AGELESS CAMPAIGN, Episode II, Part VI.

[Silver Moon]

"Then why do you not trust her to fulfill those vows and renounce the need for the AFRE?" replies George

He replies, "I do trust in her sincere desire to do so. But she lacks the experience that might be needed to bring those desires to fruition. And without the military might to back up those desires, it might never happen.

The Royal Egyptian Army are not what they previously were back when I commanded it, and it would take considerable time to re-incorporate my AFRE forces. That may not even be possible, once people take up arms against their brothers trust is eroded, and in a military engagement there must be trust. My army is strong, we have held our own against the most powerful military on this world. The Queen may need to keep my army intact."

 

[orchid blossom]

They go around 400 feet to the top of the hill and look down into a small crystal blue pond that is approximately ninety feet in diameter. The area is quiet and peaceful, the sun is now directly overhead and shining down. With the ring of high trees she estimates that the pond probably gets only a hour-or-so of direct sunlight each day. A carved stone bench sits alongside the pond and Callum gestures silently to her to sit there beside him.

She accepted the invitation just as quietly, sitting down and leaning her head against his shoulder. There was peace here, and that was something she needed.

 

[Silver Moon]

She accepted the invitation just as quietly, sitting down and leaning her head against his shoulder. There was peace here, and that was something she needed.

They sit in silence for ten minutes, the only sounds being birds in the trees. She looks towards the water's edge eight feet in front of the bench . She then notices a disturbance in the water towards the center of the pond. The disturbance then starts to move closer, when dorsal fins then break the surface of the water. From thirty feet out she sees two pair of ice blue fins, each with the second around six feet behind the first on each.

At ten feet out the forward fins begin to rise out of the water, revealing ice blue heads of horses, the front fins where the mane would be. They continue to swim towards the shore. The front legs of the horses rise out of the water and land on the shore, with large webbed flippers instead of hooves that flop onto the ground, landing just a few feet before the pair on the bench.

Their bodies are both ice blue in color, almost matching the dress that Abby wore the night before. Looking close, she sees that their hides are comprised of thin scales rather than leather. She can also see the rear half of the animals in the water near the shore resemble that of large fishes.

 

[Queenie]

He replies, "I do trust in her sincere desire to do so. But she lacks the experience that might be needed to bring those desires to fruition. And without the military might to back up those desires, it might never happen.

The Royal Egyptian Army are not what they previously were back when I commanded it, and it would take considerable time to re-incorporate my AFRE forces. That may not even be possible, once people take up arms against their brothers trust is eroded, and in a military engagement there must be trust. My army is strong, we have held our own against the most powerful military on this world. The Queen may need to keep my army intact."

"You brought the full weight of your forces against a single deployment. I would not doubt the British as possessing the strongest Navy, but Army? That is another matter. But you are correct, the Royal Army has been decimated. And I think it would be a terrible idea to try to reintegrate them. The fact is they are lucky the Queen is not asking to have them all executed for treason. She is merciful and is not, but she is well within her rights to do so. You must remember, the Queen is not alone. She has experience on her side, in those she has placed her trust in, not alone me, but Sabah and others. Experience matters yes, but desire, resolve and conviction do as well, and this the Queen has in spades.

However, at this point in the negotiations, I think I can safely say that should Egypt be free of undue foreign influence and that a fair contract for the canal is in place, you would disband the AFRE, yes?" asks George.

 

[Silver Moon]

"However, at this point in the negotiations, I think I can safely say that should Egypt be free of undue foreign influence and that a fair contract for the canal is in place, you would disband the AFRE, yes?" asks George.

Ahmed Orabi sits back and says, "What is the expression of the late Gustave Flaubert, ah yes, 'The devil is in the details'. An interesting man Flaubert, he lived here in Egypt for a while. But I digress. Yes, Mr. Eastman, we have the potential for an agreement, although I truly believe that the Queen will need my forces intact and at her disposal rather than disbanded."

 

[orchid blossom]

At ten feet out the forward fins begin to rise out of the water, revealing ice blue heads of horses, the front fins where the mane would be. They continue to swim towards the shore. The front legs of the horses rise out of the water and land on the shore, with large webbed flippers instead of hooves that flop onto the ground, landing just a few feet before the pair on the bench.

Their bodies are both ice blue in color, almost matching the dress that Abby wore the night before. Looking close, she sees that their hides are comprised of thin scales rather than leather. She can also see the rear half of the animals in the water near the shore resemble that of large fishes.

"What are they?" she whispered. "They're gorgeous. I wouldn't have thought this pond was deep enough for any creatures like this."

 

[Queenie]

Ahmed Orabi sits back and says, "What is the expression of the late Gustave Flaubert, ah yes, 'The devil is in the details'. An interesting man Flaubert, he lived here in Egypt for a while. But I digress. Yes, Mr. Eastman, we have the potential for an agreement, although I truly believe that the Queen will need my forces intact and at her disposal rather than disbanded."

George smiles " 'If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother.' Epictetus. But yes General, the devil is in the details, however, in these negotiations I need to establish potentials as well as actuality. I will take my leave and speak with your counterparts. Please do remember I am here to serve Egypt."

 

[Silver Moon]

"What are they?" she whispered. "They're gorgeous. I wouldn't have thought this pond was deep enough for any creatures like this."

Callum replies, "They are called hippocampi. This isn't where they are from, it's just a temporary home." Looking towards the animals he says, "Bey, Nalu, this is Abby." Both nod their heads in her direction.

Callum continues, "Captain Nemo rescued them. They were living on a Pacific island in a lake beside a volcano. It was due to erupt and they would have been killed. Under normal circumstances he would have saved them by just putting them in the ocean, but these two had evolved in freshwater rather than seawater, so he had to locate a safe freshwater location for them. I initially had them in a Loch in Scotland, but had to relocate them after they encountered a plesiosaur living there who did not want company. They both prefer it here as it is warmer, especially when the pond is in the sun."

 

[Silver Moon]

George smiles....Please do remember I am here to serve Egypt."

Everybody stands and handshakes are exchanged between the men. Orabi alone kisses the Princess's hand. The Egyptian Generals along with their aides and scribes then depart. Four of the ogres at the doorway accompany them back to the upstairs suite that has been reserved for them.

Colonel Hassan orders the door closed and all scribes, guards and servants to the outside of the door to give the three complete privacy. Once the doors are shut he says, "Thoughts Mr. Eastman?"

 

[orchid blossom]

Callum replies, "They are called hippocampi. This isn't where they are from, it's just a temporary home." Looking towards the animals he says, "Bay, Nalu, this is Abby." Both nod their heads in her direction.

... They both prefer it here as it is warmer, especially when the pond is in the sun."

Abby nodded back at the creatures, and if she was unable to stop staring she at least tried not to do it rudely.

"Are you looking for another place for them? It must be cold here in the winter. How long have they been here?"