I REMEMBER A BRILLIANT SUN IN A PALE PRIMEVAL SKY HAMMERING DOWN UPON THE WIDE SPACES OF THE SAVANNA.

IT WAS THE DAWN OF CIVILISATION, WHEN MAN FIRST CEASED TO STARE OUT INTO THE DARKNESS BEYONG THE CAMPFIRES, BUT BUILT WALLS TO KEEP THE SUMERIAN NIGHT OUT...

UHRDUK WAS THE GREATEST OF TOWNS, OUR WALLS THE HIGHEST, OUR PEOPLE MOST NUMEROUS, OUR GOODS THE MOST PRIZED

THE RIVER WAS A MEANS OF CONTACT. TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH WERE TOWNS DISTANT AND STRANGE, FROM WHICH MEN WHO SPOKE ALIEN TONGUES PLIED BARQUES LADEN WITH MYRHH AND BERBERINE IN EXCHANGE FOR OUR RICH SURPLUS OF FOOD AND USEFUL THINGS CRAFTED BY OUR ARTISANS.

FOR GREENSTONE AXES AND SHARP OBSIDIAN DARTS DID THEY COME, AND FINLY CARVED ATLATLS MADE FROM THE LEG BONES OF GAZELLES,  AND RICH NECKLACES OF SHELL, BOUGHT BY TRADERS ACROSS THE SAVANNA FROM THE ENDLESS WATER, AND FASHIONED INTO THE LIKENESS OF BEASTS AND SPIRITS BY THE CRAFTSMEN OF UHRDUK.

AT A CURVE IN THE RIVER STOOD THE WALLED CITY OF UHRDUK....

© Sean McLachlan, Martin Isitt, Mike Horsefield 2004