"No, but pearls will buy more than you need to eat."
"Not in a desert," said Asti.
"True, but as it chances there is a city in this desert, and not so very
far away."
"Is it named Napata?" asked Tua eagerly.
"Napata? No, indeed. Yet, I have heard of such a place, the City of Gold
they called it. In fact, once I visited it in my youth, over a hundred
years ago."
"A hundred years ago! Do you remember the way thither?"
"Yes, more or less, but on foot it is over a year's journey away, and
the path thither lies across great deserts and through tribes of savage
men. Few live to reach that city."
"Yet I will reach it, or die, Father."
"Perhaps you will, Daughter Neferte, perhaps you will, but I think not
at present. Meanwhile, you have a harp, and therefore it is probable
that you can play and sing; also you have pearls. Now the inhabitants of
this town whereof I spoke to you love music. Also they love pearls, and
as you cannot begin your journey to Napata for three months, when the
rain on the mountains will have filled the desert wells, I suggest that
you would do wisely to settle yourselves there for a while.
Pages:
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336