Chapter 3 one

Here we learn Stonewall and the Wonders That Happen Every Nine Years in the Town * Once upon a time there was a young man who wished for what his heart longed for. To begin with, although nothing new (for every young man's story begins in a similar way, past or future), there is much about this young man and what happened to him that was unusual.It doesn't matter if the young man never knows the whole story. This story, like many stories, has to start with the wall. Stonewall stands today, as it has for six hundred years, on a high granite outcrop in a small woodland.The houses in Stonewall were square and old, built of gray stone, with dark slate roofs and tall chimneys.In order to make the most of every inch of space on the rock, the houses are clustered together, one next to the other, and here and there a small grove or shrub grows next to the buildings.

Stonewall has an outbound road, with winding paths rising clearly from the forest, marked by rocks and small stones.Go far enough south along the way, out of the forest, and the trail becomes a real road, covered with asphalt.Going forward, the road becomes wider and wider, and it is always crowded with cars and goods rushing between big cities.In the end, the road will get you to London, but it's an overnight drive from Stonewall to London. The residents of Stonewall are taciturn, and can be clearly divided into two groups: native Stonewallers, tall, strong, and dusty, like the granite veins on which the town's foundation rests; They all regard Stonewall Town as their home and that of their descendants.

Below Stonewall Town, there is a forest to the west, and an unreliably calm lake to the south. The water source is a few small streams on the hill to the north behind Stonewall Town.Sheep graze in the fields on the hills, with wider woodlands to the east. Just to the east of Stonewall Town is a tall gray stone wall, which is how Stonewall Town got its name.The wall is old and made of a large number of rough square blocks of granite.Long stone walls emerged from the woods and were hidden again in the woods. There was only one gap in the wall, about six feet wide, and slightly to the north of the town.

Looking out through the gap in the stone wall, there is a large green pasture; beyond the pasture is a stream; outside the stream are trees.Sometimes some shapes and figures can be seen in the distance among the trees, huge shapes, strange shapes, small shimmering things flashing in brilliance, and disappearing in a blink of an eye.Though the pastures were rich and delicious, no townsman ever grazed livestock or planted crops on the other side of the wall. For hundreds or even thousands of years, the townspeople have instead placed guards at both gates of the gap in the stone wall, trying their best to forget about the world outside the wall.

Even today, there are still two townspeople standing on both sides of the gate day and night, changing shifts every eight hours.They carried heavy wooden sticks and stood on the left and right at the exit on the side of Stonewall Town. The main purpose of the guards was to keep the town children from running across the gap into the pasture or beyond.Occasionally they would be called upon to hold back someone wandering alone, or one of the few tourists in town, from passing through the gate. They can stop children from running outside just by showing a stick; they will be more creative when encountering wanderers or tourists.They resorted to force only as a last resort when the words of fresh pasture or a dangerous runaway bull were not enough.

People who know what to look for when they come to the wall are very rare, and sometimes the guards will let these people pass.This kind of person has a kind of look, as long as you look at it, you can't mistake it. As far as the townspeople know, there has been no smuggling along either side of the stone walls throughout the twentieth century, and they pride themselves on it. The guard relaxes every nine years on May 1st, when a market is held in the pasture. ★ The following events have been known for many years.At that time, Queen Victoria was in charge of the British monarchy, but she was not yet the black widow of Windsor Castle.Her cheeks were like apples, and her footsteps were like a spring breeze, and the Prime Minister, Sir Melbourne, often used it to gently scold her for frivolity.Although she fell in love, she remained unmarried until then.

Charles.Mr. Dickens' novel "Orphan Tears" is still being serialized; Mr. Draper has just taken the first picture of the moon, freezing its pale face to ice-cold paper; and Mr. Morse has just announced the use of metal cables to carry messages Methods. If you mentioned magic or leprechauns to any of them, they would smile contemptuously at you, except perhaps Mr. Dickens, who was young and beardless, but would probably look at you sadly. People came to the British Isles that spring.They came alone, or in pairs, and landed from Dover, London, and Liverpool.Men and women, some pale as paper, some black as volcanic rock, some the color of cinnamon, speaking many different languages.They arrived in April, by steam train, horse, wagon or ox cart, and many on foot.

At that time, Denstein.Song En is eighteen years old, and he is not a romantic and adventurous person. He has nut-colored light brown hair and light brown eyes with light brown freckles.He was of medium height, always speaking slowly, and a relaxed smile lit his face from within.He was daydreaming on his father's pasture, dreaming of leaving Stonewall and all the unexpected magic of leaving, of going to London or Edinburgh or Dublin or some other great town without always having to depend on the direction of the wind.Denstein worked on his father's farm and was practically penniless, save for a cottage his parents gave him in a distant field.

