We make our way back to the temple, side by side, silently. The temple is
empty but for a few young people still lounging on the steps. I usher them
away home and enter the temple to say good eve to Parn.
"I must see Parn for a moment Daniel, will you wait here for me?"
"Yeah, I'd like a chance to look around"
He already seems interested in the artefacts in a corner of the temple and so I leave him to seek out Parn. The moons cast dark shadows around me as I make my way to his private quarters. Upstairs into a gallery of the main hall, I tap lightly at his door. He bids me too enter. He is sitting quietly on large cushions in the middle of the small room; burning oils cast light on the glittering jewels of artefacts on small tables set at each side of him. I sit opposite him.
"Ah Rani, I wondered when you would return"
I look at him quizzically as he speaks in their tongue.
"Such a strange language yet strangely I find I enjoy speaking it. We must pass the knowledge throughout the people." He pauses and looks at me. "You have been unable to calm your mind Rani. Do not let it trouble you"
"He is different Parn"
"How so?"
"I was hoping you could answer that question"
"Maybe you should ask Daniel for the answer"
"I feel.... Like I betrayed his trust. Like we have violated them"
"It has been a long time since I have performed such a ritual, and yet I can honestly say I feel that way every time Rani. They gain understanding."
"But it is not the fist time I have performed the ritual either Parn and I have never felt this way, at least not so strongly. And such a strong barrier Parn, did you feel it?"
"Rani" he raises his hand to stop my outburst "Take him to your home to the others. Treat him no different."
"But the questions"
"Questions are meant to be asked. Ask him them and they will no longer be in your mind"
I swallow a sigh of frustration at the simple wise words. He smiles, his eyes showing his amusement.
"Good eve Rani"
"Good eve Parn"
I leave him alone to meditate and make my way back into the main hall. I watch quietly from the steps as Daniel slowly runs his fingers over the inscriptions on the walls. Studying them, whispering under his breath.
"Daniel" I speak softly as I cross the hall, he stops and turns to me. "We should join the others"
"This is the story of how your people were enslaved by Ra" As he speaks he brushes a hand over the inscriptions.
"Yes, how did you know?"
"We may not speak the same language but these inscriptions, these I can read, this I understand. What I don't understand is why you speak a different language to what you have inscribed here?"
"It is a lost language, only a few of us understand it correctly. When we were finally free of the false gods, we evolved into a new people. Different language, way of life. Free from anything which reminded us of them"
"Tell me your peoples story"
I look at him strangely, our curiosity mingling.
"It's all here for you to read and observe"
"I want you to tell me"
"I must see Parn for a moment Daniel, will you wait here for me?"
"Yeah, I'd like a chance to look around"
He already seems interested in the artefacts in a corner of the temple and so I leave him to seek out Parn. The moons cast dark shadows around me as I make my way to his private quarters. Upstairs into a gallery of the main hall, I tap lightly at his door. He bids me too enter. He is sitting quietly on large cushions in the middle of the small room; burning oils cast light on the glittering jewels of artefacts on small tables set at each side of him. I sit opposite him.
"Ah Rani, I wondered when you would return"
I look at him quizzically as he speaks in their tongue.
"Such a strange language yet strangely I find I enjoy speaking it. We must pass the knowledge throughout the people." He pauses and looks at me. "You have been unable to calm your mind Rani. Do not let it trouble you"
"He is different Parn"
"How so?"
"I was hoping you could answer that question"
"Maybe you should ask Daniel for the answer"
"I feel.... Like I betrayed his trust. Like we have violated them"
"It has been a long time since I have performed such a ritual, and yet I can honestly say I feel that way every time Rani. They gain understanding."
"But it is not the fist time I have performed the ritual either Parn and I have never felt this way, at least not so strongly. And such a strong barrier Parn, did you feel it?"
"Rani" he raises his hand to stop my outburst "Take him to your home to the others. Treat him no different."
"But the questions"
"Questions are meant to be asked. Ask him them and they will no longer be in your mind"
I swallow a sigh of frustration at the simple wise words. He smiles, his eyes showing his amusement.
"Good eve Rani"
"Good eve Parn"
I leave him alone to meditate and make my way back into the main hall. I watch quietly from the steps as Daniel slowly runs his fingers over the inscriptions on the walls. Studying them, whispering under his breath.
"Daniel" I speak softly as I cross the hall, he stops and turns to me. "We should join the others"
"This is the story of how your people were enslaved by Ra" As he speaks he brushes a hand over the inscriptions.
"Yes, how did you know?"
"We may not speak the same language but these inscriptions, these I can read, this I understand. What I don't understand is why you speak a different language to what you have inscribed here?"
"It is a lost language, only a few of us understand it correctly. When we were finally free of the false gods, we evolved into a new people. Different language, way of life. Free from anything which reminded us of them"
"Tell me your peoples story"
I look at him strangely, our curiosity mingling.
"It's all here for you to read and observe"
"I want you to tell me"