Slowly the crashing stopped； the ringing echoes died across the mountains； and the dust settled。 Ashamed of my moment of fear； I collected myself and did a fast count。 Te…Date be praised…and I determined to make real sacrifice once on the other side of these mountains…all of us had survived； as had all our beasts of burden。 The avalanche had been launched a little late。 No one was willing to believe in two accidents from above just minutes apart。 At least we were safe here…the rock walls that gently sloped up on either side of us were scoured clean of boulders。 I was about to ask Janos how we would continue…was there a soldierly plan on moving through passes； as there seemed to be for everything else…when there came a bellow like the mountains themselves were shouting。
That is when we saw the giant。 It is mon for large men to be called giants； and for any tribe whose height exceeds the norm to be called giants。 But this was truly such a being。 Even allowing for the magnification from the mountain air； he was three times the height of a tall Orissan； and at least as broad as a man was tall across his chest。 At first he might have been taken for some enormous ape； since he appeared to be fur…covered。 He was a bit more than a spearcast in front of us。 Weapons came up； and the giant ducked behind a boulder。 He shouted once more； in his unknown tongue； and it might have been a lonely mountain wind。 As we jumped for cover of our own； I found I had recovered my calm。
Coldly； I was considering what had occurred。 〃I wager；〃 I said； 〃he is telling us to go back； to get out of 'his' mountains。〃
Janos nodded agreement and barked orders…of course the military had a procedure for opposed movement through a pass。 〃There will be more than one；〃 he was telling Maeen。 〃Most likely they will be up above； providing cover for their rade。〃
Maeen nodded understanding as Janos laid out the plan。 I said nothing； but listened with half my mind； while considering my first thought； it still made sense。 Janos had detailed three men； including himself； Maeen； and the closest thing we had to a mountaineer…our wall…climbing music teacher； Hebrus…for a special duty； and given the others specific orders as to what to do and when to do it。
〃We are ready； Lord Antero；〃 he said； reverting to military formality as he not infrequently did when problems loomed and our soldiers were within earshot。 〃Will you take charge of the main party？ The three of us will signal when in position and wait for your reply。〃
〃Janos 。。。 you may think me either mad； or suddenly stricken with sentiment；〃 I said。 〃e aside。〃
I drew him away and laid out my very different strategy。 He frowned。 〃I do not like it；〃 he said； after he'd given my scheme a polite few seconds of pretended consideration。 〃If you are attacked 。。。 all that we have acplished so far will be ruined。〃
〃No； it will not be；〃 I said。 〃If the worst occurs； then you are in charge of the expedition and may take any measures necessary。 You will not be questioned later。 I left such orders with Rali； my brothers； and with Ecco。 You not only can speak with my voice； but for the people of Orissa； as well； to as great a degree as I am empowered。〃
Janos looked away。 His voice was thick with emotion。 〃You 。。。 you have honored me； and my family； beyond measure。 But〃… and he turned back… 〃what happens if that overgrown gibbon up there does harm to you？ What an imbecile thing to have happen； when we are this close to our dreams。〃
〃I am not that worried；〃 I said firmly。 〃I have two good reasons。 First； that creature warned us rather than immediately trying to obliterate our party。 I also wonder if that avalanche was in fact intended to strike； or was in fact a first caution？ Second； I refuse to be terrified of someone who is naked。〃
There was a third reason I did not mention。 The annihilation of the nomads still bothered me。 I did not see my mission in life was opening the Far Kingdoms by cutting a wasteland as I went。
〃I still think you are being unwise；〃 Janos said。
〃Very well；〃 I said。 〃I am being unwise。 Now； what I wish you to do is as you had planned； except you are to wait for a signal from me…or for that creature to attack…before striking。 Now it will be even more imperative the three of you not be seen as you move。〃
〃There shall be no problem there；〃 Janos said。 〃But I must warn you； my friend； if you are killed in this absurd bit of benevolence； I shall speak to you very harshly。〃
I grinned； clapped him on the back； and set the plan in motion。 Janos； Maeen； and Hebrus slid to the rear and then disappeared up a narrow ravine； while the rest of us milled about as a distraction。 We waited for nearly an hour。 The giant made no further move； other than shouting once more for us to retreat。 Beyond that； he seemed content to wait until winter arrived to drive us away。 This I found to be another indication that the creature might not be wholly malevolent。 I spent my time sorting through various packs； trying to decide what might work with giants； never having dealt with the breed before。 I also remembered one immutable characteristic all giants seemed to have in every tale my nurses told； and was further cheered。
At last our keenest…eyed man； who we had set to keep watch on a certain scrubby bush； reported it had moved 。。。 slightly。 I stripped off my coat and weapons belt and rolled up my shirtsleeves； shivering in the mountain wind。 I walked forward with the leather case that contained my chosen items。 The giant sprang to alertness and shouted at me。 I did not reply； but walked very slowly onward。 He bristled and wavered； exactly like a house cat not sure whether to flee or not。 The closer I got； the less pretty my friend appeared。 His thick body hair curled around him like a flea…bitten pelt； and from his constant scratching； I am sure he had them roaming on his body。 He was misshapen； with larger hands and feet than even his monster body entitled him to。 His head was equally massive and elongated； with a lantern jaw。 Yellow teeth； fangs rather； hung over his lower lip。 He rose to his full height； brandishing an enormous club。 It looked to have been the trunk of a young tree； its branches ripped off and the bark crudely polished off against rocks。 I came no closer。 The giant was sweating profusely； as if we were back in the desert rather than on these chill heights。 He also stank abominably； so badly I nearly became sick。 I paid no attention to the pleadings of my overly civilized nose … a trader who dictates social customs to his customers is not only foolish but apt to be handed his teeth as a rebuttal。 I set the chest down and opened it； carefully lifting out my articles。 My arms were bare； to show I concealed nothing； and I moved very； very slowly。 The giant seemed to relax。 I sat； legs curled under me； as if I were a mon bazaar merchant； and waited。 The giant did not move。 He was a primitive sort。
I chose one item； set it on a flat rock； and depressed the twisted rod that rose from its center。 Obediently； the mechanical top spun； its colors flashing brightly against the gray rock。 I heard a grunt of interest。 Next I picked up a gold necklace； and wincing a bit as I recollected its worth and that it had been intended to hang from the neck of a princess； draped it over my wrist。 Then I gently cast it toward my about…to…bee trading partner。 He drew back； startled。 The necklace did not attract him。 He crept forward； picked it up； examined it； muttering to himself； then put it on his own wrist。 He looked at it this way and that； then chortled in approval at his new bracelet。 Next he began looking about him。 The fairy tales were correct…giants were no brighter in reality than they had been presented； since it took him long moments to realize there was very little around for trading stock。 After considering rocks and even a bit of lichen growing from one boulder； he decided on an item。 He set his club down where the necklace had been。 Now I was quite sure we were in no especial danger。 I shook my head； no； I did not want the club； and motioned that the necklace was a present。 He came closer。 I saw his nose wrinkle in distaste and nearly smiled； remembering my father told me he once traded wi