“Dornatookuspearldiving.”Sheiproudlytoldher.“WithmycrippledleftlegIusedtohavetroublewalking.WhowouldhavethoughtthatnowIamabletoswimlongdistances?”
“Isawargewhitefishier,asbigasahumanbeing.”Marysaid.“Thesunlightshiningthroughthewateronitsdensescaleswhichcovereditswholebody,gaveforthdazzlingsparks,makingitlooklikeawarriorinaagnifitarmor.”
“What’sstrangeris,ithastwoswellisjustlikeawoman!”Dornaadded.“Itswamalroundusandwouldnotleave,asifitwaoleadussomewhere.”
“Itissaidthatthatfishisthemotherofalllivingthingsierandithasbeensightedfloatingonthesurfaceoftheke.”Deannasaid.“Peoplerespectitasagoddessandwouldneveryafingeronitorharmitinanyway.Itseemedtowanttoleadustothedeepwatersattheheartoftheke.Iwasafraidthattheswimmingteiquesofthegirlswerenotquiteuptoswimminglongdistanderwater,soweturnedbackhalfretitforeverifanythinguntowardactallyhappened.ButifIshouldseethatwhitefishagain,Iwillfollowittothedeepwatersattheheartofthekeait’salbout.”Deannawasanativegirlwhogrewuponthispieceinsoil,untouchedbycivilization.Shecouldswimlikeafishandwasfreeandfortableinwaterasshewasonnd.
“Iwanttogo,too”criedDornarebelliously.“Idon’tbelievemyswimmingisworsethanyours!”
“Nowdon’tbenaughty!”interruptedLotus.“Thisisnoughingmatter.BecarefulthatAmaliadoesn’tsmackyouwithherflyingbroom.”
Amalialookedlikethetraditionalwitfairytales,butsofarasherbehaviorinDimitri’sKingdomofDreamswased,shewasreallyakiedelder.Herasweresometimessobizarrethatthebeautiesdidn’tquiteknowwhethertoughorcry.Butshewasveryprotectiveofthem,andtheywillinglycametobeonintimatetermswiththissinister-lookingbutkiedoldwoman.Sometimesshewasfusedandsilly,butsometimesshrewdandcapableandthebeautiestreatedherliketheiroldgrandmother.Yoko,theAsiayairofentigdimplesonhercheeks,eciallyclosetoAmalia,whopickedherupfromthestreetsaftershewasdesertedbyherparents,andpracticallyraisedherfrominfancy.Butthatwasinthebygonedaysofthesmokypast.OnhearingLotus’wordsDornasaid,
“Don’ttrytoscareme.Amalialovesmeandwouldneverliftafiome.Anyway,sheisnotinthepaceatthemomentandhasgoneroamingsomewhere.Whensheesback,Iwilskherwhereshehasgoneandwhyshehadn’ttakehher.Thatwillmakehersorepentantthatshe’llnevereventhinkofspankingme.”
“OK.OK,mylittleprincess!”ughedLotus.“Stoptalkingamoreofthesedumplings.Afteryouhavefinished,goandaforawhile.It’steandIheardAishahassomethingimportanttoannouonight.”
Thefirlssataroundthechoppingboardaowithzeal.AsDeannaate,shewasthinking,
“Imustswimtothedeepwatersinthemiddleofthekeassoonaspossibleait’salbout.IfDorna’scuriosityisnotsatisfied,thestrong-headedgirlwillbesuretosetoutbyherself.Ifanythinghappenstoher,itwouldbebecauseofmeandIwouldneverfivemyself.”Theirappetitesfullysatisfied,thefirlseatherownway.Soon,otherbeautieshearingofLotus’freshandtastyrefreshmentscameintwosandthreesfollowingoneachother’sheelstotrythesteamingdumplings,whicheveryohemdecredtobeuniqueanddelicious.Lotus,everthegracioushostess,talkedtothemandsawtoitthateveryonewasserved.Soonitwasduskandthebeautieshadallleft.Therewerestillthreebamboosteamersleftoove,whichLotuskeptwarmingfinn,RomiainebecauseshekhattheywouldsurelybehungryafteradayofiiononGiantMountainandwouldneedasnack.Also,theever-vigintMedusa,whoflewaroundtheskiescarryingoutherdutyasGuardianoftheKingdom,wouldbehungry,too.
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