"IfIhadpickedyouuporeet，Iwouldn’thavehesitated；butasitis，Igavey🏋😤outhemoosaveyony．IfI🇧🚿tookyounow,Iwouldbeabrutepreyingonyourvulnerabilities．Shei，therearealotofthiweenama🔛🁒nandawomanbesidessex．Forinstance，love，affe，friendship．．．butbecauseofyoursurroundingandcircumstancesyouwouldn’tuand．"
"That’siing．🈷Ihavebeendoingthissincemyearlyteens”．
"Whhtyoutothis?"
"Adevil．Don’teveionhim🖓．Hegotmehookedsametodotricks．Saynomore．Imustgotow⛘orknoworIwon’thaveanymoneyfsandthepimpwillbeatme．Iamcrippled，soit’sdoublyhardformetogeters.”Withthat，sheclimbedupthest😝airsa，andDimitriwenttosleep．Thefacesofthelovingcouple，kindandsmiling，appearedimmediatelybeforehim．Heopenedhiseyes,shookhisheadabacktosleep．
Thepygmyiiewaswalkinghand-inhandwiththeseductiveandnakedMedusa．Itwasevening．Thebrightmoonlightwasreflectedontheripplingwavessoftlypattingtheshores．Thetwosanganddandfrolickedhappilyalohepygmyughedhisstrange，squeakyugh．Theygmyhighaboveherheadandspunaroundmadly，likeamotherpyingwithherson．Dimitrishookhisheadagain．"No,no.Thisisn’twhatIwanted.”aledhimselfdowntodreaminear．ItwasadenseforestintheheartofAfricaaspitchdarkasmidnight．Therhythmicbutmonotonousbeatofthedrumarousedinpeopleabarbarousimpulseandtheshoutsofthenativeslentitamysterious，primitiveandterrifyingatmosphere．Dimitriwentintotheforestandcameacrossatemple．Therewereshadowyfiguresofthenativesbeatingdrum☱🃋🖒sanddangaroundafire．Everynowaheyshoutedtheirbattlecry．Dimitrisawhumansk🅒🅼ullsscatteredalloverthefloorawasthehabitatofmaingibals.Therewereskullsofallkindsofanimalsdecoratingthewalls，includinghumanskulls．Itwasafestival，thebirthdayofthegodofFate，andlivesacrificesweretobeofferedtohim．Thegodsatinthemiddleofthetemple，anticipatingagoodmeal．Hehadthebodyofamanbuttheheadofamoherewasarhinoceroshornatthetopofhishead.Onhisright，stoodanakedshe-mohaspearinherhand，whoservedashisattendant．ShehadthebodyofaseductivewomanbuttheheadofaMedusa．
Dimitriwastakenaback．"Oh，it’sthosetwomonstersiherdream．I’vemetthembefore.”AnAfriativecameinwithbothhandssuppahugesilverptebahetopofhishead．Therewasanenormousbamboost🛖🜛🂴eameroe,freshfromthekitwithsteamingfromuhelid．Hekrespectfullybeforethem，pcedthepteonthenarrow,longtableandtookoffthelidofthesteamer．Initwasthebodyoftheyounggirl，Shei，nakedasashelledhard-boiledegg．Shelookedasthoughshewasasleep，butactuallyshehadbeensteamedtodeathasasacrificetothegodofFate．Theshe-monster’seyesshohviciousgreed，andsalivabegandrippingfromtheersofhermout🀲h．ThegodofFatetookaknifeanddissectedaleg．Aftertakingabite，hehaotheshe-monsterwhograbbediteagerlyandviciouslydevouredittothebone．
Aheart-rendingscreampiercedhisdream．Dimitriwokewithastartle．Lookingaroundinthedarkundergroundsewer，hecouldseeahuskybrapingShe🍮i．Herhaiedbyaropeandhewasontopofher．📵🟎🜁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．Heclimbedupthestepsandfoundthathehadhit🀽itsohardwiththesteelpipethatitwascrooked．Hesmiledgrimlyasherecalledtheseinhisdream．Ifhehadreallyhitthedevil,hewouldhavebashedhisheadin．Ohwell!Heputhisbelongingsbatohiscartandpusheditinfrontofhim．Thelightswerestillonintheshops，butthedawnwasgraduallydrivingawaythedarkherewasnoonearouhedesertedstreets．ItwastooearlyandDimitrireallydidn’thaveaogo．