Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第19/246页)

imitri

    Inthefierysuheyoungmancamebatheballfield,bounghisbasketball.Theclear,crisp,staccatosoundoftheboungballpassingunderDimitri’swindowwokehimfromhisreverie.Theyoungmanhadexhaustedhimselfontheballfieldandnowhiselongatedshadowapaniedhistiredfootstepsonthewayhome.Butafteragoodnight’ssleepandasumptuousmeal,hewouldbere-energizedtheday.Freshandeager,hewouldberunningaroundandpyingagain.Suergyandunworriedhappinessbelongedonlytotheyoung,atraitworthyofenvy.Awakenedfromhisdreams,listeningtothebouheball,Dimitrithought,“Thisyoungmanisusinghisbodyinmotion,shootingthebalccuratelyintothebasketfromanyangle,whileIusemybodyieofstillness,venturingintotheinnermostrecessesofthemindanddiggingforthetreasuresburiedinmybrains.Althoughmybodymayseemstilndmobile,mybrainisactive.LetmeliveoutmylifethisretendingIamatoolofimagination.Isn’tthatagoodlife,too?Listeningtothedisappearingsoundofthebasketball,Dimitriraisedhiseyestowardsthewindow.Hestillretaiinymorselofhissight,enablinghimtodistinguishbetweenlightanddarkness.Itshouldbedusknow,hedecided.Bowinghishead,hefoundthecigarettewasstillbetweenhisfingersahatithadgobyitself.Inhismind,lifewaslikeacigarette,burningwhileitturoashes.Couldthesuddeinguishmentofthecigarettemeanthattimehadnearlystoppedtoo?No.Noonecouldstopthepassageoftime,healmightyGod.Theultimateendoflifewasdeath,anirrevocabletruthnoonecouldeverge.Herelithiscigaretteandpuffedaway.Suddenly,hisgastromicalsystemwashitwithatremendoushunger,likealong,rtrainsweepingbyoraightrailstowardsacertaiination.

    Drivenbythisstronghunger,Dimitriputouthiscigaretteirayandslowlymadeforthekit.Hisslowclumsymovementswerelikethoseygraybearientlyawakenedfromhibernationandwanderingaimlesslyaboutthewilderness.Enteri,Dimitriopenedhisrefrigeratorandtookoutaofsh,whichheproceededtoopenandrolloutotable,separatingthedoughintoseverallumps.Hethenkneadedeachofthelumps,shapingthembypulliolongstripsandrollingthemup.Hismovementswerenecessarilyslow,ashecouldonlyrelyonhisseouch.Extremehuackedhisgastronomicalsystem,likethertrainsweepingbyhtrails.Whatistheultimategoaloflife?Isitdeath?Hedarednotthinkmore.Heworkedonsteadilyandslowly,hisimagefromthebackresemblingargegraybear.Dimitrisettheovenatapproximately425degreesandturon.Thegraybearactallyawakenedfromhibernationworkedtofindafortablecave.WhatdidDimitriworkfor?Wasitfortheultimategoaloflife?Hetihhiswork,liningtherolledupdoughlyinabakingpanandputtingitioven.What’ssobadaboutusioolofimagination?Isn’titwonderfultoliveoutlifelikethis?Havihewholeafternooncoopedupinhisroom,Dimitriwaogotothelobby,wherehemightmeetotherresidentsandwhileawaysomeloime,socializingandchattingwiththem.Hefumbledhiswaytothedoor,whichheclosedafterhim,leavinghisextinguishedcigarettebuttiray.

    Dimitrithoughtoftheominousnewsheheardthatm.Theelderlycoupleintheapartmentoppositehim,werebothdiagobesufferingfromcer.Theywerenice,kindpeoplewhoalwaysgreetedhimcheerilywhehemstrollinginthehallway,helpingeachotheralong.Passingthedoorofhis-dhboralwaysbroughthimapangofremorse.Thelittlegirlwholiv