"Howlonghaveyoubeena🅕🆝🐠tthi🌸🃵🜈sbusiness?"
"Whydoyouask?Youhave🅕🆝🐠nomoney”．
"WhatIjustgaveyouwas🅕🆝🐠allIhad．Iwasn’twillingtospen🉠🈱🂈ditonfoodformyse💷lf，butIgaveitalltoyoutogetdrugs．"
"I🝶🏥’lldowhateveryouwishtopayyouback．🍞"
"IneedyoubutIwon’tt🁩🈟⛉akeyou."
"Whynot?Aren’tyouaman?Isn’🕞📠tthatwhatallm🚶enwant?"
"IfIhadpickedyouuporeet，Iwouldn’thavehesitated；butasitis，Igaveyouthemoosaveyony．IfItookyounow,Iwould🙒beabrutepreyingonyourvulnerabilities．Shei，therearealotofthiweenamanandawomanbesidessex．Forinstance，love，affe，friendship．．．butbecauseofy📉oursurroundingandcircumstancesyouwould🁓🅛n’tuand．"
"That’siing．Ihavebeendoingthissince🍞my🌰🂲earlyteens”．
"Whhtyoutothis?"
"Adevil．Don’teveionhim．Hegotmehookedsametodotricks．Saynomore．ImustgotoworknoworIwon’thaveanymoneyfsandthepimpwillbeatme．Iamcrippled，soit’sdoublyhardformetogeters.”Withthat，sheclimbedupthestairsa，andDimitriwenttosleep．Thefacesofthelovingcouple，kindandsmiling，appearedimmediatelybeforehim🆟．Heopenedhiseyes,shookhisheadabacktosleep．
Thepygmyiiewaswalkinghand-inhandwi☭🂧ththeseductiveandnakedMedusa．Itwasevening．Thebrightmoonlightwasreflectedontheripplingwavessoftlypattingtheshores．Thetwosanganddandfrolickedhappilyalohepygmyughedhisstrange，squeakyugh．Theygmyhighaboveherheadandspunaroundmadly，likeamotherpyingwithherson．Dimitrishookhisheadagain．"No,no.Thisisn’twhatIwanted.”aledhimselfdowntodreaminear．ItwasadenseforestintheheartofAfricaaspitchdarkasmidnight．Therhythmicbutmonotonousbeatofthedrumarousedinpeopleabarbarousimpulseandtheshoutsofthenativeslentitamysterious，primitiveandterrifyingatmosphere．Dimitriwentintotheforestandcameacrossatemple．Therewereshadowyfiguresofthenativesbeatingdrumsanddangaroundafire．Everynowaheyshoutedtheirbattlecry．Dimitrisawhumanskullsscatteredalloverthefloorawasthehabitatofmaingibals.Therewereskullsofallkindsofanimalsdecoratingthewalls，includinghumanskulls．Itwasafestival，thebirthdayofthegodofFate，andlivesacrificesweretobeofferedtohim．Thegodsatinthemiddleofthetemple，anticipatingagoodmeal．Hehadthebodyofamanbuttheheadofamoherewasarhinoceroshornatthetopofhishead.Onhisri🍁ght，stoodanakedshe-mohaspearinherhand，whoservedashisattendant．ShehadthebodyofaseductivewomanbuttheheadofaMedusa．
Dimitriwastakenaback．"Oh，it’sthosetwomonstersiherdream．I’vemetthembefore.”AnAfriativecameinwithbothhandssuppahugesilverptebahetopofhishead．Therewasanenormousbamboosteameroe,freshfromthekitwithsteamingfromuhelid．Hekrespectfullybeforethem，pcedthepteonthenarrow,longtableandtookoffthelidofthesteamer．Initwasthebodyoftheyounggirl，Shei，nakedasashelledhard-boiledegg．Shelookedasthoughshewasasleep，butactuallyshehadbeensteamedtodeathasasacrificetothegodofFate．Theshe-monster’seyesshohviciousgreed，andsalivabegandrippingfromtheersofhermouth．ThegodofFatetookaknifeanddissectedaleg．Aftertakingabite，hehaotheshe-monsterwhograbbediteagerlyandviciouslydev🀻ouredittothebone．
