Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第256/327页)

t’scrispyandgoldenbrownandalmostdonenow.There’salsotwobarrelsofgoodliquor.WhenCyclopsesuphetakeabreakandhaveadelieal.Allthepreparatoryworkisdoneandoisedtoraisethegoldpathebottomoftheke.Isn’tthisaingtime?...”Ileen’seyesagainlookedalroundandsawthatthegroundfromthebankoftheketotheinalsiteofthegoldpacewascoveredwithcarpetmadeofcunnysack.Shekhatthenativeshaddesighisspeciallytopreveremelyheavygoldpaboggingintothesoisitwasbeingmovedupthehill.Onthebankofanotherpartoftheke,severalstrongstalwartbare-chestedyoungnativewarriorstookturicallypeddlingthehugebellowsectedtoaleatherpipethatwentstraightdowntothebottomoftheke.Oherendoftheleatherpipeig’sstomachmadeintoasemitransparentmaskfittedtoCyclops’head.ItwasthroughthispipethatfreshairwastransmittedtoCyclops,enablinghishighcapacitylungstobreatheasheworkedatthebottomofke.Seeingthatallpreparationshadbeeivelydone,Ileehedasighofrelief.

    190页

    Suddenlyasmallboatcameflyingtowardsthemfromthedesoteisndontheoppositebankoftheke.Afigurewithclothesfppinginthewindwasstandingatthebowgesturingwithbothhands.UheluminousmoonlightIleensawthatitwasnootherthanherbeloveddaughterVio.ThestrongmuscurmanrowiwasVio’shusbandMr.Fihetwoofthemhadbeenlivinginseclusionireehouseonthisdesotelittleisndeversiheycamebatheirtriptothemundaneworld.Amanandawomanlivingtogetherforasubstantialperiodoftime,naturallybecameacouple.AtfirstMr.Fingerwasnotabletoadjusttothemonogamousretionshipofonehusbandandonewife,andpinedincessantly,butbecausehehadnotroloverhisbodywhichVioakeasbigasshewantedorassmalsafiherwhim,hehadnochoicebuttocapitute.Butastimewenton,Mr.Fingerhadbeehepointthathewassubmissiveandobedient,nolongerpinedaoenjoythehappylifeofahen-peckedman;ortobemoretothepoint,henolongerdaredtopin.Astheylookedovertotheothersideofthekethatevening,theysawnumerousopenfiresburningbrightly,hundredsofpeoplewalkingbusilytoandfroandcouldsometimesevenhearsoundsofshoutingiance.Viokhatsomethingimportantmustbehappening,especiallysinceshehadheardhatthegoldpacethathadbeensunktothebottomofthekewasgoingtedup.“Couldthatbehappeningtonight?”shewondered.Viohadalwayslovedthemagnifitgoldpace,sosheimmediatelyhurriedMr.Fiowardsthewaterawoofthemmadeswiftlyfortheoppositebank.

    Viorushediher’sarmsandIleenkissedhertenderly.“Isthegoldpacegoingteduptonight?”sheaskedurgently.“...Istonightthenight?”

    “Yes,yesitis…”repliedIleen.“Yourfatherisdownthere.Itwillberaisedupfromthebottomofthekeverysoon.Areyouhappy?...”Vionoddedandsaid,

    “That’sgreat!MyheartisthumpingfasterthaneverwhenIthinkofhowthegoldpacewouldsoonberaisedfromthebottomofthekeahelightofdayagainsparklingwithradiantbrillianderthedazzlingsun.”Mr.Finger,whowasstandingnearby,saidfawninglytoIleen,

    “Whydidn’tyoutellusbeforehandaboutthismagnifittaskbeingcarriedouttoday?IfIhadknownIwouldhaveeovertohelp…Butastheysay,‘bettertethannever’.Iamherenowanditisn’ttoht?”Ileehimandsaidsfully,

    “Youwanttohelp?...Therearehundredsofthousandsofbravestrongnativewarriorshere.Whoneedsyou?...youflytotheheavensoryouswimtothebottomoft