Book1:TeDream-Maker (第100/166页)

gapaceofgoldoopofGiantMountain,sowhenDimitricamebackhewouldhaveonlypraiseforhisresourcefulmanager．Shecallediaffandtoldthemthatgoldwasbottomingoutanditwastimetobuy．ShesetthewheelsinmotiontobuyingoldthroughtheiremissariesthroughouttheworldandhaveitsentbacktotheKingdomtobuildanewpatopofGiantMountain．Asthestaffscatteredtodoherbidding,shemusedabouthertwobosses．Mr．Kaffeewasaruthless，hard-headedbusinessman，butgherknowledgeandexpertise．Healwaystookheradvidtheyplementedeachothertoperfe．Nowwithouther，hewashavingahardtimeg．ThehoughtsturoDimitri,herpresentmaster．Whenshefirstmethim,hewaswearingadarkbrownthree-quarterjacket,oversizedandbaggybcktrousers,oldarmyshoes,nosodanolivecoloredsafarihat．Hetalkedwithastammerandstoodthereawkwardly,notknowingwhattodowithhishandsahatwasherimpressionofDimitriwhehimforthefirsttimeinthehallofWorldBank．

    DaroagandgraylightwasjustbeginningtodispersethedarknesswhenDimitriwokefromhisslumber．HerememberedhispromisetoRichardandhowMedusatoldhimhecouldgetasmueyashewantedfromWorldBank．Butafeelingofdreadanduaintyhithim,forhowwashe,ahomelessperson,togouptothatimposingterandaskformohnothingwhatsoevertosupporthiscim?Butthatwashisonlyresource,sohoweverreluthewastocrashthegatesofthatawe-inspiringinstitutioodoso．Therefore,hegotdressed,lefthisdipidatedshelteraonhisway．

    Themwasstillgrayaeejungleofbuildingshadjustbeguntorevive．Humansocietyhaditsownuemofecologicalbance．AsDimitricrossedthewideexpaheemptysquare，hissolitaryfigureseemeddwarfedandinsignifit．Ontherightofthesquarewasanabaobodyshop；o，ahospital,opeyfourhoursadayforemergencycalls．Inhisambiguousimpression，therewasn’tmuchdiffereweewo．Theywerebothrepairshops，onedealingwithmaes，theotherwiththehumanbody．AcrossthesquarewasaCatholicChurch,elegantandcssical,whereheoftenheardsoothingandpeacefulmusicofthechoirapaheaningfromtheinterior，inspiringhisimagination．Thenunsintheirflowingveilsandhabitseandgoontheirsacredandcharitablemissions，likenymphsdesdingfromheaven．Hehadoftenwishedhecouldsummonupenoughcetogetonintimatetermswiththem,butheneverdaredto．Afterpassingthesquare,hecametosomenarrowsteeltracks,whichhadalwaysbeehoughnotrainevercamethrough．Itmustbearemnantofthepioneerdays．Thenearerhegottohisdestinatioerhisheartwentpitapat．Thestreetswerestilldesertedintheearlym．Abatteredcarparkedbythesideofthestreet，withitslightsstillfshingweaklyaddedtothesenseofdesotioerieswerealmostusedupandthecarlookedwornout．Thedriverhadfallenasleepinhisseat，evidentlyexhausted．Boththedriverandthecarhadco-operatedwellontheirlongtripandnowbothweretiredandneededarest．Furtherdowicedadeadseagulllyingonthepavement．Whyhaditleftitsnaturalhabitatbythewatersauredintohumansocietyonlytoendonthesidewalks?Itwasstillearly,butcarsarianshadalreadybeguntoappear,goinghastilyontheirwaywithcoldexpressionlessfaces．Asheapproachedthefinancialdistrict，hesawthetwenty-fourstoreyWorldBankbuildingthatspreadovertheentireblock．Itwashardtobelievethatallthisbeloohim!Ithadn’topesdoorsyet,soDimitrisquatteddownonthecurbacrossthestreettowaitquietly．