The chastising letter sent from the Hittite king Suppiluliuma II to Ammurapi of Ugarit near the end of the life of the city, cited above, similarly says, “You have sent a message … to the effect that there is no food in your land.” In another letter, an unnamed king of Ugarit wrote to an unidentified, but probably royal and senior, correspondent,

“This is slightly embarrassing,” Alkaitis said that night, when they’d left the bar and retired to a quieter corner of the lobby to discuss investments, “but you said you’re in shipping, and I realized as you said it that I’ve only the dimmest idea of what that actually means.” Leon smiled. “You’re not alone in that. It’s a largely invisible