Princess history

Chapter Four

In the clothes of traveler’s caravan routes of deserts Ptolemy XII made this pilgrimage to the Oasis of the Oasis of Amun, with only one goal – establishing himself on the throne, reviving the faith of the people in the loving and just ruler of the son of Zeus-Amon appointed by the gods to rule over Egypt. His caravan had already reached the town of Secket El Sultan, when twilight came. In the desert, darkness comes suddenly, it’s only necessary for the sun to disappear behind the barchans, and while the disk of light is still hanging near the horizon line and its rays are reddish like copper, they paint the majestic heads of camels and the luggage, still light.

The first clay huts of the inhabitants appeared not far away. In this place the driver of the caravan knew where to water the horses of protection, replenish the water supplies and settle down for the night. The advanced warriors arrived to the pharaoh with a report informing him that the tent that they had taken with them was already installed and the territory inspected and safe. All residents are warned and will not leave their homes until the Seket El Sultan leaves the Pharaoh. The commander of the guard ordered to prepare for a night’s lodging, water the horses, and the servants to build bonfires and set About preparing food. The camel drivers removed the cargo from the animals and, spreading the hay in front of them, with a cane, began to bend their legs to the camels, not letting the animals lie on their side. The animals, at the same time, grumbled discontentedly, placing the drivers in front of the bunches of hay. And soon, already peacefully chewed the hay, resting from the path.

It was night in the shadows of the fires. Unbeknownst to the tent of the pharaoh came a black woman in a veil. Her hunched back and trembling hands gave out an advanced age. The face was stained with dust, covering the deep wrinkles around the eyes that sparkled like coals, reflected in the glare of the flames of the fires.

«You are an old wretch!» – shouted in the Egyptian dialect to her one of the two guards standing at the entrance to the tent of the pharaoh.

«Tell Avletu that the nurse of Cleopatra, Onisia, wants to talk to him.» – Squeaky voice with a Persian accent answered the woman.

The guard hesitated for a moment, and then went into the tent.

Avlet at that time was flushing dust from his face. He leaned over the copper basin, and his neck was watered with water from a golden jug by a white slave. The king snorted, splashing water on the carpet in all directions. The guard waited patiently. Finally Avet took the towel from the hands of a servant, wiped himself and only now drew attention to the guard.

– What do you have Dionysius, say, I’m listening to you?

«Oh, Divine Son of Heaven, an old slave to Cleopatra’s nurse wants to go to you.» «Low bowing,» and leaning on one knee, the guard said, not lifting his bowed head from the carpet that covered the clay soil in the tent.

«What is her name?» – Asked severely.

– She called herself Onesia. – Answered Dionysius.

Avtet picked up his ears. The name of the captain of the Roman military ship «Aphrodite», whose name was Onisii, was remembered. In memory arose a tall, strong physique of the captain. The swarthy eagle profile of this battle-hardened warrior inspired respect and confidence to Pharaoh when the proconsul of Rome Gnaeus Pompey took his and Cleopatra’s care and ferried them to the Aphrodite from Syria to Naples, the captain made a good impression on Ptolemy.

«Surely this is the captain sent by Pompey, with some important secret report, this forced him to come to me in the image of my daughter’s nonexistent wet-nurse.» – In the ear loudly ordered:

«Tell him to come in!» – Pharaoh’s loud voice sounded so that he could be heard and behind the tent.

Hearing the name of the wet nurse, Cleopatra ran out of the half-closed tent, dressed in a snow-white Roman tunic.

«My father never had a wet nurse.» I was breastfed by my mother! Said the daughter with alarm, with astonishment, trying to speak as quietly as possible, almost in a whisper.

