Chapter1Returh
AfterDimitri’sfleshbodydisappearedmysteriouslyintothinair,aminusculeshredofhissciousness,invisibletothenakedeye,floatediuniverse.Sometimeshefeltasifhisbodycouldextendindefinitelyandmergewiththeuniverse,thoughactuallyatthatmomentitwasnomore.Atothertimes,hefeltthathisbodycouldtractatwilluntilitwassmallerthaiparticleofdust.Thus,Dimitriroamedfreelyintheuniverse,herhappynorsad,justfloatingincessantly,urainedlyandspontan🔡🂈🌴eously.Forhim,timehadnotinuitywithnobeginningandnoendandspace,too,wasofnosequence.Dimitrirealizedthathewasattheveryinalspotoftheuniverse.
Dimitri’ssciousnessloiteredattheinalspotoftheuniverse.Hewastiredofwanderinganddidnotwanttodriftaimlesslyaroundanymore.Hefeltasenseofpeace.Hewasalsotired.Thesestraions,hazyandobvious,weremixedwithamild🄝feelingofjoy.Butno,itcouldnotbecalledjoybecauseifitwasjoy,itsopposingfeelingofsadnesswouldbesuretoexist.Norwasitafeelingoffortandeasebecauseitstrastiionwouldbepainandworry.No,itwasaralfeeling,seeminglytherebutnotreallythere,existient.Ithadiveortrastiions.Dimitriwasnotwillingtothinkfurtheroranalyzethequestionrationally.Hehadgivenuponthoughtandimmersedhimselfpletelyinenjoyment,f🜁⚳ullysavthisstrange,warmfeeling.
Dimitri’sshredofscioushatnon-materialsubstance,restedcalmlyattheinalspotoftheuniverse.Tiredofroaming,hewasnotwillingtodrifta🁬boutanymore.Suddenlyapictu🎭🔕repoppedintohissciousness.Apairofnakedloverswasasleep,cspedfortablyineachother’sarms.Theyseemedtobesleepingsosoundlythatitseemedasifnothingcouldeverwakethemup.Themanwashandsomeandmusdthewomanwasslenderaifusaflower.Dimitri’sheartlurched.“Aren’ttheymyfaithfulservantsCreativityandImagination?”Hehopedtheywouldsleeponforeverandneverbecauseiftheydo,themaivitywouldworktirelesslyonandthewomanImaginationwouldrackherb🕌rainsfuriously.“Theywoulddestroytheperfectequilibriumofhispresentstateofmind,sopeaceful,brightaiful”hethought.
ButDimitriwasdisappointed.Imagination’sslim,delicatefingersmovedandcaressedCreativity’sbroadchest.Creativityblinkedopenedhissleepyeyes.Standinguphestretchedhissculptur🌏edlimbszily.Extendinghishandtohisbeautiful,curvaceousanddelicatepanionwhowasstillreingograsshecarefullyhelpedherup.Thetwoofthemthenwalkedintothewoods,towardsastreamofclearandpure,waterasyetuninatedbyhumans.Theyscoopedupthecoldcrystalclearwaterwiththeirhandsandsprayedtheirheadsandfaceswithit.Thenughingjoyouslytheydivedinandswamaroundhappily.Theyfrolickedlight-heartedlyierspshingeachotherinfun.ImaginationthrewherselfintoCreativity’sarmsawoembradki⛋😴🅪ssedeachother.
“Look!Howbeautifulthegaxyis!”shesaid,lookingatthemyriadsofstarstwinklinginthenightsky,feelinghappyandsatisfied.“Ourearthtooshouldbeohosebrilliaialbodi🎭🔕es,buthumanshaveusedupalmostalloftheearth’sresourdhavebroughtdestru,pollutionandinationeverywheretheywent.Ohbeesunfitasahumanhabitatweofindasafehavensomewhereelseintheuniverseahemtoit.Tosomeotherpperhaps?Buttheenviroheremayableforh🀣⚋umans.ThatisaproblemIhavebeentryingtosolveforalongtimebuthavefailedtofindadesirablesolution.”Creativitywassilentashe🁾toohadnogoodaoherquestion.SuddenlyImaginationjumpedupandcppedherhandshappilylikeachildandsaid,
“Yes.Yes.Whydon’tweourselvescre🍩ateanotherpsuitableforhumanstoliv💹🖯eandrelocatethemthere?Whatdoyouthink?”
