cretively.Soonshecametedeadtree,whoseburntbarkandbranchesshowedsignsofhaviruckbylightning.ThiswasanotherofwilyVio’ssecrethide-outs.Mr.Finger,herex-loveraenemyfollowedcloselybehindher.Viostoodsilentlyinfrontofthewitheredtreeforquitesometime.Shehadthoughtdowreehouseaartwithaste,butthehought,

    “Ihavespentyearsoftimeaofurnishacozyhomeformyself.Itwouldbeashametoburnitalldown.AlsoifworseestotheworseandIamdefeated,thistreeholewillbeasafehavereattoasastresort.”SoViowaiveredinherdecisiontoburheredtreeandthought,

    “Whydon’tIgoinandseeifMr.Fihere.Ifheis,atthistimeofthenighthewouldbedeaddrunkanditwouldnotbehardtokillhim.”Takinganarrowfromherquiver,sheshaveditdowntothesizeofatoothpickwithhersword.Shemadethreeofthemandchosethesharpestoakewithher.Shegedherselftothesizeofafinger,brushedasidethewildgrowthctheholeaered.

    Mr.FingeruoodthatViointeokillhimwiththesharp-pointedwoodenspikeshejustmadeandwasveryangry.

    “Good!Iwilldothesametoyou!”hethought.HejumpedoutoftheshadyflowerpattothebrightmoonlightandpickedamongthewoodenspikesViohadleftbehindlookingforthesharperohelyhidhimselfagainamongtheflowers.Viocameoutofthetreehole,grinningwidely.Shedidn’tfindanytrar.Fingerinsideandcludedhemusthavediedinthefirethatedthestrawhut.Throwingdownthewoodenspikeinherhandontotheground,shewasjustabouttoturnbacktoanormalwomawhensomeonesuddenlyjumpedoutoftheflowerpatdrushedather.Beforesherealizedwhathadhappened,asharpwoodenspikewasthrustintoherchest.Viowasthuruck.WhensheopenedhereyeswideandrealizeditwasMr.Finger,shewasfuriousandshouted,

    “You...youdaretobetrayme...?You...youdaretokillme?”

    “Itwasyouwhowaokillmefirst”Mr.Fingerughed.“Itwasyouwhobetrayedme.Sowhatdon’tIdaretodo?”saidhethrustingthespikedeepintoherchest.Viofelltothegroundwithbloodgushingfromherwound.Mr.Fingercppedhishandsandthehemoutsaying,

    “Good.Good.Everythingissettledthen.IwassohappythatIfinallygotawife,butnowIkillherwithmyownhands.KingDimitri’spacehasbeenburnttotheground.Thereisnoreasonformetolingerhereanymore.Ihadbettervamoose?Thehoughtofsomethingandsaid,

    22

    “Yes,ifIshouldeverseeDimitriagain,IowjustifymyselftohihisgiveandtakemakesusevenandIdon’thaveanythingmoretodowiththismess.AstowhatenmityexistsbetweenhimandVio,hasnothingtodowithme.Imustextricatemyselfpletelyfromallthis.Thesituationnowis1-1=0.It’sasifnothingeverhappenedandhasnothingatalltodowithme.:Sayingso,heturnedandwalkedrapidlyawayonhistwoshort,sturdylegsintotheflowerpatch.ThingsonthiseartharestraheyareplicatedandnotassimpleasMr.Fihought.OnlyMr.Fiwistedbraincouldeupwithsuchabsurdlogic.Thingsohotbesolvedbysuchsimplemathequationsas1-1=0.Sometimes1-1doesnotequal0.ThatissomethingMr.Fingercouldnotuand.

