THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN

　　Therewasonceamerchantwhohadonlyonechild,ason,thatwasveryyoung,andbarelyabletorunalone.Hehadtworichlyladenshipsthenmakingavoyageupontheseas,inwhichhehadembarkedallhiswealth,inthehopeofmakinggreatgains,whenthenewscamethatbothwerelost.Thusfrombeingarichmanhebecameallatoncesoverypoorthatnothingwaslefttohimbutonesmallplotofland;andthereheoftenwentinaneveningtotakehiswalk,andeasehismindofalittleofhistrouble.

　　Oneday,ashewasroamingalongina

　　ownstudy,thinkingwithnogreatcomfortonwhathehadbeenandwhathenowwas,andwasliketobe,allonasuddentherestoodbeforehimalittle,rough-looking,blackdwarf.'Prithee,friend,whysosorrowful?'saidhetothemerchant;'whatisityoutakesodeeplytoheart?''IfyouwoulddomeanygoodIwouldwillinglytellyou,'saidthemerchant.'WhoknowsbutImay?'saidthelittleman:'tellmewhatailsyou,andperhapsyouwillfindImaybeofsomeuse.'Thenthemerchanttoldhimhowallhiswealthwasgonetothebottomofthesea,andhowhehadnothingleftbutthatlittleplotofland.'Oh,troublenotyourselfaboutthat,'saidthedwarf;'onlyundertaketo

　　ingmehere,twelveyearshence,whatevermeetsyoufirstonyourgoinghome,andIwillgiveyouasmuchasyouplease.'Themerchantthoughtthiswasnogreatthingtoask;thatitwouldmostlikelybehisdogorhiscat,orsomethingofthatsort,butforgothislittleboyHeinel;soheagreedtothebargain,andsignedandsealedthebondtodowhatwasaskedofhim.

　　Butashedrewnearhome,hislittleboywassogladtoseehimthathecreptbehindhim,andlaidfastholdofhislegs,andlookedupinhisfaceandlaughed.Thenthefatherstarted,tremblingwithfearandhorror,andsawwhatitwasthathehadboundhimselftodo;butasnogoldwascome,hemadehimselfeasybythinkingthatitwasonlyajokethatthedwarfwasplayinghim,andthat,atanyrate,whenthemoneycame,heshouldseethebearer,andwouldnottakeitin.

　　Aboutamonthafterwardshewentupstairsintoalumber-roomtolookforsomeoldiron,thathemightsellitandraisealittlemoney;andthere,insteadofhisiron,hesawalargepileofgoldlyingonthefloor.Atthesightofthishewasoverjoyed,andforgettingallabouthisson,wentintotradeagain,andbecamearichermerchantthanbefore.

　　MeantimelittleHeinelgrewup,andastheendofthetwelveyearsdrewnearthemerchantbegantocalltomindhisbond,andbecameverysadandthoughtful;sothatcareandsorrowwerewrittenuponhisface.Theboyonedayaskedwhatwasthematter,buthisfatherwouldnottellforsometime;atlast,however,hesaidthathehad,withoutknowingit,soldhimforgoldtoalittle,ugly-looking,blackdwarf,andthatthetwelveyearswerecomingroundwhenhemustkeephisword.ThenHeinelsaid,'Father,giveyourselfverylittletroubleaboutthat;Ishallbetoomuchforthelittleman.'

　　Whenthetimecame,thefatherandsonwentouttogethertotheplaceagreedupon:andthesondrewacircleontheground,andsethimselfandhisfatherinthemiddleofit.Thelittleblackdwarfsooncame,andwalkedroundandroundaboutthecircle,butcouldnotfindanywaytogetintoit,andheeithercouldnot,ordarednot,jumpoverit.Atlasttheboysaidtohim.'Haveyouanythingtosaytous,myfriend,orwhatdoyouwant?'NowHeinelhadfoundafriendinagoodfairy,thatwasfondofhim,andhadtoldhimwhattodo;forthisfairyknewwhatgoodluckwasinstoreforhim.'Haveyou

