Princess history

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Princess history
V. Speys

The book is set in the period of the return of the pharaoh from emigration to Egypt and the power of Rome to restore him to the throne. A year after the return of the pharaoh to Alexandria, Ptolemy begins preparing his daughter for reign over Egypt. For impoverished Egypt during the period of suppression of the conspiracy to overthrow Ptolemy XII, the pharaoh decides to initiate his daughter into the secrets of the treasury of Egypt, which is under the care of the high priest of the Temple of…

Princess history

V. Speys

© V. Speys, 2021

ISBN 978-5-0053-4151-8

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

Chapter First

If you look at the map of North Africa, you will see that between the Red Sea and the Nile Valley is the Arabian desert, and along the left bank of the Nile are the sands of the desert of the Libyan Sahara. Egypt is a fertile valley between two deserts: The Sahara or the Libyan and Arabian. The length of this fertile valley is one hundred thirty to one hundred and forty miles. The width is about one mile. On the western side there are gentle slopes of the bare Libyan hills. On the east side are the crooked spurs of the Arabian Upland. Between these lofty deserted banks, the Nile River flows around the snake. From a bird’s-eye view, these shores are clearly visible as they move northward, and thirty miles from the Mediterranean, the river, spreading over several branches, emerges into the plain, forming a triangle, as it were. From this height, the Nile resembles the triangular head of a snake, drinking the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, vigilantly looking for prey with two sparkling eyes: the left – Alexandria and the right – Damietta.

From the end of June to the end of September, the Nile slowly and widely spreads, and from the end of October to May the spring waters gradually come down, exposing the silt-rich land that is rich in silt. Ecologically pure fertile silt replaces chemical fertilizers. A hot climate allows local farmers to grow a rich crop three times a year, completely without worrying to impoverish parts of the flooded land, and thus lose the fertile fertilizer and, consequently, the harvest. Of course Neil is a barn, and harvest, and life. And, to save water all year round, the Egyptians were forced to create a network of canals thousands of miles long. And to protect from floods, to build powerful dams and build reservoirs, which, when drought, were the source of water for watering their lands. Cultivate crops in the hilly terrain of the Egyptians forced to create simple and profitable hydraulic devices, which made it possible to scoop water saturated with fertile silt and pour it into plots. Clean channels, build and repair dams and build roads. All these works were properly carried out in huge territories simultaneously and required a disciplined organization. Egypt managed to create an organized working army at the source, which, the priests were standing, according to the decrees of the pharaohs were fulfilled the plans outlined by the priests. The Egyptian people during this period of their power represented a single organism, governed by the plans of the priests. The diligence of the people, and wise management was that cement of power in the heyday of Egypt, a civilization that reached its heyday five thousand years before our era. Three whales, which relied on the flourishing civilization of Egypt – work, management, planning. Planning – plans were made by wise men, to whom the priests, who had knowledge in astronomy, calendar, healing, future predictions, and so on, were involved. Management – was in the hands of the pharaohs, viceroys of the gods on earth, or the gods themselves, to whom Pharaoh often thought of himself. Pharaoh was also the commander-in-chief of the army, the richest landowner and resource manager. Work – belonged to the people. The country prospered, because it lived as one healthy and healthy organism with a clear distribution of responsibilities. In these distant times, the Egyptian society was divided into two classes of landowners and artisans. Egypt flourished only when the people, the pharaoh and the priests, labored together for the common good…

The boundary separating the fertile land from the desert sands ran along a navigable canal that stretched from Memphis to Lake Timsa and a large caravan route. From the desert, where the caravan route left, from the desert barchans, the canal was still visible all over. From the right side of the hilly bank of the canal, where small groves of acacias, tall sycamore and tamarinds were seen. Among the greenery were seen inconspicuous villas with columns and mud huts, yellow walls and flat roofs. The wavy terrain, which the hills gave, stretched away, hardly resembling a flat hill, but more on a spread rug on which in a chessboard sequence alternated green and yellow squares with various shades of vegetation growing on them.

