Mary Todd Lincoln, Clara Harris 1834-1883) and Major Henry Rathbone1837-1911

As the president lay dying the authorities were already moving to capture the persons responsible for the assassination of President Lincoln

Union soldiers, led by Lieutenant Edward P. Doherty of the 16th New York Cavalry Regiment, pursued Booth through Southern Maryland and across the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers to Richard Garrett's farm, near Bowling Green, Caroline County, Virginia. He had been housed in the barn with the assistance of Captain Willie Jett, of Mosby's Command (Virginia Partisan Rangers). Early in the morning of April 26, 1865, the soldiers caught up with Booth. Trapped in a tobacco barn owned by Richard H. Garrett, David Herold surrendered. Booth refused to surrender and Everton Conger ordered the soldiers to set the barn ablaze. Sergeant Boston Corbett fired at Booth against orders, fatally wounding him in the neck. Booth was dragged from the fire and died on the porch of the nearby farmhouse at age 26. The bullet had severed his spinal cord, paralyzing him. His last words were reportedly, "Useless, useless."

Bellow is a very interesting link which retells the story of these events in a clear concise way
.
http://members.aol.com/RVSNorton/Lincoln.html

The sad thing about most of the people involved in this incident was thereafter there lives were wreaked and they never fully recovered check out the wiki to see what happened to them in later years.

Comments

The Wittelsbachs continue to be held in high esteem in Bavaria. Under German law their titles are only recognised legally as a part of their surnames. Franz is a Senator of the University of Munich and an Honorary Member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and holds many honorary positions in civic and religious organisations in Bavaria.
Franz is the heir-general of the Royal House of Stuart and thus is regarded by Jacobites as the rightful King of England and Scotland. Jacobites refer to him as King Francis II of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, though he himself does not use these titles.


His royal highness the duke of Bavaria

Franz is also, according to the provisions of 1843 Greek Constitution, the heir of the deposed king Otto of Greece, his late great-great-granduncle who died in 1867. Otto had always declined to convert to the Orthodox creed, but it was intended that his successors should be Orthodox. Also, the reign of Franz' great-grandfather Louis III in Bavaria (1913-18), a kingdom other than Greece, may have impeded the theoretical Greek succession, since the Greek Constitution forbade the sovereign to be ruler of another country. Theoretically, it is possible in 1913, that the rights to the throne of Greece would have devolved to Prince Leopold of Bavaria, next brother of King Louis, and son-in-law of the Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) of Austria.
He is current Grand Master of the Royal Order of Saint George for the Defense of the Immaculate Conception.
Franz has never married and on his death his position as head of the House of Wittelsbach will pass to his brother Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria, (that is Duke "in", not "of", Bavaria). Because Max has no sons, the Bavarian titles will pass after his death to a cousin, Prince Luitpold of Bavaria or Luitpold's son, Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, and his descendants, while the position of heir of the House of Stuart will pass to Max's daughter Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein.

Comments

Comments

Comments

“The King died unceremoniously of aortic dissection while seated on the lavatory on 25 October 1760.”

Comments

George W Bush
• Robert Magabe or any one in the ruling party in Zimbabwe
• The Iranian leader or any of his council
• Osama Bin Laden or any of those close to him
• Nelson Mandela or any other leader of the ANC or PAC
• Alternatively, any other leader of a state or organization.

They might for a season get away with it but one thing is certain there will come a time of reckoning and will these people be able to stand before there creator with clean hands? I doubt it very much
Let us take the first character on this list through his actions or failure to act in a timely fashion many thousands have died.
The next character is the matter of starving and beating your fellow countrymen into mute submission would be laughable with his constant triads against Britain if it was not so heart breaking

The third Character is a world class reprobate some one please put us out of our misery and execute him No one is exactly sure of how many people he will eventually kill in his desire to get a nuclear devise.
The next character is still at large due to the failure of George W Bush to act in good time and have him rubbed out because of this the good people of America have another sad day of remembrance.
The next character that is revered by many who have never lived under his rule is responsible for giving the order to make a country ungovernable and kill any who stood in the way of the freedom of the masses. True to his word many of his followers went out and killed helpless civilians starting a crime wave which we still have not seen the end of true freedom is important but at what price. The toll of death and destruction continues to rise as this characters government has failed to stop what it started when he issued the kill steal and destroy order back in the 1960’s his successor is also another world class character who recently called the crime wave which is sweeping southern Africa racism.
I say Hey how do you acquaint crimes like murder rape robbery fraud which in the most part is been practiced by members of his own ruling party Racism? Further more the friendship the South African government has with that of Zimbabwe is highly embarrassing to all South African citizens

I think I have said enough I will close now with one final statement these men might escape judgment here on earth but the big account book in Heaven is open and a lot of debits are been added to there individual accounts I doubt very much if they will have enough credit to cover there debit.

Comments

Rene Descartes 1596 - Philosopher, "I think, therefore I am"

Andrew Marvell 1621 - Poet

John Harrison 1693

Nikolai Gogol 1809 - Playwright, novelist

Edward Fitzgerald 1809 - Author

Robert Wilhelm Bunsen 1811

Mary Chestnut 1823 - Author

Sir Dugald Clerk 1854

Jack Johnson 1878

Henry Morgan 1915 - Comedian

Tommy Bolt 1918 - Golfer

Richard Kiley 1922 - Actor ("The Thorn Birds")

Leo Buscaglia 1925

Cesar Chavez 1927 - Labor leader, founder of National Farm Workers Association

William Daniels 1927 - Actor ("St. Elsewher", voice of KITT on "Knight Rider")

Gordie (Gordon) Howe 1928 - Hockey player (Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers)

Lefty(William Orville) Frizzell 1928 - Country musician

Liz Claiborne 1929 - Fashion designer

Miller Barber 1931 - Golfer

John Jakes 1932 - Author ("California", "In the Big Country")

John D. Loudermilk 1934 - Country singer and songwriter

Shirley Jones 1934 - Singer, Actress ("The Partridge Family")

Herb Alpert 1935 - Musician

Richard Chamberlain 1935 - Actor ("The Bourne Identity")

Billy Hicke 1938 - Hockey player (Montreal Canadiens, NY Rangers, Minnesota Rangers, Baltimore Clippers, Oakland Seals, California Golden Seals, Pittsburgh Penguins)

Christopher Walken 1943 - Actor ("The Deerhunter", "Pulp Fiction")

Rod Allen 1944 - Musician (The Fortunes)

Gabe Kaplan 1945 - Actor ("Welcome Back Kotter"), comedian

Al Nichol 1946 - Musician (The Turtles)

Al Gore 1948 - U.S. Vice President under President Bill Clinton

Rhea Perlman 1948 - Actress ("Cheers"), comedian

Mick Ralphs 1948 - Musician (Bad Company, Mott the Hoople)

Ed Marinaro 1950 - Football player (Minnesota Vikings), Actor ("Hill Street Blues")

Sean Hopper 1953 - Musician (Huey Lewis and The News)

Marc McClure 1957 - Actor ("Freak Friday")

Angus Young 1959 - Guitar player (AC/DC)

William McNamara 1965 - Actor

Pavel Bure 1971 - Hockey player

Ewen McGregor 1971 - Actor ("Star Wars", "Moulin Rouge")

Events

1492 - King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain issued an edict expelling Jews who were unwilling to convert to Christianity.

1776 - Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John that women were "determined to foment a rebellion" if the new Declaration of Independence failed to guarantee their rights.

1779 - Russia and Turkey signed a treaty concerning military action in Crimea.

1831 - Quebec and Montreal were incorporated as cities.

1854 - The U.S. government signed the Treaty of Kanagawa with Japan. The act opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakotade to American trade.

1862 - Skirmishing between Rebels and Union forces took place at Island 10 on the Mississippi River.

1870 - In Perth Amboy, NJ, Thomas P. Munday became the first black to vote in the U.S.

1880 - Wabash, IN, became the first town to be completely illuminated with electric light.

1889 - In Paris, the Eiffel Tower officially opened.

1900 - The W.E. Roach Company was the first automobile company to put an advertisement in a national magazine. The magazine was the "Saturday Evening Post".

1900 - In France, the National Assembly passed a law reducing the workday for women and children to 11 hours.

1901 - In Russia, the Czar lashed out at Socialist-Revolutionaries with the arrests of 72 people and the seizing of two printing presses.

1902 - In Tennessee, 22 coal miners were killed by an explosion.

1904 - In India, hundreds of Tibetans were slaughtered by the British.

1905 - Kaiser Wilhelm arrived in Tangier proclaiming to support for an independent state of Morocco.

1906 - The Conference on Moroccan Reforms in Algerciras ended after two months with France and Germany in agreement.

1906 - The Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States was founded to set rules in amateur sports. The organization became the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1910.

1908 - 250,000 coal miners in Indianapolis, IN, went on strike to await a wage adjustment.

1909 - Serbia accepted Austrian control over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

1917 - The U.S. purchased and took possession of the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million.

1918 - For the first time in the U.S., Daylight Saving Time went into effect.

1921 - Great Britain declared a state of emergency because of the thousands of coal miners on strike.

1923 - In New York City, the first U.S. dance marathon was held. Alma Cummings set a new world record of 27 hours.

1932 - The Ford Motor Co. debuted its V-8 engine.

1933 - The U.S. Congress authorized the Civilian Conservation Corps to relieve rampant unemployment.

1933 - The "Soperton News" in Georgia became the first newspaper to publish using a pine pulp paper.

1939 - Britain and France agreed to support Poland if Germany threatened invasion.

1940 - La Guardia airport in New York officially opened to the public.

1941 - Germany began a counter offensive in North Africa.

1945 - "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams opened on Broadway.

1946 - Monarchists won the elections in Greece.

1947 - John L. Lewis called a strike in sympathy for the miners killed in an explosion in Centralia, IL, on March 25, 1947.

1948 - The Soviets in Germany began controlling the Western trains headed toward Berlin.

1949 - Winston Churchill declared that the A-bomb was the only thing that kept the U.S.S.R. from taking over Europe.

1949 - Newfoundland entered the Canadian confederation as its 10th province.

1958 - The U.S. Navy formed the atomic submarine division.

1959 - The Dalai Lama (Lhama Dhondrub, Tenzin Gyatso) began exile by crossing the border into India where he was granted political asylum. Gyatso was the 14th Daila Lama.

1960 - The South African government declared a state of emergency after demonstrations lead to the death of more than 50 Africans.

1966 - An estimated 200,000 anti-war demonstrators march in New York City.

1966 - The Soviet Union launched Luna 10, which became the first spacecraft to enter a lunar orbit.

1967 - U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed the Consular Treaty, the first bi-lateral pact with the Soviet Union since the Bolshevik Revolution.

1970 - The U.S. forces in Vietnam down a MIG-21, it was the first since September 1968.

1976 - The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that Karen Anne Quinlan could be disconnected from a respirator. Quinlan remained comatose until 1985 when she died.

1980 - U.S. President Carter deregulated the banking industry.

1985 - ABC-TV aired the 200th episode of "The Love Boat."

1986 - 167 people died when a Mexicana Airlines Boeing 727 crashed in Los Angeles.

1987 - HBO (Home Box Office) earned its first Oscar for "Down and Out in America".

1989 - Canada and France signed a fishing rights pact.

1991 - Albania offered a multi-party election for the first time in 50 years. Incumbent President Ramiz Alia won.

1991 - Iraqi forces recaptured the northern city of Kirkuk from Kurdish guerillas.

1993 - Brandon Lee was killed accidentally while filming a movie.

1994 - "Nature" magazine announced that a complete skull of Australppithecus afarensis had been found in Ethiopia. The finding is of humankind's earliest ancestor.

1998 - U.N. Security Council imposed arms embargo on Yugoslavia.

1998 - Buddy Hackett received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1998 - For the first time in U.S. history the federal government's detailed financial statement was released. This occurred under the Clinton administration.

1999 - Three U.S. soldiers were captured by Yugoslav soldiers three miles from the Yugoslav border in Macedonia.

1999 - Fabio was hit in the face by a bird during a promotional ride of a new roller coaster at the Busch Gardens theme park in Williamsburg, VA. Fabio received a one-inch cut across his nose.

2000 - In Uganda, officials set the number of deaths linked to a doomsday religious cult, the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments, at more than 900. In Kanungu, a March 17 fire at the cult's church killed more than 530 and authorities subsequently found mass graves at various sites linked to the cult.

