But the heart-stone was gone.


CHAPTER THREE

(Persia, 500 BC)

Mardu stood on the beach and watched the Persian trading ships come closer. He shaded his eyes.

"Which one is my father in?" he thought.

And then he knew. The third ship was turning slowly, and the sails were rising to the spar. That was his father's ship. He ran down the beach and stopped on the wharf, just as the first of the ropes were thrown to be tied.

"Father!" called Mardu.

"Hi!" called his father, "I will be with you in a moment!"

Mardu waited impatiently as the ship was secured. He watched as the sailors came ashore, each with a load on their shoulder, and peered through the ropes, looking for his father to appear. Would he never be free to come ashore too?

At last he came.

"It is good to see you, my son," said Mardu's father.

"Why do you have to stay away so long?" asked Mardu.

"I have no choice" laughed his father, " I cannot make the ship sail any faster. It is all up to the wind and the waves!"

"What have you brought this time?" asked Mardu.

"From Egypt, I have glass, and from India I have spices . From Anatolia I have silver, and from Phoenicia I have purple dyes. From Arabia I have perfumes, and from Ethiopia I have ivory."

"Yes, but..." said Mardu, "What have you brought for me?"

"For you?" said Mardu's father, pretending to not understand.

"Yes, father! You always bring something for me!"

"Oh yes" said Mardu's father, "Now I remember!"