«The Supreme Guardian is waiting for you.» Go straight to you meet the high priest. Ill take the donkey, Ill give him food, the laws of hospitality are sacred here, just like our land in the oasis of Amun Ra.
With these words of a servant, Kshatr, from a sack loaded on a donkey, took out the bundle wrapped in soft linen cloth, and then handed the donkey reins to the temple attendant and began to walk up the steps to the doorway of the entrance to the sanctuary. From here, from the staircase, the interior of the room was not visible, the blackness of the door opening, an impenetrable curtain hanging over the entrance leading into the sanctuary. Kshatr entered the room. The eyes that kept the bright light of the suns rays, did not see anything around.
«What are you asking, guest from the desert?» the voice of an invisible person who addressed him unexpectedly, sounded out of this darkness, made him start in surprise. Ksatr turned his head mechanically to the speakers side. Through the scattering gloom, as the eyes became accustomed, a figure of the high priest Ur Hem Neter appeared in a white, long toe-robed apparel. Below, near the ankles, along the perimeter of the clothing was a red wide with human palm embroidery strip with a woven golden thread, which gave the clothes of the keeper of the temple of the Oracle a rich decoration. The same embroidery ended with wide sleeves at the wrists of the hands. The head of the priest was clean-shaven. The eyes were summed up in black, emphasizing the gleam of the pupils, which made it difficult to tear off the view, which gave the priest a hypnotic advantage of influencing the interlocutor and the ability to subordinate him to his will. The room was cool and full of spicy honey smells, mixed with the smell of wax and incense incense.
Greetings to you a descendant of the tribe of the priests expelled from the temple of Shiva Nataraja, that in Hindustan and who found refuge here in the oasis of Amun. I am the supreme priest of the temple of Lord Shiva from the shores of the Indus, brought you a sacred gift that must be preserved in the labyrinth of treasures, along with priceless treasures stored in the bowels of this sacred place. Accept and preserve this divine gift there. With these words, Kshatr unfolded the cloth, and the crown gleamed with a pomegranate ruby sparkle, the stones interspersed with leaves in a frame of black metal.
About! cried the high priest of the god Amon. «This is the Black Crown of the Gods!» This priceless relic should be kept here in the temple of the god Zeus-Amon Ra! he wailed excitedly.
Authors note:
From the ancient papyrus, the description of the Crown of the Gods «On a narrow round hoop of black metal, thin, rounded, broadened at the ends black bipartite leaves bent outward. In the three sheets of a slightly larger size, apparently marked the crown, sparkling large scarlet stones, apparently rubies. Above the leaves, the bands of the same black metal were folded inwards. Ahead, where there were rubies, the strip ended with protruding teeth. On each side on the ground, which corresponded to the head on the head, golden discs were embedded in strips. In the center of each disc there were sticks of strange gray color, in the form of short posts, with flat ground ends. They dazzled brilliantly in the sunlight, eclipsing the burning of rubies. Exactly the same stones were embedded in the back strips, joined by two arms above the parietal part of the ornament.
A careful glance could be noticed that the special brilliance of the gray crystals came from the small particles scattered inside the clouds with metallic mirror-like ebb.»
I am forced to bring this sacrifice here in this place, where the greatest commander of Alexander the Great, the Oracle called the son of the god Zeus-Amon Ra! And the Black Crown of the Gods is meant for a man whose veins are the blood of the gods.
You, the repository of the relics of the gods, doubted the predictions of the Oracle? The threatening voice rumbled high priest.
«No, I do not enter into disputes with the gods, for they lead the destinies of mortals.» I brought this gift for storage in a labyrinth of treasures, and ask to place the Black Crown of the Gods in the vault. Kshatr demanded to the keeper.
I cannot do this, because I do not have a second key to open the door to the labyrinth of treasures. The second key must be kept by Pharaoh of Egypt Ptolemy XII. «Pompously with arrogance,» answered the priest, looking contemptuously at the stranger.
«It dislikes, and then there is a second copy of the keys.» Those who built the labyrinth certainly took care of this. "Kshatra thought bitterly, and said aloud:
«Today, on the night of the vernal equinox of the twentieth day of the month of Pakhon, Ptolemy XII will be here.» His caravan is approaching the oasis. Give him honors worthy of his royal person. And lead to the labyrinth. Show all the treasures. Give him the opportunity to replenish the treasury, to restore the power of Egypt. And after the place of Ptolemy XII will be occupied by Cleopatra VII, his daughter, do not interfere with replenishing the treasury in times of distress and her. The second half of the key, unlocking the door to the treasury, is with the king, he took him on the road.
