Chapter III – Day of Horus the Elder (July 15) in the morning – Meeting

 

« So, the Hestians have criminals and murderers in their ranks? » Abina ironized.

« Why shouldn’t there be? Even some of your gods are, aren’t there? We are, like you, a people made up of good and bad, learned and ignorant, selfish and generous. »

« All this in masculine form, I’ve never seen Hestian women… Where are they? On Kalliste? On the Other Earth? Do you have women? »

« What ardour in your curiosity, young priestess! You are right, we have women, but none is present on your Earth; for nearly a thousand of your years, they have decided not to come here any longer. »

 

Chapter IX – Day of Isis (July 17) in the evening – Kidnapping

 

« Abina, do you know why Bek summoned us? It’s been dark for a long time… »

« Not the slightest idea, but Rebe was making a strange face when he gave us the message, even worse than yesterday afternoon. »

Selima went broke, just like she had done the day before.

« When did Bek summon you a second time? Alone, for another round of exams? Just a few hours after the first one? And for what purpose, by the way? The first ones weren’t enough? And then Seth’s day too! Frankly, he could have avoided it. Of all the evil days, Seth’s day is the worst. »

Selima looked suspiciously at her companion. She hadn’t told her everything, she would swear. Tests that make you smile all the time? It had started the night before, when they had returned to their room after the first test session. It was even worse since she had come back the night before. « And she had been there for hours! Did he drug her? Or worse? What is she hiding from me? »

« Abina!!!! »

« Yes, my darling… »

« Rebe and I are going to get married and have lots of children… »

« Yes, my darling… »

The little girl screamed.

« I was sure of it, I can say anything silly, you’re not listening to me. »

Abina was startled, caught daydreaming.

 

Chapter XI – Day of Isis (July 17) by night – Rescue mission

 

« Rebe, do you have her vitals? I’ve just disconnected her from a device like I’ve never seen before. I don’t know what it did to her, it feels like a state of shock. »

« The heart isn’t the problem, it’s her vital energy that’s stuck, » Rebe replied in his wavelighter. « I could have sworn it was impossible in such a short time, but it looks like her energy field is almost dry, as if it was sucked out of her. »

« The machine? »

« What else? Hurry up, she needs to recover more than half of her energy in the next few minutes to get through. »

Bek hadn’t waited for Rebe’s comments; once contact was made with Gaia, he let his energy flow through him to transfuse it to the still unconscious young woman. The bed was too high, he was struggling to maintain a wobbly position, one hand on the floor, the other on Abina’s throat. Rebe commented on the data transmitted by the bracelet.

« It’s not normal, I don’t know why, but it’s too slow. Gaia’s energy alone won’t be enough, find something else. And quickly! »

« The heat? »

« Yes maybe, but I don’t believe in it too much. You should rather share your own sphere of energy. Normally, it’s intended for mating with our wives, but since you don’t have any candidates in sight…, » Rebe mocked him.

« Wait until I come back, you, I’ll rip your tongue out. »

« As you wish. In the meantime, try something. Be careful anyway, you’re not supposed to use your sphere that way, so there’s no way of predicting what will happen to you. »

Bek inspected the surroundings, tore several blankets from the other empty bed, lifted Abina with one arm and lay on the floor, letting her slide on top of him. He swaddled her with the blankets he had retrieved and reconnected with Gaia. The last stage was going to be the most complicated and risky for both. But did he have a choice?

 

Chapter XIV – Day of Nephthys (July 18) early afternoon – Earthquake

 

« She’s smart, but what a bad temper! A real little shrew, » Bek commented.

« I know, but I love her just the way she is. You’ll see, tonight she’ll have forgotten everything and will be looking long and loud for me. »

« If you say so… »

He was about to add something else when an infinitely more violent and prolonged tremor than the previous one froze them. Abina felt capsized and hung on to Bek so as not to fall. Close to their position, other people with no support within reach slumped down. All the tents were blown down as if by a strong wind, while the few buildings that were there cracked and then collapsed with a crash.

« Bek… »

She fell silent when she saw him, who was usually very pale, turn white as chalk and whisper to himself.

« It’s not good, not good at all. Not even the biggest of the expected rocks could have triggered such an earthquake. This is the maximum level of what can be measured on Gaia. »

 

Chapter XVII – New Year – I Akhet 1 (July 19) – Third plague – The rains of blood
 

« Notice to the population. The emergency is not over. Please stay inside. The rain that is falling is dangerous for your health. »

The message was repeated twice and to the amazement of the Hestians, all the Earthlings who had come out by force withdrew hastily into the houses. Bek and Rebe had observed the phenomenon, without really understanding it.

