The Egyptian by Mika Waltari

Posted by admin_akashic on Mar 4th, 2022 in Stories

dwells with him eternally. But there are some who say that he resembles a bull although he lives in the sea, so we who are dedicated to his service are trained to dance before bulls. It is said also that he is like a man despite his bull’s head, but after visiting many countries and great cities I believe this is no more than a tale. I know only that every year twelve are chosen by lot from amongst those dedicated to enter into his house one at a time when the moon is full — and there is no greater joy for those so dedicated than to enter the god’s house. The lot has already fallen to me, but before my turn came, our ship foundered, as I have told you, and the merchants stole me away and sold me in the slave market of Babylon. All my youth I have dreamed of the wonderful mansions of the god and of the god’s bed and eternal life for although we who are consecrated have permission to return to this world after a month is past, no one yet has ever come back from the god’s house. So I think the world has nothing to offer those who have once met the god.”

A cloud seemed to veil the sun as she spoke, and everything became grey as death in my mind, and I was seized with trembling, for I knew that Minea was not for me. Her story was like the stories told by the priests of every land, and she believed it, which barred her from me forever. I did not want to vex or sadden her, but warmed her hands between mine and finally said, “I understand that you desire to return to your god. Therefore I will bring you over the sea back to Crete for I know now that it is the island of Crete where you come from. I guessed it when you spoke of bulls, but when you told of the god who lives in the dark house I was sure of it. It is what merchants and seamen in Zemar have told me though I never believed them until now. They would have it that the priests slew all who tried to return from the god’s house, lest any should learn from them what the god of the sea is like. That was only the talk of sailors and the common people for you being initiated will know better.”

“I must go back, you know it,” she said pleading. “Nowhere else on earth should I find peace for since my childhood I have grown up in the god’s stables. I rejoice at every day to be spent with you, Sinuhe, and every moment that I still see you. Not because you delivered me from evil but because no one has ever treated me as you have, and I do not have the same yearning for the god’s house as before but I go there

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with sorrow in my heart. If it be granted me, I will return to you after the allotted time, although I don’t think that will be, for no one has ever come back. Our time is short, and nobody knows what tomorrow may bring, as you say. Let us enjoy every day as it comes, Sinuhe, let us enjoy the ducks that fly their wings flapping over our heads, let us enjoy the river and reeds, food and wine, and let us waste no thought on what is to come. That is best.”

Another man might have taken her by force and carried her to his own land and lived there with her all his days. But I knew that she was speaking the truth and that she would never have a happy day if she betrayed her god that she had lived and been raised for, but rather the time would come when she would curse me and flee from me. Such is the power of gods when men believe in them, though over those who do not believe they can have no power. Therefore I believe that she would indeed have died if I had touched her for I had seen men wither away and die without a visible injury or sickness in the House of Life, only because they had acted against some god in which they had believed.

Doubtless these things were written in the stars before my birth and were unsusceptible of change. So we ate and drank in our boat, hidden by the reeds, and the future was remote from us. Minea bent her head and swept her hair across my face and smiled at me, and when she had drunk wine, she touched my mouth with her wine-scented lips and the pain she caused my heart was sweet — sweeter perhaps than if I had taken her, though I did not think that then.

At dusk, Kaptah awoke in the cabin and crept out from under the mat, rubbing his eyes and yawning, and said, “By the scarab and not forgetting Amun, my head is no longer like an anvil in a blacksmith’s hut, but I feel in harmony with the world once more — if only I get something to eat, for my stomach feels as if it were full of ravenous lions.” Without asking to leave, he joined us in our meal and crunched birds baked in clay, spitting the bones overboard into the water.

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