Sitting on a folded ground cloth in front of the fire, Jack shifted restlessly. The heat had helped to dry him out after most of a day spent trekking through the forest of P3X-539 in the rain. They had followed Daniel’s road all day and hadn’t seen any signs of civilization. Mostly, it had been a long, boring, and wet walk. Even Carter’s interest had waned eventually. As they had made camp, she had gently reminded Daniel that they would have to turn back at midday tomorrow since they were only scheduled to be off-world for three days. Daniel’s enthusiasm, however, continued unabated.

Daniel was currently hunched over a stack of notes and papers, seemingly unaware of the increasing lack of light as dusk became nightfall. He’d been pouring over his research since they had finished setting up the camp, scribbling notes and muttering to himself. He’d wolfed down the MRE Carter had handed to him, never taking his eyes off his work. Jack sighed. It’s a wonder he remembers to breathe.

Jack stood, ignoring the loud pop that came from one knee. He walked over to the FRED and got out a battery-operated lantern. He switched it on and walked back to the fire to stand over the oblivious archeologist. The light shone down on the younger man, and he looked up in surprise.

“Oh, uh… Thank you, Jack.” Daniel reached up and took the lantern from Jack’s hand. “I didn’t realize….” Blinking at the light, he looked around the camp as if trying to remember how it had got there.

“What’s so interesting?” Carter asked. Jack rolled his eyes in exasperation. Jeez, Carter, don’t get him started. Daniel looked across the fire toward Carter and Teal’c.

“Well,” Daniel said, “I think we might be close.” Here we go, thought Jack. Close to what exactly? Jack eased himself back down to the ground and waited for Daniel to remember to explain.

“We have seen no signs of any inhabitants, Daniel Jackson.” Teal’c sounded like someone explaining something to a small child. When I try that with him, Daniel tells me I’m just griping, thought Jack in annoyance. “How can you be certain we will find anything?” Teal’c asked.

“The condition of the road gets worse as we go farther down it,” Daniel answered.

“You think that’s because there are people nearby that are salvaging the stonework?” Carter prompted.

“I thought you said the stones were dug up back by the gate also,” Jack asked.

“But more of them are gone from here,” explained Daniel. “It makes sense that the road would have been salvaged beginning in the area nearest to their homes. They wouldn’t have wanted to carry those stones for long distances.” Jack nodded. He actually did understand what Daniel was saying. He’d watched Teal’c and Daniel struggle to lug a single stone back to the gate just a few days ago.

“I guess they weren’t archeologists.” Daniel ignored the barb and continued speaking as if Jack hadn’t interrupted.

“Maybe if we fan out tomorrow, we’ll have a better chance of finding something.”

“I don’t think so,” cautioned Jack. Daniel frowned. Jack hurried to continue, “I don’t think we should be splitting up just yet. If you are right, I’d rather deal with whatever or whoever we find as a team.”

“General Hammond’s orders were to assess the possible threat to any team that might be assigned to a long-term mission on this planet. I agree with O’Neill, Daniel Jackson. We should remain together.”

“I just hoped to go back with something- some proof that my idea was correct.” Daniel sounded disappointed. “I wish we had more time.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” advised Jack. “It’s not like you have to worry about job security or anything. Besides, not every mission we go on turns out to be a first-contact situation.” Truth be told, thought Jack, the whole meet and greet thing starts to wear a little thin after awhile. There wasn’t anything wrong with meeting a new culture; it just didn’t give him much to do. Daniel was their de-facto diplomat. Carter always wowed them with her technical know-how. Teal’c covered the whole intimidation ‘don’t mess with us’ routine. What does that leave for me? Stand on the sidelines and look… commanding? Throw the occasional order around?

“I was so certain we’d find something,” Daniel said. Great, observed Jack, the only thing worse than Daniel in puzzle solving mode is Daniel in a depressed funk.

“There’s always tomorrow,” Jack reminded him. Cheer up, Danny. This little field trip of yours ain’t over yet.

* * * * *

“Good morning, campers!” Jack emerged from his tent, pulling on his jacket as he headed for the fire Teal’c had built up again at the end of his watch. Carter and Daniel were already up as well; both of them downing a couple of power bars and coffee. Jack poured a cup for himself and settled himself on the ground next to Daniel.

“Morning Jack,” said Daniel, tossing him a foil wrapped package. Jack tore open his breakfast snack and took a bite. Just once I’d like to bring along some real food.

