深圳位於我國廣東省南部，又稱為“鵬城“，是中國發展南部的海濱旅遊城市。東至大亞灣，與惠州市相連，西至珠江口伶仃洋與珠海市中山市，南至深圳河與香港相鄰，北至東莞市，惠州市交界。
行程路線：
景點介紹：
大華興寺:
其占地面積12000平方米，位於"觀音座蓮"山，座落在雲海穀、茶溪穀與大俠穀三穀之間，如同一座蓮台被四面山水簇擁。這座寺廟是按照唐宋時期古代書院的風格建造的。其中包括雄偉的大殿、奇幻的佛景、佛國淨土的七寶蓮池、莊嚴奇妙的“四面新玉觀音”珍貴圖像和韋馱聖像等,
大梅沙：
在這裏我們可以吹吹海風，體驗生活體驗經濟刺激的海上快艇，看看學生一望無際的大海。周邊國家還有就是一個可以很美的拍照聖地“聽海圖書館“。太陽廣場是唯一的入口。需要提前預訂。
開放時間：7:00~24:00
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https://www.diginewsroom.com/travel/
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https://www.researchinghub.com/travel-information/
什麼是期貨?期貨交易市場是如何進行運轉的?
在傳統的交易中，我們會一手交錢，一手完成交貨，這叫做企業現貨市場交易。而期貨則是現在簽訂交易合約，在將來進行交易。例如，三郎在江戶時代賣飯團，但最近戰爭的氣氛變得如此緊張，以至於三郎擔心如果戰爭爆發，大米的價格會飆升，他最終會用光錢去買飯團。所以恩惠背著家人決定在下一季的大米收成前，先用現在價格和米商把未來的米買下來!因此恩惠付了訂金給米商，並簽訂了一張『買下未來米』的契約，而這就是期貨的前身遠期交易。
期貨和現貨最大的區別在於 ?
• 保證金
• 保證金即日結算
• 到期後通常不用實物交割
只要記住這三點，就能很好地理解期貨。
保證金：三郎想預定三個月後的米，於是他和米商商定，將三個月後用1000/噸的價格買下一噸米，並且簽訂了一張合約，三郎和米商都沒有交訂金(保證金)。
三個月過去了，米價跌到了600/石。三郎一想，自己企業要是不履行合約，而在學習別人的人那裏買米，可以更加便宜個50，於是，他決定是否違約，在別人那裏買米。結果是藤野賺了50，而米商虧了50。因為，在簽訂合約時沒有交保證金，所以馬大姐只能自己承擔損失。
所以，為了確保違約的事情不發生，大蜜蜜和馬大姐決定在簽訂合約的時候，各拿出總金額一定比例的金錢作為保證金，交給街道商行作公證，無論哪一方違約，保證金都歸另一方所有。
於是，三郎和米商愉快地簽了合約，並各拿出了總金額10%也就是100的保證金，這下總該沒有問題了吧?
三個月過去了，米價跌到了600/石。恩惠琢磨著，自己違約的話，會損失200保證金，但是可以便宜600買到米，總的來說還是賺了200，於是恩惠選擇了違約。因為恩惠在簽訂合約時所交的保證金(200)不足以彌補米商的虧損(400)，所以米商得自己承擔損失。
也就是說，只有保證金制度不能杜絕違約的現象出現。
所以，為了更好地讓雙方履行合約，街道商行想出了第二個辦法，也就是保證金即日結算制度。
現在從頭來過，恩惠和米商簽了合約，三郎和米商各交了200的保證金。
誰想到第一天一過去，米價就跌到了800/石。村長一想，現在恩惠的損失已經和保證金一樣了，要是明天米價再跌，恩惠肯定要違約。於是村長從恩惠的保證金那扣了200，把這200交給了米商，並且，將合約的內容更新為，三個月之後恩惠付給米商800購買1噸的石。
三郎算了算，發現我們村長的做法本身並沒有影響關系到他的利益
但是，這時候大蜜蜜接到商行的通知，自己的保證金已經為0，為了繼續履行合約，就得在明天之前補上新合約金額10%的保證金，也就是900*10%=90元。
當大蜜蜜補充了保證金之後，如果明天大豆價格繼續下跌，街道商行又會重複上面的做法，確保雙方無法通過違約來規避損失。
在兩個月之後，三郎的飯團店由於經營不善而倒閉了，這個時候一噸米的價格仍為1050/噸。大蜜蜜想了想：自己已經不需要這一噸米了，沒有履行合約的理由，但是如果選擇違約，則會損失保證金100元，這可如何是好?
正好，藤野的鄰居一郎開了一家飯店。一郎想預定一個月後的米，村長便撮一郎永和藤野簽訂了一份合約，規定一個月後一郎向藤野支付1050買下1噸米。通過簽訂一張賣出米的期貨合約，抵消了買入米的期貨合約，不用進行實物交割。
你想想，三郎只需要用10%的保證金，就可以做上一筆買賣，這種杠杆操作令收益波動變得很大。 從此，大蜜蜜開始學著在低價買入大豆的期貨，在高價賣出大豆的期貨，變成了一個市場的投機者，從此走上了人生巔峰。
總結：
3郎買大米期貨→建倉
三郎持有米的期貨市場直到智能合約到期→持倉
合同到期時，桑羅支付大米→發貨款
在合約到期前，三郎把這張合約(米)賣給其他人→平倉
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But she bent on him a strange, long gaze.Mother, where’s mother? she brought out, as though in delirium. Mere is my mother? she cried once more, stretching out her trembling hands to us.And suddenly a fearful, unearthly shriek broke from her bosom; her face worked convulsively, and she fell on the floor in a terrible fit.Epilogue
IT was the beginning of June. The day was hot and stifling; it was impossible to remain in town, where all was dust, plaster, scaffolding, burning pavements, and tainted atmosphere . . . But now! Oh joy!-there was the rumble of thunder in the distance; there came a breath of wind driving clouds of town dust before it. A few big raindrops fell on the ground, and then the whole sky seemed to open and torrents of water streamed upon the town. When, half an hour later, the sun came out again I opened my garret window and greedily drew the fresh air . In my exhilaration I felt ready to throw up my writing, my work, and my publisher, and to rush off to my friends at Vassilyevsky Island. But great as the temptation was, I succeeded in mastering myself and fell upon my work again with a sort of fury. At all costs I had to finish it. My publisher had demanded it and would not pay me without. I was expected there, but, on the other hand, by the evening I should be free, absolutely free as the wind, and that evening would make up to me for the last two days and nights, during which I had written three and a half signatures .
And now at last the work was finished. I threw down my pen and got up, with a pain in my chest and my back and a heaviness in my head. I knew that at that moment my nerves were strained to the utmost pitch, and I seemed to hear the last words my old doctor had said to me.No, no health could stand such a strain, because it’s impossible.
So far, however, it had been possible! My head was going round, I could scarcely stand upright, but my heart was filled with joy, infinite joy. My novel was finished and, although I owed my publisher a great deal, he would certainly give me something when he found the prize in his hands — if only fifty roubles, and it was ages since I had had so much as that. Freedom and money! I snatched up my hat in delight, and with my manuscript under my arm I ran at full speed to find our precious Alexandr Petrovitch at home .
I found him, but he was on the point of going out. He, too, had just completed a very profitable stroke of business, though not a literary one, and as he was at last escorting to the door a swarthy-faced Jew with whom he had been sitting for the last two hours in his study, he shook hands with me affably, and in his soft pleasant bass inquired after my health. He was a very kind-hearted man, and, joking apart, I was deeply indebted to him. Was it his fault that he was all his life only a publisher? He quite understood that literature needs Publishers, and understood it very opportunely, all honour and glory to him for it!
With an agreeable smile he heard that the novel was finished and that therefore the next number of his journal was safe as far as its principal item was concerned, and wondered how I could ever end anything and made a very amiable joke on the subject. Then he went to his iron strong-box to get me the fifty roubles he had promised me, and in the meantime held out to me another thick, hostile journal and pointed to a few lines in the critical column, where there were a few words about my last novel.
Hm! . . . It’s not pleasant when one’s wet through and they won’t even get one tea, the old man muttered.Anna Andreyevna at once made a sign to me. He could not endure these mysterious signals; and though at the minute he tried not to look at us, one could see from his face that Anna Andreyevna had just signalled to me about him, and that he was fully aware of it .
I have been to see about my case, Vanya, he began suddenly. It’s a wretched business. Did I tell you? It’s going against me altogether. It appears I’ve no proofs; none of the papers I ought to have baidu seo . My
facts cannot be authenticated it seems. Hm! . . .
He was speaking of his lawsuit with the prince, which was still dragging on, but had taken a very bad turn for Nikolay Sergevitch. I was silent, not knowing what to answer. He looked suspiciously at me.
Well! he brought out suddenly, as though, the quicker the better! They won’t make a scoundrel of me, even if they do decide I must pay. I have my conscience, so let them decide .
Anyway, the case will be over; it will be settled. I shall be ruined . . . I’ll give up everything and go to Siberia.Good heavens! What a place to go to! And why so far? Anna Andreyevna could not resist saying.
And here what are we near? he asked gruffly, as though glad of the objection.Why, near people . . . anyway, began Anna Andreyevna, and she glanced at me in distress.What sort of people? he cried, turning his feverish eyes from me to her and back again. What people? Robbers, slanderers, traitors? There are plenty such everywhere; don’t be uneasy, we shall find them in Siberia too. If you don’t want to come with me you can stay here. I won’t take you against your will.
Nikolay Sergeyitch, my dear! With whom should I stay without you? Why, I’ve no one but you in the whole . . . She faltered, broke off, and turned to me with a look of alarm, as though begging for help and support. The old man was irritated and was ready to take offence at anything; it was impossible to contradict him.Come now, Anna Andreyevna, said I. It’s not half as bad in Siberia as you think. If the worst comes to the worst and you have to sell Ichmenyevka, Nikolay Sergeyitch’s plan is very good in fact. In Siberia you might get a good private job, and then . . .
Well, you’re talking sense, Ivan, anyway. That’s just what I thought. I’ll give up everything and go away.
Well, that I never did expect, cried Anna Andreyevna, flinging up her hands. And you too, Vanya! I didn’t expect it of you! . . . Why, you’ve never known anything but kindness from us and now . . .
Ha, ha, ha! What else did you expect? Why, what are we to live upon, consider that! Our money spent, we’ve come to our last farthing. Perhaps you’d like me to go to Prince Pyotr Alexandrovitch and beg his pardon, eh?
In time the hosts of the Vanyar and the Noldor came to the last western shores of the Hither Lands. In the north these shores, in the ancient days after the Battle of the Powers, bent ever westward, until in the northernmost parts of Arda only a narrow sea divided Aman, upon which Valinor was built, from the Hither Lands; but this narrow sea was filled with grinding ice, because of the violence of the frosts of Melkor. Therefore Oromл did not lead the hosts of the Eldaliл into the far north, but brought them to the fair lands about the River Sirion, that afterwards were named Beleriand; and from those shores whence first the Eldar looked in fear and wonder on the Sea there stretched an ocean, wide and dark and deep, between them and the Mountains of Aman ultra v lift .
Now Ulmo, by the counsel of the Valar, came to the shores of Middle-earth and spoke with the Eldar who waited there, gazing on the dark waves; and because of his words and the music which he made for them on his horns of shell their fear of the sea was turned rather to desire. Therefore Ulmo uprooted an island which long had stood alone amid the sea, far from either shore, since the tumults of the fall of Illuin; and with the aid of his servants he moved it, as it were a mighty ship, and anchored it in the Bay of Balar, into which Sirion poured his water. Then the Vanyar and the Noldor embarked upon that isle, and were drawn over the sea, and came at last to the long shores beneath the Mountains of Aman; and they entered Valinor and were welcomed to its bliss. But the eastern horn of the island, which was deep-grounded in the shoals off the mouths of Sirion, was broken asunder and remained behind and that, it is said, was the Isle of Balar, to which afterwards Ossл often cameflag patches .
But the Teleri remained still in Middle-earth, for they dwelt in East Beleriand far from the sea, and they heard not the summons of Ulmo until too late; and many searched still for Elwл their lord, and without him they were unwilling to depart. But when they learned that Ingwл and Finwл and their peoples were gone, then many of the Teleri pressed on to the shores of Beleriand, and dwelt thereafter near the Mouths of Sirion, in longing for their friends that had departed; and they took Olwл, Elwл's brother, to be their king. Long they remained by the coasts of the western sea, and Ossл and Uinen came to them and befriended them; and Ossл instructed them, sitting upon a rock near to the margin of the land, and of him they learned all manner of sea-lore and sea-music. Thus it came to be that the Teleri, who were from the beginning lovers of water, and the fairest singers of all the Elves, were after enamoured of the seas, and their songs were filled with the sound of waves upon the shore .
When many years had passed, Ulmo hearkened to the prayers of the Noldor and of Finwл their king. Who grieved at their long sundering from the Teleri, and besought him to bring them to Aman, if they would come. And most of them proved now willing indeed; but great was the grief of Ossл when Ulmo returned to the coasts of Beleriand, to bear them away to Valinor; for his care was for the seas of Middle-earth and the shores of the Hither Lands, and he was ill-pleased that the voices of the Teleri should be heard no more in his domain. Some he persuaded to remain; and those were the Falathrim, the Elves of the Falas, who in after days had dwellings at the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest, the first mariners in Middle-earth and the first makers of ships. Cнrdan the Shipwright was their lord.
The kinsfolk and friends of Elwл Singollo also remained in the Hither Lands, seeking him yet, though they would fain have departed to Valinor and the light of the Trees, if Ulmo and Olwл had been willing to tarry longer. But Olwл would be gone; and at last the main host of the Teleri embarked upon the isle, and Ulmo drew them far away. Then the friends of Elwл were left behind; and they called themselves Eglath, the Forsaken People. They dwelt in the woods and hills of Beleriand, rather than by the sea, which filled them with sorrow; but the desire of Aman was ever in their hearts.
But when Elwл awoke from his long trance, he came forth from Nan Elmoth with Melian, and they dwelt thereafter in the woods in the midst of the land. Greatly though he had desired to see again the light of the Trees, in the face of Melian he beheld the light of Aman as in an unclouded mirror, and in that light he was content. His people gathered about him in joy, and they were amazed; for fair and noble as he had been, now he appeared as it were a lord of the Maiar, his hair as grey silver, tallest of all the Children of Ilъvatar; and a high doom was before him.
Now Ossл followed after the host of Olwл, and when they were come to the Bay of Eldamar (which is Elvenhome) he called to them; and they knew his voice, and begged Ulmo to stay their voyage. And Ulmo granted their request, and at his bidding Ossл made fast the island and rooted it to the foundations of the sea. Ulmo did this the more readily, for he understood the hearts of the Teleri, and in the council of the Valar he had spoken against the summons, thinking that it were better for the Quendi to remain in Middle-earth. The Valar were little pleased to learn what he had done; and Finwл grieved when the Teleri came not, and yet more when he learned that Elwл was forsaken, and knew that he should not see him again, unless it were in the halls of Mandos. But the island was not moved again, and stood there alone in the Bay of Eldamar; and it was called Tol Eressлa, the Lonely Isle. There the Teleri abode as they wished under the stars of heaven, and yet within right of Aman and the deathless shore; and by that long sojourn apart in the Lonely Isle was caused the sundering of their speech from that of the Vanyar and the Noldor.
To these the Valar had given a land and a dwelling-place. Even among the radiant flowers of the Tree-lit gardens of Valinor they longed still at times to see the stars; and therefore a gap was made in the great walls of the Pelуri, and there in a deep valley that ran down to the sea the Eldar raised a high green hill: Tъna it was called. From the west the light of the Trees fell upon it, and its shadow lay ever eastward; and to the east it looked towards the Bay of Elvenhome, and the Lonely Isle, and the Shadowy Seas. Then through Calacirya, the Pass of Light, the radiance of the Blessed Realm streamed forth, kindling the dark waves to silver and gold, and it touched the Lonely Isle, and its western shore grew green and fair. There bloomed the first flowers that ever were east of the Mountains of Aman.