“Goodidea!Goodidea!”excimedCreativity;hiseyesalightashegraspedthepossibilitiesestion.“IimitateGod’smightandpowerthatheusediingtheuniverseaeanotherpsuitableforhumans,withlight,heat,air,os,ndandallkindsoflife.Theclimatewouldbewarmandfor🅳table,suitableforpeopletoliveandprocreate.Goodidea!Averygoodidea!”Thetwoofthemdancedhappilyiream.“Whydon’twebegiaway?”hesaid.Handinhawoofthemwalkedoutofthewaterontond.
Suddenlyahuge,eye-blindinglybrilliantballoflightappearedinthedarksky.Afigurecouldbeseeninthatba🛰lloflight,whospokeinaloud,solemnvoice,“Youtwomiserable,ignoranthumanbeing!Idro🜮🅟veyououtoftheGardenofEdenbecauseyouhadacquiredknowledgeandthought.Nowyouhavetheaudacitytothinkofcopyingmycreationoftheuniverseanddaretothinkofcreatingapofyourown?IamtheCreatoroftheuniverse.IandIalorolit.Itoperatesonmyordersaypn.Howdarethetwoofyouchalleopyourcreativityandimaginationatonceoryouwillincurthewrathofheaven.”CreativityandImaginatioontheground,cowed,flustered,andpanic-stribecausetheykheyhadangeredGodhimself.Thebrilliantballoflightdisappearedandblurryandindistinctdarknessonceagainreigheuniverse.
“Waitaminute.Waitaminute”shoutedDimitri,raisinghisheadtowardstheg🛃🙫🍖raypre-dawhat’snotfair!Yousaidmanwasmadetoyourownimageandlikehatmeanstherearehumasinyouanddivisinman;thereforetherearepartsofyouinmeandmeinyou.Youarepartofmea☭🂨👐ndIampartofyou.Tobeperfectlyfair,itcouldbesaidthatyouandthehumansyoucreatedhavemuonandarecreatedmutually.Manshouldhavetherighttomakehisowndecisionsandnotbeyourvassal.”Thegrayskiesdidnotanswerhim,butwassomberandsilentasusual.
Dimitriwokefromhisreveri👚eandfoundhimselfsittingonabenchbytheke,hisshouldersandhatcoveredwithdew.Hisdipidatedjacketandloosebcksckswe🏯realsowetfromthefogandmist.Hewasdeeplyshockedtorealizethathehadbeensittihewholenight,hismindfranticallyimaginingthings.Hesuddenlyrecalledthathisfleshbodyhaddisappearedintothinairandhisminusculeshredofsciousnessloiteredattheinalspotoftheuniverse,savsensationsofpeadtranquility.Howehewasbaearthagain?Whatwasthereonthisearththathecouldnotreli⛰🞀nquish?Heennilesshomelesspersonandblindintothebargain.Whatcausedhimtogsotenaciouslytothismundaneworld,unwillingtodepart?Ah!Itcouldonlybebecausehevaluedthispreciousfleshbodyandtreasuredlifeitself,sohecouldnotgivethemupsolightlyandcasually.
Daybr☠🀴🀼oke.Thefirstlightofdaygraduallybrighteheskiesdispersingtheblurryandindistinctpre-dawnbleakness.Afewcarsdrovepastswiftly.Dimitriuzzledastowhythestreetslookedsodesertedayasnormallytheywouldbecrowdedwithtrafficbythistime.ThenherealizeditwasSundayandmostpeoplewereinchurch,sothereweren’tasmanypeopleoreetsandalsofewercarsontheroad.Herememberedthatinhisreverie,heelevatedthepositionofmantothesamelevesGodandthoughtthatresumptuousself-glorific📟🜄ationonhispartandreallysacrilegious.“IhadbetterleavethequestioionshipbetweenGodandmantophilosophersandwisermenthanItosolve.Whymakesuchadoaboutnothingandrackmybraihisinsol🅿🌓vableGordianknot?
