The Skin of the Gods

by Phil Armstrong

The Vicar shook Beth’s hand with a polite but firm handshake. It was the right length of time and the right firmness. It was a trustworthy handshake. “That’s quite alright sometimes people want to be invisible. Sometimes people want to talk and sometimes they want to listen. I respect that.”

  “A good listener is a good talker with a sore throat,” quipped Beth without thinking.

  The Vicar smiled, “Who said that?”

  “Katharine Whitehorn was responsible for that quote.” Keeping her eyes in a downward gaze she continued with her awkward conversation. “Well actually I’m not very good at this. I don’t usually come to Church. I don’t really have a chosen religion.” Beth paused and shifted her weight on the uncomfortable bench.

  “Well you’re here now so something inside of you brought you here tonight.”

  The Vicar was right, there are no coincidences. Beth could not hold back any longer. “If it’s okay with you I could really use some advice.” It did not seem like her own voice but the words reflected her true feelings.

  The Vicar smiled, leaned in and eased Beth into a conversation. “Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.” The Vicar looked pleased with his recall of an appropriate quote.

  “Erica Jong,” said Beth raising her eyes and smiling. “I believe that’s her quote.”

  “You’re good at this. You seem to have a good command of other people’s words, how about using some of your own? Why don’t you take your time and tell me what’s on your mind.” The Vicar sat in the row ahead of Beth and leaned backwards turning to face her. He placed his hand on the back of the bench to provide support to his twisted body. He wrapped his fingers around the smooth curved back of the wooden bench. Beth felt shy and looked down at his hand, avoiding eye contact and unsure of where to begin.

  “I’m scared and confused. My fiancé was a wonderful guy, always fun and happy. Lately he’s been having terrible nightmares involving acts of violence and murder. He wakes up scared to death and covered in sweat. Nothing much has changed in his life to cause this extreme behavior. It’s been getting worse and now he’s convinced that he’s the one in his dreams committing these gross acts. He’s mentioned having the same dream over and over and he’s obsessed. The dream is set in the past in olden days. He’s convinced it’s real like a past life or something. Last night he had the most vivid nightmare that he’s ever had and it shook him up badly. He was staying at my house and,” Beth paused in horror.

  “It’s okay I’m a Vicar with modern views built for coping in the real world. Your fiancée was staying over at your house and,” the Vicar waited expectantly.

  “He was so frightened by his nightmare he decided to go home and sleep it off alone. He lives in Oakworth so it shouldn’t have taken him long to get home. The problem is he’s gone missing and the police are asking me questions.” Beth’s desperate eyes screamed out for help.

  “Do you know where he is and you’re not telling the police?”

  “No. I have no idea where he is and it’s not like him to just leave without staying in touch.”

  “So in your heart you know something is wrong. He’s not the sort of bloke to just go walkabouts?”

  “Correct. I’ve been phoning his mobile and he lives on that thing. I’ve been getting nothing but voice mail, I’m worried.”

  “What are the police doing?”

  “Nothing until he’s officially a missing person.”

  “Right, I know that process. Have you reported him as missing yet?”

  “No his Mum has. I was the last person to see him before he disappeared. I know the police are going to want to question me more and I don’t know what to say. He had a scarily bad nightmare and left. That’s all I know and now I feel like the one in the nightmare.”

  The Vicar paused knowing that his next piece of advice was important and had to be just right. “You have to have some faith. You know you didn’t do anything wrong but the uncertainty is what’s killing you. Try to take it easy and distract yourself as difficult as that might seem. You have to cooperate with the police and let them do their job. Remember they’re trying to help you by closing down the viable alternatives.”

  “I know.” Beth’s voice trembled.

  “I’m sure he’ll turn up but at this stage we don’t know what happened to him. We don’t know why he can’t reach out to you right now. Give it some time and help all that you can. I know the waiting is tough. Remember this, you can come here any time if you feel you need to. I’m always here and I’m always available to talk should you want to. If you need support or an ear to bend then just come and find me Beth.”

  “Thanks,” said Beth knowing his offer was genuine.

  “Try to stay positive about the outcome and this will sort itself out. Let the police do their job, after all, what can you do? What would your fiancée want you to do? Probably stay strong and be ready to support him when he does show up.”

  “You’re right.”

  “The bad dreams are interesting but Beth he’s not unique. We all have bad dreams at some point in our life. Many things can cause nightmares; the brain is a complex organ. Sometimes you swear the dreams are real because they seem so real. You need to be strong for him. If it would help I suggest we both ask for guidance right now. Let’s say quiet prayers together, are you up for that?”

  Beth did not have the heart to tell the Vicar that praying for Matt was futile. He had been so kind, “Yes, I’d like that.” Beth closed her eyes and clasped her hands. She tried to clear her mind and think of nothing. After what she considered an appropriate amount of time to do this ritual justice, she opened her eyes. The Vicar was still praying but sensing a slight movement he opened his eyes also.

  “Do you need anything else from me my child?” the Vicar asked with a serious face.

