Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第63/327页)

institformedawaterfall20-30yardsinwidth“Quick!Quick!Dashthroughthewaterfall”criedVientlyastheboathewaterfall.Mr.Fingerrowedmorequicklythaneverandinamaddashpiercedthewaterycurtainmadeupofinnumerabledeerparticleswhichraineddownontheirheads.BeforethemwasacurvingcoveandMr.Fingermadeforthebankoftheke.VioquicklyjumpedoutoftheboatfollowedbyMr.Finger.Sheseemedveryfamiliarwiththeterrainandsoonfoundanarrowflightofsteps.Shewalkedquicklyup,madeafewturnsandcametoacave.Thecavewasnotpitchdarkaswasnormallythecase,butwaslightedupbythelusteroftwelveenormouspearls,asbigasgooseeggs,embeddedinitswalls.Ihespaciouscavewereafewdozensturdyandmagnifitlycarvedwoodes.Viotedthemandsmiledbecausethenumbercidedwithwhatsherememberedfromherpreviousination.Sheopenedsomeofthechestsandsawthattheywerefullofallkindsofbrilliant,glitteringgems.Shegrabbedahandfulfromeatilshehadfilleduptheclothbagshehadbroughtwithher.ShethenclosedthechestsandhappilyledMr.Fingerfromthecavewithalightstep.

    Thefieryredsettingsunhadsunktoa45degreeahewestersfiertimidatihadabatedsomewhat,butthetemperaturewasstillunbearablyhot.Officehourswereoversothecrowdsofpedestriansandbumpertobumpercarshadalsodisappeared.ThecuteandcleverlittledogMaureen,coveredwithsoft,longhair,antingwithtonguelolling,hisonlymeansofdispersi.Dimitritooerspiringprofusely,hisclothesstigtohisbodywhilehehurriedafterMaureewoofthemmeandereddowreet,zigzaggingthiswayandthatasthelittledogtriedtocatchthestofhisquarryintheman-madeforest.Hewaslostinthemazeoffusisalroundhim.However,whenthecrowdsthinnedandtrafficsloweddown,Maureeivesenseofsmellwasagaininfullswing.HisspiritsliftedandheseemedtohavefottenhisfatigueasheledDimitrifullsteamahead.AlthoughDimitri’ssenseofdirewasbythenquitefused,hefeltthattheenviroaroundhimwasbeingmoreandmorefamiliar.Maureeobeleadinghimtowardsthealleywhereheusedtohaveadipidatedshackwhichwastertorndown.Ifthatwasthecase,hehadleftamattressagainstthewallthatsomeonehaddiscarded.Hehopedithadakenawaysohecouldhaveapcetoresthisheadthatnight.Nomatterhtheday,whatmorecouldoneaskoflifethantobeabletosleepfortablyatnightandhaveasweetdream?Maureeohavelockedontohistarget.Hebecameexcitedandagitatedrushinghtahead,pullingDimitrialongwithhim.Dimitricouldnotbutfollowbehier-skelter,holdingontothedogleadtappinghiswhiteefastandfuriouslyonthegroundtogethisbearings.Sureenough,Maureenturothealleyandstoppedinfrontofthedoorofthevatwarehouse,barkingloudly.Dimitriwasstartled.“Couldtheybehidingrighthereinthisemptywarehouse?HowwasitthatIhadnoinklingofitwhehenighthere?”Suddenly,Dimitrigedintohisheroicalteregoandspokeloudlyandmajesticallytotheclosedwindowsanddoor,“Mr.FingerandVio,Iknowbothofyouarehidingihere.Everywronghasitsculpritandeverydebtitsdebtor.Iamheretotalkthingsoverwithyou.IfyouhaveagrievanceIwillrightit;ifyoufeelIoweyouadebtIamheretopayit.Ialoneamresponsible.IfyoufeelIhavewrongedyou,Iamwillingtomakeituptoyouinwhateverwayyouwish.EvenifyouthinkIshouldforfeitmylife,Iamwillingtohandittoyouwithbothhands.Butdonottakeitoutonotheribystanders.Letoutyourwr