二十三章 、Maker(3/93)
"O🙦🌤🁅fcourseId🛳o．I’maman．ButIdon’thaveanymoremoney”．
Shebowedherheadinsilence．Dimitrilookedather．Shewasiful，butnotpiher，justanaver🎁agegirlindirtyb🁉luejeans，T-shirtandajacket．Washedanddressedupshecouldevee．
"Howlonghaveyoube🀡♼enatthisbusi🙷ness?"
"Whydoyouask?Youha🜶venom🏼oney”．
"Wh👷atIjustgaveyouwasallI♭ha🁊🄈🞳d．Iwasn’twillingtospenditonfoodformyself，butIgaveitalltoyoutogetdrugs．"
"I’lldowhatevery🄁ouwishtopayyouback．"
"Ineedy🟒oubutIwon’ttakeyou."
"Whynot?Aren’👉tyo🄁uaman?Isn’tthatwhatallmenwant?"
"IfIhadpickedyouuporeet，Iwouldn’thavehesitated；butasitis，Igaveyouthemoosaveyony．IfItookyounow,Iwouldbeabrutepreyingonyourvuln🀘erabilities．Shei，therearealotofthiweenamanandawomanbesidessex．Forinstance，love，af🃟fe，friendship．．．butbecauseofyoursurroundingandcircumstancesyouwouldn’tuand．"
"That’siin🜮g．📟🜇Ihavebeendoingthissi💥📹☈ncemyearlyteens”．
"Whhtyoutothis?"
"Adevil．Don’teveio🜶nhim．Hegotmehookedsametodotricks．Saynomore．ImustgotoworknoworIwon’thaveanymoneyfsandthepimpwillbeatme．Iamcrippled，soit’sdoublyhardformetogeters.”Withthat，sheclimbedupthestairsa，andDimitriwenttosleep．Thefacesofthelovingcouple，kindandsmiling，appearedimmediatelybefo🃯🛓rehim．Heopenedhiseyes,shookhisheadabacktosleep．
Thepygmyiiewaswalkinghand-inhandwiththeseductiveandnakedMedusa．Itwasevening．Thebrightmoonlightwasreflected🕀ontheripplingwavessoftlypattingtheshores．Thetwosanganddandfrolickedhappilyalohepygmyughedhisstrange，squeakyugh．Theygmyhighaboveherheadandspunaroundmadly，likeamotherpyingwithherson．Dimit💿rishookhisheadagain．"No,no.Thisisn’twhatIwanted.”aledhimselfdowntodreaminear．ItwasadenseforestintheheartofAfricaaspitchdarkasmidnight．Therhythmicbutmonotonousbeatofthedrumarousedinpeopleabarbarousimpulseandtheshoutsofthenativeslentitamysterious，primitiveandterrifyingatmosphere．Dimitriwentintotheforestandcameacrossatemple．Therewereshadowyfiguresofthenativesbeatingdrumsanddangaroundafire．Everynowaheyshoutedtheirbattlecry．Dimitrisawhumanskullsscatteredalloverthefloorawasthehabitatofmaingibals.Therewereskullsofallkinds🕲🍡ofanimalsdecoratingthewalls，includinghumanskulls．Itwasafestival，thebirthdayofthegodofFate，andlivesacrificesweretobeofferedtohim．Thegodsatinthemiddleofthetemple，anticipatingagoodmeal．Hehadthebodyofamanbuttheheadofamoherewasarhinoceroshornatthetopofhishead.Onhisright，stoodanakedshe-mohaspearinherhand，whoservedashisattendant．ShehadthebodyofaseductivewomanbuttheheadofaMedusa．
Dimitriwastakenaback．"Oh，it’sthosetwomonstersiherdream．I’vemetthembefore.”AnAfriativecameinwithbothhandssuppahugesilverptebahetopofhishead．Therewasanenormousbamboosteameroe,freshfromthekitwithsteamingfromuhelid．Hekrespectfullybeforethem，pcedthepteonthenarrow,longtableandtookoffthelidofthesteamer．Initwasthebodyoftheyounggirl，Shei，nakedasashelledhard-boiledegg．Shelookedasthoughshewasasleep，butactuallyshehadbeensteamedtodeathasasacrificetothegodofFate．Theshe-monster’seyesshohviciousgreed，andsalivabegandrippingfromtheersofhermouth．ThegodofFatetookaknifeanddissectedaleg．Aftertakingabite，hehaotheshe-monsterwhograbbediteagerlyandviciouslydevouredittothebone．
