Coming Forth By Day

The Papyrus of Atem

By Pearl of the Dark Age

Disclaimer: I don't own

The Hall of Justice of Two Truths

Up… down… up… and down the scales went, trying to find balance. Atem felt as if he still had his heart in his chest, for something was causing him to feel as if it, too, were cascading up and down in an introverted recession. Ammut licked her crocodile lips noisily each time the heart descended. The feather quivered without the presence of wind, and the scales slowed, finding balance. To the naked eye, the scales seemed to dictate that the heart and the feather were of the same weight. Atem looked nervously to Thoth, who was making notes on his scribe's scroll.

Atem could not tell what his verdict was, until he glanced at Ammut, whose head drooped to the floor rejectedly. "Looks like I go hungry again," she moaned in her raspy voice. Atem felt like doing several backflips in joy, but he decided not to look like a fool in front of the gods.

Anubis strided over to the scales and picked up the Heart of Osiris Atem. He returned to stand by Atem, handing him his own heart. The former pharaoh of Egypt reached out to touch it, but realized he did not know how to put it back in! "Don't worry, Osiris Atem," Anubis told him. "Just touch it." As Atem did what he was told, a bright light shone, and his heart was replaced in its original location.

Thoth spoke up finally, "I am Thoth, the righteous judge. I record this decision: Truthful is his heart; there is no wickedness in him. He hath not wasted food offerings of the gods. Nor hath he done harm or spoken evil whilst on Earth. Ammut shall not devour his immortal soul." At this the ugly creature wailed loudly. "He shall walk forever in the Fields of Peace with his king, Lord Osiris."

Relief swept over Atem, and he bowed with his hands raised, paying homage to Thoth, "Hail to you, great god, Lord of Justice! I came to you, my lord, so that I may see your beauty. I know your name, and I know the names of the forty-two gods of those who are with you in the Hall of Justice, who live on those who cherish evil and who gulp down their blood on the Day of the Reckoning. Lord of Truth is your name. Behold, I have come to you, I have brought you truth, I have repelled falsehood before you."

Atem lifted his head and saw that Horus had entered the room. He gulped. He knew that he was now to be lead to the next trial, which he felt should have been the first. He continued as he was supposed to, "I am Pure. I am pure. I am pure. I am pure. My purity is the purity of this great Phoenix that is in Heracleopolis, because I am indeed the nose of the Lord of Wind who made all men live on that day of completing the Sacred Eye in Heliopolis. I am he who saw the completion, and nothing evil shall come into being against me in the Hall of Justice, because I know the names of these gods who are in it." He swallowed. Actually, he thought, I don't remember, but I think I can wing it. Just say some stuff like that and I'll be fine!

Horus gave him a slight bow in acknowledgment. "Fine speech, Osiris Atem. You are indeed worthy of entering the Hall of Justice, the Hall of Two Truths. In the Hall of Justice your soul shall be purged of evil. Confess those crimes which you did not commit, and you shall be able to stand before the Lord Osiris and forever walk by his side in the Fields of Peace." He beckoned Atem to follow him.

As Atem walked behind the god, Horus, greatest of Osiris' sons, Atem found Horus to be the most beautiful and eerie of the gods yet. His head of a falcon commanded dignity, and his mismatched eyes of the moon and the sun caused the hairs on the back Atem's neck to rise in horripilation, for he felt as if he were looking into the eyes of Time and Space itself.

They approached double doors of solid copper, which were ornately engraved with carvings depicting the gods feasting upon the flesh of evil-doers. Crap! Atem thought, I better make this sound good! Horus opened the doors for him and gestured for Osiris Atem to enter first. The Hall of Two Truths was very long, but very broad as well. On the left side was the tribunal of the gods, who were cast in shadow. The right side of the hall was well-lit; it gleemed golden, for the wall seemed to be made of gold itself. The floor was a mosaic of many different stones including marble, lapis lazuli, obsidian, and every other color of the rainbow. The ceiling was encrusted with precious gems of red garnets and rubies, orangy-pink padparadschas, orange sapphires and spessartite garnets, yellow citrines and canary diamonds, green tourmalines and tsavarites, deep blue tanzanites and sapphires, and purple amethysts. Atem loved jewelry! He gaped open mouthed for a second, forgetting himself.

He snapped out of it and approached the first of the gods hidden in shadow. It irked him that he could not see the face very well. He cleared his throat and pushed aside the thought, This is stupid, before declaring his innocence, "Hail Far-strider who came forth from Heliopolis, I have done no falsehood." He thanked Shimon for being able to remember the order of these lordly titles, even if he could not remember their names.