2004 - Air America Radio launched five stations around the U.S.

2004 - Google Inc. announced that it would be introducing a free e-mail service called Gmail.

In music

1684 - Composer Francesco Durante was born.

1732 - Composer Franz Joseph Haydn was born. He is known for helping to develop the Classical style.

1901 - Anton Dvorak's opera "Rusalka" premiered in Russia.

1943 - "Oklahoma!" by Rodgers and Hammerstein debuted on Broadway. The original title was "Away We Go".

1958 - Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" was released.

1967 - Jimi Hendrix began his first British tour with Cat Stevens.

1982 - The Doobie Brothers announced their break-up.

1987 - Prince's "Sign O' The Times" LP was released in the U.S.

1989 - Guns N' Roses released their single "Patience."

1992 - White Zombie's "La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. One" was released. It was their major label debut album.

1992 - Human touch and Lucky Day, both by Bruce Springsteen were released.

1995 - A former Led Zeppelin fan was arrested for trying to stab Jimmy Page at a Page and Robert Plant concert.

1995 - Selena was killed by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar. Saldivar had been fired for embezzlement.

1998 - The first Celebration of Female Artists Awards took place at The Grosvenor House in London.

1998 - The video for "Good Times," the only movie to star Sonny & Cher, hit stores. The video included an unreleased version of "I Got You Babe." The movie was made in 1967.

1999 - It was announced that tickets for the Cranberries' forthcoming U.S. tour would only be sold via the Internet at www.cranberries.com.

Comments

In other news you can do me a huge favor by reading an extract of my first novel “The curse” and sending an e mail review here are the details

The bit from the book can be read at
http://www.fiction-publishing.com/consider/extracts/tim-w.html
And the e mail with the rave review can be sent to the following address (Please not there are a few spelling mistakes in the bit from the book it was taken from the first draft which has subsequently been rectified
admin@fiction-publishing.com

Comments

Comments

Comments

Having returned from foreign parts at the end of the reign of bloody Mary Arthur had been recognized as his only surviving air. Sir Edward a staunch Catholic had tried at first to instill in Arthur a love for the church of Rome but Arthur who had always been of an independent nature had rebelled at this not openly at first but later when Sir Edward had shuffled of this mortal coil he had openly embraced the new church lead by the Queen.

During Sir Edwards time the coffers of the family purse had been depleted by the constant drain of fines for been openly a member of the Catholic Church now with the passing of Sir Edward who in his own way was a good and wise man things changed

Sir Edward had taken it upon himself in his younger days to teach his sons both legitimate and illegitimate the arts of reading writing and Arithmetic. The age where in he lived demanded that sons of the manor be prepared for any eventuality Arthur after completing his education had gone to sea and had sailed to the coasts of Spain and Portugal and knew well the ways of the sea and longed for the day when the day when England would send ships to the new colonies in the Americas. The age of the renascence was alive and well and Arthur was a typical product of that age part knowledge and part conjecture folklore played a big part of what men knew and Arthur was no exception.

Now to get a head it was required of every noble who could afford it to spend a certain amount of time at Court, the young queen had a way of attracting men whom she could use to enhance her kingdom leaning first on this Lords shoulder to hear what he had to say of a certain matter then another always keeping her cards close to her chest lest any should peradventure come to know her thoughts. In this way she kept the men close to her loyal and largely dependent on her for those things which they desired like titles and lands. The wives of these good men on the other hand found the queen to be hard and unforgiving. Most of them complained of the amount of time there husbands devoted to the virgin queen, thus on a certain day Sir Arthur found himself on the road to London to pay a long over due visit to the Court of the virgin queen.

England at this time still bore out the resent signs of the reign of bloody Mary the dried out bodies of criminals and adherents to the Protestant faith could still be found hanging from gallows at most crossroads. The county of Somersetshire was no exception the veracity with which the recently buried Sir Edward had taken up the cause of the Catholic church was much appreciated and rewarded by bloody Mary now as Sir Arthur made his way down a country lane he happened to notice the smell of a fire burning some where near however the smell of the fire was not that of the kind one would acquaint with the country side there was a smell of flesh burning a smell Sir Arthur well knew from been present at a burning of an alleged heretic a few months previously it sickened him then and it did so again now. Approaching the crossroad he happened to come upon the Bailiff of the county with a group of underlings busy burning the remains of the recently dead. For the queen in her wisdom had issued a proclamation that all signs of the previous reign of terror be removed in the hope of inspiring her subjects to turn over a new leaf, beginning anew her reign with as it were a clean slate.

“Good morrow Sir Arthur” said the Bailiff taking a moment to break of what he was doing to acknowledge the presents of the Lord of the manor. “Good morrow and Godspeed John Leander what are you about? Asked Sir Arthur “By the queens order the removal of all mortal remains of those put to death by her late sister queen Mary” replied the Bailiff as he wiped the sweat from his face. Tell me John Leander how you were told to dispose of the remains” asked Sir Arthur “I was not exactly told how all I was told was remove the remains of those who had been killed by queen Mary” replied the Bailiff “Don’t you think it would have been better have the remains buried like those of good Christian folks? Asked Sir Arthur “Why sir that would mean going to the expense of finding a spot to burry them and a parson to ask for his fee” replied the Bailiff.

“John Leander I charge you to have those remains removed and given a proper burial or you will hear from me do we understand each other” said Arthur “Yes Sir Arthur I will do it this instant said the Bailiff now feeling quite fearful for what would happen to him should it reach the ears of those in power. Sir Arthur kicked his horse into motion forward to London. The country side had always been a happy place for Sir Arthur who had spent much of his youth watching the ways of nature for in a time when news moved slowly and not much to entertain the young boys were want to find ways of amusing themselves and one of these ways to watch the ways of nature.

“Sir William you are sure of this?” asked Elizabeth by the Grace of God Queen of England and defender of the faith “Indeed your majesty I have it on the best authority that the Spanish ambassador Count Feria, has been agitating once again on behalf of his majesty the king of Spain.” Replied the nobleman “God dammed his eyes” shouted the queen angrily.

“May I suggest that for the time at least we keep him under observation and let things play out according to there plan until such time that we know the full intent of there dealings” said Sir William. “Indeed we can do that and draw more of the conspirators into the trap” said Lord Dudley “Gods blood sirs do they think that because I am a woman they will so easily defeat England?” the queen asked “No my lords I tell you I am England and no one not even the mighty Phillip of Span will be able to do that for I am England I am her life I am her heartbeat every breath England takes is my breath.’ The queen continued.

‘WE have a mind to hang every conspirator from the nearest gallows” said Elizabeth. “Have a care your majesty we do not know how near the spies of King Phillip might be even here at home there are supporters of the Catholic cause who might wish to pass on information which might be damaging to your majesties image.” Said lord Dudley “I am tired so tired of these intrigues said the queen with a sigh. “Would that we could remove all of your enemies for the kingdom for good” said Sir William Cecil “Indeed that would be most welcome my lord” replied the queen with a sigh. “If your majesty will grant me but the chance to make it so I will endeavor to make the realm safe for all loyal Englishmen who serve your majesty” said Sir William Cecil.” Granted you have spoken before of a plan you have for a certain service and I would hear more of it and also how you plan to fund this endeavor for the coffers of dear old England are quite depleted” said the queen

“Your majesty the expense will be well worth it when considering the amount of valuable information we will gain. Further there is the prospect of confiscated property of the Catholic nobles who are involved in the plot to remove you from the throne” said Sir William

“Indeed those nobles need a lesson in humility and if the Almighty uses me as an instrument to teach them humility then by God sirs I will do” it said the queen. “But enough of talk of intrigues Sir William. We believe that Sir Arthur Fits-Higham has come to town. Is he not the bastard son of Sir Edward Higham of Somersetshire?”

“Oh yes indeed he is the son by a kitchen maid whom served old sir Edward well for many years as much as sir Edward was an adherent to the faith of the church of Rome it is said that Sir Arthur is a loyal and faithful subject of your majesties he has recently brought before the bench of Somersetshire a case against the bailiff of for the desecration of the remains of those who died for there faith under your late sister” said sir William

“To be sure this is a most interesting turn of events I beg you Sir William to arrange that the young Fits-Higham come into our presence and make his obedience’s to me” said the queen

“Your Grace I know you said no more talk of politics but I would like to bring to your attention the fact that some of our people in France are reporting that madam De medic is once more busy with intrigues which might start of another war” said Lord Dudley

“My lord I have my own thoughts on this matter and Sir William has matters well in hand mayhap you would like to take a walk in the garden to freshen up your brains” said the queen “As your majesty wishes said Lord Robert rising and withdrawing from the chamber.

“God’s body that man is not the brightest child in the school room is he” said the queen
“I fear not your majesty but he is young and pliable he can be bent in the way in which to grow.” Said Sir William thoughtfully
“May I pour you some more wine your majesty” asked Sir William “Yes you may I will say one thing about French wine it has a certain attraction for me which I think err long I will have to forego for English stout” said the queen.

“Mayhap you may inform me a little more on the habits and vices of Sir Arthur Fits-Higham” said the queen “Well he was educated with the other sons of Sir Edward and is quite worldly wise having spent some time over seas in the merchant trade. When the sons of Sir Edward were killed in the service of the king of Spain sir Edward acknowledged him as his heir. Sir Edward took him in to teach him what he needed to know about been a son of a country magistrate. He is of the new faith not holding to the Church of Rome which is strange as we all know what Sir Edward believed.” Said Sir William

“Indeed and what know you of his loyalties to England” asked the queen Your majesty Sir Arthur has proven to be a loyal subject even though he is young in years he is old in wisdom. It could be said that he knows how to trim his sails. Said Sir William

“I have hopes of bringing him under “our influence as he might prove to be a valuable tool in our plans against Spain but time will tell if any thing will come of Sir Arthur.” Said Sir William “Indeed I would like very much to meet the young Arthur” said the queen.

Entering the chamber where the queen and her council sat at Greenwich Sir Arthur was struck by the fact that the queen was surrounded by men. There was no sign of any other lady in waiting. The voices of the men in the chamber carried small bits of information now and again Sir Arthur was content to wait and observe. Like an old sea dog he preferred to know which way the wind was blowing before he made his move. A burst of laughter carried across the chamber.

“Sir William Cecil looked up from what he was doing and saw for the first time that Sir Arthur was in the chamber, “Ah Sir Arthur Fits-Higham God bring you safely hither” he said Good day Sir William replied the young noble now approaching removing his cap he bowed deeply from the waist. “We give you good morrow Sir Arthur Your Grace may I present to you Sir Arthur Fits-Higham of the county of Somersetshire” said Sir William. “You may come closer and do your obedience Sir Arthur” said the queen extending her hand Sir Arthur went down on one knee and kissed the gloved hand which the queen had laid before him.

“Majesty I swear upon my troth unswerving loyalty all the days of my life to do only good for you and for England” said Sir Arthur “Indeed We are most pleased to hear you say this and to take an oath for. We have heard in the household of Higham there were members who would have fought to restore the Church of Rome and every thing that goes with it? Tell me Sir Arthur did not your brothers die in the service of the king of Spain?” said the queen

Your grace my late father of blessed memory had many faults he was but a man of staunch principals but I assure you that I have never been of a like mind to what my father believed. For me the first thing that comes to my mind is I must always do what is right for England and follow my own mind and serve the Almighty in the way I see best fit for me and this is not the way of the church of Rome” said Sir Arthur

“I hear from Sir William that you have spent some time over the seas what think you of the country of the Portugal’s?” said Elizabeth of England “It is a fair country but not so fair as our England Majesty” said Sir Arthur “Indeed that is good to know that in the heart of Englishman of every rank there is a true love for dear old England” said Sir Arthur.

“We have it from a certain lord that you are of a mind to serve in our navies is this true?” asked the queen “Indeed Majesty to serve in your navies is one of my greatest desires” said Sir Arthur “Pray Sir Arthur tell me a little of your county and your holdings” said Elizabeth of England.

