The next morning came late, the sky was low, and the clouds were thick. The wind blew all night, and Androl felt that he had not rested well. The damp cold penetrated the cloth and sucked the heat out of the fire. Such weather sometimes falls on Glorious Island in winter, but rarely, which is another reason why it is better to live there than to live here.

The boys had been buried under the thicker and thicker blankets, and as he dug them out to drink water and eat breakfast, they were shaking from head to toe until he got them back under the covers. He could almost hear their knees and teeth together.

He found several new bear footprints in the dirt, just a few steps away from his head. He knew what was going to happen and shuddered involuntarily. But the bear not only did not wake him, but also did not disturb any food in the car. He didn't know what to think, though it did make him believe the soldier's warning.

He had spent the morning getting his cart in order and getting ready for the trip, and he suspected that Pepper was about to leave if he was ready or not. He also used a bandit's shield to make himself a soldier's refuge, basically turning the shield into a wide hat and tying a strap under the armpits in case it rained. A ball of cloth was sandwiched between his head and the wooden shield, making it more comfortable. It may seem ridiculous, but it's better than being drenched in the rain.

The boys didn't want to get out under the blanket and were still playing with their slingshots, using them to shovel piles of dirt and pebbles together. Androx had to laugh. It must be painful for them to have a new toy that they can't use properly.

The rain he feared came near noon; Dark clouds make it difficult to tell. At first it was a drizzle without wind. They kept shaking their ears and shaking off the raindrops, looking annoyed, and Androx decided that, at some point, he really had to hood them. But not today. Today, the equipment was placed on a trolley under an oiled canvas tarp, and Andlos was leaving the camp.

After a morning of deliberation, Andlox decided it would be best to get in the carriage and head north to the next town. He can keep the rain out of the children or on the wagon, but not both, unless the kids are in the wagon. If the kids are going to sit in the car, the car might as well move. Moreover, the gods only know how long the rain will last. What if it rains for a month and then it snows again? He needed to get them into a suitable home as soon as possible.

If he can't, they'll calm down, and that's - he'll continue digging shallow graves and continue unhindered. This could make his journey faster, but it was also a waste after he had already put so much effort into their recovery. It's better to make sure they're not dead.

Because, to hell with the gods, he knew that he liked them more and more. Maybe he just felt lonely, had been away from the army for too long, and had no family and friends. Hopefully, he can get the kids away before they suffer.

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Okles frowned and put on his soldier's uniform, which the kits found very interesting. They said he looked like a mushroom. Then, together, the three of them built a nest under the bench, with pillows and travel blankets, so that the baby goats could lie comfortably there, while Andruck dragged a wheelbarrow weighing several hundred pounds through the mud. Lovely.

The canvas was tied, everything was ready, he grabbed the lever, cursed the gods and weather elves sincerely, and began to pull the car onto the road.

The rain soon began to fall heavily, as did Androx's rain-soaked robes. He watched the steam come out of his arm, wondering why his teeth were fighting. He felt that the damp cloth was sucking the heat out of his body, and that it would be better without it, so he took off his clothes, put on only the loincloth, and continued walking. It wasn't much warmer, but it did lighten weight, which helped.

The dirt road soon turned to mud, and Androl found that if he stuck to the side of the road, he would be able to gain a foothold in the grass, and the carriage would not get stuck in ruts as often. Of course, in the north they will not have a good stone road. Of course not. There wasn't a single road he had to pull across. It's enough to make a person think hard about why someone would trade here.

For the rest of the day, the rain came and went, but it was the wind that really made the journey painful. It didn't take long for his hands and feet to be as uneven as raisins, and every joint of his body was frozen and stiff. Anchors wished aloud that throughout the afternoon, probably a hundred times, he had an oiled cloak to keep out the wind and rain.

He also hoped that Athanasius was alive and could teach him some new rude words. The skill of the man in cursing the gods is more sophisticated than the skill of the poet in praising the gods, which is exactly what is needed in this day and age.

He has no concept of time, and he rests when he wants to. The first time he stopped, he could almost hear the rumbling of the packet's belly in the rain, so he gave the packet of cookies and water to soak before eating so they had something to do. Androx later discovered that the two of them appeared to have eaten dozens of them alone.

Still, maybe it's a good idea to let them do nothing but rest and eat. He could hear them chatting from time to time, but couldn't make out what they were saying, so he ignored them. Frankly, he began to worry that Pepper hadn't been built yet. Andlox believes that if this all does not happen soon, the most likely scenario is that the boy dies suddenly and horribly, as the food he cannot pass breaks down. Hopefully, the bread he eats will squeeze out the rest.

Due to the dark clouds, the night came earlier than he expected, but later than he had hoped. When he finally realized that he had been allowed to stop, the effects of the day's cold rain had been fully felt, and he felt a deep weariness. He dried himself as much as he could, but it wasn't too good, because it was still raining, and he climbed in with the children. Although every time his cold, wet skin rubbed against them, they writhed and giggled. Pepper coughs out of breath when he accidentally puts his hand in the center of the back of the gear, but they come up with a passable corpse arrangement so that Pepper doesn't freeze to death. The makeshift beds weren't very comfortable, small and cramped, but at least they were warm.

