Dreams of Ozymandias

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You are deeply cared for, and I hope you enjoy coming to this place of calm and rest at the end of your busy days. Whatever is going on in the world, we hope all the love and effort we pour into making each and every episode of Get Sleepy will help all of you, our wonderful listeners, maintain a sense of peace and tranquility. Tonight we'll join a traveler named Rico on a dreamy Egyptian adventure. Somewhere in the sands are the remains of a long-lost kingdom and a forgotten king. It was written by Alexandra and will be read by Marcellus. Before we begin our story, take a moment to relax, so you're ready for a good night's sleep. As you lie in bed, feel the mattress supporting your body, and your head resting comfortably on your pillow. Close your eyes and take a deep breath in. As you draw the air in, imagine that you're collecting all your thoughts and worries. Then breathe back out and let it all go. Again, breathing in slowly, collecting the thoughts and worries. Then exhaling softly and sensing the release of all that mind noise. You are safe and sound in your cozy bed. where you can rest in stillness and tranquility, untroubled by the concerns of daily life. As you continue to take slow, deep breaths, let an image form in your mind, the golden sand of the Egyptian desert beneath the clear blue sky. Breathe in. Then exhale once more and let all your worries vanish in the vastness of the desert. We will return to this beautiful landscape a little later. But for now, imagine the vibrant city of Cairo, Egypt's capital. This is where our story begins. Riko sat by the window and watched the sun set over the rooftops of Cairo. As the sun's radiance poured through the glass, it painted the whole room red. Rico had just landed in Cairo, the bustling capital of Egypt. Through the window of his top floor apartment, he watched its day turn to night, and another side of the city emerged. Gleaming buildings, colorful street signs, the shining headlights of the vehicles on the roads, and high above, a bright full moon. Cairo was alive with light. That evening, Rico planned to explore the city's nightlife. The following day, he would travel to the western part of the country for his desert safari. Rico was a travel writer. It was a dream job, traveling around the world to explore, learn, and enjoy life to its fullest. And then he got to share those experiences with the world. How lucky he was. He felt especially grateful in moments like these. When he just arrived in a new city and everything seemed so fresh, so full of wonder and potential. as Rico dressed up for the evening he felt a thrill of excitement he was ready to explore whenever Rico arrived in a new city he liked to go for a long walk it was the best way to get a feel for the place as he strode through the center of Cairo he took it all in the feel of the humid night air the delicious garlicky scent of koshery wafting out from the street stalls and the tall palm trees that line the road their leaves swaying in the gentle breeze the trees were all the same height and had been planted at equal distances from each other creating a sense of grace and order Cairo sometimes felt chaotic with extremes of traffic and chattering crowds But all you had to do was look up at the palm trees And the feeling of peace returned Rico wanted to see the Nile River Which he had glimpsed from his apartment window His first instinct Was to look at a map on his phone To find the quickest route to the river's edge but he decided to resist the urge. He was in no hurry after all. And there was satisfaction in exploring the old-fashioned way, simply wandering and following his instincts. For a while, he heard only the noises of the city. beeping horns and the lively chatter of people walking past or gathering outside restaurants. But then he heard something else. The faint sound of the river water lapping against the shore. Rico followed the sound. and when he turned the corner he felt the cool breeze on his skin and knew that he had reached the Nile. The wide expanse of black water reflected the lights of the city and mirrored the buildings on the other side of the shore. A few ferry boats were passing slowly across the river from one side to the other. Rico was mesmerized by the scene, the glittering lights in the darkness, and the hypnotic motion of the ferry. As he walked along the river, he listened to the sound of the water lapping against the shore. He imagined the waves going on and on. The endless Nile echoing across Egypt. This was a special river. It was the longest in Africa Stretching for more than 4,000 miles Across Egypt and neighboring lands Rico had read about the Nile And how it had long been revered For thousands of years It had become a source of life For people in the region providing water for drinking, cooking, farming, and washing. Essential for trade and agriculture, the Nile had allowed ancient Egypt civilization to flourish. In ancient times, the river was even believed to have healing properties. Considered a divine gift, the water was used in religious rituals and medical treatments. Now, as Rico gazed into the depths of the dark water, he could understand why. The river seemed to belong to another realm. An ancient world of gods and secret mysteries. Under the full moon, Rico continued to wander, exploring the city. He even visited the Archaeological Museum, which was open till late, and spent a couple of hours admiring the exhibits. Sometime after midnight, Rico went back to his apartment. As he showered, his head swirled with the memories from the evening, the buzzing city streets, and the friendly faces of the people he'd met. The first day in a new city was always exciting, but exhausting too. Rico was more than ready for bed After his shower he changed into his pajamas and got settled in the soft, comfortable bed With the window half open he could hear the distant sounds of the city Soon he thought with a smile the traffic and voices would be replaced with the sound of the desert wind. But right now, in his sleepy state the low