“Well majesty the lands Sir Edward held are not of any great size they provide for themselves and the rents from the tenants are collected in time the taxes paid punctually. The people who live on the land know there place there is a house and a river near by which bubbles merrily giving drink to man and beast alike. I hold ten acers of land under harvest and anther 15 upon which the house and the people live” said Sir Arthur

“I am happy to hear that our taxes are paid punctually and with such good grace. Sir William do you have a map of the county in question” asked the queen Indeed Majesty on the table yonder I will fetch it” said Sir William “Sir Arthur will you show me upon the chart the lands you hold? Asked Elizabeth of England” I would be glad to be of service “said Sir Arthur

Sir William crossed the chamber and picked up the chart returning to the queen’s side he unrolled the chart. “Show me” said the queen “here majesty is the land which I hold’ said Sir Arthur pointing out the lands on the map. He had seen a number of charts in his time but none as fine as this one which was made on the skin of a fine young calf he could feel the texture of the skin under his finger as he pointed the spots out.

“Here to the north is the village of Tudelhopton’ said Sir Arthur “and it is also the place where Sir Edward was magistrate in his time.” Said the queen “Very well Sir Arthur I will extend your lands and holdings tell me have you as yet found a lady to whom you are betrothed?” as strange look in her eyes “No majesty I fear that is one area in which I have not had not devoted any time too.” Said Sir Arthur

“Very well that is one area that we must remedy as soon as possible for a man cannot hold lands for only his life time he needs to plan ahead” said Sir William the queen nodded her approval “Sir William will have the documents drawn up in the mean time attend Our grace while we work out exactly what service we will require of you” said the Queen “Majesty is to kind thank you a hundred times thank you” said Sir Arthur “You thank me now not knowing what we will require beware Sir Arthur that the price might very well be beyond your grasp to give” said Elizabeth of England.

“Tell me Sir Arthur how many souls are there in Tudelhopton” asked the Queen “Majesty there are a hundred souls who live in the village of Tudelhopton” said Sir Arthur “Do you swear that if you are granted more lands you will do you best for the souls in this small village?” asked the queen “Indeed I do majesty” said Sir Arthur

Comments

The age of the sailing ship might yet make a come back with the ever increasing demands for oil and coal raising it is quite possible that in the foreseeable future the oceans of the world might once more see the return of sailing ships.

The real question is what these vessels will look like as we have made so many improvements and advances in comfort to ocean going vessels the possibility that the sailing ships of the future might be very different in design and looks from the sailing ships of the past.

It is possible that the hulls of these vessels will be made of fiberglass or even steel which in itself will change the look and design of the vessel considerably the old sailing ships had fat bellies in which they carried cargo the look of the new age of sailing might be a lot sleeker and remind on of the great ships if the second half of the 19th century like the Cutty Sark

These vessels might also have a certain amount of nuclear power, the masts might be made not of wood but high masts of light weight steel which will carry the great sails made of synthetics

I lift my glass to the new age of sail

Comments

Send an e mail to my publisher

Thanks
Tim

Comments

I would ask that you go have a read and then email you r review to
admin@fiction-publishing.com the publisher has a few bugs on its website thus I am asking you to email your review
Thanks
Tim

Comments

At the portals of Hell the hordes of demons and the Devil waited Albeon appeared in there smoky midst. “Fool where have you been roared the Devil his face a fearsome red glare.

”Apologies master I was busy with a matter that needed my urgent attention” Albeon lied. “You would make a mockery of me on this most important day” stormed the Devil? No majesty I beg your pardon said the demon.

“Enough it is time we were gone there are many who are to enter these accursed portals today and I do not want to keep them waiting” said the Devil as he began to fade on his command the Albeon and the waiting hordes began to fade into the smoke there mission to reap the unrepentant souls who were about to die and to show the world who was master.

The tower was already burning when the hordes of demons arrived the Devil’s first act of business was to head to the section on the side of the building which was burning here he began to command the smoke and fire to thin and thicken until displayed in the smoke and falling debris was the very image of the evil one.

From deep within the smoke his satanic majesty spoke “I command here” he said demons “I command you do my biding go forth to every floor above the fires and posses those souls who are weak who despair go forth posses them and make them long for death. make them to cast themselves to the ground below that the harvest might begin” the smoke swirled the wind threatened to blow away the face of the devil he re-established his dominion over the smoke and flames his image restored for all the world to see a terrible witness to the power of evil.

In the streets bellow the people were fleeing the terror that reigned above the dust swirled about soon those possessed who had given up there hope for despair began to fall or jump from the windows the demons screaming in glee as each lost soul they took captive.

Some where in the midst of the building some one was praying now here to the angles hovered above waiting to take the faithful home yet they did not approach there mission to take the faithful without displaying the awesome might of there master.

His Satanic Majesty his attention arrested for a moment by two souls who did not seem to belong either to him or the One above in eternal struggle bellow been reborn phoenix like from the ashes.

The portals of Hell now wide open to receive there victims the souls of the lost open wide that all who so wished could fall straight into hell. It seemed that Evil was wining the battle against good as more and more souls there bodies destroyed now entered hell a future of eternal torment awaiting them. Yet even at this time some who had served the One above and had died in the explosions were even now beginning to rise heavenward to the waiting hosts of Angles who watched but did not interfere. The Saints of Heaven above. Rising as they did so angered his satanic majesty that he order up from hell below more flames and heat to destroy the buildings faster less more repent and rise heavenward. To melt the strength from the building faster with in the buildings the fires raged to frenzy.

A soul who’s faith in Allah was strong fought off the demons who were leading him to the portals of hell the soul began to rise steadily gaining speed “Albeon attend that soul his mine” roared the Devil. Hurriedly the form of Albeon appeared from the minds of the burning building his wings extended now he rose sweeping a vast cloud of smoke and dust after the soul which he caught in his mouth and drew back to the portal the victim fighting all the while not yet realizing that his hope of paradise was in vain for he had served a dead god.

For a moment his satanic majesty contemplated the two souls who still fought bellow now as they separated he bethought himself to again an advantage and take one or both of them commanding a host he tore after one of them yet at this time the Angelic host from above dispatched warriors there swords drawn after him. “Touch not this man for it is not his time” commanded the angel Gabriel a fearsome look on his face as he stood over the fallen man. “Is he not a soul who has fallen from the building above” enquired the devil?

“This soul is reserved of the Lord now leave him be” replied the Angel the light of Gods Justice shining through his eyes the devil drew back defeated in this one returning once again to the side of the building in a blink of an eye he once more made his presents felt in the smoke and debris

All around the hordes of hell began to gather they knew there time for the great gathering of this days harvest now did fast approach. Slowly the first building began to disintegrate down bellow the streets were filled with the wail of sirens as more emergency personnel arrived hurrying to there deaths slowly ever so slowly the building began to fall its strength now completely gone with in the falling mass the demonic hordes darted to and fro collecting a soul here passing over one there who was heaven bound. Now the demonic hordes screamed with delight as more and more unrepentant souls they did obtain. In the smoke and falling debris now the image of many demons now was clearly visible to see yet still the sons of man did not see for they were to caught up in this tragedy it would be some days before those watching the images of the disaster would see with in the mess the face of the devil and those of his minions.

At the portals of hell the demons began to furiously torment the lost to move faster with instruments of unspeakable fear they moved the lost sons of man to there eternal damnation. While high above the angelic host did wait collecting those souls which rose there way.

Now that the first building laid now a vast burning ruin buried deep with in the building laid the last vestiges of vehicles which had rushed to the scene of the disaster forever melted as so much scrap iron.

Now his satanic majesty turned his attention to the second building here to he formed his face in the midst of falling debris smoke and flames his hellish countenance displayed for all the world to see and wonder at his might for he of course is the god of this world, and it is his prerogative when he will display his power to his subjects.

The heat of the fires deep with in the building now began to build his majesty no longer interested in taking his time he wanted the souls of the dammed and he wanted them quickly for time is short before he to will be called to his final account before the judge of us all the Lord above.

With in the building now burning hotly the devil sensed the fear now growing as those trapped in the building began to realize there was no hope there hope dyeing in there breasts they were no filled with despair some crying out “why, why, why I am to young to die” all these cries he heard yet unmerciful as he was he delighted in there despair he relished it. It gave him a sense of power for which he longed “I command here” he repeated to himself knowing it to be a lie for the Lord above would not have allowed him to command if he had not so ordained it.

From deep with in the building the spiritual forces began to notice a number of the sons of man praying, this was not good his satanic majesty for he could hear them praying these however were not praying for deliverance from the flames of this world but repenting of there sins and asking the Holy one to inhabit there hearts for they prayed now to be delivered from the flames of the world beyond.

No, no, NO roared the devil summoning all his evil hordes he began to envelope the building bringing darkness to the face of the crumbling building for he knew he was losing the battle yet the more he swirled about the building the more the sons of men within began to pray. Summoning up his last reserve of flames and heat from hell below
To complete the destruction of the building “Hear me minions of hell attend me now make manifest your loyalty to me and destroy this building gather all that you can but make no mistake make sure that those children of Mankind know I am master here Albeon rose from low on the debris filled street as the building slowly began to fall as the demons attacked it he summoned all his power for this final display of fearsome awe rising from the dust of the falling building the image of Albeon was plan to see his wings folded a look of absolute satisfaction on his demonic face.

Now began the final gathering of the lost as the Angelic host drew near to reunite those few who had committed there lives to Christ once more to there eternal rest and there Lord.

Now as the building began to gather momentum once more the demonic hordes bean to dart among the falling debris snatching a soul here another there. The voices of the demons and minions raised in evil joy as they gathered the harvest of lost souls. The clouds of dust and smoke raising to the heavens the images of the demonic host now putting a final experience.

Now turning back to the portals of hell the evil hordes began to move gathering the last of the lost souls the portal beginning to class his satanic majesty been the last to enter those accursed gates turning once more he looked heavenward with a look of fearsome anger at the angelic host. Angry beyond words at those who had escaped his grasp angry at the power which the Angelic host held over him angry that so many of the children of mankind had escaped his power. Then turning once again he entered as the gates of hell closed.

Now the angelic host descended and stood for some moments on the ruins of the towers a vast mountain of ruble criss crossed with thousands upon thousands of pieces of metal which once made up part of the buildings. Now they stood among the rubble in the form of thousands of crosses a miraculous testimony to the power of the Lord who even in this tragedy bore out the witness of his crucifixion a stark hope for all mankind.

Now the Angelic host and the souls of those who believed on him who was slain for there sins began to rise in a cloud of glory to the heavens excitement at there first meeting with there Lord clearly showing on the faces of those who had been slain this day.

Joyful in expectation of hearing those words enter into thy rest my faithful servant

Comments

Comments

Chris Van Heerden was the pastor of the Abundant Vineyard Church South Africa previously he had worked for the intelligence service of the South African Army during the dark days of Apartheid. It was during that time that he had first come to know Samuel Ferreira as the congenial host of the small south coast hotel. Having been on leave for a few weeks Chris had taken his family down to the coast and booked into the hotel which although situated in a quite little town had one of the best buffet tables in the country Samuel’s little hotel was world renowned for the level of service he provided his guest this little hotel had been the head office of Samuel’s growing empire of hotels from her Samuel kept a finger on the activates of all the other hotels he owned as Samuel liked to say the little hotel helped him to keep his hand in the practical side of the business. During the two weeks Chris Van Heerden had spent at the coast he had been impressed with the attention to detail which Samuel paid to all his guests requirements and as a result just before he left Chris had occasion to tell Samuel privately that if he ever needed a favor then he could call on him.

After his return to the Transvaal Chris who happened to be very unhappy with his life in general and specifically his career in the army for a few more months after the coastal holiday he happened to come in to his office one morning to find his sectary Jane Botha speaking on the phone to a friend. “Yes this weekend” She said. “Oh we are all going a big church service and there will be a live band there we are expecting thousands of people to be there to pray for the country” “Okay I will talk to you later” she said replacing the hand set. Morning Major she said. “Morning Jane so I gather you have big plans this weekend” he said.

Oh yes a big church gathering at the stadium in town you are invited by the way there is going to be a live band, we will be praying for revival and for the country.” I see well I don’t know I will have to ask my wife said Chris.

Oh getting home that Friday evening Chris had mentioned it to his wife Lena who had agreed to go to the gathering the following Sunday. Thus it had come about that Chris Van Heerden had attended the big church meeting

When they arrived at the stadium they battled to find parking and Chris was in a foul mood when he and Lena eventually found seating in the stadium which seated a hundred thousand for big sports gatherings now there were about forty five thousand seats taken the sound of the Christian band playing drifted across the vast arena people around them were singing along razing there arms and shouting out things like bless you Jesus and praise God. Chris and Lena felt decidedly uncomfortable as they seemed to be the only people in the arena who were not getting into the spirit of things.

