cacb.thefarkingdoms-µÚ90²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
er¡¡told¡¡me¡¡he¡¡once¡¡traded¡¡with¡¡men¡¡so¡¡primitive¡¡they¡¡never¡¡bathed¡¡or¡¡changed¡¡the¡¡skins¡¡they¡¡wore¡¡until¡¡they¡¡rotted¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡considered¡¡the¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡a¡¡clean¡¡human¡¡being¡¡nauseating¡£
¡¡Other¡¡items¡¡were¡¡presented£º¡¡some¡¡he¡¡disliked£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡perfumes£»¡¡others¡¡he¡¡liked£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡a¡¡small¡¡silver¡¡figurine¡¡that¡¡I¡¡cradled¡¡like¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡child¡£¡¡He¡¡laughed¡¡once¡¡more¡¡and¡¡took¡¡the¡¡figure¡£¡¡I¡¡guessed¡¡it¡¡would¡¡bee¡¡a¡¡doll¡¡for¡¡his£»¡¡or¡¡another¡¡giant's£»¡¡child¡£¡¡Gold¡¡chains¡¡were¡¡accepted¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡great¡¡success¡¡was¡¡a¡¡box¡¡of¡¡sweetmeats¡¡I'd¡¡put¡¡in¡¡as¡¡an¡¡afterthought¡£¡¡He¡¡inhaled¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡box£»¡¡looking¡¡about¡¡him¡¡warily¡¡like¡¡any¡¡guilty¡¡child¡¡who¡¡was¡¡being¡¡selfish¡¡in¡¡not¡¡sharing¡¡with¡¡his¡¡playmates¡£
¡¡When¡¡all¡¡my¡¡presents¡¡had¡¡been¡¡accepted¡¡or¡¡rejected£»¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡and¡¡motioned¡¡to¡¡myself£»¡¡then¡¡back¡¡at¡¡my¡¡panions£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡waved¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡track¡¡beyond¡£¡¡Fingers¡¡mimed¡¡walking¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡I¡¡sought¡¡permission¡¡to¡¡go¡¡by¡£¡¡He¡¡grunted¡¡and¡¡then¡¡bellowed¡£¡¡From¡¡high¡¡above¡¡came¡¡answering¡¡shouts¡£¡¡The¡¡giant¡¡stood£»¡¡showed¡¡me¡¡more¡¡tawny¡¡fangs¡¡in¡¡a¡¡friendly¡¡smile£»¡¡and¡¡indicated¡¡the¡¡way¡¡was¡¡open¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡but¡¡one¡¡small¡¡other¡¡matter¡£¡¡I¡¡called¡¡out¡£¡¡The¡¡giant¡¡looked¡¡mildly¡¡alarmed£»¡¡then¡¡terrified¡¡as¡¡Janos£»¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡Maeen¡¡and¡¡Hebrus£»¡¡bows¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡arrows¡¡nocked¡¡but¡¡not¡¡drawn£»¡¡appeared¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ridge¡¡line¡¡just¡¡above¡¡where¡¡we¡¡stood¡£¡¡Before¡¡the¡¡giant¡¡could¡¡snarl¡¡betrayal£»¡¡the¡¡three¡¡men£»¡¡following¡¡my¡¡instructions£»¡¡set¡¡the¡¡bows¡¡down£»¡¡ceremonially¡¡snapped¡¡their¡¡arrows¡¡in¡¡two£»¡¡and¡¡cast¡¡them¡¡down¡¡toward¡¡us¡£¡¡Even¡¡my¡¡less¡than¡gifted¡¡patriot¡¡understood¡we¡¡could¡¡have¡¡killed¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡chose¡¡not¡¡to¡£¡¡The¡¡broken¡¡arrows¡¡were¡¡also¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡signify¡¡that¡¡we¡¡had¡¡intentions¡¡for¡¡peaceful¡¡passage¡¡now¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡future¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡The¡¡giant¡¡laughed£»¡¡at¡¡what¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡tell£»¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡his¡¡gifts£»¡¡and¡¡bounded¡¡up¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡a¡¡nearby¡¡draw¡£¡¡Janos¡¡and¡¡his¡¡partners¡¡slid¡¡down¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ridge¡¡line£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡re¡formed¡¡and¡¡went¡¡on¡¡our¡¡way¡£¡¡We¡¡saw¡¡no¡¡more¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡giant¡¡or¡¡of¡¡his¡¡colleagues¡£
