Ozymandias stood on the palace balcony overlooking the vast public square. He thought about the possibility of designing a similar one in Thebes. Despite being designed and built by barbarians, the architecture wasn't bad.
He raised his hand to silence the crowd and began to speak.
"My conquered foes, my vanquished enemies, my future allies!
Today is a momentous day for Egypt and for you. Today is the day we reveal this splendid statue, a sign of my mercy and your gratitude.
Look at this statue and behold my image. See how I stand firm and strong, holding the sword of conquest and the globe of authority. See how I gaze upon the sky, where the gods smile and nod by my will. See how I wear the crown of gold.
This statue is not only a likeness of me, but a reminder for you. You who have opposed me across the desert and the sea. You who have fought against me in vain. You who have surrendered to me in despair. You who have served me in obedience.
You are my subjects, and I am your king. I have made Egypt the greatest empire in the world. I have brought peace and civilization to your barbaric land. I have created a legacy that will last for eternity.
Do not attempt to challenge my power or my glory. To stand against my might or my wisdom is folly. I am the master of the world, and the world is mine to rule.
But do not despair, for I am Ozymandias, king of kings. I am also generous and benevolent. I offer you a chance to join me in my glory. I promise you that your children will be born as free citizens of Egypt. They will enjoy the rights and privileges of my people. They will share in the wealth and culture of my empire. They will honor me as their father and their lord.
Look on my works, ye conquered, and rejoice!"
General Horemheb fidgeted next to him on the balcony. He wore a look of anxiety and distress, as if he had a bad premonition. He scanned the horizon, where ominous clouds were gathering. They darkened the sky and threatened to unleash a storm. Ozymandias ignored the clouds as a meaningless portent. Today was a glorious day. Soon Thutmose, the new governor, would arrive with his entourage and they could all depart this forsaken land.
Suddenly, a messenger galloped into the square. He was caked in dust and blood, and he looked weary and horrified. He shoved his way through the crowd and reached the base of the balcony. He cried out "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I bear grave news!"
Ozymandias halted his speech and peered down at the messenger. He scowled and demanded "What news? Out with it!"
The messenger gasped "Your Majesty, I come from Thebes. The city has fallen to a horde of enemies. They have smashed the walls, looted the temples, torched the palaces, and butchered the people. They are marching for Ozymandopolis. They seek vengeance for what you did to Kelba."
Ozymandias let his hand fall from his chest and gaped at the messenger in disbelief. His eyes widened and his mouth opened. He stammers "What? How? Who?"
The messenger trembles "Your Majesty, Kelba was not alone. They had allies among the other city states along the sea. They swear to kill seven Egyptians for every ally citizen you killed or enslaved here. They hid their movements so that they could ambush Thebes and strike us by surprise. They are led by King Adad-apla-iddina of Babylon. They call themselves the League."
Ozymandias clenched his fists and screamed "Impossible! How dare they! How could they! I will crush them! I will destroy them! I will make them pay!" He pounded his chest, his face fiery red, and stamped his feet.
General Horemheb stepped forward and tried to calm him down. He placed his hand on his shoulder and said in a low voice "Your Majesty, please listen to reason. We cannot fight them here. We are outnumbered and outmatched. We must retreat to Egypt and defend our homeland. We must abandon Kelba."
Ozymandias was reluctant and angry. He shook off his hand and glared at him. He said in a loud voice "Abandon Kelba? Never! This is my land now! I will not give it up without a fight!"
General Horemheb said "Your Majesty, there is no time for pride or stubbornness. If we stay here, we will die here. And so will Egypt. Think of your people, your family."
Ozymandias looked at his statue and hesitated. He saw his own image staring back at him, proud and defiant. He felt a surge of emotion and said "My statue...my statue is the proof of my greatness. It will stand for ages as a testament to my power and glory. It will inspire awe and fear in all who see it. It will make them remember me as Ozymandias, king of kings."
He turned away from the statue and whispered to himself:
What have I done? What have I gained? What have I lost? I came here to save Egypt, but I have brought disaster. I built this statue to leave my mark on history. But what have I achieved? Nothing but destruction and hatred, nothing but ruin and regret. I have wasted my time and my resources, I have sacrificed my people and my soldiers, I have endangered my family and my empire. And for what? For this statue? This cold and lifeless stone? This vain and empty monument? Will this statue save me from the wrath of the League? Will this statue protect me from the judgment of the gods? Will this statue comfort me in my old age? No, it will not. It will only mock me and remind me of my folly. It will only stand as a witness to my failure and my shame.
He shook his head and said aloud, "If we leave now, my statue will be torn down by the Kelbans."
General Horemheb said "Your Majesty, your statue is indeed magnificent. But it is not worth more than your life or your empire. It is not worth more than the lives of your people or your soldiers. It is not worth more than the future of Egypt."
Ozymandias was silent for a moment. He realized that General Horemheb was right, but he still felt unbearable regret and resentment. He said "But how can I leave Kelba? How can I abandon what I have conquered and built? How can I let them take away what is mine?"
"We must go back to Egypt," General Horemheb said. "You must forget about Kelba. The pot is broken. There's no point in weeping over it."
Ozymandias sighed and nodded reluctantly. He said "Very well. Let us go back to Egypt. We must save what we can."
General Horemheb said "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will order the troops to prepare for departure." He saluted and turned to leave.
YOU ARE READING
Colossal Legs of Stone
Historical FictionOzymandias 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...
