Fayol was in a happy and proud mood, and Rod Dick rewarded the craftsman with thirty gold coins, each of which weighed one baht, which was heavy in the bag. And what he put on the child's anvil were thirty silver coins, about the size of a gold coin, each weighing only half a baht, worth only one and a half gold coins, and the rest belonged to him.
Fayol was not worried that Rod Dick would blame him. It was impossible for the noble Lord Dick to condescend to come to this filthy miner's house and stand in front of the fire. The honor of the family. He has completed the mission according to Master Dick's instructions, and was lucky to get the Tears of the Gods. Lord Dick would only surprise him and even reward him, he would never pursue trivial matters anymore, he knew that Lord Dick too well.
It was also the first time for Fayol to see the Tears of the Gods, and he had never even heard of it before. Rod Dick told him that it looked like a light golden, translucent god's stone. He saw it at Amon's house and also Got.
There was a stale smell of alcohol and the smoke of the fire in the house. Fayol didn't want to stay for a moment, and hurried away after getting the tears of the gods. Fayol is also very curious about the legendary symbol of being favored by the gods. He can't help but want to hold it in his hand to see how magical it is, and even wants to put it in his purse, but Of course he didn't dare, he could only respectfully and carefully hold the golden box containing the tears of the gods.
…
Fayol left, and after a while, Amon also left the house, and he went to find the old madman. Amon was still a child, with indescribable grievances in his heart, but he couldn't say anything to his drunk father. It was also a kind of relaxation and comfort to listen to the old lunatic's rambling crazy talk.
He stayed at the old lunatic's house for about half an hour, and then quietly went to the west of the town. To the west of Duke Town is a stretch of rolling hills with blue-black strange rocks. A little closer, there are not many grassy slopes in the mountains where a small number of sheep can be herded. The stone is not high but weird, like a dense devil forest, and the shrubs growing on it look like people's messy hair.
This kind of shrub is no more than two people tall, but its branches are very hard. When cutting it, you need to use a good machete and axe. The charcoal it burns is the best fuel for the furnace when smelting iron embryos. This area is called the Black Fire Forest. It is on the only way from Duke Town to the city-state of Syria, and the post road of the city-state of Syria also passes through here.
Except for the post roads where city-state soldiers are stationed every thirty miles, people rarely enter the depths of the Black Fire Forest. Those weird and complicated shrubs and rocks can completely block the line of sight within a short distance, and they seem to be full of people. There is a mysterious danger.
But the old lunatic told Amon that there is a cold spring in a hidden place in the Black Fire Forest. The water quality is icy cold, but it can cleanse and purify the human body. Bathing in the cold spring for many years can make the body stronger and more sensitive. But you must take a bath in the way that the old lunatic taught Amon, otherwise, not only will it not be beneficial, but the cold air will invade the body and cause hidden diseases, which will kill people if they get sick.
After the method is taught, whether it will not hurt the body, and whether it can endure the biting cold after learning it, all depends on Amon himself. Amon once asked what are the benefits of bathing in that cold spring? The old lunatic answered two words with a smile—sober up.
Amon once wanted to take his alcoholic father to take a bath in the cold spring, but the old maniac stared and said: "Did you want your father's life? He can't bear it, only you can go, don't tell others! "
So Amon went alone, every time in the middle of the night when the moonlight was bright. At the beginning, he really couldn't bear the chill that almost froze him to death, but every time he sat by the spring after taking a bath, he would feel a warm It overflows all over the body, making people feel very comfortable, so comfortable that they want to groan. Amon fell in love with this feeling, and every time he was in a bad mood, he would always come to Hanquan.
And the water in the cold spring has another special feature. Although it is extremely cold, it can wash people very clean without leaving even a speck of dust on their bodies.