On the caravan route, from the desert side, camels, loaded with gold-bearing sand, often moved. They carried gold-bearing sand to Memphis, where in the smelters under the relentless sounds of flutes and mournful singing of the choir, the priests directed the smelting of gold, which melted in special furnaces. Gold-bearing sand in itself was of no value because the microscopic gold grains were so small that they were not washed with water and swam with the sand produced during the singing sand dunes. Where did the gold come from? It was the secret of the high priest of Egypt, how to turn sand into gold. The power of the priest from this became more powerful and instilled tremulous respect and fear of the magical power of the minister of wisdom – the priest of the greatest temple in Thebes. This secret helped the High Priest of the Temple of Amon to inspire mystical fear and obedience to the peoples who were and then Egypt, and to Cleopatra’s father, Pharaoh Ptolemy XII – Avletu at the cost of bribery and generous gifts to the Senators of the Roman Empire to return the throne by the military force of the Roman legionaries.

Closer, to the left bank of the canal, pathetic vegetation was forced out onto the rocks and hills. And further from the canal, as the traveler’s eye could see, there were reddish sand dunes, rocky rocks in the lowlands of which there were oases where all sorts of cereals, grapes and water were growing. During the reign of the pharaohs in Egypt, in the middle of this desert area, a large oasis stretched the city of Per-Baset, where there was a bazaar, and there was trade for everything necessary for farming in oases. There were arranged lodgings for rest, following the caravan route, which delivered all kinds of merchant cargoes – spices, weapons, fabrics and other goods. Separately living in oases families could communicate among themselves only here among the bazaar bustle with an abundance of foreign strange goods…

Chapter Two

About the reign of Cleopatra VII written many historical works, staged theatrical plays, and filmed by the famous film studios of the world of films. But not one of this literary historical works from the life of the rulers of Egypt does not mention how in those distant times there was gold mining, which exceeded in comparison with the current annual catch taken together in the whole world. The priests carefully concealed this secret, passing from one high priest to another. However, the manuscript with a detailed description of the method of extraction, stored in the library of Alexandria, was partially destroyed in the grandiose fire. Of the remains of the surviving sheets, only partial elements of the gold mining method were known. There it was stated that for the production of gold is necessary to collect quartz sand containing microscopic impregnations of gold dust particles in Singing the sands…

It was the end of the month of Mehir (December) day of 57 BC. This year was coming to an end, but what did Pharaoh of Egypt in exile Ptolemy XII Avlet achieve? Only the decision of the Senate of the Roman Republic to allocate troops, but under whose command? And he decides to take control of his return to the throne of Egypt.

«Come to me, Cleopatra.» – Avlet looked toward his daughter, who was sitting in an armchair with a scroll of an ancient manuscript. The princess got up, carefully put the scroll on the table, where scrolls were piled up, went to her father.

«We are leaving for Ephesus tomorrow.» First to Naples, and then by sea to Ephesus, there I will secretly from Rome receive reports from faithful merchants on the state of affairs in Alexandria. I told Pompey about this, he approved my decision. The troops with cavalry already stand in Antioch under the command of Commander Avla Gabinia. Pompey wrote an order to Avla, whom the senate would appoint the governor of Rome in Syria. Now my task is to persuade Gabinius to invade Egypt, relying on the decision of the Senate to give me troops.

– Something I cannot believe that Rome is on our side? After all, Aulus Gabinius is not yet a consul or a deputy of Rome in Syria. – Cleverly Cleopatra said.

«Oh, my daughter, you’re smart beyond my years.» But I’m sure in Pompeii if this man said that Aulus will become the proconsul of Syria, and then so be it. The power of money and the efforts of the first Triumvirate will do their thing, I do not doubt it. And on the bribery of the senators, in order to get the right decision, I had to borrow a lot of money, which I owed to the usurer Rabiria Postum.

«And where will you take the money to settle with the creditor?» the daughter asked restlessly.

«I promised Rabiria the position of treasurer in my kingdom and more…» Avet hesitated, looked suspiciously at his daughter’s eyes. Cleopatra insisted:

– This robber will rob Egypt and what a good rebellion of commoners will arise.

