Desert Rhapsody - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

For Jiang Yuan, this was indeed a little unexpected, yet it had also happened so naturally. The tent had been laid out comfortably; the oilcloth and blankets were soft and dry. Lying on them made one breathe out in contentment. She had just killed people, eaten her fill, and found a small pocket of time to relax between two missions. With a man beside her who felt right, why not? Abal’s face truly suited Jiang Yuan’s tastes.

The temperature was pleasant, and it did not rain. When the hot wind blew across the water, it carried the faintest trace of coolness. The young bandit chief was not lacking in skill. He had endless tricks, knew how to whisper sweet words, and was indeed, just as he had claimed, a qualified lover. Aside from the initial pain when they did not quite fit, Jiang Yuan was very satisfied with everything that followed, including the new knowledge she acquired. They did not leave the next day. Nor did they leave on the third day. At dawn on the fourth day, Jiang Yuan kicked him away.

“You should go,” she said. “So should I.”

Her monthly cycle had always been punctual, and now the familiar signs had found her. She knew there would be no need to take responsibility for this sudden burst of passion. Abal had actually carried sheep intestine and papyrus sheaths with him-supposedly even replacing them regularly over the past year, which Jiang Yuan could only wonder was what kind of problem-but there simply had not been enough. He lay beside her, drinking the last few mouthfuls of wine, his head tilted. His smooth skin was firm and taut, and he looked as lazy as a wolf that had eaten its fill. Those blue eyes were so deep they were almost unsettling.

He teased, “If a woman has to remind me, then I clearly didn’t work hard enough.”

Jiang Yuan ignored him. But even before they had put their clothes back on, their other identities in the real world returned once desire had been satisfied. They washed themselves clean by the stream, dressed, and slept with the fresh dampness of water still on them. They did not sleep in each other’s arms. They had slept that way when they were too tired to move, but both Jiang Yuan and Abal preferred separate blankets.

Then they mounted their horses and left that stretch of Gobi behind. Abal led Jiang Yuan back to the road, where the trade route was still busy with an endless stream of camels, mules, and horses. The view gradually changed from barren yellow sand to lush grass and trees. Around one clear spring after another, trees with broad swaying leaves had been planted. Houses were built from white and yellow stone, and moist earth followed the flow of water into the Nile River. Boats heading north drifted downstream. He followed her and watched as she found a ship at the harbor. This ship specialized in carrying travelers to Alexandria and was far more comfortable than a cargo vessel. It was said that once it put its passengers ashore there, it would load cargo again and sail west to Tunisia.

Standing before the gangplank, Jiang Yuan said, “I’ll keep an eye out for news of the Blood Eagle for you.” Who knew-if those bandits had escaped alive, perhaps some who knew the truth would panic and flee blindly to Taif for help. Abal said lazily, “If that happens, go buy a packet of salt from Old Yijin.”

They did not mention the symbols in front of the doors again. This was their tacit understanding. From the moment that wax-sealed letter had been sent, the agreement between merchant and bandit was over. Jiang Yuan sincerely hoped she would not see Abal again in the future, though that did not mean she wished him dead. She said, “You had better stay alive.” Otherwise, Lady Fatini would inevitably have a handle to hold over her. Abal sat high above her on Night and looked down at her. His face was covered by a veil, and his blue eyes narrowed slightly.

“I’ll take those words as your prayer for me.” He leaned down and said beside her ear, “Otherwise, I might have to wonder whether I truly failed to satisfy you.” Then he brushed lightly against the side of her face, the cool white cloth grazing her skin. Jiang Yuan stood still and let him laugh, straighten, nod, and ride away.

Jiang Yuan had traveled through quite a few cities by now, and she thought she could already face Egypt with an ordinary heart. Yet as she took the boat down the Nile River, the gorgeous scenery on both banks still left her dazzled and entranced. Ancient Lower Egypt, along with the legends of the pyramids and Cleopatra, had long been sealed beneath a thousand years of time. Only the ancient cities along the banks remained prosperous. The boat traveled from city to city, and most of the time, it passed reeds and jungle. The broad river was bright and clear, its ripples endlessly shifting. In the mornings, countless waterbirds flew in flocks, skimming past the shore. There had even been crocodiles following behind the boat, hunting the schools of fish stirred up and startled by the long oars.