Justtheigaromaof🚅🐽🅖freshFrenchfriesandpastrywaftedoverfromtheshopsacrossthestreetandDimitri’sstomachgrowled.“Ihavereallyover-estimatedthepowerofmahought.“Takemeforinstance.IamsohungrybutthereisnothingIdoaboutit.I’tevensolvetheproblemofmyemptystomach.Yes,I’dratherbeaninsignifitman.Well,IsupposeIhadbetterpluckmyselfupandrummagethroughthegarbagesarouoseeifIfi-overspeoplethrewawaysoIfillmystomach”saidDimitriless,wryexpressiononhisface.Theimageehamburgercameintohismind.“HowIwouldreallyenjoyitifIhadargehamburgerlikethat”hethought.“Iwouldchewandsavoreverybitebeforeswallowingit.Thefeelingofafullstomachwouldbereallymarvelous!”
Thesunrosehighinthesky.Itwasanotherlovelybrightsunnym.Carsariansincreased.Fromthefastfoodrestaurantacrossthestreetcamethebarkingofadog.Dimitricoulddetermiitwassmedium-sizedogofasmallerspecies,about15-20pounds.Itshouldbeacute-looking,likablepuppy.Dimitrimadefriendseasilywithallkindsofanimalsashisheartwasfulloflove.No🚾😼rmallyashabbily-dressedblindman,t🁪🈣appinghiswayaroun🙤dwithawhiteewouldeasilyarousetheenmityofdogs,butnotDimitri.Somehow,eveviciousdogscouldsensehisinnateloveandfriendliness.Animals’reaoresensitivethahink.Wheneverhesatonabench,wildpigeonsflyingoverheadwoulddropdowntothegroundaroundhiminashowoftrustandfriendliness,whetherhehadanythingtofeedthemornot.
SoonacarstoppedintheshadeofatreenearDimitri.Assoonasthecardooropen🝴🏓🙧ed,abck,long-eareddogjumpedoutandmadestraightforDimitri.Itsfurwasbrightandshinyanditsbodyfatandwell-fed,evidentlysomeone’swell-lovedpet.ThedogjumpedupthebendclimbedontoDimitri’sp,itsshortstumpytailwaggingfuriouslyiing.Itlo🁱🉣okedhappyaed.Dimitricaressedthedogainhisarms.Hefoundthedoghadapaperbaginhismouthwithasmallpaperboxi.Somehowhekwasara-rgesizehamburger.Thelovelylittledogbarkedandthep🏹🟃🚟aperbagdroppedfromitsmouthtotheground.IthurriedlyjumpeddowrieveitandonceagainjumpedupontothebendofferedhispaperbagtoDimitri.Hurryingfootstepswalkedover.“Maureen,youareabadboy!”scoldedafemalevoice.Evidentlythedog’smistresswashere.“Themomentthecarstoppedyouranoff.HaveyottehingItaughtyou?”Thefootstepssuddenlystopped.Whenthedog’sownersawherpetpyingwithahomelessmanshecalledoutinsurprise.“Dimitri!Isthatyou?Haven’tseenyouforalongtime.Wherehaveyoubeely?Thepeopleintheneighborhoodareallthinkingofyou.”Dimitri’seyesbrightened.Inhismind’seye,heseemedtoseeatalndslenderwomaninaskybluesuit,withabroad-rimmedwhitesunhatandwhiteleatherwalkingshoes.Iythewomanwasdressedexactlyashethoughtshewas.Hereizedthemencholyandsexyvoidanswered,“IsthatyouCharina?Haven’tseenyouforalongtime.Isthisdogyours?”
“Yes,it’smi’saboydog,butbecauseheissonaugh👨tyIgavehimafemalenameMaureen,hopinghewouldbedocileandfairasag🁧irl.”⛅
“It’salovelydog.Irememberw⛗henIwasyoungIusedtohaveapyfellowlikethat.Ishe⚻🖣asmallbckcockspaniel?AmIright?”
“Yes,yht.”
“IthinkIbe🂢agoodfriendofhis.Iamfriendswithalldogs.Bythe
way,areyoust🆫💡📘illsingle?”
“Yes,I’mst🂢illsingle.”
