Ozymandias sat on his makeshift throne; a wooden chair covered with leopard skin. He was surrounded by maps and scrolls that showed his route across the desert and his plans for the conquest of Kelba. His dark eyes looked tired and weary.
He heard a call at the tent flap, a piece of camel hide that served as the entrance to his temporary dwelling. He raised his voice and said: "Enter."
A soldier entered the tent. He was young and thin, with sunburnt skin and ragged clothes. He saluted his lord by touching his forehead with his right hand. "Your majesty."
Ozymandias looked at him with curiosity and asked: "What is your name, soldier?"
"I am Ahiqar, son of Kheti, from the city of Memphis."
"And what brings you to my tent, Ahiqar?"
The soldier hesitated for a moment. "I have come to request your permission to leave the army, your majesty."
Ozymandias frowned. "Leave the army? Why?"
The soldier lowered his eyes. "Because I can no longer bear this journey, your majesty. It is too much for me. I am not a warrior; I am a farmer. I have a wife and a child waiting for me in Memphis. I miss them terribly. I want to go back to them."
Ozymandias felt a surge of anger. "You want to desert, Ahiqar?"
The soldier shook his head. "No, your majesty. I do not want to desert. I want to be honorably discharged. I have served you faithfully. I have fought bravely in the battle with the nomads. I have never disobeyed an order or shirked a duty. But I have reached my limit, your majesty. I beg you to let me go."
Ozymandias stared at him with disbelief. "Do you know what you are asking, Ahiqar? Do you know what it means to leave the army in the middle of a campaign? Do you know what it would do to the morale of your comrades? Do you know what it would do to my reputation as a king?"
The soldier nodded. "I know, your majesty. I know it is a great offense. I know it is a dishonor. I know it is a risk. But I also know that I have nothing left to give, your majesty. I am exhausted, hungry and hopeless. I have seen too much death and suffering. I have lost too much faith and joy. I have no more strength or courage to continue."
Ozymandias felt a pang of pity and compassion for the soldier. He knew that he was not alone in his feelings. He knew that many of his men were suffering from the hardships of the desert. He knew that some of them had died or deserted along the way. He knew that some of them had lost their will or their sanity.
He decided to show him something that might change his mind. He stood up and walked to the tent flap. He gestured for Ahiqar to follow him. "Come with me, Ahiqar. I want to show you something."
They exited the tent and walked into the desert evening. They were surrounded by the tents and campfires of the army, but no one seemed to notice them. They walked towards a hill that overlooked the horizon.
Ozymandias pointed at the star, the brightest one in the sky.
"Do you see that star, Ahiqar?" he asked.
"Yes, your majesty," the soldier replied.
"That is Sirius, the dog star. The star of Isis, the goddess of life and magic. The star that guides us to our destiny."
"I see," the soldier said.
Ozymandias felt a surge of excitement and wonder as he gazed at the star. He imagined what lay beyond it, what lay beyond the desert.
"Do you know what lies beyond that star, Ahiqar? What lies beyond the desert?" he asked.
"No, your majesty," the soldier said.
"Look down, my son, just below the star of Isis, do you see a hint of silver, just at the horizon?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Do you know what it is?"
"No."
"That is the Zeret river. The boundary to the lands to the west. Rich and well-watered, with rivers, forests, and mountains. It may be inferior to our land, but it is still a land of cities and temples and palaces. A land of gold and silver and jewels. A land of spices and silk and perfume. A land of music and art and literature. A land of wisdom and culture and civilization."
"It sounds beautiful, your majesty," the soldier said.
"It is beautiful, Ahiqar. And it is ours for the taking. All we have to do is cross this desert and reach that star."
"But how far is it, your majesty? How long will it take?" the soldier asked.
"Not far, Ahiqar. Not long. We are almost there. At the Zeret River we will find fresh water and abundant food. We are close to Kelba, the jewel of the west and the gateway to the rich lands beyond."
"And what of Kelba, your majesty? What do you know of it?" the soldier asked.
"I know enough, Ahiqar. I know that it is a weak and decadent city, ruled by a cowardly king who will surrender at the sight of our banners. I know that it is a ripe fruit waiting to be plucked by our hands. I know that once we take Kelba, we will enjoy its riches and pleasures, and we can return home, knowing that Egypt is safe."
"And what if they resist, your majesty? What if they fight back?" the soldier asked.
"Then we will crush them, Ahiqar. We will crush them like we have crushed all our enemies before. We will show them no mercy, no pity, no remorse. We will show them the power and glory of Egypt. We will show them who we are."
Ozymandias looked at the young man with a fierce and proud expression. "Tell me, Ahiqar. Do you still want to leave?"
The soldier hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head.
"No, your majesty. I do not," he said.
Ozymandias smiled and put his arm around Ahiqar's shoulder.
"Good. Then follow me, Ahiqar. Follow me to victory."
He led him back to the camp, where his men were waiting for him.
YOU ARE READING
Colossal Legs of Stone
Ficción históricaOzymandias had a dream: to create everlasting monuments to his greatness. He devoted his resources and his energy to building magnificent structures that would defy time and decay. But he forgot to care for the living things that surrounded him: his...
