suleiman-bin-daoud was wise. he understood what the beasts said, what the birds said, what the fishes said, and what the insects said. he understood what the rocks said deep under the earth when they bowed in towards each other and groaned; and he understood what the trees said when they rustled in the middle of the morning. he understood everything, from the bishop on the bench to the hyssop on the wall, and balkis, his head queen, the most beautiful queen balkis, was nearly as wise as he was.