Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第162/246页)

emfromthestingingcoldoftheearlyspringdawn.Hisflyinghorse,Lightning,stoodatthestern.Thefurhefootofthemountaihredhotfmes.Dozensyoungmenwerebusilysteppingonthebellows,blowingairontothefiretofanthefmeswhichhadturnedfromredtoblue,raisiemperatureevenhigher.Theywerewearingsturdyleathergarmentsforproteandweresweatingprofuselyinspiteofthecoldspriher.Thepalelightofearlydawngraduallyappeared.Itwasdaybreak.Astrangefigure,talndhusky,emergedfromthehazymistbingtheforestandwalkedslowlyforward.Asinglehornprotrudedoopofhishead.Hehadonehugeeyeonhisforeheadandahebackofhishead.Hewasbare-chestedandbare-footed,wearingonlyaleopardskinaroundhiswaist,hisbulgingmusclesdemonstratedtheboundlessenergyofhisbody.ItwasCyclops.Hisappearancecausedaotionamongthecroerewelwareofhisreputationandmanyhadsufferedathishands.Theyfellbasternationandfear.

    Medusa’ssharpeyessawCyclopsthemomentheappeared.Sheleaptintotheair,turebckbirdaowardsnd.Onreachedherdestination,shesomersaultedintheairanddroppeddownbeforeCyclopsinherhumanform.

    “Youarehere,Cyclops.Youkeptyourword.”

    15

    “Saynomore.Let’sbegin.”

    Infrontofthefurnacewasahugetripodfullofredhotmeltediron.Ithadthecolorofwatermelonjuice,butitstemperaturewasfrightening.ovedthetripodalittletoestimateitsweight.Thenheshouted,“Up!”Allthemusclesofhisbodyexpandedandbulged.aohavedoubledinsize.Heliftedthe10,000lb.tripodinhishandsandwalkedslowlystepbystepuptheneathtowardsthebarrenpeakPerhapshewasnotfamiliarwiththepath,formidthemountairipped.Theexcruciatingpaimeltedironspshingontohisbodycausedhimtony.Itwastheangryroarofawoundedlion,whichresoundedandechoedinthesurroundingmountainsandvalleys.Thehestenchofburntflesh.ButCyclopssainedhisbandwalkedslowlyupthepathwithhisburden.Atthetopofthemountain,hepouredtheliquidirondownontothedomeofthegoldpace.Redhotliquidironflowedallovertherounddomeandsooncoatedit.Thechiefandhiswarriorsaitingthere,pulledouttheplugoftheirleatherpipewhichhadbeenfilledwithwater,theotherendofwhichwasintheke,auralpressurecaused

    watertosproutout.Nosoonerhadicycoldkewatereintactwiththeredhotmeltedironthanitfizzledintomistysteam.ThisprimitiveandclumsywaywastheonlyalternativelefttothemwhenRomifailedtoreturnandKingZeusiddownthe3-dayultimatumtocoatthegoldpacewithiron.

    Cyclopswalkeddowhwithhisemptytripod.Theliquidironthathadspshedontohisbodyhadcooledandsolidified.Heflickedhishandoverhisbodyandtheydroppedtothegroundlikepiecesofrustediron.Hedugoutthosethathadbeenembeddedintohisfleshwithhisfihewoundsdidtentionandquicklyhealedthemselves.Hewassweatingprofuselyashestrodedowhgnawingravenouslyoirelegofaroastedbull.Hefeltthirsty.Takingupavatofliquor,hedownedhalfofitinonegulp.Bythetimehefiinganddrinkipletelyrestored.Aripodfullofredhotliquidironwaswaitingforhimatthefootofthehill.Hetrieditsweight,shouted“Up!”andraiseditwithhishands.Thesedtimeround,hewassteadierashewalkedupthepath.Whenhereachedthetop,hepushedthetripodharderandtheliquidironspsheddownfurtheraway.Asitspreadalloldpace,thechieftainandhiswarriorsoncemorepulledoutthest