The Life and Times of Bonnie Chance

Lunar Eclipse

According to the ancient scriptures, the area near Mount Sinai was home to some of the biggest quarries circa 4,000 B.C. Memphis was visiting at a much later date, but the quarry was still in operation.

"Today, the pharaoh himself is visiting to inspect the conditions of this place... Long live His Majesty!" the person in charge of the quarry Memphis and Minue were visiting announced to all the workers. There were cheers of 'Long live the pharaoh!' Some of the workers were shocked to see Memphis there in person.

"Increase the guards for His Majesty, understand?" one of the soldiers who came with Memphis told the guards at the quarry.

"I have waited long for this opportunity! Get ready!" one man, who was wearing a turban and watching from a high ledge, told another. "Hehe."

"That's his majesty the pharaoh! Ooh la la!" a woman who was passing out water said.

"He is so handsome!" another woman said.

"Supervisor, tell me... how goes the production of copper?" Memphis asked.

"Your Majesty, it is going very well!" the supervisor answered. "Please take a look! We have just discovered a large deposit at this spot!" He showed Memphis where the deposit was on the map of the quarry.

"I want to see the site myself!" Memphis said.

"At this moment, Your Majesty?" the supervisor asked as a woman offered Memphis a drink. "Your Majesty has traveled a long way. Won't you rest?"

"Damn! He has come sooner than I've expected. I haven't prepared everything yet!" the man in the turban said. "But it is good that we have this chance," he told his two turbaned companions. "It is very hard to get close to him! King Ragash ordered us to infiltrate the laborer's camp to await an occasion when Memphis would arrive... then kill him! That occasion has arrived! It's hard to choose a time to put the plan into action! That guard, Minue, constantly follows him!"

"Oh my! The winds are picking up!" Memphis said. "Are the stonecutters not concerned about the upcoming eclipse?"

"No, Your Majesty. They believe that you will prevail!" the supervisor said. "We are only worried for our queen!" That reminded Memphis how much he missed her and how frustrated he was.

"I beg of you people... get back to work!" Memphis said.

"Listen here, his Majesty is still sad and forbids anyone from reminding him of the queen!" Minue said quietly to the supervisor.

'My heart is a burning flame!' Memphis thought. "If an eclipse will truly occur in Babylon, will Carol really return safely to me?" He imagined Carol saying, 'Memphis, I miss you!' 'If I were not so busy with administering the kingdom, I would go to Babylon to bring you back, my love!' he thought.

—∞—

In Babylon, Carol thought she heard Memphis say he would come bring her back.

'You will fall into Ragash's evil trap! No! Please don't go to Babylon...' Carol thought. She was standing by Rasgash's side while the priests performed a ceremony. 'Ragash thinks that I am his protector from the catastrophe, and he has me under strict guard!'

"The ceremony will be as follows: the arms and legs of the king shall be sealed inside a box. That will drive the bad luck away!" Rimusim said, holding up the box.

'My history textbooks told me of this matter...' Carol thought. 'This ceremony has also been rewritten on clay tablets! I think they are still preserved in museums! They did exactly as stated on the tablets!'

"Do not take even a single step away from me, understand?" Ragash asked Carol. He was very afraid that an eclipse would occur—his life was hanging in the balance. That was why he must always have Carol alongside. He viewed her as a goddess of protection.