Tourists had come to Stonewall for the fair that April, and Denstein hated the people.The Seventh Magpie, Mr. Pommus's hotel, which usually had many vacancies, had been filled as early as a week before.Now those strangers are living on farms and houses, paying for their lodging with exotic coins, herbs and spices, and even gems. The market day is approaching day by day, and the atmosphere of anticipation is getting more and more intense.People are waking up earlier, counting the days, even counting the minutes left.The guards at the Stonewall gates were restless and tense.Some figures took up residence in the bushes at the edge of the meadow.

Among the seventh magpies, Bridget, who is widely recognized as the most beautiful cook of the day,Conoco, Tommy who has been dating for a year.A dispute arose between Forrester and the tall man with the dark eyes.The man with a squeaky little monkey.He can only speak a little English, but he always smiles meaningfully when Bridget passes by. The regular at the hotel bar approached the tourists awkwardly and said: Only once every nine years. They say it used to be held every year in midsummer. Ask Mr. Bomius, and he will know. Mr. Beaumius was a tall, olive-skinned man with black curls hanging close to his head and green eyes.The girls of the town, when they were women, would watch Mr. Beaumius, but he never returned the glances.It is said that he was also a tourist a long time ago, and stayed after coming to the town.He makes good wine, and the locals agree.

tommyForrester was arguing loudly in a bar with a dark-eyed man whose name seemed to be Aru.cowry. For heaven's sake, stop them!Tell them to stop!Bridget yelled, "They're going out for a fight because of me!"She shook her head gracefully so that her perfect golden curls glistened in the light of the oil lamp. Although some townspeople and tourists went out to watch the battle, no one came forward to persuade the fight. tommyForrester took off his shirt, clenched his fists and raised them in front of him.The stranger smiled, spit on the grass, grabbed Tommy's right hand, and Tommy immediately flew into the air and fell to the ground on his chin.Tommy staggered to his feet and ran to the stranger, and just caught sight of his face when he was knocked down by a gust of wind and fell face-to-face again, his face slammed into the mud.Alu.Bey sat on top of him giggling and muttering something in Arabic. The fight ended so quickly and so easily. Alu.Bei Cong Tommy.Forrester got up and strutted towards Bridget.Conoco, bowed deeply to her, and grinned slightly. Bridget ignored him and ran straight to Tommy.What happened, what did he do to you, my sweetheart?she asked, wiping the mud off Tommy's face with her apron and calling him various nicknames. Alu.Bay and onlookers returned to the hotel bar.He graciously bought Tommy a bottle of Monsieur Pommus's Chablis when Tommy came in.Neither of them had any way of determining who was naked and who lost. That night, Denstein.Song En is not in the seventh magpie.He was a practical lad, and for the last six months he had been courting Daisy.Hesta, a young woman who was about as practical as he was.On clear evenings they would walk around Stonewall, discussing theories of crop rotation, the weather, and other such plausible topics.Daisy's mother and sister must be accompanied by six steps behind the two, and they gaze at each other affectionately from time to time. At the door of Hestad's house, Denstein would pause for a moment before bowing his farewell. Daisy.Hesta would come into the house, take off her hat, and say: I wish Mr. Sohn would make up his mind to propose to me.I'm sure papa won't object. Indeed, I am sure he will not object.Daisy's mother said she said so every fine night.She took off her hat and gloves, and led the two girls into the drawing room.In the drawing room sat a very tall gentleman with a long black goatee sorting his parcels.Daisy joined her mother and sister in curtseying to the gentleman (who spoke only a little English and had only arrived in town a few days ago).The temporary tenant stood up and bowed to them, then turned back to his bag of wood chips and continued sorting, arranging, polishing. ★ Spring in England was unpredictable and changeable, and April that year was bitterly cold. Tourists came from the south through the