this is my first attempt ever at writing a story in English. This text, which is not finished yet, sure still needs to be improved. Hope everything makes senses and reflects what I really wish to mean -- Cheos
The unsealed papyrus roll lies on a dusty wooden table, which stands, in the darkness, in the middle of the only room of the abandoned little house. Except for the noise of bees far off in the wild, there's absolutely no noise here. A few broken cobwebs cover scarce furnitures up. Two tanned hands approach the flimsy roll, gently take it, then slowly and carefully open it. The eyes start to move back and forth and read...
Dear Friend Wallomä,
My friend, now you can read this letter you already know I’m safe. Please tell my Mum and Dad at once that I’m fine: they must be so worried. I successfully arrived in Egypt two months ago, and started to set up my home to settle there, in a nice region called Upper Egypt, near the central town. The central plaza, where I stand now under midday sun – speaking to the Scribe - is full of life and people. Markets prosper around, selling many kinds of food and products from every Region. Before you ask, let me tell you the citizens are kind and helpful. They have never shown aversion towards strangers like me neither have they asked me about my past. Rumors seem to be false so far. However, Egypt is a really wide land and I’ve not seen more than one tenth of it yet, and I’m still investigating.
Since I’m already speaking about more serious matters, I must tell you that I couldn’t meet Pharaoh yet. I still don’t even know where his Palace is, and no one seems to care about it, so they won’t bother to answer my questions. But I've heard Pharaoh’s bay doesn’t exist anymore ! A region fully wiped, how unbelievable ! Most inhabitants stare at me when I question them about that. They only say something weird happened in the Valley of the Kings. I know this is hard to believe, but it seems the gods suddenly became angry and punished people. People say that this region is now uninhabited. I will organize a journey as soon as I can. You know what I mean.
Leasing the service of a Scribe is quite expensive – I still can’t write most Egyptian hieroglyphs myself and many people are waiting in a line behind me - so I have to conclude this missive now. I’ll let you know about any possible future discovery as soon as possible. I know how essential my work is for our people and our land.
Please tell everyone I miss them. I’m dying to see you all.
Take care, my Friend and Mentor,
Cheos
The hands let the paper wrap back into a roll, and slowly put it back on the table. Eyes close a few seconds, then open, expressing eagerness and curiosity, while the mind wonders what to think about that. Feet walk out of the little abandoned house. Bees still fly around. They don't care about human concerns.