Myfatherskingdomwasandis,allauthoritiesagree,large.Towalkbordertobordereast-west,thetravelermustbudgethaeendays.ItsnameisHo,thefutermforharmony.fuismwasaofthefirstruler(astraeinourpartoftheworld),andwhenhedclearedhisexpanseoffieldandforestofhisewoturiesago,heindulgedhimselfinanhommagetothegreatesethinker,muerrimentofsomeofourstaiderneighbors,whosedomainswereproperLuftlundsandDolphinlunds.Wehaveaneybasedupontruffles,inwhichourforestsarespectacularlyridelectricity,whichwewereexpwhenothertriesstillreadbykerosenelamp.Ourarmyisthebestintheregion,everymanael--thesubtleseyfathersrule,ifthetruthbeknown.Inthislandeverypriestisabishop,everyambulance-chaserarobedjustice,everypeasantacorporationareet-ershouterKanthimself.Myfathersgeniusromotehissubjects,maleandfemale,acrosstheboard,ceaselessly;thepeopleofHowarmthemselvesforeverinthesunofAchievement.Iwastheonlymaninthekingdomwhothoughthimselfadonkey.

    --fromtheAutobiography

    Iamwritingtoyou,Hannahbella,fromadistanttry.Idaresayyourememberitwell.TheKingenclosestheopeningpagesofhisautobiography.Heismostcuriousastowhatyourrespohemwillbe.Hehaslaboredmightilyovertheirposition,wwithoutfood,withoutsleep,formanydaysandnights.

    TheKinghasnotbeen,inthesemonths,iofspirits.Hehasreadyourartiddeclareshimselftobeverymuchimpressedbyit.Hebegsyou,priortopublicationinthistry,todohimthegreatfavorofgingthephrase"twodisiedandimpartialarbiters"ohirty-oo"maligsuheideologicalswayofstillmoremaligs."Otherwise,heisdelighted.H