herpcebeforethealtar.

    “Wouldthebridegroomstepuptothealtarplease?”requestedtheoldpastor.Therewasnomovement.Heagainintonedhisrequesttwo,threemoretimes,butnooneappeared.Astoheturs,helookedaroundandsawtherewereonlytwoguestspresent,sittingsidebysideinthefrontrowofthepews.Theywereawhite-hairedoldwomaninabrightredManchugownapaniedbyaplumplookingyoungman.Hewasabouttocalloutoncemorewhehebridemurmursomethingsoftlybehindherveil,butbeingfartherawayfromherhecouldnotcatchwhatwassaid.Theyounggirlwhoapahebridegavetheoldpastorawhiteeyeandsaid,

    21

    “Don’tcalloutanymore.Thebridehasspokerafficoutsideisgestedandthegroommusthavebeenstuewhere.Hewillcertainlybehereinafewminutes.We’lljustwaitawhilelonger.Whyareyoushoutingloudlylikethat?Thebrideisnotworried,whyshouldyoube?”Theoldpastreatlyaffrontedbyherrudeness.

    “Ihavebeendugweddingsformanydecades”saidhe.“ButneverinmywholecareerhaveIseenagroomwhoissoteforhisownwedding.itbetruethattimeshaveged?Thisreallyisquiteunbelievable…”TheyounggirlstandingbesidethebridewasofcoursenaughtygirlDorna.Shegavetheoldpastoranotherwhiteeyeandsaid,

    “Well,liveandlearnoldman.Todayyouhaveseenwhatyouhadneverseenbeforeandlearnedsomethiheoldpastnoredherandtookasmallnotebookoutofhispocket.Hekhehebrideandwascurioustoseewhotheirresponsiblegroomcouldbewhowassoteforhisownweddiurhepagesofthenotebook.WhehenameDimitriJawrittenopage,hewasgreatlyinaweandsaidinatremblingvoice,

    “D-D-D-imitriJ-J-J-J-a?That,thatm-m-mysteriousmulti-trri-tri-trillionoonehaseverseehegroom?”Daingavehimawhiteeyeandsaidsfully,

    “Sonowyouknow.Whydoyouoshoutthewallsdown?Sowhatifit’sKingDimitri?Hewoyou!Youareold,butyoustill’ttakethingsinyourstride…”Justatthatmomenttheclear,cold,staccatoechoesof“tap,tap,tap…”wereheard,clearlysoundsmadebythemetaltipofablindman’swhiteetougthemarblefloor,followedbythesuddenappearananattheentrahechurchwhowassayinginaloudvoice,

    “HowcouldImissattendingsuchagrandandsolemnceremony?Iwouldneverdisappointandembarrassmydearlybelovedbeauties.IamDimitriJa.HereIam…”Thebeautiesallturnedaroundtolookathimandexcmationsofsurpriseroseahemanhadonanoldolive-coloredsafarihatandhisunshavenfacehadapairssesfortheblindonit.Hewedydarkbrownjacket,fadedbckbaggypantsandhisover-sizedblock-headedbckshoeshadholesonthesoles.Heworenosocks.HecouldonlybeKingDimitriwhomtheyhadnotseenforalongtime.Dimitritappedhiswayaheadwithhiswhitee,walkingslowlyaantly.LaverurnedherheadtowardsMarksittinginthefrontpewandthrewhimameaningfulghelookedbackatherinfusion,notuandingwhatshewantedhimtodo.Shehadtowalktohimandsay,

    “KingDimitriishere.Heisblindaknowhiswayaroundthischurch.PleasegoandhelphimtothealtarandwalkhimtowhereAishaisstanding,sotheweddinggoonwithoutfurtheri.Bequick.Goon…”MarkimmediatelygotupandhasteoDimitriwhowasmakinghiswayslowlyahead,saying

    “HeyDimitri.Howeyouaresote?DoyouknowwhoIam?IamMark.Doyoustillrememberme?Yourwomanhasbeenwaitingforyouforquiteawhilenow,howeyoujustarrived?You’reveryte.Letmetakeyoutothealtar.WeotletAishawaittoolong…”Theoldpastorsa

herpcebeforethealtar.