What was even more amazing to Chris was the fact that there seemed to be an equal number of people of mixed race present sitting and sharing with the white folks. Coming from a very strict Calvinistic background and a life long member of the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa this was some thing which he had not seen before after about an hour of praise and worship most of the people settled down to listen to the sermon. Chris by now very hot and bothered thought to himself these Charismatic the first thing they will want to do will be the offering they just after money. However when the slightly build young band leader set aside his guitar and took up the microphone he began to pray
Lord I want you to open the eyes of those who are here today
To help them find what they really need.
Lord I would ask that you open there hearts to receive the message that they not leave here empty I ask this in Jesus name amen.

This simple prayer stunned Chris because he thought he was about to hear how they needed money for this cause or that but now as he sat the podium was taken by the speaker for the evening

The man who every body referred to as pastor Ron began to speak he spoke from the heart retelling the audience the story of his life how as a young man he had grown up in a poor neighborhood how as a child he had become involved in crime as a runner for a criminal gang in the inner city of Johannesburg. How at seventeen he had done his compulsory national service in the army he had become involved in drugs the ever deepening hole of sin that was swallowing his young life. He at eighteen had almost killed a man and been sent to a correctional facility here life had been hard and for the first time he had been confronted by the fact that his life was a mess and that sooner or later he would end up been killed then the thought had struck him what then???

Chris sat listening to all of this wondering waiting for the punch line he had to admit that the speaker was telling an enthralling tale Chris wanted to hear how it ended.

Pastor Ron continued his story telling how he had been confronted by the fact that he was lost in his own way he now began to seek to save himself but was hampered by no knowledge of the bible the first time he had picked up the bible had been one night in his cell and it had not been for reading he had torn a page from the bible and rolled a cigarette there been no other paper of fine quality available. Later as his conscience began to worry him he sort out the prison chaplain and begged the man to help him after going over various scriptures and asking some very pertinent questions the prison chaplain had began telling Ron how he might be saved he had grasped at every word he said like a drowning man grasps at a rope thrown to him in the deep waters on a dark night.

There in a small office in Pretoria central prison Pastor Ron had found his salvation on a hot winter afternoon.
Pastor Ron then invited those present to come to Jesus and leave there burdens at his feet for he Jesus was the only one able to lift the burden of sin.

Chris strangely moved and warmed by the words walked forward to the base of the podium with many others when asked to do so here Pastor Ron led them in the sinner’s prayer. And counselors began moving among them Chris stood with his eyes looking heavenward tears rolling down his face as the burden of sin under which he had lived for many years was lifted from his shoulders...

Comments

Nkosi (Lord/s) we greet you cry the Sangoma’s (priests of the spirits of nature) the wild African plains. On this new day we greet the fourteen winds that blow over our land our Africa My Africa

The sound of the Volvo engines cry as the little three meter boats leave the safety of the harbors as the sun scares the last vestige of night away. The sound of Black voices in the dark on a darkened ocean these are the fishermen of the Cape as they await the new day.
Oh Africa my Africa

Nkosi oh Nkosi (Lord) let me find it let me reach the surface safely whispers the black face as he lights his way to the skip (cage which carries miners to and from the underground) going to the surface of the mine it has been a long night under ground
Africa my Africa.

Jill time to wake up calls the voice of a woman as a young girl rolls over in her bed in an up market suburb this is my Africa my Africa.

Comments

Comments

The meeting was basically the first step to putting this plan into operation Samuel had several million dollars, which he wished to spend on the project. However he did not have enough for the first years running costs and this was the reason he had come to New York to see the bankers. Who had a reputation, which even reached into the third world and was known for helping the businessman who was wishing to expand his empire. There criteria was strict and each person who approached the bank had to be recommended by some one who had previously or was currently a client. Samuel had been lucky enough to be referred by a good friend in London. Now he found himself in the presents of these bankers who fired questions at him on every issue that he addressed "would the local sultan of some backwater country want bribes for the building of the hotel? "Would there be problems with the sale of Alcohol in a certain Muslim state where the use of Alcohol was band?" To all these questions he gave the answers.

By seven thirty he was already feeling tired the results of jet lag began telling on him. He was working hard to convince these bankers that his project was sound and worth of investment. He had spent years working towards this goal and no investment banker was going to stop him now after all he had already lived through this should be a push over. Yet he found himself working hard to answer their questions to set their minds at rest over various things, which they were unclear about. He was looking for ward to the weekend, which was still a few days, away for he had been invited to the country estate of one of the partners in the firm. Which he had heard was out at the Hamptons but first there was the small matter of convincing the partners of the soundness of the deal from which they would reap a very good return. They broke for a breakfast, which had been laid on just after eight thirty in the morning Samuel, perused the breakfast table there were English Scones and muffins some cereals a tray of various cold meats. The company having taken into account that Samuel was from a different continent they had made every effort to accommodate for his tastes. There was even a bay marine which bubbled away merrily with bacon Eggs sausage mushrooms and fried onions and tomatoes. Samuel helped himself to a plate of cold meats and some fresh bread. The conversation round the breakfast table was not what one would usually expect of investment bankers here instead of money the men talked about there families what Mr Brodhearst’s young grand son had said about him to a friend "been the riches man in America besides the president." There was general laughter once the story had been told Samuel crossed to one of the windows and looked out at the city bellow. A haze was already building up it was going to be a hot day in New York. As he looked down to the street bellow he watched the people who seemed so small almost lie ants scurrying about hurriedly on their way to work. Ah New York so much had changed since he had last been here back when he last passed through the city skyscrapers had not even been though of now they dominated the sky line. He crossed back to the breakfast table making small talk with one of the sectaries who was busy dishing up some hot food from the bay marine. "Good legs" he thought maybe later I can ask her out for drinks he thought. Returning to the window Samuel noticed that in the distance a plane.
Samuel sipped some of his coffee and was joined by one of the bankers "So Sam you think you are on to a good thing with your project the man asked in a friendly fashion? "Sure I think I have a real winner here and we will all make lots of money out of this deal" the two men laughed Samuel turned his attention once more to the sky the plane seemed closer. Now that was some thing you did not see every day jet planes so close to the business districts of large cities. Surely there were rules about that sort of thing he thought? The conversation with the banker turned to the upcoming week ends events at the Hamptons "Remember to ask Bill about his roses and do go fishing with him he has a new boat and it is his pride and joy" said the man next to him.

Samuel was puzzled he was watching the plane surely it was way off course he thought to himself turning to his new found friend he said 'Sorry I did not catch that? "Oh I was just saying that it looks like it is going to be a hot day thank God for air conditioning." 'Sure" said Samuel "Tell me is it usual for jet planes to be so close to the towers said Samuel? "Not usually geezzzzz that plane is to close" said the man. They watched as the plane turned gracefully and now it was now on course towards the tower. The men watched as the plane drew closer unable to tear their eyes from the approaching plane "Shit they are going to cut it very fine" said the man. They watched for a few seconds as it became apparent that the plane was heading straight towards the towers the man next to Samuel ran from the window "duck" he shouted. Samuel looked at the plane, which was fast approaching in the cockpit he saw to faces one of a darker complexion and one slightly lighter the face of the light skinned man looked familiar. In the thousandth of a second it took Samuel to recognize the man as William Longmont. His face set in a maniacal grin mouthing the words "There is no God but Allah." There was a moment of recognition form the man on the plane then the building was enveloped in flames Samuel felt the blast and knew no more

Comments

Queen Nefertiti was weeping once again she had been weeping almost continuously for the last three days now her son entered the room and drew up a low stool Mother my queen please stop your weeping for a moment and consider that my father Pharaoh has gone to the afterlife to the great banquet which is prepared even now he is making ready to enter the presence of Osiris when he has passed all there tests I am sure he will enter the afterlife to spend eternity at the feast table with the Gods Amun, great Osiris, Isis Hathor And Ra- hekcerty be not sad my mother rather rejoice that the pharaoh has entered into a place of rest one day when it is our turn we to will join him in the happy after life. Now I bid you mother as your new pharaoh take food wash dress and make up your face for Egypt wants to see there dowager queen so please mother weep no more appear before the people of Egypt as there queen stand tall let them see that even though our father Pharaoh Tuthmosis has gone to the afterlife we are happy and joyful for there is a new pharaoh who reigns in his stead come mother your hand maiden is here with water for you to wash I will instruct the servants to bring milk and honey when you are ready to eat.

As the young man left the hand maiden came forward to minster to the needs of her lady Aya the Nubian slave had been with her lady now for about twenty years she had known no other home then the painted palace for the last twenty years her life before was like a dream she had been taken at a very young age from her home far to the south where her people had been cattle breeders living pretty much the life of nomad tribesman but of this life she remembered little most of the memories she had blocked at an early age because they were not happy ones the tribe been over run by the armies of Pharaoh Tuthmosis the killing of her family she seldom thought on it was just to painful now as she hurried forward for a moment her mind flashed back to the day when as a small child she had wandered from body to body in the dust as the war chariots moved around her killing of the last few members of her tribe that offered resistance to enslavement. She had been a loyal servant to the lady of Egypt and had learned much in Egypt brought into the royal household because she had a pretty look about her she had been trained to wait upon the lady of Egypt and had fur fulled her duties well been rewarded with little objects which in themselves had little value yet when placed together they made quite a valuable collection with which she hoped to buy her freedom. Of returning to Nubia there was little hope now she longed for the day when she could buy her freedom and live as a free person in the two lands belonging to no one but herself liberty was a word unknown to her but the concept was one which she understood and longed for.

Washing and been dressed Queen Nefertiti ate a small meal then set out for the apartment of her son the new pharaoh of the two lands. As she moved through the palace followed by the loyal Aya a few steps behind in case she needed any thing attended to the servants and nobles bowed low as the lady of Egypt passed averting there eyes some had tears in there eyes as they thought of the sorrow of Egypt at losing the man who had ruled and made Egypt great heart ach followed the lady of Egypt at every step she took arriving at the chamber she entered to find her son adjusting his head dress before setting out to the open balcony from which they would address the crowed before making obedience to the gods.

The young man looked at his mother and gave a small smile we are ready now lets get it over with said he as he lead the way to the outer chamber the light of the torches burning bright casting long shadows as they passed on the walls of the painted places.

The servants hurried before them throwing open the doors which lead to the great balcony below them stood thousands upon thousands of troops and thousands of civilians come to do homage to the new pharaoh and to morn the old. As the emerged from the palace the troops came to attention the thunder of thousands of feet stamping onto the hard packed earth like a thunder burst.

The priests did homage to the now deified Pharaoh Tuthmosis a young bull been slaughtered the blood running down the alter some of it splattering the crowds below other priests chanted charms and prayers to the late King. The lady of Egypt watched all the while the pain in her heart grew worse the sorrow oh the sorrow would it never end.

Comments

Extract from the dairy of Vecomete De Matlandia
“ On the morning of the second day of our march across the desert I was awoken by my aid de camp who informed me of a certain curiosity which had occurred during the night two of the men on guard duty had failed to report, When there Sargent had gone to find out what the reason for this was he came across a most gruesome sight the men were found a few hundred yards from the camp both of them dead how ever the method of there death was one of the strangest things I have ever had cause to behold for both men seemed to have had all liquid sucked from there bodies for when I went to inspect the bodies they appeared to be nothing more then dry husks some thing not even remotely human there bodies were like the dried out old corn husks one finds at the end of a good harvest. These deaths were to be the first of many unexplained deaths from that day the dry death as the men began to call it would haunt our every wakeful moment later of course the dry death would begin to invade our dreams chasing sleep from our tired bodies. So much so that men refused to sleep lest they become the next victim”

Day 19
“ Will it ever stop we have been marching now for 19 days with death stalking us neither of my able laid de-camp's have survived having been taken by the dry death I fear we will never reach France or rejoin the grand army. It appears we are cursed to wander until the last one of us is taken by the death that follows in our steps.”

Day 27
“ We have abandoned our horses there is now not enough water for both men and beast thus we have been forced to kill our faithful campaign companions if we are to survive at all we will have to change our methods of travel so far we have traveled during the day from sun rise to sun set Now I propose that we travel at night resting during the day the going should be a little easier. It is cooler in the evening and the moon rises early enough to give us light for most of the night. As I sit here in my tent I pen these words hopefully the dry death still follows maybe traveling at night will make it a little easier to bear for all the deaths happen at night.

