Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第163/246页)

opperoftheleatherpipefullofwaterandsprayedicykewaterontothepipinghotiron,causingittosizzleandfizzandgiveuphotsteamwhifiltratedtheair.Fromdawntodusk,Cyclopspouredliquidironontothegoldpace.Bytheendoftheday,halfthegoldpacehadbeengildedwithiron.KingDimitrigaveorderstostopforthedayandtiheworkonthemorroredandintoxicated,hewalkedunsteadilybacktotheforest.MedusaflewbacktotheboatandKingDimitrigaveorderstoreturntothepace.Theworkatthesite,however,couldnotstop.Thepeoplepreparedtoworkallnight,transpironingotsandfirewoodetc.forusethefollowingday.Fromdawntoduskthatday,KingDimitrihadstoodatthehelmofhissailboat,watgCyclops’stalwartfigurecarrying10,000lbs.ofboilingliquidupthemountainandpouritoldpace.Hesilentlytedtheripshemadeandcameuptoatotalof120.

    “Ohheavens!”hethought.“Howmuergyandstrengthhehas.Ifhedecidestogoagainstme,hewouldmakeaterrifyingenemy.”

    AfterKingDimitriandthebeautiesreturhepace,theywereallfeelingtired.Knowingtherewouldbealotmoretodotheday,theyquicklyshedtheirfowns,edthemselvesup,hadalightrepastaofftobed.KingDimitrihadgivenhissword,bowandarrowsintoWhiteFairy’ssafekeepingandwassittingalohegreathalldrinkingtea.Outsidethepace,itwasgettingdarkwhenDornasuddenlyappearedbeforehimsaying,

    “KingDimitri,thereissomethingIwanttoreporttoyou.”

    “Oh?Whatisit,littleDorna?Whathasmadeyousoedthatyouhavetotellmeaboutitrightaway?”

    “WhenyouallweresupervisingCyclops’work,ItooktheflyingbroomaoMr.Finger’spcethimsomefood.Heseemedextremelyiedinmybroomaaskinginaroundaboutwayhowitworked,howtomakeitfly.Hiseyeskeptrollingaruishly.Idon’tthinkhemeanswelndmusthavesomenefariousdeviltryinmind.SoIcametotellyouaboutitrightaway.”

    “Good.Thankyou.Iwillkeepitinmind.It’sgettiobedandhaveagoodrest,Dorna.”Afterthegirlleft,KingDimitriwenttoQueenAisha’sroomtosleep.

    15

    Them,KingDimitriandthebeautiesboardedtheirsailboataintheearlydawnbeforethemistdispersed.Experiendwell-trainedpaceattendantsrowedtheboatswiftlyandsteadily.Whentheycametotheteroftheke,KingDimitrigaveorderstodropanchorandstabilizetheboat.HelookedovertotheoppositeshoreandsawthatMedusawasalreadythereoverseeiivescarryfirewoodandaddihefurnaces,makingthefmesleapevenhigherandburnbrighter.Thepeoplehadbeenwallnightandtheyalllookedwornout.TheonlyoneearedtobefreshandvigorouswasCyclops.Hecarriedtheheavytripodtirelesslyupthemountain,makiripafteranother,pthemeltedliquidironontothegoldpace.Hisspeedimprovedwithrepetitionanditwashewhooftenwaitedbythefurheripodtobefilled,whilingawaythetimebydevmeatofsheepandbulndgulpingdownliquorfromthevat.Hedidthisfromdawntonoonandnowitwasdusk.Timewenton,KingDimitrifottothowmanytripsCyclopshadmadeorhowmanytripodswerepouredontothegoldpace.QueenAishaaskedKingDimitritoeintotheandsaidtohim,

    “Yourmajesty,lookatCyclops.Heisreallytirelessandhasmorandendurahanmost.Butlookatthewayheiswalking.Heisbeginningtostagger.I’mafraidhehasdrunktoomuchhardliquor.Ifthisgoeson,hemaygetintoanact.”KingDimitrilookedoutofthewindowandsawthatCyclopswasindeedbeginningtowobbleunsteadilyfromsidetoside.