and you. Antony is loyal to you, like Rome! – Vehemently protested her daughter’s decision.
«I will not take a single Roman.» – Solidly stood on his Avlet.
Cleopatra did not lag behind, annoying her father:
– You know how, it will be honorable for him and your rear will be under reliable protection from enemies who want your death and want to conquer Egypt.
Ptolemy thought a little and to soften somehow his decision, vaguely replied to his daughter:
– Yes, daughter, you are very smart and every year you become smarter. Egypt will be in safe hands under your rule.
Cleopatra blushed slightly, and then bowed and left the throne room of the palace…
A richly equipped caravan of numerous guards on twelve loaded camels departed from Alexandria by the Mediterranean coast in the direction of Libya, to the Egyptian city of Mersa Matruh.
This city-port is located on the shores of the horseshoe-shaped bay of the Mediterranean Sea, which from the left joins the Gulf of El-Garam, fenced off from the sea by a natural dam. And in this port city remote from Alexandria, the traditions of the Egyptians were still strong, to perceive the power of the pharaoh, as the authority of the deity on earth, given by heaven, for the prosperity and power of the Egyptian kingdom. Therefore, Avlet was greeted with honors and offerings by noble officials, whom flattered the visit of such an expensive ruler.
Before moving the caravan trail of the Sahara to the oasis of Amun, the accompanying caravan of the servant changed the camels, and in three days, which the pharaoh held in the city palace, where the quarters for the noble guests were arranged, and, instructing local officials that they did not fail to complain About excessive taxes the tsarist treasury, set off early in the morning…
Twelve camels slowly moved stony desert one after another, led by the driver-conductor, the Egyptian of the Greek origin Creon. On one of the camels is fixed on four bamboo prop bushes awning. Silk curtains, light like butterfly wings, covered the princess Cleopatra from the rays of the desert sun. Wrapped from head to foot in blue embroidered clothes of women of the province of Ammonius, which is located in the oasis of Amun, fifteen-year-old Cleopatra was reliably protected from hot rays. A mounted detachment of selected Egyptian warriors with pyrites of arrows and battle bows on their backs walked on foot with their horses to follow the camels. Horses, people, and six sheep, moved leisurely along the caravan route of Mersa Matruh, an oasis of Amun. In front of the caravan on a white bay in apples, in a white Arabic robe with embroidered gold threads from below at the very heels and in a white turban, covering the head, forehead, face, except for the eyes, went the pharaoh. His black horse Orchid followed, on a leash for the bridle to the saddle of the pharaoh without harness. Ptolemy shore of the horse, knowing how much he needed, had to spend physical and spiritual strength in exile to regain the throne, and in the long journey of the desert, everything can become, and it may be that the last hope for the salvation of his daughter and daughter will be the faithful Orchid. On either side of the pharaoh, two warriors, in white long robes and turban, were leading their horses for bridle. The three horsemen are sent forward for reconnaissance. Trade caravans were often attacked by robbers, on this stretch of the road, as the city of Mersa Matruh, at that time, was a rich trading port, where brisk merchandise trade from all over the Mediterranean basin was…
Chapter Four
In the clothes of traveler’s caravan routes of deserts Ptolemy XII made this pilgrimage to the Oasis of the Oasis of Amun, with only one goal – establishing himself on the throne, reviving the faith of the people in the loving and just ruler of the son of Zeus-Amon appointed by the gods to rule over Egypt. His caravan had already reached the town of Secket El Sultan, when twilight came. In the desert, darkness comes suddenly, it’s only necessary for the sun to disappear behind the barchans, and while the disk of light is still hanging near the horizon line and its rays are reddish like copper, they paint the majestic heads of camels and the luggage, still light.
The first clay huts of the inhabitants appeared not far away. In this place the driver of the caravan knew where to water the horses of protection, replenish the water supplies and settle down for the night. The advanced warriors arrived to the pharaoh with a report informing him that the tent that they had taken with them was already installed and the territory inspected and safe. All residents are warned and will not leave their homes until the Seket El Sultan leaves the Pharaoh. The commander of the guard ordered to prepare for a night’s lodging, water the horses, and the servants to build bonfires and set About preparing food. The camel drivers removed the cargo from the animals and, spreading the hay in front of them, with a cane, began to bend their legs to the camels, not letting the animals lie on their side. The animals, at the same time, grumbled discontentedly, placing the drivers in front of the bunches of hay. And soon, already peacefully chewed the hay, resting from the path.
It was night in the shadows of the fires. Unbeknownst to the tent of the pharaoh came a black woman in a veil. Her hunched back and trembling hands gave out an advanced age. The face was stained with dust, covering the deep wrinkles around the eyes that sparkled like coals, reflected in the glare of the flames of the fires.
«You are an old wretch!» – shouted in the Egyptian dialect to her one of the two guards standing at the entrance to the tent of the pharaoh.
«Tell Avletu that the nurse of Cleopatra, Onisia, wants to talk to him.» – Squeaky voice with a Persian accent answered the woman.
The guard hesitated for a moment, and then went into the tent.
Avlet at that time was flushing dust from his face. He leaned over the copper basin, and his neck was watered with water from a golden jug by a white slave. The king snorted, splashing water on the carpet in all directions. The guard waited patiently. Finally Avet took the towel from the hands of a servant, wiped himself and only now drew attention to the guard.
– What do you have Dionysius, say, I’m listening to you?
«Oh, Divine Son of Heaven, an old slave to Cleopatra’s nurse wants to go to you.» «Low bowing,» and leaning on one knee, the guard said, not lifting his bowed head from the carpet that covered the clay soil in the tent.
«What is her name?» – Asked severely.
– She called herself Onesia. – Answered Dionysius.
Avtet picked up his ears. The name of the captain of the Roman military ship «Aphrodite», whose name was Onisii, was remembered. In memory arose a tall, strong physique of the captain. The swarthy eagle profile of this battle-hardened warrior inspired respect and confidence to Pharaoh when the proconsul of Rome Gnaeus Pompey took his and Cleopatra’s care and ferried them to the Aphrodite from Syria to Naples, the captain made a good impression on Ptolemy.
«Surely this is the captain sent by Pompey, with some important secret report, this forced him to come to me in the image of my daughter’s nonexistent wet-nurse.» – In the ear loudly ordered:
«Tell him to come in!» – Pharaoh’s loud voice sounded so that he could be heard and behind the tent.
Hearing the name of the wet nurse, Cleopatra ran out of the half-closed tent, dressed in a snow-white Roman tunic.
«My father never had a wet nurse.» I was breastfed by my mother! Said the daughter with alarm, with astonishment,
