Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第114/327页)

ibleIwouldlikeyoutomeetCharina,theauthoressIthinkyouwouldenjoytalkingwithheraboutmyviewsonlove.

    “Sure,”repliedthesisters.“Ifthereisace,wewouldlovetomeetandtalktoher.Ithiionshipbetweenusisthebesttestimonytoyourviewonideallove.Webothhavetheappearanceofahuman,buthavenosubstanofleshbody.Yetwehaveforyouthedeepestlove.”

    KingDimitriputCharinainthemidstoftheburntruinsofhispacesoshecouldroamaroundatwilndcollectmaterialforherwriting.Withthetwofiercetigersasbodyguards,shewasassafeascouldbe,soKingDimitrirodeonhismagichorseaheseventhheavewithKingZeusandhissonApollo.Charinalookedaroundandfoundherselfinwhatmusthavebeenthegreathall.TwomarblestepsledtoaptformwhereKingDimitri’sthronehadbeen;buthavingbeenexposedtofire,smoke,dust,ashestheelements,thesymbolofKingDimitri’sroyauthoritywasalmostunreizable.IntricatelycarvedchairsmadefromthemostexpensivewoodwerescatteredaurnedonbothsidesofthethroneandCharinaguessedtheymusthavebeesassighebeauties.Theywerebeautiful,butbroken.Charinathoughtthatwithcaretheycouldberestoredandrefurbished,soshetookthemfromtheruinsanddraggedthemoversotheyformedasemicirclearouhroheimmensepilrswhichwereusedtosupporttheroofhadbeentoppledandtheyweretoobigaobemoved,soCharinahadtoleavethemlyingtherebutwithherwork,theimageofwhatthehallhadbeenlikegraduallybecamedisible.Charinatinuedherworkamongtheashes.Kigamongtheashesanddigginginthesoil,shefoundjewelrymadewithdiamonds,gemsandotherpreciousstonelyingeverywherejustforthetaking.Shealsofoundsomewomen’sapparellyingaround.Thoughpartiallyburntbyfire,theexcellentqualityofthemateriandintricateworkmanshipleftlittletotheimaginationoftheimmeh,pompandsplendorofKingDimitri’scourt,ofallthebeautiesintheirbestdressesgatheringatbasaivals.Shewalkedforwardtofurtherexploretheruins.Sheestimatedthatshewasinthesidehallothegreathall.Thereintheashesandruins,shefoundaslightlydamagedbookofpoemshandwrittenbyafinefemininehand,anunfinisheddissertationon“OnLifeinMatriarchalSociety”andalsoapairofbinocursinperfeditionwhichQueenAishahadbeenusingtoobservethesurroundingareasduringtheinvasionofthebarbarians.Sheputallthesepreemorabiliaintoherbackpack,gratutingherselfthatshehadbroughtthebagalongwithherwhe;otherwiseshewouldnotbeabletanysouvenirsofthetripbackwithheraury-handed,whichwouldhavebeenaterribleletdowhoughtthattheunfinisheddissertationmustbelongtothecapableandlearnedQueenAishaandthebookofpoems,whichrecordedoddsandendsoflifeintheKingdomofDreams,wasanevenmoreprecioussourceforherownwritingfaveherfirst-handknowledgeoflifethere.Shelookedatthefine,delicatewritingandthoughtitlookedveryfamiliar,muchlikethatofAngelica’s.ThepoetessAngelicawasknownasthe“HermitPoetessoftheRoseGarden”,seldomjoininganysocialgatherings.Sheleftherrosegardenonlyforherearlymjogging.DoesherloagemeanthatshehadasecretroutetoDimitri’sKingdomofDreams?CharinathoughtthatshemustaskAngelicaaboutittheimeshemether.Charinawalkedcarefullyonintheashesandcametoarowofoverturnedet,withbrokengssalroundit.Itmusthavebelooawinecelr,shethought.Thoughsomebottleswerebroken,there