Jiang Yuan stood on the deck, watching hunters shoot birds and scoop up fish. You would not realize you were traveling alongside danger, nor would you realize you were in Egypt. Camels drank on the riverbank, lifting their heads to slowly chew their cud as the setting sun shone over them. The scene seemed to pierce through the river of time itself, freezing the moment in place. She rested a hand on the railing and smiled, because in the distance, even amid the clouds, she saw the Lighthouse of Alexandria shining as brightly as the Sun.
They entered the harbor at night, and the city shone as bright as day. Alexandria had been founded in the fourth century BC by Alexander the Great of Macedonia. From then on, it had been ruled by Rome until the people of Arabia stormed into Egypt and took the greatest port and granary in the world for themselves. Centuries later, traces of a Roman city still showed everywhere: rows upon rows of red-roofed houses, ocher stone paving, palm trees and bathhouses at every turn. The scent of fragrant flower oil and the laughter of young women drifted in on the night breeze, and everywhere the eye fell were splendid palaces and halls. Mercenary sailors from Frankia and Spain sat arm in arm with warriors from Arabia and Turkic lands by the fountains, while girls from Persia danced before them, their swirling skirts flying. The men roared with laughter. Torches and night lamps lit the air around the lilting sound of strings.

Jiang Yuan strolled off the ship and patted Sun on the shoulder, telling her not to be afraid. Ever since they had left Night, Sun had been rather listless. A clever child immediately led her to an inn. Hot water for washing was ready at any time, though anyone who wanted a proper bath had to go to a bathhouse. The room was clean and tidy, and the balcony even had white stone railings where one could lean out to admire the night view and take in the scenery. One day and one night, meals included, cost only five silver coins. Fair to young and old alike.

The harbor’s specialty was naturally fish. The grilled fish here, paired with fresh-squeezed juice, was superb. Jiang Yuan wiped herself down, changed clothes, slept beautifully through the night, and then ate her fill. Even with her period, her mood improved quite a bit. She counted the days. By now, Abal should have reached Bakum. But it had nothing to do with her anyway. Jiang Yuan had partnered with some merchants to open a shop in Alexandria. Since Sun was not exactly convenient for getting around, she rented a little mule as transport and went to the market to ask after Adnan.

Compared with Baghdad and Damascus, there were far more Europeans here. The Caliph’s domain extended all the way to southern Italy, while early medieval Europe was still busy carving itself into territories and killing one another over them. Many people who could no longer endure the wars crossed the sea eastward with hope in their hearts, coming here in search of a life. The inn attendant’s accent was so heavy that Jiang Yuan could not tell whether he had understood her at all, but he pointed her toward the harbor.

She stood with the mule by the city wall along the coast and gazed over the long white stone wall at the Lighthouse of Alexandria for a while, lost in thought. Many people nearby were doing the same. Massive beasts of ships, packed tightly together, docked one after another to unload their cargo. Then they sailed away and dropped anchor in a line out in the deep water. Countless milky-white little boats shuttled back and forth across the waves, and work chants and songs drifted over from far away.

It was a sight one could never tire of. The top of the lighthouse had been dismantled and was under reconstruction, yet it still burned, dazzling and blazing hot, guiding countless ships into the harbor. …In Jiang Yuan’s own era, it had already sunk beneath the sea, leaving behind only countless legends that stirred the imagination.

She tried asking a few passersby at the roadside, but the ones she managed to catch all babbled away in Old English and Italian. There might have been more people speaking Italian here than Arabic. Later, she met a scholar who chatted with her amicably and pointed her in the right direction. There were many docks here, and ships carrying different goods moored at different docks, so each dock had its own market. Jiang Yuan thanked him gratefully. But Alexandria was too large. Riding her mule beneath the blazing sun, she searched from morning until sunset before she finally found that shop.

The shop was very small. After all, every inch of land here was worth its weight in gold. Paper and spices were arranged inside, more than enough for ordinary retail, while the bulk goods were all stored in villages outside the city. Jiang Yuan had opened the shop in partnership with others mainly so the messengers would have a place to stay and a way to gather news of Adnan. So she was not surprised when an unfamiliar shop assistant came forward and treated her like a customer. “I am Jia Nan Adnan,” she said. “Where is Amin Hussein?” Amin Hussein was the man she had sent here, a young, strong fellow utterly loyal to Adnan.

The assistant looked extremely astonished. “You’re Jia Nan Adnan? Did Amin’s horse grow eight legs or something? It’s only been half a month. How could he have reached Taif already?” Jiang Yuan sensed that something was off. After talking it through with him, she learned that Adnan’s ship had arrived in Alexandria half a month ago. That very day, Amin had taken the letter, mounted a swift horse in high spirits, and ridden back to Taif to deliver the news.

