Proyecto Aon Español / Lobo Solitario Español

202.
You head north along the river towards the wealthy districts of the city and Nebuchadnezzar's palace. Kantum lives there, but you don't know exactly where in the palace the hanging gardens are located. Soon the palace comes into view, and you walk along its eastern side to reach the large gate. Go to 166.

166.
You walk cheerfully along, and soon find yourself near Nebuchadnezzar's palace. The morning sun gives the blue brick buildings an unreal appearance. These tall structures blend into the clear sky: Babylon truly deserves the name “Gateway to Heaven”! After turning a corner, you suddenly find yourself in the famous Processional Way, dominated on the north side by the city's double walls. On the banks of the Euphrates stretches a wing of the palace resembling a fortress, impenetrable and two hundred metres long, dominating the river. From what we can gather, the entire palace covers an area of several square kilometres. This bastion of the Babylonian monarchy manages to impress even an experienced traveller like you... The air carries the sound of drums and wind instruments, announcing the arrival of a procession, but your gaze is captured by a beggar sitting on the ground on a modest mat, staring intently at you. “Traveller, weep for my fate and you will be blessed!” exclaims the man. You cannot make out his facial features or his body, because he is completely wrapped in a light-coloured cloak that leaves only his eyes exposed. 'Our country has been going through difficult times since the day the new Prime Minister came to power! Many say that the misery that is spreading in Babylon is due to his misrule. Do you share this opinion?' This courteous beggar seems to attach great importance to the issue. How will you respond?
‘Yes, what you say is true.’ Go to 28.
‘No, you are mistaken, the Prime Minister is a just man.’ Go to 110.
‘I am a foreigner and know nothing about the government of Babylon.’ Go to 314.

110.
You don't want to slander a man you don't know. You know you risk causing this poor beggar suffering, but you don't like to lie. 'My friend, your angry judgement seems unfair to me. Perhaps this minister's behaviour seems to harm the dispossessed, but the truth is often well hidden. I, a foreigner, have noticed that here in Babylon there are many prosperous and happy people, and few poor people. So, think twice before attributing all the responsibility for the evils that afflict you to a man who is undoubtedly honest..."

Satisfied with your speech, you wait for the beggar's response, but his behaviour takes you by surprise: he stands up and throws away the rags he was wrapped in. He is a tall man with strong features and lively eyes. 'Traveller, your wisdom and frankness honour you. Perhaps you would like to accept this ring, which will give you free access to the palace. Come and visit me if you wish; you see, I am the Prime Minister, and I like to check from time to time that my fellow citizens hold me in high esteem... and I am also a bit of a joker." You are perplexed, but you gladly accept the ring, which is engraved with two lion heads. Two soldiers, probably his escort, come out of a door nearby. ‘Farewell, traveller. May Marduk watch over your journey!’ concludes the minister. Babylonian customs are truly bizarre! Now you are alone again in the Avenue of Processions. Go to 141.

141.
You walk down the avenue, and suddenly the air is filled with heavenly music: it is a delegation from a neighbouring country heading towards the palace and temples. Several dozen people accompany them, singing the glory of the rulers of Babylon and scattering flower petals and colourful garlands along the way. Some wear masks depicting the fabulous characters of Babylonian mythology: winged genies, lions with golden coats, goddesses with long hair. Every now and then, fireworks explode, and a group of musicians play their instruments relentlessly. It is a great demonstration of popular joy: as the delegation passes by, everyone comes out of their houses to welcome the foreigners with shouts of jubilation.

How will you enter the palace? If you try to slip inside by mingling with the delegation, go to 78. If you prefer to take advantage of the general distraction caused by the parade, go to 23. If you have the ring with the lion heads and want to use it, go to 137.