– This is not true. The treasury of Egypt will cover any costs, the main thing will return to the throne and punish lovers to arrange riots. There will be no instigators, there will be no riots. – noted Ptolemy XII. The daughter agreed with him…

In Ephesus, Pharaoh and his daughter stopped at the church in the temple of Artemis. Ministers, priests of the temple of Artemis, were aware of the deposed pharaoh of Egypt, the high priest, Zeus governor on earth, Ptolemy XII, and had a good reception for him and his daughter…

It was 56 BC, the senate with energetic efforts of Pompey and generous bribes of protesting senators, granted Aul Gabinius consulate and appointed him viceroy of Rome in Syria. This was necessary to bring the restoration of the reign of Ptolemy XII closer. In the minds of the noble husbands of Rome, the idea was to get Egypt as its province with Pharaoh’s return to the throne. And this event could have happened already in this year 56, but the gods of Olympus prevented this achievement, postponing indefinitely the return of the throne to Ptolemy XII. Zeus said his word by striking lightning at the statue of Jupiter in the temple on the Albanian mountain. The priests of the temple turned to the interpretation of this sinister omen to the Sibylline books. Of course, it was not without bribing the priests in favor of opponents of the decision of the Roman Senate on the return of the pharaoh to the throne of Egypt. And the college of priests who kept the Sibylline books, found the interpretation of this: «If the Egyptian king turns for help, do not deny him friendship, but do not give troops, because you will expose yourself to many difficulties and dangers.»

Such an interpretation was in favor of opponents who prevented Ptolemy XII from returning to the throne as soon as possible, and, of course, there was interference. Debates in the Senate were conducted without end, new and new solutions were offered. Lentulle, a few months ago instructed to restore Ptolemy on the throne, has already left for the province Cilicia in Asia Minor and with impatience waited for the final decision. His well-wisher Cicero regularly sent him letters to this remote mountainous country. But no matter how he wanted it, he could not say anything comforting. The situation got confused, there were so many different opinions in the Senate that even this famous rhetorician and philosopher, who was listened to, could not shift the stubbornness of most senators. Meanwhile time moved inexorably forward…

Ptolemy XII woke up early before sunrise. His rays did not yet color the columns of the temple of Artemis when he went out to the seaport of the port. In the morning haze at the pier, there were ships from different countries. Here in Ephesus at the junction of the sea trade routes, which followed the merchants, was a brisk trade. Ephesus in his prosperity was largely due to Rome, and in particular to the commander Gneya Pompey Magnus, who freed the Mediterranean Sea from pirate domination. The whole coast of Cilicia was cleared of this evil and this gave a surge in trade not only in Ephesus but also in the Roman Republic itself, as merchants from all the coastal countries reached Rome. Chinese silks and Persian carpets, jewelry from India, Japanese porcelain and much that is necessary in everyday life appeared here…

Avlet loved to make walks by the port. He wore a snow-white tunic, sandals on his feet, wore constant beads in his hands, an old flute behind him, which he inherited from his father with the secret of her magical sound. Moving through the black large pearls of the beads, it was easier to think and the thoughts came to order. He could not sleep for a long time. He was drawn to Egypt. To your palace.

To my favorite pastime of playing the flute before the singing choir of the singing churches, where amidst the farm buildings of the courtyard, coal pits that burn gold-bearing ore delivered by slaves from the stony desert were smoking. There, gold bars were melted under monotonous chorus choruses and flute chords. In the special mood of the sound of the ancient flute Avleta, and the chorus singing, sound vibrations arose, resonating in the atoms of microscopic particles of gold contained in quartz grains of sand. When melting on charcoal in a kiln of quartz sand, under the sound of the chorus and flute, gold begins to manifest itself from the ether, merging in a resonant interaction with the gold atoms contained in the grains of sand, into a chemically pure alloy, displacing molten quartz, like slag to the surface of liquid gold. Gold from the invisible ether repeatedly increased the microparticles of the inclusions of gold in the sand, producing gold in the melt of ordinary quartz sand into untold riches of Egypt. It’s terrible to imagine what could happen to the Egyptian treasury in case of publicity, this secret of gold mining. But in the world nothing just happens so and Pharaoh Ptolemy XII, the bearer of secret, had to derive the mocking nickname of Avlet (Flute), who idly spent his life amusing himself with playing the flute and singing a choir of singing beautiful maidens with divine voices. Some of the slaves of the chorus girls shared a bed with Avtel. One of these concubines gave birth to Avletu illegally born child, a daughter whom Ptolemy XII called Cleopatra…