Aheart-rendingscreampiercedhisdream．Dimitriwokewithastartle．Lookingaroundinthedarkundergroundsewer，hecouldseeahuskybrapingShei．Herhaiedbyaropeandhewasontopofher．Dimitricouldseetherapidup-and-dowsofhisbodyasthoughheingonahorse．Hethrustolessly，occasionallytakingadrinkfromatiltedbottle,whileSheiscreamedinpaiherface．Hiswhiteteethgleamedinthedarklikethoseofaskulndsaid，"Youbitch，youdidn’tgivemeanymoodaysoyouhavetopayforit.”Hebithernipplesharduntilshebled．"Godda🙧mnyou，youdevil,“shecursedstrugglingfutilely，"IwishI’deyesonyou.”Dimitri’sbloodboiledatthesight．Hegotupsoundlessly，grabbedapieceofsteelpipenearhim，andmadeaswipefortheb’shead．Thepainoftheimpactmadeh🝪🍹🌾imdrophison．Heshookhisheadandlookedagain．Nob．wasadream．Hehadhitthenarrowdderwithsuchforcethatthepartofhishaweehumbandtheindexfingerwastorn．Sheihadnoteback．Shehadedtoclosethelidoftheman-holeandthefaintgraylightofdawnfilteredt🜾hrough．Itwasanotherday．Dimitrisatontheground，dazed，holdinghisinjuredhandnotknowihertocryh．
Dimitrifoldeduphissleepingbagandputeverythingiicbag．Heclimbedupthestepsandfoundthathehadhititsohardwiththesteelpipethatitwascrooked．Hesmiledgrimlyasherecalledtheseinhisdream．Ifhehadreallyhitthedevil,hewouldhavebashedhisheadin．Ohwell!Heputhis👊🖨belongingsbatohiscartandpusheditinfrontofhim．Thelightswerestillonintheshops，butthedawnwasgraduallydrivingawaythedarkherewasnoonearouhedesertedstreets．ItwastooearlyandDimitrireallydidn’thaveaogo．Pushinghiscart，hefeltasearingpaininhishand．"ImustgoandfindMariannatoba,”hethought．Theashamed．Whydidhealwaysthinkofherwhenhewashurtry?Heagainpassedtheparkbenchwheretheoldcouplehadsatthenightbefore．Theolddymusthavebeeygirlwhenshewasyoung，andherhusband，ahandsomeyoungmaheywereanidealcoupleandhavehadaperfectlife，hemused．ThenhisthoughtsturoShei，theyoungprostitute，whoseprofessionwastosellcheaplytheuseofhersexualans.Dimitrididnotlookdownonher.Hewasedaboutherwhereabouts．Prostitutionwastheoldestprofessionintheworldbecausesocietycouldnotdowithoutit.Itwasobaheunbancedpartofhumannature，justasaunityneededsewerstodrainitswastewaterandraintopreventflooding．Sheioor，unfortunateyounggirlbutherprofessionwasaformoflife．herbodywasbutasacrifithealtarofFate．
Dimitripushedhiscartaimlesslyaloreets,whichgraduallybrighteraffidpedestriansincreased．Thenoiseandcmorofcitylifehadbegun．Theslim，nymph-likefigureinbckappearedintheearlymsunlightandarrestedhiseyes．Itwasanun．Dimitrihadagreatrespectfornuns，lookinguponthemasangelsexpelledfromheavenfortheirsinsadowntotheearth🄿🃒toatohem．Toughiscapwithhishand，hesaidgruffly，"Go，sister.”Thenunblessedherselfandsaid，"Go，sir,"inamelodiousvoithebrighteninglightofday,Dimitrisawshewasyoungayandherveilflutteringinthebreezegaveheranunworldlyairofspiritualintelligence．AsDimitriturogo，thenunnoticedfromtheerofhereyethathishandwaswouornandbleeding．
"Youhavebeenhurt！"sheexcimed．Shesearchedfranticallyforsomethingtoputoverthewound．Th📱ehoughtofherhandkerchief．Pullingitout，sheeditaroundhishandandsaid，"Youshouldnotleaveitlikethat，itwillgetied．Gototheidhaveittakencareofproperly.”Meanwhileherslendernimblefingerswerewbusily．Dimitrilookedatthementranced，feelingnopainatall．Insteadhestoodtherewithhishandout-stretched，enjoyingtherareoccasio🗺nofbeingmademuchof，feelingasfortableaswhenhisearwasbeingscratchedbyaQ-tip．"Thereyouare!”thenunsaid，"That’lldo．Godblessyou!”Shetappedhimslightlyonthearman🕵🍿dwalkedbrisklyaway．