137.
Let the delegation and the noisy crowd of Babylonians pass as they quickly enter the palace. The young revellers throw flowers at you and invite you to join them. Respond with a wave of your hand, then, when everyone has passed through the gate, approach them yourself. As soon as they notice your presence, the guards cross their spears, blocking your passage. ‘Who goes there?’ demands the first. You hold out your arm to show the ring with the lion heads. ‘I am a messenger from the kingdom of Ophir. I must meet with the Prime Minister, who has ordered me to join him in the palace gardens! Let me pass!’ The nearest guard bends over the ring. ‘Forgive me, sir! Enter, we will take you to the gardens!’ You climb the few steps that separate you from the portal and find yourself in the palace. The nearest guard bends over the ring. ‘Forgive me, sir! Enter, we will take you to the gardens!’ You climb the few steps separating you from the gate and find yourself inside the palace! The palace guards are stationed in the first inner courtyard. Two of them flank you, escorting you through the second courtyard, where the administrative offices are located. The walls are enlivened by sumptuous frescoes: palm groves and rose gardens, stylised lotus flowers and intricate geometric patterns. In every corner, gold contrasts its brilliance with all shades of ochre. The blue enamel that provides the backdrop for a long row of superb lions reminds us that the dwellings of kings are not far from heaven...

In front of a closed door, the guards stop, apologising for not being able to accompany you further. 'This part of the palace is private. Only those who have been expressly invited by the king or his advisers are allowed to enter! Have a good day, sir." Finally alone, you go through the door and close it behind you. You sincerely hope you won't meet anyone who might ask you why you are here! At the end of the hallway, there is a door ajar. Go to 161.

161.
The half-open door leads to a patio open on one side: beyond it, you can glimpse wide, peaceful green expanses, irrigated by artificial canals. Large flower bushes, mosaic-covered pools, and cool, shady avenues occupy this vast green space. Have you perhaps discovered the hanging gardens where Kantum lives? Sheltered by a wall decorated with a bas-relief of lion heads, you observe the green lawns for a moment, searching for another human presence. Crystal-clear laughter echoes a little further to your right, near a large fountain that you can barely glimpse through the thick branches of the date palms. You wait a moment and the laughter fades away. The time has come to venture into the garden!

You take a step forward and glance to your right, then to your left... To your left! Two giant eunuchs, with torsos as powerful as gorillas and wide trousers tight at the ankles, armed with razor-sharp yatagans, are advancing in this direction! What will you do?
Wait for them to pass and enter the garden? Go to 272.
Try another patio door? Go to 269.
Use the Magic Eye? Go to 157.

A orillas del Éufrates se extiende un ala del palacio que parece una fortaleza, impenetrable y de doscientos metros de largo, dominando el río
A orillas del Éufrates se extiende un ala del palacio que parece una fortaleza, dominando el río de forma impenetrable y de doscientos metros de largo

La puerta entreabierta da a un patio abierto por un lado
La puerta entreabierta da a un amplio patio descubierto por un lado

272.
You really don't want to face these two brutes. Better to choose a sensible solution: stay hidden in the shadows and wait for them to pass. And indeed, the two garden guards reach your hiding place shortly afterwards and pass by without noticing you, continuing on their rounds. Relieved, you wait a few more seconds and then rush into the garden, reaching another shaded area. Go to 3.

3.
You think for a moment. What do you know about the garden you are in? More or less nothing. If you want to head towards a fountain you saw a little while ago, go to 57. If you prefer to walk towards the laughter you heard fading away, go to 277.

57.
For now, your main concern is to remain out of sight, so that you can be the first to spot any potential spoilsports. You advance in the shadows of fragrant flower bushes and fruit trees: lemons, pomegranates, almonds, peaches... The heady scent of the plants makes you forget all your troubles for a few seconds. Finally, you reach a circular clearing, in the centre of which is the fountain you noticed earlier. Clear water flows from the mouths of four winged lions and collects in a hexagonal basin. A series of small columns follow the perimeter of the fountain and support the upper plate. At the bottom, you can see several pieces of gold glistening invitingly. Do you want to look more closely at the surface of the water (go to 231), collect the pieces of gold (go to 179), fill one of your wineskins (go to 378), or leave this place (go to 242)?