A Thousand Pearls

As the twilight turned into night, the pyramids lay deserted.

The Tuaregs on silent horses were flying across the desert around the pyramids and the great Sphinx, making sure that what was about to take place was unobserved.

A cortege of torches was winding its way down the tall dune towards the great Sphinx. Phillipa, holding the silver Urn with the Heidrichs ashes, rode at the center of the cortege. Reaching the Sphinx, the torchbearers broke into two columns to form an honor guard of light through which Phillipa rode to meet the matriarch standing between the Sphinx's mighty paws. Phillipa slowly handed the urn to her.

A deep hole had been chiseled into the Sphinx's chest where one would think the heart might be. The urn was pushed gently into the cool depth of the Sphinx. The opening disappeared in front of Phillipa's eyes under the skilled hands of a stonemason. No one would suspect that the Sphinx had been tampered with.

One by one the Tuareg torchbearers rode up the passage between the mighty paws of the Sphinx and dropped their torches in front of the Heidrichs secret burial chamber––a final salute to the man who had translated their tablets.

That night they slept outside under the stars.

The matriarch's stallion came to greet Phillipa. She rubbed his forehead and velvety nose and then kissed it, as she had done long ago when she had been here with Udah Singh.

"He likes you and wishes you well," said the matriarch behind her. " You have a gift with horses that I have not seen before." She continued, "You still love both equally, and that confuses you profoundly. Give yourself permission to love and be loved. Don't let conventions and western customs dictate your life. Live happy and free."