Dimitriwalkedohishandtohishehandkerchiefhadafeminineaurawhichhefoundverypleasant．Hehadn’tsleptwellsohewastired，buthewaofollowthenun．Finally，hedecidedthebestwaywastofindafortablespotandfollowherwithhisdreams．Hecametoatreeatthesideoftheparkwhoselea🁮🅠fyshadowsseemedquiteinviting．Layinghimselfdownhefelsleepatonhisdream,Dimitriwaoaventwhichlookedlikeanacastle．Thehallwashuge，dismandaustere，litonlybyadimgaslight．Dimitristoodtheretryingtoadjusthiseyestothedarkhenhewalkedon．Hecouldhearthehollowechoofhisfootsteps．Thepcegavehimtheimpressionofaprison．Suddenly，heheardsweetyoungvoiharmoniousc🇱resdo，singinginpraiseofGod．"Howdidtheseyoungwomenndinsuchagruesomepce?"hewondered．Hewalkedovertothewindowwherethevoicescamefromandpeekedin．Therewereagroupofarsinginghymns．Buttheonehehadmetintheearlymwasnotthere，sohelostiandwalkedon．
Hewalkedaroundtothebackofthebuildingandsawawoodedareafurtherdown，sohewalkedonandonuntilhecametoapthewoodswheremistysteamrosefromtheshadowsoftrees．Partingtheexuberantbranches,hesaolikeapearlinthemidstoftalltreesandluxurianttropicalflowers．Thenunhewasseekingwasthere，gettingreadyforherbath．Shecarefullytookoffherhabitandveilexposinggoldentressesaifulsnow-whitebodyerfectlyproportionedfigurethatwouldbetheenvyofanywoman．"Whyshouldagirllikethattakethevowandbeeanun?"Dimitriwondered，ashestoodtheretransfixed．Shewalkedintothewateruntilitcametoherwaistandleisurelybegah．Evehingmovementsweregradelegant．Dimitrico🞬uldseeacrystaldropofwaterrollslowlydownfromhernobleforeheadtoherflushedcheeks．Thenittraveledtoherfinelychiseleduntilitdroppedontoherbeautifulbreast．Itslippeddownherbreast，caressingitandgingtohernippleuntilitcouldholdonnolongeraantlydroppedbatothewater．Justthen，twoareesbythesideofthepond，whosebrancheshadgraduallyleanedcletherastheywatchedherbathe，walkedtowardseachotherandembraced．TheyturotwomohepygmyandMedusa．Excitedbythesightofherbeauty，theymadelove，thepygmykissingMedusa’sbody．Eventhevegetationhrodisiac．Thenthemourotreesagain．Theyswitchedfromoneformtotheotherflickeringly.Dimitridisregardedthemandturnedhisthoughtsbacktothenun．"Itissuchawaste,”hethought，"Thosebeautifulbreastsweremeanttofeedbabies．Ifshecouldhaveababyinherarms，bathingtogether，itwouldbeareMarkablese．Whyshouldsheblockuphermaternalinstindturnherreproductivesystemfromitsnaturaln🏕ormintoalifeofchastityandseclusion?"HecoulduandthatshereserveherpurityandofferittoGod，buthestillfeltitwasdunnaturandcouldnotdo，eventhoughherespectedherresolution．Hekheremusthavebeenalotofpainandstruggleinherresolution；theprocesswaslikecloggingapipe，fthewatertoflowbackwards．Justthen，ahugeleaf，freshanddewy，floatedby．Thenunclimbedontoittorestforawhile．Butassoonasshegoton，theleafcurledupandenvelopedher．ItdawnedonDimitrithenthattheleafwasivorous．"Takeiteasy，sister，I’mingtoyourrescue,”hecriedoutandrantohelpher．Hefellintothewaterandwokeup．
Shebowedherheadinsilence．Dimitrilookedather．Shewasiful，butnotpiher，justanaver🎁agegirlindirtyb🁉luejeans，T-shirtandajacket．Washedanddressedupshecouldevee．
"Howlonghaveyoube🀡♼enatthisbusi🙷ness?"
