Here's the latest chapter I translated. Not much there in terms of plot, but there will be some in the next one. hint, hint Two people should be meeting each other soon.
NeferNeferi: Well, you should be happy with this chapter since it focuses on Atem only. Imagine him riding along the Sahara Desert late at night ...
Roanna Luna: I'm really sorry about that. I realized the mistake I typed up about your birthday only after I posted the translation to chapter 15.
Hahaha, Bakura 'happily' skipping down the Nile ... no matter how I try to imagine that, I just can't see him doing it! Maybe when he was an innocent child, but not when he's grown up and apathetic to everyone.
Chapter 17
{While Seto is summoned to the Palace ...}
As Atem was leisurely taking a stroll through the marketplace, he discovered something on a sheet of paper that interested him. 'That is ...'
It was a notice for recruiting workers: Recruiting ... a worker for miscellaneous duties. In addition, there were a line of smaller symbols written underneath it. Atem's royal education told him that those symbols were written in the Egyptian style used by officials. (AN: Egyptian characters can be written either in the common style or the official style.) [Rika: Heh, I think Youlan is taking it a bit too far here. Ancient Egyptians used the hieroglyphic, hieratic and the demotic styles. But since I didn't write this ...] Since the general public couldn't read the characters, this added to his curiousity.
"For the people interested, please go to the bar around the corner? And speak with the man in red clothing?" Atem read the characters. "Hmm ... This sounds rather intriguing ... I'll go take a look."
{In the Bar}
Once Atem pushed open the doors to the bar, the concentrated odor of liquor hit his senses.
"Oh ... what a strong flavor ..." He couldn't help himself and used the sleeves of his clothes to cover his nose.
After he got used to the smell, he began to search for the man in red that the paper mentioned. How lucky! In the entire bar, there was only one person dressed in red. 'That should be him ...' Atem thought as he went over to sit next to the man.
"... I came to apply for the job ..." He said to the other man, who put down his cup of wine, startled.
"You ... can read the small symbols under the notice?!" The man asked Atem. He nodded slightly. "Oh ... then follow me." He paid for his drink and took Atem to a group of caravans.
"My caravan needs to pass through Egypt's desert borders in order to reach the countries to the north ..." The man said. "I estimate that by noon tomorrow, we should arrive at a small village near the border. We'll be staying the night there. Do you still want to come?"
"Your caravan? So you're the captain then ... but ... I don't want to leave Egypt ..." Atem answered, while thinking, 'I can't leave!'
"That's alright. We'll leave you at the border. Hmm ... then about your wages ..." The man began to think.
Atem spoke up. "You don't need to pay me my wages. It'll be fine as long as you give me a healthy horse to ride."
"That's great! You should first tie these items onto the horse. We'll be setting off in a moment."
{In the Evening}
At this moment, this Pharaoh who had secretly snuck out of the Palace was currently heading towards the border. No, I should say he was riding his horse towards the border.
"I didn't think riding a horse like this was such a good feeling."
He rode the horse quickly while behind him, someone was constantly calling out to him. "Hey! You ... slow down!"
Hearing the voice, he skillfully slowed the horse down and looked at the people who were trying to catch up with him.
"You were riding too fast for us. We can't keep up with you ..." The captain told him, then he stared at Atem for a moment. He then asked, with a voice laced with suspicion, "Isn't this your first time on horseback? Then why is your technique so much better than us older men?"
"Uh ... about that ..." Atem stuttered, hesitating for a moment. 'That's because I've learned how to ride in the Palace ...'
Seeing his hesitation, the man laughed. "Haha, but that's a good thing. Because of you, we've arrived at our destination half a day eariler than expected."
He pointed towards the people who had finally caught up with them. They all had weary faces, including the horses as they stared at Atem unhappily. Since he had ridden his horse so quickly, they couldn't get him to stop and rest. But they couldn't just leave him out in the open alone, the men had no choice but to try to catch up with him. Even though they've caught up with him, the men feared that they would have to continue riding all night to their destination.
"I'm ... very sorry, Captain. As well as everyone else." Atem hastily apologized.
" ... Just don't do it again. You're just a little boy ... and yet you're causing all this trouble ..." Several of the men said, resentfully.
"Yes ... I'm very sorry." He apologized again.
Atem knew that he couldn't start forgetting who he was now. Right now in the eyes of others, he was most certainly not the high and mighty Pharaoh. He was only a little child working for the caravan.
"Hmm? In any case, we're close to the village. Let us stay the night there."
The captain of the caravan was already staring at the flickering lights that shone from the little village ahead of them.
Author's Corner:
Youlan: This chapter is only here to drag out the story ... there isn't any substance to it ...
Yami Youlan: ...Then you should be preparing yourself mentally now ... (holding various items used for punishment in her hands)
Youlan: My God! Wait ... wait a moment! I've already thought out the plot for Chapter 18 now ...
Yami Youlan: ... In that case, I'll spare you for now ... Go type it up now!!
Youlan: Fine already!!
(Current Situation: Youlan is sitting in front of the computer, quickly typing up Chapter 18 for Past Memory. Yami Youlan is sitting next to her, supervising Youlan while drinking tea and reading a magazine.)
Posted on July 1, 2004 by Rika.