¡¡That¡¡night¡¡Janos¡¡approached¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡learned¡¡something£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡ruefully¡£¡¡¡¨A¡¡sword¡¡is¡¡not¡¡always¡¡the¡¡best¡¡way¡¡to¡¡untie¡¡a¡¡stubborn¡¡knot¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡shrugged¡¡it¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡success¡¡with¡¡one¡¡peaceful¡¡and¡¡stupid¡¡being¡¡did¡¡not¡¡mean¡¡we¡¡should¡¡in¡¡any¡¡way¡¡lessen¡¡our¡¡caution¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡did¡¡note¡¡that¡¡Janos¡¡had¡¡changed¡£¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡the¡¡Janos¡¡who¡¡had¡¡acpanied¡¡me¡¡on¡¡my¡¡Finding¡¡might¡¡just¡¡as¡¡easily¡¡have¡¡suggested¡¡negotiation¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡bloodshed£»¡¡but¡¡perhaps¡¡I¡¡was¡¡wrong¡£¡¡In¡¡any¡¡event£»¡¡we¡¡had¡¡overe¡¡another¡¡obstacle¡¡with¡¡no¡¡loss¡¡to¡¡ourselves¡£
¡¡One¡¡thing¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡am¡¡extremely¡¡proud¡¡is¡¡that¡¡the¡¡¡¨treaty¡¨¡¡I¡¡made¡¡between¡¡Orissa¡¡and¡¡the¡¡giants¡¡has¡¡stood¡¡from¡¡that¡¡day¡¡to¡¡this¡£¡¡Caravans¡¡traveling¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡route¡¡take¡¡care¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡presents£»¡¡or¡¡else¡¡avalanches¡¡threaten¡¡or¡¡even¡¡block¡¡the¡¡pass¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡has¡¡ever¡¡seen¡¡more¡¡than¡¡the¡¡one¡¡giant£»¡¡if¡¡indeed¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡same¡¡one¡¡I¡¡gifted¡£¡¡And¡¡his¡¡or¡¡his¡¡tribe's¡¡desires¡¡have¡¡waned¡¡over¡¡the¡¡years¡£¡¡Now¡¡all¡¡they¡¡wish¡¡are¡¡candies£»¡¡the¡¡sweeter¡¡the¡¡better¡£¡¡Everything¡¡else¡¡is¡¡rejected¡¡by¡¡these¡¡odd¡¡and¡¡still¡¡unstudied¡¡beings¡£
¡¡
¡¡rr¡¡TOOK¡¡THREE¡¡days¡¡for¡¡us¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡central¡¡peaks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡range£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡pass¡¡began¡¡winding¡¡downward¡£¡¡We¡¡journeyed¡¡on¡¡for¡¡two¡¡more¡¡days¡¡before¡¡we¡¡saw¡¡what¡¡lay¡¡beyond¡£¡¡To¡¡our¡¡great¡¡disappointment£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡cities¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡below¡£¡¡Instead£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡a¡¡seemingly¡¡endless¡¡number¡¡of¡¡mountain¡¡valleys£»¡¡reaching¡¡in¡¡all¡¡directions¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡dismayed¡could¡¡we¡¡be¡¡on¡¡some¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡journey¡¡that¡¡would¡¡go¡¡on£»¡¡and¡¡on£»¡¡and¡¡on£»¡¡until¡¡we¡¡died¡¡of¡¡old¡¡age¡¡on¡¡this¡¡trail£¿¡¡But¡¡we¡¡kept¡¡marching£»¡¡following¡¡the¡¡pass¡£¡¡We¡¡would¡¡decide¡¡which¡¡route¡¡to¡¡take¡¡once¡¡we¡¡reached¡¡flat¡¡land¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡decision¡¡necessary¡the¡¡pass¡¡narrowed¡¡into¡¡a¡¡gorge¡£¡¡A¡¡spring¡¡gushed£»¡¡other¡¡waters¡¡cascaded£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡were¡¡moving¡¡beside¡¡a¡¡rapidly¡¡growing¡¡mountain¡¡stream¡£¡¡I¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡would¡¡happen¡¡when¡¡the¡¡river¡¡now¡¡aborning¡¡devoured¡¡the¡¡canyon's¡¡floor¡£¡¡When¡¡it¡¡did£»¡¡we¡¡knew¡¡we¡¡were¡¡still¡¡on¡¡the¡¡right¡¡track¡£¡¡A¡¡road¡¡began£»¡¡a¡¡road¡¡cut¡¡into¡¡the¡¡very¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountain¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sliced¡¡into¡¡the¡¡living¡¡rock¡a¡¡precise¡¡groove¡¡twenty¡¡feet¡¡high¡¡by¡¡twenty¡¡feet¡¡wide¡£¡¡Here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡hollows¡¡cut¡¡deeper¡¡into¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡so¡¡caravans¡¡could¡¡pass¡¡or¡¡camp¡¡at¡¡nightfall¡£¡¡It¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡keeping¡¡a¡¡stone's¡¡cast¡¡above¡¡the¡¡high¡water¡¡marks¡£¡¡Steps¡¡were¡¡cut¡¡down¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡face¡¡so¡¡water¡skins¡¡could¡¡be¡¡filled¡£¡¡None¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡not¡¡even¡¡Janos£»¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡or¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡such¡¡large¡¡scale¡¡work¡¡being¡¡attempted¡¡by¡¡anyone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lands¡¡we¡¡called¡¡civilized¡£
