Hundreds of falcons perched on long wooden bars , most of them sleeping.A boy of about six walked with his
father,looking around at the birds.He rubbed underneath his eyes.
"Do not rub your tatoos,Ardeth," the older man said in Egyptain,looking down at his son.
"Yes , Father," the boy replied respectfully.Ardeth jumped slightly as a falcon gave a screeching cry and soared
out one of the many large windows.Despite the great number of birds,the floor was immaculately clean.Ardeth's father
turned left and opened a door,revealing a smaller room.This one contained thinner perches and boxes stuffed with fluff.
"You will choose your falcon from here," the man stated.Ardeth looked up at him,then began to walk slowly down
the aisle,glancing at the various young birds.Suddenly a young bird that still had tufts of down sticking out from underneath its
wings hopped out of a box and onto a perch, tilting its head at him inquisitively.Ardeth stopped next to it,offering his arm.
The bird pecked him and then hopped onto his arm,ruffling its wings.It settled and then looked into Ardeth's eyes,watching
him.
"I will take this one,Father,"Ardeth said,turning.
"Are you sure?"the older man asked,looking at the bird carefully.
"I am sure,"Ardeth replied,shifting the falcon to his shoulder.His father nodded and looked up in surprise as a
fully grown falcon soared through a window and onto his shoulder.
"Ah,there you are Seti,"he said , smiling."What will you name your falcon?"he asked,looking at Ardeth again.
"I will name him...."Ardeth stood thinking for a moment."Horus.I will name him Horus,"he announced,
glancing at the bird.As if aware that this was one of the most important events in his life,Horus began preening himself.
Father and son smiled and letf together,each looking at his own bird.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
father,looking around at the birds.He rubbed underneath his eyes.
"Do not rub your tatoos,Ardeth," the older man said in Egyptain,looking down at his son.
"Yes , Father," the boy replied respectfully.Ardeth jumped slightly as a falcon gave a screeching cry and soared
out one of the many large windows.Despite the great number of birds,the floor was immaculately clean.Ardeth's father
turned left and opened a door,revealing a smaller room.This one contained thinner perches and boxes stuffed with fluff.
"You will choose your falcon from here," the man stated.Ardeth looked up at him,then began to walk slowly down
the aisle,glancing at the various young birds.Suddenly a young bird that still had tufts of down sticking out from underneath its
wings hopped out of a box and onto a perch, tilting its head at him inquisitively.Ardeth stopped next to it,offering his arm.
The bird pecked him and then hopped onto his arm,ruffling its wings.It settled and then looked into Ardeth's eyes,watching
him.
"I will take this one,Father,"Ardeth said,turning.
"Are you sure?"the older man asked,looking at the bird carefully.
"I am sure,"Ardeth replied,shifting the falcon to his shoulder.His father nodded and looked up in surprise as a
fully grown falcon soared through a window and onto his shoulder.
"Ah,there you are Seti,"he said , smiling."What will you name your falcon?"he asked,looking at Ardeth again.
"I will name him...."Ardeth stood thinking for a moment."Horus.I will name him Horus,"he announced,
glancing at the bird.As if aware that this was one of the most important events in his life,Horus began preening himself.
Father and son smiled and letf together,each looking at his own bird.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *