Isis

Sadie sighs, looking up at the ceiling. The bed screeches as she gets up.

"We need rest." I tell her.

"I can't sleep." She shakes her head. "And I'm getting comfortable talking to myself. That should say something, ah?"

She reaches out with her hand, concentrating on the space in front of her.

"How does Carter do that, anyway?"

"Think about what you want to manifest into your reality and imagine it's already in your hand."

Sadie nods. After a couple of tries, her hand finally closes around something.

"Is that-"

Uh-huh. Fuck red. Plus, it's about time I washed my hair.

"Will you try to sleep after?"

We'll see.

She didn't go to bed after. But blue highlights really suit her, I have to admit. Sadie's hair hass just dried out when Bast walks in. She looks dead serious.

"Come."

We follow her to Carter's room. Bast knocks on the door. Once. Twice. Three times.

"He's probably asleep."

Probably.

Finally, Sadie opens the door and barges in.

Carter is asleep, indeed. Sadie shakes his arm.

His eyes snap open. "What?"

"We're here."

Carter sits up groggily. He glances out the stateroom window.

"How long was I out?" he asks.

"We've sailed down most of the Mississippi and into the Duat," Bast says. "Now we approach the First Cataract."

"The First Cataract?"

"The entrance," Bast says grimly, "to the Land of the Dead."

Carter nods. He seems distracted. His soul probably traveled again. By the look on his face as we approach the wheelhouse, it probably hadn't been to somewhere nice.

"Did you see Zia?" Sadie asks him. He looks like a dear caught in headlights. "Knew it," Sadie says.

Inside the wheelhouse, Bloodstained Blade is studying a map whit Khufu replacing him on the wheel. Speaks volumes when the captain can be replace with a baboon.

"The baboon is driving," Sadie notes. "Should I be worried?"

"Quiet, please, Lady Kane." Bloodstained Blade runs his fingers over a long stretch of papyrus map. "This is delicate work. Two degrees to starboard, Khufu."

"Agh!"

The sky is already dark, but as we chug along, the stars disappear. The river turns the color of blood. Darkness swallows the horizon, and along the riverbanks, the lights of towns change to flickering fires, then wink out completely. The only light left are the multicolored servant fires and the glittering smoke that blooms from the smokestacks, washing us all in a weird metallic glow.

"Should be just ahead," the captain announces. In the dim light, his red-flecked axe blade reminds me of the horror movies Ruby and Julius used to watch.

"What's that map?" Sadie asks.

"Spells of Coming Forth by Day," the demon says. "Don't worry. It's a good copy."

Sadie looks at Carter for a translation.

"Most people call it The Book of the Dead," he tells her. "Rich Egyptians were always buried with a copy, so they could have directions through the Duat to the Land of the Dead. It's like an Idiot's Guide to the Afterlife."

The captain hums indignantly. "I am no idiot, Lord Kane."

"No, no, I just meant..." Carter's voice falters. "Uh, what is that?"

Ahead of us, crags of rock rise from the river like fangs, turning the water into a boiling mass of rapids.

"The First Cataract," Bloodstained Blade announces. "Hold on."

Khufu pushes the wheel to the left and the steamboat skids sideways, shooting between two rocky spires with only centimeters to spare as Carter and Sadie scream.

We drop over a stretch of water and swerve to avoid a rock the size of a small islnad. The steamboat makes two more suicidal turns between boulders, does a three-sixty spin round a swirling vortex, launches over a ten-meter waterfall, and comes crashing down so hard, Sadie's ears pop like a gunshot. Ah, the joy of travelling through Duat.

We continue downstream as if nothing has happened, the roar of the rapids fading behind us.

"I don't like cataracts," Sadie announces. "Are there more?"

"Not as large, thankfully," says Bast, who is also looking seasick. "We've crossed over into—"

"The Land of the Dead," Carter finishes.

He points to the shore, shrouded in mist. Figures lurk aimlessly in the darkness: flickering ghost lights, giant faces made of fog, hulking shadows that seem unconnected to anything physical. Along the riverbanks, old bones drag themselves through the mud, linking with other bones in random patterns.

"I'm guessing this isn't the Mississippi," Sadie says.

"The River of Night," Bloodstained Blade hums. "It is every river and no river—the shadow of the Mississippi, the Nile, the Thames. It flows throughout the Duat, with many branches and tributaries."

"Clears that right up," Sadie mutters.

Ghost villages from ancient time pass by us. Vast temples crumble and reconstruct themselves over and over and over again in a never-ending loop. Ghosts turn their faces towards us. Smoky hands reach out. Shades silently call to us, then turn away in despair as we pass. I wish I could help them. Alas, not today.

"The lost and confused," Bast says. "Spirits who never found their way to the Hall of Judgment."

"Why are they so sad?" Sadie asks.

"Well, they're dead," Carter speculates.

"No, it's more than that," Sadie says. "It's like they're...expecting someone."

"Ra," Bast says. "For eons, Ra's glorious sun boat would travel this route each night, fighting off the forces of Apophis." She looks round nervously as if remembering old ambushes. "It was dangerous: every night, a fight for existence. But as he passed, Ra would bring sunlight and warmth to the Duat, and these lost spirits would rejoice, remembering the world of the living."

"But that's a legend," Carter says. "The earth revolves around the sun. The sun never actually descends under the earth."

"Have you learned nothing of Egypt?" Bast asks. "Conflicting stories can be equally true. The sun is a ball of fire in space, yes. But its image you see as it crosses the sky, the life-giving warmth and light it brings to the earth—that was embodied by Ra. The sun was his throne, his source of power, his very spirit. But now Ra has retreated into the heavens. He sleeps, and the sun is just the sun. Ra's boat no longer travels on its cycle through the Duat. He no longer lights the dark, and the dead feel his absence most keenly."

"Indeed," Bloodstained Blade says, though he doesn't sound very upset about it. "Legend says the world will end when Ra gets too tired to continue living in his weakened state. Apophis will swallow the sun. Darkness will reign. Chaos will overcome Ma'at, and the Serpent will reign forever."

A very uncomfortable feeling grows in Sadie's chest. Is that guilt? I hate guilt. But, alas, that's what this is.

If the story Thoth told me is true, you caused Ra to retreat into the heavens with that secret name business. Which means, in a ridiculous, maddening way, the end of the world would be my fault. Bloody typical. I kinda wanna punch myself to get even with you, but it'll probably hurt.

No comment.

"Ra should wake up and smell the sahlab," Sadie says. "He should come back."

She will understand some day. Everything comes to an end. Sometimes, when you believe in something strong enough, you realize that there are things that should be done. Things, that many won't agree with. Ma'at has been weakening through the eons, yes, but we can save her without our dear grand-grandpa. With Osiris back in Duat, the gods back in the world, with Horus back on the throne… we'll be okay. We'll save the world. Maybe then that awful feeling, this guilt, would stop bugging me, too.

Bast laughs without humor. "And the world should be young again, Sadie. I wish it could be so..."

Khufu grunts and gestures ahead. He gives the captain back the wheel and runs out of the wheelhouse and down the stairs.

"The baboon is right," says Bloodstained Blade. "You should get to the prow. A challenge will be coming soon."

"What sort of challenge?" Sadie asks.

"It's hard to tell," Bloodstained Blade says, and I think I detect smug satisfaction in his voice. "I wish you luck, Lady Kane."

"Why me?" Sadie grumbles.

Bast, Carter, and Sadie stand at the prow of the boat, watching the river appear out of the darkness. Below us, the boat's painted eyes glow faintly in the dark, sweeping beams of light across the red water. Khufu has climbed to the top of the gangplank and cups his hand over his eyes like a sailor in a crow's-nest.

But all that vigilance won't do much good. With the dark and the mist, our visibility is nil. Massive rocks, broken pillars, and crumbling statues of pharaohs loom out of nowhere. Bloodstained Blade yanks the wheel to avoid them, forcing us to grab hold of the rails. Occasionally we see long slimy lines cutting through the surface of the water.

"Mortal souls are always challenged," Bast tells Sadie. "You must prove your worth to enter the Land of the Dead."

"Like it's such a big treat?"

After we stare at the water for quite some time, a reddish smudge appears in the distance.

"Is that my imagination, or—"

"Our destination," Bast says. "Strange, we really should've been challenged by now—"

The boat shudders. The water begins to boil. A giant figure erupts from the river. We can see him only from the waist up, but he towers several meters over the boat. His body is humanoid—bare-chested and hairy with purplish skin. A rope belt is tied around his waist, festooned with leather pouches and severed demon heads. His head is a combination of lion and human, with gold eyes and a black mane done in dreadlocks. His blood-splattered mouth is feline, with bristly whiskers and razor-sharp fangs. He roars, scaring Khufu right off the gangplank. The baboon does a flying leap into Carter's arms, which knocks them both to the deck.

"You had to say something," Sadie tells Bast weakly. "This a relative of yours, I hope?"

Bast shakes her head. "I cannot help you with this, Sadie. You are the mortals. You must deal with the challenge."

"Oh, thanks for that."

"I am Shezmu!" the bloody lion man says.

He turns his golden eyes on Carter and tilts his head. His nostrils quiver. "I smell the blood of pharaohs. A tasty treat...or do you dare to name me?"

"N-name you?" Carter sputters. "Do you mean your secret name?"

The demon laughs. He grabs a nearby spire of rock, which crumples like old plaster in his fist.

Sadie looks desperately at Carter. "You don't happen to have his secret name lying around somewhere?"

"It may be in The Book of the Dead," Carter says. "I forgot to check."

"Well?"

"Keep him busy," Carter replies, and scrambles off to the wheelhouse.

Keep a demon busy. Right. Maybe he fancies a game of tiddlywinks.

"Do you give up?" Shezmu bellows.

"No!" Sadie yells. "No, we don't give up. We will name you. Just...Gosh, you're quite well muscled, aren't you? Do you work out?"

Sadie glances at Bast, who nods approval.

Shezmu rumbles with pride and flexed his mighty arms.

"I am Shezmu!" he bellows.

"Yes, you might've mentioned that already," Sadie says. "I'm wondering, um, what sort of titles you've earned over the years, eh? Lord of this and that?"

"I am Osiris's royal executioner!" he yells, smashing a fist into the water and rocking our boat. "I am the Lord of Blood and Wine!"

"Brilliant," Sadie says, trying not to get sick. "Er, how are blood and wine connected, exactly?"

"Garrr!" He leans forward and bares his fangs. His mane is matted with nasty bits of dead fish and river moss. "Lord Osiris lets me behead the wicked! I crush them in my wine press, and make wine for the dead!"

Mental note: Never drink the wine of the dead.

"It's pretty good actually." So he makes wine. Good, that's a clue. Creatures of the river usually have simple minds, fitting for their simple jobs. If we manage to get hm talking, to trick him… "You're doing well. Ask him about his duties."

"And what are your other duties...O powerful wine demon guy?"

"I am Lord of..." He flexes his muscles for maximum effect. "Perfume!"

He grins, as if waiting for the terror to settle.

"Oh, my!" Sadie says. "That must make your enemies tremble."

"Ha, ha, ha! Yes! Would you like to try a free sample?" He rips a slimy leather pouch off his belt, and brings out a clay pot filled with sweet-smelling yellow powder. "I call this...Eternity!"

"Lovely," Sadie gags. She glances behind me, searching for Carter.

"Keep him talking" I urge Sadie.

"And, um...perfume is part of your job because...wait, I've got it, you squeeze it out of plants, like you squeeze wine..."

"Or blood!" Shezmu adds.

"Well, naturally. The blood goes without saying."

"Blood!"

Khufu yelps and covers his eyes.

"So you serve Osiris?" Sadie asks the demon.

"Yes! At least..." He hesitates, snarling in doubt. "I did. Osiris's throne is empty. But he will return. He will!"

"Of course. And so your friends call you what...Shezzy? Bloodsiekins?"

"I have no friends! But if I did, they would call me Slaughterer of Souls, Fierce of Face! But I don't have any friends, so my name is not in danger. Ha, ha, ha!"

Sadie looks at Bast. Did I really just got this lucky? Bast beams at her.

In this exact moment, Carter comes stumbling down the stairs with the Book of Dead in his hands.

"I've got it! Somewhere here. Can't read this part, but—"

"Name me or be eaten!" Shezmu bellows.

"I name you!" Sadie shouts back. "Shezmu, Slaughterer of Souls, Fierce of Face!"

"GAAAAHHHHH!" He screams in pain. "How do they always know?"

"Let us pass!" Sadie commands. "Oh, and one more thing...my brother wants a free sample."

Sadie steps away from her brother. Carter looks at her confused and then the demon blows yellow dust all over my son's host. Satisfied, Shezmu sinks under the waves.

"What a nice fellow," Sadie says.

"Pah!" Carter spits perfume. "What was that for?"

"You smell lovely," Sadie assures him. "What's next, then?"

The boat rounds a bend in the river. The reddish glow on the horizon becomes a blaze of light. Up in the wheelhouse, the captain rings the alarm bell.

Ahead of us, the river is on fire. The boat is rushing through a steaming stretch of rapids towards what looks like a bubbling volcanic crater.

"The Lake of Fire," Bast says. "This is where it gets interesting."