¡¡It¡¡rained¡¡frequently£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡overhead¡¡kept¡¡us¡¡as¡¡dry¡¡as¡¡if¡¡we¡¡were¡¡walking¡¡through¡¡a¡¡covered¡¡bridge¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡almost¡¡sorry¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡floor£»¡¡where¡¡we¡¡lost¡¡our¡¡rain¡¡blanket£»¡¡although¡¡moving¡¡through¡¡green¡¡and¡¡living¡¡things¡¡delighted¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡and¡¡more¡¡than¡¡pensated¡¡for¡¡our¡¡regular¡¡drenchings¡£¡¡Now¡¡we¡¡followed¡¡a¡¡stone¡¡track¡¡that¡¡wound¡¡through¡¡the¡¡valley¡£¡¡We¡¡debated¡¡the¡¡wisdom¡¡of¡¡using¡¡the¡¡track£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡little¡¡choice£º¡¡to¡¡either¡¡side¡¡grew¡¡dense£»¡¡junglelike¡¡brush¡¡and¡¡trees¡¡that¡¡would¡¡take¡¡us¡¡weeks¡¡to¡¡hew¡¡our¡¡way¡¡through£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡our¡¡chopping¡¡would¡¡carry¡¡very¡¡far¡¡indeed¡£¡¡We¡¡also¡¡slept¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡having¡¡found¡¡another¡¡danger¡¡on¡¡our¡¡first¡¡afternoon¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡instructed¡¡the¡¡scout¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡a¡¡campsite£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡found¡¡one£º¡¡a¡¡small¡¡hollow¡¡that¡¡beckoned¡¡off¡¡to¡¡the¡¡side¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡also¡¡a¡¡pool¡¡for¡¡drink¡¡and¡¡bathing£»¡¡trees¡¡we¡¡could¡¡camp¡¡under£»¡¡and¡¡tender¡¡grass¡¡for¡¡the¡¡animals¡£¡¡Janos¡¡was¡¡directing¡¡the¡¡unloading¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡vale¡¡move¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡had¡¡e¡¡alive¡¡and¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡march¡¡toward¡¡us¡£¡¡Leaves¡¡on¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡waved¡¡in¡¡the¡¡still¡¡air¡£¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡sorcery£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡my¡¡stomach¡¡turned¡¡in¡¡fearful¡¡disgust¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡what¡¡caused¡¡the¡¡motion£º¡¡leeches¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡any¡¡so¡¡large¡these¡¡were¡¡twice¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man's¡¡hand¡£¡¡Scenting¡¡blood£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡humping¡¡toward¡¡us¡¡like¡¡an¡¡army¡¡of¡¡ants¡¡at¡¡an¡¡alarming¡¡rate¡£¡¡Other¡¡leeches¡¡were¡¡hanging¡¡from¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡themselves¡the¡¡beckoning¡¡¡¨leaves¡¨¡¡I¡¡had¡¡seen¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡place¡¡that¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡bravest¡¡hero¡¡into¡¡a¡¡sniveling¡¡coward£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡moved¡¡on¡¡with¡¡much¡¡haste¡£¡¡We¡¡slept¡¡in¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roadway¡¡that¡¡night£»¡¡but¡¡only¡¡after¡¡Janos¡¡had¡¡cast¡¡an¡¡aversion¡¡spell¡£¡¡Even¡¡so£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡light¡¡a¡¡small¡¡fire¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡and¡¡use¡¡burning¡¡twigs¡¡to¡¡sear¡¡away¡¡a¡¡few¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bloodsuckers¡¡who¡¡had¡¡found¡¡us¡¡and¡¡somehow¡¡avoided¡¡the¡¡spell¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡fat¡¡and¡¡bloated¡¡with¡¡our¡¡blood¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡fell¡¡away£»¡¡the¡¡wounds¡¡they¡¡had¡¡caused¡¡bled¡¡freely¡¡and¡¡required¡¡bandaging¡£