Day 29
“Last night while making our way towards a little village oasis some of the men began firing at some thing in the rear of our column on investigation we found three of our men taken by the dry death however some of the men who were just ahead of them in the column reported seeing a strange creature among the dead men a creature who according to the men had eyes of the bluest fire and skin of gold hair of green and gold a strange creature who seemed impervious to rife and pistol shot as a number of shots were fired at the creature by both the dead men and the others who saw it”

Day 35
“There are only 10 of us left now the rest of my battalion lays behind us in the desert markers of the strange malady which has followed us from our fist days in the desert. One wonders if in fact this enterprise was not cursed from the outset”

Day 36
“We have now reached the coast God willing we will get a ship or a boat to take us towards our beloved France. Although the deaths have ceased the men remain watchful and somber seldom sleeping preferring to remain awake during the night if we are able to we will take to the sea later today”

The mummy Tuthmosis turned to his companion and said “Well my queen we have not feasted like this for some time now I fear it is time for us to return to our tomb and to sleep a little.”

Comments

Comments

The man sat in one of the chairs in the reception area of the high school a little uncomfortable in the long leather coat that reached almost all the way to the top of his boots. He knew the school well he had attended the same school until about eight years earlier when he had graduated. Now he was back he had come in response to an advertisement that the school was looking for a history teacher. The interview had gone well Mr. De Wit the principal had reason to remember Jim.

Helen Miss Waters had all but assured him that he had got the job Jim had reason to remember Miss Waters she had been the English and detention teacher. In fact Jim had sat detention a number of times in order to spend time in her class she was a beautiful woman with a wonderful mind. She made life in detention classes interesting usually the teachers who did detention duty before she arrived pretty much allowed the kids to do there home work read or any thing else that took there fancy but when Miss Water arrived at the school she started debates on many different subjects which made the children think at first there had been some disagreement from the other teachers who claimed detention was supposed to be a punishment not some thing to be enjoyed. Mr. De Wet had called Helen in and was about to inform her that things would have to go back to the way they had been Helen had then asked did Mr. De Wet not think it would be better to spend the time educating the children instead of leaving them to there own devices. Mr. De Wet had to admit she had a point and as a result things continued pretty much in that way up until the day that Jim had left school.

Jim's mind was taken back to the day he left school he remembered it well. In the first class of the day English he had taken his place next to his life long friend Colin Lee Colin had always been in with the popular crowed but had always found time to spend with Jim whom he had known since first grade. Colin was a bit of a bully he would some times do silly and hurtful things to Jim who tended to the heavy nerd side. Colin would flick ink on to Jim's shirt and make fun of him laughing with the others of the popular crowd at Jim's expense. Later Colin would sit down with Jim and smile apologetically and Jim like a fool would forgive him they had graduated on the same day three months later Colin had been arrested and sent away to prison while in prison he had died. A young life wasted. Jim thought about this for a moment before he turned once more to what he remembered of the last day they had spent together. Although he was a bit of a nerd Jim was also no teachers pet and had been sent to detention a number of times through his high school career because of the pranks he would pull. On of the reasons for his frequent visits to the detention class was the fact that he had a serious crush on Miss Waters her taking over of the detention class had made him get caught more often. Getting caught doing pranks had almost broken his mothers heart she was also a teacher at the school. Time and again she had spoken to Jim about his detention record but it just did not seem to help He was in love with Miss Waters he would sit in the class and watch her every move like most teenage boys he had an active fantasy life in one of the fantasias he got out of school got a job and married Miss Waters. But some thing seemed to happen as the years passed he began to take an active part in the debates in detention class, so much so that he even managed to join the debate team and had a few moments of glory. As a young boy he had watched a number of Adventure movies in which the hero would always be dressed in a long black leather coat Jim adopted the long coat although not made of leather as his distinguishing mark. And was seen every where in the coat.

Mr. De Wet had many occasions to call the wayward young man into his office sit him down and give him a long lecture after his latest prank.
However on his last day Jim had come to the conclusion that he wanted to be a teacher he was not about to disclose this to Colin who was sitting next to him in class but he did want to say a few words of thanks to the teachers at the end of the day before he took the buss home. He went through all the motions common to students the world over o n the last day at school the shirt signing the scribbled notes in the last yearbook. During the last recess Jim sort out Miss Waters and asked if he might have a moment of her time to which she agreed she was always willing to give up time for a student Jim hesitantly launched into a speech about wanting to give back some thing to the school community and this is why he had decided to become a teacher it was also because he had learned so much from her that he wanted to become a teacher in fact she had been a deciding factor in his decision to become a teacher she listened as he finished speech then said James I am very pleased and flattered I am sure that you will make a wonderful teacher when you finish at teachers collage you come see us so we can see if we can fix you up with a job she then kissed him on the cheek affectionately after four years in her class she had kissed his cheek he blushed he was not going to wash his cheek for a week..

At the end of the school day as the bell rang and the crowds of students and teachers made there way out of the school Jim made his way to the staff room here he found most of the teachers who had taught him since he was 12. He entered the room with a slight fear in his heart Mr. De Wit asked him what he wanted. “I would like to say a few words to the teachers who have taken such good care of my education for the last five years he said. To this Mr. De Wit agreed.

Ladies and Gentleman I would just like to say thank you for taking the time to educate me over the last five years I know it could not always have easy I just want you to know that I value every thing you have done for me. The teachers some of which had been at the school for a very long time rose from there chairs and came forward Mrs. Jamneck who was about 90 years old and smelt strange came forward and shook his hand Young man you take care now she said. Mrs. Du Plesis another teacher in her middle age came forward and hugged the young man saying I know a bright future awaits you Jim wondered if Helen Miss Waters had told the teaching of his decision Mr. De Wet crossed the room to a cupboard and drew out a cardboard box which he handed to Jim Opening it Jim was confronted with the various items which he had used in his pranks. Softly Mr. De Wet said later when you are a teacher let these things remind you of all that can go wrong in a students life but think also of the benefits of a good education.

Rushing now to catch the buss he came across the school janitor and his assistant who were driving the grounds in a golf cart Jump a board son said Arthur or you will never catch the buss in time.

Reaching the buss Jim was among the last to board the buss the buss was full with many students leaving school and those going home for the holidays from two different schools Jim opened the box and found some balloons quietly he blew one up and let it go in the buss some of the students laughed uncontrollably as others ducked in fright I have still got it thought Jim as a young Dutch girl from the other school sat down besides him Hello I am Gertie she said with a smile they talked as the buss traveled the long road to the town in which they lived Colin came and said good bye before getting off the buss that would be the last time Jim would see him. Gertie was an open friendly girl who had also graduated. The following year she planed to find a job then go to collage to finish her education as they neared home she asked for his address they were surprised to find that they lived no more then two blocks apart Gertie invited Jim to a party that night at her parents home just before he got off the buss.

Walking the last part of the journey Jim arrived home to find his mother and father and younger brother Peter waiting for him a nice graduation dinner laid out Son I am proud of you said his father over dinner and a glass of red wine now what plans do you have for the future he asked? I plan to find a job and go teachers collage said Jim to there surprise his mother rose and came round the table with tears in her eyes to hug him the old man poured another glass of wine. He did go to the party and got to know Gertie a little better they were married in the following spring they now had a three month old baby boy who looked just like his father Jim had shed a few pounds since school and now wore contacts which made him look very handsome.

Now as he sat in the office Helen entered the office and smiled Mr. De Wet will be here shortly she said. Just then Mr. De Wet walked in well congratulations James you have the job you start as the history and detention teacher Monday here are some documents you need to go through and sign return them Monday and you can call me Dave said the man. ,shaking Jim's hand.

Out side in the passage as he was leaving Jim noticed a rather heavy boy in a long coat and glasses. "Things don't change much" thought Jim as he pushed open the door.

Comments

The Bedouin stopped running hesitated then slowed to a walk excuse me but are you a mummy by any chance asked the Bedouin in an incommunicable language?

Tut scratched his head he recognized the word mummy but the rest was Greek to him. Slowly Tut walked towards the Bedouin extending his hand in front of him the Bedouin clutched wildly at some thing round his neck the next moment there was a blinding flash and Tut almost burst into flames quickly he fell to his knees and rolled around in the desert sand putting out the smoldering bandages. Rising up Tut grabbed the little Bedouin by the scruff of the neck and roared at him you numskull do you want to send me to hades? Now put that fire making box out of the way and come with me.

The confused young Bedouin followed after the mummy of Tuthmosis down into the tomb every now and then the Bedouin would mumble some thing to himself entering the tomb Tuthmosis called out to the mummy of his departed wife queen Nefertiti Honey I am home I v brought dinner “Good what did you find a bird or a stray camel asked the mummy of the departed queen from the anti-chamber where she was dressing for dinner in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic speech “

No I am afraid we will have to settle for unintelligent Bedouin again” said the mummy of the great king. Oh dear another one well that is bound to happen if you only go out for dinner once every three hundred years she said longing for the old days when Tut would leave the tomb every hundred years to find a fresh ancient Egyptian but with time tut had grown old fat and lazy now if he went out once in three hundred years it was a lot. Ah well Bedouin was better then dehydrated three thousand year old grain she thought.

Once the two mummies had finished eating the wayward Bedouin they sat back to relax it had been several hundred years since they had dinned on fresh meat so it took there bodies a while to digest the meal they slept for a few years in the easy sleeping couches that had been provided for them at the time of there burial. Waking Tuthmosis reached out to replace a stray bandage which had fallen across the brow of his erst-while queen. Smiling as only a mummy could he thought back to the day so many centuries before when he had first seen her alighting from a boat at the temple of Aumen at Karnak ah what a woman she had been in life. She awoke at the touch of his hand.
Oh Tut I was dreaming of Egypt and the days when you ruled from the great house oh what a time it was she said. A look of perverted love creasing the bandages across her mummified face.

Thank you my love for sharing with me he said she reached out with her body and took his hand in hers drawing it to her lips she gave it a dusty kiss already the traces of the Bedouin's blood had disappeared from the face of the female mummy rising Tuthmosis walked about the tomb saying we had better clean up a bit before we go out and find some thing to eat these bones are becoming a bit bothersome we cannot continue to stuff them in to Coptic jars they are already full to over flowing.

Why don't you take them out and leave them in the desert she said a nice mystery for the locals to try and solve. I might just do that said Tuthmosis after all it might be just what we need to bring others out to find out what is going on he said as he collected the dried remains of there last few dinners into a papyrus weaved basket.

There had been a time in the early mid 20th century when they had feed on a number of men who seemed to be part of some invading army the Grey uniforms of these soldiers he now gathered to gather and threw them in to the basket how they had feasted back then those men had feared nothing coming in wave after wave trying to destroy Tuthmosis and his queen. When they stopped coming Tuthmosis and his queen felt almost human again the flesh on there bones having a glow of youth and vitality but that was more then fifty years ago now and the flesh of there bodies was once more in a drying state the latest meal the ignorant Bedouin had only served to wet there appetite for flesh, I wonder if I should go out and see if I can find some thing fresh to eat he said do you wish to join me? he asked her. Yes I might just do that she said rising from the couch they set out across the desert in the direction of the great pyramid they had a long time ago worked out how they would catch there prey when they saw a group of people they would feign death drawing the people closer to look upon the faces of some uncovered mysterious mummies from this point there operation varied some times they would take the unsuspecting humans while they slept others they would take in the desert in secluded spots in the desert. If they chanced upon a solitary human they would approach with out much fear much as Tuthmosis had approached the Bedouin earlier. They needed to feed they had tried feed in on dogs and camels but there was nothing quite like a human from whom they would suck the life out of leaving a dead husk to dry in the desert or in there tomb they had not been worried about housekeeping in the tomb much because they found that if it did not worry them it did not matter Lately Queen Nefertiti had become very tomb proud wanting every thing in it's place a bit of dust was okay but the rotting human remains were not acceptable placing Tuthmosis in a difficult place he had never worried much about the mess he made when he feed but Nefertiti had started to object thus every few years he would throw out the dry remains which would swiftly be covered by the shifting desert sands in other cases throwing the remains out had brought an un-expected meal when archaeologist chanced upon the remains. Now as they journeyed across the desert they would settle for any type of human. They came across the buried VW it had been standing out in the desert now for about three years and was buried up to it's windows in sand. What on earth is that asked Nefertiti? Having not been out in a number of years she was not up to date on modern technology. Oh that said Tut is a horse-less chariot, the Bedouin came in it. Ah food in cans she said smiling thinking how fresh could humans be if they now came in cans.

