“Well, that’s another fine mess you’ve got me into.” Spluttered Aka as he grabbed hold of one of the roots that lined the sides of the pool.
Laughing Lateef replied, “Hardly, old friend.”
Together they climbed out and sat on the side of the pool staring at the desert outside the cave. As he recovered from the shock of the water Lateef started looking for the pathway back to the grey world from which they had come. All he could see was a true heat haze across the desert that surrounded them. Lateef felt as if he was drowning again.
“Where’s the path, Aka, can you see it?” There was an edge of terror in his voice.
“Well there’s water, and it’s fresh.” Said Aka. Laughing again Lateef replied, “You always see the best in things Aka. I love you for that. But where is the path?”
“We follow our tracks, look,” said Aka pointing at the sand just outside the cave entrance, “just there. We follow them back to the pathway across the skies. Let’s get a drink and move on, we’ll dry off on the way back to the pathway.”
“See, the bright side. I’m thinking of the heat.”
The two friends sat a while longer before braving the run across the sands but when they did go they dived through the pathway back to the grey world they had only recently left.
Following the baking desert realm the two men spent an exhausting, but cautious day, exploring the remaining fourteen realms. Each was different. Some they could imagine living in while others were plainly not suitable. Some had sights they could not comprehend and others had sounds they did not want to understand. In those particular realms, and unlike the desert realm, they simply returned the way they had come. Lesson learned.
They found food and more water on several realms. In the eighth realm, they also found the herd of damma gazing away on the horizon. The damma all seemed calm and did not spook as the two men explored the realm around the pathway. It was to the dammas’ realm that the two friends returned to sleep. It felt safe. Waking as the sun breached the horizon they knelt together and offered thanks for all they had seen. It was worth sharing with those they loved!
Lateef and Aka ran back through the pathway to the central realm and then on to the Black Lands and their friends, their families, old homes and new futures. A future of possibilities away from Badar and a bloodthirsty king. Optimism fuelled every stride they took.
Rabiah, Raad and Thi greeted Lateef and Aka with joy as they regrouped. With only three hunters driving the herd of damma antelope some had broken free and escaped but enough remained that a feast, as well as a sacrifice, was possible. The hunters would be returning to Badar as the river swelled with the flood waters and sacrifices enough to appease King Men-Sen-Ra. He would surely reward them handsomely and be distracted by his own success. The five comrades felt a sense of pride and security in their endeavour.
However assured the five hunters felt they mostly wanted to be rewarded with freedom and anonymity. Their king's attention was the last reward they craved. As loyal subjects they would deliver the King his prize then they wished to disappear.
As the five hunters drove the herd into the outskirts of the city and then down to the main entrance of the temple courtyard crowds began to line the thin streets and alleys cheering. The Damma were spooked and scared but the herd was tired and the only place to run was forwards, into the temple courtyard and their fate. Bunching and bucking the damma circled inside the courtyard. They had nowhere else to go. The smell of the animals fear filled the air. The ground already slippery, stained and wet with their faeces as the king appeared on his raised platform that stood high in front of the temple. Wearing resplendent white robes with gold braid Men-Sen-Ra stood tall and beaming as he looked out to see the sprawling mass of animals. Already informed by his courtiers that the river was rising the King had a renewed confidence and air of invulnerability.
“Lateef!” he bellowed in a deep resonating voice. “Come forward.”
Lateef’s men shrunk to the back of the courtyard and the entrance back into the city from which they had come. None wanted the adoration of the king. He was unpredictable and dangerous.
Lateef knew his responsibility to his men and his King. Stepping forward he walked around the herd which was now quietening. They had sensed a change, the crowds were calming in expectation of their Kings words and all escape routes were closed off.
“My King.” said Lateef bowing.
“You have done well my Hunter Chief” stated Mer-Sen-Ra. “The Gods have brought up the river and you have brought such a sacrifice that it outshines all kings before me.”
“My King, the gods left this herd for you as an anointing tribute. As the first waters of the river began to rise so we were delivered the herd. They are yours to do with as you please my King.” said Lateef bowing as though his life depended on it.
“The Gods. My Gods and peers,” announced Mer-Sen-Ra, “have blessed my rule over you all, my subjects, and this Kingdom of the Black Lands. We will sacrifice and feast this day. Harvests will be upon us once more.”
The crowds cheered.
Lateef looked back over his shoulder to his hunters and smiled.
A smile slowly spread across Mer-Sen-Ra’s face too.
“My people. I am here by divine right and anointed by the Gods as we now see. I have been delivered a prophecy this day that will guarantee our future. The gods demand not an animal sacrifice but human sacrifice. From this day, and for each season henceforward, we shall deliver a sacrifice worthy of the Gods and the bounty they bestow. In honour of the sacrifice made by forfeiting your mortal life, you will be granted burial in a pyramid and eternal life in the lands of the Gods where I will join you in the next life. No greater honour can I bestow.”
The crowd was silenced. None cheered. Lateef's face had gone white as he remembered how his predecessor had been sacrificed by the King after the last failed hunt. Mer-Sen-Ra must have concluded his sacrifice had brought the rains and the damma.
“Lateef, step up to me,” demanded Mer-Sen-Ra. He paused and Lateef did not know what to do. Like the damned damma, he had nowhere to run. He had the sense that his fates had changed. He had visited the lands of freedom, they seemed so tormenting close yet so far. With eyes fixed on the King and tunnel vision Lateef walked up the steep steps to stand on a platform just below his King. The sounds of the world extinguished from his ears the sense of drowning was rapidly returning. Praying for redemption he remembered his family with love in his heart, he remembered his hunters proudly. He knew they would lead those he loved away from this place. Taking peace in that he took the final step to stand before Mer-Sen-Ra. Outwardly he showed nothing but calmness.
Mer-Sen-Ra produced a large sword from the jewelled scabbard at his side and loudly announced to all, “You, Lateef, can have the honour of being the first to have eternal life bestowed upon you. I look forward to seeing you in the next life with our Gods.”
With a sudden thrust to the heart, Mer-Sen-Ra despatched Lateef into the next life.
The crowd remained silent as Lateef collapsed on the stone slab. His blood pumping out of the hole in his chest and running down the steps to mingle with the faeces of the damma. To Men-Sen-Ra’s surprise, the crowds did not cheer.
It was not the jubilant start to celebrations the King intended. He angered.
Many wept silently.
Aka’s story –
Colonising of Realms
Aka watched powerless from the back of the courtyard unable to move as Mer-Sen-Ra plunged his sword into his friend’s chest. This was no honourable death as the King had called it, it was murder plain as the shit under his feet. Aka felt his own life expectancy reducing as he watched Lateef slump to the ground and knew he was now Hunter Chief of the Black Lands and Badar. As with Lateef before him, it was not a promotion he had wanted. The horror of the moment turned his stomach and he threw up over his feet.
“Aka,” boomed Men-Sen-Ra, “step forward and join me, bring your men.”
As the four men arrived in front of the King, and next to Lateef’s bloodstained body, none could bring themselves to look at Lateef for fear of their own reactions. Aka looked up to his King who stood tall and proud beaming down on him, his sword still in hand as blood slowly dripped from its tip.
“For delivering the herd of damma for sacrifice to the gods you shall receive commendations.” Announced Men-Sen-Ra proudly. “Now the Gods and I are of accord we shall feast for many days on the Damma you have delivered. Following the feast I will assign you knew hunters who can help you gather more animals for feasting, we shall all live like kings now the gods have shown us the price to be paid.”
Around him, the Kings lackeys and sycophants cheered, the further away the crowd was from the King the quieter the cheer became. Many had known and respected Lateef and his predecessor, more had respected the old King who had never sacrificed a single soul and had ruled kindly.
The new King set his minions to work on the damma and within hours the feasting and celebrations had begun. Considering it the highest honour he could bestow upon Lateef’s widow in recognition of her husband and his sacrifice Men-Sen-Ra took her to his bed to show her his personal gratitude, he had been too easily seduced power, the feast, and his own debauchery.
The King never came for Lateef’s body as promised, he had been forgotten, leaving Aka and the hunters to recover their comrade only once they felt safe to do so. Lateef’s body was returned to his widow and to a hero’s welcome. All the while the rain continued to fall and the river rise, which only served to promote Men-Sen-Ra’s claim that the gods preferred human sacrifices to bless the Black Lands, Badar, and his reign. Further fuelled by wine his ego and machismo knew no bounds, neither did his appetites. Two days after sacrificing Lateef while still drunk on power and wine the King announced a month-long feast to celebrate his knew accord with the Gods.
Lateef’s sacrifice had shocked the remaining free-thinking citizens of Badar. What should have been the King's moment of glory had in fact been met derision and fear outside of the temple courtiers, but the wine continued to flow the unbroken feasting mollified many of the populace. Lateef begun to fade into memory, the King had bought their loyalty with food and wine. Months of hardship were soon forgotten as the month long feast dulled memories and filled bellies.
However, Aka and his hunters, could not forget. Even as they were invited to the king’s private apartments to join his celebrations. None had the appetite and not one of them felt any loyalty towards their King. He had betrayed Lateef and dishonoured his widow. Horrified and sickened Aka knew he had to do something, he had to find a way to honour his predecessors with actions, not subordination. As Aka sat with his wife by their cooking fire he recalled his last journey with Lateef and how salvation had presented itself. Now here he was the only people who had seen beyond the shimmering wall up on the plains, ‘Sky paths,’ as Lateef had called them. Together they had visited new realms beyond away from the horrors of Men-Sen-Ra, realms where the King had never been.
Aka smiled at the memory of the journey he had taken with his friend. A journey from a place far beyond the reach of the king or his soldiers. The two of them had talked excitedly about the possibilities the new realms may offer. New lands they could build homes away from tyrants. Little had they imagined the horrors that had awaited them on their return, a return that should have been triumphant. Aka cursed himself for underestimating the king, it would not happen twice. He was sure he would pay with his life if he did.