Aheart-rendingscreampiercedhisdream．Dimitriwokewithastartle．Lookingaroundinthedarkundergroundsewer，hecouldseeahuskybrapingShei．Herhaiedb🅊🄹yaropeandhewasontopofher．Dimitricouldseetherapidup-and-dowsofhisbodyasthoughheingonahorse．Hethrustolessly，occasionallytakingadrinkfromatiltedbottle,whileSheiscreamedinpaiherface．Hiswhiteteethgleamedinthedarklikethoseofaskulndsaid，"Youbitch，youdidn’tgivemeanymoodaysoyouhavetopayforit.”Hebithernipplesharduntilshebled．"Goddamnyou，youdevil,“shecursedstrugglingfutilely，"IwishI’deyesonyou.”Dimitri’sbloodboiledatthesight．Hegotupsoundlessly，grabbedapieceofsteelpipenearhim，andmadeaswipefortheb’shead．Thepainoftheimpactmadehimdrophison．Heshookhisheadandlookedagain．Nob．wasadream．Hehadhitthenarrowdderwithsuchforcethatthepartofhishaweehumbandtheindexfingerwastorn．Sheihadnoteback．Shehadedtoclosethelidoftheman-holeandthefaintgraylightofdawnfilteredthrough．Itwasanotherday．Dimitrisatontheground，dazed，holdinghisinjuredhandnotknowihertocryh．
Dimitrifoldeduphissleepingbagandputeverythingiicbag．Heclimbedupthestepsandfoundthatheha🛗🜠🃠dhititsohardwiththesteelpipethatitwascrooked．Hesmiledgrimlyasherecalledtheseinhisdream．Ifhehadreallyhitthedevil,hewouldhavebashedhisheadin．Ohwell!Heputhisbelongingsbatohiscartandpusheditinfrontofhim．Thelightswerestillonintheshops，butthedawnwasgraduallydrivingawaythedarkherewasnoonearouhedesertedstreets．ItwastooearlyandDimitrireallydidn’thaveaogo．Pushinghiscart，hefeltasearingpaininhishand．"ImustgoandfindMariannatoba,”hethought．Theashamed．Whydidhealwaysthinkofherwhenhewashurtry?Heagainpassedtheparkbenchwheretheoldcouplehadsatthenightbefore．Theolddymusthavebeeygirlwhenshewasyoung，andherhusband，ahandsomeyoungmaheywereanidealcoupleandhavehadaperfectlife，hemused．ThenhisthoughtsturoShei，theyoungprostitute，whoseprofessionwastosellcheaplytheuseofhersexualans.D★imitrididnotlookdownonher.Hewasedaboutherwhereabouts．Prostitutionwa🍒stheoldestprofessionintheworldbecausesocietycouldnotdowithoutit.Itwasobaheunbancedpartofhumannature，justasaunityneededsewerstodrainitswastewaterandraintopreventflooding．Sheioor，unfortunateyounggirlbutherprofessionwasaformoflife．herbodywasbutasacrifithealtarofFate．
Dimitripushedhiscartaimlesslyaloreets,whichgradually🗠brighteraffidpedestriansincreased．Thenoiseandcmorofcitylifehadbegun．Theslim，nymph-likefigureinbckappearedintheearlymsunlightandarrestedhiseyes．Itwasanun．Dimitrihadagreatrespectfornuns，lookinguponthemasangelsexpelledfromheavenfortheirsinsadowntotheearthtoatohem．Toughiscapwithhishand，hesaidgruffly，"Go，sister.”Thenunblessedherselfandsaid，"Go，sir,"inamelodiousvoithebrighteninglightofday,Dimitrisawshewasyoungayandherveilflutteringinthebreezegaveheranunworldlyairofspiritualintelligence．AsDimitriturogo，thenunnoticedfromtheerofhereyethathishandwaswouornandbleeding．
