Monday. Steeling myself to venture outside but meet Panchises on the stairs and end up dragged to some lunar celebration in the Egyptian rooms. I don’t know why I agreed; they’re a tedious bunch, and so full of themselves with their fancy coloured coffins. Kantep’s the only one worth talking to so I sit with him for a while, reminiscing about old days. It was his king whose trade routes we used to plunder – I remember one particular ambush, charging down a mountainside in early morning light and their charioteers fighting like women. Seems only right that the king ended up by mistake in a shallow grave somewhere while Kantep the slave got the posh valley tomb. He’s snubbed by the others of course, and we are getting disapproving looks but then Trimalchio rolls in, still blind drunk from his Assyrian evening, and throws up over the host. We manage to extract him from the ensuing uproar and leave him with the monks in the Mediaeval gallery to sleep it off.
At least two encroachments from outside over the last few days. Some folk here already talking about war. I’ve taken to wearing a sword most of the time now.
Comments
fatboy74 | November 14, 2011 - 14:20
Just when you get settled and then it looks like there's a rumble on the horizon. Fills me with hope that inebriation is allowed on the other side. Keep them coming. :-)
Silver Spun Sand | November 14, 2011 - 18:32
I too am encouraged by the fact that, God willing, I won't be missing my G & T of an evening 'on the other side'. Hope they have limes and plenty of ice, though;-)
Seriously though, another little gem, Rob;-)
Tina
rjnewlyn | November 14, 2011 - 23:56
Thanks very much Fatboy and Tina. And many thanks cherry robot. Yes, I'm not too sure of the physiology of it all, but it felt only right to allow them something more than drifting around making draughts and creaky noises.
Rob
rjnewlyn | December 6, 2011 - 23:29
Thanks very much Blighters. Hmm - I've thought about trying that for a while, but it would end up taking on a completely different structure that I'd have to accustomise to. Scary new things ...
Rob
rjnewlyn | December 8, 2011 - 01:11
I'll think about it ...
Sooz006 | May 12, 2012 - 21:55
I know this is firmly set in London, but I spent several days, though sadly no nights, in the National Museum, in Egypt and I can't help placing this lot running around there. If I was there now, I think I'd be looking under a sarcophagus for stray beer cans. In later parts, people have identified with the geography, but I really don't think it matters that much...it just works.
rjnewlyn | May 12, 2012 - 22:03
Thanks Sooz. Yes, geography creeps in but I'm trying to keep it down.
Rob