¡¶prester john¡·

ÏÂÔر¾Êé

Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©

prester john- µÚ9²¿·Ö


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
nd¡¡we¡¡were¡¡soon¡¡on¡¡good¡¡terms¡£¡¡I¡¡recall¡¡a¡¡discussion¡¡arising¡¡about¡¡a¡¡black¡¡thing¡¡in¡¡a¡¡tree¡¡about¡¡five¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡was¡¡an¡¡aasvogel£»¡¡but¡¡another¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡baboon¡£¡¡¡¡Whereupon¡¡the¡¡oldest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party£»¡¡a¡¡farmer¡¡called¡¡Coetzee£»¡¡whipped¡¡up¡¡his¡¡rifle¡¡and£»¡¡apparently¡¡without¡¡sighting£»¡¡fired¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡dark¡¡object¡¡fell¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡branch£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡we¡¡reached¡¡it¡¡we¡¡found¡¡it¡¡a¡¡baviaan*¡¡sure¡¡enough£»¡¡shot¡¡through¡¡the¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡'Which¡¡side¡¡are¡¡you¡¡on¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡war£¿'¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡asked¡¡me£»¡¡and£»¡¡laughing£»¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡'Yours¡£'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡*Baboon¡£¡¡After¡¡supper£»¡¡the¡¡ingredients¡¡of¡¡which¡¡came¡¡largely¡¡from¡¡my¡¡naachtmaal£»¡¡we¡¡sat¡¡smoking¡¡and¡¡talking¡¡round¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡the¡¡women¡¡and¡¡children¡¡being¡¡snug¡¡in¡¡the¡¡covered¡¡wagons¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Boers¡¡were¡¡honest¡¡companionable¡¡fellows£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡I¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡bowl¡¡of¡¡toddy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Scotch¡¡fashion¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡out¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡chill£»¡¡we¡¡all¡¡became¡¡excellent¡¡friends¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡asked¡¡me¡¡how¡¡I¡¡got¡¡on¡¡with¡¡Japp¡£¡¡¡¡Old¡¡Coetzee¡¡saved¡¡me¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡of¡¡answering£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡broke¡¡in¡¡with¡¡Skellum£¡¡¡¡¡Skellum£¡*¡¡¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡his¡¡objection¡¡to¡¡the¡¡storekeeper£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡would¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡beyond¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡too¡¡thick¡¡with¡¡the¡¡natives¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡fancy¡¡at¡¡some¡¡time¡¡Mr¡¡Japp¡¡had¡¡sold¡¡him¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡plough¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡*Schelm£º¡¡Rascal¡£

We¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡hunting£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡long¡¡tales¡¡of¡¡exploits¡¡¡­¡¡away¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Limpopo£»¡¡in¡¡Mashonaland£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Sabi¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Lebombo¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡we¡¡verged¡¡on¡¡politics£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡violent¡¡denunciations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡land¡¡tax¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡were¡¡old¡¡residenters£»¡¡I¡¡reflected£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡might¡¡learn¡¡perhaps¡¡something¡¡of¡¡value¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡very¡¡carefully¡¡I¡¡repeated¡¡a¡¡tale¡¡I¡¡said¡¡I¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡at¡¡Durban¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡wizard¡¡somewhere¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Berg£»¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡if¡¡any¡¡one¡¡knew¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡shook¡¡their¡¡heads¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡natives¡¡had¡¡given¡¡up¡¡witchcraft¡¡and¡¡big¡¡medicine£»¡¡they¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡more¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡a¡¡parson¡¡or¡¡a¡¡policeman¡¡than¡¡any¡¡witch¡­doctor¡£¡¡Then¡¡they¡¡were¡¡starting¡¡on¡¡reminiscences£»¡¡when¡¡old¡¡Coetzee£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡deaf£»¡¡broke¡¡in¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡have¡¡my¡¡question¡¡repeated¡£

'Yes£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'I¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Rooirand¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡devil¡¡dwells¡¡there¡£'

I¡¡could¡¡get¡¡no¡¡more¡¡out¡¡of¡¡him¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡certainly¡¡a¡¡great¡¡devil¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡grandfather¡¡and¡¡father¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡himself¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡it¡¡roaring¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡there¡¡as¡¡a¡¡boy¡¡to¡¡hunt¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡explain¡¡no¡¡further£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed¡£

