The Temple of the Muses(52)
“AEGYPTOI!!” This in Greek, of course, and I have rendered the first word in that language because it sounds so impressive that way. The word seemed to thunder from every corner of the temple, a deep, stone-shaking voice that roared like a waterfall. There was a collective gasp and several people fainted. We Romans, made of sterner stuff, gulped a quick drink and listened to the rest.
“EGYPTIANS! I, BAAL-AHRIMAN, SPEAK TO YOU AS THE NEW VOICE OF THE GODS OF EGYPT! I SPEAK WITH THE VOICE OF THE ANCIENT GODS, OF AMON, HORUS, ISIS AND OSIRIS, APIS AND SUKHMET, THOTH, SEBEK, ANUBIS, NUT AND SET! I SPEAK WITH THE VOICE OF HAPI OF THE UPPER NILE AND HAPI OF THE LOWER NILE, I SPEAK AS THE DJED PILLAR AND THE FEATHER OF MA’AT! I SPEAK WITH THE VOICE OF THE GODS OF GREECE: ZEUS, APOLLO, ARES, DIONYSUS, HERMES, HADES, APHRODITE, HERA, ATHENA, HEPHAESTUS, PAN. I SPEAK FOR ALL THE PHARAOHS OF EGYPT, AND FOR THE GODS OF ALEXANDRIA, SERAPIS AND THE DIVINE ALEXANDER!”
And, through all these pronouncements, the mouth of the idol actually seemed to move! The jaws did not move on mechanical hinges. Any fabrication so crude we would have detected instantly. Instead, the fanged mouth worked in some subtle manner that seemed to coincide with the spoken words. Tiny flashes like pale lightning seemed to come from the mouth as well, as if a god’s words could be seen as well as heard. I knew that somehow we were being duped, but my scalp prickled anyway. I glanced at my companions and wondered whether I looked as foolish as they did, with their jaws hanging and their eyes bugged out.
Many of the worshippers prostrated themselves on the floor Berenice groveled with her face to the marble. Julia and Fausta stood beside her, looking both concerned and embarrassed. Achillas looked on with a smug smile.
“BEHOLD!” the hideous god boomed forth. “BEHOLD! I PROCLAIM A NEW DAWN FOR THE RED LAND AND THE BLACK! HORUS THE SUN RISES FOR EGYPT! IT IS NIGHTFALL FOR THE BARBARIANS!”
“Barbarians!” Rufus huffed. “We’re not the barbarians, they are!”
“EGYPT IS FIRST AMONG THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD. EGYPT IS THE MOST ANCIENT OF LANDS. FOR THREE THOUSAND YEARS EGYPT WAS THE ONLY CIVILIZED NATION OF THE WORLD. EGYPT WILL BE FOREMOST AGAIN! I, BAAL-AHRIMAN, THE NEW, SUPREME GOD OF EGYPT, PROCLAIM IT SO! I SHALL SPEAK TO MY PEOPLE AGAIN! THEY MUST PROVE THEMSELVES FIT TO HEAR MY WORDS!” The god fell silent and his mouth no longer moved, if indeed it had in the first place.
People began to get shakily to their feet. Some stayed prone, wailing and shaking their heads. Others ran outside, presumably to spread the good news among the faithful. The Egyptians muttered among themselves, and some of them cast dark looks toward us Romans.
“I think it might be a good idea to return to the embassy,” Refus said. He and the others looked a bit shaken, although not exactly awestruck. It was the ominous implications of the god’s message that disturbed them. I was not quite ready to leave, though. As they filed out, I went over to where Achillas stood.
“Do you think old Baal-Ahriman meant to include Macedonians among those barbarians for whom night comes on apace?” I said.
He smiled, showing long, sharp teeth. “But we Macedonians have ruled in Egypt since Alexander. We’re virtual Egyptians ourselves now. No, it is my opinion that the god wants the overbearing Romans expelled from our midst. However, I am a mere humble servant of the king. I leave the interpretation of divine prophecy to the priests.” He nodded in the direction of Ataxas.
Ataxas himself had sprawled on his back and lay jerking and thrashing about, foamy spittle flying from his lips. The silver bowl lay by him on the floor, the rays from the skylight gleaming from its polished interior.
“And now, Romans,” Achillas said, “it might he best if you and your friends were to vacate this area. Alexandrian crowds are emotional and given to enthusiasm. Should they choose to interpret this event as a call for the expulsion of Romans, I would not be able to answer for your safety.”
“You have a hundred soldiers. What is the rabble outside to that?”
He shrugged, making his harness creak once more. “Our duty is to guard the princess, not some band of Roman sightseers who tagged along for the fun.”
“You have two patrician ladies in your party,” I said. “They are under the princess’s protection, surely.” We looked to where Julia and Fausta were helping Berenice to her feet. The princess was in only marginally better condition than Ataxas. Her hair and clothes had become extremely disheveled in an amazingly short time, and it looked as if the acolytes had been somewhat lax about dusting the floor.
“Of course, I shall be most diligent in guarding the princess’s honored guests.” Achillas said. “Safe journey, Roman.”