I will not push you into something you are not comfortable with."

Jamie smiled gently, "You are wonderful, my warrior," she murmured.

Gunnul looked up sharply, "W..What did you call me!?"

"My warrior," stated Jamie in surprise.

Gunnul grinned happily, "I always liked it when you called me this," she stated and took Jamie's elbow to help balance her on the uneven stone ramp leading to the Greek acropolis.

White Corinthian columns, the skeletons of a long gone age, rose against a deep blue sky. Jamie was transfixed by the orderly beauty of the temple complexes. The broken sculpture, still stately in elaborate armor, amazed her with it's beauty and fine workmanship. "Oh Gunnul, it is so wonderful here," Jamie gasped taking in the miles of countryside bathed in bluish light and framed by the grace of the classic temple columns.

"Yes, it is very beautiful but I help you down here. It is more interesting underneath," replied Gunnul. A whole subterranean structure of layers of barrel vaulting lay underneath the acropolis. It had been constructed to level the steep mountainside to build the acropolis on. Jamie delighted in Gunnul's serious lecture on the structure of barrel vaults and Greek engineering feats. She couldn't help but smile. Her warrior always missed the beauty and went straight for the practical.

Gunnul saw the bemused grin, "I bore you, Jamie?" she asked in worry as they stood inside a dark barreled hall.

Jamie looked around to make sure no one was near and stood on tip toes and kissed Gunnul. "I think my pragmatic warrior, that you have not changed one bit in four thousand years and I love you for it," Gunnul blushed and pulled Jamie close for another kiss.

Back on the surface, Gunnul showed Jamie where the famous library of Pergamon was located. Jamie stared through the security bars at the stone shelving within. "I was here, Gunnul, I can feel it!" she exclaimed finding relief in being able at last to freely talk about her trace memories.

"This library was the second biggest in the ancient world. Only the famous library of Alexandria in Egypt was bigger. After Alexandria was burnt, Cleopatra asked that the books from Pergamon be sent to replace them. There is no record as to what happened to them," explained Gunnul.

"Oh Gunnul, could you imagine finding them! You would have all the knowledge of the ancient world at your finger tips! It would be amazing!"

Eventually, Gunnul pulled Jamie away from the beauty of the acropolis and from the row of merchants selling local curios to the tourists. "But I need to buy gifts for all my friends to take back!" Jamie had wailed and did not see Gunnul stiffen and the worried and hurt look that crossed her face.

They drove on to Asclepion, one of the very first hospitals in the known world. Jamie looked tired and when she thought Gunnul was not looking she would rub her knee.

"We do not need to do this site, Jamie, if your leg is hurting you," stated Gunnul once they were parked. "It is a large site and as always the ground is uneven."

"Don't baby me, Gunnul," Jamie snapped unfairly.

Gunnul's face went still, a mask devoid of emotion. "Sorry," she stated quietly. "I feel guilt for what has happened to you. Knowing my family has hurt you."

"Gunnul, no," Jamie sighed taking the woman's hand. "I made the decisions in my life. This one and all the others. If those decisions brought me some pain, they also brought me you. You are always trying to protect me. I love you for that but don't take on the guilt of my fate O.K.? Your brother beat me with a baseball bat. I tried to protect myself with my leg. That is not your fault. I survived."

Gunnul had gone white with rage and Jamie could feel the anger radiating from her. "If my brother was alive. I would kill with for what he has done to you," she hissed through tight lips.

Jamie leaned forward and kissed the lips. "I wouldn't let you," she stated and smiled. Gunnul smiled too and they got out of the car and headed over to the shed that sold the entrance tickets. Jamie noted that Gunnul never paid. When she appeared, the military guards would come to attention and wave her through. This seemed to embarrass the Turk but she never mentioned it, simply smiling her thanks and whispering "Teashakequwe" which Gunnul had told her meant thank you.

"The archeological sites are always guarded by the army, Gunnul. Are you afraid of terrorist attacks?" asked Jamie.

"No," explained Gunnul, "So far Turkey has been spared the effects of the fundamentalists movement in the Middle East although their political party is developing a foothold among the poor. Turkey walks a thin line between the west and the east. Our country is partly in Europe and partly in Asia. In the west, people think that the wars in the Middle East have to do with religion and politics but that is not really the case. It has to do with water. Who has it and who doesn't and how much you are willing to sacrifice to get it. In the Middle East for the past five thousand years, it has always been about water.

Turkey is lucky. We have enough water. Our country is self sufficient in its ability to supply its people with food. So every man in Turkey must do national service. Always we must be on guard against those countries who envy us. That is a lot of soldiers. It saves the government money to use them to protect our nation's heritage instead of hiring security guards," explained Gunnul.

Jamie nodded as Gunnul helped her down the long marble street flanked on either side with Greek columns. "This is a test Jamie. Here at Asclepion, you had to be well enough to walk down this avenue unsupported or the hospital would not treat you."

"Well, that lets me out!" grinned Jamie giving Gunnul an affectionate poke so that she knew Jamie was joking. Gunnul smiled, proud of Jamie's courage and positive attitude.

She wasn't sure she could be so brave. When she had been wounded in battle, she had been a terrible patient.

They entered the main court and stood before the amphitheater that was cut into the hillside. "The doctors here treated people through their senses. They thought illness was caused by your soul being out of step with its natural rhythms. There was drama, music, a library, dance, and steam and hot mud baths to help you get back in touch with yourself."

Jamie laughed, "Boy, this place would make a fortune in my neighbourhood!"

Gunnul took Jamie down a long, dark barrel vaulted tunnel that lead to a round room with arches containing sleeping platforms. "When a patient first arrived here, the priests would make them come through this tunnel. Water ran through a drain along the edge because the sound was considered soothing and the tunnel was filled with mist to make it mystical. Once in the room, you would sleep and your dreams would be interrupted by the priests the next day so that they knew how to treat you," explained Gunnul leading the way out with Jamie gamely following in the rear making her way slowly over the uneven surface.

"Hell, I'd be dreaming of steam baths and a good scotch then," observed Jamie and Gunnul came to a sudden stop and looked down at her in concern

"You must not swear or drink, Jamie," observed Gunnul. "It is a bad example for Chrissy. We Moslems do not swear or drink. I would wish Chrissy to think the best of you."