Next¡¡morning£»¡¡close¡¡to¡¡Sikitola's¡¡kraal£»¡¡I¡¡bade¡¡the¡¡farmers¡¡good¡­bye£»¡¡after¡¡telling¡¡them¡¡that¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡store¡¡in¡¡my¡¡wagon¡¡for¡¡three¡¡weeks¡¡at¡¡Umvelos'¡¡if¡¡they¡¡wanted¡¡supplies¡£¡¡We¡¡then¡¡struck¡¡more¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡¡towards¡¡our¡¡destination¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡I¡¡had¡¡out¡¡my¡¡map¡¡and¡¡searched¡¡it¡¡for¡¡the¡¡name¡¡old¡¡Coetzee¡¡had¡¡mentioned¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡very¡¡bad¡¡map£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡no¡¡surveying¡¡east¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Berg£»¡¡and¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡names¡¡were¡¡mere¡¡guesses¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡found¡¡the¡¡word¡¡'Rooirand'¡¡marking¡¡an¡¡eastern¡¡continuation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡northern¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡probably¡¡set¡¡down¡¡from¡¡some¡¡hunter's¡¡report¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡better¡¡explain¡¡here¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡features¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡bulk¡¡largely¡¡in¡¡my¡¡story¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Berg¡¡runs¡¡north¡¡and¡¡south£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡it¡¡run¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡streams¡¡which¡¡water¡¡the¡¡plain¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡are£»¡¡beginning¡¡from¡¡the¡¡south£»¡¡the¡¡Olifants£»¡¡the¡¡Groot¡¡Letaba£»¡¡the¡¡Letsitela£»¡¡the¡¡Klein¡¡Letaba£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Klein¡¡Labongo£»¡¡on¡¡which¡¡stands¡¡Blaauwildebeestefontein¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡river¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plain£»¡¡into¡¡which¡¡the¡¡others¡¡ultimately¡¡flow£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡Groot¡¡Labongo£»¡¡which¡¡appears¡¡full¡­born¡¡from¡¡some¡¡subterranean¡¡source¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡place¡¡called¡¡Umvelos'¡£¡¡¡¡North¡¡from¡¡Blaauwildebeestefontein¡¡the¡¡Berg¡¡runs¡¡for¡¡some¡¡twenty¡¡miles£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡makes¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡turn¡¡eastward£»¡¡becoming£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡my¡¡map£»¡¡the¡¡Rooirand¡£

I¡¡pored¡¡over¡¡these¡¡details£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡particularly¡¡curious¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡Labongo¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡unlikely¡¡that¡¡a¡¡spring¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bush¡¡could¡¡produce¡¡so¡¡great¡¡a¡¡river£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡its¡¡source¡¡must¡¡lie¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡well¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡¡guess£»¡¡the¡¡Rooirand£»¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Berg£»¡¡was¡¡about¡¡thirty¡¡miles¡¡distant¡£¡¡¡¡Old¡¡Coetzee¡¡had¡¡said¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡devil¡¡in¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡explored¡¡the¡¡first¡¡thing¡¡found¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡stream¡¡of¡¡water¡£

We¡¡got¡¡to¡¡Umvelos'¡¡after¡¡midday£»¡¡and¡¡outspanned¡¡for¡¡our¡¡three¡¡weeks'¡¡work¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡set¡¡the¡¡Dutchmen¡¡to¡¡unload¡¡and¡¡clear¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡for¡¡foundations£»¡¡while¡¡I¡¡went¡¡off¡¡to¡¡Sikitola¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡for¡¡labourers¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡got¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡lusty¡¡blacks£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡we¡¡had¡¡a¡¡business¡­like¡¡encampment£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡work¡¡went¡¡on¡¡merrily¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡rough¡¡architecture¡¡and¡¡rougher¡¡masonry¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡we¡¡aimed¡¡at¡¡was¡¡a¡¡two¡­roomed¡¡shop¡¡with¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡outhouse¡¡for¡¡stores¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡architect£»¡¡and¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡marking¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡foundations¡¡and¡¡the¡¡first¡¡few¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡the¡¡walls¡£¡¡¡¡Sikitola's¡¡people¡¡proved¡¡themselves¡¡good¡¡helpers£»¡¡and¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡building¡¡was¡¡left¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡Dutchmen¡¡worked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡carpentry¡£¡¡¡¡Bricks¡¡ran¡¡short¡¡before¡¡we¡¡got¡¡very¡¡far£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡had¡¡to¡¡set¡¡to¡¡brick¡­¡¡making¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Labongo£»¡¡and¡¡finish¡¡off¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡with¡¡green¡¡bricks£»¡¡which¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡place¡¡a¡¡queer¡¡piebald¡¡look¡£