hum of the traffic didn't bother him. There was something almost soothing about it. Rico closed his eyes and let his mind wander. His thoughts turned to the museum he'd visited that night. A beautiful place with an extraordinary collection of artwork and artifacts. In his mind, he began to replay the memory. Because it had been so late, the museum was almost empty. Rico was one of the only visitors. The rooms were dimly lit. There were just a few lights illuminating the paintings that hung on the walls and the delicate, ancient relics displayed in glass cases. Rico moved slowly from room to room, his footsteps echoing. he savored the feeling of having the place to himself. It was as though the museum had opened just for him, a private viewing of Egyptian treasures. There was so much to see, from ancient coins and jewelry, to the throne chair of a pharaoh. but it was something else that caught Rico's attention. Not the statues or sarcophagi but something that most other visitors overlooked. A huge, vividly detailed painting of a desert. It was so realistic it almost looked like a photograph. According to the sign it was a 19th century painting of an Egyptian desert. It showed golden brown sand with dunes all around and a bright blue sky with some patches of white cloud. In the painting a traveler stood in the sand facing the horizon. He seemed to be looking at something in the far distance between the sand and the sky. Rico moved towards the painting to get a closer look. He wanted to know what was on the horizon. But it was too blurry. He couldn't make it out. Even after Rico had left the museum and returned to his apartment, he couldn't stop thinking about the painting. Now, as he lay in bed with his eyes closed, he recalled it in vivid detail. he imagined that he was the traveler standing in the middle of the sweeping sands he pictured himself looking up into the clear blue sky filled with a sense of peace Rico's mind began to drift soon he was dreaming Riko stood in the desert all around he saw rolling sand dunes under a bright blue sky which was scattered with white clouds the sun was high up in the sky and Rico could feel the heat on his skin. He was standing on a road that passed right through the middle of the desert. There was nothing else around. Just endless golden sand as far as the eye could see. Rico was awestruck finding himself in such a vast empty landscape it was desolate but beautiful too as he turned to look around a light wind blew on his face it was blowing in the direction of the road which stretched eastwards out of sight. Rico decided to follow the road. He would keep an eye out for any landmarks and try to find his bearings. But as he walked, the only thing he saw was the occasional desert shrub. It seemed unlikely that he would find any signs of life in such a hot, arid place. Using his hand to shield his eyes from the sun, Rico continued along the road in the direction of the wind. He walked and walked. until the sun began to set and the air became a little cooler. As the sun lowered over the horizon, casting an amber glow on the sands, Rico caught sight of something in the distance. It looked like a group of stone structures. from this far away it was difficult to tell exactly what they were but he could see smoke rising up which was a good sign if there was smoke there was probably some kind of life and hopefully that meant food water and shelter all the things that Rico needed. For a moment, he hesitated. Perhaps it was just a mirage, but then again, he had nothing to lose and no other options. So Rico walked on towards the smoke of the horizon. The sun had almost disappeared, and the temperature was dropping by the second. With every step, the stone structures and the cloud of smoke seemed to grow bigger and bigger. At last, Rico arrived. before him was a tent a blazing campfire and a camel resting on the ground nearby the camel seemed to be chewing something moving its lower jaw round and round it turned its head towards Rico staring at him with his huge brown eyes before grunting and looking away. Rico carried on searching for signs of human life. Just beyond the tent where the stone structures he had glimpsed from a distance. It was a ruin. A very ancient ruin. by the looks of it. All around were sandstone pillars. Some were still standing, while others lay toppled over in the sand. Now that it was getting dark, it was hard to make out the details. But clearly, the building was a total ruin, a maze of broken pillars and scattered blocks of stone. The wind started to blow again. This time, it was chilly. In the desert, the temperature dropped significantly at night. Rico decided it was best not to walk too far. He wandered around the edge of the ruins, admiring the dark silhouettes of the columns, then returned to the campsite. And to his surprise, there was someone there. An old man, sitting by the campfire. In the light of the fire, Rico could see the man quite clearly. He had a white beard and a tanned, wrinkled face. The man was dressed for the desert in a wide-brimmed hat, a white t-shirt and brown cargo jacket, and matching trousers. From his appearance, Rico guessed that the man had spent most of his life roaming the desert. Nearby, the camel lay in the same spot, still chewing. As Rico came closer, the old man looked up and greeted him. He invited Rico to join a mother fire And to have a bite to eat Rico couldn't say no It was cold and he was hungry too He sat down And gracefully accepted a generous portion of food A hearty stew and flatbread. While they ate, enjoying the warmth of the fire, the man asked Rico what he was doing in this remote part of the world. Rico wasn't sure how to answer as he didn't know himself. All of a sudden, he found himself here in the desert. When he tried to explain this, the man laughed, which only left Rico feeling confused. The man then introduced himself as Elric. He was a traveler looking for a long-lost kingdom in the middle of the desert. In fact, said Elric, they were sitting just outside the ancient kingdom. Rico was fascinated and asked Elric to tell him about it. As it was still