LVI
Under the Sandals of Slaves
The sun had set on Kahndaq as the new American president finished making his proclamation. At the temple of Hadrha, thousands of armed Kahndaqi gathered by torchlight while the wealthy were revealed by the light of their wi-screens. Like the gods of old, perched atop the stairs of the ancient temple stood their champion, Teth Adam. Before him, suspended in the air by the champion's mighty hand was the hero of the Americas, the Great Eagle… utterly defeated.
"Men of Kahndaq, I present this offering to you as proof of my great power. Adam will once more rule the lands of the sun." A cheer went up from the masses below. Beside him, a cleric bowed his thinly-bearded head.
"Mighty Adam, so that we may write of your greatness and record your immortal deeds… was it you who destroyed the house of American in a flash of blinding white?"
"It was not… Would you question my authority, priest?"
"No man may question your power… But mine eyes witnessed the Angel from the Sky cast down the false American champion you now hold. The Angel brought forth the terrible retribution from God Himself upon the Den of Lies as a great retribution."
With a mere flick of his wrist, Adam cast his hostage to the desert sands over one hundred feet away. A mob of angry Kahndaqi fell upon the discarded hero like jackals.
"Where is the old man with the quiet tongue?" He did not like this cleric's eyes, nor his insolence.
"The old need their rest, my lord. We are but humble servants." The man bowed in a show of subservience.
"Then do not question the chosen of the gods. I will bring this world to its knees!"
"As the chosen one, grant favor to the chosen people. Allow Allah His glory and show these faithful the might of Adam… defeat him." The cleric gestured to the unconscious body being battered below. "Do not steal the heads of the fallen to place on the pikes of your conquest."
Adam drew back his hand to remove the offensive mouth of this insolent man in common brown robe… And then lowered his hand slowly, thoughts of the past carried in the spectacle below. The Champion of Lightning watched as the Great Eagle was repeatedly struck by the butts of soldiers' guns and trampled beneath the worn sandals of peasants. Memories from three thousand years ago stirred in him… how he had chosen this same death - under the sandals of slaves – so that Adam may be reunited with his beautiful Isis after Anubis had taken her from his desperate grasp.
"ENOUGH!" the command was heard for miles, his voice like the clap of thunder. Before the throng of his subjects, Adam slowly flew down and retrieved the bruised body of Clark, hoisting it over his shoulder. With care, he flew back to his ancient perch and laid the fallen warrior upon the steps of Hadrha for all to bear witness.
"Hear me well, men of Kahndaq! Tomorrow, when the eye of Ra shines directly upon us, I will grant this champion the death he deserves. Until that time, he will lay at my feet to make peace with his gods and prepare for the afterlife. He will be shown mercy before his departure from this world. After I have destroyed him, I will desire a feast… and women… tall and strong, with long dark hair." Adam smiled at the crowd below as a cheer went up among them. He then cast his gaze at the cleric.
"The Great Eagle's head will be the first to adorn my pikes. But rest assured, holy one that yours will be the second." Adam spoke with the certainty of a prophet.
"As Allah wills." The cleric spread his upturned hands in humility and bowed before Adam as the holy keffiyeh* hid the smile he wore beneath.
When the Great Eagle groaned an hour later, Adam flicked his hand in the air to dismiss the cleric, allowing his escape. Ra's al Ghul had no intention of being in Kahndaq by the dawn. But he did desire both titans alive… for now.
There was business in America to attend. His dealings here were done and his daughter awaited.
* A keffiyeh is the scarf-like headdress typically worn by Arab men.