Your priceless relic, oh, the high priest of the temple of Shiva Nataraja, for us it is the divine sign of the god Amon Ra, which gives us the right to keep the crown of the gods. And I, Ur Hem Noether is the supreme keeper of the Oracle temple in the oasis of Siva, I promise you to put a relic of the gods in the vault. We will render a worthy welcome to Ptolemy XII, and his daughter Cleopatra.
Learning About the pilgrimage of Ptolemy XII to the Oracle of the Temple of Zeus-Amon Ra, he replaced the majestic rhetoric of contempt for a constructive dialogue, and the supreme minister of the temple of Amon Ra, the messenger of Kshatra, was warmer.
I have to you, oh, the most worthy of the worthy Ur Hem Noether, you are the one who speaks with God Amon Ra, and bears the title of the Oracle, which gives you the right to broadcast in the name of the god Zeus-Amon. I need to take in the treasury a little food of the gods, to maintain the strength of the pharaoh, as I will watch his health in the desert.
«I already told you that I do not have a second key from the secret door to the treasury, but I have what you are asking for.» How much do you need? «The priest looked inquiringly into Kshatras eyes, waiting for an answer.
«Put me thirty beats (a measure equal to 7.5 grams) of Ambrosia.»
Ur Hem Heter made a sign to the attendant. He approached, bending to the ear of the approaching servant; the high priest whispered something in his ear. Having received the instruction, the minister withdrew. After a while, the returning servant handed the bag with the contents to the high priest.
«Thats what you asked for.» Pulling a bag of soft leather Kshatra, said Ur Hem Noether, Here thirty shat Ambrosia, may God save Amon Ra Pharaoh of Egypt.
Passing the Crown of the Gods and with a bag of fiscal gold, which in ancient Egypt was called Ambrosia, received from the high priest of the Temple of the Oracle of Amon Ra, Kshatr stepped down the stairs. There, with a donkey, the servant of the temple was waiting for him. He handed Kshatru the donkeys reins, bowing low, expressing his respect for such an important guest. Kshatr led the obedient animal to the market square and sold the donkey, slapping his palms on the sides for the last time. The new owner asked:
«Dervish, are you not taking all your bags?»
There are medicinal herbs and overseas fragrant tea. Dilute with hot water and prepare a pleasant, thirst quencher. To me anymore what for. Kshatr answered, removing from the donkey a leather bag full of bundles. «Everything else thats on it is yours, and tea and herbs.»
I respect the tea here for a fortune; I cannot accept such an expensive product. frightened the new owner of the donkey.
You have nothing to worry About, I did not steal this tea, well, you want, take this gift from me as a tribute to you. I am a rich man and I have everything, even if you have a little good for the soul of the goods, it will be pleasant for me to remember that my donkey is in good and good hands. Kshatr said warmly, throwing his bag on his shoulder, and again turned to the merchant: «Tell me, good man, can you buy a good young camel?»
Yes. Youll go through the bazaar, behind it there will be a corral for the cattle, where the merchants sell good pack and race camels. There you will find anyone that suits you. The new owner of the donkey answered, patting the animal on the sides.
«Im very grateful to you, kind man.» Now I see that my donkey is in good hands.
«Well, if you say so, Ill accept this gift, thank you.» Be happy and all the best to you, kind person. But the money that I gave you for a donkey is not enough to buy a camel; you need to have a fortune for this. With a cunning eyebrow and a smile, the trader answered.
«Do not worry About enough money for this.» Kshatr answered calmly. The merchant surprised Kshatra from head to foot with surprise, counting his response with insolence. He was very puzzled by the poor clothes of the donkeys salesman. But, nevertheless, he began to closely monitor Kshatr, watching which way he would go. And making sure that the poor donkey vendor is moving toward the cattle paddock, he made a sign to the people watching him. Those followed after the man who wanted to buy a camel.
Ksatr carefully examined the camels sold, asked the sellers how often they buy pack animals. The sellers replied that caravans arriving in the oasis needed young and healthy pack animals and that this was not a problem for these places. Kshatr talking with the sellers, surrounded him from all sides, and noticed several people that they came for him and silently, stood at a distance. Deciding that you can always buy a good pack camel, he left the market square.