AfterDimitri’sfleshbodydisappearedmysteriouslyintothinair,aminusculeshredofhissciousness,invisibletothenakedeye,floatediuniverse.Sometimeshefeltasifhisbodycouldextendindefinitelyandmergewiththeuniverse,thoughactuallyatthatmomentitwasnomore.Atothertimes,hefeltthathisbodycouldtractatwilluntilitwassmallerthaiparticleofdust.Thus,Dimitriroamedfreelyintheuniverse,herhappynorsad,justfloatingincessantly,urainedlyandspontan🔡🂈🌴eously.Forhim,timehadnotinuitywithnobeginningandnoendandspace,too,wasofnosequence.Dimitrirealizedthathewasattheveryinalspotoftheuniverse.
Dimitri’ssciousnessloiteredattheinalspotoftheuniverse.Hewastiredofwanderinganddidnotwanttodriftaimlesslyaroundanymore.Hefeltasenseofpeace.Hewasalsotired.Thesestraions,hazyandobvious,weremixedwithamild🄝feelingofjoy.Butno,itcouldnotbecalledjoybecauseifitwasjoy,itsopposingfeelingofsadnesswouldbesuretoexist.Norwasitafeelingoffortandeasebecauseitstrastiionwouldbepainandworry.No,itwasaralfeeling,seeminglytherebutnotreallythere,existient.Ithadiveortrastiions.Dimitriwasnotwillingtothinkfurtheroranalyzethequestionrationally.Hehadgivenuponthoughtandimmersedhimselfpletelyinenjoyment,f🜁⚳ullysavthisstrange,warmfeeling.
Dimitri’sshredofscioushatnon-materialsubstance,restedcalmlyattheinalspotoftheuniverse.Tiredofroaming,hewasnotwillingtodrifta🁬boutanymore.Suddenlyapictu🎭🔕repoppedintohissciousness.Apairofnakedloverswasasleep,cspedfortablyineachother’sarms.Theyseemedtobesleepingsosoundlythatitseemedasifnothingcouldeverwakethemup.Themanwashandsomeandmusdthewomanwasslenderaifusaflower.Dimitri’sheartlurched.“Aren’ttheymyfaithfulservantsCreativityandImagination?”Hehopedtheywouldsleeponforeverandneverbecauseiftheydo,themaivitywouldworktirelesslyonandthewomanImaginationwouldrackherb🕌rainsfuriously.“Theywoulddestroytheperfectequilibriumofhispresentstateofmind,sopeaceful,brightaiful”hethought.
ButDimitriwasdisappointed.Imagination’sslim,delicatefingersmovedandcaressedCreativity’sbroadchest.Creativityblinkedopenedhissleepyeyes.Standinguphestretchedhissculptur🌏edlimbszily.Extendinghishandtohisbeautiful,curvaceousanddelicatepanionwhowasstillreingograsshecarefullyhelpedherup.Thetwoofthemthenwalkedintothewoods,towardsastreamofclearandpure,waterasyetuninatedbyhumans.Theyscoopedupthecoldcrystalclearwaterwiththeirhandsandsprayedtheirheadsandfaceswithit.Thenughingjoyouslytheydivedinandswamaroundhappily.Theyfrolickedlight-heartedlyierspshingeachotherinfun.ImaginationthrewherselfintoCreativity’sarmsawoembradki⛋😴🅪ssedeachother.
“Look!Howbeautifulthegaxyis!”shesaid,lookingatthemyriadsofstarstwinklinginthenightsky,feelinghappyandsatisfied.“Ourearthtooshouldbeohosebrilliaialbodi🎭🔕es,buthumanshaveusedupalmostalloftheearth’sresourdhavebroughtdestru,pollutionandinationeverywheretheywent.Ohbeesunfitasahumanhabitatweofindasafehavensomewhereelseintheuniverseahemtoit.Tosomeotherpperhaps?Buttheenviroheremayableforh🀣⚋umans.ThatisaproblemIhavebeentryingtosolveforalongtimebuthavefailedtofindadesirablesolution.”Creativitywassilentashe🁾toohadnogoodaoherquestion.SuddenlyImaginationjumpedupandcppedherhandshappilylikeachildandsaid,
“Yes.Yes.Whydon’tweourselvescre🍩ateanotherpsuitableforhumanstoliv💹🖯eandrelocatethemthere?Whatdoyouthink?”