Avet missed the palace, playing the flute, singing the choir, in a rhythm that multiplied the gold reserve of Egypt, and, of course, his beautiful choristers-concubines. About the people, About his needs, this ruler did not think…

In 55 BC, ignoring the decision of the Senate on the appointment of the Commander of the troops of Rome, the commander of the proconsul Aulus Gabinius took over and invaded Egypt, restoring Ptolemy XII on the throne. Now all the Romans, who had borrowed money for Avet while living in exile, began to pester the unfortunate Tsar with demands to pay. The main creditor was Rabiri Postum, and to settle with him, Avlet was forced in the spring of 54 to make him a diyoke, that is, head of the entire financial administration of the kingdom…

Chapter Three

Cleopatra entered the throne room to her father, when he signed his decisions, which Rubirius gave him. The sums were impressive on the financial papyri, which the pharaoh signed, without going into the content. The daughter entered her patiently waited at the door when her father finally finished signing papyri and Rabiri Postum would leave. It seemed that the infinity was behind the slow movements of the treasurer, and there would be no end to it. Cleopatra could not stand it, she came closer:

«Father, the caravan is waiting.» It’s already noon, and we agreed to depart early in the morning.

«Cases have detained me, as you can see.» Ptolemy looked with a smile at Rabiri’s eyes, a spark of mockery flashed through them. The full face of the usurer, at the same time, blurred in a satisfied and obsequious smile.

«Your divine greatness, are you leaving?» Where, keep the path, let me ask you?

Avlet smiled, expectantly peering at the small, cunning eyes of Postum. He could not stand the sight of Pharaoh, silently, bowed and quickly left the room.

Theo’s call came at the very moment when Kshatra was analyzing the way of extracting gold from the Absolute (Ether) in the manuscript, the remains that he managed to extract from the ashes of the burnt library in Alexandria. The manuscript ended in the technique of singing a special sacred mantra to the sounds of a flute, like the one played by the Supreme Lord Krishna, as shown in the scripture of the Bhagavad-gita. In the picture, Krishna is depicted playing a flute among the paradise vegetation that grows in the evergreen garden on its divine paradise planet.

«I greet you Kshatra. This is Theo.»

– «I’m all the attention of your supremacy». – Answered the priest.

«Waiting for you, there is a problem that we must solve on the outside surface.» When can you come?»

«In thirty minutes I will.» – Answered Ksatr. Telepathic communication was interrupted, silence reigned in the office of the two-story Kshatra mansion, where his office was located on the second floor.

Exactly at the designated time, Kshatr opened the door to the representation of the Supreme Curator of the Solar System of the Milky Way Galaxy.

In the room with a pink soft and steady glow, where Kshatra had two robots guard, a long-haired gray-haired sage sat at the desk.

– Greetings, your supremacy! – Entering, said Ksatr.

The curator looked at the priest who had entered. The frail little growth of Kshatra, every time he crossed the threshold of the branch of the Representation, aroused bewilderment in Theo’s gaze. The curator could not get used to this discrepancy of the great power of this man with his weak appearance. After a brief pause, Theo replied:

– Greetings. Come in, sit down, and I’m sorry that I summoned you, Kshatr, here to your representative office, but the question is extremely important and not for extraneous ears… With these words, Theo expounded the essence of the problem with which Kshatr had to cope and decide. The priest listened attentively to what was required of him, and then replied:

«How can I act in the role of Onisius, when Pompey will write the order and send the captain from» Artemis «to Ptolemy XII? Asked the priest in surprise.

– To you, Ksatr does not make sense, worries. Where you stand before Pharaoh, Rome will be far away, and in the protection of his divine Majesty, by that time, there will be no more Roman. Your name Onesius, will help you to enter the tent of Pharaoh without hindrance. There will be a dialogue with Avtet and he will accept you, and the amulet lost by Alexander the Great, you will hand to Pharaoh. You will join the caravan. You’re the mission boils down to not allowing evil intentions to turn the wheel of the history of Egypt against the accession of Cleopatra after Ptolemy XII Avlet, her father…

«It’s not for nothing that God Shiva on the night of the full moon on the eve of the spring equinox is dancing his famous dance to Tandav…» Theo interrupted him, snatching it, with a remark:

– Dance destroys the demonic power, destroys the creatures of evil.