“Colonel,” said Sam, her usual morning greeting. “It looks like we might stay dry today.” Jack gaze moved upwards toward the patches of bright morning sky that peeked through the foliage overhead.

“Let’s hope so,” he told her.

“How soon can we get going?” Daniel had finished his ‘breakfast’ and was evidently eager to continue his search. He looked at Jack expectantly.

“Can I at least finish my coffee?” Daniel had the grace to look momentarily abashed.

“I’m sorry, Jack. I just don’t want to waste any of the time we have left.”

“I know,” Jack said nodding. “Not long, I promise. Why don’t you go ahead and strike your tent.” It’ll give you something to do and give me a few moments of peace.

“Busy work, Jack?” asked Daniel. Taking another sip of coffee, Jack just shrugged. Daniel shook his head slightly. “Alright, I’ll get out of your hair for a few minutes.” Daniel stood and walked over to his tent. Jack turned his attention back to the fire and a second power bar as Daniel unzipped the tent flap and began packing up his kit.

“He’s going to be really disappointed if we have to turn back without finding anything,” observed Carter.

“He’s been disappointed before.”

“It never gets any easier though,” she said. “He gets frustrated when you don’t understand his point of view.”

“Indeed. Daniel Jackson has expressed such a concern to me on many occasions.” Jack looked at Teal’c and considered their comments momentarily. I try to be patient. Really, I do, he thought defensively.

“It’s not like I discount everything he says,” he argued half-heartedly. Carter just raised her eyebrows questioningly. “I’m not really that bad… Am I Teal’c?” He looked at the jaffa for confirmation. Teal’c regarded him impassively.

“I must go and pack my equipment,” said Teal’c, rising to his feet. Jack blinked at him in surprise before returning his gaze to Carter. Teal’c moved away from them without commenting any further.

“That bad, huh?”

“Well, sir… lately you haven’t had much patience. There was a time when you would have argued for this mission yourself. I think Daniel was a little hurt when you didn’t feel it was necessary for SG-1 to be assigned to it.” Her voice was low and she glanced towards Daniel’s tent as she spoke.

“Jeez Carter!” She jumped at the sound of his raised voice and looked with alarm towards Daniel. Daniel was busy removing his tent poles and hadn’t taken notice of Jack’s outburst. “I just don’t think there’s anything of real importance here,” he continued in softer tones. “I’m sorry if that makes me out to be the schmuck but its how I feel.” Is this going to be pick on the commanding officer day? “Don’t you think we’ve got better things to be doing?”

“I understand that, sir. I just think we’ve all been taking Daniel for granted lately. We should try to be a little bit more… open-minded about his suggestions.” Her inclusion of herself in the statement did little to ease Jack’s sense of guilt. He took another bite of his energy bar and chewed slowly. Open-minded… that’s not always so easy. Maybe I have been a little bit more… brusque… than usual. Carter was staring at him, a concerned look on her face.

“You’re probably right,” he admitted. “I’ll try to be a little more understanding,” he said. He paused a heartbeat, “But don’t expect me to get too excited about a bunch of old rocks!” Carter smiled.

“No sir. I’d never expect that.” Carter stood also. “I guess I’ll go start packing too,” she said. “Sir?” she added hesitantly when Jack didn’t answer.

“Oh, go ahead,” he told her. “Don’t let me stop you.” Carter nodded and went to her tent. Damn, thought Jack. There goes my leisurely morning. He stuffed the last bite of the energy bar in his mouth and stood up. Sighing regretfully, he kicked dirt on the fire, putting it out. He chased down the last bite of breakfast by slugging back the remains of his coffee and went to go pack his things.

Practice and experience made breaking camp easy. Tents were folded and packed in bags. Gear was tucked into backpacks. The FRED was quickly reloaded with everything in its place. Except for the remains of their fire pit, little trace of their presence was left at the site. In less than half an hour, they had sloughed the camp and were ready to hit the trail.

“Okay Daniel. We might be able to stretch our turn-back window by a few hours if you’re willing to pick up the pace a little on the return trip.” Daniel looked surprised by the offer. It was an effort for Jack not to turn and look at Teal’c or Carter.

“You don’t mind?” Daniel sounded as if he wasn’t sure whether to take Jack’s words at face value.

“No,” replied Jack in what he hoped was a casual tone of voice. “It can’t hurt to be sure, can it?”

“Sam? Teal’c?” Daniel looked to the two remaining members of SG-1.

