– Greetings. Come in, sit down, and I’m sorry that I summoned you, Kshatr, here to your representative office, but the question is extremely important and not for extraneous ears… With these words, Theo expounded the essence of the problem with which Kshatr had to cope and decide. The priest listened attentively to what was required of him, and then replied:
«How can I act in the role of Onisius, when Pompey will write the order and send the captain from» Artemis «to Ptolemy XII? Asked the priest in surprise.
– To you, Ksatr does not make sense, worries. Where you stand before Pharaoh, Rome will be far away, and in the protection of his divine Majesty, by that time, there will be no more Roman. Your name Onesius, will help you to enter the tent of Pharaoh without hindrance. There will be a dialogue with Avtet and he will accept you, and the amulet lost by Alexander the Great, you will hand to Pharaoh. You will join the caravan. You’re the mission boils down to not allowing evil intentions to turn the wheel of the history of Egypt against the accession of Cleopatra after Ptolemy XII Avlet, her father…
«It’s not for nothing that God Shiva on the night of the full moon on the eve of the spring equinox is dancing his famous dance to Tandav…» Theo interrupted him, snatching it, with a remark:
– Dance destroys the demonic power, destroys the creatures of evil.
«And in that case, the Amonite religion was an antipode or the opposite of Hinduism, and the priests are the ancestors of a tribe driven from Hindustan…
– Ancestors, this tribe, were asuras and demons. – Added Theo again.
– And the temples of Amun in ancient Egypt have always been the bearers of the cult of black magic…
Avlet decided to avoid confusion because of the Romans’ excesses, their arbitrariness, because of the forced appointment of a Roman rich merchant to the post of tsarist treasurer. This appointment was dictated by the huge monetary debts of Avlet, which he collected from Rabinia in exile to bribe the senators of Rome. Post Rapion, becoming a full-fledged master of the Egyptian treasury, robbed the people, imposing excessive taxes on each and every Egyptian. The discontent of the people increased with each new collection of taxes, heating up the impoverished people of Egypt, which sooner or later could explode as a riot. Anticipating the imminent threat to his rule. And, to propitiate the superstitious people, who passionately believed in the justice of the gods ruling Egypt. Avlet declared a pilgrimage to the oasis of the supreme god Amun. Announcing to the officials that he is going for the advice of the Oracle of the temple of Amun to the oasis of Siva, and calling upon his attendants to observe prudence, he will leave for the oasis of Amun. Like Alexander the Great, who visited the Oracles in his time in the oasis, Pharaoh intended to ask what is expected of Egypt after his return and accession to the throne. But in fact Ptolemy XII wanted to avoid losing power, foreseeing impending turmoil, enabling the people to throw off the yoke of the Romans and already return to Alexandria cleared of Rome’s legionaries. And so it was, before the end of the year 54, the popular uprising had banished Rabiria from Alexandria, but only after he had enriched himself and placed his acquired place in a safe place beyond the sea. The hostile party towards him in Rome gave Rabiria to court. Cicero defended Postum Rubiria, and his speech has survived to this day. However, history has not preserved what the verdict was handed down to him…
Meanwhile, in the spring of 54, having equipped a caravan with numerous guards and servants, the pharaoh set out on the road. To protect Gnaeus, Pompey ordered Antony to provide escorts to Ptolemy XII and protect him on the way. On this occasion, Avlet did not want to be surrounded by Roman legionaries, and refused the Roman guard, having recruited a group of Egyptians who proved themselves in the invasion of Egypt. Anthony stayed in Alexandria, and soon departed for Syria, as the trial of the self-proclaimed proconsul of Syria Gabinius. The territory of Syria remained without proper Roman control. Upon learning of the refusal of Aulus in the Roman guard, Pompey was indignant. He angrily went to the back-front of his villa, catching the fear of servants and slaves serving this beautiful house-refuge and a symbol of his power, where negotiations and receptions were conducted with the necessary and influential people, clothed not only by the Roman authorities, but also subject to Rome territories of neighboring states. Gnaeus Pompey sensed with some intuitive instinct that not only the pharaoh rushes to a remote oasis, only with the purpose of pilgrimage to the temple of Amun, to pay homage to the Oracle and ask About his further destiny and the fate of Egypt. But the fact that Avlet refuses to accept the protection of Rome, also confirms that the pilgrimage to the oasis of Amun is accomplished by Pharaoh for a different purpose. What is the true visit to the temple complex of Amon Ra in the oasis of Siva? This mystery haunted Pompey. And in order to find out About everything connected with the journey of Ptolemy XII, Gnaeus Pompey decided to withdraw from his flotilla the captain of the vessel Aphrodite Onesius, the best of best of his warriors and instruct him to accompany the caravan of Pharaoh. He thought for a long time and was tormented by this idea and even ordered the captain to come to his country villa. Before the order to the captain, he would go to Alexandria to the palace of Ptolemy XII, Pompey decided to discuss with Onisius a mission. When the consul sketched out briefly what was required of the captain, he replied:
«I am a simple soldier of your flagship Aphrodite; I will carry out any order of yours, Commander.» But I heard rumors that Avlett refused to guard the horsemen of Rome at the head of Antony, whom you commanded to accompany the caravan of Pharaoh, to the oasis of Siva? – said Onesius.
– It’s true. – Confirmed Pompey.
«I want to emphasize, Commander, that your dignity is above Abet’s vagaries, and your honor will be saved if I do not accompany the Pharaoh’s caravan.»
«Yes, you are, as usual, right, Onesius.» Pompey said with a deep sigh. «Return to Naples on your ship…»
«Do not you want to include even the trusted warrior Anthony in the guard?» – Learning About the refusal of his father Pompey, sending Mark Antony, commander of the Roman cavalry in Rome, said to his father Cleopatra. To which Avlet replied:
«This will not please the Oracle.» There is the sanctuary of Amon Ra, and the sacred place of the Oracle that keeps Egypt from foreign ruin. How can I take Romans with me as a guard?
«Father, but you can take it without his horsemen, Antony alone, as a mercenary, making your personal guard, consisting of experienced Egyptian warriors.» – Insisted her daughter – I saw him shoot with an arrow, how he manages the cavalry. He is a brave warrior and, moreover, he serves under the command of the proconsul of Rome, Gnaeus Pompeius, who saved your throne and you. Antony is loyal to you, like Rome! – Vehemently protested her daughter’s decision.
«I will not take a single Roman.» – Solidly stood on his Avlet.
Cleopatra did not lag behind, annoying her father:
– You know how, it will be honorable for him and your rear will be under reliable protection from enemies who want your death and want to conquer Egypt.
Ptolemy thought a little and to soften somehow his decision, vaguely replied to his daughter:
– Yes, daughter, you are very smart and every year you become smarter. Egypt will be in safe hands under your rule.
Cleopatra blushed slightly, and then bowed and left the throne room of the palace…
A richly equipped caravan of numerous guards on twelve loaded camels departed from Alexandria by the Mediterranean coast in the direction of Libya, to the Egyptian city of Mersa Matruh.
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