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h each King's birth。 You know that； of course。 No one counted time itself in terms of centuries。 I'm not sure the simple Egyptian had any sense at ail 。。。 of centuries。〃
Abu Simbel。 They had e at last to the greatest of Ramses' temples。 The shore excursion had been brief on account of the heat； but now the night wind blew cold over the desert。
Stealthily Julie and Ramses climbed down the rope ladder into the dinghy。 She wrapped her shawl tightly over her shoulders。 The moon hung perilously low over the shimmering water。 With the help of a lone native servant； they mounted the camels awaiting them； and rode towards the great temple where stood the largest statues of Ramses the Great in existence。
It was thrilling to ride this mad； terrifying beast。 Julie laughed into the wind。 She dared not look at the ground moving unevenly beneath her。 But she was glad when they came to a halt； and Ramses jumped down and reached up to catch her。
The servant took the beasts away。 Alone they stood； she and Ramses； under the star…filled sky； the desert wind faintly howling。 Far off she saw the lighted tent of their little camp waiting for them。 She saw the lantern shining through the translucent canvas； she saw the tiny campfire dancing in the wind； winking out and then reappearing in a dazzle of yellow brilliance。
Into the temple they walked； past the giant legs of the Pharaoh god。 If there were tears in Ramses' eyes； the wind carried them away； but his sigh she heard。 The faint tremor in his warm hand she felt as she cleaved to him。
They walked on； hand in hand； his eyes roving over the great statues still。
〃Where did you go；〃 she whispered；〃 when your reign had ended？ You gave the throne to Meneptah and then you went away。 。。。〃
〃All over the world。 As far as I dared。 As far as any mortal man had dared。 I saw the great forests of Britannia then。 The people wore skins and hid in the trees to shoot their wooden arrows。 I went to the Far East； I discovered cities which have now pletely vanished； I was just beginning to understand that the elixir worked on my brain as it did on my limbs。 The languages I could learn in a matter of days； I could 。。。 how do you say 。。。 adapt。 But inevitably there came 。。。 confusion；〃
〃How do you mean？〃 she asked。 They had stopped。 They stood on the hard…packed sand。 A great soft light from the starry sky illuminated his face as he looked down at her。
〃I was no longer Ramses。 I was no longer a King。 I had no nation。〃
〃I understand。〃
〃I told myself that the world itself was everything。 What did I need but to wander； to see？ But that was not true。 I had to e back to Egypt。〃
〃And that is when you wanted to die。〃
〃And I went to the Pharaoh； Ramses the Third； and told him that I had been sent to be his guardian。 That is； after I learned that no poison could kilt me。 Not even fire could kill me。 Hurt me； yes； beyond endurance； but kill me； no。 I was immortal。 One draught of the elixir had done this to me。 Immortal！〃
〃Oh； the cruelty of it；〃 she sighed。 But there were things she still did not understand； and yet she dared not ask him。 Patiently she waited for him to tell her。
〃There were many others after my brave Ramses the Third。 Great Queens as well as Kings。 I came when it pleased me。 And I was a legend by then…the human phantom who spoke only to the rulers of Egypt。 It was seen as a great blessing when I appeared。 And of course； I had my secret life。 1 roamed the streets of Thebes； an ordinary man； seeking panions； women； drinking in the taverns。〃
〃But no one knew VOM； or your secret？〃 She shook her head。〃 I don't know how you could bear it。〃
〃Well； I could bear it no more；〃 he said dejectedly；〃 when I finally wrote it down in the scrolls your father found in my secret study。 But in those early days； I was a braver man。 And I was loved； Julie。 You must realize this。〃
He paused； as if listening to the wind。
〃I was worshipped；〃 he went on。〃 It was as if I had died； and bee the very thing I claimed to be。 Guardian of the royal house。 Protector of the ruler； punisher of the bad。 Loyal not to the King； but the kingdom。〃
〃Don't even gods get lonely？〃
He laughed softly。
〃You know the answer。 But you don't understand the full power of the potion that made me what I am。 I myself do not fully prehend。 Oh； the folly of those first years； when I experimented with it like a physician。〃 A look of bitterness came over his face。〃 To understand this world； that's our task； is it not？ And even the simple things elude us。〃