As news of Men-Sen-Ra’s month of celebrations reached Aka so inspiration overcame his mourning. He knew now was his opportunity, he needed to act before the next new moon, he needed a plan. He could not just leave though, as there were too many people he loved that he could not leave behind. That and Men-Sen-Ra would surely notice his absence too quickly if he just left. Reflecting on possible plans and the memories that were still fresh and painful Aka got up with renewed purpose and left for the king's private apartments. The memory of his friend gave him the strength he needed to maintain the King’s trust. He had twenty six days before the next new moon.
Entering the King’s apartments Aka could see the king lying semi-conscious on a bed of cushions and fine linen but surrounded by his guards, lackeys and semi-naked young men and women each enjoying the other in various states of drunkenness. Men-Sen-Ra lay there in the stains of their debauchery and surrounding them was the inescapable smell of human bodies who had over-indulged and under-washed. Aka tried not to taste the rancid air, only taking shallow breaths in the claustrophobic atmosphere.
However tempted he was to take revenge for his friend here and now he understood the dangers, far better to run and build a new life in freedom. The temptations laid before him were of no compensation for the loss he felt inside. Aka approached the king slowly, “My King,” he said bowed supplication and waited.
One of the King’s personal assistants roused himself from a wine-induced slumber and delicately prodded the Men-Sen-Ra. Waking slowly as awareness dawned even more slowly Men-Sen-Ra looked from his assistant and then to Aka. Through blurred vision, the king raised the bloodstained sword that had not left his side since he had struck down Lateef and pointed it at Aka who tensed and stood to attention. Everyone else within the swords reach sobered and melted into the background, Aka’s eyes did not leave the King’s gaze.
“My hunter. My Hunter chief. Aka. What can I do for you?” slurred Mer-Sen-Ra. “Why don’t you join us? You have earned the pleasures you see before you, wine, women… boys?”
Lateef shivered inwardly repulsed by this man he saw before him. Understanding what he was risking by not accepting the invitation but remembering his friend's murder he replied, “As your new Hunter Chief I want to earn your deepest praise. Your offer is very generous and tempting my lord and King. Instead, I want to honour you by bringing further tribute for the month’s celebrations. I believe the gods will further endorse your divine rule. I can recruit new hunters immediately, hunters that share my devotion to you. Further hunting parties can be sent out in your name to return within the month with further tribute honouring you. I ask that you bless this endeavour and grant me the authority to do this for you.”
Mer-Sen-Ra began to sober and enjoy the affirmation Aka was bestowing upon him. The idea of further divine anointment gripped him and his vanity. “Go Aka of the hunt. Bring me tribute worthy of your divinely anointed king.”
“Your blessing is humbly received oh Lord and King.” replied Aka has he backed away bowing, but never taking his eyes off the King until he was safely out his apartments. Passing through the entrance and out into the bright sunlight he allowed himself a smile as he inhaled the fresh clean air. He had twenty six days to execute his plan.
Galvanised by Lateef's sacrifice, Aka’s leadership, and pure fear, the hunters gathered their families, Lateef's widow, and all their combined children. They were sent up the river and the myriad of tributaries to the high plains while Aka and his men remained behind. For another ten days they were seen to recruit new hunters, trusted friends and families to ensure the king did not renege on his promises and end the feasting early. Slowly Rabiah, Raad and Thi lead
small groups out and away from Badar.
Once on the plains, the three hunters would lead the refugees through the sky paths and to damma realm. Aka remained behind giving the appearance of a loyal subject but eventually, the day came when he needed to disappear. He was not sorry to go and was pleased to have given the last of the escapees a clear five days head start before he set off to join them. There were families, young and old who could not travel as fast as a hunter. Once clear of the city and out of sight he ran, nothing was stopping him and he ran for a solid day not resting.
In the days that followed the king’s distractions kept him occupied and so well intoxicated that he did not notice Aka’s absence. All carnal desires were catered for as long as a jug of wine and a willing lackey were close at hand.
All the while Men-Sen-Ra had been congratulating himself on propagating a subject as loyal as Aka, one who knew his place and worshipped his King. He was proud of Aka’s suggestions to extend the celebrations with yet more tributes and he told himself that on Aka’s deliverance of the promised damma he would have to teach his Hunter Chief how to celebrate. After all the king had noticed Aka had been sending out many hunting parties. It was three full moons before Mer-Sen-Ra realised many of his citizens had gone, including Aka and none had yet returned and he had no idea where they had gone. He never found out.
Generations passed after the short reign of Men-Sen-Ra. At first, the settlers from the Black Lands formed a small community near the sky paths that lead back to the first new realm. The small group of farmers and hunters held to simple philosophies of working together, not bloodthirsty tyranny. As the generations passed they remembered the stories of their ancestors, not the gods of their old kings. No sacrifices that cost lives, but working to benefit from this new start, working with their worlds and caring for them as they believed was their divine responsibility. They shared the resources they had and tended to their neighbour as though they were family.
DiPacha Lore Page 2