Night was falling over Egypt, the tow mummies had been traveling most of the day now as they neared the pyramids of Giza they stopped to look at the setting sun as it cast its last dyeing light over the three pyramids. It never ceased to amaze Tuthmosis the sight of these great stone monuments to death. The sky turning a darker shade of purple before finally disappearing the sight of the pyramids bathed in the dying light of the sun reminded him of a sea of lapis lazuli. When the sun finally disappeared the two mummies underwent a change which had never before been witnessed by the human eye the faded rages which covered the mummies seemed for a moment to devolve replaced by coverings of gold the very flesh of the mummies changed into liquid then finally gold there head dresses changing to the semi precious stone lapis lazuli. Now as the two mummies stood in the dark there countenance resembled that of the long dead deities of ancient Egypt. The transformation was nothing new to them they had undergone this transformation thousands of times in the past. Tuthmosis always found it invigorating to him the wonder of it would never be surpassed it was one of the few joys left to a soul once rejected by the gods cursed to wander the ancient land feeding on the souls of the living. Tonight they would hunt once again as they had done countless times in the passed when morning finally came they would return to there tombs to sleep. In the distance the great Sphinx loomed large this was a good a place as any to start looking for humans to feed on. The Bedouins always made the mistake of bedding down at night near the Sphinx almost as if afraid to come any closer to the necropolis of the dead. At night and indeed the complex of tombs, pyramids and temples could be quite a fearsome place at night.

Finding two Bedouins by a fire eating there last earthly meal the two mummies made quick work of them leaving the dried out remains of the Bedouins near the fire. The two mummies approached the next encampment with a vigor that did not betray their ancient age; A Bedouin with an automatic rifle stood guard on the boundary of the encampment. It had been a long day and Tuthmosis hoped that the heat of the day would have exhausted the human. However he was taken aback by the strength of the guard who when approached did not flee but turned and fired the weapon sending fifty rounds into the body of Tuthmosis. For a moment Tuthmosis feigned injury drawing the Bedouin towards him willing him to come closer. As the human did so reloading his rifle he was shouting out to his companions who were hurriedly making there way from there tents out of the darkness to the left of the running human the figure of Nefretit loomed. Catching the human in mid stride he never knew what hit him one moment he was chasing after an illusive figure in the dark the next his life was been sucked from him. Casting the limp body aside Nefretit disappeared once more into the darkness the moon had not yet risen. Making it easy for the Ancient Necromancers to hide in the shadows the Bedouins came upon the body of the companion. Looking fearfully from the body to the darkness that surrounded them they quickly retreated to a central point in the camp huddling around the fire now fully alert armed and ready for the terror which stalked the nigh. The mummies now waited waiting for the humans to grow weary and careless the night was young and they had only to wait until the sands of morphius slipped into the minds and eyes of the humans. A dog howled in the distance the men fired a few rounds into the darkness in the hope of driving off the terror that stalked them. Tuthmosis and Nefretit watched from a distance waiting for the first sign of weariness on the part of there prey they had hunted like this before not often just enough to feed there hunger it was not good to be greedy thought Tuthmosis greed lead one to make mistakes he remembered in the long eons that they had hunted they were at first joined by other but greed had thinned them out now they seldom came across others of there kind. Humans tended to find ways of weeding them out of all the things that Tuthmosis feared the most fearsome was the thunder which could destroy him and Nefrettit men had found a way to reproduce this lightening the fearsome white light that men made now came in metal boxes which they carried about there neck prolonged exposure to this light could cause a mummy to catch on fire and burn one until there was nothing but a pile of burned rages and dust. Thus Tuthmosis tended to keep away from any of the humans who seemed to have this fire in the box. Even now close to the large pyramid there was an encampment which shone bright in the night with a white light.

It was close to midnight when the men began to grow careless thinking the danger had passed one of the men moved off into the dark to relieve himself silently but swiftly Tuthmosis was behind him he did not have time to scream Tuthmosis quickly drew the life from him holding his victims limp body in his arms the long dead pharaoh quietly lowered the body to the ground. And moved off to watch and wait. After a while it became apparent that the men around the fire had implemented some sort of watch some slept while others watched. This did not please Tuthmosis speaking softly to his consort they turned and left the encampment heading out into the desert they had both feed taking the edge of the hunger. There was some thing in the air which disturbed Tuthmosis it was a growing feeling some thing was happening the air was warm but a coldness filled him something warning him that they needed to return to there tomb and quickly. They traveled fast in the direction of there tomb every minute there senses seemed to be screaming out to them to hurry what ever the danger was it could no longer be ignored the wind had started blowing across the desert the going was getting harder with vast dunes moving across the desert obscuring there view it was fortunate that Tuthmosis had a good scene of direction even in the sand storm he could not be put off he knew they were approaching there eternal home they were not far from the tomb when the first lightening flash occurred for a moment the sky was light up Tuthmosis howled in pain as some of his bandages caught on fire rolling around in the sand he quickly extinguished the flames finding Nefretit in a similar position he helped her to her feet and set of at a fast run towards where they thought the tomb was Tuthmosis reached the entrance to the tomb when the next lightening flash came throwing himself through the door he landed hard rising he returned to the entrance to help Nefretiti in to the tomb what confronted him made him scream in agony an ancient pain one which rent his wretched soul to its very roots near the entrance of the tomb lay a bundle of smoldering rags. The last remains of his queen she had been hit directly by the last lightening flash her ancient flesh dry as the dust of ages burst into flames and had burnt fearsly for a few seconds before she was gone for ever. Tuthmosis scrambled out of the tomb clutching the smoldering rags he looked up at the heavens and howled in rage at the elements that had robbed him of his perverse love. The rain began to fall great muddy tears forming on the mummy who now knelt in sorrow over the small pile of rages that had been his love for three thousand years. Turning he entered the tomb if he had been human one would have believed that tears of sorrow were to be seen in the corners of his frozen eyes but then again he was no human and had not been for a long time.

Tuthmosis awoke from his sleep he knew he had not been asleep long there was still a sense of dampness on his bandages. Rising from his sarcophagus he made his way to the entrance of the tomb. Cautiously moving the door aside he stepped out into the night the air was fresh as if after a storm. If he could feel any pain at the loss of his consort he would have been weeping but weeping was for the weak for the living for humans he had ceased been human a very long time ago. Turning he started walking towards the rise of land which overlooked his tomb reaching the zenith of the low dune he looked towards the pyramids which were just visible in the distance. The moon had risen and cast long shadows across the desert; the scene before him reminded him of how glorious the pyramids had once looked. Before people had started robbing the graves of the dead of the limestone which covered them. Tut thought back quite a number of centuries earlier he had been out hunting for humans to feed on when he had chanced upon a man who was unlike any one he had yet met. He had found the man's behavior strange bowing down on a mat the man prayed towards the east a number of times. Not knowing what deity the man was praying to Tuthmosis had walked over the dunes looking for a statue to which the strange human was praying finding nothing Tuthmosis had returned to watching the man who was now rolling up the mat and putting it in a bag. Tuthmosis had feed on the man. However this was the first but not the last of these strange humans who bowed to the east. Stupid humans thought Tuthmosis if you bow down you should at least be bowing to a deity not to the empty desert. True to his original analysis these humans were stupid time and time again he was able to catch and feed on them making his flesh almost human. Now the descendents of those strange people ruled Egypt but it did not change the fact that they were stupid and easy to catch there advent had been a great boon for Tuthmosis and the few dammed that remained. Ancient Egyptians had always been weary when approaching a mummy knowing that some of the dammed walked the nights.

Now as he stalked the night anger began to grow in his cold heartless soul these humans had killed his queen. After eons together for the first time he was alone and hurting they had grown up together. The only time that they had been apart was when duty called on him to go on campaign but for the remained of the three thousand years they had been together they had shared there lives and they had been buried together. Now alone he for the first time felt despair and a longing for his queen. He would destroy these puny humans he would even go to the place he feared the most the area near the pyramids where the white light shone at night.

Once he had ruled the two lands fearing now one but the gods but even the gods had taken second place when it came to the will of pharaoh. This had lead to his downfall he had sinned and these sins had been held against him. His faithful queen on been confronted with the fact that he would not enter the afterlife with her had asked if it might not be possible for her to join him in his exile? The gods had consented now she was gone.

Moving swiftly he came upon the archaeological site near the great pyramid where work was been done on a tomb of a minor official of pharaoh Kurfu. The camp was well organized Tuthmosis found no difficulty in infiltrating the camp there was no Bedouin guards on duty. He was drawn to one of the tents where a light was burning the other tents were in darkness. Slipping quickly into the tent he found himself confronted by a man bent over some thing on a table. Tut was taken aback with the sight before him he found the human working on a mummy mask showing great care and interest in what he was doing. Could it be that some of the humans studied the was of the ancient Egyptians the thought struck Tuthmosis like a physical blow, what secrets did this man know what could he learn from studding the remains of the ancient Egyptians. Tuthmosis moved swiftly into the shadows as he heard footsteps approaching the tent. Another man entered the tent they spoke a while in a language which Tuthmosis did not understand then turning from the table the first man picked up a note pad and began to quote from the book of the dead first hesitantly then with growing strength. The words he heard had not been uttered in many long years the stalk beauty of the words drew him back to a time when Egypt had been great. Silently he listened and mouthed the words they were a prayer for a good wife tears began to run down the dead face of the one time pharaoh of the ancient land as he listened. When the man finished replacing the note pad the men turned once more to the mummy mask, Tuthmosis slipped quietly from the tent he could not bring himself to destroy the only people he had met in a very long time with whom he could understand. Turning once more towards the hidden tomb he departed from the campsite.

Tuthmosis awoke from his sleep he knew he had not been asleep long there was still a sense of dampness on his bandages. Rising from his sarcophagus he made his way to the entrance of the tomb. Cautiously moving the door aside he stepped out into the night the air was fresh as if after a storm. If he could feel any pain at the loss of his consort he would have been weeping but weeping was for the weak for the living for humans he had ceased been human a very long time ago. Turning he started walking towards the rise of land which overlooked his tomb reaching the zenith of the low dune he looked towards the pyramids which were just visible in the distance. The moon had risen and cast long shadows across the desert; the scene before him reminded him of how glorious the pyramids had once looked. Before people had started robbing the graves of the dead of the limestone which covered them. Tut thought back quite a number of centuries earlier he had been out hunting for humans to feed on when he had chanced upon a man who was unlike any one he had yet met. He had found the man's behavior strange bowing down on a mat the man prayed towards the east a number of times. Not knowing what deity the man was praying to Tuthmosis had walked over the dunes looking for a statue to which the strange human was praying finding nothing Tuthmosis had returned to watching the man who was now rolling up the mat and putting it in a bag. Tuthmosis had feed on the man. However this was the first but not the last of these strange humans who bowed to the east. Stupid humans thought Tuthmosis if you bow down you should at least be bowing to a deity not to the empty desert. True to his original analysis these humans were stupid time and time again he was able to catch and feed on them making his flesh almost human. Now the descendents of those strange people ruled Egypt but it did not change the fact that they were stupid and easy to catch there advent had been a great boon for Tuthmosis and the few dammed that remained. Ancient Egyptians had always been weary when approaching a mummy knowing that some of the dammed walked the nights.

Now as he stalked the night anger began to grow in his cold heartless soul these humans had killed his queen. After eons together for the first time he was alone and hurting they had grown up together. The only time that they had been apart was when duty called on him to go on campaign but for the remained of the three thousand years they had been together they had shared there lives and they had been buried together. Now alone he for the first time felt despair and a longing for his queen. He would destroy these puny humans he would even go to the place he feared the most the area near the pyramids where the white light shone at night.

Once he had ruled the two lands fearing now one but the gods but even the gods had taken second place when it came to the will of pharaoh. This had lead to his downfall he had sinned and these sins had been held against him. His faithful queen on been confronted with the fact that he would not enter the afterlife with her had asked if it might not be possible for her to join him in his exile? The gods had consented now she was gone.