"Youhavebeenhurt！"sheexcimed．Shesearchedfranticallyforsomethingtoputoverthewound．Thehoughtofherhandkerchief．Pullingitout，sheeditaroundhishandandsaid，"Youshouldnotleaveitlikethat，itwillgetied．Gototheidhaveittakencareofproperly.”Mean🟖whileherslendernimblefingerswerewbusily．Dimitrilookedatthementranced，feelingnopainatall．Insteadhestoodtherewithhishandout-stretched，enjoyingtherareoccasionofbeingmademuchof，feelingasfortableaswhenhisearwasbeingscratchedbyaQ-tip．"Thereyouare!”thenunsaid，"That’lldo．Godblessyou!”Shetappedhims🝌lightlyonthearmandwalkedbrisklyaway．
Dimitriwalkedohishandtohishehandkerchiefhadafeminineaurawhichhefoundverypleasant．He🛔hadn’tsleptwellsohewastired，buthewaofollowthenun．Finally，hedecidedthebestwaywastofindafortablespotandfollowherwithhisdreams．Hecametoatreeatthesideoftheparkwhoseleafyshadowsseemedquiteinviting．Layinghimselfdownhefelsleepatonhisdream,Dimitriwaoaventwhichlookedlikeanacastle．Thehallwashuge，dismandaustere，litonlybyadimgaslight．Dimitristoodtheretryingtoadjusthiseyestothedarkhenhewalkedon．Hecouldhearthehollowechoofhisfootsteps．Thepcegavehimtheimpressionofaprison．Suddenly，heheardsweetyoungvoiharmoniouscresdo，singinginpraiseofGod．"Howdidtheseyoungwomenndinsuchagruesomepce?"hewondered．Hewalkedovertothewindowwherethevoicescamefromandpeekedin．Therewereagroupofarsinginghymns．Buttheonehehadmetintheearlymwasnotthere，sohelostiandwalkedon．
Hewalkedaroundtothebackofthebuildingandsawawoodedareafurtherdown，sohewalkedonandonuntilhecametoapthewoodswheremistysteamrosefromtheshadowsoftrees．Partingtheexuberantbranches,hesaolikeapearlinthemidstoftalltreesandluxurianttropicalflowers．Thenunhewasseekingwasthere，gettingreadyforherbath．Shecarefullytookoffherhabitandveilexposinggoldentressesaifulsnow-whitebodyerfectlyproportionedfigurethatwouldbetheenvyofanywoman．"Whyshouldagirllikethattakethevowandbeeanun?"Dimitriwondered，ashestoodtheretransfixed．Shewalkedintothewateruntilitcametoherwaistandleisurelybegah．Evehingmovementsweregradelegant．Dimitricouldseeacrystaldropofwaterrollslowlydownfromhernobleforeheadtoherflushedcheeks．Thenittraveledtoherfinelychiseleduntilitdroppedontoherbeautifulbreast．Itslippeddownherbreast，caressingitandgingtohernippleuntilitcouldholdonnolongeraantlydroppedbatothewater．Justthen，twoareesbythesideofthepond，whosebrancheshadgraduallyleanedcletherastheywatchedherbathe，walkedtowardseachotherandembraced．TheyturotwomohepygmyandMedusa．Excitedbythesightofherbeauty，theymadelove，thepygmykissingMedusa’sbody．Eventhevegetationhrodisiac．Thenthemourotreesagain．They👦switchedfromoneformtotheotherflickeringly.Dimitridisregardedthemandturnedhisthoughtsbacktothenun．"Itissuchawaste,”hethought，"Thosebeautifulbreastsweremeanttofeedbabies．Ifshecouldhaveababyinherarms，bathingtogether，itwouldbeareMarkablese．Whyshouldsheblockuphermaternalinstindturnherreproductivesystemfromitsnaturalnormintoalifeofchastityandseclusion?"HecoulduandthatshereserveherpurityandofferittoGod，buthestillfeltitwasdunnaturandcouldnotdo，eventhoughherespectedherresolution．Hekheremusthavebeenalotofpainandstruggleinherresolution；theprocesswaslikecloggingapipe，fthewatertoflowbackwards．Justthen，ahugeleaf，freshanddewy，floatedby．Thenunclimbedontoittorestforawhile．Butassoonasshegoton，theleafcurledupandenvelopedher．ItdawnedonDimitrithenthatthele🂫👮afwasivorous．"Takeiteasy，sister，I’mingtoyourrescue,”hecriedoutandrantohelpher．Hefellintothewaterandwokeup．