“Sure Daniel,” said Carter. “Why not?”

“Perhaps the additional time will be of some benefit,” added Teal’c. Daniel’s face brightened.

“Uh, thanks.”

“You bet,” said Jack. We aim to please. “Let’s go.” Is Teal’c looking just a tad more smug than usual? Nobody commented as they headed out.

* * * * *

“I knew it!” Daniel shouted as he ran to the edge of the clearing. “This ground has been cultivated!” He gestured toward the field’s evenly spaced rows of earth. The field was weedy and unkempt. Stalks of some sort of plant had poked their way up here and there but it was obvious that the patch hadn’t been tended in some time.

“It seems that someone intended for this field to remain fallow,” observed Teal’c.

“Right,” agreed Daniel. “Which means they know something about agriculture.”

“It also means that there were people here fairly recently,” said Jack. Daniel’s camping trip has just officially become more interesting. The luck of the man! Another hour and we’d have headed back to the gate. “Okay kids, you know the drill.”

“Yes sir,” Carter responded, checking her weapon. Teal’c nodded.

“Daniel?”

“Yeah, Jack… I know. Be careful.”

“Stay together. Keep your eyes open,” he ordered, ignoring Daniel’s affronted glare. “There should be a trail or path around here somewhere. Let’s see if we can go find Daniel’s farmers.”

* * * * *

I’ll be damned, thought Jack. They really are farmers! A group of men and boys were shouting excitedly to each other as the team drew closer to the field they were working. Jack couldn’t make out what they were saying but their body language didn’t indicate they were preparing for an attack so he tried to relax. We come in peace. They were outnumbered two-to-one. He concentrated on looking as non-threatening as possible. “Okay, Daniel. Do your thing,” he said softly.

Daniel stepped forward confidently. “Hello,” he said, raising one hand, fingers outstretched, palm toward the group. “I’m Daniel,” he tried, pointing one finger at his chest. “Can you understand me?” A young boy laughed and pointed at Daniel. He said something to an older man in a language Jack couldn’t understand and was shushed impatiently. Daniel listened intently, a look of concentration on his face as he tried to decipher the language. “I’m Daniel,” he said pointing to himself again. “This is Jack.” Jack smiled and waved when Daniel pointed at him next. “Sam… and Teal’c.” The group of farmers studied each of them in turn. Daniel kept talking. “We’ve come from very far away, from a place called Earth. What is the name of this place?”

The men and boys shuffled uncertainly as he spoke. Two men spoke rapidly back and forth, seemingly arguing over something. Daniel eyes narrowed as they spoke. He looked at Jack.

“Believe it or not, I think I might be able to understand them… the inflections aren’t quite right but I’d swear there’s a hint of Goa’uld in there.” Jack’s eyebrows went up and he took a deep breath. He looked at Teal’c.

“I do not understand everything they are saying, Daniel Jackson. Their words bear only a passing resemblance to the language of the false gods.”

“But the roots are there. It’s almost an echo….” He stepped closer to the group and rattled off a string of sentences in Goa’uld. Hearing the words ‘chappa’ai’ and ‘tau’ri’, Jack understood the gist of the message.

The response of the farmers to Daniel’s words was immediate. Shock, fear, and confusion were apparent on nearly every face. One white-haired man, the oldest in the group, was pushed forward to face Daniel. He kept his eyes averted from Daniel’s as he stepped forward. I swear, thought Jack, if they start bowing and scraping…

“Chapai….” he repeated, running the syllables together. Daniel nodded excitedly.

“Yes, the chappa’ai!” He pointed in the direction they had come from and etched a circle in the air with his finger. The men whispered to each other and looked uncomfortable. “Teal’c, tell them we mean them no harm. See if you can get them to tell us who they are and what this place is called.”

“I will try Daniel Jackson,” said Teal’c. He sounded as if he didn’t expect much success. Teal’c spoke softly, but his deep voice carried easily across the field. The group stirred again but looked at him with mostly blank expressions. “I do not believe they understand my words,” observed Teal’c when they failed to respond to his questions.

Daniel shrugged and looked at Jack helplessly. “Given enough time, I might be able to piece together enough to have a conversation with them.”

“Kree?” Jack tried hopefully. More blank stares. Daniel rolled his eyes. “It was worth a shot,” Jack said defensively.

Urged on by the others, the old man stepped forward again. He said something to Daniel and made a ‘come-along’ motion with one hand.