«And in that case, the Amonite religion was an antipode or the opposite of Hinduism, and the priests are the ancestors of a tribe driven from Hindustan…

– Ancestors, this tribe, were asuras and demons. – Added Theo again.

– And the temples of Amun in ancient Egypt have always been the bearers of the cult of black magic…

Avlet decided to avoid confusion because of the Romans’ excesses, their arbitrariness, because of the forced appointment of a Roman rich merchant to the post of tsarist treasurer. This appointment was dictated by the huge monetary debts of Avlet, which he collected from Rabinia in exile to bribe the senators of Rome. Post Rapion, becoming a full-fledged master of the Egyptian treasury, robbed the people, imposing excessive taxes on each and every Egyptian. The discontent of the people increased with each new collection of taxes, heating up the impoverished people of Egypt, which sooner or later could explode as a riot. Anticipating the imminent threat to his rule. And, to propitiate the superstitious people, who passionately believed in the justice of the gods ruling Egypt. Avlet declared a pilgrimage to the oasis of the supreme god Amun. Announcing to the officials that he is going for the advice of the Oracle of the temple of Amun to the oasis of Siva, and calling upon his attendants to observe prudence, he will leave for the oasis of Amun. Like Alexander the Great, who visited the Oracles in his time in the oasis, Pharaoh intended to ask what is expected of Egypt after his return and accession to the throne. But in fact Ptolemy XII wanted to avoid losing power, foreseeing impending turmoil, enabling the people to throw off the yoke of the Romans and already return to Alexandria cleared of Rome’s legionaries. And so it was, before the end of the year 54, the popular uprising had banished Rabiria from Alexandria, but only after he had enriched himself and placed his acquired place in a safe place beyond the sea. The hostile party towards him in Rome gave Rabiria to court. Cicero defended Postum Rubiria, and his speech has survived to this day. However, history has not preserved what the verdict was handed down to him…

Meanwhile, in the spring of 54, having equipped a caravan with numerous guards and servants, the pharaoh set out on the road. To protect Gnaeus, Pompey ordered Antony to provide escorts to Ptolemy XII and protect him on the way. On this occasion, Avlet did not want to be surrounded by Roman legionaries, and refused the Roman guard, having recruited a group of Egyptians who proved themselves in the invasion of Egypt. Anthony stayed in Alexandria, and soon departed for Syria, as the trial of the self-proclaimed proconsul of Syria Gabinius. The territory of Syria remained without proper Roman control. Upon learning of the refusal of Aulus in the Roman guard, Pompey was indignant. He angrily went to the back-front of his villa, catching the fear of servants and slaves serving this beautiful house-refuge and a symbol of his power, where negotiations and receptions were conducted with the necessary and influential people, clothed not only by the Roman authorities, but also subject to Rome territories of neighboring states. Gnaeus Pompey sensed with some intuitive instinct that not only the pharaoh rushes to a remote oasis, only with the purpose of pilgrimage to the temple of Amun, to pay homage to the Oracle and ask About his further destiny and the fate of Egypt. But the fact that Avlet refuses to accept the protection of Rome, also confirms that the pilgrimage to the oasis of Amun is accomplished by Pharaoh for a different purpose. What is the true visit to the temple complex of Amon Ra in the oasis of Siva? This mystery haunted Pompey. And in order to find out About everything connected with the journey of Ptolemy XII, Gnaeus Pompey decided to withdraw from his flotilla the captain of the vessel Aphrodite Onesius, the best of best of his warriors and instruct him to accompany the caravan of Pharaoh. He thought for a long time and was tormented by this idea and even ordered the captain to come to his country villa. Before the order to the captain, he would go to Alexandria to the palace of Ptolemy XII, Pompey decided to discuss with Onisius a mission. When the consul sketched out briefly what was required of the captain, he replied:

«I am a simple soldier of your flagship Aphrodite; I will carry out any order of yours, Commander.» But I heard rumors that Avlett refused to guard the horsemen of Rome at the head of Antony, whom you commanded to accompany the caravan of Pharaoh, to the oasis of Siva? – said Onesius.

