Kiya and the God of Chaos

by Philippa Bower

  Chapter Seventy Four: Sobek

  Kiya looked at the mangled bodies that surrounded them. Wounds still oozed blood and, where the mud had been dislodged, the skin of the swamp men was as pink as that of any other human being. She felt the neck of the nearest body, searching for a pulse. There was none and she knew that the man was dead.

  “Help me, Laylos,” she said. “I will take the head and you take the feet.” Between them they lifted the corpse and threw it into the pit.

  “He weighs no more than a child,” said Laylos and there was compassion in her voice.

  Beside them, Anubis and Huy were also heaving corpses into the pit and soon the horse and chariot were hidden under the piled bodies. There was a mound of earth beside the road, left when the pit had been dug.

  “Can we use your cloak to transport the soil to the pit?” Huy asked Anubis.

  Kiya thought the god might refuse, but his jackal mouth twisted into a grin and he indicated the crumpled black garment at the side of the road. “You are welcome. I detest that cloak. You cannot imagine the humiliation of having to visit this world disguised as an old man.”

  “You poor thing,” sympathised Kiya and was rewarded with a smile.

  The mist had evaporated but the air was humid and it was hard work dragging the soil across to the pit. By the time the road was level once more, Kiya felt exhausted. She watched Huy and Anubis finish stamping down the surface.

  “There, nobody would know what lies beneath,” said Huy.

  “Until the bodies rot,” Laylos said, “and then there will be a nasty dip in the road.”

  “The road is full of nasty dips,” said Huy. “One more won’t make any difference.”

  Kiya gazed out over the swamp. Somewhere, invisible in the vast sea of reeds, women and children waited for their men folk to return home. Were they human enough to mourn their loss? Kiya felt pity for the people who had sunk so low.

  There was a flicker in the air and Hathor materialised, carrying a basket. “I have brought your food,” she said. She looked beyond them at the empty road and gave a satisfied smile. “You have cleared up well.”

  “Thanks,” said Laylos and took the basket from her. She put it on the ground and Kiya saw that it contained two loaves of bread, a large packet of cheese, some dates and a jug of beer. “Will you two be joining us for lunch?” Laylos asked the gods.

  “No, our duty is done,” said Hathor.

  “We must thank you for saving our lives,” said Kiya. “But why did you not rescue us from the Cretan slavers outside Massui’s palace?”

  “Why should we rescue you?” said Hathor. “You were in no danger of death and were making progress. You had found the priest, Massui, which was your first goal.”

  “We could have been enslaved for life,” said Kiya.

  “Well, you weren’t,” declared Hathor. “What did you find out from the priest? Did he say where the ka might be hidden?”

  “Massui repeated a rhyme that Seth found amusing,” said Kiya. “She seeks him near, she seeks him far, she’s looking for Osiris’s ka. One of a million it will be, hiding under her favourite tree.”

  “We think it must be hidden in the seed of a tree,” said Laylos. “But we don’t know where. We are heading to the island of Ptah-Tchay to see if it might be under the acacia tree which grows beside the temple.”

  Anubis frowned. “How are you intending to get to the island? It’s in the centre of a cataract and is only accessible in the season of Akhet when the river has flooded.”

  “Even if you reach the island you can expect no cooperation from the priest,” said Hathor. “They say that isolation has driven him mad.”

  Kiya was dismayed. “It seems an impossible task,” she said. “Perhaps we should look for a tree elsewhere.”

  “The fact that it is difficult makes it more likely that we have chosen correctly,” said Huy.

  “I have an idea how you might cross the rapids,” said Hathor. “We will meet you at Ptah-Tchay and I will explain.” She took hold of Anubis. “Come, my beloved, we have work to do.”

  Kiya watched Anubis pick up his cloak and then raise his hand in farewell before he flickered and disappeared.

  “That was quick,” said Laylos. “No discussion then? That woman could get on my nerves.”

  “Shush,” said Kiya and hoped that the gods could not hear through the veil.

  They ate their fill, then packed away the remaining food and set off along the road. The swamp was left behind and the pathway cut across farmland, with fields on either side. At first the fields looked neglected but after a while Kiya saw men tending the growing crops.

  “We are getting near civilisation,” said Huy.

  “Have we to go much further?” asked Laylos.

  “We should reach the valley before nightfall,” said Huy. “Look you can see the escarpments.”

  Kiya raised her head and saw the cliffs upon the skyline. She walked on with renewed vigour. Shadows lengthened and by late afternoon the path curved and joined another that ran along the bank of the Nile. There were fellow travellers on the road and Kiya was aware of curious glances and mutterings. She worried that Huy and Laylos were too conspicuous in their Cretan clothes but nobody tried to stop or question them.

  The road rounded a bend and, ahead of them, Kiya saw their goal. The island of Ptah-Tchay was a huge rock, on top of which was a square temple that was little more than a shrine. Beside the temple stood the acacia tree, which Kiya hoped was the resting place of Osiris’s ka.

  They drew abreast of the island and Kiya saw a pathway that led from the road, through a palm grove to the riverbank. She followed Huy and Laylos along it and her heart sank at the torrent of water that cascaded around the island. Even if a boat could survive such a maelstrom, there was no safe landing place where it could be anchored. It would be swept away and they would be stranded.

  Three figures sat on the bank, half hidden among the reeds. Kiya recognised Hathor and Anubis but the third figure was turned away from her and she did not identify him until he looked around. With a frisson of fear, she saw that he was the god, Sobek. His ugly crocodile head was too large for his human body and when he opened his mouth to address them he revealed rows of dagger teeth.

  “Greetings!” His voice was harsh.

  “Pleased to meet you!” Laylos and Huy echoed Kiya’s nervous response.

  “Sobek is going to carry you to the island on his back,” said Hathor. She turned to the crocodile god. “Now then young man, none of your usual tricks. I don’t want you rolling over mid trip and drowning them.”

  “You watch it!” said Anubis. “Those mortals are under my protection.”

  “Oh yes?” snarled Sobek. “What would you do about it, jackal head?”

  “Enough, boys,” said Hathor. She turned to Kiya. “Sobek has many children. Now that the temples have been closed, they are starving in the sacred pool at Crocopolis. He is as anxious as we are to bring this situation to an end.”

  “I’ll take you over to the island now and fetch you back in the morning,” said Sobek. “But be careful with that weaponry. If I feel the slightest prick the deal is off.”

  Huy assured him that they would keep their weapons well away from him. Sobek nodded and waded into the river. His transmogrification was swift and astonishing. He grew enormous and, at the same time, his body-shape changed into that of a crocodile. He squatted on splayed legs, the water breaking against his body as if he was a rock.

  “Quick, get on his back,” said Hathor.

  Anubis took hold of Kiya’s hand and helped her through the water so she could climb onto the crocodile.

  “Take care, my dear,” he said. “I wish I could be of more help, but it is impossible to disguise my appearance.”

  “You have saved our lives,” she said. “Is that not help enough?” She had an urge to bend forwards and kiss him, but was aware of Hathor’s eyes upon her.

  Laylos and Huy climbed up behind her and t
he crocodile started to swim. Kiya found it unexpectedly easy to keep a foothold. The creature’s back was broad and flat and there were parallel ridges of scales against which she could anchor her feet as she sat. Once she had gained confidence, she found the ride exhilarating. They sped through the water, powered by strong beats of Sobek’s tail, and swiftly reached the island.

  Kiya scrambled up onto the rocks and held out an arm to help Laylos. The moment they were all safely disembarked, Sobek disappeared downriver without waiting to be thanked.