Chapter 2: Nome Ta-she, Shet (Crocodilopolis), Sobek's festival,
spring of 1284 B.C. The curse.
-It's the curse…It's the curse! Beware of the curse!!!!!!!!!!!
Benny Gabor, "The Mummy".
Water in the sacred crocodiles' pool splashed again, and next hapless
prisoner dropped into it with terrible howl. Glinting of sun on the green
scales, surf, beating and cry-and the foam colored in red. Crowd cheered
and roared.
Tall shaved man turned his eyes from the abominable picture with visible
disgust and addressed to his companion, short burly man, dressed in jewels
and gold:
-Pathetic. And pointless. These prisoners could be of more use in Karnak , Pharaoh's engineers cannot finish the
Temple because of lack of the workers and you're feeding them here to your favorite beasts in stupid
anachronous ritual! Tradition clearly states that human sacrifice is of no need except when the year is
extremely arid, and only effect of all this show is entertaining of the stupid crowd and your ravenous pets.
-No respect to Gods, Imhotep?-smiled the second man- and that from the High Priest of Osiris? Sounds strange.
-I have respect to Gods, Omnisedeck, if the gods are worth to be respected. But this stupid ancient tradition "One
Nome-one God" got on my nerves. Worshipping of monkey's, foxes, parrots? Erection of magnificent Temples to
glorify frogs and bulls? A bit more and we'll descend to the barbarians' superstitions and will worship every
dirty stone on the banks of Nile.
-Still obsessed with the idea of One God?
-No. Tradition is too strong, and, besides, we have evidences that the number of really powerful Gods is larger-
with these words High Priest smiled, as if remembering something amusing, and his interlocutor shuddered.
-Don't you...-mumbled he.
-Oh, don't be afraid, brother. I'm not going to insult your patron. Who else could provide you with thousands of
wretches, who prefer slavery rather than pit with scorpions? Still profiting on miserable, who couldn't pay their
debts and are selling their bodies and souls to you, Omnisedeck? To be fed to crocodiles or perish in leaden
mines, or be whipped to death on the building of temple for the next false God? It's the source of your
God-worshipping, isn't it, brother?-sneered Imhotep, eyeing his elder brother with slight shadow of
loathing in his dark eyes.
Omnisedeck was about to answer something, but was distracted by earsplitting cries from the crowd and the noise of fight from the sacred pool. Both men turned to see the giant black prisoner, struggling against his chains and violently cursing. The Sobek's servants in crocodile masks desperately tried to hold him, but the man's strength was terrifying.
-In the name of Anpu, who is it?- asked Imhotep, looking with mild curiosity as the one of the priests let go of
prisoner's arm, stumbled and fell into pool with terrible howl. Crocodiles' jaws immediately checked his cry.
Omnisedeck smiled proudly.
-My main sacrifice to Sobek this year. He is the chief of savage tribe from the sough, and also their
great shaman. Impressing, isn't he? Strong as elephant and fierce -best sacrifice to Crocodile God.
-Shaman-muttered Imhotep, looking at the fighting man doubtfully-order to stop ritual, immediately!
-Why?-croaked fat man, dumbstruck.
-First cut off his tongue and rip out his eyes. This man is dangerous, I'm not sure what would be his last effort to
revenge on us.
After a minute hesitation Omnisedeck shouted the orders to the priests,
but too late. With horrible laugh black
giant freed his second hand and pushed the guardians into the water.
Them, balancing on the verge of pool, he raised his eyes to the rostrum,
where two brothers were staying.
-Be damned-thundered the prisoner, forcing the words of foreign Egyptian language with visible effort
-Damnation on you, on your families, on men, women and children, on the cursed land of Egypt! Pest and disaster
upon your country, and you-he turned now his insane gaze to the High Priest of Osiris, and, brave as he was,
Imhotep shuddered involuntary, you be condemned to see the death of all whom you loved, to witness their last
agony as I witnessed the death of my wife and children, burned alive in their house! The doom will follow you,
never unclenching its claws, your touch will be poisonous, death in your breath! Be damned in this life and in the
next! Be damned!
His cry turned into the mad laugh and then into howl of agony when he jumped into the pool and crocodiles' teeth pierced his body.
Both Imhotep and Omnisedeck were breathing in sharp gasps, looking as the bleeding corpse was dragged deep into water by feasting reptiles.
Omnisedeck was the first who checked the silence.
-To whom of us two he was speaking?
But Imhotep's glance moved to the crowd, which was screaming and running in terror from the body of man, who fell onto the ground, frantically ripping his closes.
-Black pest-echoed over the heads of thousands men, who gathered here to watch the bloody ritual-Black pest,
run, run for your life!
The wave of running men was about to devour the rostrum with priests and aristocracy, when thundering voice of High Priest sounded over rampaging crowds:
-Don't move without my order, otherwise the gates will be closed and every one of you will be killed!
Then he waved to his eldest brother, Mecktub, who was pushing his way through the bewildered flock of priests, merchants and aristocrats:
-Put the guards at the gates. No one should leave the town without my permission. And send the messenger
to the Pharaoh!
-Don't teach me how to do my job, little brother-smiled the warrior coldly-you better go and check this ailing
wretch down there.
Imhotep nodded slowly and descended the stairs towards the horror-struck faces of Shet's citizens, who parted
and backed aside to give him a way.