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visit to their slopes。
Today maybe they would go south to Kosovska Mitrovica。 There was a market there； wasn't there； and a museum？ And they could drive down the valley of the Ibar； following the road beside the river； where the hills rose wild and shining on either side。 The hills； yes； today he decided they would see the hills。
It was eight…fifteen。
By nine the main bodies of Popolac and Podujevo were substantially assembled。 In their allotted districts the limbs of both cities were ready and waiting to join their expectant torsos。
Vaslav Jelovsek capped his gloved hands over his eyes and surveyed the sky。 The cloud…base had risen in the last hour； no doubt of it； and there were breaks in the clouds to the west； even； on occasion； a few glimpses of the sun。 It wouldn't be a perfect day for the contest perhaps； but certainly adequate。
Mick and Judd breakfasted late on hemendeks…roughly translated as ham and eggs…and several cups of good black coffee。 It was brightening up； even in Novi Pazar； and their ambitions were set high。 Kosovska Mitrovica by lunchtime； and maybe a visit to the hill…castle of Zvecan in the afternoon。
About nine…thirty they motored out of Novi Pazar and took the Srbovac road south to the Ibar valley。 Not a good road； but the bumps and pot…holes couldn't spoil the new day。
The road was empty； except for the occasional pedestrian； and in place of the maize and corn fields they'd passed on the previous day the road was flanked by undulating hills； whose sides were thickly and darkly forested。 Apart from a few birds； they saw no wildlife。 Even their infrequent travelling panions petered out altogether after a few miles； and the occasional farmhouse they drove by appeared locked and shuttered up。 Black pigs ran unattended in the yard； with no child to feed them。 Washing snapped and billowed on a sagging line； with no washerwoman in sight。
At first this solitary journey through the hills was refreshing in its lack of human contact； but as the morning drew on； an uneasiness grew on them。
〃Shouldn't we have seen a signpost to Mitrovica； Mick？〃 He peered at the map。
〃Maybe。 。 。〃
〃…we've taken the wrong road。〃
〃If there'd been a sign； I'd have seen it。 I think we should try and get off this road； bear south a bit more…meet the valley closer to Mitrovica than we'd planned。〃
〃How do we get off this bloody road？〃
〃There've been a couple of turnings。 。 。〃
〃Dirt…tracks。〃
〃Well it's either that or going on the way we are。〃 Judd pursed his lips。
〃Cigarette？〃 he asked。
〃Finished them miles back。〃 In front of them； the hills formed an impenetrable line。 There was no sign of life ahead； no frail wisp of chimney smoke； no sound of voice or vehicle。
〃All right；〃 said Judd； 〃we take the next turning。 Anything's better than this。〃 They drove on。 The road was deteriorating rapidly； the pot…holes being craters； the hummocks feeling like bodies beneath the wheels。
Then： 〃There！〃 A turning： a palpable turning。 Not a major road； certainly。 In fact barely the dirt…track Judd had described the other roads as being； but it was an escape from the endless perspective of the road they were trapped on。
〃This is being a bloody safari；〃 said Judd as the VW began to bump and grind its way along the doleful little track。
〃Where's your sense of adventure？〃
〃I forgot to pack it。〃 They were beginning to climb now； as the track wound its way up into the hills。 The forest closed over them； blotting out the sky； so a shifting patchwork of light and shadow scooted over the bonnet as they drove。 There was birdsong suddenly； vacuous and optimistic； and a smell of new pine and undug earth。 A fox crossed the track； up ahead； and watched a long moment as the car grumbled up towards it。 Then； with the leisurely stride of a fearless prince； it sauntered away into the trees。
Wherever they were going； Mick thought； this was better than the road they'd left。 Soon maybe they'd stop； and walk a while； to find a promontory from which they could see the valley； even Novi Pazar； nestled behind them。
The two men were still an hour's drive from Popolac when the head of the contingent at last marched out of the Town Square and took up its position with the main body。
This last exit left the city pletely deserted。 Not even the sick or the old were neglected on this day； no…one was to be denied the spectacle and the triumph of the contest。 Every single citizen； however young or infirm； the blind； the crippled； babes in arms； pregnant women…all made their way up from their proud city to the stamping ground。 It was the law that they should attend： but it needed no enforcing。 No citizen of either city would have missed the chance to see that sight…to experience the thrill of that contest。
The confrontation had to be total； city against city。 This was the way it had always been。
So the cities went up into the hills。 By noon they were gathered； the citizens of Popolac and Podujevo； in the secret well of the hills； hidden from civilized eyes； to do ancient and ceremonial battle。
Tens of thousands of hearts beat faster。 Tens of thousands of bodies stretched and strained and sweated as the twin cities took their positions。 The shadows of the bodies darkened tracts of land the size of small towns； the weight of their feet trampled the grass to a green milk； their movement killed animals； crushed bushes and threw down trees。 The earth literally reverberated with their passage； the hills echoing with the booming din of their steps。
In the towering body of Podujevo； a few technical hitches were being apparent。 A slight flaw in the knitting of the left flank had resulted in a weakness there： and there were consequent problems in the swivelling mechanism of the hips。 It was stiffer than it should be； and the movements were not smooth。 As a result there was considerable strain being put upon that region of the city。 It was being dealt with bravely； after all； the contest was intended to press the contestants to their limits。 But breaking point was closer than anyone would have dared to admit。 The citizens were not as resilient as they had been in previous contests。 A bad decade for crops had produced bodies less well…nourished； spines less supple； wills less resolute。 The badly knitted flank might not have caused an accident in itself； but further weakened by the frailty of the petitors it set a scene for death on an unprecedented scale。
They stopped the car。
〃Hear that？〃 Mick shook his head。 His hearing hadn't been good since he was an adolescent。 Too many rock shows had blown his eardrums to hell。
Judd got out of the car。
The birds were quieter now。 The noise he'd heard as they drove came again。 It wasn't simply a noise： it was almost a motion in the earth； a roar that seemed seated in the substance of the hills。
Thunder； was it？
No； too rhythmical。 It came again； through the soles of the feet…Boom。
Mick heard it this time。 He leaned out of the car window。
〃It's up ahead somewhere。 I hear it now。〃 Judd nodded。
Boom。
The earth…thunder sounded again。 〃What the hell is it？〃 said Mick。 〃Whatever it is； I want to see it…； Judd got back into the Volkswagen； smiling。
〃Sounds almost like guns；〃 he said； starting the car。 〃Big guns。〃
Through his Russian…made binoculars Vaslav Jelovsek watched the starting…official raise his pistol。 He saw the feather of white smoke rise from the barrel； and a second later heard the sound of the shot across the valley。
The contest had begun。
He looked up at twin towers of Popolac and Podujevo。 Heads in the clouds…well almost。 They practically stretched to touch the sky。 It was an awesome sight； a breath…stopping； sleep…stabbing sight。 Two cities swaying and writhing and preparing to take their first steps towards each other in this ritual battle。
Of the two； Podujevo seemed the less stable。 There was a slight hesitation as the city raised its left leg to begin its march。 Nothing serious； just a little difficulty in co…ordinating hip and thigh muscles。 A couple of steps and the city would find its rhythm； a couple mo