"IfIhadpickedyouuporeet，Iwouldn’thavehesitated；butasitis，Igaveyouthemoosaveyony．IfItookyounow,Iwouldbeabrutepreyingonyourvulnerabilities．Shei，therearealotofthiweenamanand🇫🛣🞉awomanbesidessex．Forinstance，love，affe，🐓⚿🗈friendship．．．butbecauseofyoursurroundingandcircumstancesyouwouldn’tuand．"
"That’s🅍iing．Ihavebeendoingthissincemyearlyteens”．
"Whhtyoutothis?"
"Adevil．Don’teveionhim．Hegotmehookedsametodotricks．Saynomore．Imustgo🞸😺🆘toworknoworIwon’thaveanymoneyfsandthepimpwillbeatme．Iamcrippled，soit’sdoublyhardf🝯🎫🔀ormetogeters.”Withthat，sheclimbedupthestairsa，andDimitriwenttosleep．Thefacesofthelovin🃪🚧gcouple，kindandsmiling，appearedimmediatelybeforehim．Heopenedhiseyes,shookhisheadabacktosleep．
Thepygmyiiewaswalkinghand-inhandwiththeseductiveandnakedMedusa．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，anticipatingagoodm🜢🜤eal．Hehadthebodyofamanbuttheheadofamoherewasarhinoceroshornatthetopofhishea🚣d.Onhisright，stoodanakedshe-mohaspearinherhand，whoservedashisattendant．ShehadthebodyofaseductivewomanbuttheheadofaMedusa．
Dimitriwastakenaback．"Oh，it’sthosetwomonstersiherdream．I’vemetthembefore.”AnAfriativecameinwithbothhandssuppahugesilverptebahetop🄓☭ofhishead．Therewasanenormousbamboosteameroe,freshfromthekitwithsteamingfromuhelid．Hekrespectfullybeforethem，pcedthepteonthenarrow,longtableandtookoffthelidofthesteamer．Initwasthebodyoftheyounggirl，Shei，nakedasashelledhard-boiledegg．Shelookedasthoughshewasasleep，butactuallyshehadbeensteamedtodeathasasacrificetothegodofFate．Theshe-monster’seyesshohviciousgreed，andsalivabegandrippingfromtheersofhermouth．ThegodofFatetookaknifeanddissectedaleg．Aftertakingabite，hehaotheshe-monsterwhograbbediteagerlyandviciouslydevouredittothebone．
Aheart-rendingscreampiercedhisdream．Dimitriwokewithastartle．Lookingaroundinthedarkundergroundsewer，hecouldseeahuskybrapingShei．Herhaiedbyaropeandhewasontopofher．Dimitricouldseetherapidup-and-dowsofhisbodyasthoughheingonahorse．Hethrusto🃪🚧lessly，occasionallytakingadrinkfromatiltedbottle,whileSheiscreamedinpaiherface．Hiswhiteteethgleamedinthedarklikethoseofaskulndsaid，"Youbitch，youdidn’tgivemeanymoodaysoyouhavetopayforit.”Hebithernipplesharduntilshebled．"Goddamnyou，youde🄌🟔vil,“shecursedstrugglingfutilely，"IwishI’deyesonyou.”Dimitri’sbloodboiledatthesight．Hegotupsoundlessly，grabbedapieceofsteelpipenearhim，andmadeaswipefortheb’shead．Thepainoftheimpactmadehimdrophison．Heshookhisheadandlookedagain．Nob．wasadream．Hehadhitthenarrowdderwithsuchforcethatthepartofhishaweehumbandtheindexfingerwastorn．Sheihadnoteback．Shehadedtoclosethelidoftheman-holeandthefaintgraylightofdawnfilteredthrough．Itwasanotherday．Dimitrisatontheground，dazed，holdinghisinjuredhandnotknowihertocryh．
