Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第6/327页)

fewouldpalndbeeft.Reallifeisfullofsuccessesiwihfailureswithallkindsofvariables,whichiswhatmakesitiing.Otherwiselifewouldbetoodull.

    Dimitri‘sfeetmovedsubsciouslyonthegrouedtoseeifhewouldbeluoughtofindahalfsmokedcigarettebuttaround.Inthisdayandage,whenmostpeoplehadgivenupsmoking,theprobabilityoffindingonewasslimindeedathathewasblindmadetheprobabilityevenslimmer.Butstillhestoopedandranhishandsroundtoseeifamiraclewouldhappen.Atall,muscurmanwalkedover,saying,“HeyDimitri,myoldfriend,whatareyoudoing?Tryingtofindacigarettebutt?Ihaveapackhere.Takeone.”Dimitri’sheartjumpedatthewords.“Iamhaviremelygoodlucktoday”hethought.“WhenIamhungryasmalldogesivesmeahamburger.Iwanttosmokeandanunknownoldfriendoffersmeacigarette.It’smyluckydaytoday.”Thetwoofthemsatdowheronthebench.ThetallguyofferedDimitriacigaretteandlititforhim.Maureen,yingnearbynoticedthattherewasastratingonthebenchtalkingtoDimitriandcameragback.HejumpedontoDimitri’spandbarkedatthestrangermakinglow,angrygutturalsoundsinhisthroat.Dimitritookthelittledogintohisarmsandsoothedhimbystrokinghisfurlovingly.“Goodboy.Goodboy.Don’tbenervous.Heisanoldfriendofmine.Don’tbeangry.”Dimitriwasbynaturekindandgenerous,sotohimeveryoneelsewasgoodandkiedtoo.Themanearedsosuddenlywasstrongandmuscurwiththefiercefaceofaruthlessmurderer.Whenhesmiled,heseemedguilelessandiwithatouchofslyness.Soitwashardtodetermiherhewasgoodorevil,hoordeceitful.Dimitrifeltthatthisman’svoicewassomewhatfamiliar,thathehadheardhimtalkbefore,buthecouldnotreallypcehim.

    “HowdidyouknowmynamewasDimitri?”heaskedwhilehepuffedonhiscigarette.

    “EventhoughIamhisareaIheardofyousoonafterIarrived.Inthisneighborhoodwhodoesn’tknowyourname?”repliedthemanughing.“Yourniameis‘brokenball’.Anyonekickyouaroundandyouwillnotbeangryorretaliate.Youarereallyagoodsport,butperhapsyouaretoogoodasport,myfriend.”

    Dimitriwassilentforamomentmulliheman’swords.Hefelttherewassomethingwrongwithhisanswer.“Idisappearedintothinairstwinter,aroundChristmastime.Lookingattheclimatenow,itshouldbearoundJuneorJuly,soIhavebeefromthisregionforatleasthalfayear.Themanprofessestobehisareabuthasheardaboutmeandknowseverythingaboutmelikeanoldfriend.It’sstrangeaaddup.”ButDimitrididnotwanttothinkfurtheronthisdiscrepancy.

    “Isthisy?Itlooksverywhyishesounfriendlytome?”

    “No”repliedDimitri“He’snotmine.HowcouldIaffordsuexpe?Iamonlytakingtemporarilyforhisowner,”

    “Istheowhetall,beautifulyoungdywhowastalkingtoyouamomentago?Theohepaleblueskirt?”

    “Yes,hernameisCharina.She’stheonewhoaskedmetotakeaureenforawhile.”

    “Doyouknowwhereshelives?”themanaskedsuddenly.

    Dimitriwasatonhisguard.Whywasastrangeraskingabouttheresidenceofasinglewomanhedoesn’tevenknow?

    “Idon’treallyknow”herepliedevasively.“Shouldbesomewherearoundhere.”

    “Good”repliedtheman“I‘msureIwillbeabletofindher.”Dimitriwastroubledbyhiswordsandwasafraidthattherewouldbetrouble.Maureeyincreased,growlingangrilyatthestranger.

    “Myoldfriend,wewillmeetagain,”saidthemanstandingup.Hethrewsomethingonthebendsaid,