Погребённый с фараонами
Chapter 1
AtlengthAbdultookusalongtheShariaMohammedAlitotheancientmosqueofSultanHassan, andthetower-flankedBabel–Azab,beyondwhichclimbsthesteep-walledpass tothemightycitadelthatSaladinhimselfbuiltwiththestonesofforgottenpyramids. Itwassunsetwhenwescaledthatcliff, circledthemodernmosqueofMohammedAli, andlookeddownfromthedizzyparapetovermysticCairo —mysticCairoallgoldenwithitscarvendomes, itsetherealminaretsanditsflaminggardens.
FaroverthecitytoweredthegreatRomandomeofthenewmuseum; andbeyondit—acrossthecrypticyellowNile thatisthemotherofeonsanddynasties—lurkedthemenacingsandsoftheLibyanDesert, undulantandiridescentandevilwitholderarcana.
Theredsunsanklow,bringingtherelentlesschillofEgyptiandusk; andasitstoodpoisedontheworld’srimlikethatancientgodofHeliopolis—Re–Harakhte, theHorizon–Sun—wesawsilhouettedagainstitsvermeilholocausttheblackoutlinesofthePyramidsofGizeh —thepalaeogeantombstherewerehoarywithathousandyearswhenTut–Ankh-Amenmounted hisgoldenthroneindistantThebes. ThenweknewthatweweredonewithSaracenCairo, andthatwemusttastethedeepermysteriesofprimalEgypt —theblackKemofReandAmen,IsisandOsiris.
ThenextmorningwevisitedthePyramids, ridingoutinaVictoriaacrosstheislandofChizerehwithitsmassivelebbakhtrees, andthesmallerEnglishbridgetothewesternshore.
