Responses to Comments:
NeferNeferi - Nah, it's not my Yami. It's Youlan's Yami who mentioned that. I'm only the translator to this story. cough I feel sick but anyway here's the next chapter … a day late.
Kuruelna - Yeah, that's what I'm pretty much am planning on doing … although it won't be completely accurate due to the fact there was never a Pharaoh called Atemu or Atem in Egyptian history. Oh well.
Hmm … why do I write fiction? I write it because it's a way of expressing my views on issues such as good vs. evil, love, and the like through the voices of fictional characters rather than my own mouth. And it's so fun to write about people who live the lives we ordinary people can only dream about!
Chapter 9
{Evening; the time: midnight}
In a secret area of the palace, there were many priests gathered together. On each of their faces were expressions of depression and unwillingness. In their many years of performing sacrificial offerings to the gods, they had encountered many different types of sacrifices: bulls, sheep, horses, and even people. But tonight's sacrifice was one that they could not bear to hurt. That was an infant – a baby that was just born a few days ago! He looked so pure, so unknowing, so kindhearted. How could they bring themselves to offer him …
"Wahahaha!!" Akunadin was laughing loudly and joyfully in his room. "Hehe … tonight truly is one that makes me happy, Belmon."
He looked at his confidant and said, "Soon … our cute little Prince will be meeting with the gods. Then, my dream will be almost a reality." 'Yes … my dream of seizing the throne …'
"Sir Akunadin, the time is getting late. We should be leaving now …" Belmon reminded him.
"Hmm … that's right. Let us go now!" He changed into his priestly robes and headed towards the altar.
{Sacrificial Altar}
Two hours before the ceremony began, there were already a lot of high-ranking officials waiting, and among them were the Pharaoh and the Queen. So when Akunadin arrived, there were a great many people gathered by the altar. Let the ceremony start!
First, he called to the gods according to the old tradition as he faced the flames in the center of the room. Then he wrote down the main points for the ceremony on a piece of papyrus and threw it into the fires as a report to the gods.
It was like this that the first part of the ceremony was completed. Finally, the last part of the 'show' began – the live sacrifice!
Akunadin chanted some sentences with an unclear meaning then made a motion to a priest standing to his side to bring up the offering. That priest took the child from the Queen and, while carrying the Prince, walked around the vicinity of the altar in a circle before handing the child over to Akunadin.
'Why did he take the Prince around in a circle for …' Akunadin thought silently.
Next, Akunadin held the child in his arms as he prayed to the heavens. Then he … threw the baby into the fire. All of the people present heard, at the moment the child was thrown into the flames, the crying of the baby as it felt the burning pain of the fire. The crying sounds gradually faded from a low voice to a faint one. Slowly … the voice disappeared.
At that moment, the Queen fainted. This caused the officials present to panic and quickly they had her taken to her bed chambers to rest.
Author's Corner:
After reading to this point, some of the readers may think one of two things:
1. What is she fainting for? Isn't that someone else's child?
2. The Queen sure knows how to put on an act by fainting.
But what if I said something unexpected had occurred? Something that left the Queen with no other choice but to offer the real Prince as the sacrifice? Do you want to know what it is? Then please wait for the next chapter …
Youlan: I've finally typed up this chapter … Yay!
Yami Youlan: … Are you lacking in hacks or in being killed? What is this thing you typed at the end?
Youlan: hiccup It's needed for the story … Please understand that …
Yami Youlan: I can't guarantee that the guys yonder can understand you …
(The readers have already taken out their pots, bowls, ladles, basins, vegetable knives, samurai swords …)
First posted on April 17th and updated on May 6th of 2004 by Rika.