Dimitrifoldeduphissleepingbagandputeverythingiicbag．Heclimbedupthestepsandfoundthathehadhititsohardwiththesteelpipethatitwascrooked．Hesmiledgrimlyasherecalledtheseinhisdream．Ifhehadreallyhitthedevil,hewouldhavebashedhisheadin．Ohwell!Heputhisbelongingsbatohiscartandpusheditinfrontofhim．Thelightswerestillonintheshops，butthedawnwasgraduallydrivingawaythedarkherewasnoonearouhedesertedstreets．ItwastooearlyandDimitrireallydidn’thaveaogo．Pushinghiscart，hefeltasearingpaininhishand．"ImustgoandfindMariannatoba,”hethought．Theashamed．Whydidhealwaysthinkofherwhenhewashurtry?Heagainpassedtheparkbenchwheretheoldcouplehadsatthenightbefore．Theolddymusthavebeeygirlwhenshewasyoung，andherhusband，ahandsomeyoungmaheywereanidealcoupleandhavehadaperfectlife，hemused．ThenhisthoughtsturoShei，theyoungprostitute，whoseprofessionwastosellcheaplytheuseofhersexualans.Dimitrididnotlookdownonher.🛎🛔Hewasedaboutherwhereabouts．Prostitu⛀🗔tionwastheoldestprofessionintheworldbecau♼🍮sesocietycouldnotdowithoutit.Itwasobaheunbancedpartofhumannature，justasaunityneededsewerstodrainitswastewaterandraintopreventflooding．Sheioor，unfortunateyounggirlbutherprofessionwasaformoflife．herbodywasbutasacrifithealtarofFate．
Dimitripushedhiscartaimlesslyaloreets,whichgraduallybrighteraffidpedestriansincreased．Thenoiseandcmorofcitylifehadbegun．Theslim，nymph-likefigureinbckappearedintheearlymsunlightandarrest♒edhiseyes．Itwasanun．Dimitrihadagreatrespectfornuns，lookinguponthemasangelsexpelledfromheavenfortheirsinsadown🞻🙘totheearthtoatohem．Toughiscapwithhishand，hesaidgruffly，"Go，sister.”Thenunblessedherselfandsaid，"Go，sir,"inamelodiousvoithebrighteningligh🗅🙍tofday,Dimitrisawshewasyoungayandherveilflutteringinthebreezegaveheranunworldlyairofspiritualintelligence．AsDimitriturogo，thenunnoticedfromtheerofhereyethathishandwaswouornandbleeding．
"Youhavebeenhurt！"sheexcimed．Shesearchedfranticallyforsomethingtoputoverthewound．Thehoughtofherhandkerchief．Pullingitout，sheeditaroundhishandandsaid，"Youshouldnotleaveitlikethat，itwillgetied．Gotothe🎎🏼idhaveittakencareofproperly.”Meanwhileherslendernimblefingerswerewbusily．Dimitrilookedatthementranced，feelingnopainatall．Insteadhestoodtherewithhishandout-stretched，e🂬njoyingtherareoccasionofbeingmademuchof，feelingasfortableaswhenhisearwasbeingscratchedbyaQ-tip．"Thereyouare!”thenun🌉☴🃧said，"That’lldo．Godblessyou!”Shetappedhimslightlyonthearmandwalkedbrisklyaway．
Dimitriwalkedohishandtohishehandkerchiefhadafeminineaurawhichhefoundverypleasant．Hehadn’tsleptwellsohewastired，buthewaofollowthenun．Finally，hedecidedthebestwaywastofindafortablespotandfollowherwithhisdreams．Hecametoatreeatthesideoftheparkwhoseleafyshadowsseemedquiteinviting．Layinghim🚵selfdownhefelsleepatonhisdream,Dimitriwaoaventwhichlookedlikeanacastle．Thehallwashuge，dismandaustere，litonlybyadimgaslight．Dimitristoodtheretryingtoadjusth🌜⛥iseyestothedarkhenhewalkedon．Hecouldhearthehollowechoofhisfootsteps．Thepcegavehimtheimpressionofaprison．Suddenly，heheardsweetyoungvoiharmoniouscresdo，singinginpraiseofGod．"Howdidtheseyoungwomenndinsuchagruesomepce?"hewondered．Hewalkedovertothewindowwherethevoicescamefromandpeekedin．Therewereagroupofarsinginghymns．Buttheonehehadmetintheearlymwasnotthe🍬re，sohelostiandwalkedon．
