Chapter 2

At daybreak O'Neill was summoned from the cell and marched off to the throne room. When the Goa'uld made his appearance, with all the pomp of the day before, all were ordered to "Kneel before your god". All bowed low, some with their foreheads pressed to the marble floor. Jack stood his ground. The Jaffa brought his staff weapon up and slammed it against the back of O'Neill's legs, driving him to his knees. A firm hand on his shoulder kept him there. The Jaffa whispered close to Jack's ear "I will teach you to show respect to those over you, slave." Then he ordered Jack to stand.

Although he was seething with anger Jack knew the best use of his time was to gain as much intel as possible. Also he shouldn't be so obstinate if he wanted to save his body from further pain.

The large number of people gathered in the audience room were divided into a few groups as they were the day before. There were the rich burgers in their fine clothing and obviously well fed. There were two distinct groups of men in fine white linen robes and shaven heads, the priests. One group of priests, whose bearing was one of superiority, wore thick collars of colorful beadwork necklaces with dangling amulets. The others were modest and without ornamentation. Other men, in rough homespun, were undoubtedly farmers. And another group who held scrolls of some sort and appeared quite businesslike.

Although Jack knew a lot more of the Goa'uld language than he would ever let on, he didn't know nearly enough to follow the conversations. He did catch a word here and there and filled in with their body language. The words he kept hearing were water, food, gold, temple and slaves.


Sop'du had no desire to return to his throne room but someone had to take charge or nothing would be accomplished. Sop'du heard the complaints of all assembled. There was no end to the squabbling. There was obviously animosity between the groups, some of whom Sop'du wished had bathed before appearing before his august presence. The poorly dressed farmers were reluctant to speak up until most of the others accused them of causing the failure of the project. The elite group of priests were annoyed with everyone. Sop'du, using his Goa'uld timbered voice, quieted the now violently arguing assorted groups lest in turn into a brawl. In order of prestige he heard a delegate of each group.

The priests, who would inhabit the new temple and lead the rites there, wanted it finished as soon as possible whatever the cost. Sop'du knew pilgrims were big business and his priest yearned for both prestige and wealth the new vast temple complex would bring. And they appealed to his vanity, the temple would be in Sop'du's honor. Sop'du knew better. Any temple must first honor the great god Ra and only then to the gods who were allied with him.

The village elders felt they were being bled dry providing funds for the construction as well as the conscription of many of their young men needed to accomplish the building project. This annoyance persisted no matter how honored they felt to produce this magnificent edifice for the gods. They were reminded as long as the temple stood they, the men who constructed it, would be remembered.

The farmers needed all of their farm laborers and water or there would be no food to feed the construction workers.

A contingent of miners expressed a need for laborers to cut timbers to shore up the shafts that they drilled into the northern mountains.

Sop'du dismissed everyone but the builders. The priests pleaded to remain but were sent away with a flick of Sop'du's hand. Everyone wanted something.

Sop'du looked toward the Jaffa guarding O'Neill and called "Khon'du". He asked the Jaffa about his prisoner and dismissed them as well. Before O'Neill was led away he saw the men remaining roll out a scroll with their version of construction plans.

Sop'du then asked his engineers and architects about the progress in the construction of a grand temple complex. In order to move the granite and limestone blocks for the buildings the engineers had begun a canal to float the stone blocks to the site from the quarry. Water was diverted from the major river. However the rainy season failed and river water which in the past would have been diverted to irrigation channels was now needed for the construction. The farmers were in desperate need and feared their crops would fail. The men in charge of constructing the complex needed more laborers and food to feed them.

Sop'du decided that the work on the temple complex would be redirected. Until the rains returned most of the common laborers would be sent back to their villages. The artisans, sculptors, plasters and painters would remain. They would decorate the finished segments of the complex and plan for the future. There was plenty of refined gold to gild the sacred names and images of the gods.


O'Neill was marched back to the cell. The group was preceded by the jailer with a ring of jangling keys. As they approached the cell door the jailer was stopped from opening the cell door by the mere lift of the Jaffa eyebrow. Khon'du turned and faced O'Neill and without any provocation his fist, as big as a ham, shot out and connected with Jack's face. The instant before it hit, Jack realized what was about to occur and started to lean back. If he hadn't the Jaffa would surely have broken his neck. As it was O'Neill could feel his mouth fill with blood and blood stream into his eye. The Jaffa's wrist gauntlet clipped Jack's eyebrow and knuckles gouged his lip against his teeth.

The Jaffa leaned close and whispered to O'Neill "When I am done with you, slave, I will let your woman watch while I feed your body to the dogs."

The Jaffa nodded to the jailer and then grabbed the front of O'Neill's shirt and flung him into the cell. Jack knew the intent of the Jaffa was to humiliate him and show him weak in front of his team and destroy unit cohesion.

O'Neill was seething with anger. He'd like to rip that gauntlet off the Jaffa and ram it down his throat or shove it up his...he put his hand to his aching face. O'Neill walked over to the water jug while pulling a pristine white handkerchief from his pocket. Sam took it from his hand and poured some cool water on it and gave it back. He held it over his eye. Sam gave him a cup of water. He rinsed his mouth out and spat in the general direction of the cell's waste pit. He felt around to see if any of his teeth were loose.

"You know Jack, Sop'du is in charge of Pharaoh's teeth."

"They're fine Daniel, thanks for asking." He seemed surly but preferred this than being mother henned. Then he drank the rest of the water and went to the bench to sit down.

"Good thing he didn't break his nose." Daniel said to Sam.

"We'd be picking shards of bone out of his brain."

"You two finished. Oh and that guy's name is Khon'du." Jack leaned his head against the wall and told them what he learned that day. He asked what a few words meant and it helped fill in some of the meaning of the rest of the meeting.

"We're overdue for a call in but with increased Jaffa presence at the gate I don't think we ought to wait on a rescue." He winced, tried to get comfortable and sought sleep.