Chapter 9

The Land of Ta Mery

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... They walked toward the ‘House of Knowledge’ and discussed what had happened in Urka and that Egypt was not at all what they had expected.

“It kind of makes sense that people aren’t dressed in loincloths and have a bob-haircut, but nothing so far reminds me of what Egypt should be like,” Chryséis said.

“I know. Women are wearing their hair tied back, except for two thin braids in front of the ears. I mean, what’s that all about? Are they Viking?” Katherine tried not to stare. “Then look at these pointed red caps.”

 Men sported trimmed beards and long hair, tied to the back. The footwear was also interesting. Upturned shoe tips and lace-ups were all the rage in Kem-Oun. Women also wore the same loop-shaped heels and chunky soles made from têrakhon, they had seen in Hyela.

“Just their clothes seem to be made of fine linen and silk, similar to the Alesian suits. So at least we’re fitting in around here.”

“Did you see that half the people we passed are wearing a ‘Horus Eye’ around their necks? Wonder what that means,” Trevor said.

“Probably some sort of charm,” Katherine said. “And babies and small children have a large blue bead tied around their wrists. Didn’t the Berberi nomads also wear something like that?”

“I think so,” Trevor said.

They arrived at the limestone building and studied the front entrance. A black diorite statue of, the cobra goddess’ Meret Seger was placed on one side and a white marble statue of Djehuti, who had brought the art of writing to Ta Mery, was on the other side.

“Meret Seger, she who loves silence,” Chryséis read. “And the god Djehuti - that’s Thoth - he who loves books.”

“Okay, that’s interesting,” Trevor said and studied the statues. “They are so smooth. Good work.”

“Wonder why there’s no cat-statue this time,” Chryséis said. “Let me take a quick picture.”

They knew by now, how these libraries worked and went straight to one of the viewing tables.

The surface was covered in a thin web of gold. Katherine walked up to the librarian, who looked just like the librarian in Felsina, and confidently asked for a book on the plant called sylphium. While they waited, they had a good look at some maps, somebody had left behind.

The librarian returned with a heavy book from the ‘Plantlore Section’ and put it carefully onto the golden web of their chosen viewing table.

“The ‘Plantlore Section’ contains scrolls, clay tablets and thick domes on every conceivable type of known plant,” he said, “but I believe that this work is best.”

 They opened the book and studied the paintings and writing on the pages. They didn’t understand much of the formal text, although there were pictures, showing the preparation of potions. The librarian helped them find the painting of a sylphium plant.

“I see that you read the book with your eyes only. If you want to find out the nature of the sylphium’s properties you need to understand the essence of the plant,” The librarian moved the Ze-phir in its cradle right above the painted sylphium flower. He looked through the amazing crystal lens and smiled.

“What exactly is the essence of a plant?” Katherine asked.

“It takes our medics long years of study before they can fully understand the essences of plants. You can have a look at the book through the Ze-phir crystal and find out.”

This librarian was much nicer than the other one. He didn’t mind helping the children.

Katherine was the first one to look through the lens.

A throbbing note of faint music rose from the page. The music increased and the plant itself seemed to rise from the page. Dancing up in waving movements. A pale green tendril at first, then the whole image unfolded and emerged through the crystal. There was a faint blue vapour around the picture. Hardly noticeable. Katherine felt drawn into the painting. The plant moved and waved to the music. “That’s amazing!” She said.

“It is the growth-music of the plant. The soul of the plant at a sound level.” The librarian explained patiently.

He used a strange word for soul, but it was pretty clear what he meant. Writing on the page now also turned to music as the librarian moved the crystal closer to the page. The music was growing, breathing, moving. The plant-music-shape was alive inside the crystal slab! Even the thin golden net on the table began to throb and interweave.

“Unbelievable!” Katherine cried.

“Come on, we also want to have a look!” Trevor said.