¡¡A¡¡few¡¡hours¡¡later¡¡the¡¡Watchers¡¡found¡¡us¡£¡¡The¡¡valley¡¡had¡¡broadened£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡river¡¡had¡¡shallowed¡¡and¡¡curved¡¡close¡¡to¡¡where¡¡the¡¡jagged¡¡mountains¡¡climbed¡£¡¡The¡¡road¡¡shot¡¡straight¡¡across¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡like¡¡a¡¡javelin¡¡cast£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡could¡¡see¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡distance¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡hot¡¡and¡¡still¡£¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡cicadas¡¡buzzing¡¡in¡¡that¡¡lazy¡¡mountain¡¡summer¡£¡¡Then¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡horsemen¡¡came¡¡around¡¡a¡¡curve¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡gleaming¡¡armor¡¡on¡¡both¡¡man¡¡and¡¡horse£»¡¡I¡¡instantly¡¡knew¡¡who¡¡they¡¡were¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡at¡¡least¡¡twenty¡¡of¡¡them£º¡¡more¡¡than¡¡we¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡seen¡¡before¡£¡¡They¡¡spotted¡¡us¡¡before¡¡we¡¡could¡¡move¡¡off¡¡the¡¡road¡¡into¡¡cover¡£¡¡Their¡¡leader's¡¡lance¡¡tip¡¡dropped¡¡as¡¡he¡¡couched¡¡the¡¡butt¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡gauntleted¡¡hands¡¡brush¡¡over¡¡helms£»¡¡knocking¡¡visors¡¡closed¡£¡¡But¡¡we¡¡did¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡expected¡¡clang¡¡of¡¡the¡¡armor£»¡¡shouts¡¡of¡¡mands£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡the¡¡clatter¡¡of¡¡hooves¡¡against¡¡stone¡¡as¡¡the¡¡ghostly¡¡patrol¡¡broke¡¡into¡¡a¡¡trot¡¡toward¡¡us¡£
¡¡¡¨pany¡¡size£»¡¨¡¡Janos¡¡noted¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡they¡¡are¡¡planning¡¡to¡¡attack¡¡without¡¡parlay£»¡¡their¡¡mander¡¡will¡¡order¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gallop¡¡just¡¡after¡¡they¡¡enter¡¡that¡¡dip¡¡in¡¡the¡¡road¡¡and¡¡we¡¡lose¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¨
¡¡This¡¡was¡¡another¡¡situation¡¡we¡¡had¡¡trained¡¡for¡£¡¡Men¡¡pulled¡¡specially¡¡made¡¡spear¡¡extensions¡¡from¡¡the¡¡asses'¡¡packs¡¡and¡¡connected¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡sockets¡¡we¡¡had¡¡put¡¡on¡¡each¡¡spear¡¡butt¡£¡¡Six¡¡men¡¡knelt¡¡at¡¡the¡¡roadside£»¡¡spears¡¡bristling¡¡up¡¡at¡¡an¡¡angle£»¡¡their¡¡shields¡¡raised¡£¡¡Behind¡¡them¡¡were¡¡archers¡¡and¡¡men¡¡our¡¡animals£»¡¡with¡¡one¡¡man¡¡to¡¡steady¡¡two¡¡mounts¡£¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡us¡¡drew¡¡our¡¡swords£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡respond¡¡where¡¡and¡¡when¡¡needed¡£¡¡Even¡¡though¡¡we¡¡bristled¡¡like¡¡hedgehogs¡¡on¡¡the¡¡alert£»¡¡we¡¡were¡¡not¡¡setting¡¡up¡¡an¡¡inevitable¡¡confrontation£º¡¡if¡¡they¡¡chose£»¡¡the¡¡Watchers¡¡could¡¡halt¡¡or¡¡even¡¡ride¡¡by¡¡us¡¡without¡¡engagement¡£¡¡¡¨Hold¡¡your¡¡position£»¡¨¡¡Janos¡¡cautioned¡£¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡worry¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡and¡¡don't¡¡run¡£¡¡There¡¡isn't¡¡a¡¡horse¡¡in¡¡life¡¡or¡¡legend¡¡who¡¡will¡¡charge¡¡a¡¡spear¡¡wall¡£¡¡Hold¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡hold¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¨¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡as¡¡unworried¡¡as¡¡if¡¡this¡¡was¡¡yet¡¡another¡¡drill¡¡at¡¡my¡¡estate¡£
¡¡The¡¡column¡¡trotted¡¡into¡¡that¡¡f