〃Yes； I have no quarrel with that；〃 she whispered。
〃In the hardest moments； I put my faith in change。 I understood it； though no one around me did。〃 This too shall pass；' the old axiom。 But finally I was so 。。。 weary。 So tired。〃
He put his arm around her； closing her against him gently； as they turned and made their way out of the temple。 The wind had died down。 He kept her warm。 She shaded her eyes only now and then from the tiny grains of sand in the air。 His voice was quiet； slow； as he remembered：
〃The Greeks had e into our land。 Alexander； the builder of cities； the maker of new gods。 I wanted only the deathlike sleep。 Yet I was afraid； as any mortal man might be。〃
〃I know；〃 she whispered。 A shiver went through her。
〃I made a coward's bargain finally。 I'd go into the tomb； into the darkness； which I knew by then would mean a gradual weakening and then a deep sleep from which I couldn't wake。 But the priests who served the royal house would know where I lay； and that sunlight could resurrect me。 They would give the secret to each new ruler of Egypt with the warning that if I were awakened； it must be to serve the good of Egypt。 And woe to anyone rash enough to wake me for curiosity only； or with evil intentions； because then I might take my revenge。〃
They passed out of the temple doors； stopping as he looked back and up at the colossal figures seated there。 High above； the King's face was bathed in moonlight。
〃Were you conscious at all as you slept？〃
〃I don't know。 I ask myself this question！ Now and then I'd e close to waking； of that I'm sure。 And I dreamed； oh； how I dreamed。 But whatever I knew； I knew as if in a dream。 There was no urgency； no panic。 And I could not wake myself； you see。 I had no strength to pull the chain that would make the great iron…bound wooden shutter above admit the sunlight。 Maybe I knew what had happened in the world outside。 Surely it did not surprise me to learn it later。 I had bee legend…Ramses the Damned； Ramses the Immortal； who slept in the cave waiting for a brave King or Queen of Egypt to wake him。 I don't think they believed it anymore； not really。 Until 。。。〃
〃She came。〃
〃She was the last Queen to rule Egypt。 And the only one to whom I ever told the full truth。〃
〃But Ramses； did she really refuse the elixir？〃
He paused。 It was as if he didn't want to answer。 Then：
〃In her own way； she refused it。 You see； she couldn't understand finally what it was； the elixir。 Later； she begged me to give it to Mark Antony。〃
〃I see。 It's a wonder I didn't guess it。〃
〃Mark Antony was a man who had destroyed his life and hers also。 But she didn't know what she was asking。 She didn't understand。 She did not realize what such a thing would have meant…a selfish King and Queen with such power。 And the formula； they would have wanted that too。 Would Antony not have wanted immortal armies？〃
〃Good God！〃 she whispered。
Ramses stopped suddenly and moved away from her。 They had e some distance from the temple and he turned back； looking at the giant seated figures again。
〃But why did you write the story in the scrolls？〃 she asked。 She couldn't stop herself。
〃Cowardice； my love。 Cowardice； and the dream that someone would e who would find me and my strange tale； and take the burden of secrecy from my shoulders！ I had failed； my love。 My strength was gone。 And so I slipped into dreams and left the story there 。。。 like an offering to fate。 I could be strong no longer。〃
She came to him and threw her arms around him。 He didn't look at her。 He was looking at the statues still。 The tears were in his eyes。
〃Maybe I dreamed that someday I'd be awakened again； to a new world。 To new and wise beings。 Maybe I dreamed of someone who 。。。 would take the challenge。〃 His voice broke。〃 And I would be the lone wanderer no more。 Ramses the Damned would bee once again Ramses the Immortal。〃
He looked as if his own words had surprised him。 Then he looked down at her and； closing his hands tightly on her shoulders； lifted her as he kissed her。
With her whole soul she yielded。 She felt his arms gathering her up。 She leaned against his chest as he carried her towards the tent； and the flickering firelight。 The stars fell down over the distant shadowy hills。 The desert was a great tranquil sea stretching out on all sides from this sanctuary of warmth which they now entered。
Incense here； the smell of wax candles。 He set her down on silken pillows； on a carpet of dark woven flowers。 The dancing flames