climb to the ledge above. Now, they passed fields
of grain and grazing cattle and sheep. A small stream ran from
somewhere irrigating the crops. "That's some bridge!" commented Swift
Deer.
49 "You should see the devise on the other side of the mountain!" Mad
Cat told him. "It can lift a fully loaded ox cart with ease! It uses
water for a counterweight. Then the water is used to irrigate the
fields below! Our leader,
Great Mountain, is a Giant, and something of an engineer. He built all
these things, and set up the whole defense system. Even if the Trn army
found us, they couldn't take us!"
50 "How many fighting people do you have?" asked Swift Deer.
51 "About five-hundred, and every one of them strong and vicious!"
52 They entered a huge cave that Swift Deer realized was a hidden
village. There were houses, shops, everything in a normal village. It
was lit by a mirror system. They went down a long passage that had huge
guards. They opened the door for Mad Cat without question. The rooms
inside were luxurious. Servants worked here and there. In one corner
sat a huge man. He was SO BIG that the full grown woman sitting on his
lap looked like a child in comparison!
53 "Stay here," ordered Mad Cat. He walked over to the Giant, sat down,
and began to speak. The Giant picked up the woman like a child's doll,
and sat her aside. With a slap on her butt from his huge hand, she
scurried away, giggling. For many minutes the two men talked, then the
Giant looked up. "Hey, weak heart," he cried, "come here!"
54 Swift Deer went over. "He doesn't LOOK puny!" the Giant remarked,
"but like you say, The Children of Spirit wouldn't waste a perfectly
good Warlock on a mission like this! You got any proof of what you say?"