“I think he wants us to follow them,” suggested Daniel. Great linguistic skills there, thought Jack. The man repeated his words and took a few hesitant steps backward.

“I believe you are correct Daniel Jackson.” Teal’c looked to Jack. So did Carter and Daniel. Jack considered the options, trying to put Daniel’s pleading look out of his thoughts momentarily. They didn’t seem to be a threat, but the fact that they spoke Goa’uld, however garbled it might be- was a nagging annoyance and a matter of some concern.

The group of men and boys began picked up their tools and gathered in a small knot behind their elder spokesman. The boy said something to the man and the others nodded their agreement, the softly spoken words and syllables seeming to slide together to Jack’s untrained ear. Daniel, however, was the picture of perfect concentration. Give him enough time and he’ll be chatting away like he was born here.

The old man reached under the neckline of his tunic. Jack tensed but relaxed a moment later when he pulled out some sort of necklace. He held it out toward Daniel without removing the chain from his neck and a stream of words followed. Daniel stepped up for a closer look. He studied the disc shaped amulet carefully. He tapped the amulet and asked the man a question in Goa’uld.

The older man shook his head, not understanding the archeologist’s query. Daniel let the amulet drop from his fingers and took of his boonie hat. He held it up for the man to see. “Hat,” he said, pointing to it. “Daniel,” he repeated yet again, pointing to himself. He pointed to his newfound student, an inquisitive look on his face. He repeated his question in Goa’uld.

“Thrurran,” said the old man, thumping himself in the chest.

“Me Tarzan, you Jane….” Jack’s kept his voice low and only Carter laughed.

“Whatever it takes, sir.”

Daniel pointed at the amulet again. The man hesitated and looked toward the group arranged behind him. They nodded encouragingly and he turned to face Daniel again. He spoke a phrase and Daniel’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

“Khonsu?” The older man nodded and made a strange gesture with his right hand- a sort-of half-circle or arc with the palm of his hand facing outward that came to a stop over his heart. Several of the other men repeated the gesture.

“Uh, Daniel?” Jack wasn’t sure how he knew but something important had just happened.

“I think they are referring to Khonsu or Khensu,” said Daniel. “Khonsu was part of a triad of gods in Thebes. He was worshipped as a protector of travelers and was often associated with a moon or crescent symbol.” Daniel’s excitement was clear. Puzzle pieces falling into place, Danny? “Jack, his necklace is engraved with a crescent shape too. And the language…it could be a hybrid of Goa’uld and one of Earth’s ancient languages! That would explain a lot…”

“Are you telling me these people are worshipping yet another Goa’uld as one of their gods?” Damn those snakeheads. What do they do, offer free seminars such as ‘How to Become a God in Thirty Easy Steps’?

“I do not believe there are any Goa’uld present on this planet, O’Neill.” Jack turned to the jaffa and narrowed his eyes.

“Why’s that, Teal’c?”

“They would not have abandoned the stargate and they would not have allowed the language to be corrupted. These people would be forced to speak the language of their masters.”

“Sir, that makes sense,” Carter offered. “If what Daniel says about their language being a hybrid is correct, then I think it’s something that would have happened over a long period of time. The Goa’uld would never have allowed it if they were still here.”

“Maybe,” he admitted. “Until we are sure there aren’t any glowing-eyed gods around here, let’s not take any chances.” He regarded the group of farmers who were evidently waiting patiently for them to end their discussion and follow. “How do you say, ‘Take me to your leaders,’ in…whatever language that is?”

Daniel turned back to their would-be guides and motioned for them to go ahead. Understanding dawned on the old man’s face as he realized they were ready to leave. He made the crescent shaped sign with his hand again and turned to lead them across the field. Daniel and Teal’c followed. Jack gave his head a shake and gestured Carter to go ahead of him. I’ll just hang back here and bring up the rear of this little procession. At least this way I can keep an eye on everyone.

* * * * *

They walked along in silence. All of Daniel’s attempts to converse with the group had been ignored, either from lack of understanding or lack of willingness. Jack wasn’t sure which reason applied. The trees were thinning out, and they followed a well-worn pathway past several more fields before coming finally to a series of small buildings.

“Jack, look!” Daniel called his attention to the first building on their right as they passed by it. It was made of stone- the paving stones from the roadway in fact. They had been stacked together and sealed with some type of mortar. A wooden roof topped off the whole affair.