…
Rod Dick was extremely excited and even ecstatic. He really got the Tears of the Gods smoothly. How wise, wise, and lucky he is! Amidst the praise of Fayol and other subordinates and servants, holding a glass of wine was a little bit swaying. Rod Dick hadn't had the dream of the goddess Isis guiding him, this was fabricated by himself, but now, he couldn't help thinking that he had really received the guidance and care of the goddess Isis in the dark.
The first thing he did when he got the tears of the gods was to kneel down and pray, praising the great gods, then rewarded Fayol with three sacred stones, and sent someone to send a generous gift to Mayor Dusti. Mayor Dusty must have a good idea of why he should thank him with courtesy.
Fayol did as he was told, taking the Tears of the Gods away as soon as it appeared, and dedicating it to the goddess Isis. This can save a lot of trouble. If such an important thing is mined, if it is handed over to the city-state of Syria according to local regulations, it will be very difficult to get it. Guaranteed to get it.
Of course, there are people in the Kingdom of Hatti who want the Tears of the Gods. Even in the Eju Empire, Eko-Maria is not the only candidate selected by the city-states. This in itself is a competition for interests. But how could the humble miner who mined the tears of the gods reject Rod Dick's noble will and offer it to the goddess Isis, everything seemed logical.
As for the mayor of Dusty, Rod Dick must of course make good compensation to him. He still has to deal with him in the future, so he cannot lose this friend. As for who was the miner who mined the sacred stone, and what did he get? Rod Dick didn't worry anymore, he had asked Fayol to handle the matter, and generously gave thirty baht gold coins, and Fayol did it, which was enough.
The human heart is so strange. Not long ago, Rod Dick was complaining while drinking, thinking in his heart that praying to the gods would be better than praying to the miners. Now that he really got the Tears of the Gods, he forgot about the miners who mined the Tears of the Gods. He couldn't help but think that he really got the favor of the gods. It seemed so pious to pray to the goddess Isis.
Rod Dick didn't keep the Tears of the Gods in his hands, and then sent it to Gabriel. He knew that there must be many people who wanted to compete for the Tears of the Gods, and he had obtained the Isis Temple earlier. Recognition is what matters. He planned to leave Duke Town immediately the next day, and he didn't want any unexpected incidents to happen. Unexpectedly, Gabriel told him that Iko-Maria was ill, and he had to rest in this town for at least three more days, and he couldn't cross immediately. The desert makes a arduous journey.
…
In the early morning of the next day, not long after the people in the town woke up, the smoke from the kitchen was wafting over every house, and people heard the bell of the Muyun Temple at the northern end of the town, which was a signal to call the residents of the town to gather.
Surrounded by four servants, Mayor Dusty, who was enjoying a hearty breakfast, was very displeased when he heard the bell. Who interrupted his comfortable and leisurely enjoyment? In Duke Town, there are only two people who are qualified to ring the summoning bell of the Temple of Muyun. Dusti is the chief priest of the town and the nominal high priest of the Temple of Muyun, but the person in charge of the specific affairs of the temple is the priest Ma But Rob Xiaogu.
At the same time, Xiao Gu also served as the clerk of Duke Town and the temple, responsible for writing and registration, recording the taxes paid by the townspeople every year and the property donated to the temple. The status of a clerk is higher than that of ordinary civilians, and can be regarded as a low-level nobleman, while Xiao Gu is also a priest of the temple, so his status is more noble than ordinary clerks, and he is the second person in the town.
Don't underestimate a clerk, because he can read and write characters. Whether in Hatti or Eju, usually only the nobles have the conditions to learn characters. Fayol Judah, the chief clerk of Rod Dick, can almost sit on an equal footing with the nobleman of the Hatti Kingdom, the mayor of Dusty, although he is only an aide.
Duke is just a small town, and it is impossible and unnecessary to have so many noble officials. Mayor Dusty doesn't want too many people to share the power here, so the simpler the matter, the better. According to the city-state law, the clerk is necessary, and the priest who presides over the affairs of the temple is also necessary, so let Xiao Gu do it alone, and Dusti also knows that the lord of the city-state of Syria has a good impression of Xiao Gu, more precisely Said that he had received bribes from Xiao Gu.