«Do not worry, daughter, this is my confidant with a report. – Pharaoh answered, trying to calm her. At this time, a hunched, dry, old age of a short, almost dwarfish woman entered the tent. She looked around with a guarded and piercing gaze and stared at the princess. Ptolemy began to look at him with surprise. And then, deciding to satisfy his curiosity with the unexpected appearance of an unfamiliar guest, he gestured for his daughter to go to her own half. Cleopatra was extremely surprised at this visit, but fears did not leave her, even when Avlet told her who Actius was in fact. The life of Cleopatra in the palace, where there was a conspiracy and betrayal in her family. And now, without informants, it was impossible to save power to her father. With this Cleopatra quickly hid behind the curtain. The Visitors did not say a word until the servant left the tent. As soon as the last servant left the bedchamber of the pharaoh, the woman took off her veil, rubbed soot from her face with the palm of her hand, and a lean, tanned, copper-tinged skin, a short man appeared before Avelt. Under the burqa on it were clothes and equipment of an Egyptian warrior, on his chest hung a strange amulet on a black leather lace.

«Greetings, Ptolemy. – Putting his right hand to his chest, and bowing low, began to speak entered. – I am sent to you by the sky to secure your way to the Oracle of Amon Ra. My name is Kshatra, I am a priest of the temple of the god Shiva Nataraja, which is in Hindustan. I am here because you are making a pilgrimage to the temple of Amun to priests, ancestors, who were asuras and demons. They were expelled from the lands of India. I’m here to protect the Ptolemaic family from the designs of ill-wishers, encroaching on your throne. I follow with your caravan from Mersa Matruh. On the way I had a chance to look at all of those who accompanied you. I did not notice any enemies. Be still, your way is safe. «Again,» Kshatr bowed.

Avlet threw him a wet canvas of soft linen:

«Kshatra, wipe your face, it’s soiled with soot, like a demon from a land of shadows on the bank of Styx.» – Kshatr, having caught a damp cloth on the fly, wiped the soot from his face: «I see that you come from the south of Egypt and will not give yourself away as a foreigner.» But, the fact that you are a priest, I see no evidence. Avet paused, expressively measuring the stranger from head to foot with his gaze. «You came here as a guest, and my path in the sanctuary of Amon Ra should not be overshadowed by anything, so I leave you life.» I believe that the god Amon Ra sent you to make my way successful, it is a sign from above. Tell servants who cook food, let them feed you.

«Oh, the governor of the god Amon Ra on earth, do not stand your divine concern for me, I’m not hungry. And here is what I am commanded to give to you the powerful heavenly powers guarding your path to the Oracle sanctuary, this amulet opening the way to the tomb of Alexander the Great and to his untold riches of the labyrinth under the land of the temple of Amun Ra. – With these words Kshatr, took off the amulet and handed it to Ptolemy. Pharaoh put the gift of Kshatra on his palm, carefully examined it. It was a metal key made of unfamiliar material. On one side of the key is fixed a plate with notches in the form of small protrusions. From the opposite, the holder rests against a semicircle fixed by the middle convex part in the groove of the rod-holder. Ptolemy drew attention to the scrapping of the edge of this semicircle, it looked as if someone had deliberately broken off half the mug from the key holder…

Avlet looked inquiringly at Kshatra, weighing his true intentions in his mind. A tanned, almost dark shade of skin gave him the appearance of a resident from the headwaters of the Nile. And did not produce the impression of a temple servant, Lord Shiva Nataraja from the land of Hindustan. Ksatr hastened to say:

– This key will give you respect for the Oracle, power and wealth, which the rulers of Egypt did not yet know, oh, the great governor of the god Zeus-Amon on earth.

«Oh, yes, that would be useful, because I need money right now because of which the troubles in Egypt are brewing.» – Pharaoh thought, he said aloud, – How will you continue to carry out your mission? – letting him of greatness and importance, spoke, letting the guest understand that he was accepted into the caravan.