　　oughtmewhatyousaidyouwould?'saidthedwarftothemerchant.Theoldmanheldhistongue,butHeinelsaidagain,'Whatdoyouwanthere?'Thedwarfsaid,'Icometotalkwithyourfather,notwithyou.''Youhavecheatedandtakeninmyfather,'saidtheson;'praygivehimuphisbondatonce.''Fairandsoftly,'saidthelittleoldman;'rightisright;Ihavepaidmymoney,andyourfatherhashadit,andspentit;sobesogoodastoletmehavewhatIpaiditfor.''Youmusthavemyconsenttothatfirst,'saidHeinel,'sopleasetostepinhere,andletustalkitover.'Theoldmangrinned,andshowedhisteeth,asifheshouldhavebeenverygladtogetintothecircleifhecould.Thenatlast,afteralongtalk,theycametoterms.Heinelagreedthathisfathermustgivehimup,andthatsofarthedwarfshouldhavehisway:but,ontheotherhand,thefairyhadtoldHeinelwhatfortunewasinstoreforhim,ifhefollowedhisowncourse;andhedidnotchoosetobegivenuptohishump-backedfriend,whoseemedsoanxiousforhiscompany.

　　So,tomakeasortofdrawnbattleofthematter,itwassettledthatHeinelshouldbeputintoanopenboat,thatlayonthesea-shorehardby;thatthefathershouldpushhimoffwithhisownhand,andthatheshouldthusbesetadrift,andlefttothebadorgoodluckofwindandweather.Thenhetookleaveofhisfather,andsethimselfintheboat,butbeforeitgotfaroffawavestruckit,anditfellwithonesidelowinthewater,sothemerchantthoughtthatpoorHeinelwaslost,andwenthomeverysorrowful,whilethedwarfwenthisway,thinkingthatatanyratehehadhadhisrevenge.

　　Theboat,however,didnotsink,forthegoodfairytookcareofherfriend,andsoonraisedtheboatupagain,anditwentsafelyon.Theyoungmansatsafewithin,tillatlengthitranashoreuponanunknownland.Ashejumpedupontheshorehesawbeforehimabeautifulcastlebutemptyanddrearywithin,foritwasenchanted.'Here,'saidhetohimself,'mustIfindtheprizethegoodfairytoldmeof.'Soheoncemoresearchedthewholepalacethrough,tillatlasthefoundawhitesnake,lyingcoileduponacushioninoneofthechambers.

　　Nowthewhitesnakewasanenchantedprincess;andshewasverygladtoseehim,andsaid,'Areyouatlastcometosetmefree?TwelvelongyearshaveIwaitedhereforthefairyto

　　ingyouhitherasshepromised,foryoualonecansaveme.Thisnighttwelvemenwillcome:theirfaceswillbeblack,andtheywillbedressedinchainarmour.Theywillaskwhatyoudohere,butgivenoanswer;andletthemdowhattheywill—beat,whip,pinch,prick,ortormentyou—bearall;onlyspeaknotaword,andattwelveo'clocktheymustgoaway.Thesecondnighttwelveotherswillcome:andthethirdnighttwenty-four,whowillevencutoffyourhead;butatthetwelfthhourofthatnighttheirpowerisgone,andIshallbefree,andwillcomeand

　　ingyoutheWaterofLife,andwillwashyouwithit,and

　　ingyoubacktolifeandhealth.'Andallcametopassasshehadsaid;Heinelboreall,andspokenotaword;andthethirdnighttheprincesscame,andfellonhisneckandkissedhim.Joyandgladnessburstforththroughoutthecastle,theweddingwascelewＷＷ.ΧìǔΜЬ.ＣǒΜ

　　ated,andhewascrownedkingoftheGoldenMountain.

　　Theylivedtogetherveryhappily,andthequeenhadason.Andthuseightyearshadpassedovertheirheads,whenthekingthoughtofhisfather;andhebegantolongtoseehimonceagain.Butthequeenwasagainsthisgoing,andsaid,'Iknowwellthatmisfortuneswillcomeuponusifyougo.'However,hegavehernoresttillsheagreed.Athisgoingawayshegavehimawishing-ring,andsaid,'Takethisring,andputitonyourfinger;whateveryouwishitwill

　　ingyou;onlypromisenevertomakeuseofitto

　　ingmehencetoyourfather'shouse.'Thenhesaidhewoulddowhatsheasked,andputtheringonhisfinger,andwishedhimselfnearthetownwherehisfatherlived.