narrow paths through the woods and filled the town's vacant houses, some still sleeping in cowsheds or barns.Some tourists pitch colorful tents, while others arrive in wagons drawn by tall gray horses or shaggy ponies. The forest is full of lilies of the valley. On the morning of April 29th, Denstein.Song En got the lottery and wanted to stand guard at the gate of the stone wall, and Tommy.Forrester was on duty together.They stood on either side of the stone wall gate and waited. Denstein has had a number of shifts, but so far his job has consisted of simply standing there, occasionally booing kids away. Today he feels extra important.He carried a stick, and whenever a stranger who came into town approached the Stonewall gate, he or Tommy would say: Tomorrow, tomorrow.Well-meaning gentlemen, it is not yet possible to pass today. The strangers would stand back a little and stare at the unremarkable meadow beyond the gate, the unremarkable trees that dotted the meadow, and the rather dim and indistinct forest behind the meadow.Some people would try to talk to Denstein or Tommy, but the two young men were so proud of their guards that they declined to talk, willingly holding their heads up and their lips pursed, looking important. Lunch time, Daisy.Hesta brought them both a small pot of hash browns, Bridget.ConocoPhillips each brought a large glass of flavored ale to the two of them. At dusk, two other strong young men in the town each took a lantern to change shifts.Tommy and Denstein went into the hotel, and Mr. Pommus gave them each a glass of his best ale for their watch shift; his best ale was really very good.There was a buzz of excitement in the hotel, too many people to believe.For Denstein, a small town resident who has no sense of distance outside the woodland surrounding Stonewall Town, it seems that tourists from all countries in the world are crowded here.He gazed at the tall gentleman in the black top hat at the next table, who had come all the way from London; Dressed in a white robe, she dined at the same table as him. Denstein knew it was impolite to stare, and besides, as a Stonewall townsman, he had the absolute right to think himself superior to all the wild shaggy men.But he also smelled unfamiliar spices in the air, and heard men and women talking in a hundred different languages, and he stared at them calmly. ①Annotation: The original text is furriner, which sounds the same as foreigner, that is, a foreigner. The man in the top hat noticed that Denstein was looking at him intently and gestured for the young man to come over.Do you like molasses pudding?He asked abruptly with a guiding attitude.Elder Muta was called away, this pudding could not be eaten by one person. Denstein nodded.Molasses pudding was steaming sweetly on the plate. Well, said his new friend, do it yourself.He handed Denstein the clean china bowl and spoon.Denstein needed no further encouragement to munch on the pudding. The youth bowl and the pudding plate were almost empty, and the tall gentleman in the black top hat said to Denstein that the hotel seemed to be out of rooms, and every room in town seemed to be rented out. Yeah?Not surprised, Denstein said. That's it, said the gentleman in the top hat, I was wondering, would you know where there is room? Denstein shrugged.There are no rooms now.I remember when I was nine years old, my mother and my father drove me to sleep on the roof of the cowshed for a week, renting my room to a lady from the East, and her family and servants.She gave me a kite as a thank you gift, and I used to fly it on the pasture until one day the string of the kite broke and it floated into the sky. where do you live nowasked the gentleman in the top hat. I have a cottage on the corner of my father's property.Denstein replied that it used to belong to our shepherd, who died when the last crop was harvested two years ago.My parents gave me the cabin. take me.said the gentleman in the top hat.It never occurred to Denstein to refuse his request. The spring moon hung brightly high and the night was very clear.They walked down from the town, through the forest, and through the whole of the Sonns' farm (the gentleman in the top hat was frightened by a cow sleeping in the pasture because it snorted heavily in her sleep), and finally arrived at Denstein's cottage. The house has a room