“Goodidea!Goodidea!”excimedCreativity;hiseyesalightashegraspedthepossibilitiesestion.“IimitateGod’smightandpowerthatheusediingtheuniverseaeanotherpsuitableforhumans,withlight,heat,air,os,ndandallkindsoflife.Theclimatewouldbewarmandfor🅳table,suitableforpeopletoliveandprocreate.Goodidea!Averygoodidea!”Thetwoofthemdancedhappilyiream.“Whydon’twebegiaway?”hesaid.Handinhawoofthemwalkedoutofthewaterontond.
Suddenlyahuge,eye-blindinglybrilliantballoflightappearedinthedarksky.Afigurecouldbeseeninthatba🛰lloflight,whospokeinaloud,solemnvoice,“Youtwomiserable,ignoranthumanbeing!Idro🜮🅟veyououtoftheGardenofEdenbecauseyouhadacquiredknowledgeandthought.Nowyouhavetheaudacitytothinkofcopyingmycreationoftheuniverseanddaretothinkofcreatingapofyourown?IamtheCreatoroftheuniverse.IandIalorolit.Itoperatesonmyordersaypn.Howdarethetwoofyouchalleopyourcreativityandimaginationatonceoryouwillincurthewrathofheaven.”CreativityandImaginatioontheground,cowed,flustered,andpanic-stribecausetheykheyhadangeredGodhimself.Thebrilliantballoflightdisappearedandblurryandindistinctdarknessonceagainreigheuniverse.
“Waitaminute.Waitaminute”shoutedDimitri,raisinghisheadtowardstheg🛃🙫🍖raypre-dawhat’snotfair!Yousaidmanwasmadetoyourownimageandlikehatmeanstherearehumasinyouanddivisinman;thereforetherearepartsofyouinmeandmeinyou.Youarepartofmea☭🂨👐ndIampartofyou.Tobeperfectlyfair,itcouldbesaidthatyouandthehumansyoucreatedhavemuonandarecreatedmutually.Manshouldhavetherighttomakehisowndecisionsandnotbeyourvassal.”Thegrayskiesdidnotanswerhim,butwassomberandsilentasusual.
Dimitriwokefromhisreveri👚eandfoundhimselfsittingonabenchbytheke,hisshouldersandhatcoveredwithdew.Hisdipidatedjacketandloosebcksckswe🏯realsowetfromthefogandmist.Hewasdeeplyshockedtorealizethathehadbeensittihewholenight,hismindfranticallyimaginingthings.Hesuddenlyrecalledthathisfleshbodyhaddisappearedintothinairandhisminusculeshredofsciousnessloiteredattheinalspotoftheuniverse,savsensationsofpeadtranquility.Howehewasbaearthagain?Whatwasthereonthisearththathecouldnotreli⛰🞀nquish?Heennilesshomelesspersonandblindintothebargain.Whatcausedhimtogsotenaciouslytothismundaneworld,unwillingtodepart?Ah!Itcouldonlybebecausehevaluedthispreciousfleshbodyandtreasuredlifeitself,sohecouldnotgivethemupsolightlyandcasually.
Daybr☠🀴🀼oke.Thefirstlightofdaygraduallybrighteheskiesdispersingtheblurryandindistinctpre-dawnbleakness.Afewcarsdrovepastswiftly.Dimitriuzzledastowhythestreetslookedsodesertedayasnormallytheywouldbecrowdedwithtrafficbythistime.ThenherealizeditwasSundayandmostpeoplewereinchurch,sothereweren’tasmanypeopleoreetsandalsofewercarsontheroad.Herememberedthatinhisreverie,heelevatedthepositionofmantothesamelevesGodandthoughtthatresumptuousself-glorific📟🜄ationonhispartandreallysacrilegious.“IhadbetterleavethequestioionshipbetweenGodandmantophilosophersandwisermenthanItosolve.Whymakesuchadoaboutnothingandrackmybraihisinsol🅿🌓vableGordianknot?
