The Spy

It’s a commonly known fact that my home country of Egypt is the oldest and greatest civilisation the world has ever seen, or ever will see. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have problems. Since the collapse of all the other great empires even Egypt itself has struggled with infighting and petty squabbling. It was during one of these minor spats that I managed to get myself involved with Weni, the Nomarch of Khent-abt. What a fine fellow he was too, very generous to his servants and keen to make merchants like myself happy. Alas Weni had some worries. He couldn’t trust his neighbours and the Nomarch of the Sepat next to his always seemed to have his eyes on Weni’s lands. Even worse, Weni was not sure he could even trust his own advisors. It was thanks to this unsettling fact that I was brought in to ensure the Nomarch’s safety.

You see, everyone assumes that merchants are always spying for someone or other. That’s only half true, but we do know a few techniques to get information back to our homes. With my expertise I was therefore put in charge of the gate that led out of his capital city Silu. Searching everyone that left the city was not yet something that Weni would allow me to do, but I could spot the agents looking to report back some vital information to Rensi, the neighbouring Nomarch.

The first ones were obvious – and finding their secret messages wasn’t too hard either. Tin plates with letters scratched upon them were stored between two flat pieces of wood that served as sandals for the agents. A quick look at their shoes was all it took to send these traitors to jail and ensure that Rensi did not find out about Weni’s food stores.

Next it was the turn of the ladies. Courtesans with small rolls of papyrus stored in their elaborate earings. Clever, but I had used the trick before. More women for the Nomarch’s harem and Rensi did not find out about Weni’s water supplies.

Finally it was the beggars and the lepers. No one goes near a leper, much less peel off the large leaves they use as bandages. But some of those leaves had writing upon them, and so the beggars and lepers were put to death and Rensi did not find out about Weni’s military strength.

I was feeling rather proud of myself for having stopped all this information from getting to Rensi. The city of Silu would be like the night to him, sure he could make out the broad outlines, but no detail, no weaknesses to exploit. It was then that I was summoned to Weni’s council. It appeared that Rensi had sent a message that no one could understand. The tablet had been passed around the entire council for a whole day but none could work out its meaning. When I was finally allowed to see it I recognised it immediately and quickly made a purifying sign. It was ancient assyrian magic – secret codes that could only be understood by mystics or the mad.

Handily, I knew just such a chap. I had met Montoses many years ago and knew he walked an untrodden path. He knew the secret colour of numbers, and of the months of the year. He could taste shapes and was able to talk to the crickets of the desert. Sometimes he said faces had colours, and that although he couldn’t see an aura he knew what it was, and it never changed for that person. I have a green face apparently. Anyway, Montoses was bound to be able to figure this one out and he happened to be living with the Pharoah close by in Tanis. I sent word for him and he came as quickly as he could.

For several days he was locked away in a small study. When I brought him food he would be staring into the distance, sometimes moving his hands as if he were taking invisible boxes and rearranging them. Finally he came to me and told me of the message…

“Senbi, I fear the worst. I have translated the message and it seems that it was intended for a traitor amongst Weni’s council.”

“Grim tidings indeed. Praise Seth that you were able to decipher it!”

“That is not all – since Rensi has been unable to determine anything about the city he plans to attack it with overwhelming force! Our lives are in danger!”

Montoses read the exact message and it left me in no doubt that Weni would soon be facing an army that he couldn’t possibly resist. It’s in times like those that it’s not so good to be the favourite of a fading star. I went to Weni.

“Oh noble Lord Weni, we have uncovered some of what the message says and it is grim. There is a traitor with you, your chamberlain in fact. It would be wise to detain him and perhaps extract a confession. As for the rest, Montoses needs some of his scrolls that are in Tanis. Perhaps I should go with him to encourage a speedy return?”

“By all means Senbi, but go quickly! I will deal with the chamberlain while you are gone.”

By the time Montoses and I had reached the border of Weni’s lands we could see the dust cloud formed by Rensi’s approaching army. Montoses heard the sound of a falcon, and he said its cry was the darkest black.

Litani

The river roars with fury below me. I raise my staff in praise to Leviathan. Sacred chants flow from my lips.

My thoughts are interrupted by a call from Uriah – “He’s ready.” I step back from the edge of the escarpment and turn from the turbulent river. We are on a slope that leads down to a sharp cliff many cubits above the water and I spend some effort in walking up to where Uriah has finished the preparations for my spell. I place my iron staff between two ropes into a small hole in the ground. Uriah releases the piece of wood that the ropes are attached to and it rests against the staff. Only the iron serpent Nehushtan stops the weight on the other end of the ropes from sliding down the slope and into the river. I need but raise my staff a little to change this.

Uriah has spent some time on the target of this spell. The weight that my staff prevents from plunging into the raging depths is a man, tied up and laden with rocks. He is a murderer and worse, and he will face the wrath of the Serpent God.

“All mighty Leviathan, hear my call! I bring to you this wretched man of Byblos that you may bring truth from his lips. I bind him to your service and I give his name, Karqan, for you to swallow for all eternity.”

Karqan is not silent during this, he moans in pain. Before we started the ritual Uriah had attempted to get information from the murderer by his own methods. He is normally effective but though Karqan told much he did not tell us the one thing we need to know. His resistance is strong. I see several of his fingers scattered around the ground. Yes, it will take magic to draw forth the truth from this one.

“Karqan, you have murdered, and that is an offence against the Gods who gave us life. But it was not any man you slew, you murdered the son of your Lord and master Tjeker-Baal. How despised you will be in the underworld. How loathsome is a man who slays the son of his Prince. Pity Tjeker-Baal, he has lost two sons this year, both to men with knives. It was the will of the Gods that his eldest Ribaddan should die, but you have killed Bedeq, the next in line to the throne.”

Karqan raises his head to look at me. His hair is stuck to his bloody face, his eyes steady.

“Go to hell.”

I continue the spell and recount his misdeeds.

“You have gone against the will of the Gods. My Lord, High King Suhis of Carchemish brought a prophet to the sacred stone of Kubaba. The prophet stated that Tjeker-Baal would die and his son Bedeq, a loyal friend of Suhis, would ascend to the throne. When Ribaddan was killed it was in line with the will of the Gods, but what you have done is an abomination.”

Kurqan groans in pain again. I hope that Uriah has not done his job too well and that Kurqan will not die of blood loss before we are done. The rocks are pulling at him, their weight and the weight of his guilt being held up by my staff. I speak softly.

“Kurqan, we know you are the killer. We know that your family is no longer in Byblos and while many would think that this was a precaution you made so that none could exact revenge on you, I know better. You were a good man. You have resisted Uriah’s attempts to bring forth the name of the man who paid you to kill Bedeq, and no cold hearted beast would do such a thing. There is only one explanation, your family is being held hostage by those who wanted Bedeq dead. I understand your reluctance to name your master, but you stand between the staff of Nehushtan and the mighty Litani river. You are in the power of Leviathan now.”

