After reading Damon and Pythias, I realized that the value of friendship portrayed in the story is also relative to me. As Damon had faith trust and honor, I remember such a friend who had faith, trust and honor in me. Such a friend is incomparable to all wealth and power this life offers.
             From what I remember, it was back in 1993 -– I was on one of my expeditions in the misty jungles of Africa. I befriended a native there who spoke English fairly well. We drove through the jungles in my Jeep, searching for ancient pieces of art. I was an art historian looking for further roots that influenced Egyptian art. We began to know each other pretty well as time passed. I learned his name was Mutopa.
             He had so much faith in me; he was willing to take my place in the time of deep trouble. It was only couple months after my arrival to Africa. Immediately, I set out to work. I was anxious to discover hidden truths of the ancient world. Due to my careless wandering, I strayed into the Uzulu territory. The Uzulu was a fierce tribe that sometimes practices cannibalism for sacrificial rites. I accidentally knocked over a statue of their goddess as I backed up with the Jeep. It was a beautiful piece of art carved from diorite. Luckily the idol did not break but the stones set in the eyes fell out and broke as it hit one of the rocks lying on the ground. I held the broken pieces in my hands examining them closely against the sun. It was nothing exquisite, just semiprecious lapis-lazulis; I had a couple at camp myself. Then suddenly as I looked up, the Uzulu members were close upon me. They spoke in an unusual language I could not recall. Fortunately, Mutopa understood a little. He said, "They are saying their goddess, Ishtar, will bring great wrath upon them unless either the eye is replaced or they provide a human sacrifice."
             "What do they want?" I asked.
             "They can't replace the stone so they want to sac...