Kshatr left the capital of the oasis Siva Agurmi, stepping forward to meet the alleged movement of the caravan of the pharaoh. For a while, he watched a string of camels moving toward Agurmi, and then turned to the aircraft standing next to him. I went into it. After a few moments a huge flying saucer soared into the sky and dissolved there, turning into an invisible point
Cleopatra, sitting in the saddle of a camel, removed the curtains from the canopy. Looking impatiently at the misty distance of the stretching barchans, trying first to see the lands of the oasis. Suddenly a bright flash broke out in the blue of the sky and the sky pierced the lightning. She quickly jumped off the camel and rushed headlong to the horse on which Pharaoh was riding. The caravan driver stopped the camels; all froze in superstitious fear, waiting for what Pharaoh would say.
«Father!» Cried the princess, approaching Avletu, Zeus-thundered gives us a sign, you saw the lightning that the star swept over the barchans?! Exclaimed Cleopatra excitedly.
«I did not hear the thunder, its a good sign.» Zeus-Amon Ra gave a friendly gesture to us. This means that we are under his full patronage and that we are on the right track, my daughter. Go, you have nothing to worry About; we will soon be in Agurmi.
Cleopatra, encouraged by the words of Ptolemy, with the help of a guide, sat down under a canopy in the camels saddle, and the caravan moved on. Soon after the barchans at the horizon there were beams of green tops of date palms. The path of the caravan was nearing its end.
At the end of the day a caravan of the pharaoh appeared in the vicinity of the oasis
Kshatr appeared to the Supreme Curator of the Solar System with a report of the work done on Pharaoh Ptolemy XII and his daughter Cleopatra. Entering the Curators residence, he went under the vigilant accompaniment of the security robots to the reception room. Before Kshatr the doors of the door opened, allowing the priest to enter the waiting room. An invisible barrier stopped Kshatra, and immediately he saw on himself a thin ligature of the rays of the scanning device that slid over it, looking for harmful viruses and unwanted objects that could cause harm. When the suspicious was not found, the invisible wall disappeared, and Kshatr walked to the door of the office. As always, at his desk from the green translucent stone sat Curator with a friendly smile.
Greetings to you Supreme Curator Theo! Arrived from the oasis Siva, report on the completed task.
«Greetings, Priest Kshatra.» I know everything youve done and Im grateful.
I am glad to serve the Galactic Coalition for the sake of the prosperity of the Earth and the Solar System.
«Ptolemy will receive a lethal dose of radiation from the radioactive radiation of the Black Crown.» You have to save his life, as long as possible.
Why, your supremacy, the Coalition decided on this step?
Ptolemy XII knowingly bears the nickname Avlet. He is not so much a ruler as an artist. The hope of Egypt in a strong ruler and this ruler will be Cleopatra. And the extinction of her father before her eyes will be a strong incentive to absorb the knowledge of the art of governing a huge country. To preserve independence at the level of the power of Rome. I see in the young princess and the mind, and willpower, and the courage of a strong ruler in preserving the descendants of the civilization of the Phaeton.
What do I have to do next? Ksatr asked.
«Return to Ptolemy as a Witch Doctor.» Extend his life as much as it will be possible after this exposure to the Black Crown
Chapter Seven
It must be stopped! A trip to Hindustan will destroy Alexander the Great. Said the high priest of the temple of the god Marduk. «We, the council of the elders of the supreme temple of the god Marduk in the capital of the Persian kingdom, have gathered you here.» Babylon will receive you the wisest of the wise. You, who have arrived from four corners of the globe, to realize the most important decision. How to stop the bloodshed and suffering of the conquered peoples, in the event that he dies at the peak of his glory? Unavoidably, strife and strife in the lands conquered by them will follow. Speak thou a wise man from the northern latitudes. We adhere to peaceful and noble deeds. And we will never take action that harms a person. I do not want Alexander the Great evil, I can only say that his worst enemy is the fall. Sin can kill. Im sorry for the glorious invincible commander. Ive finished. The wise man inclined his gray head in a sign of sorrow, leaning with both hands on the staff. His long gray hair was strewn across his shoulders, on the gray fabric of his cloak, a long gray beard covered his arms, falling along his staff.
«What do you say, sage from the west?» said the priest in a white Arabian foodie made of soft linen cloth, turning his shaven head to the Chaldean sage.
We are the custodians of knowledge of our people do not wish evil to any of the people. As well as the sage from the northern land, I tend to believe that only sin can bring Macedonian mortal danger. Said the sage, shaking black as a pitch, beard, covered with a black cloak with a hood covering his head.