Book1:TeDream-Maker (第39/166页)

eyounggirlLotuscameouttogreethimthatDimitridiscoveredanoldmanwithalongwhitebeard，slightlyhunchedunderaburdenofabundleofwoodonhisback,whichLotuswashelpinghimunload．Hewashergrandfather，knowninthatdistrictasGrandpaIronRodbecauseofhisfirmprinciplesanduingattitudetowardsmorals．Hewasamanofsiderableknowledge，butsingthecorruptpracticesofthereigningpowers，preferredtoliveasawood-cutterainthisremotevilgeratherthanpromisehisvaluesinseekihandposition．Thoughadamantanduinginhisprinciple,hewasbynaturekindandpassionate．Hehadneverhurtasoulinhislifeandhadneverusedahatchettofaltree，choosingrathertopickupdriedbranchesandtwigsforfuel；fortohimkillingalivetreewasnodifferentfromkillingalivinganimal．

    Dimitrismiledandheoldmaniingandtheoldmannoddediurn;butwhenhiseyesrestedonDimitri’sfaceheseemedtobetakenaback．HewentintohishuttofreshenupandtheandstoodbyDimitri’stable，holdingbothhandsintheshapeofafistbeforehischestinsalute．Generousbynature，Dimitriaskedhimtositdownwithhimandbehisguest．Theoldmansatdownandcalledtohisgrand-daughter，"Lotus，warmsomemorewineaanotherpceatthistableforme．eofyourtastydishes．Iwanttochatwithourspecialguesttonight.”Afterafewcupsofwiheoldmanasked，

    "Wereyousurprisedaboutthedog?"

    3

    "Yes．ItseemedsooddlyfamiliarandremindedmeofsomeoneIhadonownwell，butI’tforthelifeofmethinkofwhoitcouldbe!"

    "Yes．Somethingsinlifearehardtofathomandanticipate．Letmetellyouastory.”

    Duringhisnarration，Lotuswasbusyservingfreshlycookeddishesandwarmwine．Herfootstepswerelightandsoftasacat’spawandherfigurewaslitheandpliantasthewillow.Shecameasoftly,withonlytherustlingofherskirtsannoungherpresence．

    GrandpaIronRodsippedhiswineandbeganhistale：

    “Manyyearsago，therelivedaridlordnearbywhoownedsomudthatabirdcouldnotflythroughwithoutstopping.Innumerablehorsesandmules,servantsandserfsworkedforhimnightandday;butridgrainrottedinhisbarnsbecauseofinpetentma．Hewasabesottedmaninhisfiftieswholovedwineandwomenandusedhiswealthandiosatisfyhiseverywhim．Heexpandedhismansionintoaminiaturepacetohousehistwenty-fourbeauties-younggirlswhocaughthisfandwhomhetardlessofwhethertheyweremarriedorbetrothedorunwilling；thuscreatingtragedieseverywhere．Asamatteroffact，itcreatedtragedyforhimselfaswell．Siyranny,selfishnessandarrogancedidlittletoaspireloveandloyalty,eachofhistwenty-fourbeauties,forcefullygathered,hadherownpn,hemintendingtostaywithhim"tilldeathdouspart"．Perhapsheavenwasangrywithhimandcausedseveralfirestreatdealofhisproperty．Neverhavingbeenagoodmanager,heseemedatalossastohowtocope．Hismanywiveshadaffairswiththosewhoflockedaroundorworkedforhim，andnowtookadvantageofhispreoccupationtostealorembezzlewhattheycouldandrunaway．Itwaslikeagianttreefallingtothegroundandallthemonkeyslivinginitscatteringindifferentdires．Hewasdevastatedbytheirdesertionandneverrecoveredfromthisblow．Hesoondied.”Here，GrandpaIronRodhelduphiswinedhospitablypressedDimitritoeatanddrinkmore．Thendlordwasbadinmanyways,theoldmantinued,buthediddoonegooddeed-heoncesavedOldGrandpaIronRod’slife．Itmayhavebeenjustarandom