1213 The Secrets of the Oasis (1/2)

Snap!

Getting out of the car and standing next to the spring surrounded by the circular pool, Zhang Zian quietly killed a mosquito that was buzzing in front of him.

While this was also an oasis, the number of mosquitoes in the Siwa Oasis was significantly lower than in the Faiyum Oasis. It was strange, as the Siwa Oasis had more than 2,000 natural springs and a saltwater lake. The environment was similar to the Faiyum Oasis. Therefore, there should not have been a large difference in the number of mosquitoes.

If one really needed reasons, the first might've been that the area covered with ​​plants and crops here was much smaller. Second, although the Garonne Lake was a saltwater lake, it was not too salty, and fish and shrimp in the lake could survive. However, the salt content of the Siwa Lake was too high. Even the beaches along the lake were covered with salt, and mosquitoes could not lay eggs and hatch larvae in the lake.

The water in the spring was moving and crystal clear. Mosquitoes liked to lay eggs in stagnant, still, and stinky water.

Fina had not heard him killing that mosquito. When they passed the market, they could not find a vendor selling honey, which made her regretful but him grateful.

Standing by the pool and watching the children play for a while, Zhang Zian finally confirmed, albeit disappointedly, that the several European female tourists did not swim naked. However, there were several young men who wanted to take off their clothes.

At the same time that he was staring at other people, Fina seemed to beb worrying about something. She couldn't help but look at the khaki-coloured building shaded by the dense date palm trees.

From where they were, it was only possible to make out the roofs of the buildings. However, as they had no fixed destination anyway and Zhang Zian was not particularly interested in looking at men swimming, Zhang Zian proposed that they go there.

While passing under the date palm tree, Richard licked a few palm dates but immediately spit them out. It almost dirtied Zhang Zian's clothes.

”So sour and bitter! Gross!” it murmured.

”Nonsense! The fruit is not ripe yet and you ate it? I heard that coconut cooling balm has a nice flavor. Do you want that instead?” Zhang Zian knew it was bored and spitting out gibberish from its mouth. Richard had to constantly find something to do, be it eating or talking.

They passed through the woods as they spoke. There was a building like a broken castle in front of them, but it seemed like a castle should not exist in the vicinity.

Zhang Zian thought and immediately understood the identity of the building—here was the temple of the gods that Alexander the Great had come to seek. It was not far from the temple of Amon.

Now, when it came to the temple of Amon, it was generally referred to as the large temple of Amon in Luxor, and few people came here. Whether it was the Temple of God or the Temple of Amon, they were a dedication to the half-goat-half-man sun god Amon. Alas, the place was in ruins now.

The two temples and shrines were not destroyed by heavy rains. This was because ancient Egyptians used stones instead of mud bricks for the entire construction—perhaps it might've been better with mud bricks. Had it not been built to last, the locals would not have blown it up with explosives in 1896. They did it so that they could use the stones to build a police station and other facilities.

After listening to Zhang Zian's explanation, Vladimir applauded and said, ”Although it is a pity, I still support sweeping the old for the new! The people are masters of the land, and the temple is demolished to become houses for ordinary people. This should be a good thing! As for God, this is the chance for him to go out for a few days!”

”This is…” Zhang Zian began. ”This has no link to the removal of feudal superstitions. It is only because the local people don't believe in this god…”

Vladimir understood his words and could not come up with a rebuttal.

The shrine had been built on top of a small hill. The surroundings were cold and clear with no one around.

Zhang Zian and the elfins came to the ruins of the shrine hall, where a stone monument stood. The stone monuments used English and Arabic to describe the voyage of Alexander the Great. Together with a small number of followers, they'd entered the desert to seek the gods.