What's even more ridiculous is that since the Temple of Horus was built in the town, in order to save manpower and centralize power, the mayor of Dusty still personally served as the high priest of the temple, and the priest and clerk who presided over the specific affairs of the Temple of Horus was still Xiao. Goo.
…
When Mayor Dusty changed into a luxurious coat and brought his servants to the square in front of the Muyun Temple for the last time, the crowd had already formed a large circle here, and Amon and his father stood in the crowd with their heads bowed. At the front of the hall, Xiao Gu faced everyone on the high steps of the temple.
People made way for Dusty, and he shouted unhappily as he walked: "Xiao Gu, why did you ring the bell early in the morning to call everyone? Master Dick is still in town, so you don't have to worry about disturbing the noble customers?"
Xiao Gu quickly walked down the steps, bowed to Dusty and said: "Honorable chief priest, my lord, someone has desecrated our patron saint, the great goddess Mu Yun." Then he lowered his voice and said, "Mayor, you I don't know yet, someone in the town mined a legendary tear of the gods, but didn't turn it in, and dedicated it to Lord Rod Dick privately. You know, even if it's a dedication, it should be you or I… "
Dusty quickly interrupted him in a low voice: "Xiao Gu, don't mention this matter! Master Dick wants the tear of the gods, and he is guarding the town. Can you and I stop it? But we It was not handed over to the city-state according to the regulations. In case someone pursues it, who will be responsible? The miners who mined it voluntarily offered it to the goddess Isis, and Lord Dick testified, saving you and me trouble. Don’t worry, Lord Dick’s gift will be released tonight Delivered to your home, you won't be disappointed... Is there anything else?"
Xiao Gu was stunned for a moment, then nodded respectfully and said: "Understood, I will do as you said. But there is another matter that has to be dealt with, because someone has violated the dignity of the gods..."
The people in the square only saw Xiao Gu and Dusty whisper a few words, and then saw Xiao Gu turn around and raise his voice: "Amon, the miner's son, violated the oracle passed down from generation to generation in Duke Town, Without the permission and blessing of Goddess Mu Yun, he opened the mine core privately and took out a sacred stone. I verified it last night, and it was his father's own admission... The respected Lord Dusti has come. Everyone thinks that it should How to deal with him?"
Dusty frowned but didn't speak, he could only put on a majestic look. He was very disgusted with Xiao Gu's troubles at this time, but he couldn't stop it. When it comes to the topic of blasphemy, everyone has to be careful not to let Xiao Gu catch him. Besides, this is indeed the rule of Duke Town in the past, involving the dignity of the patron saint. He thought to himself—this Xiao Gu, what is he trying to do with this incident? Could it be that he is aiming at me
Xiao Gu looked at Amon when he was talking, like a cold eagle looking at a shivering rabbit, even though Amon bit his lip and didn't tremble - he had long since disliked this child. Duke Town produces a steady stream of sacred stones, which symbolize endless wealth, but there are only four people in this town who can write: Dusty, Xiao Gu, the old lunatic Nietzsche, and this boy Amon.
Dusti can only write clay tablet books used in Hatti, Baron, and Assyria. This kind of writing was first carved on clay tablets with a knife, but Xiao Gu can write two kinds of documents. Including the pen books used by the Ecu Empire, which were written on papyrus with a pen. These were taught to him by the old lunatic, but now, the old lunatic has also taught Amon these two languages.
…
List of characters in this chapter—
Marco Rob-Xiaogu: The clerk of Duke Town is also the priest and clerk of the Temple of Horus and Muyun in the town. He can write two kinds of secular scripts, knife script and pen script, and master the corresponding divine script writing style.
Aristotle: A young wandering sage from faraway continents, Rod Dick's entourage and staff.