Section 8: The Iron Fortress

When a watch of the dark night had passed, a great clamor rose up ahead. The new king smiled upon his mount and rode from the rear of the army to the front. As the commander pushed forward before the troops, he saw a deep, bottomless sea. There was a camel in that caravan that the driver kept at the head of the line. The lead camel was drowning in the water; the commander threw out his hand in haste. He seized it by both thighs and dragged it from the mud; the enemy from Chegel grew afraid. He ordered that the wretched Gorgsar, his heart branded with grief, be brought forward in his chains. He said to him: You foul Gorgsar, now caught in the hands of Esfandiar, didn't you say we would find no water here, that the blaze of the sun would burn us alive? Why did you, vile one, turn earth into water and think you had destroyed the whole army? He answered: The death of your army is light to me, bright as the sun and moon. What do I get from you but chains? What could I want for you but suffering and harm? The commander laughed and opened his eyes wide; he was struck by this Turk, and his anger grew. He told him: You dull witted Gorgsar, once I come out victorious from the battle, I will make you lord of your Fortress of Bronze; may I never do you any wrong. The whole kingdom will be entirely yours, if you speak straight and true with us. I will not harm those who are your children, nor those who are kin of your house. When Gorgsar heard his words, his soul filled with hope from the prince. He was amazed at what he said; he kissed the ground and begged forgiveness. The prince told him: What you said is past; your foolish talk did not dry the plain's water. Where is the crossing of this sea of water? You must show us the right road. He answered: Not even the feather and iron point of an arrow can cross this lake. The mighty hero stood astonished, and at once he loosened Gorgsar's bonds. Gorgsar went into the sea of water, leading a camel by its rein. The commander gave the order to empty the waterskins into the water in the moonlight. The mount grew light in the sea, and the whole army crossed over at once. When the troops and baggage reached dry land, the left wing was drawn up level with the right. The army came near the Fortress of Bronze; only ten leagues of road remained. The chief of the warriors sat down to eat, and the cupbearer took the wine cup in hand. He ordered the mail coat, helmet, and armor brought, along with the sword, before the lion hero. He ordered Gorgsar unbound, and he came before the champion Esfandiar. He told him: Now that you have left your evil behind, goodness and honest speech become you. When I cut Arjasp's head from his body, I will make the soul of Lohrasp shine bright, and Kohram too, who by spilling Farshidvard's blood filled an army's heart with blood and pain, and Andariman as well, who came out victorious and killed thirty-eight of our brave men. I will cut off their heads to avenge my grandfather; from every quarter I will work my alchemy. I will make all their graves the feasting ground of lions, to the desire of Iran's brave warriors. I will pierce all their livers with arrows and carry off their women and children as captives. Though you are grieved by this, we will still call you happy; tell me all that is in your heart, great or small. Gorgsar's heart grew tight at this; his soul and tongue filled with fury. He told him: How long will you speak like this? May the just Creator never bless you. May every evil star fall upon your life; may your waist be cut through by a dagger. May your body be thrown bloodied to the dust, the earth your bed and the dirt your shroud. At his words the famed hero flared up and turned in rage on the bitter hearted Gorgsar. He struck an Indian sword down on his head and split him in two from crown to chest. At once he threw him into the sea; the treacherous man's body became food for the fish. From there he mounted his steed and swiftly girded a hero's belt at his waist. He climbed to the heights and gazed at the fortress; he saw a smooth fortress with iron ramparts. Three leagues in height and forty in width, he saw nowhere in it a trace of water or clay. Along the breadth of its wall, four riders could ride side by side. When Esfandiar saw that marvel, he drew a cold sigh up from his heart. He said: This cannot be taken by force; evil has come upon me by an evil road. Alas for all our toil and fighting; all our effort has ended in regret. He looked out across the desert and saw two Turks moving over that plain. Ahead of them ran four dogs, hounds that run down deer in the chase. Esfandiar came down from the heights, a battle spear in his grip. He asked them: This famed fortress, what kind of place is it, and how many riders are in it? They spoke at length about Arjasp and recited to him the whole record of the fortress. They said: Look at the height and breadth of the fortress; one gate opens toward Iran, another toward China. Within it are thirty thousand swordsmen, proud and famous riders, all like slaves before Arjasp, bowing their heads to his command and will. There is food beyond measure, grain still on the stalk even if not fresh. Even if the king shuts the gate for ten years, there is food enough for all the army needs. If he wants horsemen from China and Machin, a hundred thousand famed riders come to his side. He needs nothing from anyone; there is food and men to bring him aid. When they had spoken, he took the Indian sword in his fist and killed those two simple hearted, arrogant men.