The river rushes quickly and it seems to roar louder at the mention of Leviathan. In this land Leviathan is called Lotan, and the Litani river is said to flow along the path carved by Lotan during her fight with the Storm God. It is sacred to Lotan and contains her spirit. My magic is strong here.

“Let me die…”

The pain must be unbearable, and I feel pity for this foolhardy man forced to go against the will of the undying Gods. But he is accursed and must meet his fate.

“I will, I will. But you have a choice. One way or another we will find out who ordered Bedeq’s murder. When we do so your family will no longer be safe. Only the Gods can protect your family. I can kill you now and you will wander the land as a shade, until a necromancer calls your spirit up and forces you to reveal your employer. Or you can be sacrificed to Leviathan and in doing so have your sins washed away. As a sacrifice you will be pure, and the power of Leviathan will be turned against the one who has harmed your family.”

I speak my words with speed for Kurqan is on the edge of consciousness.

“Quickly Kurqan, say aloud the name of the one who ordered you, and save your family!”

Once again his eyes are raised to me, but this time they are not steady, this time they are soft. The magic has taken its effect, his mind has been dulled and truth is pulled from him.

“It was Prince Hiram of Tyre. He was the one who took my family. He is the one I curse with my death.”

Sacred chants flow from my lips. I raise my staff in praise to Leviathan. The river roars with fury below me.

The Bab

So this one time I was hiding from a disgruntled local. Usual story, he didn’t like my sales pitch and he really didn’t like that it was so effective on his wife. I can’t help it if women are naturally drawn to my Egyptian charm and I was only trying to sell her some aphrodisiacs which I’m sure would’ve been pleasurable for him as well. In any case, he was small minded and after I remarked that he was possibly small in other ways he decided that physical violence was needed. I must have hit a little too close to home.

I headed for the hills, and it didn’t take too long before I found a convenient cave to sidle in to. I could hear the angry local in the distance but was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to spot the cave entrance. I picked up a handy rock (just in case) and waited. That local knew a lot of curses and I heard them ringing around the valley. Fortunately I was protected by Seth, a great god to have on your side in situations like those.

After a couple of hours he seemed to have given up. Or perhaps his throat had given up after all the shouting, so it was with caution that I started to leave the cave.

“Going so soon?”

By all the gods and their bowel moving mysterious ways I never jumped more than when I heard that voice. I shouted a few curses myself before seeing a figure emerging from deeper within the small cave. He was an ancient man, thin and scraggy wearing nothing but a rag around his waist.

“Who in the name of Seth are you? And what are you doing scaring people like that!”

“Oh, well, you seemed so worried when you came into my cave I didn’t want to disturb you. Then when you started
to leave it occurred to me that you might be the Bab. I’ve been waiting such a long time you see. You don’t look like the last Bab, but then why should you I suppose…” He trailed off into mumbling.

“What are you talking about old man? I don’t have time for these riddles in the dark, there’s a rather nasty large man out there who thinks I should be a eunuch.”

“What? Oh, er, well, it would take an age to explain all the myriad things that – “

“Fine, see you, bye!”

“No wait, I’ll give you the quick version. I really feel I need my Bab, it gets so lonely up here…”

“All right, just don’t make a lot of noise.”

We went back into the depths of the cave and as my eyes adjusted to the dark I could make out markings on the wall and lots of bones, fish bones?, on the ground. The smell indicated that the man had been living here for quite some time. He sat down to tell his story…

“Once, long long ago, in the land of Dilmun the people lived simple lives. Then the gods of the deep, the fish gods, came up onto the land and started speaking their ancient wisdom. Seven sages were selected to transmit this knowledge through the ages so that all men might become civilised. I was the last of the seven, and during my time the kings started to persecute us. They had their own wisdom and tried to kill those who disagreed with them. I went into hiding. But I still contacted the people through the Babs, that is the Gates of wisdom. The Bab would come to me and I would give them wisdom to take back. But eventually the Babs stopped visiting and I have been waiting here in hiding ever since.”

This was a strange story, the seven sages were supposed to be ancient indeed, from before the time of Gilgamesh even.

“And how long have you been here waiting?”

“Time passes differently in this cave, I don’t know, one, maybe two thousand years?”

“Oh…”

I looked around. The markings on the cave walls were all symbols of time. And the fish bones, how did he get fish so far from the sea? A worry began and I made a silent wish to Seth. If time passed differently in here, when would I return to the outside world? Would my wife be still alive? My other wife? Suddenly I wished I had never entered this holy cave. I began to back away from this ancient sage.

“Sorry old man, but I can’t stay here any longer, you’ll have to look for a different Bab, I need to get back to my own time!”

I ran out of the cave, half expecting the sun to be long gone. But no, it seemed that only a few moments had passed. Had I aged? Who knows what had happened to me while I was in that magical cave, but clearly it wasn’t worth staying near. I called into the dark but there was no answer. Perhaps the sage was miffed that I wouldn’t be his Bab. Oh well, the chance of wisdom was all very well, but losing the time of my life just to get it seemed a bad deal.

As I walked back down from the hills I heard the screams of the angry local man. It seemed that not too much time had passed after all, but I still had the wisdom to start running again.

Thus Heard Goliath

It was in the smallest of the villages in Babylonia that we first heard the prophecy. Senbi and I had stopped to refresh the horses, tired as they were pulling us along. Our chariot, gift of Nippur, had served us well and no trouble had come to us that we could not outrun. But it took its toll on our steeds and so we paused again to refresh ourselves. The village had a few mud brick houses and the obligatory temple, or House of the Gods as they called it here. There was no palace though, no headsman or soldiers. When we stopped a local farmer bid us welcome and invited us into his home where we drank fresh beer and shared bread and broth. News from the south was payment enough for this kind stranger, and we tarried as his excitement over hearing Senbi’s stories provided us with more provisions. As the day wore on the other villagers stopped by and listened until by evening it was as if we were at a festival or a feast.

During the talks one woman spoke of the end of the world and of the coming new age. We had talked about the collapse of the old ways and the people of Babylonia often thought that there was no hope for a better future. But this woman spoke of a God who would come to save the world. In fact he was already here, he had taken the form of a man and lived as a beggar outside of Assur awaiting for the one day, just one day, when all people across the world would perform the sacred rites and sacrifices in the proper manner. If for one day the whole world could follow the wishes of the Gods then the beggar would reveal himself as the Saoshyant, the redeemer who would bring about a new creation. It was heady fare for we had drunk much beer and I thought little of it at the time. But the next day when we left that kind village the word Saoshyant ran around inside of my head. It seemed familiar to me. And when we passed through more villages we heard the same prophecy. I was determined to find this beggar, this Saoshyant, when we arrived at Assur.

We had followed the Tigris for many weeks and passed through the mighty city of Babylon when the story of the Saoshyant changed. No longer were the tales of a beggar outside Assur, but of an old man who lived in an abandoned House of the Gods in nearby Dur-Kurigalzu. That was the abandoned fortress of an ancient king of Babylon and it was known for its mighty ziggurat. A visit was in order, a few days extra to our journey was a price I was willing to pay gladly.

The trail to the fortress was clear and the road smooth. The chariot carried us quickly and before long we could see the mighty ziggurat in the distance. It rose to the heavens in defiance of the cthonic entities who keep mortal man chained to the ground. It loomed on the horizon for many hours before we arrived at the abandoned city. We could see smoke rising at the south of the mighty building and while Senbi shouted out greetings to any unseen watchers I steered us to this sign of civilisation.

There at the base of the mighty tower to the sky was the man I had come to see. Old indeed, his face showed the signs of at least one lifetime lived in this harsh world. His clothes were thick and dyed a deep crimson, his hair long, grey and unkempt. As we approached he stood from the fires he was tending and waited for us. I slowed the horses, left Senbi with my spear in the chariot and walked towards him.

“Greetings old man, I am Goliath of Gath and come seeking the Saoshyant.”

He regarded me carefully. He was still, as though he were a statue of a God, his eyes the only part of him that moved. I could tell that it was not weakness that kept him so steady, but a calmness of spirit. Finally his lips moved.

“Greetings to you Goliath. I may be able to help you with your search. But come, let us sit first, share a meal and you can tell me why you seek the Saoshyant.”

I sat down and introduced Senbi to the old man, but he quickly waved him away.

“We have much to talk about, but it is good that you have this friend of yours here. A bull must be procured for a ritual, and it would be wise if your companion were to go and find this animal while you and I talk.”

Senbi had only just sat down and sighed as he uncrossed his legs and brought himself to his feet. He looked at me with his eyebrows raised.

“Sure thing Goliath, I’ll just wander this deserted town and see if there’s an exceptionally convienent bull around. Save some food for me though.”

Senbi walked away shaking his head and I turned back to the old man. His eyes were fixed on me again.

“Speak then, tell me why you seek the Saoshyant.”

I started to tell my tale then, of my encounter with the witch of Endor, and my search for my father. I told him of the tales we had heard around Babylonia and through it all he asked no questions, merely nodded or grunted from time to time. Eventually I completed my story and awaited his response.

“I can tell you right now that your search for your father is ultimately unimportant. I can tell you that it matters not which God gave you life but it only matters how you spend your time. But telling you this would achieve nothing. You must experience the revelation. We will perform a ritual and perhaps it will lead you to the truth about your origins. But beware, for there is always the possibility that you will instead experience the lie. Truth and lie, these are the things which pervade the world. On the one side is the shining truth, the followers of Ahuramazda who bring goodness to the world. On the other is the lie, the followers of Ahriman, the brutal, the cruel, the evil. War has raged between Ahuramazda and Ahriman since the creation of the world, and it will only end with the triumph of the Truth!

“I had once thought that I would help lead that final victory. In my youth I thought that I was the Saoshyant, the saviour of the world. But no, look, I am an old man now and will die soon enough. Maybe one day the Saoshyant will come, but I doubt I will live to see it. Perhaps you are the one the world is waiting for? In any case, the choice is there for us all, we can help our fellow man, become an Ashavan – a champion of truth. Or we can succumb to pettiness, to bitterness, to evil and to the lie.

“Come, it is time to prepare for the ritual. Your friend will return soon and we must be ready. I will explain all that needs to be done.”

We stood and the old man took me to an empty patch of dirt on the ground. Together we scored a large circle into the land and while he collected a bowl of water and some plants I made a fire pit in the circle and found some good wood for burning. It took some time, and during this the old man explained what would happen during the ritual. We would be replaying the creation of the world, and the spirits of the world would be drawn close to us. It was dangerous, but I knew I had to face the truth eventually.

Senbi returned then, leading a small white bull with one hand and holding his sandals in the other.

“OK, you got me. This place is holy, I mean, a bull like this just happens to be wandering around unattended? The gods sure do like you Goliath. I hope the gods like your friends too.”

I smiled and took the bull from him.

“I am about to enter a ritual. Watch me carefully my friend, help the old man if things get dangerous. Help me too if things get really dangerous.”

The old man looked at me and I stepped into the circle, leading the bull with one hand. In the other hand I held a bowl full of a strange potion the man had made out of the plants. We were sacrifices, sacred offerings as the gods themselves were sacred offerings. Mithras the Bull. Soma the Plant. Gayomard the Man. All had died and been reborn as the animals, plants and people of the world. The old man stepped into the circle and kindled the fire. Agni the sacred flame was with us. He took water from the bowl and sprinkled it over me. Apis the water god was with us. He reached down and took some earth. He rubbed the earth onto the bulls flanks. Prithvi the earth godess was with us. Finally he handed me the stone knife. The stone was the stone of the dome of the sky. It was sharp, as sharp as the lightning of Indra, the thunder god who slew the dragon Vritra. The old man stepped out of the circle. I drank the sacred Soma and my head started to burn. I turned to the bull and drew the stone knife along its neck. My head swam. The power of the gods was upon me.

I felt the gods presence in the circle and I cannot be sure if they had changed the world or merely changed my understanding of it. The sky had become a deep purple and the ziggurat moved backwards and forwards across the city. The old man was talking to me but I did not understand his words. Was he speaking an ancient tongue? Or had I transcended, no longer able to hear directly the voice of a mortal? His face was lopsided and started to melt. Everything felt dull one moment, and sharp the next. It was then that I became aware of the noise, quiet at first, a hissing, like a snake, that swelled and became like the rushing waves of the sea. The dead bull was moving. Then I realised that it was something inside of the bull that moved. Its flesh rippled and I backed away. I gripped the stone knife in my hand, blood drying between my fingers.

The snake exploded out of the bull’s stomach, raw flesh splattering over me as its gaping maw filled my vision. I twisted to the side and rolled across the ground. Thunder echoed around me. The snake turned, it was fully out of the bull now and I wondered how it had ever managed to fit inside. It was immense, larger than the bull, larger than any animal I had ever seen. It reared up and stood twice as tall as a man. I watched it, waiting for it to strike again. I knew then as surely as I have known anything that this was my enemy, that I must fight this evil. Was this the Ahriman that the old man had talked of?

Fangs glistened in the unreal light. The snake pulled back its head and struck but I was ready for it. Once again I dove to the side and then brought the knife up into the snake’s body. Except the knife had changed. No longer a piece of flint it was now a bolt of lightning and it burned its way into the belly of the snake. It screamed in agony, the sounds of a dying man. I stabbed again and again with the lightning bolt and the thunder rolled around me. I tasted blood on my tongue and could feel water on my skin as it started to rain. I do not know how long I struggled with the dying beast, but at the end I was on my knees in the mud, exhausted, with the rain running down my face and the charred remains of the snake in front of me.