＊ ＊ ＊

The next morning, Anders was in so much pain that he could barely move. After pulling the car for a long time, his legs and arms were cramping, and his back was stiff. But it had no choice but to get up from the bed and move, because the car wouldn't pull on its own.

At least it didn't rain at the time. The clouds were still thick and low, signaling rain later in the day, but now Angelus had time to make a fire and have a hot breakfast, and was eager to do it. His fingers and toes were numb again in the damp cold of the morning, but he found enough dry fire to light it, while the baby goats cautiously climbed out of the trees in search of water.

Anders found them parked in a small valley dotted with sparse bushes, nestled between hills, and the pleasant view somewhat improved his mood. As morning came, the rain evaporated into wisps of mist that hung low on the ground, winding and undulating over the hills, drifting gently to and fro. The rain-soaked green and yellow leaves appear brighter and more vibrant than usual, and dozens of birds call to each other in the humid autumn air, complaining in unison about the rain at night.

The boys, dressed only in loincloths, trembled to the fire. Androx could almost hear their knees rattling. He asked, "Don't you want to get dressed?" It's cold outside. I'm sure you've noticed. ”

Pepper replied, "I don't want to get mud on my cloak."

And the flower said, "There is no robe either." Besides, you don't, so we thought it might be warmer here. ”

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Okles grinned.

"Nope. It's as cold outside as the egg bags in Raphael's paintings, even by the fire. I'll get you some blankets. Sit next to the fire. Here you go. Androx said. The children huddled together and tried to stay as close to the small fire as possible so as not to fall in. Once they are thrown on the blankets, they are unlikely to freeze to death. A

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Okles also put one on his shoulder, wondering why he hadn't done it sooner.

"Oh, Pepper, by the way, have you dug up the soil?" Or is it just water? Andlocks asked, trying not to pretend to be worried.

"As long as it's water, Master Androx. I think it's been a long time since I've made soil, but I haven't thought about it yet. Why? The dark-haired parrot replied.

"There is no reason. Just wondering. Please let me know if you want. He considered letting the boy try it and see what he could squeeze out, but thought it might be worse. If Pepper exerts unnatural pressure on internal organs that are not ready to move, it may cause them to crack open internally. Pepper was in a good mood, and An Jie didn't want to ruin his mood by worrying. He could only wait, worrying about himself.

At breakfast, A

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Okles cooked some of the softer vegetables on the cart and divided some dried meat for them to eat slowly. No cookies - the cookies are running out, and Andakix doesn't want to make big pies. While eating, Androx examined Pepper and his own bandages to see if the weather had festered their wounds. But no, they heal well. He tied them up with new cloth, which he hoped would be the last.

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Okles was afraid to go back to the cart before he had to, so he spent some time doing practice. The familiar movements warmed his blood and made his limbs less stiff, which made him glad he had taken his time. The team watched him do the standard movements: stretching, jumping, slashing. Stretch, squat, punch. Stretches, push-ups, kicks. Over and over again until he finished.

When Androx starts packing up the cart again, the boys ask if they can sit on the bench. Anchors felt that as long as it didn't rain, it wasn't a big deal. They climbed up and sat down, looking proud. A

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Okles threw a couple of travel blankets at them and gave them a couple of pillows to lean on. Hua sat up straight, and Pepper leaned over the armrest. He may soon fall asleep again.

Anchors grabbed the railing and was about to pull up the cart again, when he stopped, turned around and said, "Listen, kids." I don't know how far the next town will be, so I'll tell you now. If anyone asks, say that you are slaves and belong to A of Dikaia

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okles。 If someone wants to steal you, scream as loud as you can. Do you understand? If necessary, bite them. ”

Both boys nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, Master Androx."

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Okles nodded. As he began to turn around, Hana calmly asked, "Are we slaves?" It doesn't matter if we're together, but I'm just wondering. ”

Andrew thought for a moment. The children looked everywhere, but they didn't look at him, and their faces were a little pale. He said, "Let me say so. Both of you are exposed, Flor is found by his family, and Pepper is found by the man who captured the man. That is, they leave you to die. So if somebody decides to save you, you are slaves, if they say you are. But I have important things to do, and I can't leave you behind and drag you halfway around the world. So my plan was that I was going to send you to the first safe, warm place I could find, where I knew you would be fed and cared for. If it means that you are to be slaves to your gentle masters, then you are slaves. If it means that you are a free servant of a wealthy family, then you are a free servant. If it means that you are the adopted son of a good farmer, then you are the adopted son. Whatever it is, now, you are my property and I will take good care of you. I may tell some people that you are my sons, or I may tell others that you are my slaves. You just have to do as I say. Got it?" A

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Okles explained.

The boys nodded.

He asked them, "If someone asks who you are, what do you say?"

"We are the A of Dikaia

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Slaves of okles, "Peppe."

