CHAPTER 6: "UNDERSTAND THESE ISH RA ELITES"
As I strolled down the long dark corridors of the temple on the morning of our departure for the north, I wondered why Kho-An-Sa had summoned me to meet him alone before we mounted the caravan. Hazz was a few steps ahead, leading the way to a section of the temple I had never seen. As we rounded corner after corner, I noticed a slight decline in the floor and realized that we were going down, deep into the bowels of the this amazing structure. Finally, we approached a huge door. Hazz pointed to it and bowed.
"Enter, Memna-un," he said. "I shall await you here."
"Thank you, good Hazz," I said, returning his bow with one of my own.
"Please, my friend," Hazz whispered, nervously looking around. "Be careful not to show me respect before others. As a slave...I would be beaten for it."
I looked into his fearful expression and felt pained. Here was a noble man, afraid to receive common courtesy from another. I placed my hand upon his shoulder and drew him close.
"One day, Hazz," I whispered, "I shall return here. Together we will overthrow these evil ones who have taken Petra. This I swear to you, my friend-your people shall one day be free."
Hazz smiled and looked deeply into my eyes. "I believe you my friend," he whispered. "I truly believe we can."
I pushed open the door and found myself in a small torch-lit corridor. At the far end, thin curtains hung before an entrance to a well-lit chamber. Pushing through the curtains, I entered a large room containing several large tables covered with smoking containers and strange devices. Small covered vases along the wall shook slightly, as if they contained something alive. Upon one of the tables sat several transparent flasks containing swirling colors and odd images.
Standing over one of the tables was Kho-An-Sa, staring intently at the pages of a book. I took a step forward and recognized it as my own Book of the Taut.
"Young Memnon," he cried as he looked up from it. "Come! Enter! "
I approached the table upon which he studied my writings.
"Careful!" he cried. "Do not touch anything."
I walked around the table, immediately hearing strange sounds coming from the flasks and other containers. Peering curiously into a small jar, I spied tiny glowing eyes staring back at me and I jumped back, startled. "What is this?" I asked.
Kho-An-Sa thumped the book with his fingers.
"This is the work of magic, young one. My work and the wisdom contained in this Book of the Taut.
"You have no right to use that book!" I said angrily.
Kho-An-Sa slammed the book shut haughtily and walked around the table towards me. "I claim the right!" he said, pointing his finger close to my face. "I take the right! I am the master here! "
"But that book is sacred," I began.
"I am the master here," Kho-An-Sa repeated. "Do not question me, younger Memnon."
"Yes, Kho-An-Sa," I said, my sister's blank face appearing in my mind.
"Much better," Kho-An-Sa said. "I called you here to speak to you privately for three reasons. First-this is a brilliant book you have written. Your scribal skills are quite excellent. If I did not need you as my warrior, you would surely be my scribe. The wisdom of the legendary Kam-Atef is extraordinary. What was he like?"
"He was good to us," I replied. "He is very wise. He is sacred..."
Kho-An-Sa nodded. "He is very knowledgeable about the Reckoning. I have used this book to summon certain...spirits." Kho-An-Sa pointed to the vases along the wall and the transparent flasks upon the table.
"These we will take with us on our trip to the north. It will be quite dangerous. We will have to go through territory that is saturated with the forces of the Reckoning ."
"Why?" I asked.
"Only there can we find the great blacksmith. Only He can forge the blade needed for your tasks."
I pointed to the flasks and vases. "And you will use these...spirits for defense along the journey?"
"Yes," Kho-An-Sa replied. "I have summoned and bound them to these containers. I have only to release them when needed and assign them their tasks. But there is another reason I called you here."
He turned to the table and picked up a small silver box. Lifting the lid, he displayed its contents. "Of course you remember. . .these?"
Inside the box was the ring given me by the Anu prince and the flower necklace given to Neftiji by the tiny princess. I lunged for the box, but the magician snatched it back.
"Give them to me!" I demanded. "They belong to us."
"No!" shot back Kho-An-Sa. "Now they belong to me."
