The Land of the Pharaohs Page #3

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I did believe in you once, architect.

If this is a joke, you and

your people will regret it.

Senta, lower the stone.

It will be the same with a larger stone.

They'll be lowered in

every foot of the labyrinth.

And others on top of them.

Until the whole tomb is

surrounded by solid stone.

To enter, you'll have tear the pyramid apart.

Do you believe me now?

Tomorrow I shall give

orders to start the work.

You have served me well, architect.

Take this as a token of my gratitude.

You promised that when the work was

completed, you would set my people free.

- I will keep that promise.

- The work will take many years.

A long time for a people

to remain in slavery.

I must ask you this.

Set free a certain number every

year while the work is in progress.

If you do this, I will serve you.

I will not bargain with you, architect.

But my pleasure in your

work grants your wish.

Let it be done as he asks.

Come, we have much to do.

This day, I have sent couriers

to every part of our country...

...to every city and village.

They carry this decree.

That I have set a task for Egypt...

... which in any other

land would be impossible.

On the desert sands,

you will raise a pyramid.

A structure greater than

any other in the world.

This pyramid shall be my resting

place for the second life.

Each man has a covenant with me.

To work as man has not

yet worked in all time.

And as the living god of Egypt...

...I promise you that

each man, by his labor...

...shall secure for himself

a place in the life to come.

What say you?

As with one heart...

... the people responded to

the call of their Pharaoh.

They came from the farms and the groves...

... from the valleys and the hill countries.

They gave up their accustomed lives

and marched to their holy labor.

They sang...

... songs of their faith...

... and of their joy.

Three million of such

stones would be needed...

... before the work was done.

Three million stones of an

average weight of 5000 Ibs.

Every stone cut precisely to

fit into its destined place...

... in the great pyramid.

From the quarries, they pulled

the stones across the desert...

... to the banks of the Nile.

Never in the history of the world

has so great a task been performed.

Their faith gave them strength.

Their joy gave them song.

Look out!

In a little more than a year, the

hallowed ground had been prepared...

... and the first courses

of stone had been raised.

And still they sang.

What is that stone, father?

That's the sarcophagus of the Pharaoh.

The stone will withhold his body after death.

- Is that thing hollow then, master?

- Yes.

The top part can be

lifted to receive the body.

Where does it go to?

Into a great chamber in the pyramid.

But where that is you must not know.

There's already the first

three courses of the stones.

When it's finished, there'll

be more than 200 of them.

With all those men, the work will be

finished quickly, won't it, father?

No, Senta. No, it will take a long time.

They'll work for many years.

And some will grow old and some will die.

And the stones of the pyramid will

be cemented with blood and tears.

And the years passed.

And in those years, the joy in the

hearts of the people was stilled.

And in place of the song came the drum.

And with the drum, the whip.

And the spirit and the faith were gone.

And the work became labor.

Remember, Senta, how they sang

when they hauled the stones?

They stopped singing 15 years ago.

I thought it would be done so quickly.

And you were only a boy then.

I was a slave then, and I'm still a slave.

Yes, Egypt has changed.

Changed because of the pyramid.

To build a tomb to house

one man in his second life...

... thousands are finding misery in this life.

Pharaoh has changed too.

He has riches, power...

... even the son he desired.

But he is like a man obsessed.

I never came here before.

The guards would not let me, Father.

Why do you keep it locked up?

Gold is desired by every man, my son.

There are many who would rob me of this...

...take from me what I have

accumulated for my second life.

But all this is mine and will stay mine.

And when my tomb is finished and sealed...

...it will be mine while the

earth stands, till the end of time.

You're hurting me, father.

I'm sorry.

My lord, forgive me for disturbing you,

but it is time for the boy to go to bed.

I was my fault. I forgot the time.

Come on, Xenon.

Thank you, father.

You call yourselves builders.

I want no more excuses.

No more old women's tales of why

this won't be done or can't be done.

It will be done.

or you'll go to the quarries

yourselves, all of you.

I'll teach you the meaning of work.

In the next month, one complete

level of the stones will be raised.

- It cannot be done.

- You are near the top.

- There are fewer stones on each level.

- But the stones must be raised higher.

And because the nearby

quarries are almost exhausted...

...the stones must be

brought a greater distance.

- Always some reason...

- The man is right, sire.

You too, Hamar?

Are you telling me that what

I ask for cannot be done?

only with more workers, sire.

I'll get more.

We don't have supplies to

feed a new army of labor, sire.

If you have sufficient, will

there be any more excuses?

None, sire.

- And you?

- None, sire.

I'll get men. And I'll get food.

Ambassador of the land of the Amorites.

Mighty Pharaoh, 700 head of cattle

have been brought to you by our people.

The decree is not yet fulfilled.

Two thousand measures of

grain were also called for.

Why have you not brought the rest?

In lieu of the grain,

of which we have none...

...my ruler sends you 500 weights of silver.

I am content. Note that

the decree is fulfilled.

The next.

Ambassador of the tributary

province of Cyprus.

Ambassador of the tributary

province of Cyprus.

What is this? Who answers for Cyprus?

I do.

Who are you?

I am Nellifer, Princess of Cyprus.

Why did you not answer when you were called?

This is the first time I

have served as an ambassador.

The duties are new and strange to me.

You are young for such a role, princess.

Perhaps my lord would

prefer it if I were old.

We are only interested in

the tribute that you bring.

What tax was decreed for

the province of Cyprus?

Two thousand measures of

grain, a thousand of oil...

...and of cattle, 800 head.

What have you brought?

Nothing, my lord. I came

in place of the tribute.

You came in its place?

Yes, my lord.

- Why?

- My country is poor.

To pay the tribute, some of us must starve.

Starving?

You do not have the appearance of starving.

If I do not please you, you may send me back.

It will be a great burden to my

country, but your tribute will be paid.

- If that is what you wish.

- I could have both.

No, my lord, not both.

You may choose between me and

the tribute from my father.

I said I could have both.

And I said not both, but you may choose.

You have much to learn, princess.

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