Chapter 45 Chapter Forty-Three

Ramses appeared on the pier in a gorgeous dress, surrounded by the mayor of Memphis, the captain of the fleet, the minister of foreign affairs and a large row of spectacular escorts.In fifteen minutes the ten Greek ships would be docking. For a moment, the Coast Guard boats thought there was going to be war, and a portion of the Egyptian warships immediately went into action to drive out the invaders.But the foreign visitors made a friendly gesture, expressing their desire to visit Memphis and enter the Pharaoh. Under the escort of the convoy, the Greek ships sailed towards the Nile and arrived in the capital around noon.Hundreds of passers-by watching the excitement on the side of the road were amazed by this scene, and people rushed to the shore. Now is no longer the era when foreigners pay tribute to the country accompanied by ambassadors and entourages stationed abroad.Those magnificent fleets, however, were indeed meant to bring some great wealth, and would those visitors have brought valuable gifts to Seti?

Patience was not Ramses' forte, and he feared his diplomacy wasn't enough.Receiving foreign guests made him feel heavy, and Yameni prepared a formal speech for him, which made him feel a little relieved, but the regent had long forgotten those opening remarks.He regretted that Ya Xia was not there, and his friend was the right person to handle the situation. The Greek ships were badly damaged and had to be refitted before sailing.Some ships even had burnt marks on their hulls, apparently fighting pirates while crossing the Mediterranean. The pilot boat steered well, though its canvas was a little damaged.After someone lowered the springboard, the surroundings were suddenly silent.

Who will step off the ship and set foot on the land of Egypt? A man of medium build appeared, with broad shoulders, fair hair, and an unflattering face.He was about fifty years old, wearing breastplate and leg armor, and holding a bronze helmet on his chest, he made a friendly gesture. Behind him, there is a tall and beautiful woman with white arms, dressed in a red robe, and combing a crown-style hairstyle that symbolizes high official status. The man and woman walked off the diving board and stopped in front of Ramses. "I am Ramses, the regent of Egypt. In the name of Pharaoh, I welcome you."

"I am Menelaus, son of Atreel, king of Lasedemon, and this is my wife, Helen. We come from the devil city of Troy, which we occupied after ten years of fierce fighting. Most of our friends were killed Now, victory has a bitter taste; as you can see, these remaining ships are shattered, and my soldiers and sailors are exhausted. Will Egypt allow us to regain morale before returning home?" "I will report to Pharaoh, and Pharaoh will decide." "Is this a rejection in disguise?" "I speak frankly and do not hide anything." "Great. Do you know me? I'm a warrior and I've killed countless people. Isn't this kind of thing unprecedented for you?"

"It's nothing!" Menelaus' small black eyes blazed with anger. "If you were one of my subjects, I would break your spine." "Fortunately I'm Egyptian." Menelaus and Ramses were suspicious of each other's eyes, and Menelaus had to give in first. "I'm waiting for the good news on the boat." At the high-level consultation meeting, the performance of the regent aroused different views from all parties.Obviously, at present or in a short time, Menelaus and his remnant army will not pose a threat to Egypt, and he has the title of king after all, so he should be respected.Ramses listened to the criticism and vehemently retorted that he was dealing with a savage, a bloodthirsty.And warlike brutal warriors whose greatest joy is plundering burned cities!Hospitality seemed unwise to such a gangster to him.

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Meba changed his usual conservative attitude. "I think the Regent's attitude is dangerous and Menelaus should not be taken lightly. Our foreign policy is to be friendly with all states, big and small, to avoid alliances against our country." "This Greek is a liar," said Ramesses, "his eyes are deceiving." Meba, handsome, about sixty years old, had a kind and persuasive face, a pleasant voice, and a forgiving smile. "We don't do diplomacy based on our feelings, we have to negotiate with people, even though sometimes, they are not pleasant."

"Menelaus will betray us," Ramesses went on, "for him what is said will not count." "This is a purposeful accusation," complained Meba, "and the regent's ignorance has led him to make this premature criticism. Menelaus was a Greek, and all Greeks are cunning, and perhaps he The whole truth has not been told. Let us proceed cautiously and find out the real purpose of his visit." "Invite Menelaus and his wife to supper," Seti announced, "and we shall decide according to their words and deeds." Menelaus dedicated to the pharaoh some beautifully designed metal vases and crossbows made of a mixture of various high-grade wood blocks that had been used in the Trojan War.The officers of King Razadmund wore sarongs with colorful geometric patterns and high shoes, and their curly wigs and braids hung down to their navels.