Moving swiftly he came upon the archaeological site near the great pyramid where work was been done on a tomb of a minor official of pharaoh Kurfu. The camp was well organized Tuthmosis found no difficulty in infiltrating the camp there was no Bedouin guards on duty. He was drawn to one of the tents where a light was burning the other tents were in darkness. Slipping quickly into the tent he found himself confronted by a man bent over some thing on a table. Tut was taken aback with the sight before him he found the human working on a mummy mask showing great care and interest in what he was doing. Could it be that some of the humans studied the was of the ancient Egyptians the thought struck Tuthmosis like a physical blow, what secrets did this man know what could he learn from studding the remains of the ancient Egyptians. Tuthmosis moved swiftly into the shadows as he heard footsteps approaching the tent. Another man entered the tent they spoke a while in a language which Tuthmosis did not understand then turning from the table the first man picked up a note pad and began to quote from the book of the dead first hesitantly then with growing strength. The words he heard had not been uttered in many long years the stalk beauty of the words drew him back to a time when Egypt had been great. Silently he listened and mouthed the words they were a prayer for a good wife tears began to run down the dead face of the one time pharaoh of the ancient land as he listened. When the man finished replacing the note pad the men turned once more to the mummy mask, Tuthmosis slipped quietly from the tent he could not bring himself to destroy the only people he had met in a very long time with whom he could understand. Turning once more towards the hidden tomb he departed from the campsite.

Tuthmosis sat on the couch watching John Smith examining a text on the wall the dim light of the lamp cast long shadows. The darkness did not worry Tuthmosis he had been able to see in the inf-red for a long time however he realized that the man needed light to see what he was doing also the light helped to hold at bay the insanity which threatened to engulf the man. A living mummy was a bit much even for a trained Egyptoligist he had seen all the mummy movies and he sort of knew what they were like in the movies what he did not know was what a living mummy with a god complex was like and how this demizen of the night might react if angered.
He was like a child with a new clay wagon thought Tuthmosis he had been watching the man reading the texts, the man occasionally made remarks in the strange language which he spoke occasionally the man would ask a question as he read and Tuthmosis would explain the meaning of the text, Tuthmosis was enjoying himself this human had a thirst for knowledge while Tuthmosis was happy to play the teacher. There were also questions about the modern world which he did not understand maybe a bit latter before he tired of the man he would ask. This posed an interesting question for Tuthmosis up until a moment ago he had thought he would suck the soul from the man when he grew tired but it had just occurred to Tuthmosis that it would be wasteful to educate a man in the was of the two lands only to suck the life out of him maybe he would abandon the man in the desert if he survived then so be it no one would believe his strange tale but if the man died in the desert then so be it, Ah the will of Osiris who could argue that he Tuthmosis was not giving the man a fighting chance.

Oh great pharaoh may I ask of thee where is your gracious queen the lady Nefertiti for I see she was to share your eternal home oh Pharaoh. Tuthmosis pondered weather he should tell the man the truth that she had been visited by the second death recently or if he should lie for if he told the man the truth he would be exposing himself to an uncalled for danger. Better to lie to the man You are an astute man Josh Smut said the mummy let me tell you that my gracious queen Nefertiti has long since passed to dust gone to the happy afterlife in the company of the gods enjoying the fruit of her labors. Lieying to the man was safer then telling him that she had died recently destroyed by a lightening strike when returning from feeding.

I am glad for her joyous entry into the afterlife said the man but sad that she is no more for she would have been better company for you then I am. Do not underestimate your value to an old mummy said Tuthmosis who was warming to the man. Yes it would be a pity to kill such an intelligent man thought Tuthmosis maybe there was a way that the situation could be remedied but for the present Tuthmosis pushed the eventuality from his mind. By Osirus, eat Josh Smut for the day is long and you humans grow weak and weary quickly said the mummy pushing the bag of food towards the human. Talk of food brought it to his mind that he would have to feed soon to keep up his appearance of the glorified god state mummy the problem was what was he to do with the man while he was away feeding for he knew that if he left the man alone he would try to escape from the tomb, which the man was getting to know rather to well. The supply of food for the human would also have to be replenished noted Tuthmosis he noticed the man did not eat much but he did drink a lot of liquid this might be a problem.

Tuthmosis pondered this thought for some moments before realizing that there was in deed a way that it could be done if he placed the man in his stone sarcophagus then placed a large weight upon it the man would be unable to get out of the stone sarcophagus because for a season at least he would be deprived of light and no matter how much he tried to raise the lid he would be unable. There would be enough air for the man to breath but not enough for him to escape for should he try he would use up the air and he would suffercate. Before he placed the man in the stone sarcophagus he would warn the man of the danger and surly the man would realize that what he was been told was to save his life and obey.

As night began to fall Tuthmosis told the man to follow him into the burial chamber where the two giant stone sarcophagus stood climb in and lay flat Josh Smut for You are about to experience what it is like to be a mummy awakening for the first time. I will warn you that should you struggle you will use up all the air and die of suffercation not a pretty death said Tuthmosis how ever should you lay very absolutely still you will survive the ordeal said the mummy because the man was under the spell of the mummy he mounted the sarcophagus and lay down. Tuthmosis placed the heavy lid which normally would have taken eight to ten men to move back in it's place before extinguishing the oil lamp. Placing a heavy gold pot on the man's resting place he left the burial chamber and made his way to the entrance of the tomb.

It was full night when he emerged from the desert sands making his way across the desert his eyes on the look out for the tell tale signs of camp fires in the desert which would lead him to other humans on which he would feed.

How strange he thought to have soul food so close at hand yet been unable to eat for he needed the food for company.

They had been traveling for some time before Tuthmosis stopped here was a good a place as any top give the man who had become his friend his liberty. Josh Smut You must rest a while for we have a long way to go still said Tuthmosis John Smith sat down on the dune and removed his make shift shoes they were full of sand. Pulling the robe closer he shivered soon the sun would be rising maybe he would sleep a bit he thought as he lay his head down on his arms. Tuthmosis stood over the man watching. A final mercy thought Tuthmosis let him sleep and while he sleep s I will leave him. I allow him to live because he has shown a degree of respect for me and that is a rear thing thought the mummy.

Tuthmosis returned from the desert entering the tomb he made sure to seal it as best he could he was feeling weary. Some thing he had not felt in thousands of years he felt like resting a while he lay down in his sarcophagus and pulled the lid into place. He slipped into a dreamless sleep as he did so the mummy’s body began to change once more into the bandaged mummy so familiar to us who have seen the mummies of Egypt still he slept. He had been asleep for some time when he noticed that Toth the Jackal headed god was standing over him. Rise said the god your presence is required before the council of the gods rising in a dream like state the man followed in the wake of the god. In an instant they had left the tomb and were flying over the desert and just as quickly they were walking up the stairs to the judgment halls of eternity. Entering the great hall Tuthmosis saw many faces from his passed standing to each side of the long hall for a fleeting moment he imagined he saw his beloved Nefertiti brought once more to life in the afterlife. On the great podium on the Throne sat the high god Osiris his countenance not fearsome as last he had seen it so many ages before but stern.
We greet you Tuthmosis some time ruler of the two lands said the high god bow before us and tell us what have you been doing since we last spoke. I have a notion that many that you see here today you once met but tell us in your own words what is it that has caused us to be summoned to judge you once more. For that is what we are here to do we judged you unfit to enter the afterlife and returned you to your tomb now your actions have once more brought us together what we required from you was one act of humanity which would redeem you for many long ages you rampaged the land killing those who came your way yet in these last days we have heard that you have changed. we have heard good reports of how you showed mercy to a man and let him live. This Tuthmosis is a redeeming quality for which we have waited for so long. Some of us feared that you would never reach this point your queen has remained faithful to you and for this she was allowed to enter the afterlife. You may join him now said the god as Nefertiti stepped forward to stand besides Tuthmosis his body now of its own violation began to change to that of those around him the gold like state even though he had not feed on the souls of men for some time.
Tuthmosis for your act of showing mercy we commend you and allow you to enter the happy afterlife to enjoy with us for all time the pleasures which have been laid up for you. Said the god smiling as he stepped from the podium to stand before the one time pharaoh of the two lands. Taking his hand he raised Tuthmosis to his feet and placed a hand on his shoulder as they left the hall followed by a vast throng of happy people taking her hand in his Tuthmosis and Nefertiti stepped into the afterlife

And there we must leave them dear readers for it would not be proper for us meer mortals to go with them for then the afterlife would hold no secrets for us.

Reported in a Cairo daily
Recently in the foot hills to the west of the great pyramid an as yet unidentified tomb was discovered with in the tomb 2 very large stone sarcophagi were found also a number of other golden objects of untold wealth. The tomb shows signs of been entered both in ancient times and more recently however it does not look like any thing was taken from the tomb. A number of relics of the past have been discovered with in the tomb, which support the theory that the Arab invaders of the sixth century and the Germans during the second world war entered the tomb.

Egyptologists are now studying the texts on the walls of the tomb to discover who the tomb belongs to only one mummy was found in one of the sarcophagus the other contained only a few charred linen bandages and a funeral mask of an ancient queen.
The discovery comes after the resent reappearance of Professor John Smith of Cambridge who disappeared from the campsite at the great pyramids a few weeks ago. He was non-committal on where he had been although it is known that he disappeared during the night of April 24th only to reemerge from the desert three weeks ago tired but well dressed only in a loose flowing robe he used for sleeping in

May be this find might cast light on the strange deaths that have been happening in the area for many years bodies of men and woman have been found dehydrated as if mummified very quickly by some unknown method. Most of these deaths apparently happen at night according to reports.
Professor Smith is leaving Egypt for England for a well deserved rest after his resent ordeal and will not be returning in the near future said a spokesperson for the Cambridge team.

Comments

One watched in horror at the images of 1976 were displayed across national television knowing as an individual that there was nothing one could do, reading my diaries and journals from the early part of life I have found that much of what I wrote was in a coded form this was as a result of not wanting the authorities to read the material in these books.

Thus when the elections came in 1994 We South Africans of all races were liberated for the first time we were able to speak out allowed to put our thoughts ideas dreams on paper for the first time with out fear of victimization or retribution.

People in the Western democracies take there freedom as a birth right so casual but no having lived under a totalitarian dictatorship you will not understand the sense of liberty 1994 was to South Africans, in fact it took a severe metal collapses in my case to truly liberate my mind don't worry I am cured now I am no more mentally ill then any of the millions of other who take medication in the world after witnessing and taking part in some really bad things.

I want to close of this entry with the words of an unknown fellow South African from the formally disadvantaged sector of our community who on the night before the voting began in 1994 said the following
“Even you will be free tomorrow” I think he knew more then most what type of fear we lived under.

Comments

That had been many centuries before now he was faced with a very different problem man who preserved the relics of ancient Egypt Tuthmosis had not been aware that such people existed. He reasoned that there must be more of these people and the preservation must have been going on for some time. He had observed the team at work for a number of weeks after the first strange encounter they had a knowledge of what they were doing
which lead him to believe that they had been at it for some time.

He still needed to feed and this he did taking the occasional unsuspecting Bedouin he had made it a point not to take any one connected to the campsite and thus his feeding habits kept him away from the site. What was worrying him was the fact that if the team or another might take it into there silly heads to start searching for any tombs in the area where his tomb was. If this happened he would have no option but to kill the Egyptology's and this he was loathed to do. He thought on this for a while before going to lay down in his sarcophagus he needed a nap maybe a day or two in deep sleep would revive his flagging mind. He did not have any one to talk to he missed Nefertiti since her destruction he had become increasingly withdrawn and moody.
As he lay down the dust rising from his bandages in a small cloud
as he closed his eyes he emptied his mind So many years asleep so many dreamless nights had passed before he first awoke from the sleep of the first death. At first he was surprised that he had awaked it had been difficult at first to move his body bound in the
linen bandages from burial. After many efforts he broke free from their tightly bound grip with a hunger for human flesh some thing he had never had before. These were the last thoughts that filtered through his mind as he fell into the dreamless sleep of death.

When he awoke from the dreamless sleep of death he felt refreshed once more a little rest always seemed to do him the world of good. Rising he quickly moved towards the doorway of the tomb stopping near the entrance he put his arm up. Extending his
bandage bound hand he began to read the text painted on the wall “I Tuthmosis ruler of Kermit pharaoh of the two lands brought order to the lands I Tuthmosis conquered the Babylonians and the lands of Syria. I Tuthmosis was a fair and just King. He stopped reading and listened he thought he had heard some thing outside the tomb. Moving with astonishing speed he left the tomb it was late afternoon and the sun was already almost set in the distance was a pick up truck moving at a slow and steady speed. Away from the

tomb Tuthmosis cast his eyes about to see what could have disturbed him looking down on the ground close to the tombs entrance was the track of the pick up. The driver having unwittingly driven over part of the tomb in the desert one never knew what lay beneath one’s feet. Tuthmosis turned and stalked of in the direction of the sphinx he was hungry if he wanted to eat this night he had better make sure he got to the great stone beast as soon as possible in the hope of finding a fresh human.