I stood with my hands close to my sides, fists balled, rage seething in my breast. I longed to tear the sacred objects from the hands of the evil magician, but I dared not do it. Kho-An-Sa smiled wickedly and placed the box back on the table.
"I have examined these objects with all my devices," said Kho-An-Sa. "Yet, I cannot discern their nature..."
Lowering my eyes, I prepared to lie. I thought it best not to reveal the true nature of the ring or the necklace. Kho-An-Sa folded his arms and looked inquisitively into my face.
"Where did you get these items, young Memnon?" he asked.
"They were given to us," I replied.
"By whom?"
"By the great serpent," I lied.
"Hmm," said Kho-An-Sa, placing his hand upon his chin. "So far as I can discern, the ring is a mere bauble. But the necklace is made of flowers that never decay. I believe it has some medicinal use."
"They were presents to us, Kho-An-Sa," I said.
"They were given to us."
"If you serve me well I will return your beloved ring," replied Kho-An-Sa. "As for the necklace, your sister has no need for it now."
"But...Kho-An-Sa," I started.
"Enough, young panther," Kho-An-Sa said, throwing his hand up to silence me. "We will speak of this no more. There is one more reason you have been summoned before me."
He clapped his hands loudly and a woman emerged from a corridor across the room. I was immediately struck by her beauty. She was of the eastern Kushites, with fine features and softly flowing black hair that caressed her shoulders and ran down her arms. Her eyes were light brown with flecks of gold and her skin glowed like burnished bronze. She wore a long, tight blue garment of the same material worn by the Shang and walked on sandals imbedded with sparkling gems.
She was quite graceful, and an enchanting fragrance swirled about her, making my nostrils flare and my skin tingle. I had never seen a womanly frame as perfectly curved or as delicately formed. She was truly the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes upon.
Tearing my eyes from her, I looked at Kho-An-Sa, who smiled at me knowingly and gestured for her to come closer.
"This is Nala," he said. "She will be your teacher for the next phase of your training."
I gazed at her with my mouth wide open. She smiled and bowed gently. "Greetings, Memnon," she said. "I am of the Indu from the east."
I looked at her again from head to toe. Her beauty was intoxicating.
"Kho-An-Sa," I asked, "what am I to learn from her?"
"Nala, show him," ordered Kho-An-Sa.
She came close to me and threw her hands around my shoulders. I felt the heat of desire rising as she pressed her body against mine. Then I felt her touch me at the base of my neck. My legs immediately gave way and I fell to the floor. I could neither feel nor move as Nala and Kho-An-Sa leaned over me, laughing at my futile attempts to rise.
"Ah ha, young Memnon," said Kho-An-Sa mirthfully. "You see things are not always what they seem. She is beautiful, yes, but she is deadly!"
"What have you done to me?" I asked angrily.
"I have merely touched a power point," Nala said. "Your legs will return to you momentarily."
The control of my legs came back as she spoke and I leaped to my feet. Nala jumped back in surprise.
"Oh," she cried. "You are a strong one!"
Kho-An-Sa gestured for Nala to come near as he expla
ined. "The people of Indus-Kush have perfected the knowledge of the power points of Rau within the body. Nala will teach this knowledge to you. She will also teach you how to build your Rau without the rays of Aten or the eating of vegetables."
"How is this done?" I asked.
Nala reached up to touch my face. I flinched, then let her caress my cheek.
"It is called Kula Yoga, The Way of Uniting One's Rau with That of Another," she said with a sensuous smile.
"Uniting...with another?" I asked. "What do you mean?"
Nala smiled. "I will show you what it is."
Moving her hand down from my cheek, she brushed past my neck and chest, finally resting her fingers against my belly. Once again I felt fires of desire for this strange woman.
"Do you feel that?" she asked. "Is it hot? Is there desire there?"
I swallowed hard. Her long fingernails slightly scraped the muscles above my waist wrap. Kho-An-Sa chuckled slightly as he looked on.
"Yes," I said weakly. "Yes, I feel it."
"That is Rau," Nala said. "The life force. We will unite and I will teach you to strengthen yourself with the life force of your desire."
