyouthdriftedoverfromthesidewalkoftheparkinglotacrossthestreet.Whatabeautifulday!Howsuitableformusing!JustasDimitriwasabouttogivefreereintohisimaginationahispowersofthinkinggraduallydevelop,hishandcameintotactwithawo,thefigureofatapdanghehadsgedfromaroadsidegarbageduringhisdaysasahomelessstreetperson,andhadkeptallthistime.Luckilyitwasonlyaninanimatepieceofwood,oritslimbswouldcertaiiff,strainedandpainfufterbeingcarvedintosuchapermaactivepose.Dimitrithoughthewasatoolofimagination,insomerespectssimirtothewooden.Thepleaseswithitsicalposeandwinsomeappearahusvindigthevalueandsignificeofitsexistence.Uponself-examination,whatwasthevalueandsignifiitri’sexistence?Wasitmerelypyingwithhisimaginationtofillthevoidofemptytime?Orwasittowhileawaythelongdrearyyearsoflifestretchedbeforehimwithaimlessmeditation?No,itwasnotso!DimitrihadestablishedamysteriousKingdomintheprimitivewilderhatbeloohimalowasthestpieceinsoilintheworlduntouchedbycivilization.Arounditwereeatelymountainrangesenclosingacrystalclearke.Inthemidstofthesebeautifulmountainsandkes,weremagnifitpaceswheremaiesofmatchlessgradeleganceresidediluxury,amidunheardoftreasuresandincalcubleriches.Dimitriwasthekingofallthis.Thoughstructedonlybyhisimagination,itsexistencecouldnotbedenied,foreventhoughthiselusiveandintangibleKingdomwasnotactuallysituatedonthisearth,itlivedinallrealitywithinDimitri’smind.GreatempiressuchasthegrandioseRomanEmpireiandtheflourishingTangdynastyiandtheirextremelypetentandcapablesedthousandsofyearsago.Wherearetheynow?Theyaregohthewind,lostintheobscureandflickeringcurrentoftime.Butweotdenythattheyhadexistedonthisearthandhadmadetheirbrilliant,indeliblemarkioryofmankind.Remainsoftheirimmortaltributionsstillbefoundtothisday.Dimitrisippedhiscocktaindmutteredtohimself,“Yes,howcouldIbesodefagastoethefruitofmanyyearsoflovingbor–myKingdomofDreams.PerhapsIshouldputitallonpaper,draordsamesmerizingpictureofmyKingdomtoattractmorepeopletoeandvisit.Ofcoursethekeytomykingdomisimagination.OnlypeoplewithimaginatioeraKingdombuiltonimagination!”ButthenDimitrifrowned.“Forablindman,itisoimpossibletowritedownthoughtsoislikeafishierwantingtoflylikeabirdinthesky.Impossible.No,itisnotimpossible!Hey,whydon’tItapedownmystoriesonarecorder?Perhapsoneday,Imightmeetsomeonewhowouldbewillingtotranscribeitontopaper,perhapseventraintoseveralfnnguages.ThenmanymorepeopleofimaginationeandvisitmyKingdomofDreams.Whatagoodidea!”

        Dimitritimisticpersoaininghisloveoflifeinthedirestcircumstanowheseemedtohaveagainfoundvalueandsignificeoflifeaveryhappy.Hefinishedhisdrinkataquaff.WhileDimitriilylostinhisdeepreverie,avoiceoutsidethewindowcalledhisovoice,“Hey!Dimitri!Dimitri!”Hewastakenunawares.Havingjustretlymovedintothisapartment,hewasstillunfamiliarwithhissurroundingsandhadnofriendstospeakof.Whocouldbecallinghim?

        “Whoisit?Whoareyou?”

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