Now, say, what is your force ?" We told him.
"Good.

And what is your plan ?" We shook our heads, having none.
"Bes," he said sternly, "I think you grow dull since you became a king--or perhaps it is marriage that makes you so.

Why, in bygone years schemes would have come so fast that they would have choked each other between those thick lips of yours.

And Shabaka, tell me, have you lost all your generalship whereof once you had plenty, in the soft air of Ethiopia?
Or is it that even the shadow of marriage makes _you_ dull?
Well, I must turn to the woman, for that is always the lot of man.

Your plan, Karema, and quickly for there is no time to lose." Now the face of Karema grew fixed and her eyes dreamy as she spoke in a slow, measured voice like one who knows not what she says.
"My plan is to destroy the armies of the Great King and to relieve the city of Amada." "A very good plan," said holy Tanofir, "but the question is, how ?" "I think," went on Karema, "that about a league above this place there is a spot where at this season the Nile can be forded by tall men without the wetting of their shoulders.