　　Heinelfoundhimselfatthegatesinamoment;buttheguardswouldnotlethimgoin,becausehewassostrangelyclad.Sohewentuptoaneighbouringhill,whereashepherddwelt,andborrowedhisoldfrock,andthuspassedunknownintothetown.Whenhecametohisfather'shouse,hesaidhewashisson;butthemerchantwouldnotbelievehim,andsaidhehadhadbutoneson,hispoorHeinel,whoheknewwaslongsincedead:andashewasonlydressedlikeapoorshepherd,hewouldnotevengivehimanythingtoeat.Theking,however,stillvowedthathewashisson,andsaid,'IstherenomarkbywhichyouwouldknowmeifIamreallyyourson?''Yes,'saidhismother,'ourHeinelhadamarklikearaspberryonhisrightarm.'Thenheshowedthemthemark,andtheyknewthatwhathehadsaidwastrue.

　　HenexttoldthemhowhewaskingoftheGoldenMountain,andwasmarriedtoaprincess,andhadasonsevenyearsold.Butthemerchantsaid,'thatcanneverbetrue;hemustbeafinekingtrulywhotravelsaboutinashepherd'sfrock!'Atthisthesonwasvexed;andforgettinghisword,turnedhisring,andwishedforhisqueenandson.Inaninstanttheystoodbeforehim;butthequeenwept,andsaidhehad

　　okenhisword,andbadluckwouldfollow.Hedidallhecouldtosootheher,andsheatlastseemedtobeappeased;butshewasnotsointruth,andwasonlythinkinghowsheshouldpunishhim.

　　Onedayhetookhertowalkwithhimoutofthetown,andshowedherthespotwheretheboatwassetadriftuponthewidewaters.Thenhesathimselfdown,andsaid,'Iamverymuchtired;sitbyme,Iwillrestmyheadinyourlap,andsleepawhile.'Assoonashehadfallenasleep,however,shedrewtheringfromhisfinger,andcreptsoftlyaway,andwishedherselfandhersonathomeintheirkingdom.Andwhenheawokehefoundhimselfalone,andsawthattheringwasgonefromhisfinger.'Icannevergobacktomyfather'shouse,'saidhe;'theywouldsayIamasorcerer:Iwilljourneyforthintotheworld,tillIcomeagaintomykingdom.'

　　Sosayinghesetoutandtravelledtillhecametoahill,wherethreegiantsweresharingtheirfather'sgoods;andastheysawhimpasstheycriedoutandsaid,'Littlemenhavesharpwits;heshallpartthegoodsbetweenus.'Nowtherewasaswordthatcutoffanenemy'sheadwheneverthewearergavethewords,'Headsoff!';acloakthatmadetheownerinvisible,orgavehimanyformhepleased;andapairofbootsthatcarriedthewearerwhereverhewished.Heinelsaidtheymustfirstlethimtrythesewonderfulthings,thenhemightknowhowtosetavalueuponthem.Thentheygavehimthecloak,andhewishedhimselfafly,andinamomenthewasafly.'Thecloakisverwell,'saidhe:'nowgivemethesword.''No,'saidthey;'notunlessyouundertakenottosay,"Headsoff!"forifyoudowearealldeadmen.'Sotheygaveithim,charginghimtotryitonatree.Henextaskedforthebootsalso;andthemomenthehadallthreeinhispower,hewishedhimselfattheGoldenMountain;andtherehewasatonce.Sothegiantswereleftbehindwithnogoodstoshareorquarrelabout.

　　AsHeinelcamenearhiscastleheheardthesoundofmerrymusic;andthepeoplearoundtoldhimthathisqueenwasabouttomarryanotherhusband.Thenhethrewhiscloakaroundhim,andpassedthroughthecastlehall,andplacedhimselfbythesideofthequeen,wherenoonesawhim.Butwhenanythingtoeatwasputuponherplate,hetookitawayandateithimself;andwhenaglassofwinewashandedtoher,hetookitanddrankit;andthus,thoughtheykeptongivinghermeatanddrink,herplateandcupwerealwaysempty.

　　Uponthis,fearandremorsecameoverher,andshewentintoherchamberalone,andsatthereweeping;andhefollowedherthere.'Alas!'saidshetoherself,'wasInotoncesetfree?Whythendoesthisenchantmentstillseemtobindme?'