As I drew ragged breaths a calmness spread across me. My body had been pushed to its limits but I started to feel detached from it. I focused on my breath and an awareness came upon me of the connectedness of everything. I was the bull and the snake I had slain, I was the rain on my face, I was the mud on the ground, I was the sun in the sky, I was the man Goliath. All was one, but I cannot explain the feeling any more than I can explain colour to a blind man. I remember the sense of freedom and of understanding, I remember the feeling that everything would be good in the end. I thought perhaps that this was a message from Ahuramazda, Lord of Truth. Then I heard the voice.

“You fight well Goliath. You fight with an inner strength.”

There was no source to this voice, it was all around and within me. I could make no answer, my tongue refused to move and my mind could form no response.

“I have seen many who fight as you do. Indra, Marduk, Assur, Adad, Baal, Yahweh, Theus the list goes on and on. They are my children, the thunder gods who bring war and battle to the people of the world. That is my hope for you too Goliath. The world is a shadow of its former self, you have seen it yourself. Cities lie in ruins, people are afraid to travel, kings watch the skies for the portents of their downfall. No one seeks to build any more. It is time to end this world and begin again and you will be an agent of this glorious rebirth. Your destiny awaits my son. You know the truth now. I, Ahriman, am your father.”

I could barely make sense of the words, my head was spinning so fast. The world was turning and I could no longer feel my connection to all things. I felt sick, hot and cold at the same time. I stood and tried to speak but my legs were weak and I collapsed onto the ground. All was lost, all became black as night.

…

When I awoke Senbi was beside me. My muscles ached but my sickness had passed. The smell of cooking meat was strong but did not turn my stomach. I sat up and Senbi brought me some water. I drank greedily and thanked him.

“So, how you feeling big guy?”

“I am unsure. I had such knowledge when I walked with the gods and now it fades from me like a dream. Wait, I remember one thing, the name of the old man! Where is he? Where is Zoroaster?”

“No idea, halfway through the ritual he sent me to get some berries that he said would help you recover. When I got back he was gone. I fed you the berries though, I think they worked, they made you throw up a lot. So did you find what you were looking for?”

“No. Maybe. I spoke to a god who could be my father. But he is the Lord of Lies so how can I ever know? The old man was right, whoever my father is will not determine my destiny nor my actions. Even if I am a son of evil I will still strive to be an Ashavan.”

My search for my father was a search for truth. And I wasn’t finished looking yet.

Feast of the Firstlings

Jaela sang softly to herself as she stepped outside of her tent into the cool air. It was twilight and as the sun went down the revellers threw more wood upon the feast fires. The village of tents was still an unusual site for Jaela who had grown up in the city of Salem. She was a Kenite living with a clan of Jabalites and on days such as this she longed for the festivals of her youth. The ways of her adopted clan would always be slightly strange to her, but truth be told none of that mattered to her now. Her beloved had returned to the highlands and was on his way to her. Not long, not long now till they would be together again.

The firstlings had already been killed and stripped of their wool. As soon as the full moon rose they would be placed on the cooking fires and then eaten throughout the night. All of the meat had to be eaten before Father Sin set again in the morning. Jaela crossed her little fingers to remind herself that the Jabalites called the shining moon Abram rather than Sin, but she knew it was the same God who they all gave thanks to.

Wine was being poured and songs were being sung. It would soon be time for Jaela to play her part. She had been practising her steps all winter and was confident that she would honour the Gods properly. It was a shame that her beloved would not be here for the Festival. Would it be better to perform the dance with him watching? It might make her more nervous…but then it would surely please him to see how she had adapted to life here amongst his clan. As he had adapted to life in her clan.

Jaela kept the memories of how she came to be here hidden most of the time. It was another life in Salem, a happy one to be sure. When her family had been murdered by the vile Jabin, her life had been shattered and she had wished to be dead. It was only a young Jabalite warrior who managed to save her, by keeping her from Jabin’s men and by giving her reason to live again. Their love had grown out of tragedy, but it was a strong and pure love nonetheless.

He had brought her to his people, the wandering shepherds of the highlands. She was well respected here and allowed to make the mistakes of a child as she learned the ways of the nomads. And just as she became a Jabalite, her beloved had joined with the other exiled Kenites from Salem. There he gained the Kenite Tattoo – a warning to all that his new kinsmen would visit sevenfold revenge upon any who harmed him. Truly now they were both of two clans, of two tribes, but of one heart and spirit.

The music changed and Jaela knew her time had come. She quickly ran to the centre of the encampment and joined her new sisters, cousins and aunts as the dance started. Jaela abandoned herself to the moment as she had been taught to do. She thought of the deeds of the Trickster God Yacob, of his masks and his cunning. She lept in the air, one leg limp, and then her hands waved as she dragged her leg around the circle of women. The men of the village watched and cheered as the women limped around the circle their bodies swaying when they stopped walking. As the music reached a crescendo the men ran towards the women and the trick of the God was revealed. The woman ran away, no longer limping as they tried to outrun the men that chased them. Laughter was heard from all around as brothers caught sisters and husbands caught wives.

Jaela ran like the wind and twice she felt a hand catch at her clothes. She laughed as she outpaced the men who chased her, all her thoughts focused on running, the pounding of her feet, the breeze on her face. Suddenly an arm grasped her about her waist and she was tumbling, pulling the man along with her as she fell and rolled along the ground. Her capturer wrestled with her and she giggled as she tried to get away. Then in the moonlight she saw his face, saw the mark of Cain on his cheek. Her beloved was here.

“Elhanan!” she cried and buried herself in his embrace.

“Jaela, Jaela, I have missed you so much.” They lay then in silence for some time, their bodies squeezed together, until eventually Elhanan stood and offered his hand to Jaela.

“Come Jaela, I have something to show you.” She walked behind him back to the camp where she could see the arrival of her Kenite kinsmen, other refugees from Salem who lived as Apiru now. They were invited to the feast and the Kenite’s hunger was quickly dealt with as the village and the visitors passed around the lamb meat, without the fat that had been burned in offering to Sin. Elhanan brought Jaela to a group of tired looking donkeys and pulled back a blanket. In the moonlight the metal shone.

“Silver Jaela, purest silver. My mission to Byblos was a complete success. An evil man no longer walks the earth and the great King Suhis paid us well to make it so. He will be a great ally Jaela, and he has more work for us. It wont be long now before we have enough money and men to retake Salem. Then, as a warrior of Cain I will take vengeance on those who killed your family. As Yahweh lives I swear it will be so, and we will be so happy living in the city again.”

Jaela smiled, but hid her feelings. She did want to return to Salem, and she did want justice. But more than that, she was happy whenever Elhanan was with her. The hatred for those far off cowards who had killed her family was always there, but no longer did it burn within her. Now she was alive when Elhanan was here, and counted the days when he was away. She knew he lived the life of an Apiru for her, but it was a dangerous life. And it would become more dangerous still when Elhanan’s plans to retake Salem became reality. What use would it be to regain her city and lose her love.