“It seems your assumptions were correct Daniel Jackson. These people have found another purpose for the paving stones from the roadway.” Several of the other buildings were also made of stone but there were quite a few wooden structures as well.

“I guess they got tired of building with wood all the time,” suggested Jack.

“I’d say stone is probably a pretty scarce commodity around here,” added Carter. “In fact, I’ve been wondering where all of the stone used for the roadway came from in the first place.”

Their new acquaintances had slowed their pace considerably when the group reached the first of the buildings. Now they stopped completely. The young boy sprinted toward the largest of the buildings and disappeared inside. Smoke curled up lazily from a large chimney at one end of the building. Jack waited, wondering just who or what was inside. Why do I let myself get talked into these things?

The boy emerged again, followed by a group of women, girls and smaller children. Ah, the other half. The women came out cautiously, fear and curiosity plainly apparent. The men scattered and went to join them, breaking into small clusters that were obviously families. The low buzz of conversations began as the women clearly demanded to know what was happening. You don’t need to be a linguist to understand that, thought Jack in amusement. Upset wives have a language all their own.

Several of the women looked startled and made the same sign as the men had earlier. Most of them turned to stare at the four members of SG-1. The older man Thrurran, who had remained alone during the whole family gathering period, said something in a loud voice so that everyone present could hear him. Conversations ceased and a few of the women nodded in agreement.

Thrurran turned back toward Daniel and motioned again for them to follow.

“You mean this isn’t it?” Jack realized this was only a stopping place for the group. They had wanted to let the ladies know they were heading off somewhere else. As long as it’s not a Goa’uld prison….

“Jack?” Daniel was hesitant. You mean he’s actually asking me? Jack bobbed his head in Thrurran’s direction.

“We might as well follow them Daniel. What else do we have to do?”

Several women handed over the smaller children to older siblings and joined the party. A small girl cried out as her mother walked away and was shushed softly by an older woman. The women surrounded the visitors and chatted excitedly when they realized Carter was female. One brave soul reached out and touched one of Carter’s blonde locks that were peeking out from under her cap. Carter grinned and took her cap off. They gasped in surprise at the color. Everyone they had seen so far sported dark hair in browns and blacks. Or maybe it’s the length, Jack realized. All of the women wore their hair gathered in braids down their backs.

Carter’s fatigues seemed to be of great interest as well. One of the older women gave Carter an appraising look and shook her head in obvious disapproval. The women wore loose fitting pants, but the amount of cloth used made the word ‘pants’ a relative term. They were more like divided skirts.

“I don’t think she likes you Carter,” Jack teased. “Maybe wearing pants means you’re a woman of loose moral values or something.”

“That would be just my luck. Maybe I’ll start a new fashion trend.” Carter shook them off and replaced her cap. The women backed away and gave her space without complaint. “Do you think Teal’c is right about the Goa’uld not being here?”

“I don’t know…I certainly hope so. He made a good point about the stargate. It would be pretty odd to find a Goa’uld controlled world that didn’t rely on gate technology.”

The path widened and became more of a road as they walked. From the looks of it, thought Jack, it sees some pretty regular foot traffic. The trees were thin enough now to allow the sun to beat down on them.

“Sir,” Carter’s voice was low. “This looks like some sort of park.” Jack glanced around, unsure of what she meant but realized she was right after a moment. Smaller paths branched off the main path. The trees seemed more…ordered somehow. Smaller shrubs and trees were neatly trimmed and carefully placed. It certainly didn’t look as wild as the areas they had been traveling through since their arrival.

“Maybe we’re on our way to their version of Disneyworld.”

“I don’t see any mouse ear shapes in those bushes,” Carter joked.

The main path wandered back and forth yet seemed to be headed in one direction. Their guides seemed more subdued as each minute passed. It’s not fear…exactly, Jack mused. More like reverence. Like the feeling you get when you enter a church, he decided. As they rounded a long curve, Jack heard Daniel gasp up ahead.

“Daniel!” Damn it!

“It’s ok, Jack,” Daniel assured him. “It’s more than ok in fact. It’s amazing!” I hope that’s ‘amazing’ meaning non-life threatening? Sometimes you don’t get the distinction, Danny. Jack came up behind Daniel and stopped in his tracks. He heard Carter’s indrawn breath as she also took in the scene ahead of them.

“How the hell did the UAV miss this one Carter?” She shook her head, eyes wide.

