Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第228/327页)

imitri!HealshemanpyingAfridrumswasJamaz,andthebaseguitaristwasRichard,bothofwhomhewasfamiliarwith.AfterawhilehegottoknowtheviolinistMr.KaffeeandthesecurityguyBig-Oandwasgiventhejoboftakinginthemohrowndownbytheaudience.Davidwassoonsquattingonthegroundbusilycollegthebillsandthrustiohisbosomforsafe-keeping,whilethrowingthesintoatinboxbeforehimuntilhehadquiteahighpileofthem.Thehesunwassettingandtheimpromptuperformanded,theycalcutedtheirfirstday’stakingsandhappilyfoundthatitwasnotabadhaul.Thefirstthingtheyboughtwiththemoneywascheapwhiskeyandtheheremaiobuymeatandotherfood.Uponleaviore,Jamazsnatchedupabottleofwhiskey,opeandstartedguzzlingdowntheliquor.

    “Hey,oldpal,don’tstartjustyet”saidRichard.“Waittillthemeatiscookedaanddriogether.Won’tthatbemorefun?”Jamazwipedhismouthwiththebackofhishand,hiccuppedandthensighed,saying

    “’twait.Theliquorwormsinmystomacharecm.Ihaveworkedhardonthedrumsforhoursandthinkthistiredbodyofminehasearherighttobepensated!”

    “Yht.Yht”agreedMr.Kaffee.“Goonanddrinkasmuchasyouwant.Youdrinktillyoudrop!”Dimitrididnothaveagreatcapacityforliquor;nordidheneedalotoffood,buthewasveryhappytoseehisfriendsinsuoodandthegroupofthemwalkedoninhighspiritstowardstheonlygatheriheyhad–thedesertedandrarden.Onthesurface,agroupofhomelesspeoplegatheringtogethertoeatanddrinkisnotunusual.Butquiteoftenunusualthingshappenunderquitenormalcircumstances.

    Thetall,majestidintricatelycarvedfrontgatewastightlyclosed,butthesidedooren.DornapushedherbicyclethroughitandwavedatYonda,whowasondutythatdayatthelodge.Yondawasanelderlywomannearingsixty,withveryintelligenteyesandwasatrustedaidtohermistress.Shesmiledandwavedherthrough.Becausehemistressofthemansion,reparingforhereboratewedding,adozenorsoofherintimatepanionshadmovedinwithhertokeepherpanyandhelpinwhateverwaytheycould.Theincreaseofinhabitantsnaturallymeantalotmorefoottraffidoutofthehouse,soYondamemorizedthefacesofthebeautieswhohadmovedinahempassthroughfreelywithoutcallingforverification.Dornawasohebeautiessoshehadfreeaccess.Thelongdrivewaybeforeherwasshadedbytalltreesandhadbeeofallfallenleavesanddrytwigs,sotonherbicydrodeon.Thiswasahugemansion.Totheleftofthedrivewayweretheminigolfcourse,tenniscourtandswimmingpool.BesidethemwasthegymandJacuzzi.Anythingthatwasokeepahealthylifestylewasallthere.Undergroundarkinglotwiththecapacityatleastthirtytofortycars.Thtofthedrivewaywastherge,professionallymanicuredgardenwheremyriadsofmulti-coloredfleandsmallbloomed.Thetreesandfloraldispyslookedallthemorepicturesqueandluxuriantinspringuhewarmandbrilliantsunshine.Dornaerplexedbecauseitwassoquiet.Normallytherewerealwaysafewofthebeautiesstrollingorsittingaroundthegardentalkingandughingwitheachother.Buttodaytherewasanunusualstillness,ahushedsilence.Justthenshesawanold,bentfigureemergefromthetreesandflowerbed.Itwasanoldmanwithwhitehair,whiteeye-browsandalongwhitebeard,rustedoldretainerwhosefamilyhadservedhersfeions.Dornaknewhimbutcouldnotrememberhisheoldmanwasoldandhadloired,nolongerresponsiblefortheoddsandendsofesta