I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡much¡¡of¡¡a¡¡carpenter£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡builders¡¡without¡¡me£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡found¡¡a¡¡considerable¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡time¡¡on¡¡my¡¡hands¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡first¡¡I¡¡acted¡¡as¡¡shopkeeper¡¡in¡¡the¡¡naachtmaal£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡soon¡¡cleared¡¡out¡¡my¡¡stores¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Dutch¡¡farmers¡¡and¡¡the¡¡natives¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡going¡¡back¡¡for¡¡more£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡it¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡might¡¡profitably¡¡give¡¡some¡¡of¡¡my¡¡leisure¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Rooirand¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡quite¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north£»¡¡within¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡day's¡¡ride¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡one¡¡morning¡¡I¡¡packed¡¡enough¡¡food¡¡for¡¡a¡¡day¡¡or¡¡two£»¡¡tied¡¡my¡¡sleeping¡­bag¡¡on¡¡my¡¡saddle£»¡¡and¡¡set¡¡off¡¡to¡¡explore£»¡¡after¡¡appointing¡¡the¡¡elder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dutchmen¡¡foreman¡¡of¡¡the¡¡job¡¡in¡¡my¡¡absence¡£

It¡¡was¡¡very¡¡hot¡¡jogging¡¡along¡¡the¡¡native¡¡path¡¡with¡¡the¡¡eternal¡¡olive¡­green¡¡bush¡¡around¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Happily¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡losing¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Rooirand¡¡stood¡¡very¡¡clear¡¡in¡¡front£»¡¡and¡¡slowly£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡advanced£»¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡make¡¡out¡¡the¡¡details¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡luncheon¡­time£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡about¡¡half¡­way£»¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡with¡¡my¡¡Zeiss¡¡glass¡¡¡­¡¡my¡¡mother's¡¡farewell¡¡gift¡¡¡­¡¡to¡¡look¡¡for¡¡the¡¡valley¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡valley¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡none¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡wall¡¡¡­¡¡reddish¡¡purple¡¡it¡¡looked£»¡¡and£»¡¡I¡¡thought£»¡¡of¡¡porphyry¡¡¡­¡¡was¡¡continuous¡¡and¡¡unbroken¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡chimneys¡¡and¡¡fissures£»¡¡but¡¡none¡¡great¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡a¡¡river¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡top¡¡was¡¡sheer¡¡cliff£»¡¡then¡¡came¡¡loose¡¡kranzes¡¡in¡¡tiers£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡seats¡¡in¡¡a¡¡gallery£»¡¡and£»¡¡below£»¡¡a¡¡dense¡¡thicket¡¡of¡¡trees¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡raked¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡line¡¡for¡¡a¡¡break£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡seemed¡¡none¡£¡¡¡¡'It's¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡job¡¡for¡¡me£»'¡¡I¡¡thought£»¡¡'if¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡water£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡must¡¡pass¡¡the¡¡night¡¡there¡£'¡¡The¡¡night¡¡was¡¡spent¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sheltered¡¡nook¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rocks£»¡¡but¡¡my¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed¡¡without¡¡a¡¡drink¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡supper¡¡was¡¡some¡¡raisins¡¡and¡¡biscuits£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡run¡¡the¡¡risk¡¡of¡¡increasing¡¡my¡¡thirst¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡found¡¡a¡¡great¡¡bank¡¡of¡¡debris¡¡sloping¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡kranzes£»¡¡and¡¡thick¡¡wood¡¡clothing¡¡all¡¡the¡¡slope¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡grass¡¡seemed¡¡wonderfully¡¡fresh£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡water¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sign¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡not¡¡even¡¡the¡¡sandy¡¡channel¡¡of¡¡a¡¡stream¡¡to¡¡dig¡¡in¡£

In¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡difficult¡¡problem¡¡to¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡Water¡¡I¡¡must¡¡find¡¡at¡¡all¡¡costs£»¡¡or¡¡I¡¡must¡¡go¡¡home¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡time¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡get¡¡back¡¡without¡¡suffering¡¡much£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡so¡¡I¡¡must¡¡give¡¡up¡¡my¡¡explorations¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡I¡¡was¡¡determined¡¡not¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡more¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡these¡¡red¡¡cliffs¡¡the¡¡more¡¡eager¡¡I¡¡was¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡their¡¡secret¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡must¡¡be¡¡water¡¡somewhere£»¡¡otherwise¡¡how¡¡account¡¡for¡¡the¡¡lushness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vegetation£¿

My¡¡horse¡¡was¡¡a¡¡veld¡¡pony£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡set¡¡him¡¡loose¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡he¡¡would¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡strayed¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡path¡¡to¡¡Umvelos'¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡looked¡¡bad£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡meant¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡smell¡¡water¡¡along¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡front¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡I¡¡was¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡stream¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡on¡¡the¡¡top£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡must¡¡try¡¡a¡¡little¡¡mountaineering¡£

Then£»¡¡taking¡¡my¡¡courage¡¡in¡¡both¡¡my¡¡hands£»¡¡I¡¡decided¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡gave¡¡my¡¡pony¡¡a¡¡cut£»¡¡and¡¡set¡¡him¡¡off¡¡on¡¡the¡¡homeward¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡was¡¡safe¡¡to¡¡get¡¡back¡¡in¡¡four¡¡or¡¡five¡¡hours£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡broad¡¡day¡¡there¡¡was¡¡little¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡wild¡¡beasts¡¡attacking¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡tied¡¡my¡¡sleeping¡¡bag¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡saddle£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡with¡¡me¡¡but¡¡two¡¡pocketfuls¡¡of¡¡food¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡also¡¡fastened¡¡on¡¡the¡¡saddle¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡my¡¡Dutch¡¡foreman£»¡¡bidding¡¡him¡¡send¡¡a¡¡native¡¡with¡¡a¡¡spare¡¡horse¡¡to¡¡fetch¡¡me¡¡by¡¡the¡¡evening¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡started¡¡off¡¡to¡¡look¡¡for¡¡a¡¡chimney¡£

A¡¡boyhood¡¡spent¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡¡at¡¡Kirkcaple¡¡had¡¡made¡¡me¡¡a¡¡bold¡¡cragsman£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡porphyry¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Rooirand¡¡clearly¡¡gave¡¡excellent¡¡holds¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡many¡¡weary¡¡miles¡¡along¡¡the¡¡cliff¡­¡¡foot¡¡before¡¡I¡¡found¡¡a¡¡feasible¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡begin¡¡with£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no¡¡light¡¡task¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡one's¡¡way¡¡through¡¡the¡¡dense¡¡undergrowth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡slopes¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡thorn¡­bush¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡my¡¡skin£»¡¡creepers¡¡tripped¡¡me¡¡up£»¡¡high¡¡trees¡¡shut¡¡out¡¡the¡¡light£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡constant¡¡fear¡¡lest¡¡a¡¡black¡¡mamba¡¡might¡¡appear¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tangle¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡grew¡¡very¡¡hot£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡screes¡¡above¡¡the¡¡thicket¡¡were¡¡blistering¡¡to¡¡the¡¡touch¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡tongue£»¡¡too£»¡¡stuck¡¡to¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡of¡¡my¡¡mouth¡¡with¡¡thirst¡£

The¡¡first¡¡chimney¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡ran¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡face¡¡into¡¡nothingness£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡dangerous¡¡descent¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡second¡¡was¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡gully£»¡¡but¡¡so¡¡choked¡¡with¡¡rubble¡¡that¡¡after¡¡nearly¡¡braining¡¡myself¡¡I¡¡desisted¡£¡¡¡¡Still¡¡going¡¡eastwards£»¡¡I¡¡found¡¡a¡¡sloping¡¡ledge¡¡which¡¡took¡¡me¡¡to¡¡a¡¡platform¡¡from¡¡which¡¡ran¡¡a¡¡crack¡¡with¡¡a¡¡little¡¡tree¡¡growing¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡glass¡¡showed¡¡me¡¡that¡¡beyond¡¡this¡¡tree¡¡the¡¡crack¡¡broadened¡¡into¡¡a¡¡clearly¡¡defined¡¡chimney¡¡which¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡top¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡I¡¡can¡¡once¡¡reach¡¡that¡¡tree£»¡¡I¡¡thought£»¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡is¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£ ÔÞһϠÌí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü