The Skin of the Gods

by Phil Armstrong

  The day unraveled with the Nesu leaving to inspect the progress of a building he had commissioned. The sun had risen to its highest point when the Nesu returned to the palace. It was another hot day without rain. Nithotep had devised a rigorous cleaning schedule far greater than the normal duties. She managed to assign light duties to each attendant. Bener-ib was assigned all of the undesirable tasks with a full schedule taking her well into the night. She was given clear instructions that the work needed to be completed before she retired to bed. Bener-ib would have no time to bathe the Nesu tonight.

  When the Nesu returned he was agitated and annoyed. Nithotep assumed the progress on his building had faltered. Aya was a loyal servant to the Queen and was a trusted aide. She entered the courtyard and quickly located the Queen sitting in the shade. She approached in a direct fashion unusual for an aide. Aya stopped with her head bent and eyes looking at the ground. “My Queen I’m sorry for the intrusion but the Nesu is asking for you. It appears to be a matter of some importance.”

  “Is he annoyed?”

  “He’s raising his voice and wants to see you immediately.”

  “Where is he?”

  “He’s in the parchment room.”

  “What’s he doing in the parchment room?”

  “I don’t know but you must hurry.”

  “I’ll go but are you sure he’s in the parchment room?”

  “Yes now please hurry.”

  The Queen was intelligent and this story seemed odd. The circumstances seemed suspicious but Nithotep trusted Aya. To be safe, the Queen left the courtyard and asked for two guards to accompany her to the parchment room. It was a long walk to the far end of the palace. She entered a wing of the palace where her Nesu never ventured. As she approached the parchment room she ordered the guards to position themselves, one at the front and one to the rear. She cautiously approached the room through a long thin corridor made from stone. She could see the bright shaft of light bursting through the doorway ahead. The light reflected on the bronzed muscular shoulders of the guard in front of her. The guard stopped at the entrance and immediately fell to his knees at the sight of the Nesu. The guard behind the Queen also fell. The Queen had a clear view into the parchment room. The parchment room was located to the rear of the palace and contained many records of texts, inventories and fables. The room was oval shaped with parchments rolled into scrolls and stored in alcoves around the walls. In the center of the oval was a large wooden table inlaid with designs of animals. The Nesu was seated in a large wooden chair facing the door. When he saw Nithotep he pushed his weight from the chair and walked towards the door. Looking down at the men he lightly tapped the front guard with his foot.

  “You, go now.”

  The guard rose to his feet bowed and scurried away quickly. The Nesu walked passed Nithotep and approached the second guard.

  “You, stand now.” The guard stood immediately to attention keeping his eyes in a downward stare. “Turn and walk fifteen paces from the door. I want you to guard the passage and not let anyone or anything pass you. You will remain there until we both emerge. If you fail in your duties I will ensure your body parts are fed to the jackals. Walk now.” The guard carried out the Nesu’s orders. He faced away from the door standing motionless like a stone statue. The Nesu turned to his Queen and gestured for her to enter the parchment room. It was cool and smelled musty. As she entered the room she heard the wooden bolt slide across the face of the door behind her. Nesu Narmer walked to the center table. “Sit please.”

  “What troubles you my Nesu to bring me to this remote part of the palace?”

  “Forgive me my Queen but I wanted to be safe from prying eyes and curious ears.”

  The Queen sat in a chair facing her Nesu. “Have I displeased you in any way?”

  “No I am most pleased with my Queen. I do owe you an explanation. I need to tell you about my dreams. The Gods have talked to me and I need to ask for your assistance in an important matter.” This was the first time Nesu Narmer had asked Nithotep for help in any way and she felt a rush of excitement coupled with a strong curiosity.

  “I will assist in any way that I can.”

  “Good I need to start at the beginning.”

  It was early evening and the sun was setting when they emerged from the parchment room. The guard remained fixed to his spot. The Nesu approached the guard instructing him to escort the Queen back to her chambers. The Nesu walked methodically to the great hall of dreams. He summoned Amman and Bes both strong leaders of high rank within the royal guard. The Nesu spent time outlining detailed instructions to both Amman and Bes. That night preparations were made in the guardhouse to select four of the most talented guards. They would form two teams. Each team armed with specific instructions left the palace carrying supplies under the cover of darkness. One group headed towards the north. The other group marched south.

  Later that night the Nesu returned to his bedchambers where Nithotep had food prepared for the Nesu. He rested on their bed. She knew he had not eaten since the morning. “Eat, you need to remain strong.”

  “I would like to offer gratitude towards my Queen for looking after me. I will need your assistance with these important artifacts.” He gently placed two small gold boxes at the foot of the bed. He could see Nithotep looking at the boxes and wondering what they were. The boxes were of similar size and shape, each with a gold clasp securing a lid. The boxes looked similar but were different in their designs. “I will explain in good time.” He walked over to the table piled high with food and began to eat. As the night wore on, Nesu Narmer revealed to his Queen what was in each box. He explained how important these items were to Egypt and the entire mortal world. He explained what he needed his Queen to do and how she would help him. He placed the boxes on a small table next to their bed and succumbed to his fatigue. Nesu Narmer placed his head upon his wooden neck stand and drifted into sleep. Nithotep could not sleep, she felt disturbed and uneasy. Nesu Narmer had shared with her his dreams, secrets and a direct request for help. Later that night she heard an unusual sound breaking through the normal night music of the desert. It was a small sound but different enough to enter her consciousness. She rose carefully trying not to disturb her Nesu. She walked towards the balcony passing through flowing sheers. Within seconds she instantly knew. She matched the sound with the spots appearing on the dry stone floor. It was starting to rain! She turned and ran towards her Nesu. “Wake up it’s raining, it’s raining.”

  The Nesu was dazed but once the words registered he ran to the open balcony to experience the cool drops falling onto his face. A broad smile broke across his face and he embraced his Queen with a passionate kiss. “The Gods are pleased.”

  That night the rains were plentiful bringing much needed relief to the region. The rain continued for several days and the people were happy to support their Nesu. They ran out onto the streets chanting his name.

  * * * * *

  It was sixteen moons since Amman and two guards had left the palace. They traveled north to find a person known as Ka. It was mid day and the sun was bright and high in the sky. The men were tired and hot from the burning heat. They approached a stone dwelling with a small wooden door. They banged on the door shouting their presence by order of the Nesu. An old withered man pushed the door open and shielded his eyes from the bright light. Dressed in simple clothes he was quickly pushed aside by Amman. “Where is he? Where’s the great Ka?”

  Each soldier wore a leather armband decorated with the gold symbols of the Catfish King. “What do three soldiers from the royal palace guard want with Ka?”

  Amman pulled his knife from its sheath. He quickly snapped it under the chin of the old man in one fluid move. “The Catfish King, Nesu Narmer himself needs to speak with Ka. We will kill you if you don’t tell us where Ka is.” The blade was pressed firmly across the throat of the old man causing a red welt to form under the pressure. The other guards continued their search for Ka through each room of the s
mall house. “Where is he old man?”

  “What does the Catfish King want with Ka?” the man repeated.

  “The Nesu wants to talk with Ka. It’s an urgent matter that could affect us all. It’s important to Egypt. That’s all I know but I’ve been sent to find him. It’s very important. We’ve been told that Ka is the greatest Magician in northern Egypt.”

  “I heard he’s the greatest Magician in all of Egypt.” The word Egypt was muffled as Amman rammed the blade tighter into the throat of the old man. Amman gripped the handle but a burning sensation shot its way from his hand to his brain. He dropped the knife quickly as his hand burned. His palm started to blister from the heat. Amman let out a cry alerting the other guards. They turned in time to see the knife fall blade first. The knife came to rest on the stone floor with Amman clutching his burned hand. He moaned in pain from the intense heat.

  The knife lay motionless in the center of the small room. It drew the guard’s attention as it started to emit a small hissing noise. The black and gold colored knife transformed before their eyes into a striped snake hissing and slithering across the cold stone tiles. The snake slithered quickly towards the open door. The guards stood in silence as the old man straightened his crooked back and grew visibly. He looked younger and more threatening. He moved towards Amman and stared deep into his eyes. “Why does the Catfish King summon Ka?”

  Amman gripped his wrist. He was frightened to touch the painful weeping sores on his palm. “I don’t know. He said our lives would be over if we failed to bring Ka to the palace. He threatened to kill our families.”

  The old man extended his hand. He rubbed his hand across Amman’s sore, blistered palm. Water ran from the blisters splashing onto the floor. Amman felt his hand cool instantly. His blistered skin had repaired. He looked at his hand in amazement finally realizing who the old man was. “Will you come with us to the palace to meet the Catfish King?”

  “I’m intrigued. I will go with you to the palace but understand I’m going willingly. I’m curious that the Nesu requires my presence. I’m not committing to help the Nesu. I merely want to understand what he wants from me.”

  The journey back to the palace would not take as long. Many days were wasted asking questions and eliminating false leads. The search for Ka was not an easy one. People knew of his great powers and were afraid to assist the guards. The journey back to the palace would be more direct. The guards would expect to receive assistance along the way. Food, water and supplies would be given freely when people recognized them as royal palace guards.

