“Dornatookuspearldiving.”Sheilaproudlytoldher.“WithmycrippledleftlegIusedtohavetroublewalking.WhowouldhavethoughtthatnowIamabletoswimlongdistances?”

        “Isawalargewhitefishinthewater,asbigasahumanbeing.”Marysaid.“Thesunlightshiningthroughthewateronitsdensescaleswhichcovereditswholebody,gaveforthdazzlingsparks,makingitlooklikeawarriorinacoatofmagnificentarmor.”

        “What’sstrangeris,ithastwoswellingbreastsjustlikeawoman!”Dornaadded.“Itswamallaroundusandwouldnotleave,asifitwantedtoleadussomewhere.”

        “Itissaidthatthatfishisthemotherofalllivingthingsinthewaterandithasbeensightedfloatingonthesurfaceofthelake.”Deannasaid.“Peoplerespectitasagoddessandwouldneverlayafingeronitorharmitinanyway.Itseemedtowanttoleadustothedeepwatersattheheartofthelake.Iwasafraidthattheswimmingtechniquesofthegirlswerenotquiteuptoswimminglongdistancesunderwater,soweturnedbackhalfway.Wewouldregretitforeverifanythinguntowardaccidentallyhappened.ButifIshouldseethatwhitefishagain,Iwillfollowittothedeepwatersattheheartofthelakeandseewhatit’sallabout.”Deannawasanativegirlwhogrewuponthispieceofvirginsoil,untouchedbycivilization.Shecouldswimlikeafishandwasfreeandcomfortableinwaterasshewasonland.

        “Iwanttogo,too”criedDornarebelliously.“Idon’tbelievemyswimmingisworsethanyours!”

        “Nowdon’tbenaughty!”interruptedLotus.“Thisisnolaughingmatter.BecarefulthatAmaliadoesn’tsmackyouwithherflyingbroom.”

        Amalialookedlikethetraditionalwitchinfairytales,butsofarasherbehaviorinDimitri’sKingdomofDreamswasconcerned,shewasreallyakind-heartedelder.Heractionsweresometimessobizarrethatthebeautiesdidn’tquiteknowwhethertolaughorcry.Butshewasveryprotectiveofthem,andtheywillinglycametobeonintimatetermswiththissinister-lookingbutkind-heartedoldwoman.Sometimesshewasconfusedandsilly,butsometimesshrewdandcapableandthebeautiestreatedherliketheiroldgrandmother.Yoko,theAsianbeautywithapairofenticingdimplesonhercheeks,wasespeciallyclosetoAmalia,whopickedherupfromthestreetsaftershewasdesertedbyherparents,andpracticallyraisedherfrominfancy.Butthatwasinthebygonedaysofthesmokypast.OnhearingLotus’wordsDornasaid,

        “Don’ttrytoscareme.Amalialovesmeandwouldneverliftafingertome.Anyway,sheisnotinthepalaceatthemomentandhasgoneroamingsomewhere.Whenshecomesback,Iwillaskherwhereshehasgoneandwhyshehadn’ttakenmewithher.Thatwillmakehersorepentantthatshe’llnevereventhinkofspankingme.”

        “OK.OK,mylittleprincess!”laughedLotus.“Stoptalkingandeatmoreofthesedumplings.Afteryouhavefinished,goandwashupandrestforawhile.It’slateandIheardAishahassomethingimportanttoannouncetonight.”

        Thefourgirlssataroundthechoppingboardandfelltowithzeal.AsDeannaate,shewasthinking,

        “Imustswimtothedeepwatersinthemiddleofthelakeassoonaspossibleandseewhatit’sallabout.IfDorna’scuriosityisnotsatisfied,thestrong-headedgirlwillbesuretosetoutbyherself.Ifanythinghappenstoher,itwouldbebecauseofmeandIwouldneverforgivemyself.”Theirappetitesfullysatisfied,thefourgirlseachwentherownway.Soon,otherbeautieshearingofLotus’freshandtastyrefreshmentscameintwosandthreesfollowingoneachother’sheelstotrythesteamingdumplings,whicheveryoneofthemdeclaredtobeuniqueanddelicious.Lotus,everthegracioushostess,talkedtothemandsawtoitthateveryonewasserved.Soonitwasduskandthebeautieshadallleft.Therewerestillthreebamboosteamersleftonthestove,whichLotuskeptwarmingforMegginn,RomiandClementinebecausesheknewthattheywouldsurelybehungryafteradayofinspectiononGiantMountainandwouldneedasnack.Also,theever-vigilantMedusa,whoflewaroundtheskiescarryingoutherdutyasGuardianoftheKingdom,wouldbehungry,too.

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