The last days

~EGYPT~


I had been foolish to disobey my parents and linger in the land of the Pharaoh. Did I not understand that my place was here, that it was dangerous out in the desert? This was what my father demanded to know upon my returning with the pail of water. My mother took it from my hand and carried it away to the kitchen while my father seated himself in a chair. I knew what this meant and seated myself at his feet in preparation for the impending lecture.
“What was it that delayed you Levana?” he demanded of me quietly. I weighed my choices of offering some excuse, or confessing to where I had gone, and what I had seen. I knew that I risked an even sterner lecture, and possibly punishment with the truth, but I desperately wanted to know what my father would think of these strange men. “Father I went to go have a look at the pyramids, to see them up close. I was reflecting upon the rainy season, and all the beauty it’s brought to the Nile valley and I could not sway my curiosity, though I tried.”

His dark, heavy brows drew together in a look of disappointment, and he opened his mouth to voice some reprimand but I cut him off quickly. “I know it was wrong, and that I broke a rule, but you’ll never believe what I saw! Two strange, pale skinned men rode in on a magnificent chariot. It was so finely crafted it was more beautiful even than the possessions of Pharaoh. Since I was nearby I could not help but over hear that the men spoke to each other, though I confess I was not able to understand exactly what it was they said. They spoke in an alien dialect, and thought it was new I thought it quite musical and delightful to listen to. I imagine I would be content to listen to it for hours without knowing what the words meant.” I closed my mouth once I realized that I was getting carried away by my excitement.
My father was silent and seemed to be deeply considering the words I had spoken. Then his eyes lit up and he extended his index finger and said pointedly, “Greek.” I cocked my head in confusion the word was vaguely familiar. “The only language that resembles that which you described is Greek, and I agree with you, it’s a beautiful sounding language. Greece herself is a glorious city full of charming objects, like the chariot you spoke of; I have been there a few times in my life. Therefore it would be correct to draw the conclusion that these two men you saw were from Greece. Pharaohs welcomed many a guest into his great palace as of late. Considering the great strength, and power Egypt posses at this time of renewal I would not at all be surprised to learn that these impressive civilizations are offering tribute in return for the alliance of Egypt.”

I was filled with a desperate excitement. Whatever that cage had contained was not only a gift for Pharaoh but also a bargaining chip from Greece. My heart rejoiced at the thought, it must be a magnificent gift indeed, and I was the only soul outside the palace to have seen it! In light of these new revelations my father began to converse with my mother and my discipline was forgotten. I could not sit still; I paced madly replaying the day’s events in my mind. My father had satisfied the curiosities of the morning but I now yearned to know more, most of all what it was inside that box. I fantasized about what it could be. I saw the men and their beautiful box in my dreams. My soul was a tapestry woven with all the glorious possibilities, and the wondering drove me mad. If only I had known that this great mystery, and many more were to be revealed to me in the coming weeks.