“And maybe you'd like to purchase a boy, who you can mold like potter's clay?”
“No thank you, my honorable Savsesser. Just a simple slave.”
“If that's the case then, I'll show you the merchandise. But first, eat and drink. It is an honor for me to host you in the shade of my arbor. More meat and juice!” he yelled out to a slave, who leapt to the kitchen as if his life depended on it.
“I offer you heartfelt thanks for your substantial generosity, but I have eaten and drunk enough. If you are ready, let us take a stroll through your property.”
Savsesser rose to his feet and moved with a limp, supported by his staff while leaning with his other arm over Eo. Savsesser looked older than his forty five years. His right knee had already collapsed under the weight of his heavyset body. When he spoke, his beady eyes darted from side to side and Eo wondered if he was plotting something while he continued to heap flattery upon him. Eo breathed deeply and thanked him in return, expressing astonishment at the beauty of his fruit trees, the sweetness of the water in his canals, the swollen stalks of barley and the diligence of his slaves. Savsesser greedily drank in every compliment.
“Call him!” Savsesser ordered the slave that was escorting him and pointed his staff toward the edge of the field. The slave set off in a sprint and returned with one of the slaves by his side.
“Yes, my master,” said the slave with his head lowered.
Savsesser did not answer him. “He is one of the most diligent slaves. Assyrian origin. You can see that he manages double the quota and leaves his fellow slaves in his dust. Come closer and examine the fine condition he's in.” Savsesser peeled back the lips of the slave, who stood at attention, revealing straight white teeth. He pressed his thumb into the fold of his elbow and demonstrated the speed at which the muscle moved back in place without leaving a mark. Finally, he struck the slave's side with his staff to demonstrate his obedience and ability to absorb blows. Savsesser forcibly grabbed the Assyrian's jaw and turned his gaze to Eo.
Eo saw depths of despair within the slaves dimmed eyes. He restrained himself from reacting to Savsesser's harshness and regretted that he could afford only one slave.
“He really makes an excellent impression, but he is surely more expensive than the other slaves and I have no need for a slave this strong. I am ready to see the other candidates.” But the slave's gaze had pierced his soul.
“How much are you willing to pay?” ventured Savsesser.
“I prefer to see the others,” sidestepped Eo. He was not a natural merchant and was wary of negotiation.
“As you wish. Let me show you the slaves who are occupied with the olive harvest.”
Between the furrows of barley grew the orchard trees: pomegranates, crab apples, sycamores, figs, almonds, apricots and a number of olive trees. When Savsesser and Eo approached them, the boys stopped smacking the tree branches. Savsesser signaled the biggest one of them to come forward and he ran over. He stood before them, his entire body tense and trembling, assuming he was about to be whipped.
“This slave is of Semitic Amorite origin, twelve years old, speaks Sumerian and Akkadian. He was brought to me by his sharecropper parents as payment for their crops. Don't worry about him escaping—his parents' lives are at stake as they are collateral for his loyalty. He is diligent and quiet and I am sure that he will be of good use to you.”
Eo felt distressed by the slave's suffering and wondered if it was best for him to just give up on the whole idea. He had no interest in joining the ranks of slave masters, recoiling at the practice of separating a child from his parents to sentence him to a lifetime of slavery. Maybe it would be best if he didn't take an apprentice; perhaps Kishmi would be upset, but surely she would understand once he explained to her what he had witnessed in Savsesser's estate.
“Allow me to think it over, my honorable Savsesser. I have seen more than enough and now I must consider.”
“If the cost is too much for you, I am certain that we can reach a compromise.”
The boy shot Eo an entreating glance, his eyes pleading, 'Buy me at any price, and just get me out of here.'
“Thank you, your honor. Obviously, I would not purchase a slave that was outside my price range; however, cost is not my only concern. I need to reconsider my own needs and I shall return to you shortly.”
“You shan't find healthier or more diligent slaves with any of the other landowners. Just promise me one thing.”