Say. There was a hint of excitement in his voice, but Angelus couldn't tell what it was.

"That's right. If someone asks, you can tell them your name and tell them that I am a veteran. Tell them that I am jealous of my property, which, by the way, is true. You can tell them what I look like because I'm tall and these scars are easy to find. But that's all. Don't talk to them and don't stalk them. The people who want you to follow want to steal you. So if we get separated, get rid of those who want you to follow and keep looking for me. I'm taller than almost anyone, so I'm easy to find, or I'll find you," he said, ending his instructions with a stern look.

"Yes, Master Andlox." They replied in unison.

"Good boy. Okay, is there anything else to do before we get started?" A

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Okles asked.

Pepper hesitated and said, "My stomach feels weird."

A wave of panic swept over his body, and Andlos frowned worriedly. He said, "How can it be strange?"

"It feels like ...... I do not know. "It's just...... I think I'll have to make the soil," the boy replied in surprise.

Andlocks wanted him to mean "unusual" by weird, not "I'm going to die screaming". He dug out the camping shovel from under the tarp and handed it to me.

Then he asked, "Do you need help?" Or can you do it yourself?"

"I think I can do it myself." Pepper said, crawling out from under the blanket and jumping out of the car. His legs were still weak, and he fell face down in the damp dirt when he landed, but he got up again and rushed into the bushes. Thanks Dio

thodo

Path- Thankfully the ground wasn't too muddy, otherwise he would have had to find a way to give him a shower before letting him get into the blanket. Let's say he survived.

Hana climbed down more carefully, explaining that since he had thought of this, he was going too. A

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Okles waited nervously and impatiently until the boys returned. Seeing that Pepper walked straighter and his mood was a little better, he breathed a sigh of relief and dispelled the worries he hadn't fully experienced before. "Is the soil a liquid?" He asked.

The boy didn't answer immediately, but after thinking about it, he decided: "No, it's normal."

"It is. I saw it," Flower added, looking a little awkward.

Android smiled sincerely, "Glad to hear that. That means you don't die. At least not that. "The boys don't seem sure if they should feel reassured about it.

Both boys shuddered, their teeth chattering. At this time, Angelus stuffed them into a blanket and placed them on a bench. Then he wrapped his cloak tightly around his shoulders, hoping that it wouldn't rain again soon. His shoulder hurt from wearing his military uniform all day yesterday, so today he decided not to wear it. Luckily, he doesn't. He grabbed the railing in front of the carriage, and they set off.

The morning passed quietly, Androl kept a steady pace, and the little penguins calmly enjoyed the scenery. He couldn't push the heavy wagon very quickly, especially uphill, but at least the rain didn't fall again. The wind was small, and thanks to the elves who had blown the wind so far to the north, the clouds seemed to want to stay there for a while.

Around noon, or the best time he guessed was noon, he dug himself out some almonds, fresh chickpeas, and figs, gave each boy a soft fig to eat with a biscuit, and instructed them to eat slowly and chew carefully. They were so pleased with the taste that Anchors doubted that he could see them in the light in the dark. When Androcles resumed pulling the cart, the two boys lay down and soon fell asleep, and so on for several hours.

Later in the afternoon, the children munched on cookies and chatted like chirping birds, laughing heartily at each other's jokes. A

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Okles found himself enjoying listening to them, even if they were just kids. It wasn't raining and he could understand what they were saying, maybe he was just in a better mood.

It occurred to him that their conversation was not much different from that of the young men in the army. They talk about the actions of gods and heroes, as well as comical exaggerations of past exploits. Pepper insists that he once jumped up and kicked off a melon on his father's head, and Flower wasn't sure if he believed it. Flower himself has no exploits to brag about, but he talks about things he's seen other Black Panther members do, like, apparently, he knocked a tree to the ground. Pepper sounds touched and lists a list of interesting things it might come across, as well as gesturing to make both boys feel a spasm. Even A

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Okles also chuckled from time to time. Not because the boys' jokes are funny, but because the boys think the jokes are funny.

His mind often returned, though, to Della. He imagined that he had finally caught her, and carefully considered what to say. But other than that, he wondered if she would like the boys or if she would sell them along with other things and disappear. He could almost imagine her sitting in the middle of the little box, sitting in the carriage, with a smile on her face, the wind blowing through her unkempt hair, her green eyes sparkling like jewels. Braided flowers into the boys' hair like champions and hit them when their jokes became rude. The cubs were thin and small, and there was a large empty space on the bench that belonged to her. It's hard not to think about it. This moistened his eyes, and he was glad that no one around him noticed.

Towards the end of the day, they set up camp on top of a small overpass that led to the next valley. It's a cultivated field, but you can't see the village. Tomorrow is another long day.

At first, the children who returned to the ground were excited, but soon had to come to terms with the fact that the day had worn them out. He feeds them and helps them rebuild their nests and sleep under tarpaulins. Then he spread a travel blanket in front of the carriage, betting that it wouldn't rain any more. He almost fell asleep the moment he climbed in.