  * * * * *

  Bes had been given a different assignment to Amman. In many respects his assignment appeared simpler. He was instructed to direct his team to the south. He needed to locate a valley with a small hill palace. Local stories told of a small palace made from dark stone. This palace had no guards protecting it. Villagers would often walk the stony path leading to the palace. They would leave food at a halfway point. The village was prosperous with residents living in harmony. The greatest Magician in the south was a malevolent soul who lived a private life. The villagers provided food and water while the Magician provided safety, harmony and good fortune. It was a symbiotic relationship. The villagers worshipped the Nesu but they respected the Magician of the south.

  Legend has it that the great Magician of the north once demanded an audience. A competition was orchestrated to see who the most powerful Magician in the land was. After many days of inclement weather the sky grew dark and the winds rose sharply from the east. Lightning could be seen in the skies and something occurred that has been questioned ever since. No one is left in the village old enough to recall that day. Many feel the story has been embellished over the years for effect. For two moons the heavens opened and a strange white cold dust fell from the sky settling on the ground. The dust was wet and the people were scared. Many said the Magician from the south had lost the challenge and had exploded in the sky. Millions of pieces of the Magician’s soul were now falling back to earth. She would never make the final glorious journey to the underworld.

  The villager’s fears were unsubstantiated as the Magician of the south defeated the Magician of the north. Many still talk of the legend of the white dust believing it to be true. The story is too old to be substantiated but many believe the story their ancestors told them. Carvings on the walls of the village temple depict the scene. Today the villagers still take food to the halfway point. Some boasted that they have passed the halfway point. Some have continued on through curiosity, many through ignorance. At the top of the path lies a black, gnarled and twisted tree stump. The legend states that the tree is all that remains of the Magician of the north. A few of the villagers have seen the tree stump from a distance but they feared to come closer. The tree stump is positioned at the front entrance of the palace. It is well beyond the halfway point. Indescribable torture will happen to people caught past the halfway point. What the villagers lacked in information they simply made up. The details of the torture came from the figments of the darkest corners of their imagination.

  The Magician of the south was considered the most powerful and oldest Magician in the land. Little was known about the Magician’s age, appearance or powers. One story endures above all others as the most repeated story in village folklore. The story describes the fate of a village elder severely injured by an alligator. Villagers left the injured man at the halfway point with the usual offerings of food. Several moons later the man walked into the village completely healed. He had no recollection of the past few days. A woman gave birth to a horribly deformed baby girl with a severe cleft lip. Villagers wanted to kill the girl; she was an omen of misfortune. The villagers believed the Gods were displeased. In desperation the distraught Mother decided to take the baby girl to the Magician. A desperate Mother risked her own life by leaving the child, wrapped in only a simple blanket, at the base of the shriveled tree stump. Three months later the child was returned. Still wrapped in the same blanket, she was fully healed and reunited with her grateful Mother. The Magician and the villagers had an agreement that lasted through generations. Nesu Narmer was from the south; he had heard of the great Magician known as En. En was famous, feared and respected.

  Through small clay tablets a message had been sent to the En. Nesu Narmer’s favorite Falcon had injured its wing. It was the fault of the Catfish King and he had never felt such remorse. He immediately requested the Magician’s help. This was the first and only time the great Nesu had asked for the Magician’s help. The Magician spoke to a young woman of the village through her dreams. She was scared and confused but she was compelled to approach the palace. She climbed the steep path to the palace entrance; she climbed the hill cautiously. Believing in her dream she passed the halfway point and approached the blackened tree stump. She froze as she saw the twisted knots deep within the wood. The wood resembled the tortured faces of vanquished foe. At the base of the tree was a wicker basket containing strips of linen. The lined was soaked in a strong smelling ointment. From her dream she knew she must take this basket to the royal palace and deliver it to Nesu Narmer. Against her husband’s wishes she approached the royal guard and explained her dream.

  She was granted a private audience with Nesu Narmer. She once again explained her dream and delivered the basket. She informed the Nesu of the Magician’s instructions. Specific instructions were conveyed for the use of the medicated bandages. The Nesu’s bird handlers followed the strict and complicated regime described. Within a month the Falcon was flying using the fully healed wing. The Nesu decided to do two things. He sent a message thanking the Magician. He promised the Magician to never interfere with her tranquil existence. He also rewarded the woman handsomely for having the courage to ask for an audience.

  In back alleys and darkened rooms people would gather in the village and discuss a story that would not seem to go away. It was an old story that was not to be repeated. Village elders would punish anyone discussing and passing down this story
. Many believed it to be true. One of the Egyptian Gods strayed one day and came across a mortal bathing in the Nile. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The story tells of a brief encounter where the woman fell under the charms of the God and they produced twin girls. The girls looked like their Mother but had the power of their Father. Fearful that mortals would discover their powers their Mother raised the girls in a remote part of southern Egypt. Watched over by the Gods the girls grew to be beautiful young women. They could cast a spell over any man with their beauty alone.