Upon the crown of Tъna the city of the Elves was built, the white walls and terraces of Tirion; and the highest of the towers of that city was the Tower of Ingwл, Mindon Eldaliйva, whose silver lamp shone far out into the mists of the sea. Few are the ships of mortal Men that have seen its slender beam. In Tirion upon Tъna the Vanyar and the Noldor dwelt long in fellowship. And since of all things in Valinor they loved most the White Tree, Yavanna made for them a tree like to a lesser image of Telperion, save that it did not give light of its own being; Galathilion it was named in the Sindarin tongue. This tree was planted in the courts beneath the Mindon and there flourished, and its seedlings were many in Eldamar. Of these one was afterwards planted in Tol Eressлa, and it prospered there, and was named Celeborn; thence came in me fullness of time as is elsewhere told, Nimloth, the White Tree of Nъmenor.
Manwл and Varda loved most the Vanyar, the Fair Elves; but the Noldor were beloved of Aulл, and he and his people came often among them. Great became their knowledge and their skill; yet even greater was their thirst for more knowledge, and in many things they soon surpassed their teachers. They were changeful in speech, for they had great love of words, and sought ever to find names more fit for all things that they knew or imagined. And it came to pass that the masons of the house of Finwл, quarrying in the hills after stone (for they delighted in the building of high towers), first discovered the earth-gems, and brought them forth in countless myriads; and they devised tools for the cutting and shaping of gems, and carved them in many forms. They hoarded them not, but gave them freely, and by their labour enriched all Valinor.
The Noldor afterwards came back to Middle-earth, and this tale tells mostly of their deeds; therefore the names and kinship of their princes may here be told, in that form which these names later bore in the tongue of the Elves of Beleriand.
Finwл was King of the Noldor. The sons of Finwл were Fлanor, and Fingolfin, and Finarfin; but the mother of Fлanor was Mнriel Serindл, whereas the mother of Fingolfin and Finarfin was Indis of the Vanyar. Fлanor was the mightiest in skill of word and of hand, more learned than his brothers; his spirit burned as a flame. Fingolfin was the strongest, the most steadfast, and the most valiant. Finarfin was the fairest, and the most wise of heart; and afterwards he was a friend of the sons of Olwл, lord of the Teleri, and had to wife Eдrwen, the swan-maiden of Alqualondл, Olwл's daughter.
The seven sons of Fлanor were Maedhros the tall; Maglor the mighty singer, whose voice was heard far over land and sea; Celegorm the fair, and Caranthir the dark; Curufin the crafty, who inherited most his father's skill of hand; and the youngest Amrod and Amras, who were twin brothers, alike in mood and face. In later days they were great hunters in the woods of Middle-earth; and a hunter also was Celegorm, who in Valinor was a friend of Oromл, and often followed the Vala's horn.
The sons of Fingolfin were Fingon, who was afterwards King of the Noldor in the north of the world, and Turgon, lord of Gondolin; their sister was Aredhel the White. She was younger in the years of the Eldar than her brothers; and when she was grown to full stature and beauty she was tall and strong, and loved much to ride and hunt in the forests. There she was often in the company of the sons of Fлanor, her kin; but to none was her heart's love given. Ar-Feiniel she was called, the White Lady of the Noldor, for she was pale though her hair was dark, and she was never arrayed but in silver and white.
The sons of Finarfin were Finrod the faithful (who was afterwards named Felagund, Lord of Caves), Orodreth, Angrod, and Aegnor; these tour were as close in friendship with the sons of Fingolfin as though they were all brothers. A sister they had, Galadriel, most beautiful of all the house of Finwл; her hair was lit with gold as though it had caught in a mesh the radiance of Laurelin.
Here must be told how the Teleri came at last to the land of Aman. Through a long age they dwelt in Tol Eressлa; but slowly their hearts were changed, and were drawn towards the light that flowed out over the sea to the Lonely Isle. They were torn between the love of the music of the waves upon their shores, and the desire to see again their kindred and to look upon the splendour of Valinor; but in the end desire of the light was the stronger. Therefore Ulmo, submitting to the will of the Valar, sent to them Ossл, their friend, and he though grieving taught them the craft of ship-building; and when their ships were built he brought them as his parting gift many strong-winged swans. Then the swans drew the white ships of the Teleri over the windless sea; and thus at last and latest they came to Aman and the shores of Eldamar.
