Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第93/246页)

ndandwaves,sheakeoutthewordsofthelittleman.

    “IamafriendofKingDimitri”saidhe.“HeonisedmethatinhisKingdom,noperson,i,fish,birdorbeastwouldeverharmme.Ifnecessary,theywouldprotectmeandhelpme.Thankyouforhelpinguscrosstotheothersideoftheke.”Thensheheardthelittlewomansay,

    “SinceDimitriistheKingofthisregion,hiswordisw.NowIorderyou,bigwhitefish,whehereisneed,youmustappearbeforeus.ThisisKingDimitri’sorderwhichmustbeobeyed.”Thewhitefishthought,

    80页

    “IfthisreallywasKingDimitri’sorder,ofcourseIwillobey.Butwhatifthesetwocameunderfalsepretenses?WhatshouldIdo?”Butthehoughtagainthathelpingtheweakwasagooddeedandcouldnotbetedaswrong-doing.Justthen,apuffofsmokestreakedacrosstheskiesandcametoastopbeforeastrawhutbythesideoftheke,whereitgedintotheformofaslimandcurvaceousyoungwomanaiefishthought,

    “Shewasinallyonlyapuffofsmoke,butcouldgeintohumanform.Ifshecoulddoso,why’tI?Fromnowon,IwillprayferventlyandbegGodtoletmegeintoabeautifulyoungwoman.IfIcouldbebyDimitri’ssideandkeephimpanythatwouldbeallIaskoflife!”Thergewhitefishhappilyflippeditselfoutofthewaterandjumpedintotheair.Thenshedivedagainbatothewateranddisappearedfromsight.

    WhiteFairypushedopenthedoorofthestrawhutandsawthequietaleLotussittingtherewithherheadbentlow,mendingabrokenfishi.ShekhatallthepeopleoftheKingdomhadbeencalledtotheminesandLotuswastryingtohelpthefishermenbydoingsomesimplechoresforthem.WhenshesawWhiteFairywalkin,shesmiledandsaid,

    “Whatwindblewyouhere?Howeyouhavetimetoeaoday?”

    “Iamnotreallyheresocially,Lotus”saidWhiteFairysittingdown.“Iamheretoinformyouaboutsomethingthathappenedindom.”

    “Really?pened?”

    “Alittleafternoooday,ouractivelittleDornatookKingDimitri’stwotigersawanderinginthemountain.Suddenly,sheheardawoman’svoiceshriekingandgshrilly.Soshecalledthetwotigersaoiigate.Inthedenseforest,shefoundourpoetessAngelicafallenonthegroundinafaint,surroundedbysevebarbarians.TheirfaceswereferociouslypaiattooedtolooklikedevilsandtheywerebusytearingoffAngelica’sclothestostripherwasnotknowhertheymeanttorapeherorbutcherher,foryouknow,thesetribesareknowntobeibals.OurceousDornawieldedAmalia’sbroomandregardlessofherowyfoughtthebarbarians.Thetwotigerswerealsoverybrave.Theybaredtheirteeth,hitwiththeirmightypawsandtheirferociousroarsresouheforest.Soonallthenativesydeadontheground,killedbythetigers’sharpteethandpaws.Buttheythemselveswerealsowouhekhebarbarians.Angelicawassavedandbroughtbacktothepathebackofohetigers.ButwhatwasAngelicadoinginthedenseforest?Atthattime,sheshouldhavebeenjoggingoracks.Whydidsheleavethesafetyofthetradgointotheforest?Andwheredidthenativesefrom?Howcouldtheyhaveventureduedsootheheartofourpacegrounds?Don’tyouthinkthisisfrightening?”Lotusfachedinfear.Shesaid,

    “Angelicaissuchadelicatecreature,asfragileasacrystalvaseandaseasilyshattered.Howcouldshestandsuchshodfright?”

    “That’sjustit!AishaisfherandElenaistakingcareofher.KingDimitri’stwobelovedtigersarebeingtakencareof.Everythingisbaalnow.”

    “Good.Good.”

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    “Justnowyouaskedmewha