«There’s no point in staying with you.» It will be useful if I go out to the oasis tonight and find out and investigate everything you need to know for your safe stay in the capital of Agurmi oasis Amun. «Having said this, Ksatr looked expectantly at Pharaoh’s eyes. Avlette was silent. He put on his neck an amulet, he hid it on his chest, began to consider the alien thoughtfully. He was amazed by the proud posture and boldness in the look of piercing black eyes, as he looked directly at Pharaoh, that commoners and servants and soldiers from his guard could not afford. He was a free and independent man, his behavior with the ruler of Egypt, one gesture that was enough to make the head of this frail man with a sudden appearance flew from his shoulders, spoke of this, a night visitor, even a hint of hostility to the untouchable person of the king. The pause was prolonged, Pharaoh continued, silently looking at the visitor. And then he said slowly:

«You are right, Kshatra, so it will be more reasonable.» But, tell me, how are you going to cross the desert for the remaining five days of the journey, and even alone?

«I agree with you.» All these five days I will be with the caravan. The remaining section of the road, after five days’ journey, I’ll leave first and fulfill my planned mission. «The guest answered very importantly.

Avlet was embarrassed by pride, which he observed in the behavior of the newcomer, and, in order not to attract the attention of the guards by leaving the guest’s tent, he said to him:

«You can go out of the tent unnoticed, come with me.» – Avlet led the guest to the back wall of the tent to the carpet hanging on the wall. He threw back the curtain of the carpet and said: «Look, there’s an inconspicuous way out in the tent, you can open it only from the inside, pushing aside this bamboo pole.» – Avlet grabbed a bamboo frame of the tent with his hand and pulled it on himself. In the tent immediately formed an opening. Kshatr with quick movements put on a veil and with the words of Avlet: – I will order that you will be accepted into the servant-cook, you will be at the kitchen all the way.

Ksatr nodded his head to Pharaoh as a token of gratitude, and he slipped into the formed path, hiding in the night darkness of the camp.

When a guest talk with his father had died down, and the tent was filled with silence, Cleopatra, tormented by thoughts of Anthony, decided to go to his father.

– I cannot sleep.

Avlet poured himself a palm wine into a bowl, sipping, said:

«It always happens in a new place.»

«Why did I fall asleep fast in Rome, father.»

– In Syria and Rome, you were still a child. Now you are a young and beautiful princess. You are already, my daughter, fifteen years old. This is the flowering of a young girl. And at your age, young princesses rarely fall asleep quietly. – said Avlet, guessing the cause of insomnia daughter.

– Father play me on the flute, under her wonderful sounds anxiety and fears pass, thoughts calm down and they wind pleasant dreams…

Kshatriyas, stealthily made his way to the corner of the wall of the tent, which was the entrance to Pharaoh’s bedchamber and looked at the dark figure looming in the guard that was standing there. At that time melodic sounds of a flute were heard from the tent.

Dionysius, hearing the soft sound of the flute, was banging into the night, as it seemed to him, to his partner, who was guarding along with him the entrance to the tent:

– It’s not for nothing that Pharaoh the twelfth of the Ptolemies was called Avletom. He does not even part with the flute even in the desert. – But his partner did not hear. And Dionysius spoke louder to his friend:

«Grigoris, why do not you respond when the senior guard tells you?»

Grigoris could not hear him at that time. He sprawled on the cold sand, his head resting on a shield from the shell of sea turtles, and was fast asleep, basking near the hot coals of fire, and said just loud snoring, forgetting their responsibilities to protect the divine governor god Zeus in the earth, the Pharaoh of Egypt Ptolemy XII Avleta. Dionysius did not wake his comrade. And the sky above the tent, desert barchans, sleeping camels and horses in the middle of the town square – shone with an endless multitude of stars.

Ksatr, having looked around, walked quickly to the hay-bred camels, where his donkey with two sacks on his back stood at a distance. He took off his bags and said something in the ear to the donkey. From this the animal knelt on the front, and then, bending its hind legs, sank to the sand. Kshatr put the two bags under his feet, not to lie on the cold sand, his body leaned against the warm side of the donkey and dozed off.

