This is just a funny idea I had while I was studying ancient Mesopotamia. Please review! ~GwF
"If we can't destroy Apophis," said Amos, "he will destroy not only us, but everything in the universe. Life will return to the way it was before Egypt."
Felix, who was only nine, fought back tears. All the other kids stared evenly, somberly, at Amos as his words sank in.
Well, all the other kids except the new guy, who had his feet on the table and was loudly chewing on pomegranate seeds.
Amos studied this boy. He was tall and handsome, clearly of Near Eastern descent. A few boys in the Brooklyn House matched that description, but there was something different about this one. The other students (except Sadie) showed great reverence when they spoke of the gods or the pharaohs, but this kid seemed almost to disdain them.
As Amos finished his sentence, the boy guffawed, spewing half-chewed pomegranate seeds all over the table. One got Sadie in the eye, and she let loose some choice language.
"Might I ask what you think is so funny?" Carter enquired, his eyes amber spears.
The kid finished his pomegranate and cleared his throat. "'What's so funny'? You guys acting like the end of Egypt would be the end of the world."
"Um, maybe because it would be?" Sadie snapped. Having a pomegranate seed strike your eye is not a pleasant sensation. She was not in a forgiving mood. Not that she ever was, but right now even less than usual.
"No it wouldn't," the stranger replied with an unfazed grin.
"Explain," cut in Walt, flexing his arm muscles.
The strange boy rolled his eyes. "Do you really need me to explain this?" He shook his head and took a deep breath. "Do you think the Egyptians invented civilization?"
"That's what I believe," said Jaz, smiling cheerfully in hope that it would dissolve the tension. (It didn't).
"Is that what you truly believe?" His dark eyes panned the room and pierced each of them in turn. "Did Egypt invent the wheel? Agriculture? Writing? Did Egypt build the first great temples? Did Egypt make the first written code of law? Did Egypt write the first work of literature?"
The other trainees shot each other confused glances, but none of them had any answers for these questions.
The boy paused in frustration.
'What's your name, son?" asked Amos calmly.
"Hammy Wheeler."
"Is Hammy short for anything?"
"My full name is Hammurabi."
"Who are your parents?"
Hammy yawned. "My mom is a regular mortal. She's a science teacher at—"
"And your dad?"
"Oh, my dad is Gilgamesh. He was the main character of the first literary book ever written. Among other things, he built the walls of Uruk by himself, killed a whole slew of monsters, and discovered the secret of eternal life. Maybe you've heard of him."
Amos wanted to slam face-down on the table and groan. Just when he thought things couldn't get worse…
They were distracted by a clamor in the street below. An animal was down there—large and apparently none too happy with its surroundings.
"Gotta run," said Hammy brightly, leaping from his seat. He swept the table carelessly as he ran. Yet another pomegranate seed sped toward Sadie's head. (This one landed in her hair).
"What are you doing, Hammy?" Felix asked. This kid scared him, but he was still pretty cool. Who was this Gilgamesh guy, anyway?
Hammy looked over his shoulder and grinned. "I'm going to fight the Bull of Heaven."