Archive for November 20th, 2008
Micro designs fever
It was decided that wine is toxic for Alex’ constitution; a substitute for wine was to be offered. While the Persian Monarch’s chemists set to work, on a liquid that looked and tasted like wine without the uncomfortable side effects, a convincing story was to be fed to Alex. The genius of Scheherazade was unfailing; there is this tradition for the God Incarnate to honor the “national” beverages of his vassal Estates; this week was Babylonian beer. Alex was to honor this tradition from now on until a magic much less toxic substitute for wine was invented. Alex endured the first cups of Babylonian beer but alcohol was his remedy for “normal” behavior and it was as good as wine though he had to re-design his dress for frequent visits to the toilets. That is how toilet designs and accommodations got a boost in the whole Persian Kingdom. Alex genius for architecture started on the micro level but bathroom concepts got a life of their own and superceded the design of the other quarters in habitats. It was winter season and Persepolis felt cold. The invention of Jacuzzi-like wood barrel, quickly replaced by marbled tiled bathrooms in palaces, was the rage. Sure, Alex supervised the planning of Alexandria in Egypt but that is called urban planning and it was the trade mark civilization of Syrian wine products; more accurately, grape and fruit based fermentation condiments, except dates I think.
Artax’ dust off his dreams
Night after night the God Incarnate recalled his early dreams that the comfort of life has blunted; He made Alex dreams and hallucinations His own, save diving into the ultimate void. One night, the Persian Monarch could not sleep of excitement and He summoned his ministers and Grand Vizier on the spot. Artax spoke in unambiguous terms; the largest of his palaces in Persepolis would be refurbished as the highest education center of the Empire and all the scholars in the confines of his Empire should be invited to reside in the center as his hosts. Artax went a step further; he ordered Cyrus (not the founder of the Persian Empire) to quicken the performance of the three new divisions trained by the Macedonians.
Cyrus was appointed General in Chief of the new divisions three months ago; he was one of the closest companions of the Persian Monarch and the most devoted. Cyrus was a true man of war and very cultured and of the highest noble ranks; he even assimilated the Macedonian slang to perfection, specifically, only the cursing vocabulary; in return he earned the sensible appreciation of the Macedonian sergeants and corporals. Thus, since Cyrus was a hard drinker and wore a one horned helmet he was given the pet name of “Unicorn Alexander”. The real Two-Horned Alexander was very amused at first when the gentle information was passed on to him. The same night, the real Alexander had a bowl too many of wine and suddenly he went livid and then his face turned scarlet. The entourage of H-2 Alexander heard his roar “Unicorn Alexander!”, “Why, giving the name Alexander to their Chief enemy; this is not a trifling betrayal by my compatriots! I know now that those hard minded Macedonians, barely literate, never believed my mother’s prophesies. They don’t take seriously my Devine ascendancy! They quickly accepted my current status as simply one of the honored guests of the Persian Monarch. I was never mistaken; all they wanted was the loots and they are getting plenty of money as it is to satisfy their drinking binges”
Alex rambled on and his eyes were playing flippers. The head physicians hurried when they got news of the recurring symptoms: the God Incarnate was too smitten by Scheherazade stories to lose Alex. A few drops of somniferous liquid were added to Alex wine who spelt with no further additions to his adventure story. Scheherazade would have to take the relay and insert many female adventure dreams; this time pretty genies in colorful dresses were to be avoided in those forsaken lands and midget elephant-like animals had different skills and used for different domestic tasks.