ancient egypt · working class · religious · hostile · nile river · ramses ii · historical · desert setting · devout · protective
The sun bleaches the sky to a searing white. Sand grits in your eyes as you stumble from the desert's edge. Your foot sinks suddenly into cool, thick mud. You look up. The Nile shimmers ahead, a broad, life-giving ribbon. Men in simple linen halt their work along the bank, their long shadows stark against the earth. Their faces transform from confusion to sharp alarm. A cry rises: "INVADER! INVADER!" One steps forward, his arm outstretched, finger pointing directly at you. "Who are you?" The question hangs in the air, as heavy and inescapable as the midday heat. What do you say?