“And what is that?”
“That when you return, you state the price that you see fit, before approaching other landowners. They are merciful and their slaves are in turn lazy. You will not find harder working or more obedient slaves in all of Uruk.”
“I offer you my most heartfelt thanks and shall consider your words positively.”
“If so, then I am satisfied. Let me escort you back.”
As they approached the gate of the property, Eo noticed something that had been hidden from him when he arrived. Chained to the stone wall to the right of the gate was a swarthy slave, spread-eagle, back bleeding, streaked with whip lashes and swarming with flies.
“Who's that?” inquired Eo.
“A rebellious slave, whose penalty is death.”
“What is his crime?”
“Assisting in the escape of a slave.”
“How do you know?”
“I have no proof, but the chief taskmaster told me that he was the slave's best friend, so it's impossible that he was not involved in the escape plan. It seems that he pretended to suffer from acute stomach pain and distracted the taskmasters just as his friend was escaping. Slaves are obligated to hand over another slave who is planning to escape the moment the knowledge becomes available to them, and if not, their sentence is death. He was interrogated the entire night and did not admit to anything. I would have let him die last night but I hoped that he would reveal the destination of the escaped slave. We'll leave him here until he talks or until the flies, ants and cattle egrets finish the work for us. Had he talked, he would have been entitled to a quick death by the sword.”
“Has his friend been captured yet?”
The question embarrassed Savsesser, who stammered an answer. “He disappeared yesterday and I am sure that by tomorrow night, the slave hunters will have found him, dead or alive.”
“How did he escape?” Eo felt a sort of satisfaction hearing about the slave's escape and the slave owner's consequent embarrassment.
“We, uh... we don't know,” stuttered Savsesser.
“May I examine this slave?”
“You want to buy a rebellious slave?” Savsesser asked incredulously.
“I want to examine him,” replied Eo politely but firmly.
The baffled Savsesser did not know what to say.
“If you do not wish to sell to me, then I will be on my way.”
“No, no, please, examine them all,” said the master, coming to his senses.
Rukha wished he were dead. With each lash of the whip he prayed to die before the next lash. From time to time he sunk into flights of fancy, imagining that he had already died and was meeting Dagon, God of his fathers, crowned with fish scales. Dagon asked him: “Would you still have helped Timin had you known the fate that awaited you?” Sometimes he answered yes and other times no; but then he thought of Timin's abounding loyalty, how he endangered himself time after time on Rukha's behalf. He then settled into contentedness, at peace with his choice and its aftermath.
'I knew what awaited me,' he thought.
“What is your name?” He heard Dagon's voice. He was taken aback, since the God surely knows his creations.
“What is your name?” repeated Dagon.
“Rukha,” he muttered inaudibly.
“What? I cannot hear you.”
“Rukha,” he tried to repeat his name in a louder voice. 'Dagon cannot hear? It cannot be!' The sharp pain in his lacerated back and his weary joints struck him at once as he was jolted back to reality.
>
“Rukha?” asked the stranger.
“Yes,” he replied indifferently, staring into the stranger's eyes.
Eo knew immediately and without a doubt that that this was the slave he had been looking for.
“He's practically dead,” Savsesser gestured with his staff toward Rukha.
“I do not wish to waste more of your time, your honor, and thank you for your hospitality. You may return now to your important occupations. I shall stay another moment with the slave before going on my way, if you do not mind.”
“As you wish, and like I already said, return to me before you approach the other slave owners. I am certain we can reach a favorable compromise.”
“Thank you, thank you.” Eo held his breath in hopes of avoiding Savsesser's foul stench as they rubbed noses in parting. Savsesser called to one of his slaves and began limping toward the shaded arbor, supported by a slave and his staff.
CHAPTER 2
“Why are you being punished?” Eo asked Rukha.
“I was accused of exercising free will,” answered Rukha in a tone that was surprisingly composed.
“And what was that choice?”
“I was accused of helping my friend escape to freedom. And who are you?”
“Eogulades, oil healer. Is it true?”
“It is the right thing to do, regardless if I did it or not.”
“I will not ask if you helped him.”
Rukha was silent.
“They plan on leaving you here so that you will die.”
“Yes.”
“And if you confess, you will at least die without suffering.”
“Yes.”
“If that is the case, then why don't you confess?”
Rukha tried to glance around without success. He could barely even raise his head.
“Your master has gone,” said Eo.
Rukha was silent.
“Because then, instead of letting you die they will interrogate you even more about the escape and then they might catch him.”
Rukha remained silent but his eyes expressed admission.
“That cruel Savsesser should be the one chained to the wall in your place,” said Eo.
“Everyone has his own fate, which provides him with opportunities to make his own choices. I bear no hatred or bitterness. Savsesser chooses to oppress his slaves, Timin chose to risk his life for freedom and I am accused,” Rukha took care not to admit to anything, “of choosing to risk my life in the name of friendship.” The energy it took him to speak exhausted him and his head slumped onto his chest.
Eo kicked a small stone, dug the toe of his sandal into the sand and tried to imagine what Kishmi would say. He turned from side to side and finally succeeded in articulating what he felt. “I choose you. Come work with me.”
Eo could not understand the rage that manifested on Rukha's face. Had he the energy, Rukha would have spoken, opened his closed heart and expressed his anger. During the long hours of his torture, Rukha had come to terms with his death sentence. He detached himself from the green landscape, the blue water and the brown earth. In his mind's eye, he could already see his mother and father awaiting him on the other side of the netherworld river controlled by the raft demon Siluigy. As the hours passed, he longed for death. Though death would release him from pain, he must protect Timin's secret. Death was within reach. In just a moment he would be liberated from the burden of his languishing body. And it had to be at this exact moment that the oil healer stood before him, inviting him not only to live but to live in dignity? He foiled his plans, interfering with his silent descent into death.
“I'll buy you from Savsesser,” continued Eo.
'It cannot be,' Rukha's thoughts persisted in an attempt to protect him from disappointment. He glanced at Eo with searching eyes. Eo seemed like he was speaking the truth. He continued to stare at him. He saw the goodness of his heart in his relaxed lips, his sincerity in his straightforward gaze. The more he looked at him, the more he trusted him.
“I'll take you out of here,” continued Eo, “if you so desire.”
The freedom afforded by death and the freedom afforded by the hope of life struggled within the young slave's tormented soul. The decision came to him of its own accord. Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream burst forth from the depths of his bowels, followed by bitter cries of hope. The physical pain of the torture overcame him all at once. He fainted. Savsesser hastily limped over on his staff, fearing that his guest had been injured.
“I will buy Rukha from you,” said Eo.
“I cannot sell you a rebellious slave. I cannot have it on my conscience that he may rise up and rebel against you one day.”
“I am willing to promise you that I free you of any such liability.”
After some thought, Savsesser added, “I cannot waive his punishment. What will the other slaves think? What will the other landowners say about me?”
“I am willing to compensate you for these damages as well.”
“That's a very high price we're talking about. I don't know if it is one you can afford.”
Eo removed the royal promissory note form the folds of his belt. Savsesser took the tablet in his hand and examined it closely on all sides. A glimmer flashed in his eyes. With difficulty, he parted with the tablet and handed it back to Eo. He rubbed his empty hands together.
“If His Excellency Seruf, eunuch of the king, is your guarantor, then perhaps it is better for you to buy a different slave, one who is stronger and more loyal. A wealthy man like yourself certainly can afford more. If you wish, I can give you two slaves for the price of one.”
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'll take Rukha now.”
Without waiting for an answer, Eo delivered the tablet into Savsesser's hands and began to unravel the knots on Rukha's wrists and ankles.
“Be careful, you are making a mistake! He is dangerous—take a different slave,” cried Savsesser.
“Do you want to give me back my promissory note?” Eo stretched out his open hand.
Savsesser could not stand up to his avarice. He slipped the tablet into the folds of his gown and said nothing. When Eo undid all of the binds, Rukha fell into his arms, still unconscious.
“Get back to work, now!” Savsesser thundered at the slaves who had stopped working and were now smiling widely. 'I shall instruct the chief taskmaster to be stricter with them in the coming days. I cannot let this matter arouse dangerous thoughts in their heads,' mused Savsesser.
“Bring me pomegranate juice, please” said Eo.
At Savsesser's command one of the slaves ran toward them carrying a pitcher and a flask. Eo cradled Rukha's head in his lap and dripped the juice into his mouth with his free hand. Rukha stirred, coughed slightly and finally drank a few drops.
Savsesser could not stand to watch the way in which a free man regarded the errant slave. He averted his gaze and fidgeted impatiently. Savsesser wanted to be rid of them as quickly as possible and to forget the disgrace that, instead of killing the rebellious slave, he had sold him in front of all of his servants. Eo also wanted to leave the slaves' court, but first he needed to give Rukha a drink. With infinite patience, he dribbled drops of juice into his mouth. Savsesser rocked on his cane and walked away, fondling the precious promissory note in his pocket.
Eo carried Rukha like a baby in his arms, taking care not to exacerbate the pain of the lacerations on his back. He exited through the gate, in anticipation of delighting Kishmi.
CHAPTER 3
For the first three days, Kishmi bandaged his wounds with mint to prevent infection. Throughout the week, she chewed bitter sage leaves and applied the sticky paste to the wounds on his back in order to accelerate their healing. During the second week, he managed to sleep through the entire night without waking from nightmares of the lashing whip and cries of “Timin, Timin”. By that point he had also begun to contribute his share of simple household chores as well as accompany Eo when receiving patients.
The
treatment he received from Eo and Kishmi aroused Rukha's suspicion. Since his parents' passing and Timin's escape, Rukha had come to terms with his solitude on this earth—no one would miss him were he to die. He sank into a deep depression despite the maternal warmth that Kishmi bestowed upon him through her dedicated care and despite Eo's certainty that Rukha would be delighted not only to have survived but to have been spared from hard labor. Even extract from St. John's Wart plant extract could not ease his misery.
“Eo, my love, what shall we do with him?” asked Kishmi while milking the goat.
“It's only been two weeks so far, dear. He needs time.”
“What for?”
“For him to believe that his destiny has improved.”
“It seems to me that something is still gnawing at him,” said Kishmi.
“What do you mean?”
“Timin.”
“What about Timin?”
“I think that he misses him or is worried about him. He may even admire him and is wondering why he himself is not trying to escape as well.”
“Or all of those things simultaneously,” said Eo.
“You're the healer. What can we do?”
“I have an idea.”
“What?” Kishmi stroked the goat soothingly to prevent it from kicking over the jug of milk.
“We'll let him out. Send him to buy olive oil from across the river. This will accomplish several goals.”
“Such as...?”
“We shall indubitably prove to him that we trust him, which may encourage him to trust us in turn. The excursion will provide him with an opportunity to inquire about Timin's fate without having to openly admit that he is doing so. And it is of utmost importance that he be given an opportunity to escape. Should he choose to return, he will no longer regard his presence in our home as a forced one, but rather one of choice.”
The anxiety in Rukha's heart only heightened the nearer he came to Savsesser's land. Even though he knew in his mind that he was no longer his property and even though he had a slave travel permit with him, the fear did not lessen and was not forgotten. He could have reached his destination by traveling a different route that bypassed Savsesser's land, but as Eo and Kishmi had expected, Rukha seized this opportunity to investigate news of Timin. In the weeks that passed since his disappearance, not a trace of information had surfaced regarding his fate. Had he been captured, the entire city would have known.
Mesopotamia - The Healer, the Slave and the Prince Page 4