25 Pharaohss - 1 (2/2)

Dia smiled at me, as if she could see into my head. Jerry and Pratt were concentrating on the road. There wasn't any traffic, but Pratt said they had to be much more attentive and careful on the mountains.

Before long, we were driving through the outer skirts of the forests of Hyngraves. And Jerry was speaking again.

”The forests are called the forests of Hyngraves. Because there is no mention of them anywhere in the Nashi. That is very strange, because the trees are old enough to precede the Nashi. The forest clearly stood back then, even if it wasn't as encompassing as it is now. Why then do the Nashi seem blind to it?”

”Don't worry,” Dia said to me. ”We have the answers. At Pharaohs'. You'll see them in a while. Just enjoy the drive for now.”

”We're early,” Pratt said. ”The rains are yet to come. When they arrive, we'll drive back. It's a difficult drive, but the spectacle is worth it. The forest is filled with the sound of the rain from above and the innumerable streams flowing below. The colours pop out. Only then do you realise that you're looking at many, many more shades than you are actually seeing. You need the perfect light to fully see. And of course, most important, the animals put on quite the show. Lining up alongside the streams. It's truly spectacular.”

”And don't forget the smell,” Dia cut in.

”Yes,” Pratt agreed. ”The scent. It's so delightful. It's the most beautiful feature. I promise you, you've never smelled anything better, ever.”

”The Hyngraves are a protected region,” Jerry explained.

And I understood.

”Because of the Nashi?” I asked.

”Not just the Nashi,” Jerry answered. ”Because of Fuikasha. Because of the pull of the society. Because of the agreement Sairah signed with the Fuikasha. Because of the discovery of some really ancient species. Because of some truly mysterious ecological micro-spheres discovered within the forest. Many reasons. All together form a complete protection.”

”Also,” Dia added. ”Pharaohs'.”

”Yes, Pharaohs',” Pratt agreed.

I wasn't sure I understood.

Jerry shook his head and explained.

”Pharaohs' has a lot of powerful patrons and sponsors. Simply put, politics.”

”Oh,” I exclaimed with understanding.

That I certainly understood. Politics.

And we fell silent. I knew from Dia's face that we were almost there. I could see the longing and the fondness in her eyes. She truly loved Pharaohs'. That made me want to see it all the more. Just how amazing was Pharaohs'. Just how amazing a person was Dinah Pharaohs.

My first sighting of Pharaohs' was the top, a rectangular structure standing taller than the trees. The more ordinary it appeared, the less so it seemed.

As I caught glimpses of white from in between the trees, I wondered if right now, I looked the same as Dia.