At dawn, the caravan of the pharaoh left the place of Seket El Sultan…

Chapter Five

The nights in the desert among the barchans were cold. The slaves serving the caravan of Pharaoh had to sleep near the bales of hay. Arranged spiked tightly adjacent to each other, protecting the place of overnight travelers. The warmth that came from the woven camel wool covered the tired people, saving them from the nights cold. Meanwhile, slaves always built a tent for Pharaoh and his daughter. Every time, before overnight, the vanguard laden with baggage horses, for the construction of the tent and utensils for cooking, horseback nominated far forward, and smashed the tent for the night Pharaoh. A «wet nurse» Cleopatra, Kshatriyas in the image Onishi, helping the servants, cooks dinner in preparation for the Pharaoh and his daughter. From fresh mutton, pilaf was cooked and brewed according to a special recipe of the «wet nurse» of Onisia, tea from dried aromatic medicinal herbs, which Kshatr carried with him in bales on his donkey.

The fifth day of the journey through the desert sands of the Sahara came to an end. In the afternoon, in this spring month, Pakhon, the god of the moon, Jorge, the son of Amon Ra and the goddess Mut, the heat in the desert was not as ruthless as in the summer. It was the 19th day of the month of Pakhon (March). The rays descended on the barchans of the sands, coloring the crests with the red shades of the setting sun. Evening desert at this time no longer so inflamed eyes with bright shades of sand and opened with a theater of colors of the pre-day. Cleopatra, swaying sadly in the saddle of a camel, looked with a detached gaze of huge eyes to the shaking heavenly silks of the curtains of her refuge, protecting her eyes from the searing rays of the desert sun. From time to time, she closed her eyelids, falling into a nap. Thoughts at this time disappeared, the sensation of the body went into non-existence, and all the surrounding reality ceased to exist. Such a state of her being helped overcome the hardships of the road and did not think About Antony. Thoughts About him stirred the young heart of the princess day by day, and even the memory of the childhood love of Gnaeus Pompeius the Younger, her memories of dating him in exile could not be saved from the sudden flash of very strong love at first sight to Antony. Still there, in the estate of Genia Pompey the Elder on the Alban hills, when she and Pompey the Younger bathed in the pool, Antony unceremoniously approached with a friendly smile to her and offered his hand, helping to get out of the pool water. How his touch pierced his heart, and how long she watched him on the trail, when Pompey the Elder called the guests to the table, and the hero retired to the hall to the guests. Since and then, and to this day, Antony has not left her young dreams. Dreaming only About him, she admired his stately figure, his bearing in the saddle, when his cavalry decided the outcome of the battle at the gates of the fortress, which had become on the way of her return and her father from exile to Egypt. And how unjustly his father acted with him, refusing his cavalry to guard the caravan. The heart of the princess was broken and it seemed that nothing could help her to endure these endless minutes, hours, days of the journey, in the endless chain of desert barchans. Suddenly the camel stopped. To drive away the obsession of thoughts About him, Antony, she nervously threw back the curtain that covered it under the awning. The princess’s gaze fell on the rays of the setting sun, a gigantic fan in the sky at the very horizon. On a chain of camels that froze motionless. It was evident that the conductor was being inspected, making the path more precise. Cleopatra decided to take advantage of the caravan stop and jumped off the peacefully frozen camel on the sand of the barchans. In the distance, an obelisk of the pharaoh’s tent, erected in the wind, a sign of the untouchable governor of the god, erected on the earth clothed in divine authority over the people of Egypt, Pharaoh Ptolemy XII, appeared by the slaves. The driver of the caravan, with his palm pressed to his forehead, resumed his move toward this landmark. Pharaoh riding his bay horse rode a string of camels, no longer ahead of the caravan, as the first days of the journey. The campaign affected him, fatigue pressed on the shoulders and thoughts of his rule by Egypt, were scattered, concentration on one thing and the important thing flew away the bird away, giving a place of fatigue. Avlet did not immediately realize that he was being approached by a conductor:

– Your divine greatness, we arrived at the night. Tomorrow you will see an oasis of Amun. He stood beside Avlet’s horse, waiting for instructions.

