THE pair of marble pillars seemed sturdy. They were 4 meters in height and 1 meter in diameter. Above them were the blue sky and a brightly shining sun. Down below was the brown surface of the Sahara. I found the third pillar lying on the ground not far from the other two. I approached it and extended my hand to it. It was the coldest pillar I have ever touched.

We were indeed moving backward, transcending the times. Among the ruins scattered ar