"Whydoyouask?Youha🜶venom🏼oney”．
"Wh👷atIjustgaveyouwasallI♭ha🁊🄈🞳d．Iwasn’twillingtospenditonfoodformyself，butIgaveitalltoyoutogetdrugs．"
"I’lldowhatevery🄁ouwishtopayyouback．"
"Ineedy🟒oubutIwon’ttakeyou."
"Whynot?Aren’👉tyo🄁uaman?Isn’tthatwhatallmenwant?"
"IfIhadpickedyouuporeet，Iwouldn’thavehesitated；butasitis，Igaveyouthemoosaveyony．IfItookyounow,Iwouldbeabrutepreyingonyourvuln🀘erabilities．Shei，therearealotofthiweenamanandawomanbesidessex．Forinstance，love，af🃟fe，friendship．．．butbecauseofyoursurroundingandcircumstancesyouwouldn’tuand．"
"That’siin🜮g．📟🜇Ihavebeendoingthissi💥📹☈ncemyearlyteens”．
"Whhtyoutothis?"
"Adevil．Don’teveio🜶nhim．Hegotmehookedsametodotricks．Saynomore．ImustgotoworknoworIwon’thaveanymoneyfsandthepimpwillbeatme．Iamcrippled，soit’sdoublyhardformetogeters.”Withthat，sheclimbedupthestairsa，andDimitriwenttosleep．Thefacesofthelovingcouple，kindandsmiling，appearedimmediatelybefo🃯🛓rehim．Heopenedhiseyes,shookhisheadabacktosleep．
Thepygmyiiewaswalkinghand-inhandwiththeseductiveandnakedMedusa．Itwasevening．Thebrightmoonlightwasreflected🕀ontheripplingwavessoftlypattingtheshores．Thetwosanganddandfrolickedhappilyalohepygmyughedhisstrange，squeakyugh．Theygmyhighaboveherheadandspunaroundmadly，likeamotherpyingwithherson．Dimit💿rishookhisheadagain．"No,no.Thisisn’twhatIwanted.”aledhimselfdowntodreaminear．ItwasadenseforestintheheartofAfricaaspitchdarkasmidnight．Therhythmicbutmonotonousbeatofthedrumarousedinpeopleabarbarousimpulseandtheshoutsofthenativeslentitamysterious，primitiveandterrifyingatmosphere．Dimitriwentintotheforestandcameacrossatemple．Therewereshadowyfiguresofthenativesbeatingdrumsanddangaroundafire．Everynowaheyshoutedtheirbattlecry．Dimitrisawhumanskullsscatteredalloverthefloorawasthehabitatofmaingibals.Therewereskullsofallkinds🕲🍡ofanimalsdecoratingthewalls，includinghumanskulls．Itwasafestival，thebirthdayofthegodofFate，andlivesacrificesweretobeofferedtohim．Thegodsatinthemiddleofthetemple，anticipatingagoodmeal．Hehadthebodyofamanbuttheheadofamoherewasarhinoceroshornatthetopofhishead.Onhisright，stoodanakedshe-mohaspearinherhand，whoservedashisattendant．ShehadthebodyofaseductivewomanbuttheheadofaMedusa．
Dimitriwastakenaback．"Oh，it’sthosetwomonstersiherdream．I’vemetthembefore.”AnAfriativecameinwithbothhandssuppahugesilverptebahetopofhishead．Therewasanenormousbamboosteameroe,freshfromthekitwithsteamingfromuhelid．Hekrespectfullybeforethem，pcedthepteonthenarrow,longtableandtookoffthelidofthesteamer．Initwasthebodyoftheyounggirl，Shei，nakedasashelledhard-boiledegg．Shelookedasthoughshewasasleep，butactuallyshehadbeensteamedtodeathasasacrificetothegodofFate．Theshe-monster’seyesshohviciousgreed，andsalivabegandrippingfromtheersofhermouth．ThegodofFatetookaknifeanddissectedaleg．Aftertakingabite，hehaotheshe-monsterwhograbbediteagerlyandviciouslydevouredittothebone．
