AT LAST THE PURPLE MOUNTAIN Awe-struck, finally we came into view of the majestic PURPLE MOUNTAIN. Would we be welcome after THE FALL OF THE GOLDEN CASTLE? http://fineartamerica.com/featured/fall-of-the-golden-castle-anneke-hut.html Could they already know that THE GOLDEN CASTLE had fallen? Our trembling from that narrow escape becomes another fear! What would our welcome here be like? They could hardly know of that destruction yet, since we traveled at our top speed and no one passed us. But there is no other way through this range of mountains except through their impossible maze of many tunnels in the Purple Mountain. And proper manners and political protocol virtually forbid us not to spend at least one night with them, let alone the customary week of rest, hunting and games, and feasting. Any conduct at all suggesting rudeness, definitely would arouse their suspicions. Dare we be the first to tell them? And how explain without arousing their old lust to find, or probably to create, a seemingly just reason to ignore, and thus destroy forever, the already fragile treaty? Their powerful forces will be out of these mighty mountains as fast as they can saddle up, galloping across the rolling countryside and into the unsuspecting city of Brussels. If ever troops were disciplined through fear and generous rewards, these Purple Mountain warriors are the tops. Probably to save essential time their leaders will have prevented most of them from the usual reward of maiden rollicking in favor of gathering up all the chocolate available, and maybe kidnap only those who know the chocolate recipes. Then, pausing only to gather up the Mannequin Pis as a trophy, off they will gallop again through the mud back up to their fortress here in the renowned Purple Mountain at the summit in these mountains. Probably each of the men will have been provided a more than ample amount of the chocolate for the trip home. That would make up for having to skip a few savory plates of Brussels mussels in garlic and butter, as well as the dark-haired Belgium damsels! We had better take a chance and hideout here for the night, and then approach them early in the morning right after breakfast time when everybody, their side as well as ours, is fresh and hopefully more patient and more flexible!