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〃Very well；〃 I said。 〃I am being unwise。 Now； what I wish you to do is as you had planned； except you are to wait for a signal from me…or for that creature to attack…before striking。 Now it will be even more imperative the three of you not be seen as you move。〃
〃There shall be no problem there；〃 Janos said。 〃But I must warn you； my friend； if you are killed in this absurd bit of benevolence； I shall speak to you very harshly。〃
I grinned； clapped him on the back； and set the plan in motion。 Janos； Maeen； and Hebrus slid to the rear and then disappeared up a narrow ravine； while the rest of us milled about as a distraction。 We waited for nearly an hour。 The giant made no further move； other than shouting once more for us to retreat。 Beyond that； he seemed content to wait until winter arrived to drive us away。 This I found to be another indication that the creature might not be wholly malevolent。 I spent my time sorting through various packs； trying to decide what might work with giants； never having dealt with the breed before。 I also remembered one immutable characteristic all giants seemed to have in every tale my nurses told； and was further cheered。
At last our keenest…eyed man； who we had set to keep watch on a certain scrubby bush； reported it had moved 。。。 slightly。 I stripped off my coat and weapons belt and rolled up my shirtsleeves； shivering in the mountain wind。 I walked forward with the leather case that contained my chosen items。 The giant sprang to alertness and shouted at me。 I did not reply； but walked very slowly onward。 He bristled and wavered； exactly like a house cat not sure whether to flee or not。 The closer I got； the less pretty my friend appeared。 His thick body hair curled around him like a flea…bitten pelt； and from his constant scratching； I am sure he had them roaming on his body。 He was misshapen； with larger hands and feet than even his monster body entitled him to。 His head was equally massive and elongated； with a lantern jaw。 Yellow teeth； fangs rather； hung over his lower lip。 He rose to his full height； brandishing an enormous club。 It looked to have been the trunk of a young tree； its branches ripped off and the bark crudely polished off against rocks。 I came no closer。 The giant was sweating profusely； as if we were back in the desert rather than on these chill heights。 He also stank abominably； so badly I nearly became sick。 I paid no attention to the pleadings of my overly civilized nose … a trader who dictates social customs to his customers is not only foolish but apt to be handed his teeth as a rebuttal。 I set the chest down and opened it； carefully lifting out my articles。 My arms were bare； to show I concealed nothing； and I moved very； very slowly。 The giant seemed to relax。 I sat； legs curled under me； as if I were a mon bazaar merchant； and waited。 The giant did not move。 He was a primitive sort。
I chose one item； set it on a flat rock； and depressed the twisted rod that rose from its center。 Obediently； the mechanical top spun； its colors flashing brightly against the gray rock。 I heard a grunt of interest。 Next I picked up a gold necklace； and wincing a bit as I recollected its worth and that it had been intended to hang from the neck of a princess； draped it over my wrist。 Then I gently cast it toward my about…to…bee trading partner。 He drew back； startled。 The necklace did not attract him。 He crept forward； picked it up； examined it； muttering to himself； then put it on his own wrist。 He looked at it this way and that； then chortled in approval at his new bracelet。 Next he began looking about him。 The fairy tales were correct…giants were no brighter in reality than they had been presented； since it took him long moments to realize there was very little around for trading stock。 After considering rocks and even a bit of lichen growing from one boulder； he decided on an item。 He set his club down where the necklace had been。 Now I was quite sure we were in no especial danger。 I shook my head； no； I did not want the club； and motioned that the necklace was a present。 He came closer。 I saw his nose wrinkle in distaste and nearly smiled； remembering my father 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： 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： 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： 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： 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： 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： 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