Погребённый с фараонами

           Onthiseerypinnacleasquaredcirclewasformed, andinafewmomentsthesardonicdesertmoonleereddownuponabattlewhich, butforthequalityoftheringsidecries,mightwellhaveoccurredatsomeminorathleticclubinAmerica. AsIwatchedit,Ifeltthatsomeofourless-desirableinstitutionswerenotlacking;foreveryblow,feint,anddefensebespoke‘stalling’tomynotinexperiencedeye. Itwasquicklyover,anddespitemymisgivingsastomethodsIfeltasortofproprietarypridewhenAbdulReiswasadjudgedthewinner. 

           Reconciliationwasphenomenallyrapid,andamidstthesinging,fraternizinganddrinkingthatfollowed,Ifounditdifficulttorealizethataquarrelhadeveroccurred. Oddlyenough,Imyselfseemedtobemoreacenterofnoticethantheantagonists; andfrommysmatteringofArabicIjudgedthattheywerediscussingmyprofessionalperformancesandescapesfromeverysortofmanacleandconfinement,inamannerwhichindicatednotonlyasurprisingknowledgeofme, butadistincthostilityandskepticismconcerningmyfeatsofescape. ItgraduallydawnedonmethattheeldermagicofEgyptdidnotdepartwithoutleavingtraces,andthatfragmentsofastrangesecretlore andpriestlycult-practiceshavesurvivedsurreptitiouslyamongstthefellaheentosuchanextentthattheprowessofastrangehahwiormagicianisresentedanddisputed. Ithoughtofhowmuchmyhollow-voicedguideAbdulReislookedlikeanoldEgyptianpriestorPharaohorsmilingSphinx...andwondered.