Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第235/246页)

ndpeople.Whyaren’tyoudoingyourworkandreplenishiock?”ThatwasoneofAmalia’sgooddaysandsheseemedtobewideawakeandfullyawareofhersurroundings.ShewalkedintothebackyardandsaweveryonesurroundingAisha.

    “Ah,youarethenoblequeencalled...called..Ahyes,calledAisha.Youarereallyarareguest!Whyhaven’tanyofyoueandtellmeofherarrival?Iamreallysorryformyckofhospitality.”ThensheorderedMarytofetchacupofcoffeeandtoldSheithercigarsfuest.Thenshecorrectedherself,

    “Ohno,no.Thequeesmoke.Iamsosorry.”DornahidbehindAisha,afraidtheolddywouldaskherforherflyingbroomback.ButAishahadfottenalboutitanddidn’teveionthebroom.Amalia’saswerefunnyandherspeechwasfusedandi.Dornathoughtthatitwouldbeamusingtopytriheraertainher.AmaliawentherselftotheeroftheulledoutDimitri’soldloungechair,saying“Haveaseat,queen.Sit,yourmajesty.”AishakhisoldwomanhadahistorywithDimitriandmayevenbehisbirthmother,soherpositioninthisgroupwashigh.Shedidnotknowwhattodo,especiallyasheringhaderuptedserviceatthebakeryandtakeneveryonefromtheirwork.MegginoodAisha’sdilemmaandtheembarrassingpreditshewasin,soshewentoverandwhisperedinherear,

    “Whydon’tyougoandseeDimitrifirst.Youguysmusthavealottotalkoverandexgeopinionson.Dimitrihasbeensufferingfrominsomniathesestfewdaysanddidnotetoworktoday.Heisathisstudioapartment.Whydon’tyougoandseehim?Thiswouldbeagoodopportunitytotalktohimprivately.”AishathoughtMegginnwasrightanditwasagoodexcusetoleave.

    “Idon’tknowwheretheapartmentis.”

    “Drivestraightfromhere.Turandthenanotherleftandyouwillseeanoldapartmentbuilding.Dimitrilivesinaerunitonthegroundfloor.It’seasytofind,hisdoorisneverlocked.”

    “Ihavetoleaveforamoment”saidAishatoAmalia.“butIwillbeback.It’sChristmasEvetomorrofcourseeveryonehereisinvitedfortheparty.”

    “Yes,yesyourmajesty”saidAmalianoddingherhead.“Iplywithyourwishes.OfcourseIwille.”AishaknewDornawouldnotwanttoleaveasallthebeautieswerehereanditwaslivelyandbustlingwithalotgoingon.Shewouldbeinherelement,soshesaidtoher,

    “Youstayhere,Dorna,butbegoodanddootrouble.Iwilleforyouter.”

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    “Yes,yesyourmajesty”naughtygirlDornasaid,apingAmalia’swords,“Iplywithyourwishes.”

    Onleavingthebakery,Aishafollowedthedireegginnhadgivenher,madetwoleftturnsandcameupeoldbuildingwhichtookupthewholeblock.Shecouldeasilyimagiwhenfirstbuiltaturyago,itmusthavebeenanimpressive,state-of-the-artstructureofthetime,butwiththeerosionoftime,ithadlostmuchofitscharm,elegandmagnifice.Aishaehereceptionhall,signedherhevisitor’slogtogetherwiththetimeanddate.Walkingpastthespacioushall,sheturnedrightonthelongcorridoruntilshecametotheveryendandmadeanhtturn,attheendofwhichshecametothedoorwiththecorreber.Shetriedthedoorknobandfoundthatitwasindeedunlocked.Shepusheditopeeredandjustasquietlycloseditagain.Itwasasmallstudio.Dimitriwasreingonaloveseatinanotveryfortableposition.Buthedidomindandwasfastasleep.Aishalookedaroundtheroomandfounditsparselyfurhonlyathree-leggedtable,onwhichwereseveralunfitlesofliquor.Thefloorwaslitteredwithfruitpeelsandcigarettebuttsandthereleasantstinkintheai