S) You see a friendly-looking merchant stacking bullae in the shelves of his store. Modern people would think that a bulla looks like a football made out of clay. A bulla was hollow and used to store tokens used in trade. When you approach the merchant to trade your goods, he gives you an odd look. "Aren't you a little young to be a merchant?" he asks. You try to explain, but you can't seem to get the words out. "No matter," he says, "If you have the goods, I will conduct our trade." His scribe picks up a bulla from the back shelves and reads the cuneiform writing, informing him of your father's previous deal. Only scribes could read in ancient Sumer, because the writing system was so complicated. You hand him the package of goods, which he opens, revealing a quantity of copper ore. He hands you a beautiful necklace of the water-god Enki. "I would hide that necklace if I were you." he suggests with a grin.

Do you?

W) HIDE THE NECKLACE

X) WEAR THE NECKLACE

START OVER

copyright Jay D'Ambrosio 1998