After a nod from the shadowy figure, he proceeded to the next one. "Hail Fire-embracer who came forth from Kheraha, I have not robbed." Nod. "Hail Nosey who came forth from Hermopolis, I have not been rapacious." Nod. I don't even know what that word means, he thought nervously. "Hail Swallower of Shades who came forth from the Cavern, I have not stolen." Nod. "Hail Dangerous One who came forth from Rosetjau, I have not killed men." The Orichalcos shouldn't count… Nod. "Hail Double Lion who came forth from the sky, I have not destroyed food-supplies." Nod. "Hail Fiery Eyes who came forth from Letopolis, I have done no crookedness." Nod. "Hail Flame which came forth backwards, I have not stolen the god's offerings." Nod. "Hail Bone-breaker who came forth from Heracleopolis, I have not told lies." Nod. "Hail Green of Flame who came forth from Memphis, I have not taken food that isn't mine." That would be Jonouchi, he thought. Nod.

"Hail You of the cavern who came forth from the West, I have not been sullen." …except when my aibou was taken by the Seal. Nod. "Hail White of teeth who came forth from the Faiyum, I have not transgressed." I think. Nod. "Hail Blood-eater who came forth from the shambles, I have not killed a sacred bull." Nod. "Hail Eater of entrails who came forth from the House of Thirty, I have not committed perjury." Nod. "Hail Lord of Truth who came forth from Maaty, I have not stolen bread." Again, Jonouchi… Nod. "Hail Wanderer who came forth from Bubastis, I have not eavesdropped." …intentionally! I did share a body with Aibou after all! he mused. Nod. "Hail Pale One who came forth from Heliopolis, I have not babbled." There was a pregnant pause, and then a nod. Whew! Atem thought. For a second there… I don't think I babble. Everything I have to say is important!

He moved on down the shadowy line of godly figures. "Hail Doubly evil who came forth from Andjet, I have not disputed except concerning my own property." …and destiny! Nod. "Hail Wememty-snake who came forth from the place of execution, I have not fornicated with a child." Ew! He shuddered. That one is 100 percent true! Nod. "Hail You who see whom you bring who came forth from the House of Min, I have not misbehaved." At least not in my opinion… Nod. "Hail You who are over the Old One who came forth from Imau, I have not made terror." He almost laughed at this one, thinking of Bakura. Nod.

He continued, "Hail Demolisher who came forth from Xois, I have not transgressed." Didn't I already say this one? He received a nod anyways, and moved to the next shadowed god. "Hail Disturber who came forth from Weryt, I have not been hot-tempered." …much… Nod. How am I getting away with this? "Hail Youth who came forth from the Heliopolitan nome, I have not been deaf to words of truth." That's for damn sure! I speak nothing but the truth! It's Kaiba that's deaf to my words… Nod. "Hail Foreteller who came forth from Wenes, I have not made disturbance." Again, Bakura… Nod. But I think Dartz is a good runner up.

"Hail You of the altar who came forth from the secret place, I have not hoodwinked." Again, Atem almost laughed aloud at this declaration. "Hail You whose face is behind him who came forth from the Cavern of Wrong, I have neither misconducted myself nor copulated with a boy." I think I said something like this already… Nod. Ah well… "Hail Hot-foot who came forth from the dusk, I have not been neglectful." Nod. "Hail You of the darkness who came forth from the darkness, I have not been quarrelsome." Nod.

Atem was beginning to tire of these declarations. He felt that it was overkill to proclaim all the things you have not done, when his heart had already been judged. But he only had 13 more to go…

"Hail Bringer of your offering who came forth from Sais, I have not been unduly active." Nod. "Hail Owner of faces who came forth from Nedjefet, I have not been impatient." After all, I did wait 3000 years for someone to solve the Puzzle! Nod. "Hail Accuser who came forth from Wetjenet, I have not transgressed my nature, I have not washed out the picture of a god." Nod. "Hail Owner of horns who came forth from Asyut, I have not been voluble in speech." Whatever that means… Nod. "Hail Nefertum who came forth from Memphis, I have done no wrong, I have seen no evil." Wait a minute… But he received a nod anyways. Okay, I don't think they are omniscient.

"Hail Tempsep who came forth from Busiris, I have not made conjuration against the king." Nod. "Hail You who acted according to your will, who came forth from Tjebu, I have not waded in water." What the…? Nod. Nevermind. I have to make it to the Fields of Peace after all. "Hail Water-smiter who came forth from the Abyss, I have not been loud-voiced." Atem suppressed a snort. He knew this one was not true. Nod. "Hail Prosperer of the common folk who came forth from your house, I have not reviled mankind." I saved mankind! Nod. …several times over! "Hail Bestower of good who came forth from the Harpoon nome, I have not been…" Atem had to hold his breath to keep himself from doubling over in laughter, "…puffed up." Nod. "Hail Bestower of powers who came forth from the City, I have not made distinctions for myself." I can't help it if I'm naturally good at everything! Nod. Atem found the next one something very suitable for Kaiba, "Hail Serpent with raised head, who came forth from the cavern, I am not wealthy except with my own property." Nod. Finally, he thought with relief as he reached the last of the shadowy figures. "Hail Carrier-off of His Portion who came forth from the Silent Land, I have not blasphemed God in my city."

Nod.

Now it was time to meet Osiris, Lord of the Underworld.