Pushinghiscart，hefeltasearingpaininhishand．"ImustgoandfindMariannatoba,”hethought．Theashamed．Whydidhealwaysthinkofherwhenhewashurtry?Heagainpassedtheparkbenchwheretheoldcouplehadsatthenightbefore．Theolddymusthavebeeygirlwhenshewasyoung，andherhusband，ahandsomeyoungmaheywereanidealcoupleandhavehada🇬☃perfectlife，hemused．ThenhisthoughtsturoShei，theyoungprostitute，whoseprofessionwastosel🎱🔷lcheaplytheuseofhersexualans.Dimitrididnotlookdownonher.Hewasedaboutherwhereabouts．Prostitutionwastheoldestprofessionintheworldbecausesocietycouldnotdowithoutit.Itwasobaheunbancedpartofhumannature，justasaunityneededsewerstodrainitswastewaterandraintopreventflooding．Sheioor，unfortunateyounggirlbutherprofessionwasaformoflife．herbodywasbutasacrifithealtarofFate．
Dimitripushedhiscartaimlesslyaloreets,whichgraduallybrighteraffidpedestriansincreased．Thenoiseandcmorofcitylifehadbegun．Theslim，nymph-likefigureinbckappearedintheearlymsunlightandarrestedhiseyes．Itwasanun．Dimitrihadagreatrespectfornuns，lookinguponthemasangelsexpelledfromheavenfortheirsinsadowntotheearthtoatohem．Toughiscapwithhishand，hesaidgruffly，"Go，sister.”Thenunblessedherselfandsaid，"Go，sir,"inamelodious🖠🔁♓voithebrighteninglightofday,Dimitrisawshewasyoungayandherveilflutteringinthebreezegaveheranunworldlyairofspiritualintelligence．AsDimitriturogo，thenunnoticedfromtheerofhereyethathishandwaswouornandblee🁒🅒ding．
"Youhavebeenhu🔮rt！"sheexcimed．Shesearchedfranticallyforsomethingtoputoverthewound．Thehoughtofherhandkerchief．Pullingitout，sheeditaroundhishandandsaid，"Youshouldnotleaveitlikethat，itwillgetied．Gototheidhaveittakencareofproperly.”Meanwhileherslendernimblefingerswerewbusily．Dimitrilookedatthementranced，feelingnopainatall．Insteadhestoodtherewithhishandout-stretched，enjoyingtherareoccasionofbeingmademuchof，feelingasfortableaswhenhisearwasbeingscratchedbyaQ-tip．"Thereyouare!”thenunsaid，"That’lldo．Godbles🎻🖏👧syou!”Shetappedhimslightlyonthearmandwa😰🄿🃕lkedbrisklyaway．
Dimitriwalkedohishandtohishehandkerchiefhadafeminineaurawhichhefoundverypleasant．Hehadn’tsleptwellsohewastired，buthewaofollowthenun．Finally，hedecidedthebestwaywastofindafortablespotandfollowherwithhisdreams．Hecametoatreeatthesideoftheparkwhoseleafyshadowsseemedquiteinviti🗻♐ng．Layinghimselfdownhefelsleepatonhisdream,Dimitriwaoaventwhichlookedlikeanacastle．Thehallwashuge，dismandaustere，litonlybyadimgaslight．Dim🖠🔁♓itristoodtheretryingtoadjusthiseyestothedarkhenhewalkedon．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．Theyswitchedfromoneformtotheotherflickeringly.Dimitridisregardedthemandturnedhisthoughtsbacktothenun．"Itissuchawaste,”hethought，"Thosebeautifulbreastsweremeanttofeedbabies．Ifshecouldhaveababyinherarms，bathingtogether，itwouldbeareMarkablese．Whyshouldsheblockuphermaternalinstindturnherreproductivesystemfromitsnaturalnormintoalifeofchastityandseclusion?"HecoulduandthatshereserveherpurityandofferittoGod，buthestillfeltitwasdunnaturandcouldnotdo，eventhoughherespectedherresolution．Hekheremusthavebeenalotofpainandstruggleinherresolution；thepro⚼🖮🕾cesswaslikecloggingapipe，fthewatertoflowbackwards．Justthen，ahugeleaf，freshanddewy，floatedby．Thenunclimbedontoittorestforawhile．Butassoonasshegoton，theleafcurledupandenvelopedher．ItdawnedonDimitrithenthattheleafwasivorous．"Takeiteasy，sister，I’mingtoyourrescue,”hecriedoutandrantohelpher．Hefellintothewaterandwokeup．