“I love you.” she whispered.

“And I love you. You are my Asherah. All I do, I do for you.”

She looked deep into his eyes. It would do no good to ask him to stop. He was a Kenite now and his vow would not allow him to return to life as a shepherd. So be it, he would leave her again and again, and one day he may not come back.

All that mattered then, was now. She kissed him and wished that it could last forever.

He Who Saw The Deep

So I may have been a few hundred miles off, but we did get to the heart of Babylonia. I mean sure, we were trying to get to Assyria but everyone knows that if you want to know the will of the Gods then you have to travel to Nippur! Ah Nippur, ancient home of the Temple of Enlil (that’s what the Babylonians call Amon, they have funny notions over here but I’ve learned to deal with all the names that they call our Gods). Somehow I was expecting more. When Goliath and I arrived the only thing that stood out was the Temple. The rest of the city was barely a city at all, more like a little village like you would find in the highlands of Canaan. Nonetheless I convinced Goliath that this was an important place and we would find answers in the stepped pyramid that towered over the rest of the buildings.

You know despite the fact that I was a little disappointed in the ‘city’ of Nippur, the Temple was still quite impressive. It shone a bright blue with golden images of the Gods along the various walls. They marched around the Temple and we followed in their wake. After a short while a man came out of a nearby house to greet us. We struck up a conversation after we found a common language and he revealed that a prophecy was about to be fulfilled. Now he only really got excited about this prophecy when he saw Goliath’s spear, which made me a little suspicious, but you never know how the Gods work so we listened to the man’s tale.

It turns out that Nippur was being raided by a demon, a daeva from the far off mountains. The local man described the demon in hideous terms, I was trying to eat my lunch at the time so I remember it vividly. The daeva spent his time outside of the village ruining peoples crops and stealing their animals. Sometimes the demon would do despicable things to the animals and their remains had no tongues and warped anuses. Weird. Anyway, the local priest (for that was who this man telling us this story was) had consulted with the Gods and the prophecy had been revealed – the demon was Humbaba returned. Yes, that Humbaba, the one that Gilgamesh killed in the Cedar Forest thousands of years ago, we’ve all heard the story.

Anyway, the Gods told the priest that the only one who could kill the demon would be one like Gilgamesh the great warrior. And lo and behold who should show up but Goliath, and in all fairness he does look like he could be an ancient hero returned to slay a demon. Well Goliath didn’t need to hear much more, he was ready to spear this demon no matter how many horns it had. He jumped to his feet and asked where the demon was.

Well things weren’t going to be that simple. Apparently the demon had taken human form – just as well considering what it naturally looked like – and so it would require some skill to find. Nonetheless the priest gave him a description and the name he replied to – ‘Lagakal’ – and off Goliath raced. He said he’d be back with the head of the demon and if he should fail then he would at least have failed fighting something that only Gilgamesh could have bested.

I’m glad he didn’t take me along. Not because I’m no use in a fight, though that’s reason enough, but it allowed me to do a little bit more investigation around Nippur. Oh shock and horror would you believe that the priest had not told us the entire truth? It didn’t take long for me to discover that Lagakal wasn’t just demon possessed, but was also the son of the local warlord, or Ensi as they call them around here. And Lagakal wasn’t just recently possessed, apparently he had been a demon child too. No one dared harm him though since it was well known that the Ensi would avenge his death and kill anyone related to the murderer.

Well how lovely, it looked like the priest had set Goliath up for a fall – getting rid of Lagakal and any reprisal against the locals at the same time. Gilgamesh indeed. Nothing for it but for Senbi to save the day! It so happened that I had a few items worthy of trade, nothing much, but enough to get started on a plan. Before long I had a lovely piece of wood and many paints. A few days later I had carved an amazing looking God – Ra the Sun God (who they call Shamash here). If I do say so myself he was one of my better works, and from such good quality wood as well. The long hair was particularly intricate.

OK, so now I had a God on my side. It had been several days and I knew Goliath could return at any time. Assuming he returned at all. It was time to go to the one person who could get us out of here when things went wrong. The Ensi.

It wasn’t difficult to arrange a meeting and during my journey to his abode I took note of the various horses and chariots that were nearby. Only the military could afford to keep such things, but perhaps they could be persuaded to part with one for the right price. I entered the presence of the Ensi and his attendants and prostrated myself on the ground.

“Oh great Ensi, Lord of Nippur and the surrounding lands. I am Senbi and I greet you from far off Egypt. The fame of Nippur is known throughout the four corners of the world and I come to do homage and offer my help to your house and your Gods.”

I heard a sigh, and then, “Get up you fool. I am no King, I merely keep this land safe from neighbouring villages. I doubt my fame has spread as far as Babylon never mind Egypt.” I looked up and saw an ageing man, his face hard and scarred. It looked as though a weariness had settled about him many years ago and he wore it like a warm cloak.

“Indeed Ensi, you are wise if not famous. I had not heard of you but I come to help this land anyway. Nippur was once the heart of Babylonia but now it lies a shadow of its former self. There is a way to bring back its glory however and all it will require from you is a little faith, some courage and a chariot with some fine horses.”

I pulled out Shamash then and his attendants gasped. He himself seemed less impressed which meant my sell would have to be that much harder. Or at least it would have been had Goliath not shown up just at that point. The door flew open and as I saw my enormous friend and his bloodied spear my heart sank. Now we were in trouble, the chariot which would have allowed us to escape north was not yet in my hands!

The Ensi spoke, “What is this, who are you?”

Goliath replied, “I am Goliath, and I have done for you a great deed as Gilgamesh did in days of old!”

Ooooh, this was going to be bad. I moved myself back towards the wall, Shamash in front of me, silent prayers to Seth on my lips.

“What is the meaning of this?” said the confused Ensi. I believe he was also somewhat upset that none of his men outside had stopped Goliath from coming in.

“I was told of a wild man who stole sheep and destroyed the grain of your people. Nippur may be small but it does not deserve to be at the whim of such a beast. And so I ventured forth and encountered the wild man, the one they call Lagakal.”

At this the Ensi’s face had turned pale. He was looking at the blood on Goliath’s spear as it dripped on the floor.

“And so I hunted Lagakal, though it took me many days to find him. And when I finally did find him we fought. Hand to hand we wrestled for what seemed like hours. Eventually though, I understood the prophecy and through understanding I won! This was no demon, no Humbaba returned from the past. This was an Enkidu, the great friend of Gilgamesh who was once wild and was tamed. We stopped fighting and we started to talk. It took some time, he is a strange and crazy man still but eventually we reached an understanding.”

“What has happened to Lagakal?” cried the Ensi, “What has become of my son?”