Dimitriopenedhiseyestofindalittleboyshootingwaterontohisfacewithhislittleistol．Hejumpedupaeorunafterhim．Theboyughedandranaway．Dimitrifeltrefreshedbyhisnapanddecidedtowalkon．Helookedbackatthetwotreesunderwhichhehadsleptandwassurprisedtofindtheyweretheveryonesinhisdream."WhyisitthatIalwayshaveludicrousdreamsofsavingdamselsindistress,whilei👶🍒yIlivesuchahumdrumlife？HereIam，almostfiftyyearsoldandIhaveneverbeeninlove，neverexperieimacywiththeoppositesex．Idon’tthinkthere’sanothermanlikemeintheworld.”Heknewhehadadeepinferiorityplexahewasnotgoodenoughforanyofthem．Hecametorealizethatthereasonhecouldnotpursuethewomanhefanciedwasbecausehenevercreatedthenecessaryfoundationforhimselftoloveandbeloved．Therefore，hepcedthemoal，outeandunapp🕛roachable，onlytobeloo🕄kedatandadmiredfromafar．
Onthewayhesawpedestrianswearingallkin🌰🂲dsofclothes：meninformalsuits，casualpantsorT-shirtsandjeansandwomeninbusinesssuits，prettycolorfuldresses，miniskirtsorsizableclothes．Therewasenoughvarietytodazzleone’seyes．Therewerealsocable-cars，muni-cars，doubledeckbusesandcarsofallbrandsandmodelsscootingaboutoreets．Thebuildingswerejustasdiversified，rangingfromoldVictorianmansionstomodernskyscrapers．"Why!It’slikeahugeamusementparklikeDisneynd!”hethought．Dimitriwasamanofalmostfifty，butheretaihecuriosityofateenageraforlifeofamuchyoungerman．Theworldwasfullofinequality．Somemenwereriewerepoor．Dimitrikepthisequilibriumbythesimplephilosophyofbelievingi，presentandfuturelives．Hethoughtthatinhispreviouslife，hemusthavebeeedmillionairewhantlysquanderedhiswealthaedwomenbadly，thatwaswhyheoorinthislifeandnevercouldexperienceloveorromaookfortinthebeliefthatifhewasgoodinthislife，hewouldbehappyi．Thisseeminglylogicalbeliefwasfasatingandromantidactuallywasquiteprevalenti．Dimitricalleditasee-sawphilosophy．
Dimitriwalke🀠♲🌔donandonuntilhefoundhimselfinthefamiliarsurroundingsofOaknd，hisfavoritehangout．Feelingtired,hesatoepsofthepostoffi13thstreettorest．ARollsRoycestoppedinfrontofthebuildingandawell-dressedwomansteppedouttofeedthemeter．Dimitri’seyesweregluedtotheglittering，silver-coloredshoeshehadseeninhisdreams．Agroupofboysrodebyontheirbikes；somechildrenwalkedhandinhaheirnurseryschoolteachers；oldpeoplefromHotelOakndsatsunningthemselvesinthegardeninfrontofthebuilding；acoupleinwheelchairscamebacktogetherfromtheirgroceryshopping．Dimitrisuddeasifitwerespringwheremyriadsofflowersbloomedprofusely，andpeopleofallcolors，bck，whiteandyellowwalkedaround，nude，idlychattinganddrin🚢kihegrassamidtheflowers，o🟢🞳😌rjoyfullylisteningtomusicovertheradiointhisparadiseoh—allracesofpeopleinperfectharmony．Flowersdonotneedclothes，herdoanimals，whyshouldhumaheexception?