Jiang Yuan was overjoyed. After nearly two years apart, Adnan’s long voyage had finally come to an end. The assistant did not know much about the matter. He only knew that Adnan was still handling the cargo. He had rented a certain inn in the city and was selling the jewelry, spices, and fine wood he had brought from Oman and Aden at marked-up prices. Jiang Yuan asked for the inn’s address, but the assistant could not give a clear answer. This shop was a partnership, and any proceeds from sales here had to be split. Naturally, Adnan would not use this channel.
The attendant said, “I have heard that his son, Abdul, has been going to the Grand Theater lately to watch gladiators duel. Perhaps you can find him there.”

Jiang Yuan was in excellent spirits. Ignoring her limited budget, she immediately gave him a generous tip, then headed out in high spirits amid the attendant’s profuse thanks.

By then, night was drawing near. Even though the city was ablaze with lights, many people had already gone home to rest. Only after reaching the broad road by the harbor could one still see a scene of bustling activity. Jiang Yuan walked east into the wind for another few dozen minutes, and from afar she saw an enormous white circular building, along with the impassioned roar rising from within. That was the Grand Theater, which in modern times would be nothing more than ruins. But it could also be called by another name, one that would surely ring like thunder in your ears: the Colosseum.

Jiang Yuan finished the last piece of roast meat, then casually held the leaf it had been wrapped in over a roadside torch and burned it. Because she was neatly dressed, refined, and looked rather well-off, the mercenaries idling by the road merely glanced sideways at her and said nothing. Jiang Yuan asked them, “Have you heard the name Abdul Adnan?” She then described his appearance. She had only meant to try her luck, but to her surprise, they answered without hesitation.

“Are you one of his helpers?”

Jiang Yuan froze. They stopped talking and looked at her with knowing smiles. So Jiang Yuan took the money pouch from her belt and tossed the whole thing over.

Of course, she kept her money in separate places. There were only a few silver coins in that pouch, the sort meant to greet pickpockets. But she paid readily, and the mercenaries answered just as readily.

“Over there.” He pointed toward a shadow not far away. “He got caught sleeping with someone else’s woman, and now he’s getting beaten up.”

I realized there was no way I could finish writing this in one sitting.

Back to the lifestyle of one desert chapter, one demon chapter.

Sleep.

I slept hard for two days, finally started writing again, and then realized I was stuck…

I realized there really was no way to finish this in two chapters. The outline is still missing an incident that Yuan Yuan completes independently. Awkward. But the upcoming plot actually wasn’t fully filled in during the early-stage planning.

I need to think about how Yuan Yuan should show off her power in the best way.

Oh, right, about sheep intestines and papyrus sheaths. Those were the earliest contraceptive measures. Back then, they weren’t really considered contraception yet; they were mainly for disease prevention. Aristotle proposed using oil and frankincense ointment, while Egyptians used sheaths woven from pomegranate seeds and papyrus. Since people in Arabia had so many cattle and sheep, casings and bladders were probably more common there. Ancient people had quite a dazzling variety of contraceptive methods. But the most horrifying one was stuffing crocodile and elephant dung inside women…

Since there’s no plot, I can only make up for it by giving you all a little lesson on Alexandria.

Alexandria in Egypt should also have been the largest city in the world at the time. Even before the Common Era, it already had a population of six hundred thousand. The largest city in the same period was Pataliputra in India, with five hundred and fifty thousand people. Qin’s Xianyang only had about two hundred and fifty thousand.

Cairo had not yet been founded at the time; it was called Fustat. That was a typo, and I’ll revise it uniformly after the story is finished. There are also problems with Adnan’s route. Only after the fifteenth century would there have been the capital to sail around continents… I’ll revise that uniformly after finishing too: from the Gulf of Persia around the Arabian Peninsula, through the Red Sea and Suez to Alexandria to sell goods, then buying camels to return to Taif.

Alexandria was Egypt’s capital. It was a hub of the Mediterranean and one of the most prosperous cities in the world, connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa. At the time, Arab Empire territory extended as far as southern Italy, and Alexandria and Tunisia were the only two ports connected by shipping routes. Europe was in the early Middle Ages, full of fighting and death, with the people living in misery, so plenty of people crossed eastward to Arabia looking for a living. Germany, Italy, and France had not yet emerged as separate states, and Frankia was the largest power in Europe. The famous Donation of Pepin had happened only a few years earlier; the Vatican was founded, and the pope united divine and secular authority. Spain is still under green-green rule right now.

It really feels like there is still quite a lot to write. I can’t finish it all, so if there are any questions you’re interested in, leave a comment…

Extras are being solicited as usual.

Thank you to the little angels who voted Overlord Tickets for me or watered me with nutrient solution~

Thanks to the little angels who watered [nutrient solution]:

Wanlai Tianyu Xue, 16 bottles; Er Dong, 5 bottles; A Yin, 2 bottles; Did Big Big Drive Today?, 1 bottle;

Thank you all so much for your support. I will keep working hard!