Chapter Thirty-One
As they went out the next day, they found people already
working. Small piles of rubbish that could be burned were being
gathered here and there in the street, and put to the flame.
People were already moving things out of their houses that were
too filthy to clean. Areas that were simply filled with rubbish
over the years were being attacked by gangs of men with spades
and shovels, even picks.
2 Ox carts were already moving through the streets, laden with
trash. Huge barrels, that a short time before had been filled
with the finest wine, were now mounted on wheels and carried a
far different cargo!
3 Discussion among the working people was this strange, new
idea...a day with pay to clean their houses! What strange ideas
those Worshipers of Spirit had. But if their masters asked them
to do this, they would obey.
4 Come the appointed day the city was filled with activity. Every
ox cart from the outlying areas had been brought in, even the
fancy ox carts the rich used to travel about the city were
pressed into service, and any beast that could not be hooked to a
cart had bundles tied to its back.
5 But even all this was not enough! Still, many men were needed
to carry bundles and boxes to the crater on the side of the fire
mountain that had been chosen as the dumping place.
6 Though The Old Chieftain objected, Bold Fox and his party
joined in the labor. With Strong Wall at his side, they loaded ox
carts all morning and into the afternoon, concentrating their
efforts in the district of the poor.
7 Finally, about mid-afternoon, the last ox cart rolled from the
city and the majority of the people, except for one man who
watched each house, made their way from the city. And at the
sound of trumpets the sulfur pots were lit. Soon the air was full
of the stench and the yellow smoke could be seen rising over the
city, as the people took their evening meal in the fields outside
the city.
8 Then, in the dusk of evening, everyone went to a lake near the
city, threw off their clothes and bathed in the refreshing water.
Then the poor emerged, donning the new clothes they had been
given. Under a procession of torches they marched back to the
city.
9 For the first time in many years, the poor people slept in
clean beds, free of bugs. The people of the city swore an oath
that their city would never become filthy again. That even the
poorest of people would keep their houses and their streets
clean.
10 Word of what had happened in their capitol spread to the other
Giant's cities, and they quickly followed the example set by
their brothers and sisters. Soon, the whole land was like a
different place! The rate of sickness fell drastically, and
everyone spoke of the great Wonders of The Children of Spirit,
that they could drive out any sickness merely by cleaning a city.
What other great magic could they possess?
11 The Giants were eager to learn the ways of these strangers.
The Old Chieftain declared the city safe and ordered the local
Chieftains gather and decide the price The Children of Spirit
should be charged for the land they wished to buy. The Chieftains
came with great joy.
12 One Chieftain was so excited when he met Bold Fox, that he
embraced him in a great hug, which nearly broke his ribs! "I
was nearly," he said later, "killed with
kindness!"
13 Then, they got down to serious discussion, and Bold Fox found
the Giants agreeable. There was only one group that objected.
"Since the beginning of time," explained their
Chieftain, "we have left our boats for the summer on the
shores of the lake, journeyed back to our mountain homes, and
returned again in the fall to fish the lake, and sail down it, go
south, and trade with the people below the desert. We have no
permanent cities, but those places where we keep our boats and
load our goods are indispensable to us. Without them, my people
have no livelihood."
14 Bold Fox thought for some time. "Each fall," he
asked, "when you return to your boats, do you have to repair
them and get them ready for the water again?"
15 "Of course," answered the Giant.
16 "And each year must you repair your docks on the lower
end of the lake damaged by storm?"
17 "That we do," the Giant agreed.
18 "Now, what if you could hire people," asked Bold
Fox, "that could spend all summer working on your boats,
have them in the water and waiting for you when you came down
from the mountains, and also, keep your docks in repair? You
could pay them by leasing them the land. In that way, my people
would get the land, your boats and docks would be well cared for,
and everyone would come out ahead!"
19 "We would have free access to the roads and to the
lake?" the Giant asked.
20 "As long as my people rule this land," promised Bold
Fox, "they will never hinder your passage, or charge you
tax. Our roads shall be your roads, our waters, your
waters."
21 The Giant turned to his brethren and they discussed for
several minutes. "We can accept your proposal!" he
agreed finally. "We will not directly sell to you the land
we hold, but we will do as you say, lease it, under the
conditions you propose. But we wish, also, to share in the cash
payment you are proposing. We will consider this a separate
bargain outside the general agreement."
22 "Now I do not think this is fair," argued The Old
Chieftain,"you are charging them twice, while the rest of us
are charging them once."
23 But Bold Fox rose his hand. "I do not consider," he
said, "their request unreasonable. What is done now, will
only guarantee them the income they have enjoyed before. It would
be unfair to deny them a share in the profits their
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