The Minoan Rhapsody

Avaris

Avaris was the capital of northern Egypt, Minos last stop. He sought a young, Egyptian of royal blood and of his same age. His name was Ahmose. They met at the temple for Amenemhet. Introductions fulfilled; he was guided by his host as they toured the streets of the city.

"The Olodon always traveled at night. I never knew a sky could hold so many stars. There were no clouds, no breeze. The waves, crashing against the hull were mute. The oarsmen rowed tirelessly but the feel of their push was absent. Near land, sea gulls never welcomed us. We were always alone."

"It all sounds unreal," Ahmose said.

"At sea, Captain Pratalus was not much for words. I asked him about the ship. 'The Olodon comes from a time foreign to you,' he would tell me, 'It is free from the burdens of this world. The sea and the ship are one, inseparable, indistinguishable from one another.' I didn't understand a word he said. At daytime I would wake up at a different port. I lost count of how many of them we went to. He disembarked with me always."

"What did you do on all those ports?"

"The Olodon docked for me, so I could walk, eat and drink. The ship had no provisions on board."

"I guess its unmanly crew had no need for provisions."

"Neither did Pratalus, or at least it didn't seem like it. At the ports I saw races I'd never seen before. Heard languages I couldn't understand. Yet out of everywhere I went, there were three places that stood out.

"The first one was the realm of Illyrius. At first, their City was not much to look at. Their people were primitive. We ventured inland until we reached farmlands edged by a cluster of hills. We climbed on top of the tallest one and rested a bit to catch my breath. I must admit I was more irritated than tired as I couldn't understand the point of our journey up to that point.

"'Why do you waste my time around cattle and hills?' I asked him.

"That was when he opened my eyes.

"'You don't even realize the ground upon which you are standing. Can't you see it is not a hill?'

"I complained about his riddles, but upon his insistence, I crouched and scrapped the ground underneath my feet. There was smooth stone below the grass and dirt. The hills were no hills but pyramids."

"Pyramids? Impossible!" Ahmose disagreed.

"They were indeed pyramids, and much older and bigger than yours. They were built before the first great flood by simple men who moved stone and earth to erect mountains to please the Gods. The men eventually vanished. Their pyramids became remnants of forgotten thoughts. As I contemplated the landscape, I realized their countless numbers, spread towards the horizon. I could only imagine what that place would have been like, when Gods and men lived side by side, every single day.

"We then sailed away towards Calliste."

"You went to Úliat? I've always wanted to go there."

"It rests on top of a seaside flattop mountain. It is the most beautiful city I've ever seen. It was lavish, mesmerizing, teeming with life. The entire city was a series of co-centric circles separated by interconnected canals which served as their streets. Merchants rowed with riches beyond compare. There was no hunger, poverty, or violence. Art, science and commerce fueled the Keiftu who called Úliat home."

"Keiftu live in Úliat?"

"Long departed from Khaptirus, and seldom seen, but the look of their bodies screamed Keiftu alright. Pratalus told me Úliat was built as homage to times long gone. It was but a simple example from the times when Thoth ruled over the Western Seven Isles."

"I don't know what you are referring to. You lost me there."

"From what he told me it was a kingdom where magic ruled. Yet despite all their wonders, they could not survive the second great flood. Their only secrets that survived were stored between Úliat's canals."

They continued their stroll. People on the streets mostly ignored them. They had no escort and from the looks of it, they didn't need one. To their left, a cemetery with domed chapels caught Minos attention. They reached a portion of the city in which the diversity of the people seemed to expand. Most had dark complexion and wore colorful robes, not white like most Egyptians.

"The one thing that I didn't realize about Úliat," Minos continued, "was how little did we at Knossos know about it. They had comforts, we didn't even dream of having: houses with running water and smokeless light, boats without paddles. I was envious."

"Did they recognize you as their king?"

"I was never introduced. They never recognized me as Keiftu either."

"You don't look like one," Ahmose replied.

"There is more to be a Keiftu than a slim waist," Minos snapped. "Another morning I woke up near the desolated ruins of the twin cities of Hamoukar and Uruk. The scattered remnants of walls, temples and palaces barely floated a top the desert sand. The earth was scarred with the remnants of canals that used to irrigate the long-gone plantations. Everywhere, like pebbles on a rough beach, there were clay bullets, arrows and spear heads along the remains of broken bones. These were all reminders of the war in which the cities mutually annihilated. Not one survivor walked away. Not a single wall stone remained erect. Nobody remembers why they fought, nor for how long the carnage lasted. All that was known was what the rocks above the sand revealed."

"How did you end up here at Avaris?"

"It was still daytime, and we were onboard, ready to leave port. The Captain stared deep towards the horizon. At the edge of my vision, I made up a pod of whales. Their blow created low clouds that stood out in the vastness. He remained quiet, intensely reading the pattern and rhythm of the whale blows. Then, he turned to me.

'I must take you to Avaris.' he told me. 'You will seek and meet two people. The first one is an Egyptian of pure blood named Ahmose.'"

"So, you are telling me, that the whales told this captain of yours to come here and talk to me," Ahmose repeated in disbelief.

"Think what you like. I am here, now, aren't I?""

"Who is the second person you must meet here?"

"A Colchian named Aeëtes." Minos answered

"You mean Aeëtes, King of Colchis?"

"You know him?"

"I know exactly where he is. Why did Pratalus tell you needed to meet us?" Ahmose asked.

"He said that our destinies were tied to each other. That our meeting would change everything forever."

"And where is this captain of yours? I'd like to meet him."

"The Olodon is gone. I don't know where it is, but I get the feeling it is not far away from me."

Ahmose sighted, "Too bad, as this captain Pratalus seems intriguing. How long where you on board the Olodon?"

"I have no idea, but I can't wait to shave this beard and cut my hair. Can you have someone get me new clothes? I can barely fit on what I am wearing anymore." Minos confessed.

"Do not worry, King Minos. We must go now," Ahmose invited as they continued their walk now through the fertile, green land crisscrossed by the Nile's delta. "You've got another King to meet!"