Moving quickly through the dying light his shadow casting a long shadow before him he moved in the direction of the necropolis of the dead. Tuthmosis mind dwelt on the one and only audience he had with the deity Osirus. When his heart was weighed against his
sins the god had seemed friendly at first even glad to see him. Yet as each sin was added to the scale the countenance of the god grew darker less friendly at the end when the scales had been tipped against him the god seemed to take on an even more fearsome look. If it had not been for the arrival of Nefertiti at this moment Tuthmosis feared things might have gone even worse for him. His loving consort had pleaded with the gods to be merciful her heart been pure had counteracted the second death which Tuthmosis deserved. A bargain had been struck that they would return and share there eternal home sucking the souls from the living to survive never been allowed to enter the happy afterlife. In a way it was a mercy in another it was a cruel punishment perverse as any that Tuthmosis would have given in his judgement against a wrong doer in his kingdom. Now Nefertiti was gone a few burned rags a few funeral texts an empty sarcophagus to show she had once existed. A woman of exceptional beauty pure of spirit in whom no sin abided well that she was until the moment she gave up her chance to enter the afterlife choosing instead to spend eternity. As a despised and hated thing with no chance of redemption strange what love can do thought Tuthmosis.

Comments

Samuel was sitting under a tree when he was approached by one of the Europeans a strange breed of men who had fair skins and hair. Tell us asked one of them who seemed to be a captain among there company what is it like to live in the land of Egypt seeing all of the wonders of the ancient land. To know our Lord lived here and saw the same wonders that we now see?
Samuel pondered the question awhile before answering I see wonders every day I see the sun rise over the desert I see the ibis nesting near the Nile I see the birth of there young I see the sun set over the pyramids are these not wonders enough I don't know what wonders the Lord saw when he sojourned in this land I see the great temples that dot the landscape I see that Egypt was once a great land blessed with abundance but that has now long passed. What I see of Egypt today is the doctors who are famous to the known world who teach in Alexander and Cairo. I see that churches have been risen up to speared the word of Jesus these are the wonders I see today.

Later in the day when the sun was stating to wain the caravan resumed its journey through the desert. Samuel had become used to the rhythm of the camel’s grate and found himself dozing as the caravan wound its way through the desert. Much later when the moon was rising the caravan reached the Nile the night was cold hurriedly a fire were lite and tents erected. Tomorrow it would be half a day’s journey to reach Karnak.

After eating a sparse meal the people settled down for the rest of the night Samuel hoped he would have a restful night the dreams of the previous night had disturbed him the long trek through the desert had not allowed him much time to rest.

Comments

Because all mummies were wrapped in many layers of bandages it was important that the lately departed were recognizable to the gods and to those who came after there fore a mummy mask would be made of cartonnage a mixture of linen and plaster. These masks were an idealized version of what the person looked like according to ancient Egyptian beliefs the god’s flesh was made of Gold, the hair of the god’s was made of lapis lazuli a semi precious stone of green and some times red. The bones of the god’s were made of the fines silver thus the mummy masks of the lately departed were made of bandages which were stiffened with paste then pained to closely resemble the person as a deity. With gold flesh lapis lazuli hair and many ornamentation’s and amulets over the heart was placed the amulet of the scarab beetle with a prayer on it asking the heart not to betray the person when he or she was judged.
If you look at the image below you will see an example of one of these masks this particular mask comes from the period of the New Kingdom. A time when Egypt was prosperous and all the outer trimmings of a good life were reflected in the mask of the deceased. In this period lived to famous pharaohs who are known to use for different reasons Tutankhamen is known to us because of the wonderful treasures which were found in his tomb k 62 in the valley of the kings however he lived a very short life. The other pharaoh of this time who is known to us from this period is Ramses II the builder of the city Pi Ramses he is according to some the pharaoh of Exodus however this does not fit the time line in Israel nor according to Egyptian history.

The current unpleasantness between the council for antiquities of Egypt and a number of western museums is a matter of the council trying to recover artifacts like masks from various institution's on purely nationalistic grounds. The Egyptians of today are Moslem's and bear very little resemblance to there ancient forebear's who worshiped various gods in the Parthenon.

When Egypt was invaded by the Islamites in 652 AD they took great delight in digging up mummies who had been buried in the decline of Egypt before the Greeks and Romans arrived. In later days the mummification process had deteriorated so badly that in many cases mummies were covered in bitsum. Thus in the early days of the Moslem's invasion of Egypt mummies that had been buried from around 500 BC to 500 AD were dug up with a vigor which has never been surpassed the mummies were then broken in to pieces and used as fire wood. It is little wonder then that when Howard Carter in the early 20th century found the tomb of Tutankhamen. His first priority was the removal of artifacts such as gold and amulets; as a result the mummy of the youthful Pharaoh was cut into pieces to facilitate the easy removal of these sought after artifacts. Last year a CT scan was conducted 1500 images of the mummy revealed some interesting facts. Back in the late 1960's and early 1970's it was put about that Tutankhamen had been murdered with a blow to his head the resent CT scans reveal that the blow to the head of the mummy happened post mortuary. Not to mention the fact that King Tutankhamen's mummy received a blow to the head when Carters team dropped it back in the 1920's. For a number of years it was believed that some one had stolen the penis of the mummy when the CT scans were done the missing member was found in the coffin containing the mummy lying in the sand under the body. In most cases the body of the mummy was wrapped in over a hundred meters of bandages. With each finger been wrapped individually before the hand was wrapped. At the end of the new kingdom period the process of mummification began to decline. By the third and fourth century AD the process was in its dieing throes, with the worshipers of the old gods dying out been replaced by the Coptic Christian beliefs by 642 AD Christianity in Egypt was also about to undergo an attack which it would not long survive. It had been the practice of those who conquered the two lands to build there temples and churches on the sites of earlier temples because the building material was already there, thus temples were demolished to make way for Roman temples, later Coptic churches and then finally for Moslem mosks.

Comments

This religious change angered many angry citizens and priests. Tutankhamen was left with an angry and chaotic Egypt to rule In the third year of his reign the ban on the worship of the old gods was lifted and all privileges and lands returned to the priesthood that would have been circa 1331 BC. At that time Tutankhamen was a boy of eleven years old at that time the capital and the court of Amarna was deserted and the court was moved back to Thebes which was the heart of the Amen priesthood at that time. This movement was probably suggested by Aye to show the Egyptians and priests that things were slowly returning to the original ways. . Because of his age at the time these decisions were made, it is generally thought that most if not all the responsibility for them falls on his vizier Ay and perhaps other advisor's.

As was common in ancient Egypt and most probably all ancient kingdoms around the world at that time Tutankhamen took as his wife Ankhesenamun daughter of Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti his half sister. It would seem that the idea of a second and a third wife for the pharaoh was introduced at an early stage to introduce new blood in to the royal house as a natural means of preventing the mutations that occur when brothers marry sister. Also it was unthinkable that the first wife would not be of the royal house and no Pharaoh would condescend to marring a commoner it would appear that marring a commoner as a first wife would also have been unacceptable to the whole of Egyptian society. As it would have destroyed the idea that if one were born of royal blood you were descended from the ancient deities.

During Tutankhamen's reign nothing was done to obliterate the memory of Akhenaten but in the two reigns after his every effort was made to wipe out all evidence of the reign of Akhenaten. Even the city of Amarna which had been established on virgin ground was dismantled brick for brick and carted away up and down the Nile, and the few remaining foundations were covered over with cement making it the best preserved Egyptian site from that period.

Resent CT scans conducted in 2005 AD have reveled that the teeth of the mummy of Pharaoh Tutankhamen are consistent with those of a youth of 19 years old. Tutankhamen’s must have had a good childhood. He probably spent his younger years hunting, swimming, and studying. His tomb revealed he enjoyed board games. Like most children, he probably found politics unexciting and went about his environment enjoying leisurely activities. Because he was a child, he probably had an ignorant view about his father’s teachings and politics. He was also believed to be an ill child due to the many walking canes that were found inside his tomb.

Sometime during his tenth year of his reign, Egypt was at war with the Hittites. During this confrontation Tutankhamen suddenly died Tutankhamen died at the age of 19 . Many suspect that he was murdered. He was buried in the Valley of the Kings. Two mummified fetuses were found in coffins that had been sealed by his name. These are believed to have been his children that were born prematurely.

Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s throne
This throne was produced in the early years of the reign of Tutankhamen, prior to the religious Counter Reformation that marked the definitive end of the Amarna Period. The grace of the forms combines well with the richness of the decoration and the luminosity of the colors, giving rise to a composition of exquisite craftsmanship. The scene depicts the sovereign relaxing on his throne with his feet resting on a low stool with cushions. He is wearing a short wig surmounted by a composite crown and the typical pleated robe of the era, which left the prominent stomach uncovered, another feature typical of the Amarna period. The arms of the throne are in the form of two winged and crowned serpents holding the cartouche of Tutankhamen in front of them. The legs, which were linked at the front and rear with a heraldic motif symbolizing the union of southern and northern Egypt, terminate in leonine paws. Two lions' heads also emerge from the front section of the throne. The rear of the backrest is decorated with a frieze of asps.

Some gruesome details of what happened to the mummy of Pharaoh Tutankhamen in 1926 when the objects of jewelery and amulets were been removed from the mummy. Howard Carter did not treat the body with any sign of respect. In the first stage of the recovery of the jewels and other objects the body of the pharaoh was cut in to various sections the reason for this was as a result of the hardening of the embalming resin used at the time of burial. The head of the Pharaoh was cut of f the arms and legs were removed from the torso and the torso itself was cut in half. There after hot knives were used to separate the golden mask from the face of the mummy. There after the mummy was placed back in its sarcophagus

Since the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922 there has been much speculation that he was murdered as there was some thickening of the bone in the skull. However the resent CT scan has proved conclusively that the damage to the Pharaohs skull happened post mortem. Accidents in the embalming workshops seem to have been quite common although in the 18th dynasty mummification reached its peak in advanced methods. However be this as it may the mummy has been x-rayed twice in the resent past 1968 and 1972. Using the latest technology and criminal face recognition software a CT scan conducted in 2005 have proved beyond a doubt that King Tut was not murdered but died of a fractured left knee and foot. Where flex of gold leaf portraying wild birds was discovered in the wound pointing to the fact that the wounds were caused by a blow from a sword the resulting gold flex in the wound coming from his amour. The presents of embalming fluid in the wounds point to the fact that the body was embalmed while these wounds were still open and un healed it is now believed that he died of the wounds and the onset of gangrene. It must be remembered that medicine at that time was under the control of the priests of Amun and other then washing and changing the dressing the wound and applying magical herbs. The only other practice for the healing of wounds such as this would have been incantations and prayers to the deities to restore the young Pharaoh to good health thus he died with in a few days or at most a week after receiving the wounds. This would explain the great number of walking sticks found in his tomb over a hundred were found with the mummy pointing to the fact that he had great difficulty walking in his last days. During the15 minute scan over 1700 images were mapped of the mummy which owing to the events which have happened to it in the past is in a very poor condition
His successor Ay went to great lengths to prove that he was guiltless in the death h of Tutankhamen even going so far as to leave a stela in at his own tomb saying that he was innocent. The stela was a means to proving ones innocence of guilty in the afterlife and it is inconceivable that Ay would have lied about this matter.

There is however the matter of the messages sent to the Hittite king begging him to send one of his sons to the widow of Tutankhamen's widow as she was childless and helpless some things will never be satisfactorily explained after three thousand years one can but wonder.

In 2005 AD three different teams worked up models of what the Pharaoh looked like one of these teams worked in the dark not knowing on who's CT images they were working all three came up with similar models showing the face of a young man of slight build. Whose facial characteristics were in common with those of the Tuthmoisd family. It must be remembered that Tutankhamen was the last male heir of Tuthmosis I who was the third king of the 18th dynasty the weaknesses of the previous reign point to the fact that more then a century of in-breeding had weakened the gene pool of the royal family.

Comments