« Well! What’s the matter with them? » Rebe laughed. « Will they become wise? »

« Strange, » Bek continued, « discipline isn’t their strong point, but you’ve seen that, haven’t you? Without even consulting each other, they all turned back, like one man, that’s the case to say. I’m going to see if Abina is awake, she can explain to me what I can’t see. »

Rebe couldn’t help teasing at him.

« Well, that’s a good excuse! There are a hundred thousand refugees in the camp and you’re going straight to her. Remind me of what you were saying: a scientist who doesn’t miss an opportunity? A simpleton in love, that’s what you are. Go, go, I’m sure that’s what she’s waiting for, too. »

 

Chapter XVIII – New Year – I Akhet 1 (July 19) – Fourth plague – Leprosy

 

Bek had spotted the symptoms, since he knew they were inevitable; the refugees in the camps who hadn’t wanted to listen to the messages of caution would soon have the same: blisters, pustules, burns. He tried to explain the phenomenon to the child, to make her understand it without shocking her too much. »

« You are right, Selima. I tried to tell Abina, I tried to warn everyone. The danger is not in the blood colour of the rain. No one wanted to listen. »

« What do you mean? »

Bek took his head in both hands, crushed by Abina’s accusing gaze.

« I said over and over again that the rain was dangerous. But not that iron was. Not really. This rain was brought by the blast of a volcano. A volcano that spewed out ash and sulphur. The ash is corrosive, it attacks the eyes, the skin, it scratches the inside of the body through the nose and mouth. With the rain, the sulphur has been transformed into an acid that causes just as many problems. »

« You mean the rain is burning the faces and bodies of these people? » Selima exclaimed.

 

Chapter XXV – II Akhet 20 (September 6) – Shedyt

 

Half-closed eyes, gaping mouths, they dozed on the compact sand of the bank, sheltered by the thin shade of a few gaunt palm trees. The largest of them were over twelve cubits long and their massive tails whipped the air overrun with whirring insects. Their nonchalant and clumsy air concealed the violence and speed of which they were capable. A few specimens floated in the pond, their eyes and snout protruding, ready to seize any stray prey and carry it into the depths of the muddy water. No living being could approach these places without risking its life.

However, in Shedyt, more than fifty-five leagues[i] north of their city, a crowd of Thebans, Earthlings and Hestians alike, had invaded the Farm of the Sacred Crocodiles to witness a singular execution.

.

i] 55 leagues = about 360 miles

 

Chapter XXXII – III Akhet 20 (October 6)
What’s wrong with Bek?

 

« Did he tell you off too, without listening to you? Did he make you angry? Don’t take it badly, and certainly not personally. He’s been insufferable to everyone for a decan. »

Rebe grumbled. Selima, while keeping her distance, grabbed his hand in sympathy. She understood his distress, Bek had not spared her either. Gone was the calm and serene commander: Bek had become irascible, impatient, dark even. The young lieutenant smiled ruefully at the priestess.

« Not with you, it seems. He said you could go to him because you… »

« … I’m keeping quiet, I know, » Abina continued, « he’s told me enough over the last few days. It’s the only way I’ve found to appease him, but I’m getting desperate. Until he tells me what’s eating away at him, I can’t help him. »

Rebe sat down on the low wall beside Abina, while Selima quietly took some dates from the bag to nibble on. Rebe nodded at the object.

« If the new high priest sees you sleeping on offerings, you’ll be in trouble. »

« It is my fate to be scolded by my superiors…” Abina replied innocently.

« …without any responsibility on your part, of course…” Rebe went on.

« Of course, you know that I am always innocent.

Faced with such bad faith, Selima choked as she swallowed her larceny, then burst out laughing, followed by Rebe, happy with this carefree moment. He soon regained his seriousness.

i] The Egyptian year is composed of 365 days divided into twelve months of thirty days (each month being divided into three decans of ten days) plus the last five days of the year, endowed with special names and considered as evil; these five days are situated before the New Year, which starts on July 19 in principle (it is the return of the star Sirius which determines the New Year and announces the flooding of the Nile).

 

Chapter XXXIV – III Akhet 24 (October 10) – Rumours in the market

 

She stroked the beetle she had brought, hidden in her hand, a real marvel of wood and mother-of-pearl covered with a thin film of gold. Rebe had advised her not to bargain for it for less than a shât[ii]. She could also buy food for her father and gifts for her relatives. She entered a weaver’s shop and found him in deep discussion with two local women. Knowing her poverty, he did not pay the slightest attention to her, but did not chase her away either. She took the opportunity to admire the articles on the display: pieces of linen dyed purple, red, or blue with lotus or ibis’ motifs; tunics already made up and trimmed with tiny glass beads; headdresses in various colours. The scent of benzoin wafted through the air to purify it. Behind her, the conversation continued. Suddenly a sentence caught her attention and she forgot everything else.

i] Shât: gold standard (1/4 once) used to determine the value of bartered goods.

Bientôt un nouveau chapitre