“I don’t know…I guess it wasn’t in the flight path,” she said. “It’s huge!”

The trees gave way to open fields that surrounded a large glassy-looking lake. The wide pathway they were on continued past the tree line to the water where it split in two directions to snake its way around the squared-off shape of the lake bed. A small wooden dock jutted out from the bank and Jack could see a long, wide flat-bottomed boat tied to the pylons. The boat had a cloth canopy and several evenly-spaced benches for passengers. But it was what was across the lake that had everyone’s attention.

Buildings of stone were sprawled across the landscape on the opposite side of the lake, many seemed several stories high. Jack could make out several tower-like shapes rising above the trees that remained on the lake banks. In the distance, he could see that the forest of trees held sway again. It looked like someone had swooped in, cleared several hundred acres of land and dropped the massive stone buildings in the middle of everything. With the blue sky above and the whole scene reflected in the still waters of the lake, it looked like a picture postcard.

“Wow!” Carter’s exclamation echoed his own thoughts.

“Jack, this is unbelievable!” Daniel’s voice was filled with excitement. “It’s Karnak…or a recreation anyway. Maybe ours is the recreation…I never imagined it would be like this. Well, ok…I imagined what it must have been like but this…this is…”

“Unbelievable?” Jack deadpanned. “I take it you’re somehow familiar with this…whatever it is?” Jack waved a hand casually in the direction of the stone structures.

“Karnak was part of the city of Thebes, which was at one time the capital of ancient Egypt. It was a collection of temples and monuments to the triad of Amon- The Hidden One, Mut- The Mother, and Khonsu- The Traveler.” Several of the men and women made the crescent sign again as he spoke the word ‘Khonsu’. “It was the largest religious structure ever built on Earth.”

Jack looked across the lake and studied the vast array of buildings. “You’re saying that all of that…is one big church?”

“Well…it’s not a church like you’re thinking of but essentially…yes.”
“Okay campers,” Jack said. “Double-check your gear and make sure everything on the FRED is secure. We’re leaving it here.”

“Sir?” At Carter’s query, Jack looked at her and nodded.

“It looks like we’re going to church,” he explained.

* * * * *

“Daniel, come on!”

“Okay, okay! Let me just get a few more shots…”

“Daniel! Take pictures later or you’re gonna get left behind,” Jack warned. We’re never gonna make it inside this place if you keep holding us up. They were about three-quarters of the way around the lake path and Daniel had been stopping them every few minutes to take pictures of everything he saw. Their guides had been extremely patient; they simply stopped walking and waited for Daniel to indicate when he was ready to move on again. Jack’s patience, however, was wearing mighty thin. Let’s figure out what’s going on and play tourist later. Unlike a certain archeologist, he hadn’t forgotten the possibility that there might be a god-playing Goa’uld holed up in that great big pile of rocks ahead.

Daniel snapped off a few more pictures and jogged ahead to join Thrurran and company again. Jack caught Teal’c’s eye as they started their walk again. “Keep an eye on him, would ya’ please.” The big man nodded and picked up his pace to walk beside Daniel. Daniel immediately turned and began talking excitedly with him, pointing at various buildings and structures up ahead. Better you than me, my friend, thought Jack, grateful for the jaffa’s patience and understanding.

“You think he’d be used to this stuff by now,” Jack said to Carter.

“I don’t think he’ll ever get used to it,” she said with a laugh. “He’ll always be Dr. Jackson, archeologist, first and gun-toting member of SG-1, defender of Earth, second.”

“Is it too much to ask for him to remember that he’s both?”

“He knows it Colonel. He’ll do whatever he has to do.”

“I know that,” Jack admitted. “It’s just that sometimes he seems so…naïve when it comes to potential danger… especially when he’s caught up in something like this.”

“Daniel’s not naïve about the dangers we face. None of us are,” she said seriously.

“That’s true,” Jack admitted. “That doesn’t make me worry about it any less though. Does it?” Carter met his gaze and nodded thoughtfully.

“No sir. I guess not.”

They completed their walk around the lake without further sightseeing stops by Daniel. As they reached the far side of the lake, the path opened up into a wide plaza, paved by a familiar sight. Carter was the one who pointed them out first.

“These are the same stones used in the roadway.”

“Yes but those structures are made of a different type of stone,” said Daniel. Jack realized he was right. The stone of the roadway was a lighter color and had a different texture than the stones he could see in the buildings that were closest to them. They were approaching a large gate-like structure, two massive square columns that supported a third lintel piece. As they drew nearer, Jack could see markings etched into the stone face.