Pharaoh awoke from a napping drowsiness, looked around. The slaves already took the camels to the parking lot, placing the animals for the night. The luggage was removed from the animals and the portions of hay for feeding were taken from the bales. Carefully the camel drivers drove the animals to the sand first to the front legs, and to the rear legs. This was necessary in order for the camel not to lie on its side, otherwise he would not want to get up on the next day and raise the animal very hard, leaves for almost the whole day. The protection of the pharaoh brought the horses together and sipped each of the leather wineskins, and then special bags of oats were hung on the heads of the horses so that the oats of the horse could eat. And people began to build bonfires and is preparing to cook food and spend the night in the cold night of the desert.

«Yes, Creon.» I do not see my cooks and the place where my dinner is prepared? – getting off the horse, Pharaoh told the guide with reproach.

«Oh, divine, the fire is already burning behind the tent.» There the servants refreshed the last sheep, and the cooks prepare food for your royal majesty and your divine daughter. – Looking at the sand, bowing his head, spoke the conductor.

«Tell me, Creon,» said Avlet, softening, «is the nurse Onesia with them?»

– There is no it. She told me that I warned you, Divine Majesty, that she would be waiting in the temple of Amon Ra tomorrow.

– You’re free Creon.

The driver of the caravan, not looking at the king, with his head bowed, took five steps, back, turned his back, and retired to the camel drivers that they were preparing to eat and sleep.

Avlet, gave the reins to the slave who came to him, that he was waiting in the distance, and, meeting the daughter, who at that time approached, went with her daughter to the tent. A fresh light breeze suddenly appeared with a cool touch. Pleasantly touched the cheeks of the princess, her chestnut curls moved at her temples and on her high forehead. With a whiff of wind, suddenly, there was a plaintive howl. The sounds subsided, and then reappeared with renewed force, aroused in Cleopatra the alarming forebodings of an impending night in the desert.

«Father, what is this?» – Cleverly asked Cleopatra, – if someone cries, crying for help?

– It’s singing desert sands. When dry winds blow, the desert cries and asks for rain from the sky. – With paternal warmth in his voice replied Avlet.

In the tent Cleopatra sat wearily on the couch and, looking at her father, said:

– About! How tired I am of this transition. Every day an endless series of yellow and white sand dunes reflecting the sunlight that blinds the eyes. The sand crunches on the teeth, powder is poured from the hair. I can no longer endure this hot desert, the neighing of horses, and the loud voices of these guards from your guards who tell each other things About women and at the same time neigh, like the herd of stallions in the pasture, choking with laughter. – Sighing, the princess expressed an annoying and sore displeasure to the parent, hoping for the support of his loving heart. Avlette looked calmly at his daughter, not reacting in any way and not wishing to answer her. His father’s cold reaction even more irritated Cleopatra.

«You, if only you could answer me, why did you drag me into the desert?»

«Oh, my daughter, you will rule the people of Egypt and you must be a strong and courageous, strong spirit ruler who will not allow Egypt to become an appendage of Rome, but will be equal in power and spirit to the power with which Rome is compelled to be reckoned.» And for this, we went with you to the Oasis in the oasis of Amun, for he, and only he, can tell the people of Egypt About our royal power and our might, the power of Pharaoh Ptolemy XII, who leads his race from Ptolemy Lage, a companion of Alexander the Great. This is important especially after the disgraceful capture of our throne by Berenice, your sister, whom I punished by cutting off her head. – With a sense of royal dignity, placing emphasis, answered Cleopatra Ptolemy XII. The daughter sighed again, she remembered this horrible scene of recklessness. When hiding in the throne room of the palace behind the septum with flowers, I witnessed how the executioner on the tray brought Berenika’s severed head and pulled the bloody handkerchief from a dreadful burden, showing his father. Cleopatra did not answer. Silently, she went to the slave girl, who was waiting for her near the entrance to the half-closed tent. Soon, from behind the curtains, splashes of water and the laughter of the servant girl, who told Avetu in the best way, that the mood of her daughter had improved, were heard.

