Odyssey From Africa 13d 14a

Chapter 13d Yet at length he reawakened As if in another lifetime Han discerned a sound and movement Stiffly rose to look about him And he saw his precious Matto Crouching near him in the vessel! That was now half filled with water Matto quietly worked at bailing With cupped hands the flooded bilges Han was filled with joy unbounded As the son embraced the father For a sweet eternal moment Rising from the sea a massive Silent form now dimmed the sunlight Just an arm span from their gunwale And a huge round eye looked on them For some seconds eye to eye Han Held the gaze of that great humpback Through a veil of tears communing With the giant of the ocean Till the whale descended slowly Back beneath the shimmering ocean Raising up enormous tail-flukes In a final salutation Then swam down below the dancing Rays of darkness-piercing sunlight Han and Matto gazed around Upon a wide and whale-less ocean So they set about preparing For their lengthy homeward journey Han now spoke at last to Matto Asked the boy how he was feeling What had it been like within the Stomach of the great sea creature? Matto briefly paused, before he Answered: “it was kind of smelly” Han and Matto navigated Back toward the Island Kingdom Eking out their flask of water And the strips of sun-dried goats meat Tor had placed within the boat these Items just before they parted Two full days and nights of sailing Brought them to their wide bay’s entrance Someone must have seen their boat, for As they sailed toward the harbour Kwona, Lisa and the shipwright Waited for them on the jetty So they all were reunited Father, mother, son and daughter And they walked back home together In the fading light of evening Chapter 14a King Ptolemy the Second When they rose the following morning In the comfort of their bedrooms In the large and splendid mansion Which was now their habitation They at length sat down for breakfast And the talking turned to business For a royal invitation Had that day to Han been issued For King Ptolemy the Second Had been told about the travelers Of the fisherman’s young family Of their exile and adventures So the family were invited To attend the royal palace In the island’s largest township The resplendent Cannabarro Thus began the preparations They were issued with new clothing Colourful and stylish garments Perfect both in size and comfort