I looked at her in total disbelief.
"Unite?" I asked. "You mean..."
"Yes, that's exactly what I mean," said Nala with a playful smile. "Do you not find me desirable?"
I looked at Kho-An-Sa. He smiled and threw his hands into the air.
"Trust me, young Memnon," he said. "It is the best way."
I did not trust Kho-An-Sa, but I was a young man. Only twenty years from the womb, and I had never been intimate with a woman. The beauty of this one overwhelmed me.
"It is truly the best way of replenishing Rau," Nala said with a sensuous gleam in her eyes. "Some say it is the only way worthwhile."
"I'm sure," I replied eagerly. "When do we begin?"
Kho-An-Sa stepped forward. Placing his hands upon both our shoulders, he looked into our faces.
"You can begin when we sail from the port of Gaza in Canaan, but first I have a task for you both."
We left the temple hours later with Kho-An-Sa's six-wagon caravan. As we rolled away from the stone-carved walls and columns, I noticed Neftiji standing at a window, motionless. I waved to her, though I knew she would not respond. Whatever Kho-An-Sa had done kept her in a state more deathlike than alive. Once again I had to stifle my rage and sadness as I watched her blank face and unblinking eyes as we left. The only comfort I had was Hazz, who was standing next to her as we left. He had promised to look after her when I learned she was to be left behind.
I shot a quick glance across the wagon at Kho-An-Sa as we wound down the path away from Petra. He seemed not to care that my hatred for him grew by the minute. As he sat next to Nala discussing the task we were to complete before sailing to the lands in the north, I wondered if the day would come when I would have to consider my sister lost and take my revenge upon him. But before that day came, I vowed to do all in my power to free her. And for that I had to learn more about Kho-An-Sa.
"Young Memnon," Kho-An-Sa said as the wagon jostled along. "Once more, let us review the task I have given you."
I nodded wearily. This was at least the tenth time we had gone over these plans.
"Yes, Kho-An-Sa," I replied.
"We are five days away from the port of Gaza. To get there we must pass through the land of the Ish-Ra-Elites. As I have told you, they are a small confederation of Habiru tribes, Amorite bandits and Canaanite castoffs bound together by descendants of the great Kamitic Heresy. They have raided the area for generations, stealing from caravans, wayward travelers and the like. As a people they are really of no consequence, just a few thousand fleas biting at the rump of Canaan and nearby lands. But they have something I want-they possess the Baa en pet."
"Metal from the sky," I said.
"Correct," said Kho-An-Sa. "It fell from the stars a few generations ago, landing near a Canaanite outpost. This was when the various tribes making up the Ish-Ra-Elites stopped warring and came together. Taking the fall of the sky-metal as a sign, they laid siege to the outpost and took it."
Nala leaned forward and joined in the telling.
"Now they keep the Baa en pet and use it for consultations."
"Yes," added Kho-An-Sa. "They use it as an oracle. They call it the "Urim and Thummin," but they have no idea what its true powers are. Those who use the metal in raw form become exceedingly strong due to its effects, but also subject to fits of madness."
"The fools think they are being overcome by the spirit of their deities," added Nala contemptuously. "But it is the power of the metal from the sky."
"They will come out to meet us when we cross over to the lands they control, demanding tribute," said Kho-An-Sa.
"When they do, young Memnon, you are to take Nala to their leader and offer her to him. His name is Samson, a very simple man, who, I am told, has a weakness for beautiful women. Trick him and bring me that sky-metal."
"I understand," I said. "We will be thieves robbing from thieves."
Kho-An-Sa shrugged his shoulders. "I care not how you reason it," he retorted. "Just bring the Baa en pet back. It will be used to forge your weapons in the north."
On the evening of the third day, as Aten settled below the horizon, the hills of Canaan appeared in the distance. As we drew closer, a large group of men appeared upon the road and started towards us. As they closed in, I recognized them as the nomadic raiders called Habiru. With their short spears, slings and dusty goatskin waistwraps, they were well known to Kamit as troublemakers and thieves.