«What do you ask of God?» – in the gloomy illumination of the sanctuary there was a voice. Alexander shuddered in surprise, inspected the space of the room of the great temple. But there was nobody around, except for the huge figure of the giant, his horns bent back, on the broad and powerful chest, on the hands clenched into fists.

«I came to know the truth, who is my father?» And who am I? Asked Alexander. His gaze fell on the yellow glinting eyes gleaming in the dim light of the lamp with black slits instead of pupils. From the twinkling of light, the eyes of the statue seemed alive, emphasizing the auand thenticity of the answers of God himself, Amun.

– Your father Zeus-Amon Ra, you are his son! – The voice answered, and the echo of a sound repeatedly reflected in the bends and protrusions of the walls of the sanctuary was heard, gradually fading.

– I learned the truth! – Said Alexander loudly.

«Ask, do you want to know more?» – a loud voice was heard, again shaking the vaults of the sanctuary, echoing from the bas-reliefs of the ceiling and painting the walls.

«What will immortality give me?» – looking at the glare of the eye sockets of the ear, in the flickering light of the lamps it seemed that the sculpture of Amun was alive and looking at the stranger. Macedonian trembling waited for an answer.

– When you reach the temple of Shiva Nataraja in distant India, you will find the Black Crown of the gods. Put it on, and you will gain enlightened knowledge. Many secrets will be revealed to you. Secrets of the past and future. And you will attain immortality. – As the thunder of heaven rumble the voice of the Oracle, instilling confidence to the invincible Alexander, prompting him to future deeds.

«I will conquer India!» «Macedonian spoke firmly, and with these words left the sanctuary.

In the morning Alexander informed his colleagues About the visit to the Oracle and what he told him. Alexander also announced his decision to be buried in the oasis of Siva, not far from the temple of Amun. Among the companions of Alexander was at this time and Ptolemy Lug, later fulfilled the last will of Alexander. Before leaving the oasis, Alexander, at the invitation of the high priest, visited the temple of Amun once more.

«Have you come alone, as I asked you?» Alexander met the high priest.

– Greetings to you keeper of the home of the Oracle! said the Macedonian. «As you see, I came alone.»

«Come with me, I’ll show you everything that you own now, son of the god Zeus-Amon Ra.»

The priest with the lighted lamp, lighting the way, led the king in an underground passage, from the temple to a massive door with an image of an ancient inscription on it with an unfamiliar writing. The priest took out a double-sided key hanging from his neck, on the leather string, and thrust the doors into the hole first with one end and made a turn. He took out the key, turned it over and put the other end into the well, again turned the second key in the well. With this second action, the door slowly opened, issuing a metallic screech. The priest gestured for Alexander to enter with him into the formed entrance. Alexander’s gaze appeared to the treasures, stored in the room, where he brought his priest. Passing from the room to the room, the gaze of Alexander was represented by gold coins covered with dust. Antique items of gold, inlaid with precious stones, gold vessels stuffed with large, with a chicken egg, diamonds and sparkling gems. The rooms with huge riches seemed to have no account. The priest opened one after another the room behind the room in the endless underground labyrinth and slowly led his story.

– On the planet, our civilization is experiencing a fourth birth. In this sequence of rooms of the underground storehouse, the treasures of the ancestors of the three flowering races that have gone into oblivion are collected. These treasures are many millions of years old and they are all yours, as the son of Zeus-Amon, born of an earthly woman and living on earth. I am entrusted with the Oracle of Amon Ra, to give you a piece of this double key that you will give to your successor by inheritance, who at a difficult time for his kingdom can take advantage of these riches. The key will help the offspring in this. With these words the priest was seen through groove on the mug holder broke, dividing the key into two separate parts and one handed to Alexander, saying:

«Take this part as a precious amulet, and never separate from this second key.»

«Thank you, Guardian of the Oracle,» said Alexander, taking his part of the key. «How many rooms are there?»

– We passed only one hundredth. It’s time to return About the famous warrior named Pharaoh of Egypt by the god Zeus-Amon Ra, for only the son of God has the right to transfer his throne to earthly children by inheritance.

The next day Alexander left the oasis of Siva…