The Far Rowers

Armed guards were posted outside as Ra gave loud and clear orders to kill anyone found trying to eavesdrop. Now Ra and his second in command listened anxiously to hear what the party had to say. He prayed to all the Gods that it would be good news. They all needed good news...

***

"It is a valley fit for Kings Lord! Truly it is!" said Seraphin to his master. He was overjoyed to bring glad tidings to all the crew and survivors. As leader and spokesman for the shore party it was left to him to give detailed accounts of how they had explored the interior. What they had seen, who they had encountered. If they were friendly or warlike. The wildlife. The plants. Anything of use to the captain. Anything at all. Seraphin knew they were desperate for a place to stay. Seraphin was certain that they could settle this land.

"And you are certain that you saw no other settlers. No other tribes?" questioned Ra.

"I am certain, Lord. I would stake my life on it"

"You are staking all our lives on it." snapped Ra, "now, all of you, leave us!" commanded Ra as he waived a hand imperiously in the air ushering the excited explorers to leave.

"Go and see your families. Rest and rejoice in your safe return. I will speak now with

Kirasan. Go!"

Kirasan moved to one side of the great oak table and sat down on one of the ornate wooden chairs. Ra moved to the other side and waited until the guard closed the door before choosing to sit down himself. He poured a large cup of water and took a deep drink of the cooling liquid before looking squarely at his new found ally.

"Well Kirasan. What do you think?" said Ra.

"This is it. We have no choice. Closer to the mouth of the river and we would have to fight to survive. If we stay here. We start a settlement. We start to grow strong again."

"You speak wisely my friend. And even more importantly, I do not think we have the strength to go much further. We must plant crops soon or our supplies will be gone. We salvaged little from the island.."

"So it is agreed?" said Kirasan

"Yes. Tonight we gather the people and then I will speak to them. Now let me rest"

***

It was growing dark and Ra felt tired. His heart ached and he had a terrible feeling that he would not survive much longer. Something told him that his heart was weak and dying. "At least I won’t have to worry about growing old, or arthritis..." grimaced Ra, trying not to let anyone see how much pain he was in, and shortly the pain did leave him, but he knew the damage was done.

Slowly, Ra looked around him. First at the great ship which he loved so much, then down at the bank of oars. He walked to the port side of the vessel and looked down at the silent crowd of men, women and children gathered before him. There were less than seven hundred, but enough to start again..

Ra looked up towards the night sky and thought how beautiful it looked. The stars in the heavens, the low lying hills set against a fantastic red sunset, and behind him the great river. A place of sun, land, and water. He knew he had guided them well. Very well. Now his journey had truly come to an end.

"Gather round my children! Come forward into the light of the campfires so that I may see you!" said Ra in a loud clear voice.

As one, they stepped forward and all looked up at him from below. Ra could clearly see their faces flickering with hope in the light of the campfires. Kirasan stood at the front with his wife Osiris and their seven year old son Pepys.

"It is as it should be" thought Ra, as he looked upon Kirasan as the next in line to be leader. He was young and strong and already had an heir. Ra had no one. All his family had perished on the island.

"Hear me!" commanded Ra and saw that all eyes were upon him. "This is what we shall do. Tomorrow we shall start to move from the ship into the valley over the hill. We shall take what supplies we can and wood from the ship to build a single settlement in a fortified part of the valley. It shall be our new home. We shall plant what seed we have and in time and with the Gods willing we shall spread out across the valley and beyond. We shall explore in all directions. We shall trade where we can. We will fight when we have to. We shall prevail."

There was a loud cheer from the crowd gathered below him and he could see in their faces that their was hope in their eyes. They had no doubts, no sense of loss, or lack of confidence in their leader. It was with one voice that they applauded Ra and hailed him king.

"Silence" commanded Ra. "We have travelled far and suffered much to get here. There is much work to do but we shall work hard and prosper. But I will not be called king. We left our king back on our homeland and he died with all of his people. And so I say this. We will not forget our people now gone. We will not forget how far we have travelled or how far we had to row to get here. And so I say this. We will remember. And as an act of remembrance for all those we lost I shall not be called king. From this day forth I shall be called Pha-ro-ah."

And with these words the people of Ra knelt down before their chosen leader, bowed their heads low and said "Hail - Ra - Pha-roah!!!"

THE END