There they dwelt, and if they wished they could see the light of the Trees, and could tread the golden streets of Valmar and the crystal stairs of Tirion upon Tъna, the green hill; but most of all they sailed in their swift ships on the waters of the Bay of Elvenhome, or walked in the waves upon the shore with their hair gleaming in the light beyond the hill. Many jewels the Noldor gave them, opals and diamonds and pale crystals, which they strewed upon the shores and scattered in the pools; marvellous were the beaches of Elendл in those days. And many pearls they won for themselves from the sea, and their halls were of pearl, and of pearl were the mansions of Olwл at Alqualondл, the Haven of the Swans, lit with many lamps. For that was their city, and the haven of their ships; and those were made in the likeness of swans, with beaks of gold and eyes of gold and jet. The gate of that harbour was an arch of living rock sea-carved; and it lay upon the confines of Eldamar, north of the Calacirya, where the light of the stars was bright and clear.
As the ages passed the Vanyar grew to love the land of the Valar and the full light of the Trees, and they forsook the city of Tirion upon Tъna, and dwelt thereafter upon the mountain of Manwл, or about the plains and woods of Valinor, and became sundered from the Noldor. But the memory of Middle-earth under the stars remained in the hearts of the Noldor, and they abode in the Calacirya, and in the hills and valleys within sound of the western sea; and though many of them went often about the land of the Valar, making far journeys in search of the secrets of land and water and all living things, yet the peoples of Tъna and Alqualondл drew together in those days. Finwл was king in Tirion and Olwл in Alqualondл; but Ingwл was ever held the High King of all the Elves. He abode thereafter at the feet of Manwл upon Taniquetil.
Fлanor and his sons abode seldom in one place for long, but travelled far and wide upon the confines of Valinor, going even to the borders of the Dark and the cold shores of the Outer Sea, seeking the unknown. Often they were guests in the halls of Aulл; but Celegorm went rather to the house of Oromл, and there he got great knowledge of birds and beasts, and all their tongues he knew. For all living things that are or have been in the Kingdom of Arda, save only the fell and evil creatures of Melkor, lived then in the land of Aman; and there also were many other creatures that have not been seen upon Middle-earth, and perhaps never now shall be, since the fashion of the world was changed.
Now the Three Kindreds of the Eldar were gathered at last in Valinor, and Melkor was chained. This was the Noontide of the Blessed Realm, the fullness of its glory and its bliss, long in tale of years, but in memory too brief. In those days the Eldar became full-grown in stature of body and of mind, and the Noldor advanced ever in skill and knowledge; and the long years were filled with their joyful labours, in which many new things fair and wonderful were devised. Then it was that the Noldor first bethought them of letters, and Rъmil of Tirion was the name of the loremaster who first achieved fitting signs for the recording of speech and song, some for graving upon metal or in stone, others for drawing with brush or with pen.
In that time was born in Eldamar, in the house of the King in Tirion upon the crown of Tъna, the eldest of the sons of Finwл, and the most beloved. Curufinwл was his name, but by his mother he was called Fлanor, Spirit of Fire; and thus he is remembered in all the tales of the Noldor.
Mнriel was the name of his mother, who was called Serindл, because of her surpassing skill in weaving and needlework; for her hands were more skilled to fineness than any hands even among the Noldor. The love of Finwл and Mнriel was great and glad, for it began in the Blessed Realm in the Days of Bliss. But in the bearing of her son Mнriel was consumed in spirit and body; and after his birth she yearned for release from the labours of living. Ana when she had named mm, she said to Finwл: 'Never again shall I bear child; for strength that would have nourished the life of many has gone forth into Fлanor.'
