3.The robbers of Kerman
After a few weeks the caravan arrived in Persia.
Here there were cities with beautiful gardens, flowers, and lovely trees.Marco enjoyed eating their big, strange fruits.
The people of the city of Kerman made swords and other weapons out of steel.They also made curains, cushions and bedspreads out of silk. On these they sewed beautiful patterns of birds and flowers. “Kernman is on the great Silk Road to China,” Marco’s uncle said. “the chinese bring silk and gold to Europe along the silk road. The Emperor makes the road safe for all merchants travelling to and from Europs.”
The caravan followed the silk road. The travellers climbad a high mountain pass and then came down into a hot,dusty plain.
“There are robbers on this plain,” one man siad. Suddenly there was a dust storm. The dust went into Marco’s eyes and mouth.Everything was dark. At that moment there was a terrible shout.Marco heaed the sound of galloping horses.
“ The robbers!” his uncle shouted. “Follow me!” Marco and his father and uncle rode close to each other. They knocked down one group of robbers, and then galloped to the safety og the nearest village.
They heard the noise of fighting and the screams of the other travellers on the road behind them. “stop!” Marco cried. “We must go back and help.” “No,” his uncle repiled. “We cannot help them.”
“Look,” siad his father “Have is an empty house. We must hide here until morning”