early in the evening, they had nothing else to do but watch the camel chew. The traveler began his story. Elric came from a faraway land, a place with an ancient history. He had grown up in a city surrounded by ruins, where old columns and marble statues filled the streets. ruined temples stood in the shadow of apartment blocks while the roads were lined by ancient tombs in certain lights the sculptures seemed to watch over the passing cars and at home when Elric's mother hung the sheets out to dry They dangled over the edge of the balcony, almost brushing the stone ruin beneath. To Alric, that gray arch looked like the back of a well surging up from the ground. The ruins were like living things, growing in the spaces between the buildings. And so, even as a child, Elric had a fascination for history. He spent hours in libraries, reading about old kingdoms and studying maps. And one day, in one of those books, he saw a name he would never forget. Ozymandias. This was the Greek name for the pharaoh, Ramses II, who ruled over Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. For some reason, Elric was captivated by that name. Ozymandias. There was something magical about it. It conjured up images of vast deserts, distant oases, and majestic kingdoms. As Elric read about the pharaoh, he felt a flutter of excitement in his chest. He would make it his mission. One day, he vowed to himself he would travel to Egypt and find the remains of the Pharaoh's palace. For a while, it seemed that life had other plans for Elric. With his work and his family, the years had passed happily enough. but he never forgot his dreams of Ozymandias and once he was in his 70s he decided that it was now or never he bid his family goodbye packed his bags and sent off for Egypt while he had traveled as a young man exploring the deserts was a whole new adventure. It was like nothing he'd ever experienced. The sense of endless space, the eeriness of the singing sand dunes, and the breathtaking beauty of those clear night skies. as he wandered the desert Elric relished every moment here he was at last fulfilling his life's ambition and after many days of searching long dreamlike days under the scorching desert sun he finally found it Elric paused for a moment and gazed into the fire Rico held his breath as he waited for the old man to continue In a remote part of the desert said Elric he found a sprawling expanse of ruins In the middle of these ruins were two massive stone legs, which had once belonged to a statue. They were at least ten feet tall. Near the legs, he came across the broken head of the statue, which was partially buried in the sand. The head was colossal, the size of a truck. The rest of the statue had vanished. All that remained were the broken legs and the shattered face half-sunken in the sand. When Elric walked closer to the giant head, he recognized the face. It was the mighty ruler, Ozymandias. The statue had a haughty expression. It was surreal, how expressive and realistic it was. Arthimandius almost looked alive The artist must have understood his subject well said Elric He must have known the pharaoh's character his passions and emotions That's why he managed to capture him so perfectly and created a sculpture that endured. Altimandius himself was long gone, but among the lifeless stones, his image survived. Rico had been listening in silence, but now he couldn't help but ask, How was Elric so sure it was the statue of Ozymandias? Elric explained that there was a pedestal nearby. Although it was cracked and covered in sand, the inscription was still visible. It read, My name is Ozymandias. King of Kings Look on my works Yea mighty And despair As Elric read these words He couldn't help but smile at the irony Ozymandias had once been a proud Powerful ruler but he had been defeated by time and nature. And now, nothing remained but the remnants of the artist's work and the boundless sands. Rico was filled with excitement. He too wanted to see the statue And he asked Elric if he would show him tomorrow Of course, said Elric Tomorrow he would show Rico everything But now, he said With a weary yawn It was time to rest Although there was a tent, Elric suggested that they sleep under the stars It was so beautiful out here at night And with the campfire blazing, it was nice and warm Soon, they were lying in their soft beds by the fire, gazing up at the night sky and the thousands of twinkling stars. For a while, both men were silent, lost in their thoughts. When Rico closed his eyes, he imagined a colossal head in the sand. And it seemed that Elric was also thinking of Ozymandias. Just as Rico was on the verge of sleep, he heard Elric's voice. The old man spoke quietly, as though murmuring to himself. We human beings are just little creatures in the vast passage of time. We're here, then we're gone. And yet, some things remain immortal. With these words echoing through his mind, and the warmth from the fire lulling him into sleep, Rico drifted home. The next morning, he awoke with a smile. He felt refreshed and excited to see the statue. But as Rico opened his eyes, he saw the ceiling fan rotating above him. Turning over, he realized that he was in his bed, in his apartment. Through the window, he could see the sun rising over Cairo. But what about the desert, Riko wondered. Was it all just a dream? He remembered the feel of the desert wind. And the warmth of the golden sand. And of course, he remembered Elric and the story of Ozymandias. It had all seemed so real. Rico got up and started to get ready. He needed to pack for his desert trip. Now he was even more excited to explore Egypt. Perhaps he would be able to visit the actual ruins of the ruler Ozymandias, or Ramses II, as he was now known. Joe was all packed up and ready to leave the apartment when he noticed something strange. As he put on his shoes, he saw that they were covered in sand. It was the golden brown sand of the desert. The sand that surrounded the long lost kingdom of a forgotten king, Ozymandias. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 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