They stopped several cubits before us and two men stepped forward. Kho-An-Sa stepped down from the wagon to greet them. They began talking in the Habiru language and Kho-An-Sa repeatedly pointed back towards Nala and I. After a few minutes, the Habiru leader stepped over to the wagon and looked at Nala. His eyes widened and he went back over to Kho-An-Sa, nodding his head vigorously. Finally, their conversation broke off and Kho-An-Sa came back to the wagon.
"You must go now," he said.
Nala and I stepped down from the wagon. After I seized a bag of supplies and slung it over my shoulder, Kho-An-Sa pulled me close.
"We will await you at the third hill north from this spot. Do not fail me."
Nala and I joined the group of Habiru as they turned back towards their home. It was now completely dark and one of them lit a torch as we left the road and started across the fields of their land. After several hours, we arrived at their town. A great wooden wall encircled it, complete with a large gate and sentry post. When we neared, the torch bearer waved his torch and shouted a password. Then the huge gate creaked open and we walked inside.
Torches were burning everywhere, revealing a modest town of mud-thatched dwellings and small, round grain bins. There were very few people in the street, but sheep milled about in large numbers, their eyes glowing in the torchlight as we waded through them. Near the center of the town we were led toward a large building. Two wooden statues of winged men stood outside it, surrounded by several armed guards. I assumed it was the home of their leader.
We were led into the building's corridor, where the torch bearer knocked on an inner door. It soon opened and three young women appeared. The torch bearer spoke to them briefly and one disappeared, returning a moment later nodding affirmatively. She beckoned us to follow her and we did, trailed by the two other women.
We were led into a large room filled with the sweet smell of frankincense. In the center of it there was a large table covered with scrolls and tablets. There sat a large Habiru man, peering intently at a scroll by the light of a candle. The young girl nudged him and he grunted unpleasantly. She nudged him again and he pushed her hand back with his elbow. She nudged him yet another time and he finally looked up.
"Greetings," I said.
"Greetings," he answered. I was surprised that he spoke clear Kamitic.
Nala bowed low. She had been told not to speak unless spoken to,
as is the custom among the Ish-Ra-Elite women. The large Habiru rose to his feet and came toward us. He looked much different from the rest of them. Though his curly hair and beard were long, they were very well washed and neatly combed. Sparkling rings adorned his thick fingers and a silver necklace accented his throat. His robe was of finely woven white material.
"I see you have brought me tribute," said the Habiru, eyeing Nala. "But where is the tribute for my people?"
"She is all we have," I said.
"Oh, but I hear you have six wagons in your caravan," he replied. "Six wagons must be carrying something of value."
"Yes," I replied. "It is her. Take a close look, great king."
"I am no king," said the Habiru. "I am a judge, the law of my people, and my name is Samson. I will take a closer look at your tribute."
He walked toward us and seized the torch from our guide. Holding the flame before Nala, he examined the contours of her body and let out a loud, long whistle.
"She is indeed rich tribute," said Samson with a lustful smile. "Perhaps I will let you go without further payment."
"I am glad she pleases you," I said.
"She does indeed," he replied, placing the torch into a holder on the wall. "What is your name, young man?"
"Memnon," I said.
Samson stroked his beard. "Memnon...it seems I have heard that name before..."
"Perhaps you have," I replied.
"Well, Memnon, it would please me if you would break bread with me. What say you?"
"I would be honored, great Samson," I replied.
He spoke to the young woman next to him and she scurried from the room. Another young woman brought out a chair for me.
"Come, sit," Samson said, beckoning me towards the table. I sat down as Samson pushed the scrolls to the side and waved his hand to dismiss our guide. He started from the room, seizing Nala's arm on his way.
"Leave her!" ordered Samson. "She goes to the women's quarters later. It...pleases me to look at her."
The man let go of Nala's arm and left. The two other young women stood nearby, shooting angry glances at Nala. One was a Tamahu with delicate pale skin and red hair. The other was a western Kushite, perhaps Nubian, with brown skin and short, tight hair like my own. Both were very beautiful and obviously jealous of Nala. Samson flicked his hands at them and they hurried from the room. He shook his head as he watched them leave.
