Chapter Two:
Escape

By night, the safeguard of the camp was replaced. Many guards who just entered upon their duty were still under the influence of the feast.

Most of the Persians still continued to feast, and many of them had already fallen asleep, plunged into full loss of body-consciousness as a result of an excess of wine and food.

After all the other captives fell asleep, the Phoenician once again sat beside Pythagoras and spoke quietly:

“Listen, Greek! Tonight we could escape from captivity. This is a very good opportunity, which might not happen again next time.

“Don’t you want to be free? Are you ready to spend all your life among these docile people as cattle, enslaved by the Persians?

“You are strong and well-built like Apollo, I am like Hercules! You can see my force. Together it will be easier for both of us to escape and to survive in the desert. I have a dagger. If we kill those two guards there, then we shall be free.”

“I can see your force. However, I see your weakness too, Hamilcar!”

“I don’t know what you mean. You can tell me about it after. And now — it is a very good time. I know this area. And we will not get lost! Then we could go to your country. I do not want to be a slave of the Persians’ king. For many years I studied the wisdom — and I ought not to spend my life in pointless servitude! I know magic! And you have also been captured in the temple! You received the initiations and knowledge not in order to become a slave!”

“I am free! I am always free everywhere! No one can make me a slave! And you should not run away from your destiny: it will overtake you anyway!

“It will definitely happen — if not in this life, then in your future life to come! So, it is better to meet your fate and to accept that gift which destiny has prepared for you! If you are ready for acceptance — then so many things will open up in front of you! You and I should not run away today. There is another way to gain freedom!

“You will not be a slave and I will not be a slave no matter what they do to our bodies! But there is a difference between us at this moment: you are ready to take someone’s life for the sake of your own freedom, and I — am not. I do not wish to gain freedom at the cost of someone’s life! Meanwhile, I will remain here — and I offer you the same thing! Think about it!”

“You didn’t understand me: such an opportunity, like the one we have today, may not come again for a long time! If you do not want to join me — well, then I will escape alone. If you change your mind, let me know. You still have two more hours to think. After all, you will not have to kill the guards, you can just cast a spell on them — if you know how to do this and if killing them bothers you! Think about it: it will be easier for two of us to disarm them and escape the chase!”

“You will not be able to escape from your fate, Hamilcar from Carthage!…”

“We will see! Goodbye, Greek!”

“See you later, Phoenician!”

… That night Hamilcar escaped. He did not kill the guards. He stunned them with his heavy fist and then grabbed their weapons.

But he was not lucky and was noticed by the other guards when he had almost disappeared.

They made a noise and the chase began. The Phoenician fought on his own against many armed Persians. He was seriously wounded. His body was dragged to the fire to show the others how they would punish anyone who dared to run. They were going to kill Hamilcar in front of the others.

But Pythagoras interfered:

“Keep him alive! They will not forgive the death of such a precious priest!”

… He said this not like one of the captives, but as if he was in charge there. But unexpectedly, he was obeyed.

However, one of the guards tried to argue:

“But he is so badly wounded that most likely he will die. Or are you going to carry him on your back, Greek? In that case, he will not survive after one day of the trip! Or do you command to give him a stretcher?”

“He will not die! By the morning, he will get better and will be able to walk by himself!”

… The guards looked at the Greek with bewilderment and caution and put the wounded man where he pointed out. They unquestioningly obeyed his instructions, not even understanding why.

“You were right, Greek: my escape was not successful…” The Phoenician endured the pain and was waiting to die with the serenity inherent to those who possess great strength of the soul.

“You will not die today. I will help you!”

Pythagoras leaned over the wounded Hamilcar. This was the first time that he performed this kind of healing in practice. But he was sure of what he was told by the Gods*: that the Phoenician would be able to learn everything that Pythagoras now knew. And the Phoenician would become his companion and friend. So, he should not and could not die then!

… The high priest who had taught Pythagoras told him the legends about how in ancient times, sick people had been healed through the use of a magic wand that conducted a Sacred Power into the patient's body. Pythagoras didn’t have any magic tools. But Pythagoras knew from those non-incarnate Divine Teachers Who were completing his studies that the human body itself can be a conductor of the Great Divine Power. And these magical tools are only a manifestation of the degradation of their ability to use the Divine Power through their bodies themselves — as a consciousness.

That brightest Light, which could now be seen by Pythagoras, who was plunging into the Great Mergence with the Creative Power, was ready to pour through his body. Excluding any admixture of his own thoughts, Pythagoras let the Divine Power flow through himself, opening a passage for this Power to Hamilcar’s body. Then Pythagoras restored the integrity of those energy channels and the organs of Hamilcar’s body that had been damaged.

The guards observed from far away the incomprehensible actions of the Greek.

… The next morning, Hamilcar was not only alive but also able to walk by himself, and many whispered and talked about this. Those who had found out about this event tried not to approach the Greek: just in case!… In fact, it appeared that he was a great magician!