and a fireplace.The stranger nodded.This is good enough, he said, come on, Denstein.Song En, I will rent this place for the next three days. What are you going to give me as rent? A gold pound piece, a silver sixpence piece, a penny piece, and a shiny new quarterpenny piece.said the man. In those days a farmer might expect fifteen pounds a year in a good year, and a pound for two nights was already above-market rent.Still, Denstein hesitated.If you're here for the fair, he told the tall man, you're supposed to buy and sell some wonderful things. The tall man nodded.So, you want miracles, don't you?He looked around Denstein's one-room cottage again.Then it began to rain, with a soft ticking sound on the thatched roof. Oh, well, said the tall man impatiently, a miracle.Tomorrow you will get what your heart desires.Here it is your money.With a light gesture, he took the money out of Denstein's ear.Denstein scratched the iron nails at the door of the cottage to check the composition of the gold, bowed deeply to the gentleman, and turned away into the rain.He tied the gold coins tightly in his handkerchief. Denstein walked into the bullpen in light rain.He climbed into the hay loft and soon fell asleep. At night, he was aware of thunder and lightning, but did not really wake up.Then in the wee hours of the morning, someone fumbled on his foot and woke him up. I'm sorry, said a voice, I mean, please forgive me. who is that?who is thereasked Denstein. It's me, said the voice, I've come to the fair.I was sleeping in a hollow tree, but the lightning struck the top of the tree and cracked it like an eggshell, and the tree snapped like a twig.The rain was running up my neck and almost wet my luggage.The contents had to be kept as dry as sand, so I carefully protected the luggage along the road like an airtight cage, even though it was still wet like a water?Denstein guessed. And wetter still, the voice in the dark went on, so I thought, would you mind if I stay under your roof for a night, I don't take up too much space, I don't bother you or anything. Just don't step on me.Denstein sighed. At this moment, a flash of lightning illuminated the cowshed, and in the light of the lightning, Denstein caught a glimpse of a little furry thing in the corner, wearing a huge floppy hat.Darkness followed. I hope I didn't trouble you.the voice said again.Now that Denstein thinks about it, it does sound a bit hairy. No.Denstein said.He is very tired. That's fine, said the furry voice again, because I don't want to trouble you. Please, Denstein begged, let me sleep.please. There was a sniffling sound from the corner, followed by a soft snore. Denstein rolled over on the hay.The person, whoever it was or what it was, scratched itself lightly and snored again. Listening to the sound of rain on the roof of the cowshed, Denstein thought of Daisy.Hesta.Thinking of them walking together, followed by a tall man in a top hat six steps later, and a small creature covered in fur that Denstein couldn't see what the creature looked like.They're going to see together what his heart desires ★ The sun was shining brightly on Denstein's face, and the bullpen was empty.He washed his face and went to the farmhouse. He puts on his best jacket and best shirt, and his best trousers.He scraped the mud off his boots with a jackknife.He went into the farm kitchen, kissed his mother on the cheek, and picked up the farm bread himself, with a large dollop of freshly made butter. Then, with the money tied in his Sunday linen handkerchief, he walked to Stonewall and said good morning to the guards at Stonewall. Through the gate in the stone wall, he saw colorful tents set up, booths set up, colorful flags and people going back and forth. We won't let anyone through until noon.said the guard. Denstein shrugged and walked into the bar.He sat thinking over his savings (he had already saved a shiny half-crown, and a silver sixpence pierced through a leather strap and hung around his neck as a lucky charm) and the money in his handkerchief. What do coins buy.At this moment he almost forgot that his lodger had promised him something else the night before.When the clock struck twelve, Denstein strode up to the stone wall, nervous as if about to break the greatest taboo.He passed the stone wall and found the gentleman in the black silk top hat beside