– It’s true. – Confirmed Pompey.

«I want to emphasize, Commander, that your dignity is above Abet’s vagaries, and your honor will be saved if I do not accompany the Pharaoh’s caravan.»

«Yes, you are, as usual, right, Onesius.» Pompey said with a deep sigh. «Return to Naples on your ship…»

«Do not you want to include even the trusted warrior Anthony in the guard?» – Learning About the refusal of his father Pompey, sending Mark Antony, commander of the Roman cavalry in Rome, said to his father Cleopatra. To which Avlet replied:

«This will not please the Oracle.» There is the sanctuary of Amon Ra, and the sacred place of the Oracle that keeps Egypt from foreign ruin. How can I take Romans with me as a guard?

«Father, but you can take it without his horsemen, Antony alone, as a mercenary, making your personal guard, consisting of experienced Egyptian warriors.» – Insisted her daughter – I saw him shoot with an arrow, how he manages the cavalry. He is a brave warrior and, moreover, he serves under the command of the proconsul of Rome, Gnaeus Pompeius, who saved your throne and you. Antony is loyal to you, like Rome! – Vehemently protested her daughter’s decision.

«I will not take a single Roman.» – Solidly stood on his Avlet.

Cleopatra did not lag behind, annoying her father:

– You know how, it will be honorable for him and your rear will be under reliable protection from enemies who want your death and want to conquer Egypt.

Ptolemy thought a little and to soften somehow his decision, vaguely replied to his daughter:

– Yes, daughter, you are very smart and every year you become smarter. Egypt will be in safe hands under your rule.

Cleopatra blushed slightly, and then bowed and left the throne room of the palace…

A richly equipped caravan of numerous guards on twelve loaded camels departed from Alexandria by the Mediterranean coast in the direction of Libya, to the Egyptian city of Mersa Matruh.

This city-port is located on the shores of the horseshoe-shaped bay of the Mediterranean Sea, which from the left joins the Gulf of El-Garam, fenced off from the sea by a natural dam. And in this port city remote from Alexandria, the traditions of the Egyptians were still strong, to perceive the power of the pharaoh, as the authority of the deity on earth, given by heaven, for the prosperity and power of the Egyptian kingdom. Therefore, Avlet was greeted with honors and offerings by noble officials, whom flattered the visit of such an expensive ruler.

Before moving the caravan trail of the Sahara to the oasis of Amun, the accompanying caravan of the servant changed the camels, and in three days, which the pharaoh held in the city palace, where the quarters for the noble guests were arranged, and, instructing local officials that they did not fail to complain About excessive taxes the tsarist treasury, set off early in the morning…

Twelve camels slowly moved stony desert one after another, led by the driver-conductor, the Egyptian of the Greek origin Creon. On one of the camels is fixed on four bamboo prop bushes awning. Silk curtains, light like butterfly wings, covered the princess Cleopatra from the rays of the desert sun. Wrapped from head to foot in blue embroidered clothes of women of the province of Ammonius, which is located in the oasis of Amun, fifteen-year-old Cleopatra was reliably protected from hot rays. A mounted detachment of selected Egyptian warriors with pyrites of arrows and battle bows on their backs walked on foot with their horses to follow the camels. Horses, people, and six sheep, moved leisurely along the caravan route of Mersa Matruh, an oasis of Amun. In front of the caravan on a white bay in apples, in a white Arabic robe with embroidered gold threads from below at the very heels and in a white turban, covering the head, forehead, face, except for the eyes, went the pharaoh. His black horse Orchid followed, on a leash for the bridle to the saddle of the pharaoh without harness. Ptolemy shore of the horse, knowing how much he needed, had to spend physical and spiritual strength in exile to regain the throne, and in the long journey of the desert, everything can become, and it may be that the last hope for the salvation of his daughter and daughter will be the faithful Orchid. On either side of the pharaoh, two warriors, in white long robes and turban, were leading their horses for bridle. The three horsemen are sent forward for reconnaissance. Trade caravans were often attacked by robbers, on this stretch of the road, as the city of Mersa Matruh, at that time, was a rich trading port, where brisk merchandise trade from all over the Mediterranean basin was…

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: