Chapter 9
Daniel used all he had gained from Jack and his fertile imagination to spin a tale that the village leader needed to go to the temple complex construction site to petition the priest there for their share of water. It seemed logical to Daniel that although Sop'du had decreed that the water might flow to the farmers, the priests were determined to exert as much control over all resources as possible.
Tab'ba, the village leader, realized the man Daniel was a man of learning with an easy and noble facility with words. This man, the priest of the gods would listen to.
Daniel thought too this would keep the village chief's eyes off Sam. And give them more prestige if they could solve the water problems.
It took four days to decide to make the trip, there was fear among Tab'ba's villagers that confronting the temple priests would anger them and cause them to refuse any petition. Then gathering up the men willing to go and gathering up supplies for the journey seemed endless.
It would be roughly a three days journey to the river side temple complex. They would have to carry provisions, especially gourds filled with water, since the drought plagued the whole country side. Daniel was somewhat uncomfortable leaving Sam on her own but was assured by Sam herself, she could take care of herself. On top of that it separated Sam from the avaricious Tab'ba.
Daniel was excited to be able to see the temple complex, observe the workmen and talk with the priests and scribes. The village leader, Tab'ba, realized Daniel was more polished then the rough farmers, no matter his place in the village structure. And while it irked Tab'ba that he might be ignored, Daniel would be listened to.
They trudged through the dusty countryside, their route was walking beside the dried canals. Everything was the color of dust. All they saw was dried vegetation, tumbled down shacks, the occasional thin goat, and prickly shrubs. The only sound but for the wind was their footsteps in the sandy soil. Their clothing and skin were dirt encrusted. After two days they dragged their feet fearing this was a hopeless task, useless drudgery in an arid thankless world.
They stopped often to repair the irrigation canal that led from a small lake, now no more than a mud flat, to the great river. This made their journey longer but if they were blessed, the waters of life would flow with their return. A few men wondered if it was an exercise in futility.
On the long journey Daniel asked many questions about their everyday life. He told the four men that accompanied him and Tab'ba of the might and glory of the great god, and beauty and opulence of Sop'du's palace, even though he had seen more of the dungeons.
Tab'ba's main topic of conversation was Daniel's ability to convince the priests to restore their water ration. Other than that he questioned Daniel about Sam. Tab'ba said his two wives needed help and another wife or concubine could do the child care and washing, if they got enough water. Daniel kept reminding him of Sam's husband but Tab'ba seemed to think that was not going to be a problem. It worried Daniel.
The land flattened as it sloped toward the river. And there were signs of life - villages in the distance and green shrubs. With this the men became hopeful and picked up their pace. This was the furthest these men had ever traveled. To their utter amazement they found themselves in a grove of palm, so straight and orderly like the colonnade of a temple. Daniel thought they must be close.
As they came to the last of the palms the area opened up to the magnificent grounds of the sacred buildings and the source of life, the great river.
At the first sight of the temple complex the group of men stopped and gazed at it in awe. They stood stock still unbelieving their eyes. The precincts encompassed temples, dressed in polished limestone, gleaming in the sun backed by the sparkling water of reflecting pools and by the mighty river. Some of the temples appeared ancient and one was in the midst of construction. There were buildings to house the priests, a mortuary building for the preparation of the noble dead's trip to the underworld and buildings filled with supplies and well as accommodations for the workmen.
The precinct of the great god Ra was the largest and oldest temple.
Bordering it were twin reflecting pools, two immense obelisks whose apexes were gilded and glittered in the sunlight. There was a hypostyle hall of massive columns, gargantuan statues, an inner jewel box of a sanctuary. The eye of Ra, the wedjat, deeply carved into the side of the ancient temple, was larger than the other symbols and cartouches. It was emblazoned in gold, onyx, ivory and carnelian. Toward the west there were smaller squat temples. And then a processional colonnade led to the temple under construction. Every wall, every column, every surface was engraved and decorated in either gleaming gold or rich lush colors. Many of the simple farmers fell on their knees and proclaimed the greatness of their god. It was wondrous and amazing and Daniel was in an archaeologist's heaven.
When the company felt brave enough to proceed they approached one of the workmen. These men were busy finishing up projects and directed them to a priest, who shipped them off to someone else, who could not be bothered. They tried an artisan making amulets of carnelian, ivory and turquoise. He too waved them off.
Tiring of the feeble dithering of Tab'ba who was overwhelmed by the magnificence of the temple, Daniel spoke with authority to a priest and the priest supposed this man was licensed by Sop'du himself. This was listened to. The priest would take the matter up to the next rung of authority and get back to them. Tab'ba was impressed with Daniel and thought an alliance with him by marrying his sister would be advantageous.
Daniel spent his free time, waiting for permission, looking over every aspect of the temple complex, even observing some sacred rites performed to consecrate the new structures.
There were young men here learning crafts and trades. Daniel came across one of the scribes instructing the next generation of scribes. Artisans were teaching young talented artists to draw, carve and paint in the approved stylized fashion.
Then Daniel came upon a small enclosed temple, more ancient than the rest, with an altar and images of every god of the Egyptian pantheon, but two were larger and more prominent than the rest, Ra, of course, and Hathor. Over the golden statue of Ra inscribed in the wall was "I am Ra who came into being by myself."*
* Coffin Texts, Spell 317
Yeah, thought Daniel, the first of the Goa'uld to invade a human. As much as he hated the Goa'uld, the temple was magnificent and thousands of years old.
The next day at the first indication of dawn Daniel rose as did many of the priests. They faced east to sing hymns greeting the symbol of the great god Ra, their sun. Daniel quietly walked to the most ancient recesses of the temple of Ra where a shaft of the dawn light bathed a golden idol with its rays.
"You shouldn't be here." A young priest said. "This is sacred ground."
"I am the one who has come from the court of the god Sop'du. I bring his…" Daniel searched for the proper wording. "greetings and devotion to his lord."
The priest lit a bowl of incense before the idol and left.
Daniel figured he had been carte blanche to roam the temples and so continued to explore while the priests and workmen ate their first meal of the day. He would have given his right arm for his camera.
In a niche Daniel saw one of the depictions of the goddess Nut. She spread her protective wings over what appeared to be the tomb of a high priest and the word on the wall were
"O my mother Nut, stretch yourself over me, that I may be placed among the imperishable stars, which are in you, that I may not die."**
As he strolled on through the complex he saw temple walls covered in hieroglyphs and images praising the pantheon of the gods.
In one of the newer temples was an altar of an intriguing shape that reminded Daniel of something he just couldn't place. Above it the ceiling was dark blue covered with golden stars. The goddess Nut's body was stretched out, arched over the earth, the god Geb, her mate. She was the barrier separating chaos from order.
Written on the walls here Daniel translated the verse which was shorter and different from the other he saw.
"I am Nut, and I have come so that I may enfold and protect you from all things evil."**
Daniel wondered what she was protecting. Gradually the sun began to warm the chamber when he realized it wasn't a simple altar below the goddess but a crystalline chamber roiling with symbiotes. Now instead of wishing he had a camera, Daniel wished for a weapon.
**"Papyrus of Ani: Egyptian Book of the Dead"
A/N: A sincere thank you to all who have read and reviewed. It is both encouraging and heartening.
And for those of you who keep reading my mind I'm rearranging my tin foil hat, so there!