Hewalkedaroundtothebackofthebuildingandsawawoodedareafurtherdown，sohewalkedonandonuntilhecametoapthewoodswheremistysteamrosefromtheshadowsoftrees．Partingtheexuberantbranches,hesaolikeapearlinthemidstoftalltreesandluxurianttropicalflowers．Thenunhewasseekingwasthere，gettingreadyforherbath．Shecarefullytookoffherhabitandveilexposinggoldentressesaifulsnow-whitebodyerfectlyproportionedfigurethatwouldbetheenvyofanywoman．"Whyshouldagirllikethattakethevowandbeeanun?"Dimitriwondered，ashestoodtheretransfixed．Shewalkedintothewateruntilitcametoherwaistandleisurelybegah．Evehingmovementsweregradelegant．Dimitricouldseeacrystaldropofwaterrollslowlydownfromhernobleforeheadtoherflushedcheeks．Thenittraveledtoherfinelychiseleduntilitdroppedontoherbeautifulbreast．Itslippeddownherbreast，caressingitandgingtohernippleuntilitcouldholdonnolongeraantlydroppedbatothewater．Justthen，twoareesbythesideofthepond，whosebrancheshadgraduallyleanedcletherastheywatchedherbathe，walkedtowardseachotherandembraced．TheyturotwomohepygmyandMedusa．E🖓💌🐜xcitedbythesightofherbeauty，theymadelove，thepygmykissingMedusa’sbody．Eventhevegetationhrodisiac．Thenthemourotreesagain．Theyswitchedfromoneformtotheotherflickeringly.Dimitridisregardedthemandturnedhisthoughtsbacktothenun．"It🔄♱issuchawaste,”hethought，"Thosebeautifulbreastsweremeanttofeedbabies．Ifshecouldhaveababyinherarms，bathingtogether，itwouldbeareMarkablese．Whyshouldsheblockuphermaternalinstindturnherreproductivesystemfromitsnaturalnormintoalifeofchastityandseclusion?"HecoulduandthatshereserveherpurityandofferittoGod，buthestillfeltitwasdunnaturandcouldnotdo，eventhoughherespectedherresolution．Hekheremusthavebeenalotofpainandstruggleinherresolution；theprocesswaslikecloggingapipe，fthewatertoflowbackwards．Justthen，ahugeleaf，freshanddewy，floatedby．Thenunclimbedontoittorestforawhile．Butassoonasshegoton，theleafcurledupandenvelopedher．ItdawnedonDimitrithenthattheleafwasivorous．"Takeiteasy，sister，I’mingtoyourrescue,”hecriedout🎟andrantohelpher．Hefellintothewaterandwokeup．
Dimitriopenedhiseyestofindalittleboyshootingwaterontohisfacewithhislittleistol．Hejumpedupaeorunafterhim．Theboyughedandranaway．Dimitrifeltrefreshedbyhisnapanddecidedtowalkon．Helookedbackatthetwotreesunderwhichhehadsleptandwassurprisedtofindtheyweretheveryonesinhisdream."WhyisitthatIalwayshaveludicrousdreamsofsavingdamselsindist🆏🎥ress,while🈹🃒iyIlivesuchahumdrumlife？HereIam，almostfiftyyearsoldandIhaveneverbeeninlove，neverexperieimacywiththeoppositesex．Idon’tthinkthere’sanothermanlikemeintheworld.”Heknewhehadadeepinferiorityplexahewasnotgoodenoughforanyofthem．Hecametorealizethatthereasonhecouldnotpursuethewomanhefanciedwasbecausehenevercreatedthenecessaryfoundationforhimselftoloveandbeloved．Therefore，hepcedthemoal，outeandunapproachable，onlytobelookedatandadmiredfromafar．
