A Calculated Magic by Robert Weinberg

Author:Robert Weinberg
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: 1995-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

20

Roger groaned in frustration. Of all the resorts in the world, why did they have to stay in one that contained a replica of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Though it was long after midnight, the Crouching One showed no signs of leaving the elaborate arboretum. Instead, the Ancient One insisted on wandering to and fro along the maze of pathways, reminiscing about old times. Roger, who had heard most of the demigod’s stories dozens of times before, was bored to tears. And though he prided himself on how little sleep he needed, he was tired and ready to call it a night.

The Crouching One, unfortunately, required no rest al all. Gods never slept. Normally he treated Roger’s request for rest as an annoying but necessary habit. Tonight, captivated by his surroundings, the Lord of the Lions wanted company. Which meant Roger.

“I am amazed at the accuracy displayed throughout this reconstruction,” said the Crouching One, bending over to smell a black orchid, a rare breed that opened only in darkness. “According to those encyclopedias I read, a complete description of the Hanging Gardens no longer exists. I wonder how the Old Man of the Mountain managed to find one?”

Roger almost answered, then thought better of it. In a brief exchange with al-Sabbah earlier in the day, the Lord of the Assassins mentioned that Gilgamesh, the immortal Babylonian hero, designed the entire resort. It was a name best kept hidden from the Lord of the Lions. He and Gilgamesh had clashed in the past.

The Hanging Gardens consisted of a square tract of land four hundred feet on each side. Built as a series of low-rising terraces, there were hundreds of varieties of plants and trees contained in its confines. Dozens of winding trails and narrow paths cut through the vegetation, preserving the natural beauty of the grounds. In the one concession to modern agriculture and Nevada heat, the entire four acres were watered by a vast system of automatic sprinklers.

“Nebuchadnezzar built these gardens to please his wife Amyitis,” said the Crouching One, strolling up the winding path leading to the fifth level. They had started at the bottom of the gardens hours ago and Roger estimated it would take them hours more to reach the top at the demigod’s leisurely pace. “She disliked the flat plains of Babylon and yearned for her home in the Median Hills.

“It took ten thousand slaves working day and night fifteen years to complete the project. Located at the peak of the gardens was a huge reservoir that fed the streams and ponds that dotted the landscape. Whenever the water level dropped below a certain mark, hundreds of huge vats filled with liquid were rolled up the terraces to replenish the tank.”

Roger yawned. His interest in gardening began and ended with lettuce in salads. To him, the fabled hanging gardens were nothing more than a haven for annoying insects.

“If you study the plant formations very carefully,” continued the demigod, “you will notice that the darker foliage forms a series of wedge-shaped patterns and letters.

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