human
We have heard, not only that ye breathed smoke and carried flames in your limbs, but that your flesh was of iron, invulnerable to arrows; that ye were stronger than birds, and carried the thunder and lightnings of the gods with which to kill; and that ye were able to walk through the air as well as on the ground.
gpt
And hast thou no metal, bright and yellow, such as this?
human
In truth, the Pharaoh alone is able to possess such riches, and in all the land of Kem there is no such huge lump of it as that!
gpt
We have within our belts many coins of this, which we may barter with the Pharaoh for things more plenteous here.
human
Are ye travelling traders then, or what were your occupations on the Blue Star? Were ye warriors, rulers, wise men, or owners of the soil?
gpt
My good friend here hath been a wise man, as thou must know from his grey beard, I answered, smiling at the doctor.
human
He hath been a teacher of knowledge to the people, and it was his superior wisdom which contrived the house in which we travelled hither.
gpt
But hath it not been a folly to teach wisdom to the people? When they have learned, the wise man turneth fool! Wisdom groweth ripe by being bottled, but whoso poureth it out for every thirsty drinker wasteth good wine upon gross beasts!
human
In its youth our star held to these opinions, but now it teacheth wisdom to every child, and in this manner we have made progress into many things not even dreamed of here. As for my own profession, I have been a dealer in wheat, the bread-grain of our star. Hast thou here such a small grain growing at the bearded end of a tall straw?
gpt
In truth, the land of Kem raiseth so large a store of such a grain as to feed all the surrounding countries! Our greatest traffic is in this wheat. Hast thou not seen the green fields of it lining the banks of the Nasr-Nil, until the sight tires following it? This season there cometh such a crop as Kem hath never seen before, and for six years we have been blest with its plenty----