Dimitriopenedhiseyestofindalittleboyshootingwaterontohisfacewithhislittle🐰🃣🙥istol．Hejumpedupaeorunafterhim．Theboyughedandranaway．Dimitrifeltrefreshedbyhisnapanddecidedtowalkon．Helookedbackatthetwotreesunderwhichhehadsleptandwassurprisedtofindtheyweretheveryonesinhi📡sdream."WhyisitthatIalwayshaveludicrousdreamsofsavingdamselsindistress,whileiyIlivesuchahumdrumlife？HereIam，almostfiftyyearsoldandIhaveneverbeeninlove，neverexperieimacywiththeoppositesex．Idon’tthinkthere’sanothermanlikemeintheworld.”Heknewhehadadeepinferiorityplexahewasnotgoodenoughforanyofthem．Hecametorealizethatthereasonhecouldnotpursuethewomanhefanciedwasbecausehenevercreatedthenecessaryfoundationforhimselftoloveandbeloved．Therefore，hepcedthemoal，outeandunapproachable，onlytobelookedatandadmiredfromafar．
Onthewayhesawpedestrianswearingallkindsofclothes：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，thatwaswhyheoo💯rinthislifeandnevercouldexperienceloveorromaookfortinthebeliefthatifhewasgoodinthislife，hewouldbehappyi．Thisseeminglylogicalbeliefwasfasatingandromantidactuallywasquiteprevalenti．Dimitricalleditasee-sawphilosophy．
DimitriwalkedonandonuntilhefoundhimselfinthefamiliarsurroundingsofOaknd，hisfavoritehangout．Feelingtired,hesatoepsofthepostoffi13thstreettorest．ARollsRoycestoppedinfrontofthebuildingandawell-dressedwomansteppedouttofeedthemeter．Dimitri’seyesweregluedtotheglittering，silver-coloredshoeshehadseeninhisdreams．Agroupofboysrodebyontheirbikes；somechildrenwalkedhandinhaheirnurseryschoolteachers；oldpeoplefromHotelOakndsatsunningthemselvesinthegardeninfrontofthebuilding；acoupleinwheelchairscamebacktogetherfromtheirgroceryshopping．Dimitrisuddeasifitwerespringwheremyriadsofflowersbloomedprofusely，andpeopleofallcolors，bck，whiteandyellowwalkedaround，nude，idlychattinganddrinkihegrassamidtheflowers，orjoyfullylisteningtomusicovertheradiointhispa🜯🅦🈯radiseoh—allracesofpeopleinperfectharmony．Flowersdonotneedclothes，herdoanimals，whyshouldhumaheexception?
JoewalkedoutofthepostoffidsawDimitrisittingtherel😴🅥ostinreverie．Helookedathimptuouslyandwalkedbywithoutaword．HewentbacktotherestaurantandsaidtoMarianna：
"I🕼sa🙶🎻🖑wyoursonsittingoepsofthepostoff🅴ice．"
"Myso🅛🅛n🁃？Whatareyoutalkingabout?"
"Dimitri！Yoodtohim,s🏼avingthecho🞏icestleftoversforhim.Isn’theyou🈠⛘🚭rson?"
"Bull-Sh1T！Mindyourownb👷🍢usiness!”Withthat，Mariannarush🆕🏘🚘edoutandrantothepostoffice．Ther🕃eshefoundDimitristaringoutintospacelostinhisday-dreams，obliviousofhissurroundings．Sheshookhimandsaid，
"！Dimitri！！Wherehaveyoubeefewdays?Whatareyoudoinghere？You’llcatchcoldsitti📼☧🁰n☧🁶ginthiswind．Aren’tyouhungry？ebackwithmeandhavesomethinghottoeat.”Dimitricamebacktorealitywithajolt．
"Hi，Marianna!”hesaid．Hisstomachgrowledandhesmiledsheepishly,"GuessI’mhungry.”AndhefollowedMariannabacktotherestaurant．Ontheway🐪🂫👱Mariannasaid，
"I’vetoldyou🈷againandagainyoucouldeandsleepinmygarage．Whydon’tyou?"Dimitrithoughtito🇧🚿verandsaid．
"Iwille,butI’llpayr🟑🜝🃊ent．Theysaythey’relookingfasattendahegasstatioown.”Mariannaleasantlysurprised．