“Fear not, he is safe. We returned to the village and to the Gods. I made a sacrifice of a sheep to Shamash, favourite of Gilgamesh, and took Enkidu to the nearby priestess of Inanna. There they are performing the sacred act that will bring fertility back to the land.”

Oh Goliath, what a piece of work you are. You go out to find a demon and bring back a lunatic who you give to the local priestitute. Well, if a romp in the sack worked for Enkidu maybe it would work for this poor fellow too. And what do you know, it did! Goliath spent another week with Lagakal explaining the ways of civilisation and the two of them would occasionally be seen wrestling near the Temple. The locals were still wary of them both but the Ensi seemed most pleased in the change that had come over his mad son. I didn’t need to bargain for a chariot in the end, we were given one by a grateful father.

You see that’s when I started to think there may be something to Goliath after all. Who knew, if he followed in the footsteps of Gilgamesh he may discover the secret of immortality and I’d be there to make sure it wasn’t lost this time! In the end it was clear that the detour to Nippur wasn’t due to my lack of navigation skills, instead we merely followed the whims of the Gods!

My Dearest Sister

Tell Bathsheba; Hatisha says:

May all be well with you, all is well with me. I have arrived at Byblos safely and am well after the journey. News must have reached you now of the untimely death of my husband-to-be. The palace is in mourning but my needs are being attended to. The hand maids I have been given are kind and gentle to me in this strange place. It was upon my arrival that Tjeker-Baal, Prince of Byblos, stood before me wearing a shawl decorated with golden threads. It is the ritual here that the Prince wears this when one of the royal family dies. I did not understand this at the time and so our meeting was one of confusion as I tried to smile and show my eagerness to be wed to Ribaddan. It was not long before Tjeker-Baal took me to the resting place of his son. He is buried underneath one of the Temples here and his soul has been dedicated to Melqart, the hero’s God.

I was put aside for several days but I did hear the gossip and rumours that flew around the palace. It seems that Ribaddan had been killed in a fight with a Kenite from the south. I was told that the Kenites are a tribe of assassins who travel all of Canaan offering their services to whoever desires another man dead. The Kenite fled and has not been caught yet. Whoever it was that arranged for the death of Ribaddan must be well pleased at the sorrow in the palace of Tjeker-Baal.

I did not know what was to become of me and had feared that I would be sent back to Carchemish. But the Prince is kind and generous as are the Gods. I will remain here and serve as a priestess at the Temple of Inara. Our glorious father Suhis need not worry that I will not be able to live in Byblos as he had wished for me. Tell him that instead of serving a future Prince I serve the very Gods of Byblos but remain his dutiful daughter.

To that end I intend to talk to Hiram, Prince of Tyre, and Beder, Prince of Dor when they arrive in Byblos for the autumn sacrifices. They will know of the loving respect that our father has for all the peoples of the sea. To show our generosity please arrange for gifts to be sent here that I may pass them on to those who require them. Lapis Lazuli from far off Babylon would be best. Byblos has many ships passing through the harbour every day bringing gold from Egypt, copper from Cyprus and wine and oil from further west.

Let it also be known that the Prince of Byblos is most wealthy and his city has no abandoned buildings like the cities in the north. Instead they build new docks and extra warehouses. There must be enough wealth here to throw the most spectacular festivals for the Gods, and woe be to the person who thinks they could march an army on Byblos without meeting a thousand freshly bought mercenaries. It would require much cunning to cause the fall of our newest ally.

I will pray to Inara and Kubaba that such a cunning enemy does not exist.

Please write to me to tell me of your life in Carchemish. I already miss our days in the sun together and long to hear of any developments with your handsome courter. May all be well with our family and do please read this letter to father. How lovely it will be for him to hear my words with your voice.

Hattusa

The people fear me, but it is my God that they should cower before. I bring my iron staff down upon the rocky ground and it makes a pleasing noise to my ears. Uriah stands at my right hand side, his sling and bullets ready should the fear of Chaos not lead us to where we need to go. One of the villagers who had surrounded the two of us has enough courage to approach me again. He looks carefully at my face, his eyes and mouth wide open. I had taken my hood down when the people looked as if they might rob us, and it was enough to cause many of them to scatter. This brave one now steels himself as he inches closer. I speak and the words form without magic.

“I am Joshua, Son of Nehushtan. I come here on the business of the High King Suhis, Lord of all Hittites. The ancient city of Hattusa lies before us. I need a guide to bring myself and my companion within. Our task has been blessed by Leviathan, great dragon of the sea. Help us and her gaze may not linger on your lands.”

He hears my voice and knows the name of Chaos. And yet there is reluctance as he returns his words. “Stranger, we will not hinder one who is on the business of kings and gods, but you will not find any who will willingly go into the city of Hattusa. It is cursed. The ancient giants who built it have long gone but their shades remain. If you venture in you will either die or be driven mad by the ghosts of the fallen.”

I look around and judge the people here to be simple folk. There may not be much to be gained by taking a guide, and much to be lost by being delayed. They fear us for the moment but hospitality is rare in these lands far from Carchemish. It would not do to die so close to our goal. I smile inwardly though my face could not reflect my feelings even if I wished it to.

“I thank you for your warning. We will not require any of you to accompany us into that cursed place. We walk with the blessing of Leviathan and none can harm us without the seventy fold vengeance of the Sons of El descending upon them. Offer a sacrifice to Kubaba when we have gone and you shall have peace here.”

It has worked. The people must reckon us to be holy, certainly holy enough to leave alone. Why risk the wrath of the gods when their messengers walk amongst you? They part and let us pass. A child at the rear stares at me. He has never seen a Levite before, never seen the scars. He will remember us now. We continue along the road.

…

“Laying it on a bit thick there Joshua, don’t you think?”

“No Uriah, it was exactly what they needed to hear. Besides we got some useful information out of them. If the locals think that Hattusa is cursed then it likely isn’t inhabited by bandits. Your skills may not be needed inside. If there are spirits of the dead however, then my skills will be tested.”

“If you say so. I wonder though, it’s been generations since Hattusa fell. Even if the stone of Kubaba was here when the city was destroyed it’s very likely that someone has made off with it in the years since. If its magic is as potent as Suhis thinks it is…”

“We will find out one way or the other. Fear not, our failure to bring back the stone will be a kind of success in itself. If it is truly gone then it cannot be used against the King.”

Our mission is important to our Lord. He rules the Hittites well and prepares to expand his dominion. He requires the approval of Kubaba, the Goddess of the Earth who founded the city of Carchemish where our Lord rules. She holds much knowledge in her sacred stones. There is rumoured to be one in Cyprus and another in far off Elam. They are too far for our purposes, but I had heard that Hattusa, ancient capital of the Hittites, held a sacred stone in the bowels of the Temple.