A refreshing fragrance came from Helen's emerald green robe.She covered her face with a white veil and sat on Duja's left; and on Seti's right sat Menelaus, a Greek who was impressed by the pharaoh's stern face.Meba was in charge of the translation.The wine in the oasis delighted Menelaus, and he complained bitterly about the long years spent under the high walls of the castle of Troy, constantly talking about his exploits, remembering his friend Ulis, and bemoaning the cruelty and cruelty of God. Showing off his friend's exploits, including the eagerness to return to his beautiful home.The foreign minister, who speaks fluent Greek, seemed overwhelmed by the guest of honor's laments.

"Why do you cover your face?" Duya asked Helen in Greek. "Because I am a vicious dog that everyone fears. Because of me, many heroes died in battle. When Paris the Trojan captured me, I did not expect that his absurd behavior would turn into ten years of massacre; There have been a hundred times I wish I had been swept away by the wind or drowned by the waves. I have caused so much pain and misery." "Aren't you free now?" Under the white scarf, there was a sad smile. "Menelaus did not forgive me." "Now that you are back together, time will erase your pain."

"There are more serious things than this..." Du Ya respected Helen's painful silence: if she wanted to speak, she would naturally speak. "I hate my husband," admits the beautiful woman with fair arms. "A momentary resentment?" "No, I never loved him, and I even hoped that Troy would win. Your Majesty..." "What is it, Helen?" "Allow me to stay here as long as I can, I am terrified to return to Rasadmun." Chief of Protocol Xena carefully stayed away from Ramses and Menelaus.At dinner the regent was seated beside a wrinkled, old man with a long white beard who was too old to tell his age. Lots of olive oil.

"This is the secret of health, Prince." "My name is Ramses." "My name is Homer." "Are you a general?" "No, I'm a poet. I have bad eyesight, but a good memory." "A poet, with such an old man as Menelaus?" "The wind told me that his ship was going to Egypt, the land of wisdom and writers; after a long journey, I hope to settle here so that I can write with peace of mind." "I don't approve of your staying with Menelaus for a long time." "In what capacity do you give me such advice?" "In the name of the Regent." "You're so young...and you hate Greeks." "I mean Menelaus, not you. Where are you going to live?" "Living in a more comfortable place than on a ship! I lived there in cramped quarters, my luggage was piled up in the hold, and besides, I hated the sailors. Raging waves and storms don't inspire inspiration." "Will you accept my help?" "Your Greek is really good..." "I have a friend who is a diplomat who can speak multiple languages. When I get in touch with him, learning becomes a game." "Do you like poetry?" "I admire the works of great writers in our country." "If we had the same taste, maybe we'd get along." From the undersecretary of foreign affairs, Sienna learned of the pharaoh's decision: Menelaus was allowed to live in Egypt temporarily.His ships would be repaired, he would live in a great villa in the center of Memphis, and his army would be under Egyptian command and disciplined. The pharaoh's eldest son was in charge of showing Menelaus around the capital.Sienna tried to tell the Greek some rudimentary knowledge of Egyptian culture, but was met with a slightly offensive indifference. Those monumental buildings instead attracted the attention of Menelaus, facing the temple, he couldn't help but marvel. "What a majestic castle! It is not easy to capture them." "These are the dwellings of the gods," Shane explained. "Those gods of war?" "No, Ptah is the God of Artisans, the one who made the world with words, and Hathor is the goddess of joy and music." "Why would they all need a fortress with strong walls?" "The power of the gods is entrusted to some experts, who harvest this power under the protection of the world; to enter the open-air temple, you must obtain the approval of certain gods." "In other words, I, King Lasedemon, victor of Troy, may I not cross these gilded thresholds?" "Exactly... On certain festivals, with the pharaoh's consent, you may be allowed to enter the open-air altar." "What mysterious things should I be on the lookout for?" "The great sacrifice to the god remains in the temple, while its power multiplies on the earth." Xie Na showed infinite patience, and despite Menelaus' attitude and remarks, he felt a sympathy with the sly-eyed foreigner.Xena's instinct required him to treat Menelaus differently in order to see through his scheming. Menelaus repeated the ten-year war that ended with the defeat of Troy.He mourns the tragic fate of his allies at the hands of the enemy, criticizes Helen's mischief and expects Homer to give him a fully heroic role in writing about the great deeds of the victor. Shane tries to understand the circumstances under which Troy gave in.Menelaus speaks of the terrible melee, of the valor of Achilles, and of other heroes who persevere in trying to capture Helen again. "In such a long war," Shayna probed, "isn't there any good strategy?" Menelaus had reservations at first, but finally answered. "Ulis conceived the idea of ​​building a gigantic wooden horse, with some soldiers hidden in it, and the Trojans carelessly let the horse into their city. So we attacked them from within." "You must be familiar with ideas like this," Shane hinted, admiringly. "I discussed it with Ulis, but..." "He's just paraphrasing what you mean, I'm sure." Menelaus looked cocky. "That's right." Schena spent most of his time gaining the Greek's trust.Now, he has a new strategy to eliminate Ramses and become the only pretender to the Egyptian throne.