Then Finwл was grieved, for the Noldor were in me youth of their days, and he desired to bring forth many children into the Miss of Aman; and he said: 'Surely there is healing in Aman? Here all weariness can find rest.' But when Mнriel languished still, Finwл sought the counsel of Manwл, and Manwл delivered her to the care of Irmo in Lуrien. At their parting (for a little while as he thought) Finwл was sad, for it seemed an unhappy chance that the mother should depart and miss the beginning at least of the childhood days of her son.
'It is indeed unhappy,' said Mнriel, 'and I would weep, if I were not so weary. But hold me blameless in this, and in all that may come after.'
She went then to the gardens of Lуrien and lay down to sleep; but though she seemed to sleep, her spirit indeed departed from her body, and passed in silence to the halls of Mandos. The maidens of Estл tended the body of Mнriel, and it remained unwithered; but she did not return. Then Finwл lived in sorrow; and he went often to the gardens of Lуrien, and sitting beneath the silver willows beside the body of his wife he called her by her names. But it was unavailing; and alone in all the Blessed Realm he was deprived of joy. After a while he went to Lуrien no more.
An his love he gave thereafter to his son; and Fлanor grew swiftly, as if a secret fire were kindled within him. He was tall, and fair of face, and masterful, his eyes piercingly bright and his hair raven-dark; in the pursuit of all his purposes eager and steadfast. Few ever changed his courses by counsel, none by force. He became of all the Noldor, then or after, the most subtle in mind and the most skilled in hand. In his youth, bettering the work of Rъmil, he devised those letters which bear his name, and which the Eldar used ever after; and he it was who, first of the Noldor, discovered how gems greater and brighter than those of the earth might be made with skill. The first gems that Fлanor made were white and colourless, but being set under starlight they would blaze with blue and silver fires brighter than Helluin; and other crystals he made also, wherein things far away could be seen small but clear, as with the eyes of the eagles of Manwл. Seldom were the hands and mind of Fлanor at rest.
While still in his early youth he wedded Nerdanel, the daughter of a great smith named Mahtan, among those of the Noldor most dear to Aulл; and of Mahtan he learned much of the making of things in metal and in stone. Nerdanel also was firm of will, but more patient than Fлanor, desiring to understand minds rather than to master them, and at first she restrained him when the fire of his heart grew too hot; but his later deeds grieved her, and they became estranged. Seven sons she bore to Fлanor; her mood she bequeathed in part to some of them, but not to all.
Now it came to pass that Finwл took as his second wife Indis the Fair. close kin of Ingwл the High King, golden-haired and tall, and in all ways unlike Mнriel. Finwл loved her greatly, and was glad again. But the shadow of Mнriel did not depart from the house of Finwл, nor from his heart; and of all whom he loved Fлanor had ever the chief share of his thought.
The wedding of his father was not pleasing to Fлanor; and he had no great love for Indis, nor for Fingolfin and Finarfin, her sons. He lived apart from them, exploring the land of Aman, or busying himself with the knowledge and the crafts in which he delighted. In those unhappy things which later came to pass, and in which Fлanor was the leader, many saw the effect of this breach within the house of Finwл, judging that if Finwл had endured his loss and been content with the fathering of his mighty son, the courses of Fлanor would have been otherwise, and great evil might have been prevented; for the sorrow and the strife in the house of Finwл is graven in the memory of the Noldorin Elves. But the children of Indis were great and glorious, and their children also; and if they had not lived the history of the Eldar would have been diminished.
Now even while Fлanor and the craftsmen of the Noldor worked with delight, foreseeing no end to their labours, and while the sons of Indis grew to their full stature, the Noontide of Valinor was drawing to its close. For it came to pass that Melkor, as the Valar had decreed, completed the term of his bondage, dwelling for three ages in the duress of Mandos, alone. At length, as Manwл had promised, he was brought again before the thrones of the Valar. Then he looked upon their glory and their bliss, and envy was in his heart; he looked upon the Children of Ilъvatar that sat at the feet of the Mighty, and hatred filled him; he looked upon the wealth of bright gems, and he lusted for them; but he hid his thoughts, and postponed his vengeance.