Aheart-rendingscreampiercedhisdream．Dimitriwokewithastartle．Lookingaroundinthedarkundergroundsewer，hecouldseeahuskybrapingShei．Herhaiedbyaropeandhewasontopofher．Dimitricouldseetherapidup-and-dowsofhisbodyasthoughheingonahorse．Hethrustolessly，occasionallytakingadrinkfromatiltedbottle,whileSheiscreamedinpaiherface．Hiswhiteteethgleamedinthedarklikethoseofaskulndsaid，"Youbitch，youdidn’tgivemeanymoodaysoyouhavetopayforit.”Hebithernipplesharduntilshebled．"Godda🙧mnyou，youdevil,“shecursedstrugglingfutilely，"IwishI’deyesonyou.”Dimitri’sbloodboiledatthesight．Hegotupsoundlessly，grabbedapieceofsteelpipenearhim，andmadeaswipefortheb’shead．Thepainoftheimpactmadeh🝪🍹🌾imdrophison．Heshookhisheadandlookedagain．Nob．wasadream．Hehadhitthenarrowdderwithsuchforcethatthepartofhishaweehumbandtheindexfingerwastorn．Sheihadnoteback．Shehadedtoclosethelidoftheman-holeandthefaintgraylightofdawnfilteredt🜾hrough．Itwasanotherday．Dimitrisatontheground，dazed，holdinghisinjuredhandnotknowihertocryh．
Dimitrifoldeduphissleepingbagandputeverythingiicbag．Heclimbedupthestepsandfoundthathehadhititsohardwiththesteelpipethatitwascrooked．Hesmiledgrimlyasherecalledtheseinhisdream．Ifhehadreallyhitthedevil,hewouldhavebashedhisheadin．Ohwell!Heputhis👊🖨belongingsbatohiscartandpusheditinfrontofhim．Thelightswerestillonintheshops，butthedawnwasgraduallydrivingawaythedarkherewasnoonearouhedesertedstreets．ItwastooearlyandDimitrireallydidn’thaveaogo．Pushinghiscart，hefeltasearingpaininhishand．"ImustgoandfindMariannatoba,”hethought．Theashamed．Whydidhealwaysthinkofherwhenhewashurtry?Heagainpassedtheparkbenchwheretheoldcouplehadsatthenightbefore．Theolddymusthavebeeygirlwhenshewasyoung，andherhusband，ahandsomeyoungmaheywereanidealcoupleandhavehadaperfectlife，hemused．ThenhisthoughtsturoShei，theyoungprostitute，whoseprofessionwastosellcheaplytheuseofhersexualans.Dimitrididnotlookdownonher.Hewasedaboutherwhereabouts．Prostitutionwastheoldestprofessionintheworldbecausesocietycouldnotdowithoutit.Itwasobaheunbancedpartofhumannature，justasaunityneededsewerstodrainitswastewaterandraintopreventflooding．Sheioor，unfortunateyounggirlbutherprofessionwasaformoflife．herbodywasbutasacrifithealtarofFate．
Dimitripushedhiscartaimlesslyaloreets,whichgraduallybrighteraffidpedestriansincreased．Thenoiseandcmorofcitylifehadbegun．Theslim，nymph-likefigureinbckappearedintheearlymsunlightandarrestedhiseyes．Itwasanun．Dimitrihadagreatrespectfornuns，lookinguponthemasangelsexpelledfromheavenfortheirsinsadowntotheearth🄿🃒toatohem．Toughiscapwithhishand，hesaidgruffly，"Go，sister.”Thenunblessedherselfandsaid，"Go，sir,"inamelodiousvoithebrighteninglightofday,Dimitrisawshewasyoungayandherveilflutteringinthebreezegaveheranunworldlyairofspiritualintelligence．AsDimitriturogo，thenunnoticedfromtheerofhereyethathishandwaswouornandbleeding．
"Youhavebeenhurt！"sheexcimed．Shesearchedfranticallyforsomethingtoputoverthewound．Th📱ehoughtofherhandkerchief．Pullingitout，sheeditaroundhishandandsaid，"Youshouldnotleaveitlikethat，itwillgetied．Gototheidhaveittakencareofproperly.”Meanwhileherslendernimblefingerswerewbusily．Dimitrilookedatthementranced，feelingnopainatall．Insteadhestoodtherewithhishandout-stretched，enjoyingtherareoccasio🗺nofbeingmademuchof，feelingasfortableaswhenhisearwasbeingscratchedbyaQ-tip．"Thereyouare!”thenunsaid，"That’lldo．Godblessyou!”Shetappedhimslightlyonthearman🕵🍿dwalkedbrisklyaway．
