many soldiers filled the road. Behind them more
soldiers were marching up. With a signal from The War Leader they moved
on.
67 "Walk out ahead," said The War Leader. "Every once and a while turn
from side to side, acknowledge the crowd. Do not stop to pick anything
up. It will be gathered for you, but if a person lays a gift in the
street and lays by it, it is proper for you to touch their shoulder if
they are men, their forehead if they are women."
68 The Hawk nodded. As they neared the city gate, something he had
never expected began to happen. Children and women stepped from the
crowd and began to throw handfuls of flower petals! Soon the air was
full of them, and as he entered the city gate, the shower became even
worse. From every rooftop, from every window they fluttered down, until
the street was covered with them, until he was walking on a beautiful
carpet of blossoms!
69 Inside the gate, the gifts began to appear. Beautiful
swords, shields, robes, helmets, bottles of sweet-smelling oil, plates
with coins in them, cups! Each gift The Hawk took time to acknowledge
and each time he did the crowd roared its approval!
70 Finally they reached the steps of The King's Palace, and in a
flutter of still falling flower petals The King came down to greet him.
"This is him," roared The King, "this is he who in one day slew
one-hundred Frns, or was it one-thousand? I don't remember! This is The
Hawk of Spirit!"
71 The crowd roared. "Come on, my boy!" ordered The King, "We've got to
get this excitement over with. We've got to get these poor people back
to their homes. Their suppers are waiting!" The King patted his belly.
"So's mine!"
72 He led The Hawk up the steps and the doors