"Women!" he said. "Were they not useful for making sons, I would have nothing to do with them."
Then he looked at Nala again. "Except for women like this one. Where did you find such a treasure?"
"We...bought her from southern Shashu," I lied. "They told us she comes from far to the east."
"Indeed, she must be from the east. I have never seen a woman like her," Samson replied. "And believe me, I know my women."
The first woman came back with a flask of wine and two bronze goblets. She was a southern Shashu, with long brown hair and light brown skin. She too was beautiful and smiled prettily as she poured the wine. Samson saw me appraising her and chuckled lightly.
"Can I offer her to you for the night?" he asked.
"Thank you, great Samson," I replied. "But no. I must leave soon."
He lifted a goblet and gulped down the contents. "As you will," he said, slamming the goblet down upon the table. The young woman immediately filled it again.
"Tell me, great Samson," I asked. "How is it that you speak the Kamitian tongue?"
He gulped down more wine, wiping his beard with the back of his hand.
"It is required of all judges since the time of Ausar-Mesh. It was he who led our people from bondage in Kamit and was given the Commandments and the Urim and Thummin by Yaweh."
I nodded and took a sip of wine. As he continued to talk I began to understand these Ish-Ra-Elites. It seems that they had taken a part of Kamitic history, twisted it, and were using it as doctrine to unify their people. For the Kamitian records say that this Ausar-Mesh was an exiled priest of Kamit who led followers of the Kamitic Heresy decreed by the mad king Aunken-Aten. It was they who nearly led to the ruin of our people before we finally drove them from our land. But I was not there to argue with Samson. I wanted to learn where they kept the Urim and Thummin.
The Shashu woman brought in plates of food and more wine. I only ate the vegetables, leaving the lamb's leg and fowl Iying where they were. Samson noticed this and questioned me.
"Why do you not consume the meat?"
"I am forbidden to eat it," I replied. "I have undergone...changes recently that will not allow it."
"Ah!" cried Samson, raising his goblet high, "You've found a new faith! A toast to your new way of life!"
We dashed our goblets together and drank heartily. Then I glanced over my shoulder at Nala. She was still standing near the entrance, giving me an impatient look. I turned back towards Samson as he guzzled more wine.
"Great Samson," I began carefully, "I am interested in your faith also. What is the Urim and Thummin?"
"It is the sacred way that Yaweh speaks to us," he replied, biting into a large hunk of meat. "It advises us in war, in peace and in life."
"Could it answer a question for me?" I asked.
Samson tore into a lamb leg with great enthusiasm. Rarely had I seen anyone eat with such relish. As he spoke, food trickled from his mouth.
"Surely, but I would have to ask the question myself. Only a judge of Ish-Ra-EI can consult the sacred stone."
We finished the meal and the Shashu woman cleared the table. On her way out Samson said something to her in the Habiru tongue, and she drew a curtain behind her. Then he pointed to Nala.
"Woman, turn around," he ordered. "No females are allowed to view the Urim and Thummin."
After Nala turned around, Samson walked over to a table in a corner of the room and returned with a bronze candleholder containing seven candles. He lit them with a torch, then touched the fire to a stalk of frankincense. He returned to the corner, lifted a wooden box with great reverence and brought it back to the table. Slowly he opened the lid, revealing a large, dark lump of rock nearly a half cubit around. Speckles of glowing metal glistened from it.
"The Urim and Thummin," said Samson reverently, clasping his palms together. He stood over the stone and said a prayer in the Habiru language, then he removed two small rods from the box. One was of bronze and the other silver.
"What is your question, Memnon?" he asked.
Though I doubted the accuracy of this oracle, I decided to ask something of real importance.
"Will I ever see my pa again?"
Samson lifted the silver rod and said, "If this rod sings longest, it means yes." Then he lifted the bronze rod and added, "If this rod sings longest, it means no."