"Whydoyouask?Youhave🅕🆝🐠nomoney”．
"WhatIjustgaveyouwas🅕🆝🐠allIhad．Iwasn’twillingtospen🉠🈱🂈ditonfoodformyse💷lf，butIgaveitalltoyoutogetdrugs．"
"I🝶🏥’lldowhateveryouwishtopayyouback．🍞"
"IneedyoubutIwon’tt🁩🈟⛉akeyou."
"Whynot?Aren’tyouaman?Isn’🕞📠tthatwhatallm🚶enwant?"
"IfIhadpickedyouuporeet，Iwouldn’thavehesitated；butasitis，Igaveyouthemoosaveyony．IfItookyounow,Iwould🙒beabrutepreyingonyourvulnerabilities．Shei，therearealotofthiweenamanandawomanbesidessex．Forinstance，love，affe，friendship．．．butbecauseofy📉oursurroundingandcircumstancesyouwould🁓🅛n’tuand．"
"That’siing．Ihavebeendoingthissince🍞my🌰🂲earlyteens”．
"Whhtyoutothis?"
"Adevil．Don’teveionhim．Hegotmehookedsametodotricks．Saynomore．ImustgotoworknoworIwon’thaveanymoneyfsandthepimpwillbeatme．Iamcrippled，soit’sdoublyhardformetogeters.”Withthat，sheclimbedupthestairsa，andDimitriwenttosleep．Thefacesofthelovingcouple，kindandsmiling，appearedimmediatelybeforehim🆟．Heopenedhiseyes,shookhisheadabacktosleep．
Thepygmyiiewaswalkinghand-inhandwi☭🂧ththeseductiveandnakedMedusa．Itwasevening．Thebrightmoonlightwasreflectedontheripplingwavessoftlypattingtheshores．Thetwosanganddandfrolickedhappilyalohepygmyughedhisstrange，squeakyugh．Theygmyhighaboveherheadandspunaroundmadly，likeamotherpyingwithherson．Dimitrishookhisheadagain．"No,no.Thisisn’twhatIwanted.”aledhimselfdowntodreaminear．ItwasadenseforestintheheartofAfricaaspitchdarkasmidnight．Therhythmicbutmonotonousbeatofthedrumarousedinpeopleabarbarousimpulseandtheshoutsofthenativeslentitamysterious，primitiveandterrifyingatmosphere．Dimitriwentintotheforestandcameacrossatemple．Therewereshadowyfiguresofthenativesbeatingdrumsanddangaroundafire．Everynowaheyshoutedtheirbattlecry．Dimitrisawhumanskullsscatteredalloverthefloorawasthehabitatofmaingibals.Therewereskullsofallkindsofanimalsdecoratingthewalls，includinghumanskulls．Itwasafestival，thebirthdayofthegodofFate，andlivesacrificesweretobeofferedtohim．Thegodsatinthemiddleofthetemple，anticipatingagoodmeal．Hehadthebodyofamanbuttheheadofamoherewasarhinoceroshornatthetopofhishead.Onhisri🍁ght，stoodanakedshe-mohaspearinherhand，whoservedashisattendant．ShehadthebodyofaseductivewomanbuttheheadofaMedusa．
Dimitriwastakenaback．"Oh，it’sthosetwomonstersiherdream．I’vemetthembefore.”AnAfriativecameinwithbothhandssuppahugesilverptebahetopofhishead．Therewasanenormousbamboosteameroe,freshfromthekitwithsteamingfromuhelid．Hekrespectfullybeforethem，pcedthepteonthenarrow,longtableandtookoffthelidofthesteamer．Initwasthebodyoftheyounggirl，Shei，nakedasashelledhard-boiledegg．Shelookedasthoughshewasasleep，butactuallyshehadbeensteamedtodeathasasacrificetothegodofFate．Theshe-monster’seyesshohviciousgreed，andsalivabegandrippingfromtheersofhermouth．ThegodofFatetookaknifeanddissectedaleg．Aftertakingabite，hehaotheshe-monsterwhograbbediteagerlyandviciouslydev🀻ouredittothebone．
