It was dark by the time we arrive at the first sign of civilization. If the sun had still been out, we might have known we had reached our destination, well Tommy would have known since he was the one reading the book, because the dome over the Anu Ziggurat would have been reflecting the sun. Since it was dark, we were not sure if it was Uruk or someplace else. It isn't like there was a big sign that read Welcome to Uruk across the front gate. Of course, we wouldn't have been able to read it even if it did.
"These walls are massive," Nicky said admiring the handiwork. "There's no way we can climb over them."
"What do you suggest we do?" I asked looking at him.
"Maybe we should walk around and see if there is an opening someplace," Tommy suggested.
"We should put something here, so we know when we've been all the way around, if we make it that far," I told them.
"I have a nickel," Nicky suggested pulling it from his pants pocket.
"And what if somebody else finds it?" I asked, "That would be too big a risk."
"I have a Pokemon card in my pocket," Tommy offered.
"That would be even worse," I told them. "I hate to do this, but give me the book." Tommy handed me the book he was reading in the daylight. I found one of the back pages they add to books that never have anything on them and tore a piece of it out to mark our spot.
"Stick it down into the sand, so it won't blow away," Nicky suggested. Once that was done, we started to walk around the outside wall of what we hoped was Uruk.
"We still have to figure out how we can get to Gilgamesh before anyone else gets to us," Nicky said, like I somehow would have a plan for that.
"We wouldn't even know where to look," I told him.
"Maybe we should start with the temple," Tommy said.
"That's a good idea," Nicky agreed just as we came upon what appeared to be a little stream running up to the wall then under it. "Could we fit through the opening?" Nicky continued.
"Doubt it," I said, "It probably has a grate or something over the other end to keep things out."
"Maybe we should check it out," Tommy suggested anyway, "I volunteer to go see."
"I can't let you go alone," I told him. "Mom would kill me."
"We'll all go," Nicky said and at that Tommy charged into the water and easily made his way crawling through the opening at the bottom of the wall. It was a little harder for me and even harder still for Nicky, but somehow we all managed to squeeze through.
"Guys look at this," Tommy said in a whisper once he reached the other side, which did have a big metalwork grate over it. Chalk one up for me being right.
The water seemed to fill most of what would have been the streets in a normal city. I'd seen pictures of Venice, the one in Italy not the one just outside of Sarasota where we live, and that's what this reminded me of. "We'll never get through here," I told them. They both nodded in agreement and we made our way back out the way we came.
Once we got back out from under the wall, Nicky said, "That was a huge waste of time," as he stood ringing the water out of his shirt.
"At least we know the irrigation ditches do have grates," I told them rubbing it in just a little that I was right.
"Doesn't it seem like it would take more water going into the city than this to keep the streets full?" Nicky then asked. "This isn't very much water." I hadn't thought about it while we were in the water pipe or whatever you would call it, but Nicky was right. The amount of water going in didn't seem like enough to provide the people with enough water to live on let alone keep the streets flooded.
"Maybe it's a seasonal thing," I suggested since clearly they had plenty of water.
We continued to walk around the edge of the wall for what seemed like an hour, and we still had not made it back to our original spot. In fact, I didn't even think we had made it half way around. This place was huge.
"What's that sound," Tommy whispered, as he grabbed my hand.
"I don't hear…" I had started to say when suddenly I did hear something.
"It sounds like crying," Nicky whispered back. "Let's keep going but be careful."
We walked several more minutes, as the crying got louder and louder. Eventually it was so loud that it was actually painful to hear, but we had no way to muffle it. Nicky was the first to actually notice the person, or thing, that was crying. He was sitting outside of the city walls on what to us appeared to be a huge boulder. Funny thing was he still had his feet on the ground.
"Look how big he is," I whispered.
"Do you think that's him," Tommy asked now squeezing the crap out of my hand.
"Maybe," Nicky said just as he stopped in his tracks. "Before we get any closer, what are we going to do?"
"Maybe we can sneak up behind the boulder and call out his name. See if he responds," I suggested.
"Then what if he does?" Nicky continued.
"Well you're the one that seems to think he would accept us because he's a demigod," I reminded him.
"That was before I saw how huge he is," Nicky replied. I could hear how scared he was in his voice.
"Should we just walk out there and talk to him," I said wondering what difference it would make sneaking up on him. He was clearly upset and scaring him might just piss him off.