him, and nodded at him. ah.my landlord.How are you today, sir? very good.Denstein said. Walk with me, said the tall man, let's go together. They walked across the pasture to the tents. have you been here beforethe tall man asked. Nine years ago, I was there at the last market.I was just a kid then.Denstein admitted. Well, said his tenant, remember to be polite, and no gifts.Remember you are the guest.Now, I'm going to give you the last rent I owe.Because I swore it.My gift will last a long, long time.You and your first child, and your first child's first child is a gift that will last as long as I live. What would that be, sir? What your heart desires, remember.The gentleman in the top hat says, what your heart desires. Denstein bowed, and they continued on toward the market. Eyes, eyes!New for old!A little woman was standing in front of a table full of bottles and jars, and the bottles were full of all kinds of eyes. Various musical instruments from a hundred countries! Whistle a penny!Humming twopence!Choral hymns Three pennies! Try your luck!stand up!Answer a simple riddle and win an anemone! Always fragrant lavender!Lily of the valley cloth! Bottled dreams, a shilling a bottle! Night coat!Morning coat!A coat for evening! Lucky Sword!Power wand!Eternity Ring!Amnesty Card!Come here, come here!Come here! Salves and ointments, aphrodisiacs and cure-alls! Denstein stopped in front of a stall full of crystal decorations, inspecting the exquisite miniature animals while considering whether to help Daisy.Hesta bought one.He picked up the crystal kitten, about the size of a thumb, and the kitten winked at him shrewdly.Denstein was startled, and dropped the kitten. Just like a real cat, the kitten adjusted its posture in mid-air, landed on all fours, walked lightly to the corner of the stall, and licked itself. Denstein continued walking, through the crowded and busy market. There was a noisy and bustling crowd everywhere; all the strangers who had come to Stonewall a few weeks ago were there, and so were many of the townspeople.Mr. Pommus set up a tent, and sold wine and food to the townspeople of Stonewall.The townspeople are often attracted by the food sold on the other side of the stone wall, but their grandparents uphold the teachings of their ancestors and warn them that it is extremely inappropriate to eat elf food, elf fruit, or drink elf water and sip elf wine. Every nine years, the residents outside the stone wall and on the small hills set up small stalls and hold a day-and-night elf market on the pasture.In this day and night market held every nine years, different ethnic groups trade. They sell wonders and oddities and inconceivables, and many undreamed of, unimagined (Denstein wonders, who needs eggshells with storms in them?) He fiddled with the money wrapped in his handkerchief, I want to buy something inexpensive to please Daisy. Outside the noise of the market, he faintly heard the soft and harmonious music bell, and couldn't help walking towards the bell. He passed a stall where five tall men danced to sad accordion music played by a sad-looking black bear; he passed another stall where bald men in brightly colored kimonos smashed china plates and threw After entering the burning bowl, colorful smoke immediately burst out, attracting many people passing by the booth to watch. The crisp clanging sound became more and more obvious. He found the stall with the beautiful music, but found that there was no one there.The shelves were full of flowers: lilies of the valley, foxgloves, Scottish bellflowers, daffodils, but also violets, lilies, and little crimson dog roses, pure white snowdrops, blue forget-me-nots, and many, many more. A flower that Denstein can't name.Each flower was made of glass or crystal, so lifelike that Denstein could not tell whether it was carved or woven with glass threads.The flowers also chime like distant glass bells. Hello?cried Denstein. Good morning and welcome to the market.The owner of the stall climbed out of the painted caravan parked behind the stall with difficulty, and said to Denstein.A big smile spread across her slightly dark face, revealing her white teeth.Denstein recognized her at once from the other side of the stone wall by her eyes and ears protruding from the black curls.She has deep violet-blue eyes, and her ears are slightly curved like cat ears and are covered with fine dark fur.She is quite pretty. Denstein picks up a flower from a stand.So cute.He said.It was a violet, and he kept ringing as he held it, making a sound like wet fingers rubbing lightly on the rim of a wine glass.How much? She shrugged, pleasing to the eye. No one negotiates the price from the start.She told Denstein it could be a lot more than what you were going to pay and then you'd walk away, which wasn't good for either of us.Let's discuss this product in a more comprehensive way. Denstein hesitated for a moment.At this time, a gentleman wearing a black silk top hat happened to pass by.Why, whispered Denstein's lodger, I have paid you in full, and paid you all the rent. Denstein shook his head, as if to confirm that this was not a dream, and turned to face the young lady.So, where do these flowers come from?he asks. The woman smiled knowingly.On the other side of Mount Calamon, a garden full of glass flowers.The journey there was dangerous, and the journey back was even more difficult. What are these flowers for?asked Denstein. The uses of these flowers are mainly decorative and recreational.They bring joy; you can give them to your loved ones as tokens of your love; they also have a pleasant sound and catch the most pleasing light.She held up a lily-of-the-valley to the sunlight, and Denstein had to notice that the color reflected by the sunlight through the amethyst was no shade or shade comparable to her eyes. I see.Denstein said. They can also be used in certain spells and spells.Sir, are you a magician? Denstein shook his head.He noticed that there was something different about the young lady. oh.Still, they're delightful stuff.She said, and smiled again. What sets the woman apart is a thin silver chain tied around her wrist, cuffed down to her ankles and hidden behind her in the painted caravan. this chain?It binds me to the stall.This stall belongs to some witch, and I'm her personal slave.She caught me many years ago; when I was playing by the waterfall on my father's land, high in the hills she turned into a pretty little frog and hopped ahead of me, always one step away from catching me, tempting I walked out of my father's territory step by step without knowing it.Then she resumed her original form and slammed me into the canvas bag. Are you then her slave forever? not forever.The elf girl laughed again, and the day the moon lost her daughter, if there were exactly two Mondays in a week, I would be free.I will wait patiently for that day to come.Before that, I did what I was told and dreamed.Sir, would you like to buy me flowers now? My name is Denstein. It is also a respectable name.She laughed teasingly. Where are your pincers, Mr. Denstein?Would you clamp Satan's nose? ② ②Annotation: Saint Denstein was the Archbishop of Canterbury in England in the early 10th century AD. It is said that Satan once transformed into a beautiful woman to tempt him. He clamped Satan’s nose with long iron tongs used by a blacksmith. Satan couldn’t stand the pain, so he had to Revert to original form and beg for mercy. What about your name?asked Denstein.His face was flushed crimson with embarrassment. I have long since lost my name.I am a slave and my original name has been taken from me.I hear hello!or whores!or idiots!or any other kind of swearing. Denstein noticed how the silky gown she wore clung to her body; aware of her graceful curves, and the gaze of those violet eyes.He swallowed. Denstein reached into his pocket and pulled out his handkerchief.He couldn't keep looking at this woman anymore.He dumped the money in his handkerchief on the counter.How much is this, you take it.He picked a pure white snowdrop from the table. Our stall does not charge money.The woman pushed the coins on the counter back to him. No charge?What do you charge?He was very anxious, and his only task was to buy a flower for Daisy, Daisy.Hesta took the flowers and left at once, because, to tell the truth, this young woman made him very uncomfortable. I can take the color of your hair, she said, or your memory from before you were three years old.I would also like to take away the hearing in your left ear, not all of it, just so that you can no longer enjoy music or enjoy the sound of the river gurgling or the wind rustling. Denstein shook his head. Or, you give me a kiss.Just