Aheart-rendingscreampiercedhisdream．Dimitriwokewithastartle．Lookingaroundinthedarkundergroundsewer，hecouldseeahuskybrapingShei．Herhaiedb🅊🄹yaropeandhewasontopofher．Dimitricouldseetherapidup-and-dowsofhisbodyasthoughheingonahorse．Hethrustolessly，occasionallytakingadrinkfromatiltedbottle,whileSheiscreamedinpaiherface．Hiswhiteteethgleamedinthedarklikethoseofaskulndsaid，"Youbitch，youdidn’tgivemeanymoodaysoyouhavetopayforit.”Hebithernipplesharduntilshebled．"Goddamnyou，youdevil,“shecursedstrugglingfutilely，"IwishI’deyesonyou.”Dimitri’sbloodboiledatthesight．Hegotupsoundlessly，grabbedapieceofsteelpipenearhim，andmadeaswipefortheb’shead．Thepainoftheimpactmadehimdrophison．Heshookhisheadandlookedagain．Nob．wasadream．Hehadhitthenarrowdderwithsuchforcethatthepartofhishaweehumbandtheindexfingerwastorn．Sheihadnoteback．Shehadedtoclosethelidoftheman-holeandthefaintgraylightofdawnfilteredthrough．Itwasanotherday．Dimitrisatontheground，dazed，holdinghisinjuredhandnotknowihertocryh．
Dimitrifoldeduphissleepingbagandputeverythingiicbag．Heclimbedupthestepsandfoundthatheha🛗🜠🃠dhititsohardwiththesteelpipethatitwascrooked．Hesmiledgrimlyasherecalledtheseinhisdream．Ifhehadreallyhitthedevil,hewouldhavebashedhisheadin．Ohwell!Heputhisbelongingsbatohiscartandpusheditinfrontofhim．Thelightswerestillonintheshops，butthedawnwasgraduallydrivingawaythedarkherewasnoonearouhedesertedstreets．ItwastooearlyandDimitrireallydidn’thaveaogo．Pushinghiscart，hefeltasearingpaininhishand．"ImustgoandfindMariannatoba,”hethought．Theashamed．Whydidhealwaysthinkofherwhenhewashurtry?Heagainpassedtheparkbenchwheretheoldcouplehadsatthenightbefore．Theolddymusthavebeeygirlwhenshewasyoung，andherhusband，ahandsomeyoungmaheywereanidealcoupleandhavehadaperfectlife，hemused．ThenhisthoughtsturoShei，theyoungprostitute，whoseprofessionwastosellcheaplytheuseofhersexualans.D★imitrididnotlookdownonher.Hewasedaboutherwhereabouts．Prostitutionwa🍒stheoldestprofessionintheworldbecausesocietycouldnotdowithoutit.Itwasobaheunbancedpartofhumannature，justasaunityneededsewerstodrainitswastewaterandraintopreventflooding．Sheioor，unfortunateyounggirlbutherprofessionwasaformoflife．herbodywasbutasacrifithealtarofFate．
Dimitripushedhiscartaimlesslyaloreets,whichgradually🗠brighteraffidpedestriansincreased．Thenoiseandcmorofcitylifehadbegun．Theslim，nymph-likefigureinbckappearedintheearlymsunlightandarrestedhiseyes．Itwasanun．Dimitrihadagreatrespectfornuns，lookinguponthemasangelsexpelledfromheavenfortheirsinsadowntotheearthtoatohem．Toughiscapwithhishand，hesaidgruffly，"Go，sister.”Thenunblessedherselfandsaid，"Go，sir,"inamelodiousvoithebrighteninglightofday,Dimitrisawshewasyoungayandherveilflutteringinthebreezegaveheranunworldlyairofspiritualintelligence．AsDimitriturogo，thenunnoticedfromtheerofhereyethathishandwaswouornandbleeding．