　　'Falseandfickleone!'saidhe.'Oneindeedcamewhosettheefree,andheisnowneartheeagain;buthowhaveyouusedhim?Oughthetohavehadsuchtreatmentfromthee?'Thenhewentoutandsentawaythecompany,andsaidtheweddingwasatanend,forthathewascomebacktothekingdom.Buttheprinces,peers,andgreatmenmockedathim.However,hewouldenterintonoparleywiththem,butonlyaskedthemiftheywouldgoinpeaceornot.Thentheyturneduponhimandtriedtoseizehim;buthedrewhissword.'HeadsOff!'criedhe;andwiththewordthetraitors'headsfellbeforehim,andHeinelwasoncemorekingoftheGoldenMountain. 蓝星，夏国。

　　肿瘤科病房，弥漫着医院独有的消毒水味道。病房是单人间，设施俱全，温馨舒适。

　

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　可对于孑然一身的路遥来讲，却是无人问津的等死之地。

　　他是癌症晚期，靠着意志力撑到现在，但也只是多受几天罪罢了。

　　此刻，路遥躺在病床上，怔怔望着床头柜上的水杯，想喝口水。

　　可他拼尽全力却无法让身体离开病床。剧痛和衰弱，让这原本无比简单的事情成了奢望。

　　这时，一道幸灾乐祸的声音响起：“表哥~你真是狼狈呢。连喝口水都得指望别人施舍。”

　　一位英俊的年轻男子悠闲坐在病床前，翘着二郎腿，眼睛笑成一道缝。

　　“你求求我，我给你喝口水如何？”

　　路遥面无表情，一言不发。自从失去了自理能力，一帮亲戚的嘴脸已经见多了，不差这一个。

　　男子起身，将水杯拿在手里递过来，“表哥别生气，我开玩笑的，你对我这么好，喂你口水还是能办到的。”

　　说完话，他将水杯里的水，缓缓倒在路遥苍白消瘦的脸上。

　　被呛到，路遥无力的咳嗽几声，好在少量的水流过嗓子，让他有了几丝说话的力气：

　

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　“张鑫，为什么？我从未得罪过你。你去星盟国留学，还是我资助的！”

　　张鑫将水杯放下，不紧不慢的说：“谁让你这么古板呢，只是运点感冒药罢了，又不犯法，你非得千方百计的拦着。”

　　路遥脸上闪过一丝了然之色，道：“张鑫你这垃圾，狗改不了吃屎。将感冒药运到国外提炼毒品……咳咳……”

　　张鑫理了下领带，笑道：“你别血口喷人啊，我可是国际知名企业家。这次回国，‘省招商引资局’还打电话欢迎我呢~”

　　路遥叹了口气，现在的自己什么都做不了，索性闭上眼睛不再说话，安静等待死亡的到来。

　　但张鑫却不想让眼前饱受病痛折磨、即将离世的表兄走好。他附身靠近，悄悄说道：琇書蛧

　　“表哥啊~其实呢，我这次回国主要就是见你一面，告诉你一声——你的癌，是我弄出来的~”

　　路遥陡然挣开眼，“你说什么！”

　　张鑫笑眯眯的掏出个铅盒打开，里面是件古怪的三角形饰物，仅有巴掌大小，中间是只眼睛似的图案，一看就很有年代感。

　　“眼熟吧？这是我亲手送你的，货真价实的古董。我在里面掺了点放射性物质，长期接触就会变成你现在这副鬼样子。”

　　路遥马上认出来，这是自己很喜欢的一件古物，天天摆在书桌上，时不时的把玩，没想到却是要人命的东西！

　　他伸出枯枝似的手臂，死死的抓住眼前人的胳膊！“你……”

　　“别激动~表哥，我西装很贵的。”张鑫轻松拿掉路遥的手，小心的捏起铅盒，将放射性饰物塞进他怀里。

　　“我赶飞机，得先走一步。你好好留着这个当做纪念吧，有机会再去你的坟头蹦迪~”

　　说完话，张鑫从容起身离开。临走前，还回头俏皮的眨眨眼。他原本就男生女相，此时的神态动作居然有些娇媚。

　　保镖很有眼力劲，赶紧打开病房门。同时用无线耳麦联络同事，提前发动汽车。

　　~~~~~~~~

　　路遥只能无力的瘫在床上，浑身皆是钻心剜骨般的剧痛，还有无穷悔恨、不甘。

　

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　但很快，剧痛渐渐消失，只剩麻木，路遥隐约听到过世的双亲在喊他。

　　就在路遥的身体越来越飘，即将失去意识时，胸口突然阵阵发烫，将他惊醒。

　　从怀中摸出那三角形饰物，发现这玩意变得滚烫无比，还在缓缓发光！

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