"Max, the files on these disks are unorganized. I suspect the disks themselves are out of sequence. But you see the papyri were not sequential when we found them. They were tossed about like dozens of discarded newspapers, rather like the ones in your bedroom. In any event, it was clear from the outset that Wulivius' tomb had been sacked. Not recently; this was the work of 5th century grave robbers!" "The vault was in complete disarray. Embalming jars were broken, religious artifacts overturned, figurines and potsherds scattered everywhere. It was a mess. Still, we were glad jackals hadn't stumbled across the site. (I hear some of them actually carry laptops these days!) They would have stripped the very paint from the walls." Like he won't. "The papyri were tagged and documented haphazardly, as we collected them. I'm afraid that's how this translation came about so quickly. Sloppy field work. But it couldn't be helped, under the circumstances. Things were going poorly in other areas. Our labor pool was reassigned without warning. When I went to inquire, the Department of Antiquities wouldn't renew my field permit. I was told that the patent for site-CX122 had been awarded to Dresden University, that our team was excavating there illegally. Naturally I protested, demanded to see the minister. I even threatened to take the matter up with Coucetti at the U.N." I'm sure. "For twenty-six hours I was sequestered inside a maze of government offices, trapped in a bureaucrat's worst nightmare. And the following day I was shunned by Dickmann at the Americas Club! That's when the rumours started circulating, strange stories that credited another man, a man of questionable character, with my discovery!" Indiana Jones. "And please wipe that smirk off your face! Recognition is important to those of us who must toil for a living; it is especially important to those of us who are involved in The Search For Knowledge. And why not? Why shouldn't we diggers get recognition for our hard work? We're not sitting on the lap of luxury, that's for damned sure." Pass the peas. "I can just picture you in that garbage heap you call a house, reading this and snickering at my misfortune. You're absolutely impossible. Where was I? Oh, yes. You will notice that many sections of the Ptolemaic Deception - my name for these documents - have been lost to time, to the elements, to the natives' own clumsiness." Natives. Who does he work for? The East India Company? "Papyrus this old tends to crumble at the gentlest touch, even though moisture (which destroys the fibers at an accelerated rate) is the real villain. Most of the noteworthy passages from my Ptolemaic Deception were saved, however, due to the training I received in Tzu-Ching and Advanced Particle Analysis ..." Blah blah blah blah blah. William could bore a barn. Soon I intend to publish, right here at this web address, the first installment of what may be the biggest blow to history since Saint Christopher got de-frocked! Time flieswhen you're having fun. It's been a week, and I'm ready to start posting this stuff! I'm sure I'll regret it later, but then I regret everything I do. Why grow up now? - ed.The Ptolemaic Deception Max City
Time flieswhen you're having fun. It's been a week, and I'm ready to start posting this stuff! I'm sure I'll regret it later, but then I regret everything I do. Why grow up now? - ed.
Max City