ntainwithMegginnandRomi”saidDeanna“toseehowCyclopsisgettingonwiththestruofthegoldpace.Theprojectisggingbehindscheduleandtheywenttoseehowtheycouldhelpthissimple-mindedgiantofHerculeah,hopingtohavethepapletedbeforeKingDimitrireturns.”

    “IheardAishaisgoingtocalmeetingtonightaboutthis.”addedDorna.

    “Ihaven’tseenAishaalldaytoday,”Lotussaid,lookingatDorna.“Doyouknowwheresheis?”

    “Whereelseexceptherstudy”poutedDorna.“flippingthroughthoseinnumerablebooksonhershelvesforathesisorreportorsomethingofthekind?Sheisturningintoarealbookworm.Notonlyisshebeingabookworm,sheisfallofustobeebookwormsjustlikeher!”Beforeshefinishedspeaking,everyonewasbenthter.Aishawasafamousschorandslightlyoldertha,sothejobofsupervisiudiesoftheyounggirlsnaturallyfellohoughDornaoutwardlypined,inherheartshehadagreatloveandrespectforthismaturewoman,whowasbothamotherandabigsistertoher.

    “Don’tbemad,mylittleprincess,”Lotusughinglysaid.“Itwilffectyourappetiteandthat’snotworthit.I’llgoasomethingforyoualltoeat.”

    Lotuswalkedovertothechoppingblockbythestove,tookapieceoftendergingerandusingaspecialteiquequicklychoppeditihihesesheputintoseveralsmallsaucersandpouredvinegaroverthemassauceforhersteameddumplings,whichaddedgreatlytotheirfvor.Thegirlsbuzzedaround,helpihetable.Soohingwasreadyatledaroundthechoppingblocktoenjoytheirsnack.Lotusytoseethemeatingwithsuchrelish.Suddenly,shefoundthatthehairofallfirlswerewet,especiallyMary’slonggoldenhairfallingtoherwaist,wasnowcloselypsteredtohernedherback,makingherlookslightlydisheveled.Sosheasked,

    “Whathavethefourofyoubeenupto,togetyourhairallwet?”

    “Dornatookuspearldiving.”Sheiproudlytoldher.“WithmycrippledleftlegIusedtohavetroublewalking.WhowouldhavethoughtthatnowIamabletoswimlongdistances?”

    “Isawargewhitefishier,asbigasahumanbeing.”Marysaid.“Thesunlightshiningthroughthewateronitsdensescaleswhichcovereditswholebody,gaveforthdazzlingsparks,makingitlooklikeawarriorinaagnifitarmor.”

    “What’sstrangeris,ithastwoswellisjustlikeawoman!”Dornaadded.“Itswamalroundusandwouldnotleave,asifitwaoleadussomewhere.”

    “Itissaidthatthatfishisthemotherofalllivingthingsierandithasbeensightedfloatingonthesurfaceoftheke.”Deannasaid.“Peoplerespectitasagoddessandwouldneveryafingeronitorharmitinanyway.Itseemedtowanttoleadustothedeepwatersattheheartoftheke.Iwasafraidthattheswimmingteiquesofthegirlswerenotquiteuptoswimminglongdistanderwater,soweturnedbackhalfretitforeverifanythinguntowardactallyhappened.ButifIshouldseethatwhitefishagain,Iwillfollowittothedeepwatersattheheartofthekeait’salbout.”Deannawasanativegirlwhogrewuponthispieceinsoil,untouchedbycivilization.Shecouldswimlikeafishandwasfreeandfortableinwaterasshewasonnd.

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

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

    Amalialookedlikethetraditionalwitfairytales,butsofarasherbehaviorinDimitri’sKingdomofDreamswased,shewasreally

ntainwithMegginnandRomi”saidDeanna“toseehowCyclopsisgettingonwiththestruofthegoldpace.Theprojectisggingbehindscheduleandtheywenttoseehowtheycouldhelpthissimple-mindedgiantofHerculeah,hopingtohavethepapletedbeforeKingDimitrireturns.”

    “IheardAishaisgoingtocalmeetingtonightaboutthis.”addedDorna.

    “Ihaven’tseenAishaalldaytoday,”Lotussaid,lookingatDorna.“Doyouknowwheresheis?”

    “Whereelseexceptherstudy”poutedDorna.“flippingthroughthoseinnumerablebooksonhershelvesforathesisorreportorsomethingofthekind?Sheisturningintoarealbookworm.Notonlyisshebeingabookworm,sheisfallofustobeebookwormsjustlikeher!”Beforeshefinishedspeaking,everyonewasbenthter.Aishawasafamousschorandslightlyoldertha,sothejobofsupervisiudiesoftheyounggirlsnaturallyfellohoughDornaoutwardlypined,inherheartshehadagreatloveandrespectforthismaturewoman,whowasbothamotherandabigsistertoher.

    “Don’tbemad,mylittleprincess,”Lotusughinglysaid.“Itwilffectyourappetiteandthat’snotworthit.I’llgoasomethingforyoualltoeat.”

    Lotuswalkedovertothechoppingblockbythestove,tookapieceoftendergingerandusingaspecialteiquequicklychoppeditihihesesheputintoseveralsmallsaucersandpouredvinegaroverthemassauceforhersteameddumplings,whichaddedgreatlytotheirfvor.Thegirlsbuzzedaround,helpihetable.Soohingwasreadyatledaroundthechoppingblocktoenjoytheirsnack.Lotusytoseethemeatingwithsuchrelish.Suddenly,shefoundthatthehairofallfirlswerewet,especiallyMary’slonggoldenhairfallingtoherwaist,wasnowcloselypsteredtohernedherback,makingherlookslightlydisheveled.Sosheasked,

    “Whathavethefourofyoubeenupto,togetyourhairallwet?”

    “Dornatookuspearldiving.”Sheiproudlytoldher.“WithmycrippledleftlegIusedtohavetroublewalking.WhowouldhavethoughtthatnowIamabletoswimlongdistances?”

    “Isawargewhitefishier,asbigasahumanbeing.”Marysaid.“Thesunlightshiningthroughthewateronitsdensescaleswhichcovereditswholebody,gaveforthdazzlingsparks,makingitlooklikeawarriorinaagnifitarmor.”

    “What’sstrangeris,ithastwoswellisjustlikeawoman!”Dornaadded.“Itswamalroundusandwouldnotleave,asifitwaoleadussomewhere.”

    “Itissaidthatthatfishisthemotherofalllivingthingsierandithasbeensightedfloatingonthesurfaceoftheke.”Deannasaid.“Peoplerespectitasagoddessandwouldneveryafingeronitorharmitinanyway.Itseemedtowanttoleadustothedeepwatersattheheartoftheke.Iwasafraidthattheswimmingteiquesofthegirlswerenotquiteuptoswimminglongdistanderwater,soweturnedbackhalfretitforeverifanythinguntowardactallyhappened.ButifIshouldseethatwhitefishagain,Iwillfollowittothedeepwatersattheheartofthekeait’salbout.”Deannawasanativegirlwhogrewuponthispieceinsoil,untouchedbycivilization.Shecouldswimlikeafishandwasfreeandfortableinwaterasshewasonnd.

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

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

    Amalialookedlikethetraditionalwitfairytales,butsofarasherbehaviorinDimitri’sKingdomofDreamswased,shewasreally