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The Hippopotamus Marsh |
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 The Hippopotamus MarshLords of the Two Lands, Volume 1 by Pauline Gedge SoHo Press Inc Color 408 pages, 2000 ISBN 1569471916 Reviewed by Marion E. Cason The message read: Kill the hippopotamuses in the marsh. They are keeping the King awake at night with all their noise. The hippopotamuses were two hundred miles away from the King. Seqenenra, Prince of Weset, Leader of the Lower Lands in ancient Egypt, snapped. He had always paid his taxes no matter how steep or unfair they were. Yet now King Apepa, Lord of the Setius, Ruler of the Uplands, wanted the hippopotamuses killed. Pride and stubbornness prevented Seqenenra from carrying out this order. His twin sons and his wife's cousin in the Upper Lands who was close to Apepa begged him to obey. They told him the consequences would be dire. Seqenenra comes up with an idea that will, in effect, accomplish the silencing of the hippopotamuses without killing them. When a new missive comes from Apepa dictating that Seqenenra erect a house of worship on the lands he rules so that all Egyptians can worship Apepa, the one true God, Seqenenra becomes highly indignant. There is no way he will follow this dictate. He is of royal blood, a true Egyptian, one who worships the true God of Egyptians. The only way to honorably obey this missive is to conquer Apepa and reclaim all of Egypt. Seqenenra sets out to do just that. His sons have differing opinions that subsequently determine their family's future. Kamose, one of the twins, tries to prevent a massacre, but he also must obey his father. Based on historical fact, the well-written story drew me into the festivities and life of that era. Gedge describes the searing heat so vividly I can almost feel the sweat streaming down my face, although the temperature outside my home is ten degrees Fahrenheit and snow is on the ground. Lords of the Two Lands, Volume I is the first in a trilogy. Gedge left us with a cliffhanger. How will the true Egyptians rightfully reclaim all their land and become one people again? |
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