  “No I think I’m going to go home and settle in for the night. I may come back tomorrow if I need to talk.” The Vicar had grasped the prayer book shelve to steady his balance.

  “I’ll be here, I usually am.” The Vicar offered a compassionate smile knowing Beth was having a hard time with this. Women are generally more in touch with their intuition and Beth knew Matt was in trouble. What she did not know was what kind of trouble.

  “Thanks for chatting with me, you’ve helped a lot. I might just get some sleep tonight. The alternative was hitting the Black Bull and drinking a skin full. That probably wouldn’t have been a good feeling in the morning.”

  “No you need to stay sharp to deal with whatever comes your way. Just go home and have a large glass of water. That’ll be far better for you with all of this stress. Goodnight Beth.” The Vicar rose and proceeded to the front of the Church to resume his waiting chores.

  Beth could still feel the damp trapped within her denim jeans. She stood and slowly walked away from the pulpit. It was an odd feeling. She could imagine doing this walk surrounded by relatives and friends. She would be smiling and graceful as she left the Church for her new life. She would not be wearing damp denim, sneakers and a rainproof jacket. Instead, she would wear a long white flowing chiffon gown carrying white roses and baby’s breath. She would have small flowers in her hair and her veil would be lifted back revealing her happy face.

  It just felt odd. Matt was missing and she was daydreaming about being a bride. She shook her head as she ventured out into the cold night air. The rain had stopped and the wind had subsided. She could hear a faint noise coming from the Black Bull. Beth hurried past the doorway and proceeded with haste down the Main Street of Haworth. The rain had washed the street and the smell of dampness filled her nostrils.

  Safely home, Beth changed into warm dry pajamas in record time. She completed her nightly safety check and slipped into her soft welcoming bed. “Come on Matt, be a man and show up; face the music if you can. Don’t put me through another day like this. If you’re in trouble then try to stay safe and come home in one piece. I love you Matt wherever you are tonight. Come home soon.
” After the stress of the day Beth fell asleep quickly. That night she dreamed of her wedding day floating down the aisle of Haworth Church.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 6: Two Magicians

  Upper Egypt, 3150 B.C.

  It was the early hours of the morning and the blistering sun had not attempted to invade the dark sky. The stars shone brightly and the faint noise of squabbling jackals could be heard in the distance. A steady cool breeze blew into the sleeping chambers from the east. He was a powerful man who only feared the Gods. It was a certainty that he would join the Gods when he died but he still had work to do in this life.

  The Greeks called them Pharaoh’s but the date was 3150 BC, well before the Greeks used that term. He was the King of Egypt. For thousands of years the Egyptians referred to their Kings as Nesu. Who was this man? It’s unclear with the passage of time and many incorrect interpretations. It was not uncommon for the Nesu to have several names. Today’s ancient Egyptian scholars disagree on his precise name. Some argue that many individuals from Egyptian lore are actually the same individual or composites from many individuals. In today’s modern world he would not be as famous as Tutankhamen, the boy King, but in his day he was everything.

  Although he was a powerful Nesu he was a mortal and not one of the original Egyptian God Kings. Before time was recorded, Egypt had God Kings such as Ra, Horus, Kronos, and Osiris among others. They represented the sun, earth, sky, order, chaos and death. It’s unclear if these God Kings took human form. The God Kings existed in the legendary period of Egypt. Before there was an Egypt, people in the north and the south worshiped many leaders, Gods and Kings. As a Nesu, they would make the journey into the afterlife to join the God Kings. Nesu Kings are classified in the archaic period or the early dynastic.

  When he rose to power he managed to galvanize a nation. It was a dream of many. It was never attained until this Nesu fought and achieved the dream - a unified Egypt. Great battles were waged and countless lives were lost in the attainment of this goal. Despite the bloodshed and political resistance he emerged victorious and conquered the north to forcefully and politically unite Egypt. He was all-powerful and had secured his seat at the throne of the greatest empire of this time.

  A skilled politician Nesu Narmer instigated a unified political center of the new Egypt and located it in the city of Naqada. A stone tablet known as the Narmer Palette survives today. It is testament to the definitive victory of the south over the northern kingdoms. Nesu Narmer was represented in ancient hieroglyphs by the symbol of a Catfish. He became known as the Catfish King. J.E. Quibell in Hierakonpolis discovered the Narmer Palette in 1897-98. The Palette shows the Catfish King wearing both a white crown of Upper Egypt and a red crown of Lower Egypt. The Nesu thereafter wore a red crown as a symbol of a unified Egypt. The Narmer Macehead was also discovered in Hierakonpolis and shows Narmer’s marriage to his wife Nithotep, Queen of the north. Many scholars felt Narmer’s marriage was a masterstroke in political unification. It may have been convenient and politically astute but the general opinion was incorrect. Nesu Narmer loved his wife. He was besotted with her beauty the moment that he first saw her. Nithotep was considered the most beautiful creature in Egypt and a fitting Queen for the Nesu. She was initially scared but quickly realized that she respected and loved her Nesu deeply.

  Until Jacques de Morgan excavated her tomb in 1896 virtually nothing was known about Nithotep. Nithotep is now known as the first Queen of a unified Egypt. Later in life she bore an heir and eventual successor Hor-Aha. Nithotep’s grave has been located within her tomb at Naqada. Her life is cemented in history thanks to an inscribed Ivory label found on the tomb.

  * * * * *

  Upper Egypt, 3150 B.C.

  Nithotep lay silent listening to the distant jackals and her husband’s erratic breathing. The cool night air blowing into the bedchamber would soon change, as Egypt would wake to a boiling sun. Nithotep tried to remain still as her arm touched her husband’s body. She knew he loved her but she needed to produce a son, an heir. The longer it went the more threatened she felt. The Nesu was a powerful man. He had many suitors willing to give him an heir and take her position as Queen. Earlier the Nesu had suffered from a bad dream screaming and sitting upright in their bed. She had comforted him and stayed awake until he fell asleep. The Nesu had achieved so much but bore great responsibilities. He had a divine connection to the Gods. They often channeled messages through him as their connection to the mortal world. He was also responsible for bringing peace and prosperity to the land. He needed to maintain order or Ma’at of the land as the Egyptian’s referred to it. He needed to keep chaos out and repel boat people and foreign invaders.

  The Nesu was acutely aware that it had been a dry season with crops starting to fail. If it continued the people would suspect that the Gods were angry at the unification of Egypt. He needed it to rain with a bountiful Nile flood bringing rich silt and much needed water. This would affirm his standing with the Gods and make the people happy. Morning came soon enough with Nithotep rising early to bathe. She left her Nesu to sleep after his restless night. She instructed the attendants not to wake the Nesu, as he needed rest. Nithotep was eating grapes and staring out over a parched courtyard. She noticed the attendants falling to their knees. Like soldiers in a losing fight, one after another, they fell to the ground, arms outstretched and palms facing the sky. The Nesu walked into the great room. Instantly attendants fell, not wanting to insult his status. Nithotep watched her Nesu carefully as he approached the table. He prepared an assortment of food. When their eyes met she respectfully bowed her head clasping her hands together.

  “How is my Queen this morning?”

  “I’m well. How is my Nesu?” she said smiling.

  “I’m tired and hungry. The Gods came to me in my sleep last night. I’ll share with you their instructions after we eat.” The Queen nodded and continued to sample the grapes. The Nesu clapped twice and the attendants rose to go about their business. The Queen watched her Nesu closely and followed his eyes from the food to the attendants. The Nesu tried to disguise it but a woman’s intuition is strong. There is no stronger feeling than jealously and betrayal. She watched him cast his eyes forward and move across the many servants before him. Nithotep noticed something that most would not. He tried to be subtle but his eyes stayed a fraction longer on one servant of the royal court. She had suspicions but they needed to be confirmed.

  Cleaning the floor at one end of the hall was a beautiful servant called Bener-ib. She was lean with long straight black hair and a golden body. She was shapely with attractive hips and a body that men would find irresistible. Her hips swayed when she walked and her long hair flowed down her back like a shining waterfall. When she moved, the Nesu’s eyes followed her as if in a trance. Careful not to stare he could not resist taking the opportunity to look at Bener-ib without turning his head. Bener-ib had a beautiful face with brown eyes and white teeth. Nithotep had seen her smile and instantly recognized the power she had over men. She was exceptionally pretty. In the royal palace Bener-ib had been careful not to make eye contact or smile. She did not want to draw unnecessary attention to herself or annoy the Queen.

  Nithotep surrounded herself with a few close attendants. They had access to information and observed daily life within the palace. One evening an attendant informed Nithotep that the Nesu had developed a preference. The Nesu would specifically ask for Bener-ib when he would bathe. It was not uncommon for the Nesu to ask for a female to help him bathe. It was unusual to ask for the same attendant especially one so pretty. Bener-ib was younger than the Queen and her body reflected her strict palace duties. Her constant activity forged her body to be lean, taught, and fit. The Nesu’s eyes lingered on Bener-ib for less than a second. It was enough to convince Nithotep that the Nesu was interested. She decided in that moment that she would need to quickly produce an heir.

  The Nesu would always have his choice of women. Nithotep did not like it but it was a fac
t she would be powerless to change. With a son she would ensure her status as Queen and her safety within the royal palace. As the Nesu rested his eyes on Bener-ib she reacted in a strange and dangerous way. She lifted her chin slightly to make direct eye contact with the Nesu. Bener-ib made a fatal error as she failed to notice the Queen staring right at her. She opened her mouth slightly and flashed a smile. The Nesu immediately looked away with his gaze falling upon a bowl of fruit. Bener-ib closed her eyes and lowered her chin seductively. Jealousy raised its ugly head like a dancing cobra. This act had incensed the Queen. She struggled to contain her rage at this insult and wanted to instruct the guards to kill Bener-ib immediately. She could feel the heat rising within her but managed to hide her displeasure. She had watched her Nesu deal with difficult situations and decided to emulate his traits. She remained calm and resisted the opportunity to do anything rash. She would need to think about her actions. She wanted a cool head and more time to devise a strategy.