kiss me on the cheek. Then I am willing to pay you from the bottom of my heart!Denstein leaned against the counter while talking, and in the clear jingle of crystal flowers, he pressed a kiss innocently on her soft cheek.He smelled the inconceivably charming aroma of the woman, lingering in front of him, occupying his entire chest and all his thoughts. Here, take it.The woman gave him the snowdrops.He stretched out his hands to take it, and suddenly felt that his hands were big and clumsy, completely inferior to the delicate and perfect little hands of the elf girl.Denstein.Song En, when the moon goes down tonight, I want you to come back here.When it came, it cooed like a osprey.can you do it He nodded and staggered away.He didn't need to ask how the woman knew what his last name was; when he kissed her, she had already taken it along with other things.For example, his heart. The snowdrops rang softly in his hand. ★ Denstein met Daisy in Mr. Pommus' tent.Hesta, who was sitting with her family and Denstein's parents, was eating delicious brown sausages and drinking stout.What's up, Denstein.Song En?Daisy said, what happened? I bought you a present.whispered Denstein, pushing Daisy hard at the tinkling snowdrops, the flowers glistening in the afternoon sun.Daisy took the flowers from him in bewilderment, her fingers still stained with sausage grease.Denstein leaned forward impulsively, in front of her parents and sister, in the presence of Bridget.In front of Conoco, Mr. Pomius and everyone, they kissed her fair cheek. Noise and shouting were all right; but Mr. Hestad, who had not lived fifty-seven years in vain on the frontiers of Fairyland and the Land Beyond the Wall, said aloud: Hush!Quiet!You look into his eyes.Can't you see that the poor boy is lost, dazed and confused?I bet he was cursed.Hello!tommyForrest, come here!Take Denstein.Take the young man Song En back to the town and watch him carefully.Let him sleep if he wants to sleep, talk to him if he wants to talk Tommy accompanied Denstein out of the market and back to Stonewall. Well, now, said Daisy her mother, stroking her hair, he's only slightly bewitched, it's no big deal.There is no need to be so excited.As he spoke, he pulled out a lace handkerchief from between his plump breasts, and gently wiped his daughter's cheeks that were suddenly covered with tears. Daisy looked up, grabbed her mother's handkerchief and blew her nose.Mrs. Hestad noticed with perplexity that there seemed to be a smile in Daisy's tears. But, mother, Denstein kissed me.Daisy.Hesta said.She inserted crystal snowdrops carefully in the tip of her hat, and the flowers sparkled and sang in harmony. Mr. Hestad and Denstein's father searched for a while before they found the stand selling crystal flowers.But it was an old woman who tended the stall, accompanied by a very beautiful exotic bird, which was fastened to a perch by a thin silver chain.They couldn't make sense to the old woman because they tried to ask her what happened to Denstein, but her conversations were all about some ungrateful fool giving away her most valuable collection and saying it was a sad In the old days, the servants are really bad and so on. ★ In a deserted town (who stays in town when there's an elf fair?), Denstein was brought in with the seventh magpie and seated on a high-backed wooden chair.He rested his forehead with one hand, staring at it not knowing where to look, and from time to time he sighed heavily and quickly like the wind. Hey, listen, man, pull yourself together!That's right, smile, huh?Would you like something to eat?Or something to drink?don't want?I said, you look really weird, Denstein, man Tommy.Forrest tried talking to him, but got no response.Tommy began to think of going back to the fair himself, and now (he rubbed his chin, which ached from touching it), lovely Bridget must be guarded by some tall and imposing gentleman in exotic dress, with a Squeaky little monkey.He told himself that his friend would be safe in this empty hotel, and walked across the town to the gate in the stone wall. Tommy returned to the market and found that the place was really lively.This wild place is filled with puppet shows, jugglers and dancing animals, as well as horse auctions and all manner of items to buy or trade. At dusk, another person appeared on the stage.There will