It is late afternoon, the sun is still yellow as we enter the city. The walls have long been collapsed, though the gateway still stands. Many houses are in perfect condition too, it is strange that no one lives here. As we get closer to the centre of the city the devastation becomes more noticeable. Old barracks, the granaries – all burned. The ruins of the palace are choked in dust and it takes some time to get my bearings. Finally I work out where the Temple must have been and my heart grows cold. It is ruined beyond any hope of rescue. If the stone was in there once it will be impossible for mortal man to bring it out again. But perhaps not for the immortal gods.

Uriah has returned from his scouting and he sees me setting up the altar. He nods at me and heads away again, knowing that I will need a suitable sacrifice. He returns shortly after I have finished the altar and lit the flame. It is getting dark and the flame will be beacon to any danger around us, but it must be so. Uriah has brought back a crow, his skill with the slingshot is second to none. I take the animal and thank him.

“I hope this works Joshua, I spotted some wild dogs roaming the city. If a pack of them decide that we’d make a tasty snack then I may not have enough bullets to keep us safe.”

“I will work quickly then, as quickly as the ritual allows. A shame it wasn’t lions you saw, they are sacred to Kubaba and that would have been a good omen.”

I start the ritual by looking deep into the ignited wood. I feel the fire as the intermediary between a lowly one such as myself and the power of ultimate Chaos – Leviathan! I start speaking the ancient sacred words and begin to lose myself in the trance. Distantly I hear Uriah speaking words about wild dogs, I hear his sling whirl around him and a sudden crack as a bullet hits its mark. But my mind is in the moment, and now I share the world with the awesome power of the Gods. Nothing is like this, no one can understand what it means to be a Levite until they have experienced the terror of the Chaos Dragon. In this ritual it all comes back to me and I feel afraid, and I feel exultant! The blood of the crow drips over the alter and I bite deep into its flesh. I do this in service to Leviathan, and hope that she answers my prayers.

My faith is well rewarded. Uriah looks at the dogs as they stop in their tracks and start to howl. After but a moment they turn tail and flee. Uriah turns to me with a look of puzzlement in his eyes. I notice the stillness in the air, the quiet in the city. I feel the power of Leviathan ready to be unleashed.

“What’s going on Joshua?” my companion says, the worry clear in his voice.

“Be calm Uriah, we are about to be tested. I have felt this before when Leviathan strikes. Stand away from any buildings and hope that your sacrifices have been well received by the Gods!”

The earthquake hits us. We feel it and then hear it. Rubble tumbles about us, then another noise, louder than thunder, sweeps across the city. Groans and shouts of the spirits we hear. The underworld of below is shaken by Leviathan thrashing in her cage deep beneath the earth. She is angry and the world above will know it. It does not last long but the devastation is complete. The houses that were standing before have collapsed. The ground has shifted in many places and we are lucky to be alive.

But praise to Leviathan. The ruins of the Temple have been split open and I can step inside. It is dark inside and out but I know not to light a flame in the aftermath of an earthquake. The breath of the dead can burn long after it has risen from the ground. I am not at all surprised to discover an ancient stone inside. It is carved with the old language and is small enough for a man to carry. This is surely the stone of Kubaba. We have been led here by the Gods, it can be no other. It takes us many hours of work to dig out the stone, especially difficult in the dark. Once we have it away from the Temple we rest for a while. We will set out at first light and try to find a donkey to carry the sacred stone for us.

“Great change is ahead Uriah,” I say. “We will be well rewarded for bringing this stone back to our King, and then you know what will happen?”

“I know what I hope will happen. With this stone I hope that Suhis grants me the hand of his daughter Bathsheba, she is all the reward a man could ever need…”

“Oh Uriah, think bigger. With the blessing of Kubaba there will be nothing to stop our Lord from extending his hand, and his armies. Before the year is out war will be upon the whole of Canaan.”

War brings death. War brings suffering. War brings Chaos. Leviathan will be pleased.

Senbi

So I was heading back home from another expedition when I ran into a bunch of Ishmaelites. Hairy beggars the lot of them, and they were having an argument around a wagon. They didn’t look like a bunch of murderous thieves so I rode up to them and said hello. Turns out they had a bit of a problem with their cargo. They had planned on getting to the coast and the Philistine cities, maybe even as far as Egypt, my native land. But the horrendous weather, blazing heat and sudden rain storms, had slowed their little caravan to a snail’s pace and now their merchandise was sure to have gone off before they reached a seller. Oh what luck that I was here!

You see the Ishmaelites were in a bind – their cargo was luxury foodstuffs and they were expecting a high price for it in Ashkelon. To go on a long journey with nothing to show for it would be a disaster and there was no one nearby to sell the food to just to make some money at least. Well, no one that they knew about. It wasn’t long before we were haggling for the cargo. They didn’t put up much of a struggle, and in exchange for some gold talents, a fine rug and a small god who was trapped in a rock (I kept him handy just in case) I received an ass and a wagon full of food that needed to be sold fast. The Ishmaelites went their merry way home and I struck out into the desert.

Yeah, I know it seems stupid to head into the worst part of the world where no one lives, but I happened to know that there were a lovely bunch of people that made their home in that inhospitable hell hole. They also happened to love Egyptians, or so I had heard, since they worshiped one of the old Pharaohs, Ramoses. And what with the recent storms and heat waves they would surely be looking for some tasty nosh that an enterprising merchant would bring them. Well it took a couple of days, but eventually I found their camp. Some of the elders came out to greet me and they spoke a mix of Canaanite and Egyptian. It didn’t take long to convince them to trade. The nomads had been dependent on honey dew and the odd bit of fungus they could find. Most of their livestock had died recently and so they were keen to eat real meat. An agreement was reached, many, many fine rugs for me, and all the quail in the wagon for the tribe.

Look, how was I supposed to know the damn birds were already diseased! Those Ishmaelites had assured me by Mitra that they were good for weeks at least! And I’d even eaten one or two of them on my journey into the desert, so really it can’t have been my fault. I think Ramoses must have cursed them because the sickness was awful. Never before have I seen so much of peoples insides being expelled from one end or the other. Oh it was horrible, and then they had the nerve to blame me! So I ran – they didn’t have any horses and so it was purely a foot race. If only I had managed to get my ass from the wagon then I would have had something. Instead I was hunted for the better part of a day, and by Seth it took all my knowledge of the wilderness to keep ahead of them. Then I was alone with no goods, no money, not even my god in a rock.

Well, Seth smiles upon me a lot, for the very next day I came upon another wandering traveler. Big fellow, like, with an enormous spear. Didn’t look too savvy but then looks can be deceiving. I put on my best smile and approached.

“Hey stranger, greetings from the desert! I can’t help but notice you wander these dangerous lands alone.”

He looked at me, sizing me up. Well, I’m smaller than him, so it can’t have taken long.

“Greetings stranger, ” he said, “I see you also walk alone. Or are you a scout for wandering raiders I wonder?”

