SuddenlyDwarfMickey’schestfeltasifithadbeenheavilyhitbysomething.Hisheartpoundedrapidlyandirregurlyandhisinternalaohavebeenturopsy-turvy.Hebckedoutandcolpsedwithathudtotheground.Theothersimmediatelyrushedover,callinghisnamerepeatedly,somemassaginghischestandsomepoundinghimontheback.AfterawhileDwarfMickeycameto,buthiseyesstaredunseeinglystraightaheadattheskieswhilehemurmured,“Whataterriblemess!Earth-shakinggeshavehappenedinKingDimitri’sKingdomofDreams!Thatthief,thatrobberwhostolemytreasurehasre-appeared.Ihavewaitedforalmostaturyforhim.”Theothersweremystifiedbyhisalmostimutterings,notuandingwhattheymeant.Theyheardhimgoontosay,“Hemayusemytreasuretocauseasedtsunamiintheeicworld.Imuststopthembeforetheybegin;otherwisethepeoplewouldsufferandtheworldwouldghanothereiccrisis.”HestoodupslowlyandsaidtoDorna,
“Quick.GoquicklytoMegginnandSamantha,KingDimitri’schieffinancialofficers.TellthemtomeetmeatDream-MakersBakery.Ialktothemassoonaspossible.”
“Yessir,Iwilldosoatonce”repliedDornaobediently.“ShallInotifyAishaaswell?Sheisthequeendom.”
“herbeforthemoment”repliedDwarfMickeyafteramomentofthought.“Letthebeautifundnoblequeenstayhappilyimmersedintheseaofacademicresearch.Wewillnotifyherwhenitisnecessary.Ihaveotherthingstoattendtoandmustleavenow.Meetmeatthebakery.”Sayingso,heleftwithoutanotherword.
Thestscarletcloudsiernskies,solikethedrunkenblushoftheimperiale,disappearedinthedeepeningdusk.Theroarofpowerfulenginesrockedtheairasaluxurious,streamlinedairpneappearedandslowlytoucheddown.Itranoremelystraightrunwaytowardstheotherend.Afteritsloweddown,itmadeaturnandfourpowerfullightssho.Thepneslippedontotheapronandcametoastand-still.AdderushedovertothedoorofthepnewhichopenedandMegginnwalkeddownitlookiremelygauntandtired,herloifulhairblownaboutbythestrongwind.Wheotheststep,sheturhecrewwhocamedownbehindher,shooktheirhandsandsaidgoodbye.ShetookastlookatthepneespeciallyassighepresidentofWorldBankandwavedgoodbyetoit,whilethecrewsalutedherforthesttime.Thedaythepnewouldhaveanewboss.
Megginnwalkedquicklytothebrandnew,luxuriousaerodynamicracecarthatwaswaitingforherattheparkiwasevidentlyaremelyexpensivedifitcouldfly,itwouldprobablybenoslowerthanthatphadjusttoucheddownhere.Meggihedoorofthedealmosthalfreing.Theenginerevveduplikeadozenyousrinunisonaookoffatanarminglyfastpace.Thedriverwasheroldpartner,vice-presidentofWorldBank,Samantha.Sheghetired-lookingMegginnandasked,
“Howdiditgo?Wasitsmooth?”
“Notbad.TheguywhotookoverwasnootherthanthenewmanagerMr.O’Brian”saidMegginnmorosely.“HeisNovel’sfiandwasverycourteousanddidnotnitpickoverdetails.TherewasnohagglingsowequicklyweheagreementandWorldBankwastakenoverbyitsnewowner.AsIsignedmyhetractIsaidtohim,‘OnedayIwillrepresentDimitritaintheownershipofWorldBank.”Hepolitelyrepliedthathewouldbewaitingforthatdaytoarrive.”Samanthawassilentasshelistened,tratientionondrivingtheflyingracecar.“Whocouldhavepredicted”tinuedMegginn“thatahugefinancialempirelikeDimitri’swouldsoquicklyturntodust,colpsinglikeahouseofcards.Itreallymakesmefeelregretfulthattheaccumutionanddispersiohinlifecouldbegedintheblinkofaneye.”Samanthaslowedthecardownaftersheleftthefreewayanddrovedownthelocalstreets.Megginnrealizedthatitwasnotthediretoherhouseandaskedinsurprise,
“That’snotthewayhome.Whereareyoutakingme?Iamverytiredandwouldliketogotosleepassoonaspossible.”
“I’mafraidnowisnotthetimeforsleep.Averybusyscheduleisaheadofus.”
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