Onthewayhesawpedestrianswearingallkindsofclothes：meninformalsuits，casualpantsorT-shirtsandjeansandwomeninbusinesssuits，prettycolorfuldresses，miniskirtsorsizableclothes．Therewasenoughvarietytodazzleone’seyes．Therewereal⚍🐋socable-cars，muni-cars，doubledeckbusesandcarsofallbrandsandmodelsscootingaboutoreets．Thebuildingswerejustasdiversified，rangingfromoldVictorianmansionstomodernskyscrapers．"Why!It’slikeahugeamusementparklikeDisneynd!”hethought．Dimitriwasamanofalmostfifty，butheretaihecuriosityofateenageraforlifeofamuchyoungerman．Theworldwasfullofinequality．Somemenwereriewerepoor．Dimitrikepthisequilibriumbythesimplephilosophyofbelievingi，presentandfuturelives．Hethoughtthatinhispreviouslife，hemusthavebeeedmilliona🈔irewhantlysquanderedhiswealthaedwomenbadly，thatwaswhyheoorinthislifeandnevercouldexperienceloveorromaookfortinthebeliefthatifhewasgoodinthislife，hewouldbehappyi．Thisseeminglylogicalbeliefwasfasatingandromantidactuallywasquiteprevalenti．Dimitricalleditasee-sawphilosophy．
Dimitriwalkedonando🛇🚓nuntilhefoundhimselfinthefamiliarsurroundingsofOaknd，hisfavoritehangout．Feelingtired,hesatoepsoft🞷😮hepostoffi13thstreettorest．ARollsRoycestoppedinfrontofthebuildingandawell-dressedwomansteppedouttofeedthemeter．Dimitri’seyesweregluedtotheglittering，silver-coloredshoeshehadseeninhisdreams．Agroupofboysrodebyontheirbikes；somechildrenwalkedhandinhaheirnurseryschoolteachers；oldpeoplefromHotelOakndsatsunningthemselvesinthegardeninfrontofthebuilding；acoupleinwheelchairscamebacktogetherfromtheirgroceryshopping．Dimitrisuddeasifitwerespringwheremyriadsofflowersbloomedprofusely，andpeopleofallcolors，bck，whiteandyellowwalkedaround，nude，idlychattinganddrinkihegrassamidtheflowers，orjoyfullylisteningtomusicovertheradiointhisparadiseoh—allracesofpeopleinperfectharmony．Flowersdonotneedclothes，herdoanimals，whyshouldhumaheexception?
JoewalkedoutofthepostoffidsawDimitrisittingtherelosti⛛🛉nre🞙🔣verie．Helookedathimptuouslyandwalkedbywithoutaword．HewentbacktotherestaurantandsaidtoMarianna：
"Isawyoursonsittingoepsofthe🏄postoffice．"
"Myson？Whatareyoutalk🁮ingabout?"
"Dimitri！Yoodtohim,savingth🆣echoicestle🀴🁃ftoversfor☞🀥him.Isn’theyourson?"
"Bull-Sh1T！Mindyourownbusiness!”Withthat，Mariannarushedoutandrantothepostoffice．ThereshefoundD🔘imitristaringou♦tintospacelostinhisday-dreams，obliviousofhiss🆙🏿urroundings．Sheshookhimandsaid，
"！Dimitri！！Wherehaveyoubeefewdays?Whatareyoudoinghere？You’llcatchcoldsittinginthiswind．Aren’tyouhungry🄗♑🇭？ebackwithmeandhavesomethinghottoea⛤t.”Dimitricamebacktorealitywithajolt．
"Hi，Marianna!”hesa👓id．Hisstomachgr🚫owledandhesmiledsheepishly,"GuessI’mhungry.”AndhefollowedMariannabacktotherestaurant．OnthewayMariannasaid，
"I’vetoldyouagainandagainyoucouldeandsleepinmygarage．Whydon’tyou?"Dimitrithought🗜🜜itoverandsaid．
"Iwille,butI’ll⛿☣payrent．Theysaythey’relookingfasattendahegasstatioown.”Mariannaleasantlysur🏉prised．