Justtheigaromaof🚅🐽🅖freshFrenchfriesandpastrywaftedoverfromtheshopsacrossthestreetandDimitri’sstomachgrowled.“Ihavereallyover-estimatedthepowerofmahought.“Takemeforinstance.IamsohungrybutthereisnothingIdoaboutit.I’tevensolvetheproblemofmyemptystomach.Yes,I’dratherbeaninsignifitman.Well,IsupposeIhadbetterpluckmyselfupandrummagethroughthegarbagesarouoseeifIfi-overspeoplethrewawaysoIfillmystomach”saidDimitriless,wryexpressiononhisface.Theimageehamburgercameintohismind.“HowIwouldreallyenjoyitifIhadargehamburgerlikethat”hethought.“Iwouldchewandsavoreverybitebeforeswallowingit.Thefeelingofafullstomachwouldbereallymarvelous!”
Thesunrosehighinthesky.Itwasanotherlovelybrightsunnym.Carsariansincreased.Fromthefastfoodrestaurantacrossthestreetcamethebarkingofadog.Dimitricoulddetermiitwassmedium-sizedogofasmallerspecies,about15-20pounds.Itshouldbeacute-looking,likablepuppy.Dimitrimadefriendseasilywithallkindsofanimalsashisheartwasfulloflove.No🚾😼rmallyashabbily-dressedblindman,t🁪🈣appinghiswayaroun🙤dwithawhiteewouldeasilyarousetheenmityofdogs,butnotDimitri.Somehow,eveviciousdogscouldsensehisinnateloveandfriendliness.Animals’reaoresensitivethahink.Wheneverhesatonabench,wildpigeonsflyingoverheadwoulddropdowntothegroundaroundhiminashowoftrustandfriendliness,whetherhehadanythingtofeedthemornot.
SoonacarstoppedintheshadeofatreenearDimitri.Assoonasthecardooropen🝴🏓🙧ed,abck,long-eareddogjumpedoutandmadestraightforDimitri.Itsfurwasbrightandshinyanditsbodyfatandwell-fed,evidentlysomeone’swell-lovedpet.ThedogjumpedupthebendclimbedontoDimitri’sp,itsshortstumpytailwaggingfuriouslyiing.Itlo🁱🉣okedhappyaed.Dimitricaressedthedogainhisarms.Hefoundthedoghadapaperbaginhismouthwithasmallpaperboxi.Somehowhekwasara-rgesizehamburger.Thelovelylittledogbarkedandthep🏹🟃🚟aperbagdroppedfromitsmouthtotheground.IthurriedlyjumpeddowrieveitandonceagainjumpedupontothebendofferedhispaperbagtoDimitri.Hurryingfootstepswalkedover.“Maureen,youareabadboy!”scoldedafemalevoice.Evidentlythedog’smistresswashere.“Themomentthecarstoppedyouranoff.HaveyottehingItaughtyou?”Thefootstepssuddenlystopped.Whenthedog’sownersawherpetpyingwithahomelessmanshecalledoutinsurprise.“Dimitri!Isthatyou?Haven’tseenyouforalongtime.Wherehaveyoubeely?Thepeopleintheneighborhoodareallthinkingofyou.”Dimitri’seyesbrightened.Inhismind’seye,heseemedtoseeatalndslenderwomaninaskybluesuit,withabroad-rimmedwhitesunhatandwhiteleatherwalkingshoes.Iythewomanwasdressedexactlyashethoughtshewas.Hereizedthemencholyandsexyvoidanswered,“IsthatyouCharina?Haven’tseenyouforalongtime.Isthisdogyours?”
“Yes,it’smi’saboydog,butbecauseheissonaugh👨tyIgavehimafemalenameMaureen,hopinghewouldbedocileandfairasag🁧irl.”⛅
“It’salovelydog.Irememberw⛗henIwasyoungIusedtohaveapyfellowlikethat.Ishe⚻🖣asmallbckcockspaniel?AmIright?”
“Yes,yht.”
“IthinkIbe🂢agoodfriendofhis.Iamfriendswithalldogs.Bythe
way,areyoust🆫💡📘illsingle?”
“Yes,I’mst🂢illsingle.”