The Land of the Pharaohs

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I, Hamar, lord high priest of Egypt...

... am preparing a chronicle

of the reign of Khufu...

... ruler of Egypt.

Word has come that again...

... he has been victorious in

the war against our enemies.

And now Egypt has taken its place as

the greatest of all nations in the world.

Today, Pharaoh and his army return.

This was Pharaoh...

... direct descendant of our deity Amun...

... god of the sun, who rules the heavens...

... as Pharaoh rules the Earth.

Again, he brought treasure...

... gold and precious jewels

taken from our enemies.

For to Pharaoh, riches were power.

And power was to be desired.

And also again, he brought many captives...

... for is it not by slaves

that one becomes even richer...

... and then has more power?

Greetings, my lord priest.

Sire, the gods rejoice at your safe return.

Thank you, my lord priest.

Your Majesty.

My lord, it is good to have you back.

It is good to be back.

I'm afraid to touch you

because of the dirt of travel.

Perhaps my lord would

care to remove the dirt.

An excellent idea.

Then I will come to my lord.

When I am ready, I will send you word.

I rejoice at your safe return, my lord.

Thank you.

- Your name is?

- Mayva, my lord.

oh, yes, I remember.

Has the bird learned to speak yet?

oh, yes, my lord, but only in private.

Well, perhaps it's better that way.

Hamar, dear friend, it's good to

see you again. I've missed you.

I've missed you too, sire.

It's been three long months.

We've much to talk about.

But first, I must bathe.

The sand seems to get in

every pore of one's body.

Why can't we do away with the desert, Hamar?

I'm only a priest, not a god, sire.

outside of a discomfort, the

desert hasn't been too much...

...of an obstacle to you

in the past or this time.

No, the Egyptian soldier

fights well in the desert.

- I've done well, Hamar. very well.

- So I have heard.

Four hundred men loaded with treasure.

Wait till you see it.

That feels much better.

Tell the queen I've finished.

Well, have I changed?

Not very much.

You're one war older, that's all.

I hope to age by many more

before my time is come.

More wars, more treasure.

Still not enough?

You know I can't resist gold.

Yes, I know.

The first fight we had as children, remember?

We fought for a little gold

ring that had been a gift to me.

You won the fight and you took the ring.

And you tricked me into some wager and

got it back before nightfall, remember?

And you've been fighting for gold ever since.

And I mean to keep it forever.

Hamar...

I see that you have cleansed

yourself of the desert, my lord.

You are beautiful.

Even more beautiful than my memories of you.

Three months in the desert is a long time.

- Perhaps that's why...

- No, to any man at any time.

Isn't that so, Hamar?

Hamar...

He's gone.

You've always said he's the

wisest man in the kingdom.

And by his going, he proved it.

Each morning and each night...

...I prayed to the gods for

your safe and speedy return.

Let me look at you.

Am I a fool to leave you here and

roam the world seeking for treasure?

No, my lord, if treasure's what you want.

I want treasure, yes.

But there's something else I want too.

And that is?

I've been thinking, Egypt is a great country.

When I am gone, who will rule?

I want an heir. A son.

I know, my lord.

You have fought five wars in

the six years of our marriage.

This has not been your home, only

a place to leave to another war.

I know that.

Supposing I say I'll stay

at home and not go to war?

I will not ask that of you.

only stay with me for a little while...

...and if the gods will

it, I will give you a son.

- I'm looking for a prisoner called vashtar.

- I'm he.

I've brought you food and

wine and various supplies.

You can put it in the tent over there.

- You mean you brought this for me?

- Yes.

- What about the others?

- Food and wine is yours.

- Do with it as you please.

- Thank you. We'll use it.

Mikka, take charge of the food.

Give it to those who need it most.

- Yes, sir. I'll take charge of the wine too.

- Mikka, the wine's for the sick.

- Yes, sir. I'll see to it.

- Senta, go with Mikka.

Senta, don't you understand?

They've brought us food.

Egyptian food?

Senta!

You have to excuse my son, captain.

He's too young to accept captivity.

It doesn't matter. I bring

another message for you.

This afternoon, we bury some of our

people who were killed in battle.

Perhaps you'd like to attend the ceremony.

- You're free to do so.

- Free?

- Aren't you afraid I might try to escape?

- And leave your people?

- No, I don't think you'll escape.

- Perhaps you're right.

Yes, I should like to see the ceremony.

- I'll come for you when it is time.

- Thank you, captain.

People of Egypt...

...we meet here today to pay

homage to our heroic dead.

Let their stilled hearts hear

no sound of lamentation...

...only of rejoicing...

...that their destiny has been fulfilled.

Their earthly lives they have given...

...so that they and you may enjoy

both the present and the second life.

Let them hear now the manner

in which they will live.

Let the gods of Egypt speak.

In the name of the gods, listen.

Hear the voice of Osiris,

the judge of the dead.

The goddess, Isis, commands you to listen.

Give heed to the god Anubia...

... the conductor of the dead

from this life to the next.

Give heed in the name of the god Horus.

Let Pharaoh now, the

living god of Egypt, speak.

And in the name of the gods, listen.

This is my decree.

The bodies of those who died

well and bravely by my side...

...shall be delivered

to the City of the Dead.

Fine linen and armor shall

be their burial garments.

They shall rest in tombs of stone.

And for their comfort in the second

life, they shall have ample treasure.

To each man, three measures of

gold and nine measures of silver.

one vessel each of onyx and alabaster.

Food and wine in plenty.

All this and all honor shall

each man enjoy in the second life.

There we shall meet again...

...to stand side by side and serve.

Till then, farewell.

The gods of Egypt have spoken.

Listen to them, vashtar.

This is a funeral but they're not sad.

They almost seem as if they're happy.

I believe they are happy.

The life they hope for in the future

seems to mean more than their present life.

I wonder if any of them ever saw or

spoke to somebody living in the future.

I don't think so, Mikka.

I'd rather enjoy this life.

Mind you, the wine in the

grave sounds a good idea.

But how do I know I'd be thirsty?

officer, what is this? Another ceremony?

Yes, if you could call it that.

The singing is different.

This time they're not happy.

This is for those who were cowards in battle.

Those who deserted or failed in their duty.

They will not be buried and will

therefore have no second life.

That is why their people mourn.

Strange religion to deny the future

to one who fails in the present.

Look, vashtar.

Look what they're doing.

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