    WhenMr.Fingerleft,Vioyonthegroundinherownpoolofblood.Shewasasp,butdead.Shethought,

    “Whenoneisonthepointofdeath,everythingequalszero.WhatistherethatIhavetohave?Whatisworthfightingfor?Everythingequalszero.ButIamodie.MymotherisinfieryGehennawaitingformetosaveher.MymagnifitgoldpacehasjustseenthelightofdayandIhaven’treallye

cretively.Soonshecametedeadtree,whoseburntbarkandbranchesshowedsignsofhaviruckbylightning.ThiswasanotherofwilyVio’ssecrethide-outs.Mr.Finger,herex-loveraenemyfollowedcloselybehindher.Viostoodsilentlyinfrontofthewitheredtreeforquitesometime.Shehadthoughtdowreehouseaartwithaste,butthehought,

    “Ihavespentyearsoftimeaofurnishacozyhomeformyself.Itwouldbeashametoburnitalldown.AlsoifworseestotheworseandIamdefeated,thistreeholewillbeasafehavereattoasastresort.”SoViowaiveredinherdecisiontoburheredtreeandthought,

    “Whydon’tIgoinandseeifMr.Fihere.Ifheis,atthistimeofthenighthewouldbedeaddrunkanditwouldnotbehardtokillhim.”Takinganarrowfromherquiver,sheshaveditdowntothesizeofatoothpickwithhersword.Shemadethreeofthemandchosethesharpestoakewithher.Shegedherselftothesizeofafinger,brushedasidethewildgrowthctheholeaered.

    Mr.FingeruoodthatViointeokillhimwiththesharp-pointedwoodenspikeshejustmadeandwasveryangry.

    “Good!Iwilldothesametoyou!”hethought.HejumpedoutoftheshadyflowerpattothebrightmoonlightandpickedamongthewoodenspikesViohadleftbehindlookingforthesharperohelyhidhimselfagainamongtheflowers.Viocameoutofthetreehole,grinningwidely.Shedidn’tfindanytrar.Fingerinsideandcludedhemusthavediedinthefirethatedthestrawhut.Throwingdownthewoodenspikeinherhandontotheground,shewasjustabouttoturnbacktoanormalwomawhensomeonesuddenlyjumpedoutoftheflowerpatdrushedather.Beforesherealizedwhathadhappened,asharpwoodenspikewasthrustintoherchest.Viowasthuruck.WhensheopenedhereyeswideandrealizeditwasMr.Finger,shewasfuriousandshouted,

    “You...youdaretobetrayme...?You...youdaretokillme?”

    “Itwasyouwhowaokillmefirst”Mr.Fingerughed.“Itwasyouwhobetrayedme.Sowhatdon’tIdaretodo?”saidhethrustingthespikedeepintoherchest.Viofelltothegroundwithbloodgushingfromherwound.Mr.Fingercppedhishandsandthehemoutsaying,

    “Good.Good.Everythingissettledthen.IwassohappythatIfinallygotawife,butnowIkillherwithmyownhands.KingDimitri’spacehasbeenburnttotheground.Thereisnoreasonformetolingerhereanymore.Ihadbettervamoose?Thehoughtofsomethingandsaid,

    22

    “Yes,ifIshouldeverseeDimitriagain,IowjustifymyselftohihisgiveandtakemakesusevenandIdon’thaveanythingmoretodowiththismess.AstowhatenmityexistsbetweenhimandVio,hasnothingtodowithme.Imustextricatemyselfpletelyfromallthis.Thesituationnowis1-1=0.It’sasifnothingeverhappenedandhasnothingatalltodowithme.:Sayingso,heturnedandwalkedrapidlyawayonhistwoshort,sturdylegsintotheflowerpatch.ThingsonthiseartharestraheyareplicatedandnotassimpleasMr.Fihought.OnlyMr.Fiwistedbraincouldeupwithsuchabsurdlogic.Thingsohotbesolvedbysuchsimplemathequationsas1-1=0.Sometimes1-1doesnotequal0.ThatissomethingMr.Fingercouldnotuand.

    WhenMr.Fingerleft,Vioyonthegroundinherownpoolofblood.Shewasasp,butdead.Shethought,

    “Whenoneisonthepointofdeath,everythingequalszero.WhatistherethatIhavetohave?Whatisworthfightingfor?Everythingequalszero.ButIamodie.MymotherisinfieryGehennawaitingformetosaveher.MymagnifitgoldpacehasjustseenthelightofdayandIhaven’treallye