He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. Then he tapped the rock with both rods and it began to vibrate. He struck it again as the box and the whole table began to shake. Suddenly a loud piercing note came from the silver rod, and then the bronze rod started to sing also. Samson's hands quivered and his mouth opened and closed as if he wanted to speak.
The piercing pitch of the rods grew louder and louder and I covered my ears to block it out. Moments later the bronze rod went silent, while the note from the silver rod went on, but lower and lower. A few moments later the rock and table ceased shaking and the piercing sound stopped completely.
Samson opened his eyes. "You will see your pa again, Memnon," he said. "Yaweh has declared it."
"Thank you, great Samson," I said. "You have given me much comfort."
Sweat was pouring from Samson's face and his robe was soaked from the strain of his oracular task. He placed the rods back into the box and was reaching for the candles when he suddenly fell to the floor. Then Nala appeared from the shadows behind him.
"Take the rock, Memnon," she said. "Let us leave this place."
I looked up at Nala, very surprised. I had not noticed she had moved. Then I looked down at Samson. Though his religious d
octrine had truly appalled me, I was starting to like him. Now we could never be friends. I seized the heavy rock and slipped it into my pouch.
Nala took a flask of wine and poured it on Samson as he lay there. Then she dashed some on me, placing the empty flask in Samson's still hand. "Let us go," she said. "You must pretend to be drunk until we leave this city."
We walked from the room and strolled down the corridor towards the entrance. Nala seized a blazing torch at the door and held me up as I stumbled and feigned drunkenness. Samson's three women laughed as we went past them, waving their hands and holding their noses. Even his guards outside the door looked amused as I shuffled past in a fake stupor.
As we walked further from Samson's house, I increased my speed and began walking normally. Nala seemed disturbed and was urging me to go even faster. "There was something. . .strange about Samson," she said. "His body felt different. I don't know what it was, but we must get away from here quickly."
As we went through the town we saw many wagons sitting near houses and draft animals all about. Nala stopped at one of the dwellings and pointed to two asses tied nearby.
"Memnon, get those animals. We must leave quickly. Samson will not remain asleep very long. I know he won't." she said very nervously.
We hitched the asses to the wagon and quietly rode toward the gate. I waved the torch to signal the tower, and the huge wooden doors swung open for us to ride to freedom, but as the doors were closing behind us, I heard a loud commotion from the city. I then slapped the reins on the asses to hurry them along.
"Hurry these beasts, Memnon," said Nala fearfully. "He will soon be after us."
A shout rang out from the tower and several arrows flew past us. Though the three-quarter moon was bright and Nala carried a torch, the road was very dark and unfamiliar. We sped along as fast as I dared to drive the beasts, when Nala suddenly seized my arm.
"Oh, no!"
"Are they after us?" I asked.
"Yes! And they have horses!"
As she spoke I heard the hoof beats, then glanced around to see another wagon gaining close behind. The men carried spears and stood ready to throw them as their wagon closed the distance between us. I knew they would soon be upon us, and we had no protection from their weapons.
"Nala," I shouted above the clatter of the pounding hooves, "what is in the back of this wagon? Look quickly!"
Nala turned around and held the torch aloft to see. "There are some bags of grain and small vases..."
"Take the reins!" I ordered.
When Nala had the reins, I seized the torch and leapt to the rear of the wagon. A spear flashed past, barely missing me. Our pursuers were now perhaps 30 cubits away and closing in fast. I could not make out the approaching figures, but I could hear the voice of Samson, shouting over the thunder of their horses hooves.
"I gave you the hospitality of my people and you stole our sacred Urim and Thummin!" he cried. "Thief! You shall not leave the land of Ish-Ra-EI alive!"
Another spear whistled past, landing on the seat right next to Nala. I knew I had to work fast or we would surely be struck down.
"Your trick did not work!" Samson shouted hysterically. "Yaweh is my shepherd! Yaweh is my strength!"
Crawling along the bed of the wagon, I seized two large bags of grain and dragged them to me. Then I leapt to my feet, clutching one of the bags close to my chest.
"Here!" I cried, waving the torch overhead. "Here I am! Kill me if you can!"