Before the gates of Valmar Melkor abased himself at the feet of Manwл and sued for pardon, vowing that if he might be made only the least of the free people of Valinor he would aid the Valar in all their works, and most of all in the healing of the many hurts that he had done to the world. And Nienna aided his prayer; but Mandos was silent
Then Manwл granted him pardon; but the Valar would not yet suffer him to depart beyond their sight and vigilance, and he was constrained to dwell within the gates of Valmar. But fair-seeming were all the words and deeds of Melkor in that time, and both the Valar and the Eldar had profit from his aid and counsel, if they sought it; and therefore in a while he was given leave to go freely about the land, and it seemed to Manwл that the evil of Melkor was cured. For Manwл was free from evil and could not comprehend it, and he knew that in the beginning, in the thought of Ilъvatar, Melkor had been even as he; and he saw not to the depths of Melkor's heart, and did not perceive that all love had departed from him for ever. But Ulmo was not deceived, and Tulkas clenched his hands whenever he saw Melkor his foe go by; for if Tulkas is slow to wrath he is slow also to forget. But they obeyed the judgement of Manwл; for those who will defend authority against rebellion must not themselves rebel.
Now in his heart Melkor most hated the Eldar, both because they were fair and joyful and because in them he saw the reason for the arising of the Valar, and his own downfall. Therefore all the more did he feign love for them and seek their friendship, and he offered them the service of his lore and labour in any great deed that they would do. The Vanyar indeed held him in suspicion, for they dwelt in the light of the Trees and were content; and to the Teleri he gave small heed, thinking them of little worth, tools too weak for his designs. But the Noldor took delight in the hidden knowledge that he could reveal to them; and some hearkened to words that it would have been better for them never to have heard. Melkor indeed declared afterwards that Fлanor had learned much art from him in secret, and had been instructed by him in the greatest of all his works; but he lied in his lust and his envy, for none of the Eldaliл ever hated Melkor more than Fлanor son of Finwл, who first named him Morgoth; and snared though he was in the webs of Melkor's malice against the Valar he held no converse with him and took no counsel from him. For Fлanor was driven by the fire of his own heart only, working ever swiftly and alone; and he asked the aid and sought the counsel of none that dwelt in Aman, great or small, save only and for a little while of Nerdanel the wise, his wife.
‘No. I don’t eat much any more. Pills and liquids mostly. Gut problems.’
‘Very well,’ said Artemis, laying an aluminium briefcase on the table. ‘To business then.’
He flipped the case’s lid , revealing a red cube the size of a minidisc player, nestling in blue foam.
Spiro cleaned his spectacles with the tail end of his tie.
‘What am I seeing here, kid?’
Artemis placed the shining box on the table.
‘The future, Mister Spiro. Ahead of schedule.’
Jon Spiro leaned in , taking a good look.
‘Looks like a paperweight to me.’
Arno Blunt sniggered, his eyes taunting Butler.
‘A demonstration then,’ said Artemis, picking up the metal box. He pressed a button and the gadget purred into life. Sections slid back to reveal speakers and a screen.
‘Cute,’ muttered Spiro. ‘ for a micro-TV?’
Artemis nodded. ‘A micro-TV. But also a verbally controlled computer, a mobile phone, a diagnostic aid. This little box can read any information on absolutely any platform, electrical or organic. It can play videos, laserdiscs, DVDs; go online, retrieve e-mail, hack any computer. It can even scan your chest to see how fast your heart’s beating. Its battery is good for two years and, of course, it’s completely wireless.’
Artemis paused, to let it sink in.
Spiro’s eyes seemed huge behind his spectacles.
‘You mean, this box . . .?’
‘Will render all other technology obsolete. Your computer plants will be worthless.’
The American took several deep breaths .
‘But how . . . how?’
Artemis flipped the box over . An infrared sensor pulsed gently on the back.
‘This is the secret. An omni-sensor. It can read anything you ask it to. And if the source is programmed in, it can piggyback any satellite you choose.’
Spiro wagged a finger. ‘But that’s illegal, isn’t it?’
‘No, no,’ said Artemis, smiling. ‘There are no laws against something like this. And there won’t be for at least two years after it comes out. Look how long it took to shut down Napster.’
The American rested his face in his hands. It was too much.