always be peddlers yelling the news, just like the headlines in today's newspapers, such as Lord Stormcast suffering from a mysterious disease! , Volcanic Villa moved to Dune Castle! , the only heir to the Landlord of Garamont, becomes a grunting Wiggin pig!As long as you spend a copper coin, you can see the content of the news. As the sun went down, the huge spring moon showed its face, hanging high in the sky early.With a chilly breeze blowing, the hawkers retreated to their tents, quietly inviting market visitors to share in all sorts of incredible things that they could only pay to see. When the moon sinks to the horizon, Denstein.Song En walked quietly along the cobblestone streets of Stone Wall Town.He passed many pleasure-seeking tourists or foreigners, but hardly anyone noticed him as he walked. Denstein slipped into the gate of the stone wall (it was very thick), just as his father had been curious; he really wanted to know what it would be like to walk on it. After crossing the gate and entering the pasture, this night, for the first time in his life, Denstein wanted to continue across the pasture, cross the stream, and disappear into the distant woods.He thought about these things with embarrassment, like someone who entertains unexpected guests.When he arrived at his destination, he tried to push those thoughts away, like apologizing to a guest, muttering that he had to leave for another appointment he had made earlier. The moon is setting. Denstein raised his hand to his mouth and let out a cooing sound.No response.The sky was dark, perhaps blue, or purple, but not black; more stars twinkled than one would expect. He cooed again. 那個女子在他耳邊厲聲說道，一點也不像縱紋腹小鶚。有可能是雪鶚，甚至是倉鶚。如果我用小樹枝把耳朵塞起來，也許我會想像成鷹鶚。總之不是縱紋腹小鶚。 登斯坦聳了聳肩，有點傻氣地笑了笑。精靈女孩在他身邊坐下。她讓登斯坦陶醉，登斯坦呼吸著她的氣味，透過毛孔感受她的存在。她靠得好近。 你認為你被下了咒嗎，可愛的登斯坦？ I have no idea. 她笑了，笑聲聽起來就像清澈泉水，自岩間汩汩冒出。 小帥哥，小帥哥。你沒有被下咒。她躺回草地凝視著天空。你的星星，她問，都像什麼樣子？登斯坦在她身邊涼涼的草地上躺下，目不轉睛地看著夜空。那些星星還真有點奇怪，也許是更多彩，閃爍得就像小寶石一樣；也許星座和小星星的數目有點不尋常，這些星星有些奇怪又有些美妙。However 他們背靠背躺著，朝上凝視天空。 你這一生想要什麼？精靈少女問道。 我不知道，他承認，妳吧，我想。 我要我的自由。she says. 登斯坦伸手往下摸到那條從她手腕連到腳踝的銀鎖鍊，另一端隱沒在草叢裡。他使勁扯了扯，銀鍊比看起來要堅固。 這是在銀中混入貓的鼻息、魚鱗、月光而製成的。她對登斯坦說，除非咒語破解，否則是不會斷的。 oh.他躺回草地上。 我不應該那麼在意，反正是一條很長很長的鍊子；但知道有這條鍊子就是讓我心煩，而且我想念我父親的領土。再說這個女巫也不是什麼好主人 然後她陷入沉默。登斯坦靠向她，伸出手摸她的臉，感覺有什麼濕熱的東西濺在手上。 What's wrong?you are crying. She said nothing.登斯坦把她拉向自己，用大手徒勞無功地擦她的臉；接著試探著靠近她啜泣的臉，不確定在這樣的情況下，自己做得是否正確。登斯坦把嘴緊緊貼上她灼熱的雙唇，吻了她。 她遲疑了一會兒，才張開嘴迎合，將舌頭滑進登斯坦嘴裡；而他在這片奇異的星空下，無可救藥地徹底迷失了。 他親吻過鎮上的女孩，但從未更進一步。 登斯坦的手透過她的絲袍，感受到她小巧的乳房，碰觸到乳頭上硬硬的小突起。女孩像溺水一樣，緊緊抱住他，笨手笨腳地摸索他的襯衫和褲子。 她真是嬌小極了，登斯坦好怕自己會把她弄痛或是弄壞了。還好沒事。女孩在他身下扭動，喘著息舉起雙腿，用手引導他。 她在登斯坦的臉和胸膛印上無數個炙熱的吻；跨坐在他身上，一面喘氣一面笑著，汗濕滑溜得像一條小魚。而登斯坦在狂喜中拱起身奮力推進，腦袋裡滿滿都是她、只有她。登斯坦如果知道她的名字，一定會大聲喊出來。 結束時，他想要抽出，但女孩把他留在自己身體裡，雙腿纏繞著他，擠得那麼用力，他覺得他們兩個在宇宙中占據了同一個位置。在被強力捲入的那一刻，他們彷彿是一體的給予，同時接受。此時群星漸漸隱入黎明前的夜空。 他們並肩躺在一起。 精靈女子整理絲袍，再一次端端正正包覆起來。登斯坦帶著幾許惆悵拉上褲子，緊緊握住她的小手。 他皮膚上的汗水已乾，感到寒冷而寂寞。 黎明的灰色天空逐漸亮了起來，現在登斯坦看得見她了。周圍的動物醒來開始活動：馬兒跺腳；鳥兒醒來，用歌聲迎接黎明；住在市集牧草地各處帳篷裡的人，開始起身活動。哪，你該走了。她柔聲說道，有些惋惜地用捲雲般的紫羅蘭眼睛看著他；接著溫柔吻了他，親在嘴上。她的嘴唇嘗起來像壓碎的桑椹。她站起來，走回小攤後面的吉普賽篷車。 既暈眩又孤單的登斯坦走過市集，覺得比實際的十八歲老了好多好多。 他回到牛棚，脫下靴子，一覺睡到太陽高掛在天空才醒來。 第二天市集結束了，儘管登斯坦沒再回到市集，但外地人離開了鎮上，石牆鎮的生活恢復正常。也許跟大部分的鄉鎮生活比起來，稍微不是那麼正常（特別是當風吹錯方向的時候），但是，整體而言，所有的事情都夠正常了。 ★ 市集過後兩個星期，湯米．佛瑞斯特向布麗琪．康菲求婚，她接受了。又過了一個星期，海斯塔太太在某天早上去拜訪宋恩太太，兩人在起居室裡喝茶。 佛瑞斯特家的男孩真幸運啊。海斯塔太太說。 沒錯，宋恩太太說道，再來一塊小圓餅吧，親愛的。我猜想妳們家黛西會當伴娘。 放心，她會的，海斯塔太太說，只要她活得夠久。 宋恩太太擡起頭，心生驚恐。What's wrong?她沒生病吧？海斯塔太太。可別跟我說她病了。 她什麼也不吃，一直消瘦下去，宋恩太太。她只是偶爾喝一點點水。 Oh my God! 海斯塔太太繼續說：昨晚我終於找出原因了。是妳家的登斯坦。 登斯坦？他不會宋恩太太舉起一隻手來遮住嘴。 喔，不是的。海斯塔太太連忙搖頭，噘起了嘴。事情不是那樣。登斯坦忽視了她，好多天沒見面了。她已經認定登斯坦不再關心她，只能拿著他送的雪花蓮掉淚。 宋恩太太從罐子裡多舀了些茶葉放進茶壺，添上熱水。老實說，她承認，登斯坦他爸爸跟我，都有點擔心登斯坦。他最近簡直是失魂落魄。只有這幾個字能形容了。他也不把工作做完。他爸爸說說這小夥子需要好好定下心來。要是能定下來，他爸爸說要把整個衛斯渥德牧場都給他呢。 海斯塔太太緩緩點了點頭。海斯塔當然也想要我們家黛西開心。他一定會把家裡的綿羊分一大群給她。大家都知道海斯塔家的綿羊是這附近最好的，皮毛長軟，又聰明（對綿羊來說），犄角捲曲，四蹄輕快靈敏。海斯塔太太和宋恩太太啜飲手中的茶。It was settled. 登斯坦．宋恩和黛西．海斯塔在六月舉行了婚禮。要說新郎似乎有點兒意亂情迷，噢，那是因為新娘就像以往所有的準新娘一樣，可愛又容光煥發。 在他們身後，兩人的父親討論著為新人在衛斯渥德牧場上興建農舍的計畫。兩人的母親都同意黛西看起來美極了，只可惜登斯坦不讓黛西把他四月底在市集上買給她的雪花蓮佩戴在結婚禮服上。 在深紅、鵝黃、粉紅、白色的玫瑰搭蕾的花雨中，他們的故事即將就此打住。 或者說，快了。 農舍還沒蓋好之前，他倆住在登斯坦的小屋裡。兩人確實是夠快樂的了，而飼養綿羊、趕羊、剪羊毛、養育小羊等日復一日的工作，漸漸消除了登斯坦恍惚的眼神。 第一個秋天來臨，接著是冬天。就在二月底，母羊生產的季節，天氣非常寒冷。冰冷的毛毛細雨不停從鉛灰色天空落下，刺骨寒風咆哮著吹過荒野和蕭條的森林。傍晚六點，太陽已經下山，天色很黑，一個柳條籃推進了石牆的空隙。在閘口兩邊的守衛一開始並未注意到這個籃子。畢竟他們站錯面，而當時又濕又暗，他們只顧忙著跺腳取暖，憂傷而寂寞地凝視著鎮上燈光。 然後，是一陣激烈尖銳的啼哭。 這時他們才往下一瞧，看到腳邊的籃子。籃子裡有一捆東西，裹在油膩的絲巾和羊毛毯之間。這捆東西的頂端伸出一張號哭的通紅小臉，小眼睛皺成一堆，小嘴張口發出聲音，餓了。 寶寶的毛毯上有枚銀色別針，別著一小片羊皮紙，紙上用優雅而略帶古風的筆跡寫著這幾個字： 崔斯坦．宋恩