“Oh no such thing I assure you! And let us not be strangers, my name is Senbi, and if you wish we could travel together. It’s safer for two than one out here.”

“Yes, I’m sure you could keep me safe little Senbi, you must be a great hunter like Nimrod and I could well use your protection!” And he laughed loudly.

“Hey, I was just saying…”

“No, you are right. And perhaps you could come in useful in the lands that I know not. My name is Goliath and I travel to the East to find the Magi. Do you know the way?”

“Why sure! I know all the ways! From the Palace of Akheperre Setepenamun to the city of Assur, from the ruins of Hattusa to the ports of Kush, I am your ever loyal guide.”

“Then we may walk together. Lead on little man, take me to the Magi!”

I looked behind me. I couldn’t quite make anything out, but I had the feeling the Ramoseans were still on my trail. Well, who can blame me for accompanying an obvious warrior in this dangerous world of ours. And if I didn’t quite know the way to Assur then at least I knew which direction east was. That counts for something right? And when he got talking this Goliath fellow revealed he had a great destiny in store, and who am I to not travel alongside a great man for a while. I can see it now – the tales they will tell of Senbi and Goliath!

Endor

I had trusted the smiling Apiru to my peril. The pathway to Endor was not clear as he had told me and I found myself surrounded by bandits, each one of the cut-throats ready to spill my blood and take my belongings. In the twilight I made a silent prayer to Shalim and spoke to the crowd around me.

“Let me pass brothers, you will find no good in hindering my way.”

There was laughter, even as I took my mighty spear from my back and held it forth. One of the bandits replied, his voice harsh like the desert.

“Throw your goods to the ground and we will let you pass naked. You are tall stranger, but we are many and will cut you to pieces if we so choose.”

“Ready your swords and slings then, for tonight you shall taste dust, your souls condemned to Sheol.”

My great size was the only thing stopping them from immediately attacking me, but I knew it would not last. Once blood was tasted they would descend on me like wolves. I had to strike first and with one movement I hurled my spear at the largest of the bandits in front of me. It plunged into his neck and he fell forward while I sprang to the side and plunged a dagger through another bandit’s eye. His scream threw the group into confusion and while some rushed forward to face me, others were stunned by the sudden deaths of two of their comrades. Now I felt alive, the flow of the god had come upon me and I reached forth my hand, dealing death with sword, dagger, feet and teeth.

It did not take long, a few short moments. The few who stayed to fight had died, most had fled. I felt the cool of the night pressing upon me but I knew I had to keep going. The hours passed, Sin looked down upon me from the heavens. His face was not full, but his children were out and there were no clouds to dim their light and so I made my way finally to the village of Endor. Finding the witch’s hut was easy. No other hut would have so many magical wards and charms around it, no other would be built so close to a sacred tree.

Although it was night I knocked on the door and was not surprised when the witch opened it as soon as my fist ceased touching the wood. She was old, a crone, with dark eyes and foul breath. She wheezed as she looked up at me.

“Come in Goliath. I have been expecting you.”

I wondered for a moment whether the Apiru had told her of my desire to visit, but I knew in my heart that was not the case. Perhaps she had spoken to the souls of the bandits I had slain.

“Expecting me? Then you know why I seek you Necromancer?”

“Of course, but you must ask me your questions out loud. For it is not I who will answer you, but the dead themselves. But first, do you have payment? My needs must be met.”

I took out the food I had brought, dates and olives. I laid them down alongside an Egyptian necklace from days of old. They had cost me much. The witch took them with a small grunt and brought me inside her hut. The stench almost made me gag. Smoke swirled around the room and there were strange lights, flames that glowed with cerulean hue. She seated me on a mat in front of a clay pot from which the smoke was emanating. She folded her legs and sat across from me. Her humming and chanting were the only noise apart from the crackling of the flames. Then her words became more focused.

“Spirits of the dead, hungry ghosts, I call you forth. Nergal, Osiris, Mot, let loose your chains and allow the wanderers to see the night again. I call you forth, all you past ones who know of Goliath, who have seen his fate in the deep.”

Her eyes snapped around to face me as the smoke filled my vision.

“Ask your question young warrior.”

I breathed deeply to calm myself and coughed on the smoke. The hag in front of me was difficult to see, my eyes were playing tricks on me for she looked like a young and nubile woman through the mist. I focused and spoke to the dead.

“Mighty ancestors, I come seeking answers about my past. I seek to know my father who I have never seen. My mother was a prize of battle and she knows not who my father could be. Before she died she said that I could have a hundred fathers but they were all evil, except for one. I need to know if I am destined for evil, or if not who that one good person was. Tell me oh spirits, and I will sing songs to remember you by.”

It all came out quickly, the words felt as if they were not my own.

The woman, starkly beautiful, spoke to me and this was no hag’s voice. It was soft yet strong – enchanting, bewitching.

“Goliath, you seek to know your past by asking the dead. Your father is not here, he does not reside in Sheol. But he has been here before and so we know of him. Your mother was correct, you could have had a hundred fathers, but you had only one. You are strong, stronger than any of your people. You are large, like the giants of old. You are not born of man, but are the child of a god!”

My heart raced. All my life I had felt the presence of a nameless god watching over me. Could this nameless god be my father? Could I know him at last?

“Speak then! Tell me the name of my Father!”

“That we cannot do, for he has forbidden us to speak his name to any who are not worthy.”

“Not worthy, but I am his son!”

“Being born does not make you worthy, you must prove yourself! Be like a god! Discover who you are and you will discover who your father is!”

“I don’t understand!”

“No one ever does…”

Her voice cracked and it was the old hag who repeated, “No one ever does…”

…

I blinked and looked around for the smoke had gone, and light was streaming in through a window. Sunlight. Had the whole night passed so quickly? I got to my feet and the witch led me outside. I was dazed, and mumbled a quick prayer to Shahar as the dawn sun warmed my skin. I had no idea what to make of the ancestors speech. What was I to do now? The witch looked at me with some small pity.

“If you still seek answers then there are others who may lead you to the truth. The Magi to the East, the Egyptians to the South, or even your ancestors across the sea in the West. You are the son of a god, it is only right that you travel the world beyond these simple shores.”

I nodded as I tried to absorb her words. Leave Gath? Perhaps, perhaps… But I had one more question for the witch.

“You have shown me great kindness Necromancer, and I ask but one more favour of you. On my way here I was lied to by an Apiru who sent me on the dangerous pathway to Endor. If you have the gift, if you have some way of knowing who this Apiru was then I would know so that I can seek my vengeance on him.”

“Be calm Goliath, I know the one you speak of. He is sly and cunning. And you will meet him again, for your destinies are intertwined.”

“Then tell me his name witch!”

“He is called Elhanan, and unless you please the gods, he will be your doom.”

I left the witch of Endor and turned east towards the rising sun. Elhanan could wait, I would know my father first before I took my revenge.