“Daniel, can you read that?” Jack asked the question but he had a sick certainty that he already knew the answer. He’d seen enough of the stuff in the last few years to recognize it for what it was.

“It’s Goa’uld,” said Daniel flatly.

“It welcomes all travelers who would pay homage to the wondrous might of Khensu the Navigator, he who travels the sky. Praise his name as provider and protector for all.” Teal’c sounded completely unemotional, but Jack could sense the tension in his friend. “It would seem that these people have also been deceived into believing in a false god.”

Thrurran looked at Teal’c and back to the stone gateway. He turned to Daniel and asked a question, pointing at the writing on the columns.

“I think he’s asking me what it says,” said Daniel hesitantly.

“Wouldn’t they know?” Carter asked.

“I don’t think so,” answered Daniel. “I don’t think they can read it. Even if the language they are speaking has a written form, it’s so far removed from the original that I doubt they would recognize these symbols. The meanings have changed too much.”

“Did they bring us here so we could translate this for them?” Jack didn’t know what to make of it all. All the signs say ‘Goa’uld here’ but the natives sure don’t seem to be your run of the mill slaves.

“No… I don’t think that’s the reason Jack. They seem surprised that these symbols mean anything at all and they didn’t respond when Teal’c spoke to them. Remember?” Daniel shrugged. “I think they brought us here for another reason, but I’m not sure what it is yet.”

“Well, are we gonna stand here all day or what?”

“Okay Jack.” Daniel held out a hand toward the gateway and Thrurran nodded and led them through it to the broad street beyond. The buildings rose up on both sides; huge open archways and recessed windows looked out onto the thoroughfare. They passed several tall obelisks and stone pillars that were covered with more writing. Jack shook his head when Daniel looked at him.

“Later, Daniel. Let’s keep moving.” Daniel sighed but motioned for Thrurran to keep going without complaining. When they finally saw another person, it was something of a shock. The young woman was carrying a small basket and she nearly dropped it when she came face to face with the large group. Thrurran spoke rapidly to her and she turned and ran up the street. A moment later, she turned a corner and disappeared.

“What was that all about?” Carter wondered aloud.

“I think she’s going to alert the welcoming committee,” suggested Jack. I just hope it’s a friendly one. “Stay alert,” he ordered.

“Yes sir.”

It didn’t take long for them to reach the corner where the girl had disappeared.

“Oh my god!” Daniel raised the camera and began snapping pictures. Jack didn’t bother to argue with him, knowing that this was one of those times when Daniel wouldn’t listen anyway.

Huge columns ran the length of the long avenue. They must be a least fifteen foot in diameter, thought Jack. And the height…. Jack had to crane his neck just to see the tops. As they walked between them, Jack was reminded of a childhood trip to California when he’d gotten the chance to see the giant sequoias. This is a lot like walking through a stone forest, he decided. If it’s meant to impress, it succeeds splendidly.

Thrurran led them through the columns and up a series of steps towards a large building. They entered through a large open doorway, their footsteps echoing on the polished stone. Torchlight flickered on the walls, casting shadows on the patterned floor. In the center of the room stood a large statue of stylized man with an elaborate circular shaped headdress.

Thrurran and his companions made the crescent gesture and fell prostrate to the floor. Jack looked at his team and readied his weapon. This is usually when the glowing-eyed snakehead shows up. Even Daniel looked tense. Jack heard the sound of many footsteps coming from a narrow corridor that branched off the main room.

A dozen young men and women filed slowly into the room. They were dressed all in white, although the cut and style was similar to what Thrurran and his people were wearing. They arranged themselves on either side of the statue and stared curiously at the upright members of SG-1.

“Carter?”

“Nothing sir. I don’t sense the presence of any Goa’uld.” She sounded relieved.

“Nor do I O’Neill,” added Teal’c, confirming Carter’s statement.

“Well, that’s good news at least,” said Jack.

One of the women stepped forward and said something softly to the kneeling farmers. They rose to their feet and backed away to stand against the walls. The woman then turned her attention to Jack’s team.

“Be welcome travelers,” she said in oddly accented yet perfectly understandable English. “Have you come to serve with the chosen in the temple of Khonsu?”

“Uh… Daniel?” Jack looked helplessly at the archeologist. “Would you mind explaining this to me please?”