Chapter 61 The locals persuaded them to retreat
“Is this Katisi? It feels like they are in a desert area.”
Two days later, they arrived in Katisi area.
The ground beneath our feet turned to sand, and there was a dried river bed not far away.
The surface of the river bed is cracked, and I don’t know how long it has been dry.
"Brother, I can't find the water."
Luosang looked for water, but after searching around, he couldn't find it.
“If I had known better, I should have fetched water from the stream I passed by at noon yesterday.”
“It’s useless to say this now. Who knows that after coming here, I will completely I can’t see the water source.”
The water was all gone in the morning, and many people felt thirsty under the noon sun.
"I'll go back and get water."
Broly is not thirsty yet, but it's just that he has a stronger tolerance.
“There’s no need to go back to fetch water, Brother Broly, the nearest town to us is just three kilometers ahead.
Probably just climb over the mound over there. See, when we arrive in the town, we can replenish the water supply in the town."
Nahasiu said while holding the map and wiping his sweat with his hand.
"Come on, it's so hot, and you're still sticky all over."
Mailard also urged.
"After arriving in town, I want to take a shower."
"There are some fruits in the car. Which of you wants to eat?"
At this time, Heitong He poked his little head out of the carriage and asked.
"Those who are thirsty, take some to quench their thirst, and the horses pulling the carts should also be fed, so as not to let them collapse from thirst."
Nahaxiu made arrangements, and a group of children continued to move forward until they crossed the mound. , after seeing the town surrounded by some green vegetation, the children's spirits were lifted, and the horses' speed also increased.
The three-kilometer journey went by in a blink of an eye. After paying the town entry fee, Broly and others successfully passed the town gate.
“Excuse me, where is the well in this town?”
Nahasiu stopped an old man and asked him about it.
"They're from outside. What are you doing here?"
The old man looked up at them and asked directly.
"They are from outside. We are here to find relatives."
Nahashu answered this question.
“Come to Katisi to look for relatives. I hope your relatives are not dead yet.”
The old man muttered.
"Grandpa, what did you say?"
Because he was mumbling in the local dialect, no one understood what he was saying.
"Nothing, I mean, there is no free water for you in the town."
The children were surprised at first, but quickly said they understood, because even the rivers in this place are dry. .
"It's okay if you need money."
"Then go to Sunny's Tavern in the east of the city. One liter of water there only costs 7 imperial coins."
"Eh?! ”
“Don’t be too expensive, the owner of the tavern I am related to the Sheriff, so I can get such cheap water. If someone else goes to the central well in the town to get water, a ten-liter bucket of water will cost 100 imperial coins, which is still a bargain.”
"Uh..."
"Where is the place to take a bath?"
Mailard asked.
“Ha, take a bath, it’s such a strange word. I haven’t heard it for a long time. Little girl, people in the Katisi area rarely take a bath. If they are dirty, just rub it with clean sand.
As for bathing, only nobles and rich people can enjoy it. It’s really affordable for us civilians to take a bath with drinkable water.”
The old man shook his head and spoke, and his words reminded Broly of the same situation on Wampa. Being short of water and bathing in sand, he nodded in agreement.
"Grandpa is right. If there is too little water, it can only be used for drinking. Bathing is indeed a waste."
Mailard: "..." Not to mention ten imperial coins per liter. Even if the price of water increased tenfold or a hundredfold, she could still afford to take a bath.
But Broly thought it was a waste, so it was better not to waste it. Mailad turned to complain about the high water price in Katisi.
She rarely came here before. Although she had some knowledge of major cities in the Western Region, she did not include the local prices in some areas.
"Who says it's not the case? It's all the fault of the damn iron mine."
The old man sighed.
"What does water shortage have to do with iron ore?"
Chitong felt that there seemed to be no connection.
“Why am I talking to you so much?”
The old man pursed his dry lips and did not want to say anything more to this group of outsiders.
I was able to help with directions just now because it was a group of children who were asking questions.
"We invite you to drink water, grandpa."
Ma Yin said at this time.
“Then what are you waiting for?”
The old man immediately sat on their carriage and urged: "Go to Sunny's Tavern and drink the water you pay for, and I will tell you about the situation in Katisi."
. . . .
“Tons, tons, tons~”
When I arrived at the tavern, I drank a glass of water generously. The old man named Victor asked for another glass of water before following. Broly and others talked about the connection between iron ore and water shortage in Katisi.
“At the beginning, Katisi was still an oasis, but because of the discovery of rich underground iron ore resources, the nobles here joined forces with some wealthy businessmen to open a large number of iron smelting factories.
The iron smelting factory must use charcoal to smelt iron ore, so a lot of trees in Katisi were cut down, burned into charcoal and sent to the factory.
At that time, everyone thought it was a profitable business, and no one cared how many trees here had been cut down, until the wrath of the God of Katisi Oasis arrived. ”
“The wrath of the God of Katisi Oasis? ”
“The fertile soil turned into sand, the riverbeds that once flowed among the oases gradually dried up, some wells could no longer produce water, and the rainfall became less and less year by year, until it became what it is today. , other than describing it as God’s wrath and punishment, is there any other explanation? ”
A group of children looked at each other, and there seemed to be no other explanation.
"Superstition."
Mailard muttered. She remembered that the God of the Oasis seemed to be created by a religion that had recently emerged here.
Mr. Victor heard it, but was not angry.
"Maybe, in short, the Katisi area has suffered retribution, there is no water."
"Isn't there still water?"
The black pupil was a little puzzled, sipping the water with sour fruit and sugar in small sips.
The sweet and sour feeling makes the fatigue from walking all the way seem to disappear.
"This water has to be bought with money."
"Seven imperial coins for one liter of water, is that much?"
A group of children were a little confused, mainly because they The eldest brother just made more than 27 million a while ago.
Of course, it is also because they eat a lot. Basically, the cost of eating in a prosperous city for a day is close to 10,000 imperial coins. Some of them are used to the high consumption level brought about by such large amounts of food.
“One liter of water is not a lot of seven imperial coins, but the problem is that people cannot live without water every day. Water used to be free of charge, but now water costs money. All kinds of things that need to be made with water are The prices have all been raised.”
Mr. Victor said, giving a vivid example. He ordered a large piece of bread and ate it directly.
“For example, the piece of semolina bread I am eating now, I remember the price three years ago was 35 imperial coins, but now it has risen to 70 imperial coins. This kind of comprehensive price increase, and people’s income The decrease in Qatisi The livelihood of the people here in the area is in ruins..."
Mr. Victor said while eating, gradually introducing the situation of this area that had suddenly declined from prosperity. When he was full and ready to say goodbye, He suddenly stopped.
"If you eat your food, I will give you a warning. If you are here to find your relatives, there are still opportunities outside, and your relatives have not died in this ghost place, then take them and leave quickly, Kati This place in the West has no future and hope.”
As soon as they arrived at the first local town, they were persuaded to leave by a local old man, and a group of children looked at each other.
“I told you, this is not a good place.”
Mailard said again.
Thanks to all the book friends who have tipped and voted for me in the past
(End of this chapter)