"Okay, let's go then," Nicky said taking my hand. "Tommy you stay back just a little, just to be safe." I thought it was sweet that Nicky was worried about my little brother. Tommy is kind of like a little brother to him too, but usually he just picks on him like a big brother would. Tommy nodded that he understood.
We got most of the way to the giant before he ever noticed us. Of course it helped that he had his head hung and was still bawling. When he did see us, I thought he was going to fall off of that boulder. "What are you?" the giant bellowed. His voice was so loud I swear I felt my brain vibrating inside my skull.
"Lord Gilgamesh?" Nicky asked trying not to sound scared but failing at it. I couldn't blame him, though. Gilgamesh could have easily lifted one foot and put it back down on top of us and we would have been a greasy spot there in the sand.
"What are you?" he bellowed again even louder this time, if that's even possible.
"We're kids from the future," I finally said wondering how we were actually communicating, since I knew we didn't know Sumerian, and I doubted he spoke English, since it wouldn't be developed for a few thousand more years.
"You are spirits come to torment me more," he said looking at us suspiciously.
"No, my Lord," Nicky said, "We are here to help you."
"You are not real, look at your skin. You are spirits," he insisted reaching for the torch that stood next to him providing his light.
"This is really bad Nicky," I said starting to panic, as Gilgamesh pointed the fire end of the torch at us. I really thought we were going to get locked up at best or stepped on at worst. It was at this point, I guess, that the light made Tommy visible to the giant. Gilgamesh's eyes widened, as he appeared to be trying to decide if his eyes were playing tricks on him.
"You, you look real," the giant told Tommy. "You come forward."
I knew Tommy would be scared, but I guess he figured out that only he would be able to save us. He stepped forward now standing between Nicky and me. "My Lord," he said trying to sound brave.
"Are you with these spirits?" Gilgamesh asked my brother.
"Yes, my Lord, they are with me, but they are not spirits. They are not here to hurt you. We want to help," Tommy told him.
"Help me with what?" Gilgamesh asked.
"Why are you crying?" Tommy asked, "Where is Enkidu?"
"How do you know of Enkidu?" Gilgamesh asked, as he stood. At this point, I thought we might be in danger again, but the giant just stood waiting for Tommy to answer his question.
"I know he is your best friend, your brother," Tommy told him.
Gilgamesh sat back down on the boulder, and for a moment I didn't think he was going to answer. "My friend Enkidu is dead. Punished for my own deeds," he told Tommy.
"My Lord you must not blame yourself," Tommy told him, "You went on the journey together didn't you?"
I was really proud of my little brother at that moment. He really had understood what he was reading, and now he was saving our butts with it.
"I must bury my brother, but I cannot find the words to say goodbye," the king told Tommy.
"He probably doesn't need any words. I'm sure he knew how you felt about him," my brother told him.
"Because of me he will now suffer in the afterlife for all eternity with little time above to relish," Gilgamesh told us.
"You don't have heaven?" I asked him.
"I know not of this heaven you speak," he replied to me.
"Do you understand paradise?" I asked him wondering how I was going to be able to explain this.
"I know of paradise, but only the gods may partake of this," he said.
"Heaven is like paradise for good people after they die," I explained to him.
"Anu, Enlil, and Enki do not believe there is enough good in people for them to ever obtain this heaven of which you speak. Only the immortal gods may dwell in Cedar Forest," Gilgamesh explained.
"That sucks," Nicky told the king. I was suddenly glad God decided to explain it differently to Abraham.
"Is that why you went to Cedar Forest?" Tommy asked which was a really unexpected question. All of a sudden it seemed that my little brother had become a psychologist. I knew what they were like because my mom took me to see one after my dad completely stopped communicating with me. He always asked a bunch of questions instead of giving me answers like a real doctor.
"I was angry. I do not want to die and spend eternity in the Netherworld. I want to live forever. I never want to be forgotten," Gilgamesh told us.
"Forever is a really long time," Nicky pointed out the king. "You might want to consider what you ask for."
"Maybe we can help you," Tommy offered, "But you must protect us. My friends do not look like everyone else. Even you were afraid of them at first. If you promise to help us, we promise to help you."
"I know not how you can help me, but I will protect you. You have been kind. You have listened and said kind things about Enkidu," he agreed. "Now I must prepare for the funeral." Gilgamesh took his torch in his hand and stood. "Come with be but stay close," he told us.
As we started to walk along behind King Gilgamesh, I hugged my little brother. Who would have thought he would be saving our lives just because his skin was a little darker than ours.