"Youhavebeenhurt！"sheexcimed．Shesearchedfranticallyforsomethingtoputoverthewound．Thehoughtofherhandkerchief．Pullingitout，sheeditaroundhishandandsaid，"Youshouldnotleaveitlikethat，itwillgetied．Gototheidhaveittakencareofproperly.”Mean🟖whileherslendernimblefingerswerewbusily．Dimitrilookedatthementranced，feelingnopainatall．Insteadhestoodtherewithhishandout-stretched，enjoyingtherareoccasionofbeingmademuchof，feelingasfortableaswhenhisearwasbeingscratchedbyaQ-tip．"Thereyouare!”thenunsaid，"That’lldo．Godblessyou!”Shetappedhims🝌lightlyonthearmandwalkedbrisklyaway．
Dimitriwalkedohishandtohishehandkerchiefhadafeminineaurawhichhefoundverypleasant．He🛔hadn’tsleptwellsohewastired，buthewaofollowthenun．Finally，hedecidedthebestwaywastofindafortablespotandfollowherwithhisdreams．Hecametoatreeatthesideoftheparkwhoseleafyshadowsseemedquiteinviting．Layinghimselfdownhefelsleepatonhisdream,Dimitriwaoaventwhichlookedlikeanacastle．Thehallwashuge，dismandaustere，litonlybyadimgaslight．Dimitristoodtheretryingtoadjusthiseyestothedarkhenhewalkedon．Hecouldhearthehollowechoofhisfootsteps．Thepcegavehimtheimpressionofaprison．Suddenly，heheardsweetyoungvoiharmoniouscresdo，singinginpraiseofGod．"Howdidtheseyoungwomenndinsuchagruesomepce?"hewondered．Hewalkedovertothewindowwherethevoicescamefromandpeekedin．Therewereagroupofarsinginghymns．Buttheonehehadmetintheearlymwasnotthere，sohelostiandwalkedon．
Hewalkedaroundtothebackofthebuildingandsawawoodedareafurtherdown，sohewalkedonandonuntilhecametoapthewoodswheremistysteamrosefromtheshadowsoftrees．Partingtheexuberantbranches,hesaolikeapearlinthemidstoftalltreesandluxurianttropicalflowers．Thenunhewasseekingwasthere，gettingreadyforherbath．Shecarefullytookoffherhabitandveilexposinggoldentressesaifulsnow-whitebodyerfectlyproportionedfigurethatwouldbetheenvyofanywoman．"Whyshouldagirllikethattakethevowandbeeanun?"Dimitriwondered，ashestoodtheretransfixed．Shewalkedintothewateruntilitcametoherwaistandleisurelybegah．Evehingmovementsweregradelegant．Dimitricouldseeacrystaldropofwaterrollslowlydownfromhernobleforeheadtoherflushedcheeks．Thenittraveledtoherfinelychiseleduntilitdroppedontoherbeautifulbreast．Itslippeddownherbreast，caressingitandgingtohernippleuntilitcouldholdonnolongeraantlydroppedbatothewater．Justthen，twoareesbythesideofthepond，whosebrancheshadgraduallyleanedcletherastheywatchedherbathe，walkedtowardseachotherandembraced．TheyturotwomohepygmyandMedusa．Excitedbythesightofherbeauty，theymadelove，thepygmykissingMedusa’sbody．Eventhevegetationhrodisiac．Thenthemourotreesagain．They👦switchedfromoneformtotheotherflickeringly.Dimitridisregardedthemandturnedhisthoughtsbacktothenun．"Itissuchawaste,”hethought，"Thosebeautifulbreastsweremeanttofeedbabies．Ifshecouldhaveababyinherarms，bathingtogether，itwouldbeareMarkablese．Whyshouldsheblockuphermaternalinstindturnherreproductivesystemfromitsnaturalnormintoalifeofchastityandseclusion?"HecoulduandthatshereserveherpurityandofferittoGod，buthestillfeltitwasdunnaturandcouldnotdo，eventhoughherespectedherresolution．Hekheremusthavebeenalotofpainandstruggleinherresolution；theprocesswaslikecloggingapipe，fthewatertoflowbackwards．Justthen，ahugeleaf，freshanddewy，floatedby．Thenunclimbedontoittorestforawhile．Butassoonasshegoton，theleafcurledupandenvelopedher．ItdawnedonDimitrithenthatthele🂫👮afwasivorous．"Takeiteasy，sister，I’mingtoyourrescue,”hecriedoutandrantohelpher．Hefellintothewaterandwokeup．