Dimitriwalkedohishandtohishehandkerchiefhadafeminineaurawhichhefoundverypleasant．Hehadn’tsleptwellsohewastired，buthewaofollowthenun．Finally，hedecidedthebestwaywastofindafortablespotandfollowherwithhisdreams．Hecametoatreeatthesideoftheparkwhoselea🁮🅠fyshadowsseemedquiteinviting．Layinghimselfdownhefelsleepatonhisdream,Dimitriwaoaventwhichlookedlikeanacastle．Thehallwashuge，dismandaustere，litonlybyadimgaslight．Dimitristoodtheretryingtoadjusthiseyestothedarkhenhewalkedon．Hecouldhearthehollowechoofhisfootsteps．Thepcegavehimtheimpressionofaprison．Suddenly，heheardsweetyoungvoiharmoniousc🇱resdo，singinginpraiseofGod．"Howdidtheseyoungwomenndinsuchagruesomepce?"hewondered．Hewalkedovertothewindowwherethevoicescamefromandpeekedin．Therewereagroupofarsinginghymns．Buttheonehehadmetintheearlymwasnotthere，sohelostiandwalkedon．
Hewalkedaroundtothebackofthebuildingandsawawoodedareafurtherdown，sohewalkedonandonuntilhecametoapthewoodswheremistysteamrosefromtheshadowsoftrees．Partingtheexuberantbranches,hesaolikeapearlinthemidstoftalltreesandluxurianttropicalflowers．Thenunhewasseekingwasthere，gettingreadyforherbath．Shecarefullytookoffherhabitandveilexposinggoldentressesaifulsnow-whitebodyerfectlyproportionedfigurethatwouldbetheenvyofanywoman．"Whyshouldagirllikethattakethevowandbeeanun?"Dimitriwondered，ashestoodtheretransfixed．Shewalkedintothewateruntilitcametoherwaistandleisurelybegah．Evehingmovementsweregradelegant．Dimitrico🞬uldseeacrystaldropofwaterrollslowlydownfromhernobleforeheadtoherflushedcheeks．Thenittraveledtoherfinelychiseleduntilitdroppedontoherbeautifulbreast．Itslippeddownherbreast，caressingitandgingtohernippleuntilitcouldholdonnolongeraantlydroppedbatothewater．Justthen，twoareesbythesideofthepond，whosebrancheshadgraduallyleanedcletherastheywatchedherbathe，walkedtowardseachotherandembraced．TheyturotwomohepygmyandMedusa．Excitedbythesightofherbeauty，theymadelove，thepygmykissingMedusa’sbody．Eventhevegetationhrodisiac．Thenthemourotreesagain．Theyswitchedfromoneformtotheotherflickeringly.Dimitridisregardedthemandturnedhisthoughtsbacktothenun．"Itissuchawaste,”hethought，"Thosebeautifulbreastsweremeanttofeedbabies．Ifshecouldhaveababyinherarms，bathingtogether，itwouldbeareMarkablese．Whyshouldsheblockuphermaternalinstindturnherreproductivesystemfromitsnaturaln🏕ormintoalifeofchastityandseclusion?"HecoulduandthatshereserveherpurityandofferittoGod，buthestillfeltitwasdunnaturandcouldnotdo，eventhoughherespectedherresolution．Hekheremusthavebeenalotofpainandstruggleinherresolution；theprocesswaslikecloggingapipe，fthewatertoflowbackwards．Justthen，ahugeleaf，freshanddewy，floatedby．Thenunclimbedontoittorestforawhile．Butassoonasshegoton，theleafcurledupandenvelopedher．ItdawnedonDimitrithenthattheleafwasivorous．"Takeiteasy，sister，I’mingtoyourrescue,”hecriedoutandrantohelpher．Hefellintothewaterandwokeup．