    “Wouldthebridegroomstepuptothealtarplease?”requestedtheoldpastor.Therewasnomovement.Heagainintonedhisrequesttwo,threemoretimes,butnooneappeared.Astoheturs,helookedaroundandsawtherewereonlytwoguestspresent,sittingsidebysideinthefrontrowofthepews.Theywereawhite-hairedoldwomaninabrightredManchugownapaniedbyaplumplookingyoungman.Hewasabouttocalloutoncemorewhehebridemurmursomethingsoftlybehindherveil,butbeingfartherawayfromherhecouldnotcatchwhatwassaid.Theyounggirlwhoapahebridegavetheoldpastorawhiteeyeandsaid,

    21

    “Don’tcalloutanymore.Thebridehasspokerafficoutsideisgestedandthegroommusthavebeenstuewhere.Hewillcertainlybehereinafewminutes.We’lljustwaitawhilelonger.Whyareyoushoutingloudlylikethat?Thebrideisnotworried,whyshouldyoube?”Theoldpastreatlyaffrontedbyherrudeness.

    “Ihavebeendugweddingsformanydecades”saidhe.“ButneverinmywholecareerhaveIseenagroomwhoissoteforhisownwedding.itbetruethattimeshaveged?Thisreallyisquiteunbelievable…”TheyounggirlstandingbesidethebridewasofcoursenaughtygirlDorna.Shegavetheoldpastoranotherwhiteeyeandsaid,

    “Well,liveandlearnoldman.Todayyouhaveseenwhatyouhadneverseenbeforeandlearnedsomethiheoldpastnoredherandtookasmallnotebookoutofhispocket.Hekhehebrideandwascurioustoseewhotheirresponsiblegroomcouldbewhowassoteforhisownweddiurhepagesofthenotebook.WhehenameDimitriJawrittenopage,hewasgreatlyinaweandsaidinatremblingvoice,

    “D-D-D-imitriJ-J-J-J-a?That,thatm-m-mysteriousmulti-trri-tri-trillionoonehaseverseehegroom?”Daingavehimawhiteeyeandsaidsfully,

    “Sonowyouknow.Whydoyouoshoutthewallsdown?Sowhatifit’sKingDimitri?Hewoyou!Youareold,butyoustill’ttakethingsinyourstride…”Justatthatmomenttheclear,cold,staccatoechoesof“tap,tap,tap…”wereheard,clearlysoundsmadebythemetaltipofablindman’swhiteetougthemarblefloor,followedbythesuddenappearananattheentrahechurchwhowassayinginaloudvoice,

    “HowcouldImissattendingsuchagrandandsolemnceremony?Iwouldneverdisappointandembarrassmydearlybelovedbeauties.IamDimitriJa.HereIam…”Thebeautiesallturnedaroundtolookathimandexcmationsofsurpriseroseahemanhadonanoldolive-coloredsafarihatandhisunshavenfacehadapairssesfortheblindonit.Hewedydarkbrownjacket,fadedbckbaggypantsandhisover-sizedblock-headedbckshoeshadholesonthesoles.Heworenosocks.HecouldonlybeKingDimitriwhomtheyhadnotseenforalongtime.Dimitritappedhiswayaheadwithhiswhitee,walkingslowlyaantly.LaverurnedherheadtowardsMarksittinginthefrontpewandthrewhimameaningfulghelookedbackatherinfusion,notuandingwhatshewantedhimtodo.Shehadtowalktohimandsay,

    “KingDimitriishere.Heisblindaknowhiswayaroundthischurch.PleasegoandhelphimtothealtarandwalkhimtowhereAishaisstanding,sotheweddinggoonwithoutfurtheri.Bequick.Goon…”MarkimmediatelygotupandhasteoDimitriwhowasmakinghiswayslowlyahead,saying

    “HeyDimitri.Howeyouaresote?DoyouknowwhoIam?IamMark.Doyoustillrememberme?Yourwomanhasbeenwaitingforyouforquiteawhilenow,howeyoujustarrived?You’reveryte.Letmetakeyoutothealtar.WeotletAishawaittoolong…”Theoldpastorsa