Dimitriopenedhiseyestofindalittleboyshootingwaterontohisfacewithhislittleistol．Hejumpedupaeorunafterhim．Theboyughedandranaway．Dimitrifeltrefreshedbyhisnapanddecidedtowalkon．Helookedbackatthetwotreesunderwhichhehadsleptandwassurprisedtofindtheyweretheveryonesinhisdream."WhyisitthatIalwayshaveludicrousdreamsofsavingdamselsindistress,whilei👶🍒yIlivesuchahumdrumlife？HereIam，almostfiftyyearsoldandIhaveneverbeeninlove，neverexperieimacywiththeoppositesex．Idon’tthinkthere’sanothermanlikemeintheworld.”Heknewhehadadeepinferiorityplexahewasnotgoodenoughforanyofthem．Hecametorealizethatthereasonhecouldnotpursuethewomanhefanciedwasbecausehenevercreatedthenecessaryfoundationforhimselftoloveandbeloved．Therefore，hepcedthemoal，outeandunapp🕛roachable，onlytobeloo🕄kedatandadmiredfromafar．
Onthewayhesawpedestrianswearingallkin🌰🂲dsofclothes：meninformalsuits，casualpantsorT-shirtsandjeansandwomeninbusinesssuits，prettycolorfuldresses，miniskirtsorsizableclothes．Therewasenoughvarietytodazzleone’seyes．Therewerealsocable-cars，muni-cars，doubledeckbusesandcarsofallbrandsandmodelsscootingaboutoreets．Thebuildingswerejustasdiversified，rangingfromoldVictorianmansionstomodernskyscrapers．"Why!It’slikeahugeamusementparklikeDisneynd!”hethought．Dimitriwasamanofalmostfifty，butheretaihecuriosityofateenageraforlifeofamuchyoungerman．Theworldwasfullofinequality．Somemenwereriewerepoor．Dimitrikepthisequilibriumbythesimplephilosophyofbelievingi，presentandfuturelives．Hethoughtthatinhispreviouslife，hemusthavebeeedmillionairewhantlysquanderedhiswealthaedwomenbadly，thatwaswhyheoorinthislifeandnevercouldexperienceloveorromaookfortinthebeliefthatifhewasgoodinthislife，hewouldbehappyi．Thisseeminglylogicalbeliefwasfasatingandromantidactuallywasquiteprevalenti．Dimitricalleditasee-sawphilosophy．
Dimitriwalke🀠♲🌔donandonuntilhefoundhimselfinthefamiliarsurroundingsofOaknd，hisfavoritehangout．Feelingtired,hesatoepsofthepostoffi13thstreettorest．ARollsRoycestoppedinfrontofthebuildingandawell-dressedwomansteppedouttofeedthemeter．Dimitri’seyesweregluedtotheglittering，silver-coloredshoeshehadseeninhisdreams．Agroupofboysrodebyontheirbikes；somechildrenwalkedhandinhaheirnurseryschoolteachers；oldpeoplefromHotelOakndsatsunningthemselvesinthegardeninfrontofthebuilding；acoupleinwheelchairscamebacktogetherfromtheirgroceryshopping．Dimitrisuddeasifitwerespringwheremyriadsofflowersbloomedprofusely，andpeopleofallcolors，bck，whiteandyellowwalkedaround，nude，idlychattinganddrin🚢kihegrassamidtheflowers，o🟢🞳😌rjoyfullylisteningtomusicovertheradiointhisparadiseoh—allracesofpeopleinperfectharmony．Flowersdonotneedclothes，herdoanimals，whyshouldhumaheexception?