Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第268/327页)

orldwhichIfeelisnodifferentfromstrollingalongthesereneaifulpathsofmyKingdomofDreams?TometherealworldisthesameastheKingdomofDreamsandMyKingdomofDreamsisincludedinthisrgemetropolis.”DimitriwalkedalonghappilyfollowedbythecloudfromtheKingdomofDreams.

    Dimitriactallykickedaywilelyingbytheroadside,whichrolledawayforquiteadistancebeforefallingdownaflightofsteps.Thereonthet,itbrokeintmentswithafrighteningcrashthatsplihecalmandquietoftheearlym.Thesunwasalreadyup,scatteringitsbrilliantraysovertheearth,buttheatmosphereherewaseerilysilent,lifelessahargic.Couldalltheresidentsherebesick?Ifso,theirillnessmustbeserious,evenmortal.Tobemoreprecise,itwasnottheresidentswhowereill,butratherthewholesocietyhadbeeterminallyill.herorpedestrianscouldbeseenoreetsofthisneighborhood.Everywheretheeyecouldreachwasfullofdisorderlyandmessypileseleftoverfromthenightbeforewithnostreeterdoinganyingup.Thiswasthemostnotoriouspartoftown,thebreedinggroundofcrimeandsin.Gamblinganddrugtraffigwererampartahebravestwenfortofficerstreadwarilyhereandcameonlyiftheyhadto.Naturallythishadbeethehavenforprostitution.Gangsandundergroundforcescarvedouttheirownrealmsofinflueurfwarseruptedwhenrivaliscsh.Multiplegunshoutatnightasamatterofcourseandlivesofibystanderslostintheseflictscouldonlybetedassacrificestothedarknight.Thepolicedidnotnormallysetfootintheseparts.Ifnotforthelureofhighpay,whowouldbesofoolishastoputtheirlivesonthelineandpatrolhere?Eveheydoe,itwasonlythebriefestofnominalvisits.Thepolicecarwouldarriveandthenjustturnaroundanddrivequicklyaway.Thiswasnoman’sndwhereanarchyruled,aerutterlyrejectedbysociety.Likeanincurablecer,itwaslefttofesteranddecay.ThisregionwasnotunfamiliartoDimitribecausehegrewupinasimirenviroandthishadbeenhisroaminggroundasayoungster.Hehadnotbeenhereforalongtimeandwasvisitingtheareaforapurposeunknowntoanyoneelse.

    NotfarfromtherewastheGreyhoundBusTerminalwheretheloudrumbleofiningandoutgoingbusenginesscheduledsoveryclosetogetherwasstantlyheard.Herewaswherethecrowdsgregatedtogetonoroffthelongdistancebusesandwasthereforethenaturalgatheringpceofallkindsofpeople,goodandbad,highandlow.Dimitristoodstilttheerofthestreetlostinthought,thinkingabouthischildhoodwhenheroamedthesestreetsandlivedlikeastarveddogalwayshungryandthirsty.Justthen,ateen-agersuddenlyranheadlongtowardshimfromacrossthestreet,followedcloselybyamiddle-agedmanwhoshoutedtoDimitri,

    “Catchhim!Catchthatlittlethief.Hestolemywallet!”

    “No,Iboostnowallet!”shoutedtheyoungboy“Hewantstokillme…Helpme.Helpmeplease…”pleadedtheboyasheranpastDimitri.Whenthemiddle-agedman,whowasrunningaftertheboypassedDimitri,heturnedhisheadcursingangrily,

    “Damnyou,youFKingstupidbastard.Toldyoutostophim,didn’tI?Whydidn’tyou?IfIdohim,watchwhatIwilldotoyouwhenIeback…”Thatangrymanmaybemiddle-aged,buthesurecouldrunfast.Hesooncaughtupwiththeboy,grabbedhimbythecolrandthrewhimtotheground.Justasheraisedhisfistandwasabouttohittheboy,Dimitriorderedhistwoloyalservants,

    “Quick!Goandstoptheman.Alsotwisttheswitboththeirbrainsahap